NEGOTIATING THE URBAN EDGE : PLAYSCAPES - LEISURE HUB AT EAST COAST

Abstract

The Playscapes project explores the possibility of inserting a leisure hub facility in east coast, establishing an urban link between both the urban centre of marine parade town and the recreational belt of east coast park. These two adjacent regions are separated by the road infrastructure of the east coast expressway, posing as a barrier and inhibiting the potential for urban synergies which may be derived from its proximities. Currently, pedestrian and cyclist access into east coast park is via the underpasses intermittently spaced out along the expressway. In dealing with the edge conditions, the project seeks to design better relationships and to provide for a more seamless experience across the expressway, giving users a more pleasant alternative of navigating between both sides. More than just a physical bridging process, the project also establishes programmatic relations between the two regions such that they may each add value and serve the other, exploiting the urban synergies which arise. These are what some park users have to say about the existing system: “I hate having to go through that dodgy underpass. Especially at night, it is quite dangerous for a girl to cross alone. Furthermore, it is always very stuffy, and there is always a stench of urine trapped in the underpass.” “I think it is high time that East Coast Park had a properly designed entry point from across the expressway instead of the current system of underpasses which aren’t the most pleasant of spaces for one to be in.” “As a cyclist I find it quite troublesome that I have to dismount and walk my bike across the underpass. Why can’t they have crossings just for cyclists? Or at least a passageway wide enough so I can cycle through with ease?”