X town

Content:
1. Introduction (P3)
2. A Town (P4-5)
3. Investigation & Data Collection: Ancient and old cities/town (P6-7)
4. Investigation & Data Collection: The present towns/cities(P8-11)
5. Investigation & Data Collection: The future and better township(P12-16)
6. The New “X” Town (P17-24)
7. The Conclusion (P25)
8. References list (P26-27)
2

1.Introduction
For this project, I will have to be the mayor of The ‘X’ Town. The people in ‘X’
Town require a new town because the previous town is too crowded. As a
mayor, I will need to propose a new layout for the new ‘X’ town in a short period
of time.
The town will be small with an area of 30km2
or smaller with a population in
between 80,000- 200,000. The town is to be planned for a group of Malaysians
and the town is in Malaysia. When planning the town, there’s a lot to be
considered including the structure and zoning of the town. The planning should
also include sustainable living initiatives.
I am required to make thorough research on ancient, present and future
towns before the planning of the ‘X’ Town. The reason being it is important to
learn from the past to not make mistakes. Also, researches on future towns can
bring in new ideas and technologies on the new town.
Through this project, I am
1. To expose the elements of the natural and built environment in their basic unit,
form and function
2. To show symbiotic relationship of the elements of the natural and built
environment
3. To question, analyze and articulate the impact between natural and built
environment
3

2.The Town
The Town Definition
A town is an urban area that has a name, defined boundaries, and local
government, and that is generally larger than a village and smaller than a city.
Unlike cities, towns tend not to incorporate surrounding areas. Towns are ruled by
municipalities with a chairman as the head of municipality instead of a mayor.
What is the brief history?
A town is not just an overgrown village. It has its own economy. Goods are made
and traded there. So a good site might be on a bend in a navigable river, or
beside a river crossing. The development of towns is generally complex. In those
of our historic towns not too mangled by Blitz or boom, you can trace the growth
from medieval core through belts of Georgian, Victorian and modern buildings,
almost like tree rings.
What makes a town?
A town is made up of a certain amount of population, government area,
educational area, residential area, commercial area, religion and culture, parks,
public services and supported by law, equipped by transportation, facilities and
ports
What makes a good town/ township?
A better livable town should include:
- Organized zoning
- Complete and proper planning of infrastructure
- A landmark (or a few)
- Fixed transits should be used widely to keep the streets busy
- Less dependency on fossil fueled automobiles
- Less carbon emission
4

- Green spaces to reduce the heat island effect
- Wise use of natural and/or renewable resources to decrease the level of
pollution
- Practicing 3R
- Connectivity between citizens
- Transparency between the municipal and citizens
- Advanced technology in terms of health and medical knowledge
- Low crime rate
- Free trade zone
5

What is a future town?
A future town is basically a smart and sustainable town socially and
environmentally. A future town aims to reduce or eliminate fossil-fuel use, adopt
sustainable building practices, promote "green space" and clean air quality,
implement energy-efficient and widely available public transportation, create
walk able city designs and develop well-organized mixed-use neighborhoods
that combine living, working and shopping. These qualities add up to sustainable
urbanism.
6

3.Investigation & Data Collection:
Ancient Cities / towns
Pompeii, Ancient Rome
Pompeii happened to be in the mainstream of much of ancient Roman architectural
innovation which seems to have been occurring in the Campania region around the
2nd and 1st century BC: roughly in correspondence with Pompeii’s annexation as
Roman colony. This activity was the result of the economic opportunity and
changing social needs brought by Rome, combined with the technological and
building skills readily available in Campania. Whilst Pompeii itself is unlikely to have
been the hotbed of architectural innovation it is in many way fortunate that the city
has enabled us to witness the architecture of a site which had for a period been
situated in a region where architecture was at its most innovative.
One of the fundamental factors influencing Pompeian architecture is the
subsequent influences of different cultures, starting with the Samnites, followed by
the Etruscans, Greek colonies and finally Romans.
Roman amphitheatres are large, circular or oval open-air venues with raised
seating. They were used for events such as gladiator combats, chariot races,
venationes (animal slayings) and executions.
The amphitheatre of Pompeii is the earliest Roman amphitheatre known to have
been built of stone; previously, they had been built out of wood. The amphitheatre's
design is seen by some modern crowd control specialists as near optimal. Its
washroom, located in the neighboring palaestra has also been cited as an
inspiration for better bathroom design in modern stadiums. The amphitheatre could
seat around 20,000 people, and served not only Pompeii but also the inhabitants of
surrounding towns.
7

The earlier Samnite-Etruscan city was the western part of Pompeii with the Forum,
main temples and public buildings. A more organic approach to urban
development is plainly visible.
The rigorous grid structure of Greek cities, is most evident in the Eastern part of the
city, near the amphitheatre with boulevard-like parallel streets ("decuriones", W-E)
connected by smaller cross streets ("cardines", N-S) creating rectangular blocks of
buildings ("insulae").
Having to know more about Pompeii and how the town is planned, I will use the
concept of having an amphitheatre in my town for organizing town events to
increase the connectivity amongst citizens. Moreover, an amphitheatre can also be
one of the landmarks of the town.
Additionally, a mix of square and organic grids will be used when planning the
new town for a more organized but not being to obsessive and strict for a more
appealing and gentle look.
8

Present Towns / township
City of London
London is the capital city of England and the United Kingdom. It is the most populous
region, urban zone and metropolitan area in the United Kingdom. Standing on
the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its
history going back to its founding by the Romans, who named it Londinium.
The London Underground is often referred to as one of the world’s greatest
engineering feats. The London Underground is the world’s only steam-driven
underground railway and the first electrified underground railway. It is now one of
the oldest underground systems in the world and runs 400 kilometers through 270
9

stations. With over one billion passengers, the Tube is one of the most travelled
transport systems in the world.
The system's first tunnels were built just below the surface using the cut and cover
method. Later, circular tunnels – which give rise to its nickname the Tube – were dug
through the London Clay at a deeper level.
As of 2012, 91 per cent of operational expenditure is covered by passenger fares.
Today in official publicity and in general, the term 'Tube' embraces the whole
Underground system, not just the lines that run in deep-level tunnels. The schematic
Tube map, designed by Harry Beck in 1931, was voted a national design icon in 2006
Amsterdam, Netherlands
10

Amsterdam is the capital city of The Netherlands and the most populous within the
Kingdom of the Netherlands. The city is located in the province of North Holland
(Noord Holland) in the west of the country. It comprises much of the northern part of
the Randstad, one of the larger conurbations in Europe, with a population of
approximately 7 million.
Amsterdam is the most bicycle-friendly capital city in the world. In Amsterdam, over
60% of trips are made by bike in the inner city and 38% of trips are made by bike
overall in the greater city area.
As is common in Dutch cities, Amsterdam has a wide net of traffic-calmed streets
and world-class facilities for cyclists. All around are bike paths and bike racks, and
several guarded bicycle parking stations (Fietsenstalling) which can be used for a
nominal fee. In 2006, there were about 1,000,000 bicycles in Amsterdam.[4]
Bicycles are used by all socio-economic groups because of they are quick from A to
B, their convenience, Amsterdam's small size, the 400 km of bike paths,[5]
the flat
terrain, and the arguable inconvenience of driving an automobile: driving a car is
discouraged, parking fees are expensive, and many streets are closed to cars or
are one-way.[6]
Amsterdam's bike paths (Fietspad) are coloured brown, in order to
differentiate it from a footpath.
11
←Bicycle Parking
Station

Amsterdam’s trams are suitably distinctive, decked out in blue and white and armed
with a famous bell that rings out to attract the attention of any pedestrians and
cyclists in the vicinity. From Central Station to outlying neighbourhoods, the tram is
one of the quickest ways to get into and around the city centre.
As of 2014, there are 16 tram lines. In 2007, the network comprised a total of 80.5
km (50.0 mi) of track, with some sections used only for vehicles not in service. The
fleet is made up of 216 trams, of which 24 are bidirectional and thus suitable for
operations on loop-less line 5.
From both London and Amsterdam, I admire the way the transportation system is
well thought and planned throughout the city. The wide usage of public fixed
transport reduces the carbon emission by fueled vehicles greatly and thus a huge
step towards carbon neutral town. I will also make the new town a bicycle friendly
town for the health of both the town and the citizens
12

The future of towns and Better Towns
Dockside Green, Victoria, British Columbia
Dockside Green is a 1,300,000-square-foot (120,000 m2) mixed-use community in
Victoria, British Columbia, Canada owned by Vancity Credit Union and noted for its
strict adherence to the principles of sustainable architecture or green building.
The development sits on 15 acres (6.1 ha) of Victoria’s Inner Harbor, and was
a brownfield site used by light industry for more than a century. Cleanup cost
estimates were up to $12 million, from spilled petrochemicals, toxic heavy metal and
the site's landfill.
The project's first and second phases, completed by 2011, have achieved
globally significant ratings for sustainability.
Dockside Green has a centralized biomass gasification plant that converts
waste wood into a heating gas for hot water and heat, with peak period support
from natural gas boilers. Biomass generation makes Dockside carbon neutral in
greenhouse gas production, with some energy sales to surrounding communities.
The development treats its sewage, using treated water for its toilets, irrigation,
creeks and ponds system. High-efficiency shower heads, faucets, urinals,
dishwashers and clothes-washing machines are standard.
13

Each Dockside accommodation can meter its own cold and hot water, space
heating and electricity. Internet connection allows residents remote heating control
when they are away. Dockside Green has a car sharing program, a planned dock
for the harbor ferries, bicycle racks and showers for people commuting to the
development’s commercial areas. Bike access is linked into the region's Galloping
Goose regional cycling trail.
Dockside Green is committed to using the “LEED for Neighborhood
Development”, similar to the LEED environmental rating system. Overall design aligns
with the principles of New Urbanism, favoring mid-to-high density neighborhoods, a
focus on community and a walk able range for most of its residents' daily needs. As
a genuinely “mixed use” community Dockside hopes for a mix of suites, a thriving
retail and office culture and residents of varying ages, ethnicity and socio-economic
levels. The development's team has worked with the municipality of Victoria on a
Housing Affordability Strategy to create “affordable housing” (for families in the
$30,000 to $60,000 income range).
14

Masdar City, Abu Dhabi
Architecture
Masdar is a sustainable mixed-use development designed to be very friendly
to pedestrians and cyclists.
Masdar City has terracotta walls decorated with arabesque patterns. From a
distance, Masdar City looks like a cube. The temperature on Masdar's streets is
generally 15 to 20°C cooler than the surrounding desert. The temperature difference
is due to Masdar's unique construction. A 45-meter high wind tower modeled on
traditional Arab designs sucks air from above and pushes a cooling breeze through
Masdar's streets. The site is raised above the surrounding land in order to create a
slight cooling effect. Buildings are clustered close together in order to create streets
and walkways shielded from the sun.
15

←The 45m Wind Tower
Masdar City was designed by Foster and Partners. Foster's design team started its
work by touring ancient cities such as Cairo and Muscat in order to see how they
kept cool. Foster found that these cities coped with hot desert temperatures through
shorter, narrower streets usually no longer than 70 meters. The buildings at the end of
these streets create just enough wind turbulence to push air upwards, creating a
flushing effect that cools the street.
16

Transport system
The initial design banned automobiles, as travel will be accomplished via public
mass transit and personal rapid transit (PRT) systems, with existing road and railways
connecting to other locations outside the city. The absence of motor vehicles
coupled with Masdar's perimeter wall, designed to keep out the hot desert winds,
allows for narrow and shaded streets that help funnel cooler breezes across the city.
In October 2010 it was announced the PRT would not expand beyond the pilot
scheme due to the cost of creating the undercroft to segregate the system from
pedestrian traffic. Subsequently, a test fleet of 10 Mitsubishi i-MiEV electric cars was
deployed in 2011 as part of a one-year pilot to test a point-to-point transportation
solution for the city as a complement to the PRT and the freight rapid transit (FRT),
both of which consist of automated electric-powered vehicles.
17

←PodCar (PRT)
←Electric car
Under a revised design, public transport within the city will rely on methods other
than the PRTs. Masdar will instead use a mix of electric vehicles and other clean-
energy vehicles for mass transit inside the city. The majority of private vehicles will be
restricted to parking lots along the city's perimeter. Abu Dhabi's existing light rail and
metro line will connect Masdar City's centre with the greater metropolitan area.
Energy management
Masdar is powered by a 22-hectare field of 87,777 solar panels with additional
panels on roofs. There are no light switches or water taps in the city; Movement
sensors control lighting and water in order to cut electricity and water consumption
by 51 and 55 percent respectively. Gerard Evenden, the lead architect, says that
the original plan for Masdar City called for powering the entire city through on-site
methods such as rooftop solar panels.
Water management
Water management has been planned in an environmentally sound manner as well.
Approximately 80 percent of the water used will be recycled and waste water will
be reused "as many times as possible", with this greywater being used for crop
irrigation and other purposes,
18

6.The New “X” City / The New NAME?
Hakuna Matata
No worries for the rest of your days.
Reports on the world coming to an end are bringing the world towards the country
as it might be the last piece of living land on earth. Within weeks, the country’s
population had increased greatly.
The huge amounts of immigrants have deprived the privileges of the fellow
Malaysians that previously lived with ease, peace and space. Green spaces and
forests are destroyed to build new buildings for the extra load of inhabitants causing
the air condition to worsen, making it hard to breathe.
Thus, a humble man (me) took up the responsibility to bring back the good life
the fellow Malaysians once had by building a new town with the financial aid from
the residents-to-be.
As a river is essential to life and is the beginning to all human civilization, the
town is proposed to be built with a river flowing through. The town will also be shield
with a web like membrane for an ever optimal temperature in town. Also, there will
be an abundance of green spaces and community areas for citizens to mingle
around
As the mayor of Hakuna Matata, several sustainable elements will be taken into
account in planning the new town such as using public transport, implementing 3R
lifestyle and also growing crops the organic way to create a carbon neutral city.
19

Elements in Hakuna Matata
1. Fixed transit routes
Fixed transit routes are planned for trams and a new personal rapid transit
network, The Pod throughout the new town.
Fixed transit helps to guide development and keep the streets busy. When
development happens around fixed-transit, it is easy to get around on foot
because everything is closer together. On the contrary, when transit isn't fixed,
as with a diesel bus route, or it is designed around the auto, transit becomes
impractical because everything is further apart.
2. Bicycle friendly town
Multistory automatic bicycle parking stations are located around the business
district for working cyclists to park their vehicles while they’re working. Special
carriages on trams are planned for cyclists to board with their bicycles.
Bicycle lanes are paved and are closed from other mobile vehicles to ensure
the safety of cyclists.
3. Green spaces and public squares
Green spaces can be found in every nick and corner of the town for a
calming mood and also as a natural air-conditioner. Green spaces can also
be used as community parks for citizens to mingle around.
We need to have places like public squares where we can be people
together, whether we talk to one another or not, where we can pass among
each other on our way to our daily chores, acknowledging our common
humanity with a glance or a nod or a word.
4. Mixed use neighbourhood
By intermingling commercial, residential, and civic functions in the same
neighborhoods, you reduce dependence on automotive transport, since
destination facilities are always close at hand: one can walk to the market,
the salon, the library, the bar, school or university, administrative offices, what
have you. This means denser development is possible without reducing living
spaces (you reduce space dedicated to the automobile, instead); it also
means more tax money collected for more amenities and social programs,
since streets don't pay taxes and parking lots don't pay much tax, but homes
and businesses do.
20

Overall plan of Hakuna Matata:
21

The residential area of Hakuna Matata is located at the north-western, north eastern
and southern part of the town taking up 25% of the town with high rise and landed
buildings. Public services such as hospitals, police stations and fire brigades are
located nearby the residential areas for a quick respond and rescue when
emergency arises.
Besides that, recreational areas and green spaces are also located next to
residential areas for the public to enjoy and to beautify the town. As for the green
space located beside Zone C, it is to minimize the possible noise or air pollution from
the industrial zone for a healthier living.
Schools are also located near the residential area for the convenience of
working parents as it is safe for their child to walk back home through the short
distance. Parents need not rush around to send their children back and forth.
As for Zone A, there will be a high cost high rise residential building for those
with better economical condition. It is a secluded area surrounded by green spaces,
riverbank and a shoreline.
22
Hospital
Education
Recreational
Services

The council building is located at the heart of the town to keep an eye of the
development of the town. The council building is a 6-storey building with the
important offices underwater safeguarded 24 hours 7 days a week.
Business area is located near the commercial areas as both of them are connected
in a way that both rely on each other for the economy of Hakuna Matata.
23
Council Building
Commercial
Central Business District
← The Council Building

In order to supply enough electricity power to the town itself, the town has its own
hydroelectric power station and also a solar power field. This extra natural
renewable power source takes up 15% of the town space.
24
Hydroelectric Power Station
Solar Power Field
Tourism and
Hospitality

The industrial area is located at the same side with the agricultural and livestock
area. The agricultural and livestock area are separated into different parts for easier
management. Tubes with walkways or bicycle lanes inside it are connected to each
area for the people to travel between them. Crops from these two areas are
transported down to the industrial area for further processing and distributing food
supply to different zones in the city.
Residential areas also existed in the agricultural area for farmers to travel to the
livestock or agricultural part to work or for the ease of citizens to buy fresh food
supplies from there. Besides, a research and development area is connected to the
industrial area to further improve and enhance the quality of food and other
products for the people in HM. Water is supplied from the river as the areas are
important and needs huge amount of water supply.
25
Agriculture and
Livestock
Industrial
Port and Harbor

Transportation system
The Pod
The pod is a Personal rapid transit network based on human-powered monorail cars.
The track is built in folded galvanized steel. Its external height is 220mm x width 200
mm. Support piles are also in galvanized steel. Pods are covered with transparent
plastic sheets, with ventilation holes. Front and rear long dampers limit the impact
acceleration in case of pods collide and to ease the association of pods to build
'pod trains' which could significantly improve overall aerodynamic efficiency.
26
The Pod
Electric Vehicle
Tram routes
Bicycle lanes

27

7. Conclusion
The design process of a new town is not as easy as it seems. From the
structure of the town to the town planning stratergies and the features to make
it sustainable, every slightest detail needs to be taken into account to create an
organized town.
The idea generation of the town structure started hard as they are hard to
fulfill other aspects as zonings of the town needs to be considered. In the end
I’ve changed the structure of my future town several times.
Through all the research about the cities above, I’ve learned that priority of
citizens is placed before everything. Other than that, to achieve a future town,
green town planning must also be taken into account. I’ve known more about
sustainability and ways to make a town sustainable.
This project is a good experience for me to experience the scope of work as
an urban planner and how town planning works and sustainability of a town
can create a better living for the years to come.
28

Reference Links
Difference Between City and Town | Difference Between | City vs Town
http://www.differencebetween.net/miscellaneous/politics/difference-
between-city-and-town/#ixzz37GW45xqv
Sustainable City News: Top Ten Characteristics of a Healthy City
http://www.newcolonist.com/topten2.html
Ancient Pompeii
http://www.mariamilani.com/ancient_rome/architecture%20ancient
%20pompeii.htm
The most impressive transport system in the world
http://www.engineeringdaily.net/the-most-impressive-transportation-systems-
in-the-world/
The official website for Dockside Green
http://www.docksidegreen.ca
Dockside Green's 2009 Sustainability Report
http://docksidegreen.com/images/stories/bottom/itn/SustainabilityReport200
9.pdf
The City of Victoria's resources on Dockside Green
http://www.victoria.ca/cityhall/currentprojects_dockside.shtml
A "performance measurement framework" for Dockside Green
http://www.victoria.ca/cityhall/pdfs/currentprojects_dockside_indctr.pdf
29

Canada Green Building Council
http://www.cagbc.org
Transport for London. London Underground: History. ISBN 978-0-904711-30-1
Schwandl, Robert (2001). London Underground. UrbanRail.net. ISBN 978-3-
936573-01-5
Walsh, Bryan (25 January 2011). "Masdar City: The World's Greenest City?".
Time. Retrieved 8 September 2013.
Dilworth, Dianna (August 2007). "Zero Carbon; Zero Waste in Abu Dhabi".
BusinessWeek
"Masdar HQ to be Located in World's First "Positive Energy" Mixed-Use
Building" (Press release). Masdar.ae. 20 February 2008
Sustainability and the City: Transportation". Masdarcity.ae. 2011
30

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