Description
Book SynopsisOver the past few decades, rapid urbanisation has threatened to erode public space, especially in emerging economies. Market forces that prioritise profit generation are allowed to construct venues of consumption in its place. Though their physical appearance may resemble traditional public space, in reality, they are greatly restrictive and diminished in affordability, accessibility and social meaning. It is in this context that William SW Lim, chairman of Asian Urban Lab, has brought together architects, designers, historians, sociologists and urbanists from the region to discuss public space in selected Asian cities.Part One contains essays from participants from Chongqing, Hong Kong, Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur, Singapore and Taipei and observations from commentators. Several essays by William SW Lim on the subject round off the discussion in Part Two. The thoughtful essays in Public Space in Urban Asia emphasise how engaging with the present actuality of cities and public awareness of spatial justice in cities are crucial — for it is the achievement of spatial justice that will help create a greater level of happiness across societies in our increasingly urbanised world.
Table of ContentsForeword; Introduction; Part I: Public Space in Urban Asia: The Multiple Spaces of Bukit Brown (Chua Ai Lin and Terence Chong); Vestigial as Alternative: The KTM Rail Corridor and the Search for the Un-regularized (Liew Kai Khiun); The End of the Railroad in Singapore: A Photo Essay (Claire Leow); Singapore's Void Decks (Stephen Cairns); Hawker Centres: Siting/Sighting Singapore's Food Heritage (Randy Chan and Jolene Lee); Carnivalism in Public Spaces in Chongqing (Wei Haoyan); POPS in Hong Kong: Investigating Public Space Making in Hong Kong through the Lens of Creative Space (Tat Lam and Benedetta Tavecchia); Common Space vs. Public Space in Contemporary Urbanisation (Marco Kusumawijaya); Thick Crust of Time: Kuala Lumpur (Lim Teng Ngiom); Salute to Illegal Architecture (Roan Ching-yueh); Commentaries (Jane Jacob, H Koon Wee and Lilian Chee); Part II: Change We Must and Other Essays: Global Dynamic Change and Power Rebalance (William SW Lim); Commentary on Incomplete Urbanism (Andrew Lee, Leong Teng Wui and Ong Swee Hong); Spatial Justice and Happiness (William SW Lim); Spatial Justice - A Singapore Case Study (William SW Lim); Change We Must (William SW Lim).
