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Abstract
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Anthropology
Cultural Studies

Beyond Building Envelop: Urban Form of Cultural Public Space

Profile image of Melody H L YiuMelody H L Yiu

2019, International Seminar of Urban Form 2019 conference proceedings

Abstract

Cultural buildings are the key-pieces that gives character to urban form, yet it is more often perceived as the iconic landmark, an isolated object that is devoid of context. The significance of cultural buildings should be more than its visual impact, but to play a greater part in the making of urban form. This paper explores the role of cultural buildings in the city beyond the nominal aesthetic or functional view. The architecture is then read as the container of social space, contributing to the public realm at a spatial and experiential dimension. Grounded in the approach of Nolli map and figure-ground drawings, cases of contemporary cultural buildings are examined in plan through multiple scale from building to site and districts, to review how they respond to the urban context. The review of two international cases of cultural architecture sets the tone of this approach, followed by a detail analysis of the recently complete theatre at the West Kowloon Cultural District in Hong Kong. The result of this study presents a renewed perspective on cultural buildings in the city, and their contribution to the creation of public space and urban form. ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

Figures (4)
Figure 1 The Spectrum of Public Spatial Types
Figure 1 The Spectrum of Public Spatial Types
Figure 2 Figure-Ground Plan (at same scale): The Centre Pompidou (left); The Guggenheim, Bilbao (right) In reference to Collage City’s description regarding the potential of architecture to form urban space, the Pompidou can be understood as a “space-container” while the Bilbao is clearly the “space-occupier”. This illustrate what the cultural building is capable of, either to contribute to the urban context and create meaningful public space, or to consume its surrounding ground with no interaction or contribution. This criticism is also along the line of the urban form debate between traditional ‘townscape’ and modernist planning ideals, which the new towns of towers in (green) field has created a reverse figure-ground diagram with absence of spatial definition.
Figure 2 Figure-Ground Plan (at same scale): The Centre Pompidou (left); The Guggenheim, Bilbao (right) In reference to Collage City’s description regarding the potential of architecture to form urban space, the Pompidou can be understood as a “space-container” while the Bilbao is clearly the “space-occupier”. This illustrate what the cultural building is capable of, either to contribute to the urban context and create meaningful public space, or to consume its surrounding ground with no interaction or contribution. This criticism is also along the line of the urban form debate between traditional ‘townscape’ and modernist planning ideals, which the new towns of towers in (green) field has created a reverse figure-ground diagram with absence of spatial definition.
The overall district situation is similar to that of Bilbao and many urban waterfront developments with the character of a “terminus” that discontinue the urban fabric, although the Xiqu Center is located at the eastern end of the district, the ‘gateway’ position that sees the transition from existing urban fabric into the future district urban form. Reviewing the proposed master plan, it has a rather compact urban massing along the strip of land stretching from the current urban edge to the waterfront, with a density that delineates internal ‘streets’ and public plaza. All building mass appears to be built-to-line and with high plot coverage to maintain the dense urban fabric, including that of the Xiqu Center, which occupies almost the full eastern parcel at the intersection of two major roadways that bounded the district. Figure 3 Proposed Master Plan for The West Kowloon Cultural District, Hong Kong
The overall district situation is similar to that of Bilbao and many urban waterfront developments with the character of a “terminus” that discontinue the urban fabric, although the Xiqu Center is located at the eastern end of the district, the ‘gateway’ position that sees the transition from existing urban fabric into the future district urban form. Reviewing the proposed master plan, it has a rather compact urban massing along the strip of land stretching from the current urban edge to the waterfront, with a density that delineates internal ‘streets’ and public plaza. All building mass appears to be built-to-line and with high plot coverage to maintain the dense urban fabric, including that of the Xiqu Center, which occupies almost the full eastern parcel at the intersection of two major roadways that bounded the district. Figure 3 Proposed Master Plan for The West Kowloon Cultural District, Hong Kong
Figure 4 The Xiqu Center: figure-ground massing (left), Nolli-Map diagram (right) of this public plaza literally removes the building boundary to become a semi-outdoor public area that is accessible 24/7. With no doors or gates it intends to blend in with the surrounding context, although there is none at the moment, as the master plan is being completed. It is not only a theatre foyer for the performances but people can pass through and use “the plaza” on a daily basis. The constrain of a compact plot with tight program requirement did not limit the architect’s vision in the making of public space, and it was answered with innovative solution that satisfy both aesthetic and practical needs. [In comparison of the figure-ground plan and Nolli-Map diagram of the Xiqu Center, we can read its intention fo incorporate an urbanistic strategy into the design of a cultural monument. Unfortunately, the site condition is not ideal as it is bounded by major roadways and disconnected with the surrounding, also the existing old city fabric has already been replaced be the tower podium typology that gives minimal consideration in urban form. However, the design of the Xiqu Center still attempts to create an internal condition that resembles an urban public space, even with trees planted throughout in the covered plaza. This again exemplify how the cultural building can contribute to urban form and public space in a variety of situation. To continue the urban space sensitivty throughout the new district, the potential lies in the adjacent parcels as they are being developed, whether it would be able to interact and compliment this internal public space. In fact, the super density of Hong Kong has given a good baseline to produce compact urban form with a clear figure of public space void.
Figure 4 The Xiqu Center: figure-ground massing (left), Nolli-Map diagram (right) of this public plaza literally removes the building boundary to become a semi-outdoor public area that is accessible 24/7. With no doors or gates it intends to blend in with the surrounding context, although there is none at the moment, as the master plan is being completed. It is not only a theatre foyer for the performances but people can pass through and use “the plaza” on a daily basis. The constrain of a compact plot with tight program requirement did not limit the architect’s vision in the making of public space, and it was answered with innovative solution that satisfy both aesthetic and practical needs. [In comparison of the figure-ground plan and Nolli-Map diagram of the Xiqu Center, we can read its intention fo incorporate an urbanistic strategy into the design of a cultural monument. Unfortunately, the site condition is not ideal as it is bounded by major roadways and disconnected with the surrounding, also the existing old city fabric has already been replaced be the tower podium typology that gives minimal consideration in urban form. However, the design of the Xiqu Center still attempts to create an internal condition that resembles an urban public space, even with trees planted throughout in the covered plaza. This again exemplify how the cultural building can contribute to urban form and public space in a variety of situation. To continue the urban space sensitivty throughout the new district, the potential lies in the adjacent parcels as they are being developed, whether it would be able to interact and compliment this internal public space. In fact, the super density of Hong Kong has given a good baseline to produce compact urban form with a clear figure of public space void.

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