PUBLIC SPACES AS CATALYSTS FOR REVITALISING CHINATOWN : SCHEME FOR A CARPARK

Abstract

This thesis aims to revitalize a significant inner city site. The site is Chinatown, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. It departs from a nostalgic or touristic point of view by choosing to do so authentically, i.e. by bringing back people to live in it, and creating a series of public spaces. It is the belief of the author that the key to a successful live, work, and play environment is sound, unbiased public spaces. The intervention is on three levels: Masterplanning, Urban Landscaping, and Design. The Masterplan first aims to seek out the opportunities on site and develop a comprehensive guideline in terms of program and overall pedestrian connectivity. It operates not on the basis of demolishing and rebuilding, but of working with the existing urban fabric and intervening in those areas which are currently under-utilized. Programmatically, the new developments create public spaces with different characters which are based on the needs of the micro demographic and existing activities. The Urban Landscaping and Design are then carried out on two separate sites to demonstrate how the guidelines and aims of the Masterplan can be achieved.