Hi, I am Yeo Shi Jie, 0330176.
Introduction:
Cities and towns have become the primary human living space. Since 2007, more than half of the world’s population has been living in urban areas and the figure is estimated to exceed 70 per cent by 2050. Building sustainable cities requires investment in (a) renewable energy sources, (b) efficiency in the use of water and electricity, (c) design and implementation of compact cities, (d) retrofitting of buildings and increase of green areas, (e) fast, reliable and affordable public transportation and (f ) improved waste and recycling systems. Cities are diverse in terms of their size, structure, spatial form, economy, wealth, local resources availability and ecological impact (Sustainability in American Cities, Slavin 2011)
Tasks:
Within a group of 5, students are to complete 3 phases of the tasks:
Phase One: Choose a case study and describe your hometown/chosen city. Choose the scale (1:500/1:1000/1:1500) [from a small neighborhood to an entire metropolitan area].
What is the population? What is the urban design (e.g. pedestrian-oriented neighborhood, streetcar suburb, automobile suburb)? Is it primarily high or low urban density? Mixed use or single use?
Phase Two: Select a precedent study of a sustainable city of your choice based on the characteristic of the theoretical and historical model extracted from the module.
Why are these cities relevant to your hometown/city? How can the example of the city from the module offer ideas for making your hometown more sustainable?
Phase Three: Discuss/compare/appraise the existing structural system (tangible and intangible) (if any) in terms of:
a) renewable energy sources,
b) efficiency in the use of water and electricity,
c) design and implementation of compact cities,
d) existing green areas and increase of green areas,
e) fast, reliable and affordable public transportation and
f) existing and improved waste and recycling systems
g) Economic Sustainability : Growth Development Productivity
h) Social Sustainability : Equity Empowerment Accessibility Participation Sharing Cultural Identity Institutional Stability
i) Environmental Sustainability : Eco-System Integrity Carrying Capacity Biodiversity
This analysis is then lead to recommendation of ideas from the existing sustainable urban development in order to identify how your city or town could itself become more sustainable as promoted in the SDG 11.
Objectives:
- To demonstrate an understanding of the existing framework/model/planning of existing cities (on economic, social and environmental aspects).
- To demonstrate an understanding of personal, economic, social and environmental aspects of making sustainable decision and choices.
- To describe how cultural values: identity of your selected city (intangible) and other site conditions (tangible) affect perceptions and experiences in local urban context.
Outcomes:
PDF Link:
Aerial Axonometry View of City lifestyle at Johor Bahru City:
Sketches of lifestyles and activities of streetscape at Jalan Wong Ah Fook, city of Johor Bahru .
Taylor's Graduate Capabilities (TGCs):
I have acquired discipline specific knowledge skill as I am able to put theories into practice and understand professional practice of this sustainable living module within the architecture field. From here, I understand how this urban study will build up a solid knowledge about city living to my architecture field. Secondly, lifelong learning can be cultivated as I learn independently by locating and extracting information related to the city study and vision and utilise the information effectively to synthesise my own opinion and statement. Thirdly, I have achieved good communication skill as I was able to communicate with my teammates and the society appropriately. I can exchange ideas and opinions among teammates to have a stronger design outcomes. In addition, I also achieved interpersonal skills I understand that team dynamics will mobilise the power of the team as a whole. Since I am also the group leader, it helps me to gain leadership as well as co-operate with my teammates to boost the power of my team. Moreover, I have gained citizenship and global perspectives as I have become more aware of and form opinions from diverse perspectives, and understand the value of being an architecture students so that I am able to be more responsible by engaging into community and understanding how a city works through analysation of city pattern and framework.