Introduction

After analysing and understanding the brief, I understand

that I am assigned to do research on the elements of Natural

and built environment in their basic unit, form and function such

as natural topography, landscape, space, buildings and

infrastructure. In this final project, I am required to investigate

about a past, a present and a future city. With all the

information I get, I need to propose a future town which focus

on the needs of the people, the facilities, infrastructures and

how the city sustain by itself in the future.

To propose a successful town, I understand that I

need to focus on its geometric shape, form, pattern, system

and the structure of town. Besides, I need to emphasis on the

main focus and the zoning, transportation, utility of the town.

The people, population, social issues, food distribution, culture

and religion also play a major role in maintaining the successful

operation of the town.

Town VS City

Definition of Town

A settlement in which includes residential districts, shops and

amenities with its own local government.

A town is larger than a village, but smaller than a city, which

means to say it has more populations than a village but not a s

much as a city.

Definition of City

A city is a relatively large and permanent human settlement.

City normally has a particular administrative, legal, or historical

status based on local law.

City in general has more complex systems for sanitation, utilities,

land usage, housing, and transportation.

There are 4 eccentric differences between a town and a city.

(i) The demography/geography

(ii) The form of Government

(iii) The communities

(iv) Population

(i) Demography/Geography

Towns cover a smaller area than cities. As cities advance, they

merge with surrounding areas. As for towns, they do not

generally expand into other areas in the same way as the cities.

(ii) Form of Government

A town is rule by municipal bodies, which is leaded by a

chairman. On the other hand, governance of cities is handled by

corporate bodies and chairman is the head of corporation.

(iii) Communities

In terms of community, town has a complete community hinting

at one special community. However, cities can have different

communities usually categorized by race or religion.

(iv) Populations

Towns are smaller than cities and bigger than villages.

Therefore, cities are more densely populated than towns, which

mean to say that a city has more population as compared to

town. Most of a region’s administrative offices are situated in

the cities.

Investigation & Data Collection

Ancient City

Case Study 1: Athens, Greece

A view of the Acropolis in Athens, Greece The remains of the Parthenon

A brief history of Athens, Greece

It has been inhabited since before 3,000 B.C

During 1,200 B.C., the town is spread to south of the citadel on the

Acropolis and a long wall was built along the edge of rock.

In 480 B.C., the city is captured and ruined by the Persians. The

acropolis was burned. The Athenians after that spent 30 years but

only managed to build the fortifications and some secular buildings.

40 years after the peace with Persians at 449 B.C., buildings such

as Agora and Acropolis where the Parthenon sat is built.

At 404 B.C., Athens lost the Peloponnesian war.

During the Roman times, the long walls built were pulled down in

88 B.C.

During the Byzantine period after the city fell to the Crusaders in

1204, temples were converted into Christians churches.

In 1456, Athens was ruled by the Turks for 400 years. The

Parthenon was turned into a mosque and the other classical

buildings were occupied back then.

The Characteristics of Focus in Athens, Greece

- A city which emphasises on the management of water source.

Athens shows the importance of waterworks in a city. The

Aqueduct served as a main character in the city as it’s the

foremost way of conducting water to the whole area. Furthermore,

the city also emphasised on the zoning. The upper city is also the

focus of the city as it’s the zone where every main events being

held. It is situated at the centre of the city.

Significances and Details of Athens, Greece

(i) Geography

- Athens was in Attica, which is about 30 stadia (2.9 miles)

from the sea, located on the southwest slope of Mount

Lycabettus.

- The city is between the small river Cephissus to the west,

Ilissos to the south and Eridanos to the north.

- The walled city is measured 1.5km in diameter.

(ii) Systematic planning of city layout

- Athens is divided into two distinctive part: The Upper City

(Acropolis) and The Lower City.

- The Upper City (Acropolis) contains all the important

buildings such as the Parthenon, Propylaia and the Agora.

- The Agora of Ancient Athens is located to the northwest of

Acropolis. It is a public space for citizens to gather for the

military duty and even announcement of the king or council.

The Agora is later served as the market place.

- The port city of Athens, Piraeus is connected by the Long

Walls which is 40 stadia (7km) long with a narrow passage

between the two walls. The Long Walls provide a secure

connection to the sea even during times of siege.

(iii) Water Supply System

- At the very beginning time of Ancient Athens, it was supplied

with water from springs and local wells. One of the most

famous natural springs was the Spring of Caliroi, which is the

source of the Ilisos River. Water was also available within the

ancient city at local fountains, for instance the Fountain of

Pan.

- In year 540-530 B.C., Pisistratos constructed an

underground aqueduct, covering a total distance of 7.5 km

that collected additional water from the Hymettus Mountain.

After building the underground aqueduct, water is reportedly

flowed in abundance, meeting the needs of the city residents.

- Athens Persistratean Aqueduct

It is the first major hydraulic project in Athens.

It is mostly carved as a tunnel at depth reaching 14m

underground.

It has a ceramic pipeline at the ground of the tunnels.

The Long Walls secured Athens

from the invasion of Spartans in the

First Peloponnesian War (431-

432B.C.)

Greek hydraulic construction were mostly

subterranean for security reason, such as not to be

exposed in war.

The ends of the pipes were appropriately shaped, so

that each could be tightly fitted into the next pipe.

They were joined by cement or lead.

The pipe sections had elliptic openings covered by

ceramic covers, to ease cleaning and maintenance

work.

The cross sections of typical tunnels are half to one

metre high, the pipe lines or Terracotta is 20cm.

Conclusion about City

- The significances of Ancient Athens which made it a

sustainable city is the systematic planning of city layout and

its hydraulic system.

- The Athenians realized the importance of town planning,

especially the defence of a town. That’s the reason a Long

wall was built connecting Athens to its port city, that is

Piraeus to secure its connection to the sea.

- They also utilized the knowledge of zoning, where the agora

is the city’s commercial zone and also a political zone.

The technical details of the tunnels of

Persistratean Aqueduct.

The pipeline exhibited outside

the metro station of Syntagma.

- Athenians also acquires certain level of technology on

building hydraulic system which is used in the waterworks.

Athenians collect water from springs and local well at first.

From this we can know that they actually got the idea of

water collection.

- After the construction of Aqueducts, water streams are able

to be conducted across a hollow from a source to different

areas.

Information & Elements to implement in my Future Town

- The importance of town planning. Efficient and organized

urban planning is needed. From the research, I realized that

the main focus of the town such as the town council and the

commercial areas should be set in the middle of the town.

- The use of aqueducts such as canals, pipelines, inverted

siphons, reservoirs and tunnels can be installed in my future

town to conduct water stream to the other area. A water

storage system such as a dam should also be added in my

town to prevent water shortage.

This image shows a dam reservoir,

Hoover Dam at western Colorado

Plateau, United States.

Investigation & Data Collection

Present City

Case Study 2: Venice, Italy

A brief history of Venice, Italy

The origins of Venice dates back to the mid 400, which is over

1500 years ago.

Around 200 A.D. with the Roman Empire being close to its end,

the Barbarians invasions were started. The Germanic barbarians

crossed the boundaries for destructive incursions. The foundation

of the city was the result of the escaping of peoples living in the

Eastern Veneto. Peoples were forced to flee to the Archipelago of

flat islands in a lagoon, known today as Lido di Venezia (Venice

Lido).

The Venice Republic was the biggest power of the Mediterranean

during 1300’s – 1500’s, having its territories embraced a big area

in the East Mediterranean sea, encompassing the Terra Firma

(current Veneto and Friuli), and the today’s Croatian Histria and

Dalmatia with their islands, and also part of the Greek islands.

A view of the Rialto Bridge in Venice,

Italy.

An aerial view of the Venice City,

Italy.

The fall of Venice Republic occurred in 1797, when Serenissima

yielded to the military campaigns of Napoleon in Italy.

The Characteristics of focus in Venice, Italy

- Venice is a city which emphasises on its aesthetical beauty. It is

sited on a group of 118 small islands and is separated by canals

but linked by bridges. The city waterways play an important role as

the heart of both its defence and its eerie beauty. The

architectures and the artworks of the city. The Republic of Venice

was a major maritime power in the past as well as an important

centre of commerce, which made the city a wealthy city throughout

most of its history.

Significances and Details of Venice, Italy

Systematic city planning

- Venice is a city built on top of 118 small islands which is

separated by canals. The whole area is linked by bridges,

which ease the access to different parts of the city. The

plan of Venice developed around its principal waterway,

the Grand Canal.

- Being a Baroque city, the emergence of its strong city-state

is associated with its own city layout. Venice emphasise on

strict zoning, the land use is also divided into several

functions, such as to separate public space from the

private space.

-The Baroque layout is to display power, strength and

wealth of the city. The centre of a baroque city is always

public and commercial zones. The centre of Venice city is

the Piazza San Marco, which is where the sacred space of

the San Marco church and is also where the governmental

offices are located.

Architecture of City

(i) Wooden Pilings

Venice is supported by wooden pilings as its foundation. The

piles go deep into the soil, passing through layer of weak silt

and dirt to the portion of ground that was hard clay which could

hold the weight of buildings built on top of the pilings. The

woods are very water resistant such as Oak and Larch, they are

not exposed to oxygen and as a result they do not rot.

Meanwhile, the wood absorbed the sediment of silt and dirt and

quickly petrified into basically stone.

(ii) Modulo Sperimental Elettromeccanico (MoSE)

It is a project intended to protect the city of Venice, Italy, and the

Venetian Lagoon from flooding. The design plan for Project

MoSE includes 78 hinged steel box gates placed throughout the

inlets at Lido, Malamocco, and Chioggia. When the tides reach

110 centimetres air will flow through the hinged gates, emptying

the water, and allow the gates to pivot upward. The 300-ton

gates will be 4m to 5m thick, 22m to 30m in length, and 20m

wide. Hinges in the gate will have a spherical shape and will be

made up of ducts for air compression. The Caissons will be

placed on piles in trenches with dimensions of up to 60 meters in

length, 10 meters in depth, and 45 meters in width. The soil at

each inlet will be strengthened with jet grouting and the ground

around the caissons will be secured with rock mattresses. For

A night view of the Piazza San

Marco which is at the centre of

Venice city, Italy

Location of Piazza San

Marco at the centre of the

Venice, Italy

the construction of the caissons a craft harbour and 16 hectare

casting yard will be used in the lagoon. Caissons will be built on

platforms which will include trolley-mounted jacks. This will allow

the caissons to be rolled to ship lifts, which will lower the

caissons into the water.

(iii) Transportation

- Lagoon Area

- The canals in city provide a waterway for the water-based

transport. These water-based transportations provide the

means for transport of goods and people in the city. The

public transport used includes the water buses (Vaporetti)

and Gondolas.

- Lido & Palestrina Island

- Road traffic is allowed in Lido & Palestrina Island. There are

buses services on islands and waterbuses services linking

the islands with the other islands (Venice, Murano, Burano)

and the peninsula of Cavallino-Treporti.

- Mainland

- There is a road bridge connecting the group of islands to

the Mainland. The Marco Polo International Airport is

located on the mainland.

An overview of the Flood

Barriers in Venice, Italy

which the purpose is to

protect the city from

sinking as the result of

steadily rising sea levels.

Conclusion about City

- The canals in the city are fully utilized and it is the key of

transportation in it. This is because without it, the city would

goes into congestion and this strongly affects the operation and

also economy of the city.

- The City also fully utilized its aesthetical beauty by converting it

into a city of tourism. This provides high chances of commercial

activities in the city, which enhances the economy of the city.

Information & Elements to implement in my Future Town

- The zoning of areas in a city. I realized that the main focus of a

city is situated at the centre of it. For example, the political and

commercial areas of Venice, Italy.

- Utilize the purpose of canals or rivers in a city which can

contribute to the local community. Transportation should be

emphasised as it’s the key for the operation of a city.

- A colossal dam can also be constructed around the city to

protect the city from sinking as it can prevent floats in the city

especially when the sea level rises.

- The aesthetical appearance is also important as it served as the

main attraction of tourism to the city. Natural elements such as

canals, rivers and even greenery should be emphasised to

enhance eco-friendliness and also to beautify the environment of

city.

Investigation & Data Collection

The Future of Towns and Better Towns

LILYPAD, A Floating City of The Future

LILYPAD is a completely self-sufficient floating city designed by Belgian

architect Vincent Callebaut for future climatic refugees. The model is

proposed as a long-term solution to rising water level as per the

Intergovernmental group on the evolution of the climate forecast (GIEC).

It is a self-sufficient amphibious city and satisfies the four challenges laid

down by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development

(OECD) in March 2008 namely, climate, biodiversity, water and health.

The floating structure is directly inspired by the highly dibbled leave of

the Great Lilypad of Amazonia Victoria Regia. The double skin of the city

is made of polyester fibres covered by a layer of titanium dioxide (TiO2)

which by reacting to the ultraviolet rays then enable to absorb the

atmospheric pollution by photocatalytic effect.

LILYPAD has a capacity to shelter 50,000 individuals. It consists of 3

mountains and 3 marinas, which are meant for entertainment purposes,

surrounding a centrally located artificial lagoon that collects and purifies

water.

An aerial view of the floating future city,

Lilypad City.

The elevation view of the floating city

Information & Elements to implement in my Future Town

(i) The idea of a self-sufficient floating city.

- The Lilypad would have three marinas, and three mountains to

surround a centrally-located artificial lagoon that is totally

immersed below the water line to act as ballast for the city.

The three mountains and marinas will house venues for work,

shopping and entertainment. There are also suspended

gardens and aquaculture farms which would be located below

the tideline would be used to grow food and biomass.

Renewable energy technologies including thermal, solar, tidal,

wind and biomass would be available in the floating city and

so designed to produce more energy than what is consumed.

(ii) The Floating Mechanism of Lilypad City

- The floating structure, which is the ‘branches’ under the city is

inspired by the highly ribbed leave of the great lily pad of

Amazonia Victoria Regia.

The floating structure is "branches" of the Ecopolis inspired of the

highly ribbed leave of the giant lilypad of the Amazonia Victoria Regia.