Monday, March 29, 2010
The URA trip today was fascinating. Under Singapore's architecture lies so many plannings and factors. In every single building, lies so much planning and a story. In the past, it is thought that buildings are just constructed there. End of story. But, there is more to that. The URA(Urban Redevelopment Authority) is responsible to manage building amenities and planning in Singapore. They work hand-in-hand with other government sectors such as PUB, JTC, LTA etc so as to make sure that all aspects of urban planning in terms of facilities, transport and needs are totally covered and that it fits the needs of Singaporeans. The URA has a large responsibility in their hands. They manage land sales(selling of land) and set aside every 10 year plans known as the Concept Plan. If necessary, they will have to review it if the situation in Singapore does not go accordingly or if necessary changes have to be made. Their building plans and models really impressed me.
Here are some photos taken during the trip there:
JSS stars
7:41 PM
7:41 PM
Monday, March 22, 2010
Questions for URA PLANNER next monday (: :
1 . Will the master plan change according to situation in Singapore ?
2. What are some urban features (?) that will make housing in Singapore better in the future ?
3. What do you think is lacking in Singapore in terms of urbanization ?
4. How is usage of land being classified into lease hold and free hold?
5. What are the factors to consider when upgrading public infrastructure in Singapore ?
6. Singapore has limited land area. Other than land reclamation, how do you tackle the problem in supporting the growing needs of the nation ?
7. How do you ensure that Singapore is really fully equipped with a good transport system that makes every area accessible ?
1 . Will the master plan change according to situation in Singapore ?
2. What are some urban features (?) that will make housing in Singapore better in the future ?
3. What do you think is lacking in Singapore in terms of urbanization ?
4. How is usage of land being classified into lease hold and free hold?
5. What are the factors to consider when upgrading public infrastructure in Singapore ?
6. Singapore has limited land area. Other than land reclamation, how do you tackle the problem in supporting the growing needs of the nation ?
7. How do you ensure that Singapore is really fully equipped with a good transport system that makes every area accessible ?
JSS stars
1:22 AM
1:22 AM
Saturday, March 6, 2010
The Shikumen or literally "stone gate" is a style of housing in Shanghai, China. In the past, up to 80% of the city's population lived in these types of houses, but today the proportion is much lower. Shikumen houses are two or three-story townhouses, with a high brick wall to protect against fighting and looting. The Shikumen is a cultural blend of the elements found in Western architecture with traditional Lower Chinese Yangtze architecture and social behaviour. All traditional Chinese dwellings had a courtyard, and the Shikumen was no exception. Yet, to compromise with its urban nature, it was much smaller and provided an "interior haven" to the commotions in the streets, allowing for raindrops to fall and vegetation to grow freely within a residence.The courtyard also allowed sunlight and adequate ventilation into the rooms. The whole resembles terrace houses.
Xintiandi, a car-free shopping, eating and entertainment district in Shaghai, is composed of an area restored traditional shikumen houses on narrow alleys.
Types of houses in Shanghai
New apartment mansions
Old apartments (Most of them built before 1949, designed by Western architects)
Old garden villas (may be able to see polished brown floor board and well decorated fireplace, even the chimneys and pipes are also working if owners protected them well)
Townhouses
Independent lane house
Duplex house
Service apartment
Service apartment
Privatized public apartment (Most of them have a similar appearance as their Russian or East European peers)
I am surprised that old houses like Shikumen are not totally destroyed but are tranformed into modern shops etc. Although they look modern, it still gives people an idea or enables them to imagine what the houses look like in the past, the alleys are also still narrow. There are also a variety of choices to choose from when it comes to looking for accomodation in Shanghai, it allows people to choose the type of experience they would like to have living there.
By Weiyong
JSS stars
7:19 PM
7:19 PM
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
Jin Mao Tower
A 88-story landmark supertall skyscraper in the Lujiazui area of the
Pudong district of Shanghai.
Contains offices and the Shanghai Grand Hyatt hotel (floors 53 to 87).
Levels 89-93 are illuminated in bright white at night.
Designed by Chicago office of Skidmore, Owings and Merill.
Draws on traditional Chinese architecture such as the tiered pagoda
(Japan), gently stepping back to create a rythmic pattern as it rises.
The building's proportions revolve around the number 8, associated with prosperity in Chinese culture. Each segment 1/8th shorter than previous one.
Built around an octagon-shaped concrete shear wall core surrounded by 8 composite columns and 8 exterior steel columns.
Shanghai World Financial Center
Mixed use skyscraper which consists of offices, hotels,
conference rooms, observation decks, and shopping malls on
the ground floors. (101 storeys)
Designed by Kohn Pederson Fox (international architectural
design firm located in New York, London and Shanghai)
Most distinctive feature: aperture at the peak
Original design: circular aperture to reduce the stresses of wind
pressure, Chinese mythology represents earth with square and
sky with circle, resembled a Chinese moon gate (circular
opening in a garden wall that acts as a pedestrian passageway).
Protests: Considered it too similar to the rising sun design of
the Japanese flag.
Alternative design: Trapezoidal hole
I was impressed about all those buildings found in Shanghai.
They are all well designed skyscrapers which are extremely tall
in height and are of great importance. It would certainly be
wonderful to look at them in the night because of all the lights
illuminating them. Shanghai has been developing very fast and
I look forward to seeing Shanghai become an even better city
that will influence the whole world.
By Weiyong
JSS stars
4:53 AM
4:53 AM
The Bund
The Bund stretches one mile along the bank of the Huangpu River.
The Bund houses 52 buildings of various architectural styles such as Romanesque ( an architectural style of Medieval Europe, characterized by semi-circular arches), Gothic ( originated in 12th-century France and its characteristic features include the pointed arch, ribbed vault and the flying buttress), Renaissance (places emphasis on symmetry, proportion, geometry and the regularity of parts), Baroque ( started in the early 17th century in Italy, new architectural concerns for colour, light and shade, sculptural values and intensity characterize the Baroque), Neo-Classical ( employs the same classical vocabulary as Late Baroque architecture but it tends to emphasize its planar qualities, rather than sculptural volumes) (HSBC Building), Beaux-Arts ( principal charateristics: flat roof, rusticated and raised first story, arched windows, arched and perdimented doors, classical details, symmetry, statuary, classical architectural details and subtle polychromy), and Art Deco ( characterized by bold geometric forms and simple composition) ( Sasoon House).
The Bund stretches one mile along the bank of the Huangpu River.
The Bund houses 52 buildings of various architectural styles such as Romanesque ( an architectural style of Medieval Europe, characterized by semi-circular arches), Gothic ( originated in 12th-century France and its characteristic features include the pointed arch, ribbed vault and the flying buttress), Renaissance (places emphasis on symmetry, proportion, geometry and the regularity of parts), Baroque ( started in the early 17th century in Italy, new architectural concerns for colour, light and shade, sculptural values and intensity characterize the Baroque), Neo-Classical ( employs the same classical vocabulary as Late Baroque architecture but it tends to emphasize its planar qualities, rather than sculptural volumes) (HSBC Building), Beaux-Arts ( principal charateristics: flat roof, rusticated and raised first story, arched windows, arched and perdimented doors, classical details, symmetry, statuary, classical architectural details and subtle polychromy), and Art Deco ( characterized by bold geometric forms and simple composition) ( Sasoon House).
HSBC BuildingBy Weiyong
JSS stars
2:24 AM
2:24 AM
Monday, March 1, 2010
What impresses me most is the royalty and elegance of European architecture in the Bund. No one could expect to find such artistic royale and perfectionism in Shanghai. A common picture of Shanghai in most people would be slums, Chinese laterns and Chinese food peddlers roaming the streets but it appears today to be not the case. Shanghai today is a modern city with prospects in banking and economic reference globally. In 2010, Shanghai is going to host the Shanghai Expo, the second biggest global event within a span of 3 years in China. Mindsets about the Chinese is going to change. They are going to keep up with the world, especially the Westerners eventually.
Tan Yit Kiat
Tan Yit Kiat
JSS stars
12:24 AM
12:24 AM