Rubanisation

Tay Kheng Soon (TKS) is a practicing architect and adjunct professor at the National University of Singapore's School of Architecture. He was formerly president of the Singapore Institute of Architects and founding member and Chairman of SPUR, the Singapore Planning and Urban Research Group.

To this day, TKS continues to churn out creative, out-of-the-box ideas that he personally sees through to reality via his architectural practice, Akitek Tenggara, which he founded more than three decades ago (in 1976).

Wednesday, November 12, 2008

"Rubanisation": The Re-Conceptualisation of Human Settlements in Harmony with the Environment

By Tay Kheng Soon, 11/11/08

A key issue in the elaboration of the Asean Charter in the Asian context is the question of human impact on the environment vis a vis global warming, climate change and environmental degradation due to human activities. How should humans settle upon the land and what new and better satisfactions in achieving well-being are possible are crucial issues facing human-kind? Asean and Asia have the challenge to address this question as it is a region of progress despite the financial woes of the World. If China and India and Asean are able to address Carbon neutral economic development, they will also lead in the positive transformation of the World.

It is clear that the continued consideration of the City and the Countryside as two realms is unsustainable from the perspectives of social justice, cultural justice and environmental justice. Human settlements on the landscape should be considered as one space not two. In such a conception, the distinction between farm and factory need not be distinct anymore. Indeed, a new spatial geometry of integrated development is possible once we discard outmoded ideas. This is Rubanisation. It is supported by available new environmentally sustainable technology. Rubanisation is therefore neither rural not urban. It is both; a new entity.

With the availability of the new environmentally sustainable technologies, human settlements can be reconceived as infrastructurally autonomous cells existing within a web of nature, farms, transport, communication and informational interconnectivity. The horizontal human scale, where it matters most, in these multi-functional cells is determined by an optimal walking distance of 500meters. These cells are then dispersed appropriately in the landscape as a matrix subject only to geographical and environmental specificities in between the cells. The density and use-mix within each cell is optimised according to requirements location characteristic, environment and economic requirements. The spacing between cells is variable depending on settlement densities and open land requirements. Green spaces, farms, water bodies etc, in every case, are accommodated between the cells even when they are closely packed in dense urbanised settings. Still even there, the boundaries of the cells being roughly circular allow for the pendantive spaces between them to be green. The old contestation between green and brown sites in urban planning dictated by economic imperatives is thus finally eliminated by this geometry.

All cells are endowed with their own infrastructure as far as possible: each cell generates its own power, collects and processes its own water supply and treats its own organic and non-organic waste. There are technologies available for all of these at reasonable costs. All such autonomous technologies can be networked for safety and synergy. A power and water grid connects all cells. Specific modifications and adaptations can be made according to density demands but the cellular nature of the settlement pattern remains the primary system of spatial organisation ensuring both efficiency and liveability.

Every cell is optimised socially with its own local schools, health facilities, shops and work places. Access to facilities and nature is within walking distances. Fresh farm produce is locally available. Livelihoods variety is a matter of choice. The minimum density of a cell is determined by the school population support size. A hierarchy of cell types and the proximity of cell-clusters is determined by the distribution of in the hierarchy of research, education, administration, entertainment and health activities. Major clusters will accommodate the highest level of the hierarchy while less dense cluster will have lower levels of the hierarchy. Every cell has the basic services and activities to ensure a high quality of life and choice. Rubanisation ensures that every person or family has the maximum choice in life-style and location.

Modification to existing mega-cities can and will occur over time as the concept of distributed Rubanised settlements comes about. Surgery to the existing settlement patterns can then occur progressively through selective insertion of green and blue spaces into the existing dense urban fabric leading ultimately to the establishment of the green web through the settlement area. A reversed migration back to the village is encouraged and possible through the available of viable choice. Concurrently the reorganisation of the transport system progressively into on-demand robotic transport systems from the present vehicle fleet will occur systematically phasing out the old polluting cars, trucks and buses.

These new transport systems are based on robotic electric buses serving as the transport backbone and it will be supplemented by small private electric family and individual vehicles operating either robotically or idiocyncratically as desired. All robotic vehicles will connect or disconnect automatically. When linked magnetically the vehicles form a train to maximise road space efficiency. A system of category 1 roads linked to category 2, 3 and 4 roads, streets and paths are established to carry the traffic load. There will no longer be road congestion. The system builds upon the existing roadway systems as new and or modifications are made to existing ones.

New satisfactions in life are necessary to wean people from the present environmentally destructive tendencies in the economic patterns of production and consumption. Arising from better education, the high quality of environment, improved family life and synergistic community life, these would diminish the wanton desire for material consumption. This is the crucial shift from the present disastrous existing consumption patterns. Shifting from the individualistic and materialistic value system implicit in the developmental model of the West needs fundamental innovation incorporating traditional Asian traditions brought up-to-date. The tradition Asian values of compassion, humility, care for others and the environment should all be revived through large scale environmental reconceptualisation, education, enlightenment, the rebuilding of community spirit and the joy of personal responsibility for family, environment and community. This is the basis for the new eco-regional economy.

Labels: Asian, autonomy, ideology, walking distance

4 Comment(s)

4 Comments:

This is a developmental "Big Bang". Those seeking power, and those already wielding power,to strive for the greater good must read this piece. Tay is Singapore's, or rather our Asian Socrates. Here is a piece that interrogates fundamental issues in development. Please upload your other writings in this blog.

By Khalid Jaafar, at November 17, 2008 11:26 AM

Wonderful indeed is such wisdom, harmonizing technological and sciencific advancement with human values of compassion, humility and care. However, if the Rulers of the day continue to embrace the norm of the society we inherit which thrives on capitalistic greed and economic delusion, such vision of wisdom can never be materialised.

By MayRulersBeRighteous, at May 16, 2009 11:11 AM

the world is changing. the big difference is the internet. because of it, people are getting smarter and power and greed is less easy. also the financial crisis is a deeply disturbing experience. the greedy haveto get smarter too. it can kill the goose that lays the golden egg. capitalism will no doubt readjust. in this situation i believe there is more space to exercise consciousness and therefore more creative initiative to seek better ways of living. as urban living is traumatised by the financial crisis, people will seek alternatives. during the 1997 financial crisis in south east asia.many people went back to their villages to live off the land. this time, i believe our response has to be more systemic. rubanisation has a chance to become policy and resources plowed into it. the right things can be done forthe wrong reasons. sometimes we have to run with the wolves! this may be the time.

By tks, at May 16, 2009 8:14 PM

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Sorry for offtopic

By Anonymous, at November 8, 2009 8:30 AM