Enbe final project

ENBE | Final Project | Part A – Report | The Better Livable Representation

Lee Kailyn | 0320273 | Ms Reene | FNBE AUG 2014 | Taylor’s University

Better Livable Town

Blossom

Town

Name : Lee Kailyn

Student ID : 0320273

Course : FNBE AUG 2014



Content:

1. Introduction 3

2. Investigation on Better Town 4 - 5

3. Investigation & Data Collection: Ancient towns 6 - 8

4. Investigation & Data Collection: The present towns 9 -15

5. Investigation & Data Collection: The future and better town 15 - 23

6. The New “X” Town / Or the new name 24 - 26

7. The Conclusion 27

8. References list 28



1. Introduction

This is our second project aka final project for this subject Elements of Natural

Built Environment. The first part of this project, I have to pretend that I am the

mayor of “X” town. The people in “X” town require a new town because of

reasons that it is too crowded. We will need to propose a new layout for the new

“X” Town very quickly.The size of the proposed new town should be about 30km2

or smaller about 15 – 30km

2 .

The idea of this project is to understand the component and elements of a town

and what makes a better liveable future town for individual proposal. To make a

good town, I should learn from the history to achieve a better future city. I decided

to do research and collect data about the past, present and future town to plan and

propose a new “X” town.



2. The Town

2.1 Definition of Town

An built-up area with a name, defined boundaries and local government, that is larger than a

village and generally smaller than a city. The size definition for what constitutes a "town" varies

considerably in different parts of the world.

2.2 What is the brief history

The word town shares an origin with the German word Zaun, the Dutch word tuin, and

the Old Norse tun. The German word Zaun comes closest to the original meaning of the word: a

fence of any material. An early borrowing from Celtic *dunom (cf. Old Irish dun, Welsh din

"fortress, fortified place, camp," dinas "city;"

In English and Dutch, the meaning of the word took on the sense of the space which these fences

enclosed. In England, a town was a small city that could not afford or was not allowed to build

walls or other larger fortifications, and built a palisade or stockade instead. In the Netherlands,

this space was a garden, more specifically those of the wealthy, which had a high fence or a wall

around them (like the garden of palace Het Loo in Apeldoorn, which was the example for the

privy garden of William and Mary at Hampton Court). In Old Norse tun means a (grassy) place

between farmhouses, and is still used in a similar meaning in modern Norwegian.

In Old English and Early and Middle Scots, the word ton, toun, etc. could refer to kinds of

settlements as diverse as agricultural estates and holdings, partly picking up the Norse sense (as

in the Scots word fermtoun) at one end of the scale, to fortified municipality at the other. If there

was any distinction between toun (fortified municipality) and burgh (unfortified municipality) as

claimed by some, it did not last in practice as burghs and touns developed. For example "Edina

Burgh" or "Edinburgh" (called a city today) was built around a fort and eventually came to have

a defensive wall.

In some cases, "town" is an alternate name for "city" or "village" (especially a larger village).

Sometimes, the word "town" is short for "township". In general, today towns can be

differentiated from townships, villages, or hamlets on the basis of their economic character, in

that most of a town's population will tend to derive their living from



manufacturing industry, commerce, and public services rather than primary industry such

as agriculture or related activities.

The distinction between a town and a city similarly depends on the approach adopted: a city may

strictly be an administrative entity which has been granted that designation by law, but in

informal usage, the term is also used to denote an urban locality of a particular size or

importance: whereas a medieval city may have possessed as few as 10,000 inhabitants, today

some consider an urban place of fewer than 100,000 as a town, even though there are many

officially designated cities that are much smaller than that.

2.3 What makes a town

A town is made up with an amount of population, government area, commercial area, religious

and cultures area, port and shipping area, education area, and sufficient of facilities.

2.4 What makes a good town.

● Provides sufficient educational and health services

● Safe and security

● Sufficient land for building development

● Stable governance

● Sufficient shelter to live

● Enough jobs opportunities

● Green environment

● Clean environment

● Good location

● Good leaders

● Public transportation efficient

2.5 What is the future towns

For me, a future towns is everything has mentioned at what makes a good town. Since no one

knows what the future holds. I have to use my imagination. A future towns has a clean

environment, full of different type of skyscrapers, colourful flying cars and robot around us.



3. Investigation & Data Collection:

Ancient Town

Lijiang, China

3.1 History

Lijiang, possibly the best preserved old town in China, is one of the last places

where a visitor can witness and experience a historic, traditional urban culture. Lijiang

lies 570 km north-west of Kunming in Yunnan Province. It consists of three old towns,

namely Dayan, Baisha and shuhe. Remarkably, the old houses with stone foundations,

plastered whitewashed brick walls, red wooden doors, shutters and balconies, and

sloping tiled roofs, survived a recent earthquake without much damage, while the new

concrete buildings were flattened. Due to the unique culture and comfortable climate, it



has been classified as a World-class Cultural Legacy by UNESCO, 'National-level

Scenic Zone 'and a 'National Town of History and Culture'.

The history of Lijiang dates back to the South Song period (1127-1279AD). In 1253,

Kublai, in his expedition to conquer the state of Dali, came to what is now Lijiang after

his troops crossed the Jinsha River by using inflated bags of animal hide. That explains

why many names of places in the Naxi languages are transliterations of 'army camps,'

'drilling grounds,' etc. for the Mongolian language. In the early years of the Yuan

Dynasty (1271-1368AD), there were about 1,000 families in Lijiang, which constantly

grew in size during the Ming and Qing Dynasties. Since the Qing Dynasty, Lijiang has

been the distribution center for goods produced in northwest of Yunnan province.

Tibetans send their woolen textiles and medicinal herbs here for shipment to other parts

of China, and tea and articles for daily use from Xishuang Banna, Fengqing and

Xiaguan of Yunnan province are sold to Tibetan areas via the town.

3.2 What town are you concentrating on.

Lijiang, China



3.3 What makes is a significiant town and what are the

details

The town is a leading tourist city and has ancient towns and natural areas as

the major attractions. Lijiang attractions provide the most popular Lijiang

sightseeing. These must-see attractions in Lijiang range from peaceful Lijiang Old

Town, breathtaking Jade Dragon Mountain, majestic Tiger Leaping Gorge, enchanting

Lugu Lake, to mysterious Black Dragon Pool, featured Baisha Village and ancient

Shuhe Old Town. A Lijiang travel is incomplete without visiting these Lijiang tourist

attractions.

3.4 Conclusion about the town

Lijiang China old town is great place for those who love to visit historical places and

ancient traditions. Lijiang Old Town is located on the lap of mountains and on the banks

of river and perhaps the only old city without a city wall. Due to the multiracial

inhabitants settled here long years back, the ancient city reflects the aspects of

different cultures. You can see different architectural styles like Bai, Han, Tibet etc

blended into Naxi architectural style rendering it a unique look. This place is good for

hiking and offers beautiful scenery viewed from the top.

3.5 What information or element that you can use to your

new future town

Since the major attraction of this town is natural area, I might consider to create a

natural area for my future town, because natural area is critical to human and

environmental well being.



4. Investigation and Data Collection

Present Town

London

4.1 History

The Romans founded London about 50 AD. Its name is derived from the Celtic word Londinios, which means the place of the bold one. After they invaded Britain in 43 AD the Romans built a bridge across the Thames. They later decided it was an excellent place to build a port. The water was deep enough for ocean going ships but it was far enough inland to be safe from Germanic raiders. Around 50 AD Roman merchants built a town by the bridge. So London was born.

The early settlement at London did not have stone walls but there may have been a ditch and an earth rampart with a wooden palisade on top.

Then in 61 AD Queen Boudicca led a rebellion against the Romans. Her army marched on London. No attempt was made to defend London. Boudicca burned London but after her rebellion was crushed it was rebuilt. Rich people built houses of stone or brick with tiled roofs but most people lived in wooden houses.

By the end of the 2nd century a stone wall was erected around London. The wall was 20 feet high. Outside the wall was a ditch. In the middle of the 3rd century 20 bastions were added to the walls (a bastion was a semi-circular tower projecting from the wall).

The population of Roman London rose to perhaps 45,000, which seems small to us but it was the largest town in Britain.

In the center of Roman London was the forum. This was a square with shops and public buildings arranged around it. The most important building in the forum was the basilica or 'town hall’, which was 500 feet long and 70 feet high. In Roman London there were brick works, potteries and glass works. There were also donkey powered mills for grinding grain to flour and bakeries.

Roman London was also an important port with wooden wharves and jetties. Grain and metal were exported and luxury goods were imported. (Things like wine, olive oil, glass, fine pottery, silk and ivory).



Rich citizens had baths in their homes but there were several public baths near the city gates. (Romans went to the baths to socialize not just to keep clean). Most people in the town got their water from wells and used cess pools but there were underground drains to remove rainwater.

Roman London also had an amphitheater, which could hold 8,000 people. Here gladiators fought to the death. Cockfighting was also a popular sport.

Roman Britain

SAXON LONDON

The last Roman soldier left Britain in 407 AD. Afterwards, during the so-called Dark Ages London was probably abandoned. There may have been a few people living inside the walls by fishing or farming but London ceased to be a town. But soon it rose again. A new town appeared outside the walls on the site of Covent Garden. It was much smaller than Roman London with perhaps 10,000 inhabitants.

In 597 monks from Rome began the task of converting the Saxons to Christianity. In 604 a bishop was appointed for London.

By the 640's there was a mint in London making silver coins. In the 670's a Royal document called London 'the place where the ships land'. Early in the 8th century a writer called London 'a trading center for many nations who visit by land and sea'.

Saxon London consisted of many wooden huts with thatched roofs. Slag from metal forges have been found proving there were many blacksmiths at work in the town. Archaeologists have also found large numbers of loom weights (used in weaving wool) Saxon craftsmen also worked with animal bones making things like combs. The main export from Saxon London was wool, either raw of woven. Imports included wine and luxury foods like grapes and figs. Pottery and millstones were also imported. Slaves were also bought and sold in London.

Disaster struck London in 842 when the Danes looted London. They returned in 851 and this time they burned a large part of the town (an easy task when all buildings were of wood). Then the Danes gave up just raiding and turned to conquest. They conquered northern and Eastern England including London.

King Alfred the Great totally defeated the Danes in 878 and they split the country between them. The Danes took eastern England including London while Alfred took the South and West. Despite the peace treaty Alfred's men took London in 886. Alfred repaired the walls of the old Roman town. Until then Londoners lived outside the Roman walls but during Alfred's reign they moved inside the walls for protection. Soon foreign merchants came to live in London. By the 10th century there were wine merchants from France at Vintners Place and German merchants at Dowgate.

http://www.localhistories.org/roman.html



The Danes returned in 994 but this time the Londoners fought them off. A writer said ' they proceeded to attack the city stoutly and wished to set it on fire but here they suffered more harm and injury than they ever thought any citizen could do them'.

'London Bridge is falling down'...so says the nursery rhyme. This is believed to be derived from an event that took place in the early 11th century. King Olaf of Norway attacked England but he was unable to sails up the Thames past London Bridge. So he ordered his men to erect wood and wicker canopies over their boats. They then approached London Bridge. Londoners on the bridge threw down missiles but they were unable to stop the Vikings. At that time London Bridge was made of wood. Olaf and his men tied ropes to the wooden struts supporting it. They then rowed away and London Bridge collapsed. Some historians question whether this event really happened or whether it was just a legend that grew up around King (later Saint) Olaf.

Edward the Confessor (1042-1066) built a wooden palace at Westminster. Later Parliament met here. Because of this Westminster became the seat of government not the city of London itself. Edward also built Westminster Abbey, which was consecrated a few weeks before his death.

LONDON IN THE MIDDLE AGES

After the battle of Hastings an advance guard of Normans approached London Bridge from the South but were beaten off. The Norman army then marched in a loop to the west of London to cut it off from the rest of England. William the Conqueror occupied the royal palace at Westminster and the won over the Londoners by making various promises. William was crowned king of England at Westminster on 25 December 1066. William gave London a charter, a document confirming certain rights. Nevertheless he built a wooden tower to stand guard over London. It was replaced by a stone tower in 1078-1100. That was the beginning of the Tower of London

The population of London at this time was perhaps 18,000, which seems very small to us but was very large by the standards of the time. London grew in size through the 12th century and some people began to build housed outside the walls. In 1176 the wooden bridge across the Thames was replaced with a stone one.

A writer described London about the year 1180: 'London is happy in its clean air, in the Christian religion, in the strength of its fortifications, in its natural situation, in the honor of its citizens. The Cathedral is St Pauls but there is also in London and its suburbs 13 large monasteries, beside 126 parish churches. On the east side lies the tower, very large and strong with 4 gates and turrets at intervals and runs around the northern side of the city. To the north lie fields and meadows with small rivers flowing through them, by these water mills are driven with a pleasant murmur. To this city come merchants from every nation under heaven rejoicing to bring merchandise in their ships'.

Someone else wrote about London: 'Among the noble and celebrated cities of the world, that of London, the Capital of the Kingdom of England is one of the most renowned, possessing above others, abundant wealth, extensive commerce, great grandeur and significance'.



Medieval London was a lively place. There was a horse market at Smithfield (originally smooth field) where horse racing took place. Smithfield was also the site of public executions, which always attracted large crowds. Londoners also loved dancing on the open spaces that surrounded the town. They liked archery and wrestling and men fought mock battles with wooden swords and shields. In Winter people went ice skating on frozen marshes at Moorfield using skates made of animal bones.

In the 12th or 13th century London was often spelled Lunden or Lundon. By the time of Chaucer in the late 14th century it was spelled London.

In the 13th century the friars came to London. Friars were like monks but instead of living lives separate from the world they went out to preach. There were different orders of friars each with a different color of their costume. Dominican friars were called black friars because of their black costumes and the place where they lived in London is still called Blackfriars. There were also grey friars (Franciscans), white friars (Carmelites) and crutched friars. The word crutched is a corruption of crouche, the old English word for cross. Their proper name was Friars of the Holy Cross.

The Jews suffered from persecution during the Middle Ages. The first Jews came to England after the Norman Conquest. Jews in London lived in a ghetto in old Jewry. They were some of the first people since Roman times to live in stone houses. They had to as wooden houses were not safe enough! In 1189 a wave of persecution resulted in the deaths of about 30 Jews. In 1264 rioters killed about 500 Jews in London. Then in 1290 all Jews were expelled from England.

In Medieval London streets were sometimes named after the trades carried on there. Bakers lived in Bread Street and Poultry was sold in that street. Cows were kept in Milk Street for milking.

In 1381 the Peasants Revolt broke out. On 13 July the rebels marched on London and sympathizers opened the gates to them. The king and his ministers took refuge in the Tower of London while the rebels opened the prisons and looted the house of John of Gaunt, an unpopular noble. On 14 July the king met the rebels at Moorfield and made them various promises, none of which he kept.

The next day the king went to mass at Westminster while he was away the rebels broke into the Tower of London and killed the Archbishop of Canterbury and several royal officials who had taken refuge there. They confronted the king on his way back from mass. The mayor of London stabbed the leader of the rebels, fearing he was going to attack the king. Afterwards the king managed to calm the rebels and persuaded them to go home.

The population of London may have reached 50,000 by the middle of the 14th century making it far larger than any other town in England. However at least a third of the population died when the Black Death struck in 1348-49 but London soon recovered. Its population may have reached 70,000 by the end of the Middle Ages.



4.2 What town are you concentrating on.

London, England

4.3 What makes a significant town and what are the details

In the City of London, 20 natural areas are currently designated as "Environmentally

Significant Areas" or ESA's. These areas exist within both agricultural and urban

settings and include wetlands, forests and meadows as well as river corridors and

valleylands and significant wildlife habitat. The City, in partnership with the Upper Thames

River Conservation Authority (UTRCA), manages seven of these ESA's; Kilally Meadows,

Meadowlily Woods, Medway Valley Heritage Forest, Sift on bog, Warbler Woods and

Westminster Ponds.

The ESA's are an integral part of London's Natural Heritage System connecting valley

lands, parks and other open spaces. In addition to the designated habitats, London has

many other natural areas within the city limits including some significant woodlands that

have been incorporated into parks.

4.4 Conclusion about the town

London is a good place for shopping, dinner and drinks. From the modern London Eye to the

historic Tower of London are London's most visited tourist attractions. any of London's top 10

attractions are free, making them affordable places to soak up some culture

4.5 What information and element that you can use to your

new future town.

Public transportation in London provides a fast, precise and efficient way. I wanted to provide

such a fast and convenient public transportation in my future town.



Subway

● The network incorporates the world's first underground railway, the Metropolitan

Railway, which opened in 1863 and is now part of the Circle, Hammersmith &

City and Metropolitan lines

Bicycle



● Bicycling may be faster and more efficient than taking a car. Bicycles also produce no

meaningful pollution when in operation.

Helicopter

● People can take helicopter as transport and fly to my future town.

5. Investigation & Data Collection:

The future of towns and Better Towns

TAO-ZHU GARDEN

AGODA GARDEN, SUSTAINABLE RESIDENTIAL TOWER

TAIPEI 2010-2016

TAIWAN

Residential Tower located at Taipei. The Project is currently under construction and will

be completed in 2016. You will find below the Conceptual Design Proposal presented



during the competition presented during the competition phase by Vincent Callebaut,

Design Architect:

1. THE ECOLOGIC PHILOSOPHY OF THE PROJECT :

2. THE MORPHOLOGIC PHILOSOPHY OF THE PROJECT:

This twist of 90 degrees answers to four major objectives:

housing superimposed vertically and put in successive rotation of 4.5 degrees level by

level, a multi-facial morphology appears all in convex and concave curves.

Actually, according to the point of view of the pedestrian from the surrounding streets,

the AGORA GARDEN tower changes of faces and proposes new profiles. Besides this

moving geometry wearing a planted dress with sensual style, the project represents really

a built ecosystem that repatriates the fauna and the flora in the heart of the city and

generates alone a new box of subtropical biodiversity. It is a new nest in the city!

3. THE MAIN COMPONENTS OF THE PROJECT:

3.1. The luxuriant forest and the glade:

In order to ensure the confidentiality of the residents, the whole perimeter of the site is

bordered by a mineral moat that animates the outside public space with organic urban

furnitures. Inside the parcel, the walls of this moat transform themselves into planted

surrounding walls. The main access of the site is located at the Song Yong Road which is

less busy that the main avenue, Song Gao Road. The tower is coiled up in the centre of a

heavy and luxuriant safe forest of mature trees that protects the intimacy of the

inhabitants from the surrounding urban pollution. In the heart of the vegetable lung, the

pedestrian square of exotic wood opens itself on a mineral and aquatic glade.

Such as the shock wave created by a water drop, the landscape design is made in circles

arches and radiates from the epicentre of the tower. A circular light well, curved this

time, makes the light, the abundant plants in cascades to the deepest basement. The car

parks, the swimming pool and the fitness are thus naturally lightened and ventilated.

3.2. The lobbies in indoor - outdoor connectivity: The ground floor in double height



sets through its great transparent facades a high connectivity between the interior

community spaces and the exterior garden.

3.3. The central core, a vertical twisted garden surrounded by sky entry foyers: The

central core has been designed to separate totally the vertical circulations into two

housing units on the same level. This core is fixed (it does not pivot). But in order to

ensure the rotation of the storeys floor by floor, it is surrounded by a (naturally lightened)

horizontal circulation loop welcoming the entry foyer dedicated to each unit. This buffer

loop enables thus to set the main entrance always in the axis of each apartment and this

despite of the 4.5 degrees rotation storey by storey. An alternative has been studied to

build sky entry foyers directly around the cylindrical central core offering thus planted

entry foyers with spectacular front view on the city of Taipei.

By level, the central core gathers 2 staircases, 4 high speed elevators of 24 people (1800

kg), 1 car elevators (also useful to carry enormous art pieces, luxury antique vehicles, or

even huge pianos, etc.), 2 sky garages in glass and also all the vertical shafts for the main

flows. All these vertical flows are covered by a huge bearing exoskeleton in reinforced

steel.

3.4. The apartments, a maximal spatial and technical flexibility: The apartments of

540 M2 on average superimpose themselves under the shape of two planted twists unified

around a central core. Each unit presents a storey structurally made with Vierendeel

beams system behind glass facades only on even floors. All levels are linked at both ends

by two spiralling mega columns covered by green walls. Each apartment is completely

free columns !

This structural concept inspired of the DNA chain enables a maximal flexibility in terms

of interior layout. It ensures also an optimal visual permeability (indoor outdoor

connectivity) towards the suspended gardens of the balconies in foreground and the urban

panorama on the background.

• The spatial flexibility is divided in 4 main typologies of storeys of 2 or 4 units:

Typology A : 2 units with curved living rooms around a central core.

Typology B : 2 units with living rooms stretched in the length behind the Southern

façades.

Typology C : 2 units with living rooms set in bow by the panoramic storey.



Typology D : 4 units in duplex with living rooms benefiting from a double height.

In addition to these basic typologies, two huge clubhouses are set up on the roof floors so

as to respect the setback required by the building volume. Therefore, from the same

standardized double helix (1.250 M2 floor area), the rotation of the storey and its

customizable interior laying-out makes every level be a unique floor for each resident!

• The technical flexibility is obtained by the integration of the double deck and

double wall concepts:

The energetic efficiency is obtained by isolating façades with high performance

named inter-layer or double-layer:

3.5. The landscape balconies, green cascades of flowers, fruits, vegetables and

aromates:

The balconies called ascending or positive:

The balconies called descending or negative:

3.6. The photovoltaic roof and its gardens for phyto-purification:

3.7. The landscape basement naturally lightened and ventilated:

4. THE CHALLENGE OF A POSITIVELY ECOLOGIC REVOLUTION!

In November 2010, VINCENT CALLEBAUT ARCHITECTURES SARL was awarded as the

successful tenderer for the construction of a new Sustainable

In the heart of the urban networks of Xinyin District in full development, the AGORA GARDEN

project presents a pioneer concept of sustainable residential eco-construction that aims at limiting

the ecologic footprint of its inhabitants by researching the right symbiosis between the human

being and the Nature.

On this site that is the last and only biggest parcel of land for residential use, the concept is to

build a true fragment of vertical landscape with low energetic consumption. The building is thus



eco-designed. It integrates not only the recycling of organic waste and used water but also all the

renewable energies and other new state-of-the-art nanotechnologies (BIPV solar photovoltaic,

rain water recycling, compost, etc.).

The project targets thus the energetic performance so as to be officially approved by the Green

Building Label, the norm for high environmental quality, delivered by the Home Affairs

Ministry of Taipei.

Part of the concept of inhabited and cultivated vertical farm through its own inhabitants, this

project of residential tower enables first to design by its avant-gardist architecture a new life

style in accordance with the nature and the climate. Actually, the AGORA GARDEN tower

superimposes vertically wide planted balconies of true suspended orchards, organic vegetable

gardens, aromatic gardens and other medicinal gardens.

Such as a living organism, the tower becomes metabolic! It overpasses its energy-consuming

passive role (absorbing all the natural resources and rejecting only waste) to produce its own

organic food.

The architectural concept is thus to eco-design an energy self-sufficient building, whose energy

is electric, thermal and also alimentary.

Therefore, the project answers directly to 4 main ecologic objectives of the After Copenhagen:

1. The reduction of the climatic global warming.

2. The protection of the nature and the biodiversity.

3. The protection of the environment and the quality of life.

4. The management of the natural resources and waste.

Finally, according to the Cradle to Cradle concept where nothing is lost, everything transforms

itself; all the construction and furnishing materials will be selected through recycled and / or

recyclable labels. By imitating the processes of natural ecosystems, it deals thus with reinventing

in Taiwan the industrial and architectural processes in order to produce clean solutions and to

create industrial cycle where everything is reused, either back to the ground as non toxic organic

nutrients, or back to the industry as technical nutrients able to be indefinitely recycled.

Biotechnological prototype, the AGORA GARDEN project reveals thus the symbiosis of human

actions and their positive impact on the nature.



Neither single tower, or twin towers, the project arises towards the sky with two helicoidal

towers gathering themselves around a central core. This architectural party offers a hyper-

compacted core and a maximal flexibility of the housing storeys (with the possibility to unify

two apartments units in one without any footbridge). It brings a reduction of view angles towards

the urban landscape and a hyper-abundance of suspended gardens.

The AGORA GARDEN tower is, as its name indicates it, directly inspired of the structure in

double helix of the DNA (Deoxyribonucleic acid), source of life, dynamism and twinning. Every

double helix is represented in the project by two housing units forming a full level.

Thus, from its base to the top, the 20 inhabited levels in double helix stretch themselves and twist

themselves at 90 degrees. By metaphor, the obtained sinuosity corresponds to the universal

musical symbol of harmonic revealing the notion of ultimate balance praised by the project.

1. The first objective is to be perfectly integrated in the North / South pyramidal profile of the

Building Volume. Actually, the morphology of the project changes according to its orientation.

Its East / West elevations draw a rhomboidal pyramid whereas the North-South ones represent a

reverse pyramid.

2. The second objective is to generate a maximum of cascades of suspended open-air gardens,

not part of the F.A.R. (floor area ratio). Thus, the planted balcony surface area can easily exceed

the limit of the required 10 percents. The global framework of 40 percents of building coverage

ratio, i.e. 3 264 M2 is thus totally respected.

3. The third objective is to offer to the inhabitants exceptional panoramic views on the skyline of

Taipei by multiplying the transversal views, especially towards the very close Taipei 101 tower

and the Central Business District in full emergence.

4. The fourth objective is to generate from a flexible standardized level a progressive geometry

with corbels which assures the intimacy and the confidentiality of each apartment by avoiding

the indiscreet vision axes.

Inspired from the Nature, the AGORA GARDEN project is shaped with an organic fluid and

dynamic geometry. From the simple and standardized element of the double helix of

Spatially hyper-flexible, the constructive system proposed also a total flexibility to the level of

technical distribution of the flows. Additional vertical flows are organized with “oblique shafts”

along the glass façade. The system of double deck is integrated at each level under the shape of a

double floor and a suspended ceiling. The network of the flows (rain water, used water, hot

water, electricity, under floor-heating, cool air, hot air, optic fibre, etc.) crossing the central core



can thus irrigate without any difficulty on the horizontal way all the surface area of each storey.

Moreover, the use of castellated beams will enable to take advantage of a maximal free height

under ceiling. The interior partitioning of each apartment will be à la carte according to the

wishes of each inhabitant. The double walls will compartmentalize the different rooms following

the curved axes of the building by integrating also many useful storage spaces.

The AGORA GARDEN tower is covered by linear crystalline façades repeating themselves at

each level. The identical facades in every apartment will be pre-manufactured in factory to

accelerate their setting-up during the works. A multilayer glass (airspace + Polyvinyl Butyral) or

double layer façades with integrated blinds will be directly associated there in order to protect

the interior spaces from the solar radiation in summer and to limit the calorific loss in winter.

The landscape concept is to build a cascade of suspended gardens which cover the entire

building. The tower becomes then a true vertical inhabited park, in a box of nature in the heart of

the city ! The selected essences will be preferably eatable in order to make each inhabitant

gardener in its own vegetable consumption. Suspended orchards, organic vegetable gardens,

aromatic and medicinal gardens will flourish the wide and deep jardinière along the global

periphery of each apartment. Garden furniture, compost spaces from waste to organic fertilizers,

fuel cells, rain water tanks for the irrigation of plants, and ecologic nests for birds will be directly

integrated in the design of these jardinières. In order to protect the organic substrate tanks from

the heating coming from the solar radiation, the planting beds will be covered by a layer of

Bethel white granite on honeycomb. The white colour of the AGORA GARDEN tower will

provide a new emblematic, pure and fresh identity.

The tower generates through its morphology in rotation two types of very specific landscape

balconies :

open-air, they benefit from a maximal sunshine and enable to cultivate their trees and shrubs of

subtropical essences. We will preferably set up the living rooms on this side. It will be also

possible to inlay photovoltaic sunshades at the extremity of the slab according to the wishes of

each resident. Thermal captors could be also set up in order to produce sanitary hot water.

Covered by the superior level, they offer half shadowed relaxing spaces to cultivate flowers,

vegetables, aromatic plants and falling and climbing species. We will preferably set up the

bedrooms on this side.

In bow of the housing storeys, are laid-out some outdoor garden bath sanctuary that coils

themselves up in an alcove dig in the façade of each apartment. Different from the modern city

built of concrete, glass and steel, the AGORA GARDEN tower appears in an urban centre as a -



deciduous leaves) will make its colours and its abundance to evolve. Declining a camaieu of

green in the summer, the tower will blaze with golden and bloody colours in autumn. In spring, it

will be bloomed with thousands colours and will liberate floral fragrances from its fruit trees.

The tower will then develop perfumed micro-climate for the very best welfare of its inhabitants!

Located at 100 meters high, a huge photovoltaic pergola of 1000 m² transforms the sun rays into

electric energy which is directly reintroduced into the network of the building. Under this layer

with blue-steel reflection, clubhouses are located on the roof surrounded by panoramic sky

gardens. They filter and purify the rain water with the action of the plants in order to reinject the

water by gravity in the distribution network of sanitary water. From this terrace, there is an

extraordinary panoramic view on the 101 tower.

Contrary to the traditional car park of 2.10 M high under beams and plunged under an artificial

shadowy light, the car park of the AGORA GARDEN project benefits from the natural light.

Actually, A light well integrating seismic joints makes the light and the fresh air fall to the levels

of the basement. Thus, the car park and the connected facilities (swimming pools and fitness) are

naturally ventilated. The main access of the basement is done by the Song Yong Road under a

sculptural entry gate inspired by a spiralling leaf.

From the level B1, we can access to both car elevators inside the central core and go very

quickly to the sky garages located at the entrance of each apartment. The car park is designed in

the existing perimeter of the current car park of the pre-existing Agora Garden hotel in order to

limit the works cost of excavation and foundations. Only the South-West wall has been corrected

so as to set up a laying-out with double helix. Actually, in the continuation of the rotating tower,

the car park is drawn according to a circular plan with an ascending interior helix around the core

in the direction of the exit and a second descending helix in the direction of the entrance. The

whole set forms a continuous banister that welcomes more than 230 cars and 500 scooters. From

slab to slab, the minimal height is 3,10 meters which improves comfortably the atmosphere of

the building of an immaculate white. It is important to notice that the structure of the tower

weights through this car park in order to facilitate the descent of the loading of the whole

building.In the architecture of the AGORA GARDEN project, the association of the living

(Bios), the biotechnologies (renewable energies and nanotechnologies), and the NICT (New

Technologies of Information and Communication), can meet the Chinese antique thought which

always refused to separate the nature and the humanity that nourishes itself from it; the body

from the spirit that did not exist without it. Avant-gardist on the theme of contemporary ecologic

crisis, the Chinese thought prefers the relationships rather than the separated elements. The

human being and its life framework depend from the fusion of the variables:



As humbly wrote the influent sinologist, specialist in old China Marcel Granet in the Chinese

Thought in 1934: None opposes the human being from the nature; do not think of opposing them

such as the free element from the determined element. The Chinese people only see in the Time

and the Space a gathering of occasions and sites. These are interdependences, solidarities that

constitute the order of the Universe. We do not think that the Man could form a reign in the

Nature or that the spirit distinguishes itself from the material.

In the heart of Taipei, after having built the city on the landscape, after having then built the city

on the city, it is now time for the landscape to rebuild itself on the city. In this perspective of

ecologic resilience, the AGORA GARDEN project must be considered as an abstraction of

geography and a distortion of ecosystem.

The AGORA GARDEN project is a Nature built from the living that fights for the re-

naturalisation of Ecopolis of tomorrow.

This tower reveals strongly and surely the challenge of reinventing a new lifestyle for residential

tower, that is self-sufficient, sculpturally unprecedented. It is a project absolutely unique in the

world and charismatic drawing with poetry in the Oriental sky, a delicate superposition of sky

villas with wide suspended private gardens.

Last but not least, it is a unique ecologic landmark, new symbol of sustainability at the bottom of

the prestigious 101 tower.



6. The New “X” Town

“Blossom” Town

Report of proposing a new town because of people increased greatly recently.

Many people have no house, no job since it’s too crowded in the previous town. A

shelter is very important to every living things especially human being. As a

Malaysia, I am glad that I will be able to safe the others Malaysian life from worst

back to normal.

As a mayor of new town, I decided to build a town that provides enough

educational and health services, enough shelter to live, good jobs opportunities and

green environment for the people in “ X” town. Some of the people will pollute our

environment and destroyed green space because of building new resident area ,

industrial area and business area.



6.2 What is the important characteristic and

elements.

Bicycle as a transportation

Riding bicycle in a town is definitely a great choice. Riding a bicycle is a

quicker way of getting around the town. Bicycle is an environmentally

friendly mode of transport because it does not need any petrol or gas.

Riding a bicycle is good for your health. You develop a strong heart and

muscular limbs.

Green Spaces and forest Trees combat the green house effect. Global warming is the result of

excess greenhouse gases, created by burning fossil fuels and destroying

tropical rainforests. Tree also clean the air , it absorb odors and pollutant

gases (nitrogen oxides, ammonia, sulfur dioxide and ozone) and filter

particulates out of the air by trapping them on their leaves and bark. Green

spaces can be used as community park for citizens to mingle around.

Airport

There’s a airport in Blossom Town. Since there’s a tall building, so I

decided to build an airport on top of the building for the people who come

from other city or country. People can travel to here by taking helicopter.



6.4 Master Plan



7. Conclusion about Blossom Town

Through research to design stage, it takes lots of time to

finish this proposal. It’s not as easy as what I expect.

Throughout this assignment, I’ve learned a lot from my

lecturer and doing research. I’ve learn that priority of

citizens is placed before everything. I also learned how to

plan things well. Although this Blossom Town that I

designed might not be perfect. I hope I can do better in

future.



8. Reference Links

1. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Town

2. http://www.china-tour.cn/Lijiang/Lijiang-Travel-Guide.htm

3. http://www.localhistories.org/london.html

4. https://www.london.ca/residents/Environment/Natural-

Environments/Pages/ESAs.aspx

5. http://vincent.callebaut.org/page1-img-asiancairns.html

Documents

Enbe final project