Revitalization of Kajang Town Essay Example

nature, surrounded by an agricultural belt supervised by public authorities. The city center was designed to include commercial development, club buildings, and cultural spaces. This concept led to the development of Letchworth (Parker ; Unwin) and Welwyn, New York as the first two garden cities. The radial diagram illustrates the general town plan of Welwyn Garden City as drawn by Louis de Soissons.

The railway is an essential part of the overall plan in "Ebenezer Howard, The Three Magnets" as it serves as the north-south axis.

Kajang Garden City

The concept for the revitalization of Kajang town aims to incorporate the Garden City characteristics and concept, with some modifications and improvements to suit the current development and location. The main ring road will effectively address the congestion issues in Kajang town, which is transitioning into a new phase. Secondary and local roads will branch out from the main ring road.

The hierarchy of open spaces is carefully planned to accommodate green areas, the public realm, and buffer zones. The relocation and refurbishment of open spaces are undertaken to achieve an optimal ratio between open spaces and developed areas, resulting in a pleasing figure ground. After considering all factors, Kajang is revitalized to include a mixture of development uses, essential healthcare and education facilities, accommodation options, commercial and service establishments, smooth traffic flow for vehicles, and a pedestrian-friendly environment.

Site Concept

From a bird's eye view, the transportation hub acts as a transitional point connecting various cities and towns. Over time, Kajang has developed into a transition town and provides an alternative route for people looking to avoid toll charges.

The problem of congestion in Kajang town is creating

another problem - it is causing a congestion in the vehicular flow. However, after implementing the Garden City concept and the main ring road system, this problem will be taken care of. In order to sustain this improvement, it is necessary to have a well-functioning transportation hub. The majority of the local people in Kajang work outside the town, specifically in places like Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya. They are only available during the night due to their daytime work commitments. Therefore, in order to integrate them into the community and enliven Kajang town, certain vibrant measures need to be taken.

{draw:frame} The development aims to address the congestion problem, global oil price issue, and contribute to a more green and sustainable city. {draw:frame} Situated at the south gate of Kajang town (as part of the revitalized version of Kajang Masterplan), it maximizes the use of the main ring road and KTM railway for connectivity. This location offers great potential for establishing a transportation hub that would alleviate traffic within Kajang town. The accompanying axonometric with label illustrates the concept of segregating yet staying connected.

Public Realm

1 Concept: Segregate yet Connected * {draw:frame} 3.

2* An integral component of the public realm, this park features a linear design with hardscape and a water feature to separate the different functions of the building. It acts as both a divider and a connector for the main office, commercial and leisure block, and promenade area. With its solid structure, this space has great potential. The building facade is designed to be transparent, allowing for a visually stimulating experience from the park and potential observation of the vista park's natural surroundings.

The glass

wall facade serves two purposes: promoting natural surveillance and adding visual interest to the open space. It allows people to see into the building and distinguish between the commercial and administrative office blocks. {draw:frame} {draw:frame} The location of the building at the end of the linear park provides a vista element. Additionally, an open space is created here to create a transition between the built-up area and the development around the water body.

The promenade also serves as an extension space for the food court. It possesses three urban qualities, with vitality being one of them. This vitality is demonstrated through its vibrancy, safety, comfort, and high activity level. The large number of windows and doors that connect to the park create an active atmosphere in the public realm, as there is constant movement occurring.

- The objective is to create a safer public space by constructing buildings like an administrative office block and a commercial and leisure block, both of which overlook the park. These buildings aim to promote a vibrant public realm by encouraging people to use them throughout the day.
- To achieve variety and diversity, three types of building functions are incorporated, namely office spaces, commercial areas, and a food court. This incorporation creates potential for diverse users with different activities and schedules, ensuring that the public space is always occupied with people regardless of the time of day.

Increased user activity not only enhances safety through increased surveillance ("eyes on the streets"), but also benefits urban amenities and small businesses like corner shops. This successful combination promotes user interaction.

Robustness

The ability to adapt to various purposes and circumstances is key. While both indoor and

outdoor spaces require robustness, they have different implications. The linear park exemplifies robustness by utilizing surrounding buildings for shade and creating a wind tunnel effect for a refreshing breeze. Additionally, the park can adapt its uses as necessary. Similarly, the promenade deck demonstrates robustness by allowing adjacent buildings to expand their activities into the luxurious open spaces provided by the promenade area.

- Both of these open spaces greatly support pedestrian activities. They also respond to development, landscape, and culture, making them special in their own way. The linear park, in particular, has its own character as it interacts with the surrounding buildings and supports them physically or visually. The shopping and working 'culture' contribute to the park having its own identity.

The transition park boasts a magnificent view of the promenade, while the promenade itself has its own unique charm, offering a rich culinary culture and providing excellent viewing opportunities for visitors. Additionally, the design aims to create a sense of continuity along the street and clearly define private and public areas.

The buildings have been designed in a way that forms a complete circle around the outer edge, with the street pavement linking them together. The main objective of this design is to establish distinct areas for public, semi-public, and private purposes within the enclosed space. Inside this developed area, there is a straight park that functions as a public space separating the two structures intended for private and semi-private use. The intention behind this design is to guarantee an appealing, secure, and effective environment accessible to everyone in society.

The design of this public realm combines a variety of elements such as paving, planting, lighting, orientation,

signage, and street furniture to create a comprehensive urban experience. Its layout, views, and usability have been carefully considered for all types of users.

Conclusion

The design successfully incorporates numerous urban qualities in order to ensure the sustainability and future expansion of the public realm. It considers the needs of different users, resulting in a vibrant space that will be consistently utilized. Furthermore, the public realm enhances its surrounding context by promoting lively pedestrian activities and vehicular movement. The design is also environmentally conscious as it aligns with the concept of a Garden City, prioritizing circulation and sustainability.