avenir report


Content:1. Introduction

2. A City Investigation on Better City Guidelines and Issues

3. Investigation & Data Collection: Ancient City

4. Investigation & Data Collection: Present City

5. Investigation & Data Collection: Future City

6. Case study on City in the sky

7. The New “X” City- Avenir

8. Conclusion

9. References list

1. IntroductionKong Xhiang Lynn | 0317730 | Group F| FNBE Feb 2014 | Taylor’s University

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For the final project of Elements of Built and Natural Environment (ENBE), students are required to build a new future city as a Mayor due to several reasons why the previous city is no longer live-able. We are to propose a new layout for the new city where the basic elements to build a city such as topography, landscape, space, building and infrastructure are taken account.

Students are allowed to enhance or improvise a current city or choose a new setting such as Underground city, Underwater City, Floating on Water City, or a City in the Air.

The idea of this project is to help students understand the component and elements of a city and what makes a better future city.

2. The City

2.1 The City Definition



A center of population, commerce, and culture; a town of significant size and importance.

A city normally have complex systems for sanitation, utilities, land usage, housing and transportation. The concentration of development greatly aids interaction between people and businesses, which benefits both parties in process.

2.2 Brief historyThe world’s first city was founded during 7500BC, where Uruk is the largest Neolithic site found to date. Among the early Old World cities, Mohenjo-daro of the Indus Valley Civilization (in present-day Pakistan), existing from about 2600 BC, was one of the largest city with a population of 50,000 or more.

Whereas in the middle ages, London was the first to exceed a population of 1 million. But some estimated that Baghdad’s population may have been as large as 2 million in the 9th century.

The growth of modern industry from the late 18th century onward has led to a massive urbanization and rise of new great cities, first in Europe and the others in other regions, as new opportunities have brought a huge numbers of migrants from the rural communities to the urban areas.

2.3 What makes a cityPhysical means:

Fixed site Durable shelters Permanent facilities for assembly Interchange Storage

Social means:

Social division of labor (serves not merely the economic life but the cultural process)

2.4 What makes a good city

Based on Kevin Lynch's A Theory of Good City Form (Cambridge, MA, MIT Press, 1981), which offers five basic dimensions of city performance: vitality, sense, fit, access, and control. To these, he also added two “meta-criteria” which is, efficiency and justice.



Vital city:

Successfully fulfils the biological needs of the inhabitants Provides a safe environment for the inhabitants’ activities

Sensible City: Organized (which allows its residents to perceive and understand

the city’s form and function)

City with Good Fit:

Provides buildings, spaces, and network required (for its residents to pursue their projects successfully

Accessible city:

Allows people of all age to gain the activities, resources, services, and information that they need

City with Good Control:

Well arranged Allow citizens to contribute in the management of the spaces in

which they work and reside

Efficient City:

Achieves the goals as listed above at the least cost Balances the goals with one another

2.5 What is the future city

A future city is a city where sustainability becomes a priority in city development where thinking GREEN is a way to go.

An example can be seen in Copenhagen, Denmark, where the peoples are encouraged to cycle around the city. Cyclist are prioritized and many cycling tracks are built along the main roads.

3. Investigation & Data Collection:Ancient City



Babylon

3.1 HistoryBabylon is the most famous city from ancient Mesopotamia whose ruins lie in modern-day Iraq 59 miles (94kilometres) southwest of Baghdad.

Babylon was founded at some point prior to the reign of Sargon of Akkad (a.k.a. Sargon the Great) who ruled from 2334-2279 BCE and claimed to have built the temples in Babylon (where other ancient sources seem to indicate that Sargon himself found the city).

At that time, Babylon seems to have been a minor city or perhaps a large port town on the Euphrates River at the point where it runs closest to the river Tigris. Until King Hammurabi (1795-1750 BCE) transformed the city into one of the most powerful and influential in all of Mesopotamia. By 1763 BCE, King Hammurabi has successfully united all of Mesopotamia under the rule of Babylon which, at this time, was the largest city in the world.

3.2 What makes it a significant city and what are the details?



Babylon is well known for its famous King Hammurabi’s law codes. But there are only one example of the policies he implemented to maintain peace and encourage prosperity. He enlarged and heightened the walls of the city, engaged in great public works which included opulent temples, and made diplomacy an integral part of his administration.

Houses:

• two-story brick dwelling of about a dozen rooms and was plastered and whitewashed both inside and out

Below the house was often located

Streets:• Wide and straight • Intersected approximately at right angles• Paves with brick and bitumen• a mausoleum in which the family dead were buried (due to their

beliefs)

Water System (to water The Hanging Garden):

• Water pump is used to transport water from the Euphrates River up to The Hanging Garden where the gardens were very high up.

• Buckets are attached to the chain where the chain was connected to two big wheels at the top and bottom. (These allow the chain to come back up after it went bottom to retrieve the water)

• Slaves are used to power the chain so that it would continue to move

• The buckets filler with water will then tip over at the top of the pump so that the high gardens could be reached and irrigated. The water travelled down channels so that all of the plants could be watered

• And in order to preserve the building from water damage, the gardens were built with big stone foundations that were covered with lead.

3.3 Conclusion of the CityThe streets of Babylon are well connected where each of them intersect at the right angles which will help increase the city’s



connectivity. Also, the water system used in watering the plants is also a great way to reduce unnecessary usage of man power.

3.4 What are the information or element that you can use for your future cityThe information that I am using for my new city is the way Babylon connect their streets, whereby each street is intersected at approximately right angles. This way, I can increase my City’s connectivity and also circulation.

Other than that, the water system used in watering the Hanging Garden is also an inspiration in watering the plants hanging on the sides of the buildings’ wall.

4. Investigation & Data Collection:



Present City

Paris, France

4.1 HistoryBetween 250 and 200 BC, the Parisii (a sub-tribe of the Celtic Senones) settled there and founded a fishing village on the island in the river that is the present-day Ile de la Cité – the center around which Paris developed.

The Romans conquered Parisii in 52AD and they built a town on the River Seine. The Romans called it Paris Lutetia. At that time, Paris was not a particularly large or important town, with a population of not more than 10,000 people.

In 486, a race called Franks captured Paris, and during the time, Paris flourished. Paris is then raided by the Vikings during the 9th century. Yet from the 11th century onwards, Paris prospered again.

In the middle ages, Paris grew rapidly and it became one of the largest towns in Europe. Its population probably reached 200,000 (it was huge at that time according to the medieval standards)




Washing Outlets (bouches de lavage):

• 12,000 of them in Paris • The water under relatively low

pressure emerge from the curbside opening, of which part of the cover is the side walk• Used to clean the streets of

Paris• An old

piece of carpet diverts the

water from the road • The idea is to keep the water in the gutter

where the sidewalk curb meets the road, so it can collect assorted debris and flush it into the sewer system

• The street cleaners often helps to keep the debris moving when stuck between the tyres of the parking cars.

• And if there is a large amount of debris, the Paris street cleaners will quickly sweep it away

4.3 Conclusion of the CityParis has a very unique way of clearing and washing its streets, where almost zero man power is needed.

4.4 What are the information or element that you can use for your future city



The information that I am going to propose for my future city is the washing outlets used in Paris, where not much man power is needed in process.

5. Investigation & Data Collection:Future City

Glasgow, Scotland

5.1 HistoryGlasgow was first founded in the 6th century when St Mungo built a church at Glas Glu (meaning, green place). A fishing settlement at the green place eventually grew into a small town. Glasgow was then given to a bishop in 1115, indicating that it was a fairly important settlement at that time.

During the medieval times, Glasgow had a population of about 1,500 people. It may seem small to us, but at that time in the middle ages, the population in towns were much smaller than they are today. Even so, in the middle ages, Glasgow was not one of Scotland’s largest or more important towns.

Between the 16th and 17th centuries, Glasgow grew rapidly. By 1600 century, Glasgow had a population of about 7,000 people, and by 1700 century, it reached to the amount of 12,000.

By the end of 18th century, the population of Glasgow had reached 84,000 people. By the standards at the time, it was considered a large



town. In 1871, it had reached the population of half a million, this was despite a very high infant mortality rate. (Up to half of all children born died before their 5th birthday)


Objectives used in the development of the Local Transportation Strategy:

• Provide accessible, accountable Council services that are effective and offer value for money.

• Create a cleaner, safer City and a sustainable environment.

• Promote social inclusion and tackle poverty and improve health and well-being.

• Sustain the physical, social, economic, cultural and environmental regeneration of Glasgow City Council.

• Develop Glasgow’s metropolitan role, quality of life, heritage and services.

5.3 Conclusion of the CityThe objectives used by Glasgow are a few of the ways in developing a city in the future.

5.4 What are the information or element that you can use for your future cityI will take the objectives in account when planning for my future city as it is one of the fundamental element in sustaining a city.



6. Case study on the City in the sky

6.1 Where did you get your information?I got my information by researching through fictions and forums online, where they discuss and explain how a City in a Sky survive.

6.2 What is the interesting part and important considerationThe interesting part in creating this City is that I am able to be exposed to a new information or factual by researching. Also, this type of City is still a fiction where today’s technologies are not able to meet up to it requirements yet. It is challenging as I have to research on every aspects in creating this City as I am not expose to it.

The Important considerations when creating this city are: How to make it float in the sky? Where do I get my resources from? How do I manage the waste? How do I overcome the weather above the sky? And many more.

Building a City in the Sky is not easy as the City must be stable, so through research, I have discovered quantum levitation where an object is able to remain stagnant in the air without bobbing up and down. This way, it will not cause any sickness to my citizens.



7. The New “X” City – Avenir (City in the Air)

7.1 How did you came up with the solution to create this new cityThe problems faced while creating this new city were solved by doing researches online and also studies. For example, how do I make my city float in the sky? Through researches, I’ve discovered quantum levitation, where an object can stay on air by using superconductors and permanent magnets without bobbing up and down.

7.2 Why is it on air The reason why my city is on air is because the earth has been destroyed, where there is almost no land left and only covered with seawater. Also, by building my city on air, I can avoid various natural disasters such as tsunami, tornado, earthquakes and etc.

7.3 What is the important characteristic and elements

Technologies to support the city above clouds: • By using quantum levitation

• Where the city can be hold in the air on a fixed position • Only superconductor and a permanent magnet is used • It is green• Doesn’t emit any harmful substances and doesn’t requires

any fuel to generate it

Resources:• Have to take space mining in consideration as the Earth doesn’t

have enough resources to sustain us forever.

Food: Foods are grown hydroponically Synthetic meat (as cow, sheep and other farm animals occupy

space)

Sustainable development and sustainability:• Car free zones • Pedestrian zones• Parks, Gardens and or Greeneries within the city• Hybrid transportations



Water and Sanitation Infrastructure:• Includes:

• water provision• waste-water treatment• Sewage infrastructure.

• relate directly to the health outcomes due to the susceptibility to disease experienced by populations that lack adequate access

• Water can be obtained from air

Weather:• Winds:

• Buildings are built with a strong foundation • Residents are inhabited in a closed environment where they

are not directly exposed to the storms • Lightning:

• Many strong lightning arrester is needed • Humidity:

• Causes water damps• Able to collect water easily• Benefits: reduces fire risk (on the outside)

Transportation:• “ Flying Car “

It runs on zero friction magnetic rail Where it almost flies along the track

• Elevator To transport people or supplies from one floor to another



7.4 Aim of the City

To provide a harmonious and better living for the people

7.5 Avenir


Overall Look

Perspective views

Town

Hall



Layout / Zoning Plan

Religion Buil

Lower Floor 1: View if

the elevator With

water damp at the

MilitaryBas

Industrial Area

Town Hall



Pools

Water Damp

Religions’ Building

Hospital

Park

Park

Police HQ

Military Base

Commercial Area

Traffic Control Tower

Plane Port

Industrial Area

Water Damp

Main Floo

r

Industrial Area:Where most of the citizens work at, such as:

• Offices • Factories

Water Damp:• For storage of water to sustain the city• Water collected from the clouds

Town Hall:• Where the mayor and his/her servant

work atCommercial Area:Where the citizens get their basic needs at, eg:

• Magazine stores• Grocery stores• Accessories and clothing stores

Parks:• Green space• Badminton court• Football court• Recreation activities• Meetings or gatherings

Plane Port:• Where most of the polices’ or militaries’

vehicles are parked at for standbyTraffic Control Tower:

• To control the air traffic to prevent any collisions or accidents

Religions’ Building:• Where the Muslims, Buddhist, Christians

and also Hindus pray• Separated into four departments where

Orange: Buddhist Green: MuslimPurple: Hindu Blue: Christian



Water Damp

Religions’ Building

Hospital

Police Department

Military

Residential

Residential

Education Zone

Control Centre

Lower

Floo

Heavy Industrial

AreaCity Square

Residential Area:• Where the citizens live• It is lower ground to prevent direct exposure from

bad weathers or humidity Education Zone:

• Where the citizens send off their younger generations to pursue their studies

• Eg: Kindergarten, Primary School, Secondary School, College, Universities and so on.



Lower

Floo

Commercial Area

Residential

Residential

Waste Management

Engineering Room

Electrical Room

Water Filtration/ Sanitation

Heavy Industrial Area:• Heavy industrials• Manufactures of food• Agriculture• Processing and Packaging of objects


*In red lines


Transportation Plan: “Flying Train”

Lower

FlooEngineering Room:

• Where most of the mechanism and processors to make the city “fly” are at

Waste Management:• Where waste are all collected at and categorized• Also includes recycling• Waste are then ship to a specific place to degrade

or dump to decrease the weight of the cityWater Filtration/ Sanitation:

• Where the collected water from the water damp are filtered before supplying to the city

• Treatment of the water also takes place to ensure a better health

Electrical Room:• Where the electrical generators are at • Energy are collected from wind turbines

surrounded at the sides of the city


*Blue Highlights


Transportation Plan: Elevator

Main Floor Lower Floor 1

Lower Floor 2 Lower Floor 3


7.6 Conclusion about Avenir

In conclusion, Avenir is a sustainable city where the whole city is a car free zone and also promotes walking. The transportation used, such as the “Flying Train” is eco-friendly where it does not emit any harmful substances. Other than that, it runs on a zero friction magnetic rail where it produce almost no noise at all. This way, it will help reduce noise pollution in the city and provide a more peaceful and harmonious city.

Following, Avenir also uses renewable energy to sustain its city. Wind turbine and solar panels are fixed at the side of the city, lightning arrestors are also fixed around the city to protect the city from thunder where it can generate electrical energy by absorbing lightning. Also, the


Main Floor Lower Floor 1

Lower Floor 2 Lower Floor 3


waste of the city is recycled to prevent from producing excessive waste to the dump area. Green roofs and greeneries are spread out around the city where it can help to collect rain waters and also provide oxygen to the city.

8. ConclusionThe important thing that one should follow is to think green and increase the sustainability in a city. These are a few fundamental factors in developing a city which brings it to a better future.

In this project, I have learned the few elements in creating a city and ways to sustain it.



9. Reference Links1. http://www.thefreedictionary.com/city

2. http://www.art.net/~hopkins/Don/simcity/manual/history.html

3. http://www.ancient.eu.com/babylon/

4. http://www.discoverfrance.net/France/Paris/Paris_history.shtml

5. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Paris#Prehistoric_Paris

6. http://www.localhistories.org/paris.html

7. http://www.localhistories.org/glasgow.html

8. http://nanowrimo.org/forums/reference-desk/threads/132545


http://nanowrimo.org/forums/reference-desk/threads/132545

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

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

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Paris#Prehistoric_Paris

http://www.discoverfrance.net/France/Paris/Paris_history.shtml

http://www.ancient.eu.com/babylon/

http://www.art.net/~hopkins/Don/simcity/manual/history.html

http://www.thefreedictionary.com/city


9. http://www.conceptart.org/forums/showthread.php/109470-IDW-49-Futuristic-Steam-

Powered-Locomotive

10. http://www.gmfus.org/galleries/cdp-tcn/ Jensen__How_Copenhagen_Became_a_Cycling_City.pdf


http://www.gmfus.org/galleries/cdp-tcn/Jensen__How_Copenhagen_Became_a_Cycling_City.pdf

http://www.gmfus.org/galleries/cdp-tcn/Jensen__How_Copenhagen_Became_a_Cycling_City.pdf

http://www.conceptart.org/forums/showthread.php/109470-IDW-49-Futuristic-Steam-Powered-Locomotive

http://www.conceptart.org/forums/showthread.php/109470-IDW-49-Futuristic-Steam-Powered-Locomotive

avenir report

Design

friction magnetic

king hammurabi

case study

investigation

harmful substances

data collection

fnbe feb 2014

citys connectivity