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An appropriate environmental
and cultural intervention into the existing urbanscape achieved through:
- Directing traffic flow - Creating a green spine which respects the natural topography and connects pedestrian routes and the main open spaces in the area - Restructuring the urban blocks to accommodate new connections and activities - Introducing cultural activities to re-vitalise the degraded urban and social fabric - Redesigning the square to assume its role as the heart of this segment of the city ZONING Respecting the existing trends in mixed land use, the zonal intervention re-designates the lower levels on the peripheral blocks of the site for commercial and communal activities, leaving the centre free of congestion for pedestrian spaces. A system of vertical zoning in the peripheral blocks will improve environmental quality for residences on upper levels. TRAFFIC The traffic is diverted from the parallel north-south streets to the perpendicular east-west streets as an attempt to exclude vehicles from the internal parts of the site, especially around the square. The basements of the peripheral blocks take on the role of parking lots. Certain internal streets will also allow edge parking. THE GREEN SPINE The proposed green spine follows the natural topography of the land along the diagonal axis connecting the main open spaces in the area. It flows in and out of the re-structured megablocks, giving meaning and function to the backyards and connects the square into a larger system of interspersed open spaces. The spine also acts as a collector of surface rain water from streets and roofs which could be stored at intervals and reused to irrigate the proposed vegetation. THE MEGA-BLOCKS The intervention creates two new typologies of megablocks. The first will organically open its backyard to the green spine, allowing adjacent communal / residential activities to extend outdoors into a more meaningful open space. The periphery of the block could retain its commercial character. The second typology has backyards that are cleared for a larger and more defined space for city or community parking with a commercial function on the edges. The residences on the upper levels will be protected by a green buffer created by opening up the first floor of the block. CULTURAL ACTIVITIES As an attempt to re-vitalise the degraded urban and social fabric in the internal western part of the site, new activities are proposed including a cultural centre along the square, arts and crafts shops and community college along the adjacent street. THE VICTORIA SQUARE The Victoria Square emerges as the heart of this segment of the city and is designed to allow smooth flow of pedestrians from the underground as well as along other ‘green’ routes. It also takes on the character of an extension of space for the new cultural centre and coffee shops surrounding it. |
