I liked to think of planning and design, cities. My childhood or tender-age past-times were devoted to build up scale model urban setting or scout-camp site (I just came back from) or bridges and stations. Eventually it came on paper as next step, in the first year of college life (1996) my sketchbook took shape with an imaginary city, I needed for a board-game I was planning.
It was to my young mind’s term an ‘ideal city’, with least knowledge of urban design and planning theories.
Without much knowing, it intended to few design and planning approaches: zoning, transportation artery, city centre, CBD, landmarks etc.
The imaginary town can seen grew-up flanking a major highway/express-way. The two parts are connected by overpass or underpasses. A elevated rail-line cut through it with two stations: minor one at residential block and major one aside business district, unsure of it is a lightrail or transit one. Natural or man-made lakes works as the edge and buffer between different districts. While the whole town has been edged by a secondary avenue on right (east? or north?), the rail track on left, and minor road and few service buildings on both top and bottom for future extension.
Much of my fun now I discover there were five sectors in this imaginary city (or rather call a town), although never heard of Corbusier: – An entertainment district with stadium, museum, amusement park, library, shopping mall, town-centre and most probably a mini-zoo. – A residential neighbourhood, along with a central mosque, Eidgah-cum-playground (strangely with an electric-plant). – A central business district, with offices highrises. – A so-called posh residential area with bunglows (was real-strategies in mind?). – The fifth sector is a bit mixed and confused: a central bus terminus, a college campus, courthouse and tv station.
Residential District
Business District
Leisure & Anciliary District
Being crazy I planned to model each of the buildings for that board game. Remember, it was far before I entered architecture school or much away urban design.
How it would be now to look at this master-plan, with me as an architect and urban designer? Let’s see very quick: – Zoning must be mixed; but academic (college) should be closer to residential and bundled with institutional zone (museum, library etc.) – There should be distinctive express train and feeder light-rail; an central station for long-distant transit and connected to feeder light-rail track; – Multimodal station / transporation-interchange. Bus terminus, light-rail and transit train are grouped. – The highway/expressway shouldn’t pierce the town in middle costing its integrety, rather on one edge with business district on front.- A little bit more density (say 3/4 storey) for the residential block to serve better infrastructure. – Electrical plant relocated. – Need of a robust, identical town square. – ?
Old Sketchbook 9: the Pre-matured Master Plan I liked to think of planning and design, cities. My childhood or tender-age past-times were devoted to build up scale model urban setting or scout-camp site (I just came back from) or bridges and stations.
