“RUBANISATION” by Tay Kheng Soon It is neither the Urban nor the Rural, it is both. New architecture cannot come out o

1. “RUBANISATION” by Tay Kheng Soon It is neither the Urban nor the Rural, it is both. New architecture cannot come out of old planning!

2. It is time for change… “Crisis is Opportunity” Is there any doubt that we are living in a time of crisis?

3. French President Mitterrand did announce the shift from West to East and the global downturn in the power of the West. “Growth is in the East and debts are in the West. Furthermore, Fear is in the West and Hope is in the East”. So the torch of history seems to have moved to the East, with the paradox that East Asian economies are now showing the way for global recovery, bringing back increased and shared prosperity to all peoples in a truly global process of inclusive development. We stand at a moment of considerable risk but also of great opportunity. Thai Quang Trung of Asian Dialogue Society.

4. Let’s review the situation now that the era of extravagance and ego-centric design has come to an end…

5. The focus on Urbanism has become an issue of competitiveness. The arts has become an industry to attract foreign talent. Thus the corruption of Art.

6. Cities compete with each other. Styling becomes the main aim of architecture. Asian intellectuals and architects adopt “urbanism” as though it is the reality.

7. Fortunately, there are other Asian intellectuals who dare to think fundamentally in the tradition of Tagore, Mao Tze-Tung, Ho Chi Minh and Gandhi

8. The plight of the farmers in the Asian countryside is unconscionable. The urban economy now needs to raise rural incomes in order to consume urban goods. The time has come for change.

9. Negative thinking about the countryside advocated urban growth. Thus, mega cities is the symptom of rural failure.

10. Today, the Internet and education can change the whole equation.

11. We live in an interconnected world. The electronic village is a real option.

12. In an instant, this is the picture of Internet interconnectivity

13. And so simplistic modernism is moving towards complex and simultaneous reality like a biological organism. Urbanism with its architecture is becoming obsolete

14. Corbusier’s Radiant City remains an idea whose time has passed.

15. The tower in the park separated by great highways remains the obsolete image of modernism. Time to jettison it.

16. Similarly, Mies’s Glass Towers through all its contortions continue to fascinate

17. The embellished extruded tower remains a staple style.

18. Tange’s Metabolist language of form reflects the bygone age of the machine.

19. Ebenezer Howard’s Garden City concept finally becomes possible beyond the dormitory towns that it spawned.

20. Conceive City and Countryside as One Space and not two Social Justice, Cultural Justice and Environmental Justice are the critical issues of our time.

21. In my article published last month, I argued that besides changing the spatial model of human settlements, there has also got to be a change in the value system.

22. Ezio Manzini argued for new satisfactions besides consumption in the process of achieving Social Justice and Environmental Justice.

23. The joy of taking initiative and personal responsibility is one such value.

24. The exercise of imagination and achievement is another.

25. Creativity is a self-affirming value.

26. Manzini gives many examples. Here is a fashion designer who mixes and matches old clothes and has become an important member of the community.

27. Development should mean achieving fresh food and zero carbon energy autonomy

28. Algae based bio-diesel is the most promising local autonomous carbon neutral fuel.

29. The spatial model for Rubanisation at all densities is based on a one kilometer diameter cellular human settlement. This ensures average walking distances of half kilometer irrespective of density.

30. Based on this, only 200 cells are required to accommodate 5 million Singapore population with lots of vegetable plots in between and a large central rainforest.

31. Each cell would consist of only 4-storey building accomodating 25 thousand people and all the requisite commercial, manufacturing, workshops and institutions.

32. This can be another version of the cell

33. There can be many versions subject to creative architects’ imaginations.

34. The spacing of the cells can vary according to terrain and farming requirements.

35. This is an example of a proposal I made in Viet Nam

36. This example accomodates 18,000 people in cluster court houses, 5 schools, 4 composting stations and higher income housings.

37. 8 families share one courtyard in the cluster court house form

38. The 8 families share one tree yet have their small private gardens

39. Robotic buses operate on category 1 and 2 roads. Their linked onboard computers automate the system. Buses arrive at pick-up points along category 2 road on call by cell phone. On category 1 road, they gang together.

40. Service and emergency vehicles are also robotic and attach and detach according to computer command.

41. Family vehicles operate idiosyncratically except on category 1 roads.

42. These modes of transport operate only on category 3 and 4 roads.

43. The HUMAN dimension

44. With Mechai Viravidya of Population and Community Development Association of Thailand launching a Secondary School project in Lam Plai Mat.

45. These are the typical poor rice farmers’ children who have many health problems and lack of stimulation or proper education.

46. Mechai’s Primary School provides World Class education for the same kind of children.

47. 8 year old children do a village planning project.

48. They develop intellect through chess.

49. This is the adjacent Community Centre that we built next to the Primary School. The main structure is made of rammed earth and bamboo. Eventually the metal roof will be covered with creepers to keep out the heat.

50. An airy interior is achieved and the cost of the entire construction was 35% cheaper than normal.