Teacup in a Storm – Slow Architecture Under Accelerating Context
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Thesis Statement “Time savings as promised by high speed trains travel release time for more travel and spur on the consumption of distance to ever high levels of achievement……Speed pollutes space, time and the mind.” – John Whitelegg The unlimited pursuit of speed and compressed distance hasten human pace of life. High Speed Transportation is encouraged to shorten the travelling time in daily life. However, the time saved from the high speed travel is usually not allocated to spare time which can be enjoyed or contributed to personal social life. The urge to save time is fuelled by the belief that the next task is more important than the present task and we tend to pack more items in our schedule. Strangely, we are busier when we have more time saved from the high speed travel. “Slow Architecture is about the creation, appreciation, and enjoyment of all that is careful, that is textured, and that stimulates the senses in buildings. Slow Architecture is an approach to design and construction, a philosophy of “how” rather than a manifesto of “what.”” – Brian O’Brien This thesis focuses on effect of deceleration of speed in architecture on human behaviors which ultimately shape or alter the physical space. Speed in architecture has two layers of meaning here which are the development speed and circulation speed. The development speed in Hong Kong is considered as fast as we are so eager to exploit the maximum development potential from our precious lands. The fast and unthoughtful development easily generates hastily conceived, fashionable, evanescent, and shallow architecture. The circulation speed is also increased by the accelerating infrastructures which push us to walk faster. The deceleration in architecture refers to the prolonged development and also the circulation space that encourage lingering and activities that consume our time. Thesis Description
XRL station in the heart of Hong Kong The Hong Kong section of Express Rail Linkage (XRL) linking Hong Kong and Guangdong cities will be completed in 2015. The monstrous XRL station located in the heart of Hong Kong, as the termination of 200km/h railway and a transitional space to metro system and surrounding urban area, collect and diverse the passengers on daily basis. It imposes a high speed infrastructural layer which supported by multilane roads with large turning radius on Yaumatei which is rich in streetscape and hardly considered as a high speed community. The tension on the edge between two speeds is yet to be defined and resolved. This thesis will first research on the relationship between speed, human behavior and urban space, then analysis on Yaumatei and the XRL station will be conducted to seek for opportunity to improve the redevelopment scheme through a decelerated process (Development Speed). Moreover, the walking experience will also be considered and redesign to accommodate a slower speed which is hopefully providing a more exciting and enjoyable urban streetscape for pedestrian (Circulation Speed).
Development speed The construction of XRL station stimulates the skyrocket of properties price and value in Yaumatei. The redevelopment of Yaumatei is foreseen to be vigorous. Hong Kong urban renewal is criticized as non-thoughtful, short-sighted and destructive which usually erase the character of original community and replace it with faceless shopping malls and high rise towers. The prolonged redevelopment proposal will allows a gradual transformation of urban space in Yaumatei which can adapt to changing urban context. There are more possibilities in a prolonged development because time is allowed for the community to reflect the influence of its neighboring developments. The critical “edge” of Yaumatei will be identified and a redevelopment plan suggesting different speeds, spatial qualities, programs and events will be proposed to improve the quality of the urban renewal product.
Circulation Speed The reallocation of time saved from the high speed travel determinates the urban spatial design in term of program, streetscape, vehicular speed and pedestrian speed. What will be done with the time saved from high speed railway? The time might be contributed to shopping, business, more travel, sight-seeing, social or family time either in Hong Kong or mainland China. Human behavior and the containing urban space are mutual affluent. The redevelopment catalyzed by the construction of XRL station is most likely to replace the original slow streetscape with a pedestrian network, well connected to shopping malls or luxury housings, which can accommodate a higher speed. The deceleration of circulation provides a more fruitful walking experience to the visitors from China and locals. The spatial quality of a decelerated circulation space will be tested to celebrate the lingering and the pursuit of a slow living pace and style. The critical “edge” will be identified in Yaumatei and the slow architecture can be tested and imposed in order to improve the urban condition of Yaumatei. The spatial and programmatic qualities of the edge in Yaumatei and its dialog to the XRL station are yet to be defined. The original streetscape of Yaumatei is respected and celebrated with a downshifted speed and pace in the whole district.
Outline of Research & Design Methodologies Definition – Defining the relationship between speed and human behavior – Defining the relationship between speed and urban space – Defining the slowness in architecture and urbanism and the advantage of deceleration Analysis – Analysis of current planning of XRL station and Yaumatei, including the designed speed, program, infrastructure and current streetscape – Documentation of current streetscape of Yaumatei and what is perceived when one walking on it – Identify the critical “edge” with tension created by the collision of different speed. The result would be the site for design proposal Design – A prolonged development plan of Yaumatei is proposed. The objective, methodology and quality of the plan will be suggested on time basis. – A detail of slow architecture will be designed on the “edge” which is tested to perform a better circulation experience with decelerated speed. Bibliography – Slow architecture for living, 2005, Frigerio Design Group – In Praise of Slowness, 2005, Carl Honoré – Transport for a Sustainable Future, 1993, John Whitelegg – American Urban Architecture – Catalysts in the Design of Cities, 1989, Wayne Attoe and Donn Logan – The Impact of the High-Speed Rail Station on the Urban Form of Surrounding Areas, 2011, Shuai Ma – Future Transport in Cities, 2001, Brian Richards – Transport Logistics, 2005, Issa Baluch – In the Heart of the Metropolis: Yaumatei and its People, 1999, P.H. Hase – Mobile M+–Yau Ma Tei, 2012, Stella Fong and Shirley Surya – Therme Vals spa complex, 1996, Peter Zumthor |
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A good progression towards such a unique thesis theme.