ICA_Feb 07.pdf - Roof & Facade

More documents

Recommendations

Info

Three Southeast-Asian Public Railway Systems Tanvir Orakzai compares three Southeast-Asian public railway systems: Singapore, Hong Kong and Bangkok in terms of common construction techniques and utilisation features, and also outlines specific architecture aspects each rail systems’ MRT stations. MRT (Mass Rapid Transit) is a transportation system designed to move large numbers of people in urban environments. The modern transit is an outgrowth of industrialisation and urbanisation. One of the most important modes of mass transit is via subway and surface-rail systems designed to commute between urban and suburban locations. The mass transit system works on a ‘fixed route’ system with little obstruction from conventional road traffic; the result is a gigantic people-moving machine that is the life blood of large modern cities. However, MRTs are not just about moving people, but they are used most by daily commuters. SINGAPORE’S MRT SYSTEM The Singapore Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) is a public rail system that forms the backbone of the Singapore’s commuter network. The origin of Singapore’s MRT System Quick Facts: Singapore MRT Singapore Rapid transit began operation 7 November 1987 System length: 109.4 km No. of Lines: 3 No. of stations: 64 Daily commuters: approx. 1.338 million (2005) Track gauge: 1435 mm (standard gauge) Operator: SMRT Corporation, SBS Transit Singapore’s MRT can be traced back to 1967 when city planners desired to have a public rail system to lessen traffic congestion in the small city-state. By 1987, the North-South Line (NS) consisting of five MRT stations started operation. In March 1988, 15 additional stations were added to the new system. The initial section of the MRT was opened in 1987, but the project was completed in 1990. In 2005, the average daily commuters reach about 1.3 million—a 76% increase compared to 1995. Currently, Singapore MRT has 64 operating stations with a Line 109 km of track on standard gauges; the total cost of the Singapore MRT system is estimated at S$5 billion. Singapore’s Mass Rapid Transit system has subsequently been expanded to include the S$1.2 billion expansion of the North-South Line into Woodlands in the northern section of the island, and completing a continuous loop. The concept of having rail Lines that bring people almost directly to their homes led to the introduction of the Light Rapid Transit (LRT) system co- existing with and connected to the Mass Rapid Transit network. On 6 November 1999, the first LRT trains on the Bukit Panjang Line went into operation. To promote tourism, the Changi Airport and Expo MRT stations were built. The North-East (NE) Line, the first Line operated by SBS Transit, opened on 20 June 2003 and became one of the first fully-automated public rail Lines in the world. All MRT stations are either aboveground or underground, except the Bishan station, which is at ground level. The underground stations can also serve as bomb shelters in time of emergency. Every station has four or more general ticketing machines, a passenger service centre, along with plasma TV display units providing travel time and pubic announcements. Most of Singapore’s MRT stations make available amenities such as public restrooms, pay telephones, ticketing machines, self-service automated kiosks (SAMs) and ATMs. Some of the MRT stations are located next to retail shops, supermarkets, restaurants and banks. Singapore’s early MRT stations were designed for basic functionality which is evident in the architecture of the North-South and the East-West Lines. However, more recent MRT stations incorporate a good combination of functionality and building aesthetics (e.g., colour and design). The Expo MRT station is adjacent to the 100,000 sq.m. Singapore Expo convention facility. Designed by Foster and Partners, the Expo MRT station features a large pillar-less titanium clad roof in an elliptical shape that covers the full length of the station’s passenger platform. This complements a smaller 40-metre reflective stainlesssteel disc overlapping the titanium ellipse that visually floats over a glass elevator shaft. At the Chinatown MRT station, traditional Chinese calligraphy is integrated into ● See page 5 4 <strong>ICA</strong> Volume 1 Issue 1 2007
Transportation ● From page 4 the floor design of the station. Some MRT stations have artists’ paintings and sculptures that represent images of past and present Singapore. The Woodlands MRT extension has introduced bold pieces of art such as hanging mobile sculptures. The North-East Line has a programme entitled “The Art In Transit” that portrays the works of 19 local artists which are integrated into the MRT buildings’ architecture. Quick Facts: Hong Kong MTR Began operation September 30, 1979 System length: 91.0 km or 56.5 miles No. of Lines: 7 No. of stations: 53 Daily commuters: approx. 2.5 million (July 2006) Track gauge: 1432 mm (near standard gauge) HONG KONG’S MTR SYSTEM During the 1960s, the Hong Kong government had to accommodate increasing vehicular and pedestrian traffic of the city due to rapid economic growth. British consultants Freeman Fox and Wilbur Smith Associates were employed to study the transport system of Hong Kong and to suggest ways to improve it. The study released by the consultants in 1967 proposed the construction of mass transit railway (MTR) system in Hong Kong. By 1970s, an underground network of four Lines were laid out; in addition, Kwun Tong Line, Tsuen Wan Line, Island Line and East Kowloon Line were added later at a total cost of HK$4.1 billion. The Hong Kong MTR stations have similar design and available public facilities to Singapore’s MRT stations. Even though Hong Kong MTR stations are built for standard public functionality, the public rail stations are disabled-friendly. For example, there are dedicated spaces for people using wheel-chairs and for blind people via big entry and exit gates. Singapore MRT stations have many disabled-friendly facilities also and have clean toilets. The public toilets found at Hong Kong MTR stations are often not as hygienic. Hong Kong’s older MTR stations were functional edifices rather than aesthetically-satisfying buildings. In 1988, the Hong Kong government decided to change its policy by initiating the campaign ‘Art in MTR’. The MTR Corporation worked to make art a part of the MTR station architecture, especially in Hong Kong’s new MTR stations. Other than displaying artwork inside the large MTR stations, there have also been live performances and art exhibitions which make these MTR stations livelier places to frequent. The stations’ halls are spacious and can accommodate big crowds of passengers and visitors. In some new Hong Kong MTR stations, the buildings’ architecture is very artistic; oftentimes, older stations are renovated utilising smaller works of art to make them more attractive places. The strategy of incorporating artistic elements into public railway facilities is meant to make the journey Bangkok’s ‘Skytrain’ Hong Kong’s MTR System to and from their offices a pleasant experience for daily commuters. Hong Kong’s MTR has also built special stations for Disneyland Resort’s Sunny Bay Station and Disneyland Resort Station. The Disneyland Resort Station has a combined concourse and platform in the form of an open landscaped arena. Both of these public rail stations have Disney-themed trains, exclusively designed for Disney Land Park. A similar project is underway in Singapore for the planned Sentosa Island Integrated Resort in Singapore. BANGKOK’S MTS SYSTEM The Bangkok Mass Transit System (MTS) or ‘Skytrain’ is an elevated metropolitan rail system built at the cost of US$1.8 billion. The Bangkok public rail network consists of two Lines: Sukhumvit Line and Silom Line. The Sukhumvit Line starts from the east at Sukhumvit Soi 81 and ends at the Mor Chit Bus Terminal in the north. The Sukhumvit Line is approximately 17 km in length and consists of 17 stations, including one common interchange station (Central Station). The Sukhumvit Line makes structural provisions for construction of one additional station in the future. The Silom Line is approximately 6.5 km in length with seven stations, including the common interchange station. The total length of the track is about 23 km which is very short compared to Hong Kong and Singapore rail route. Every station consists of two levels consisting of a lower concourse with the ticketing service and entry gates that lead to a sheltered, train platform on an upper level. The purpose of the MTS project was to overcome the traffic congestion, and the design of the Bangkok MTS was based on the Vancouver SkyTrain in Canada. However, the Bangkok SkyTrain is unable to accommodate as many commuters as planned. Since 2005, passenger figures have reached 500,000— lower than Singapore’s and Hong Kong’s public rail commuter numbers. All the passenger stations of the Bangkok SkyTrain are elevated unlike Singapore and Hong Kong stations. The platforms are built to accommodate trains of six cars, but trains of only three cars are in operation. The first elevated level of the stations is accessed via stairs and escalators that contain ticket booths and kiosk-like shops similar to some Singapore MRT stations. A majority of the SkyTrain stations are built with side platforms that allow easy access to wheelchair-bound passengers entering from the streets. Unlike Singapore, security personnel are deployed throughout the SkyTrain stations at all times. Even though Bangkok MTS stations have basic amenities, such as newsstands, small shops, cafés, banking services and ATMs, the stations themselves lack many aesthetically pleasing aspects. The Bangkok MTS incorporates short rail routes that makes it less popular than taking other forms of public transportation, such as taxis, buses or tuk-tuks. Furthermore, the high cost of the SkyTrain project (US$1.8 billion) has led to higher fares and lower passenger rates. These problems can be overcome because there are plans to extend the public rail system to all major areas of Bangkok, but given Thailand’s past record of slow infrastructure development, it may take awhile before extensions to the Bangkok MTS are completed. ❏ Quick Facts: Bangkok MTS Bangkok MTS/BTS became operational in 1999 No. of station: 23 No. of Lines: 2 System length: 23 km Daily commuters: 500,000 Operator: BTS <strong>ICA</strong> Volume 1 Issue 1 2007 5
Page 1 and 2: Volume 1 Issue 1 Year 2007 MICA (P)
Page 3: Water Sustainability While reams of
Page 7 and 8: Putrajaya Perdana Berhad: Pioneerin
Page 9 and 10: Energy the fuel source to Orimulsio
Page 11 and 12: Energy different institutional supp

ICA_Feb 07.pdf - Roof & Facade

Create successful ePaper yourself

Delete template?

Save as template?