ENBE Final Project Process Journal Compilation

ENBE | Final Project | Part A – Process Journal Report Compilation | Pamphlet & Model Representation

Better Cities of the Future

Rimba City

TEOH JUN XIANG | 0322099

FNBE JAN 2015 | Taylor’s University

TEOH JUN XIANG | O322099 | Ms. DELLIYA ZAIN| FNBE JAN 2015 | Taylor’s University1


No. Title Page

1. A city 3-4

2. Introduction on Better City Guideline and Issues

5

3. Investigation and Data Collection: Ancient and old Cities

6-9

4. Investigation and Data Collection: The present city/ cities

10-12

5. Investigation and Data Collection: The future city/ cities

13-17

6. Information about the city location and site 18-21

7. All about the new “X” City (Rimba City) 22-36

8. The Pamphlet 37-38

9. References list 39-40

Content:



A City

Definition

A city is an inhabited place of greater size, population, or importance than a town or village It is an area where many people live and work and it is of great importance to the society. Many cities are formed as a result of the combination of smaller places. Small settlements group to form villages. Villages group to form towns. Towns group to form suburbs. Suburbs group to form cities.

Characteristicsa) Origins

Agriculture -Human activities.-Human gatherings.-Denser populations.-Human settlements.

Site -Location that is most conducive for long term growth. (Usually at mouth of river)-Flat protected land with fertile soil and wide access to water supply, clean air, and various resources for daily life.-Impervious to floods, heavy winds and other natural disasters.-Has extensive land that enables potentially increasing numbers of people to build their houses, grow food, or conduct their business.

Trade -Economy-Business-Inter-human connections-Settlements for people who came from far away nations-Mixture and exposure of culture-Growth of diverse community-Grew up around marketplaces, where goods from distant places could be exchanged for local products

Intersections of transportation routes

b) Functions Centers of storage, trade, and manufacture

Protection -City walls-Trained army forces

Centers of government -Location of government buildings-Officials serve the public-Place where public gather



Economical centers -People gather for business, creating economy Agra Fort, India -Economy leads to the increasing wealth of local authorities and citizens Agra Fort, India

Symbol of area or country -Buildings of national or international importance are located in the city-Accommodate needs of the public-Creates a sense of pride and gives identity to the area, community and country

c) Characteristics Population

-No definite description of the population size of a city-Population size exceeds rural areas, outskirts, villages, towns and suburban areas-Population size allows the city to sustain itself (economy, food, resources etc)

Networks -Array of pathways to carry flows of people, goods, water, energy, and information-Transportation networks are the largest and most visible-Ancient cities relied on streets (most of them quite narrow by modern standards)-Complex hierarchy of transportation channels (ten-lane freeways to sidewalks)

Infrastructure -Sufficient and high quality facilities (to meet the high demands of local and foreign ppl)-Sewer and water systems-Public transportation-Health-Accommodation-Information-Technology-Basic amenities of civilization

Buildings -Gives unique character to cities-Residential-Commercial-Industrial-Government-Monumental-Religious -Skyscrapers

Open spaces -Plazas, malls, and courtyards provide settings for public activities-Parks, gardens, lawns, and nature preserves provide essential relief from harsh urban conditions-Place for recreational activities



Investigation on Better City Guidelines and Issues Guidelines:

The city should be self-sufficient when it comes to food & energy. The city has to avoid fossil fuels. The city has to be about people & dynamism. There has to be room for spontaneity. Culture has to be everywhere. A city without culture is a dead city. The core emphasis will be the streets - the arteries of a healthy city. Instead of mere

transportation, the streets will focus on happiness, connections & combination of both.

Statues and paintings from that culture would decorate the streets of that part. Each part of the city would have a culture of its own and provide a healthy rivalry.



Investigation & Data Collection: Ancient and old cities

The Ancient City of Angkor

Brief synthesis

Angkor, in Cambodia’s northern province of Siem Reap, is one of the most important archaeological sites of Southeast Asia. It extends over approximately 400 square kilometres and consists of scores of temples, hydraulic structures (basins, dykes, reservoirs, canals) as well as communication routes. For several centuries Angkor, was the centre of the Khmer Kingdom. With impressive monuments, several different ancient urban plans and large water reservoirs, the site is a unique concentration of features testifying to an exceptional civilization. Temples such as Angkor Wat, the Bayon, Preah Khan and Ta Prohm, exemplars of Khmer architecture, are closely linked to their geographical context as well as being imbued with symbolic significance. The architecture and layout of the successive capitals bear witness to a high level of social order and ranking within the Khmer Empire. Angkor is therefore a major site exemplifying cultural, religious and symbolic values, as well as containing high architectural, archaeological and artistic significance.

The park is inhabited, and many villages, some of whom the ancestors are dating back to the Angkor period are scattered throughout the park. The population practices agriculture and more specifically rice cultivation.

From Angkor the Khmer kings ruled over a vast domain that reached from Vietnam to China to the Bay of Bengal. The structures one sees at Angkor today, more than 100 stone temples in all, are the surviving remains of a grand religious, social and administrative metropolis whose other buildings - palaces, public buildings, and houses - were built of wood and have long since decayed and disappeared.

Theories of the location of the city

Conventional theories presume the lands where Angkor stands were chosen as a settlement site because of their strategic military position and agricultural potential. Alternative scholars, however, believe the geographical location of the Angkor complex and the arrangement of its temples was based on a planet-spanning sacred geography from archaic times. Using computer simulations, it has been shown that the ground plan of the Angkor complex – the terrestrial placement of its principal temples - mirrors the stars in the constellation of Draco at the time of spring equinox in 10,500 BC. While the date of this astronomical alignment is far earlier than any known construction at Angkor, it appears



that its purpose was to architecturally mirror the heavens in order to assist in the harmonization of the earth and the stars. Both the layout of the Angkor temples and the iconographic nature of much its sculpture, particularly the asuras (‘demons’) and devas (‘deities’) are also intended to indicate the celestial phenomenon of the precession of the equinoxes and the slow transition from one astrological age to another.

At the temple of Phnom Bakheng there are 108 surrounding towers. The number 108, considered sacred in both Hindu and Buddhist cosmologies, is the sum of 72 plus 36 (36 being ½ of 72). The number 72 is a primary number in the sequence of numbers linked to the earth’s axial precession, which causes the apparent alteration in the position of the constellations over the period of 25,920 years, or one degree every 72 years. Another mysterious fact about the Angkor complex is its location 72 degrees of longitude east of the Pyramids of Giza. The temples of Bakong, Prah Ko and Prei Monli at Roluos, south of the main Angkor complex, are situated in relation to each other in such a way that they mirror the three stars in the Corona Borealis as they appeared at dawn on the spring equinox in 10,500 BC. It is interesting to note that the Corona Borealis would not have been visible from these temples during the 10th and 11th centuries when they were constructed.

Climate

Angkor is hot and sticky throughout the year, but the peak visitor season is November to February, when the weather is dry and temperatures are coolest (25-30°C). March to May is brutally hot, with temperatures reaching 40°C. June to October is the rainy season, and outlying temples and the roads leading to them can turn into quagmires of mud. However, this is also when the temples are at their quietest, and it's still often possible to do a good half-day round of sightseeing before the rains start in the afternoon.

Why is Angkor important?

Why it existed

Angkor Wat, built during the early years of the 12th century by Suryavaram II, honors the Hindu god Vishnu and is a symbolic representation of Hindu cosmology. Consisting of an enormous temple symbolizing the mythic Mt. Meru, its five inter-nested rectangular walls and moats represent chains of mountains and the cosmic ocean. The short dimensions of the vast compound are precisely aligned along a north-south axis, while the east-west axis has been deliberately diverted 0.75 degrees south of east and north of west, seemingly in order to give observers a three day anticipation of the spring equinox.

Symbolism

The temples of Angkor are highly symbolic structures. The foremost Hindu concept is the temple-mountain, where the temple is built as a representation of the mythical Mount Meru: this is why so many temples, including Angkor Wat itself, are surrounded by moats, built in a mountain-like pyramidal shape and topped by precisely five towers, representing the five peaks of Mount Meru. The linga, representing the god Shiva, was also critical and while the lingas themselves have largely gone, linga stands (carved, table-like blocks of stone) can be found in many if not most rooms in the temples. There was also a political element to it all: most kings wanted to build their own state temples to symbolize their kingdom and their rule.

While early Angkor temples were built as Hindu temples, Jayavarman VII converted to Mahayana Buddhism c. 1200 and embarked on a prodigious building spree, building the new capital city of Angkor Thom including Bayon, Ta Prohm, Preah Khan and many



more as Buddhist structures. However, his successor Jayavarman VIII returned to Hinduism and embarked on an equally massive spree of destruction, systematically defacing Buddhist images and even crudely altering some to be Hindu again. Hinduism eventually lost out to Buddhism again, but the (few) Buddha images in the temples today are later Theraveda additions.

One element that continues to mystify archaeologists is the baray, or water reservoir, built in a grand scale around Angkor: for example, the West Baray is a mind-boggling 8km by 2.3km in size. While it has long been assumed that they were used for irrigation, some historians argue that their primary function was political or religious. Not a single outlet has been found, either by eye or by NASA imaging. The moat around Angkor and the West Baray still contains water, but the rest have dried up.

Water Engineering of Angkor

One of the major success of the Angkor Empire was due to its mastery over the control of water from the Mekong River. Being situated in the tropical Monsoon zone, the Angkor was subjected to a wet season with heavy rainfall during Monsoon and a dry season during the off-Monsoon period.

Due to their engineering genius, the ancient Khmer built extensive irrigation and drainage system in order to manage the excessive water from the flood. This water was stored in the huge reservoirs such as the East and West Baray, and irrigated to the farmlands during the dry period. In this way, the Angkor were able to cultivate and harvest rice crops two or three times in one year. Such a high productivity of rice crops in a year helped to strengthen the country's economy significantly, and thus enhanced its prosperity. This enabled the god-king of the Angkor Empire to mobilize large number of laborers and slaves to undergo temples construction, several of which required over ten thousands of laborers and took them from two to three decades to complete.

In addition, the Angkor kings were able to recruit manpower to serve in military which play a major role, not only in defending the throne, but in invading the neighbors. The Angkor kingdom expanded its territory vigorously and became a strong regional empire.

The two major reservoirs at the Angkor are the East and West Baray. The East Baray has long been dry whereas the West Baray is still in use today. Two more reservoirs had been discovered recently by the aerial photographs.

It was estimated by George Grosliers, a French archaeologist, that the total agricultural land of the Angkor Empire was about 70,000 hectares. Being used to cultivate crop two or three times in one year, the land was able to support the densely populated Angkor kingdom. This mastery over the water is one of the major factor for the rise of Khmer Civilization.

Conclusion

The ancient city of Angkor was chosen as the case study as it was an archaeological city that actually perished from the knowledge of mankind as well as the citizens of Cambodia for centuries before its discovery. This is due to the fact that the city was attacked, abandoned and left aside. The lost city was eventually hidden in the tropical rainforests and tropical trees grew inside as well as on top of the monuments and buildings. However, the city was well preserved after centuries eventhough no actions



had been taken to preserve it. The answer to this miracle was due to the fact of the well-developed drainage and water control system that guided the heavy rainfall in the tropical rainforests away from the buildings. The absence of water retention prevented water from destroying the buildings and temples which were made from stone. This miracle is an important knowledge and application for the foundation planning a city in the forests.

Investigation & Data Collection: The present city/cities



Manaus, Brazil

Description

Manaus is a Brazilian city of about 2.5 million, located on the Rio Negro a few miles before it meets the Rio Solimões to form the Amazon River proper. The two rivers flow side by side for many miles, different in color, mixing in eddies: the "Meeting of the Waters." Legend has it that they never mix. Manaus is the Amazon’s largest city, an incongruous pocket of urbanity in the middle of the jungle, a major port for ocean vessels that’s 1500km from the ocean.

The wealth of the primeval forest becomes visible first of all in the architecture of the city. The city was rich and the rubber barons afforded the biggest luxury from Europe, a copy of the Grand Opera de Paris - the Teatro Amazonas. Other monuments from this epoch are the Mercado Municipal, a copy of the famous market halls Les Halles in Paris, and the arts center Palacio Rio Negro, located among fascinating Portuguese facades. Today Manaus is a foreign trade zone. Foreign enterprises don't pay import duties, what guarantees a certain income for the city and the region. Electronics, wood industry and oil refineries have settled in the outskirts in industrial areas. The harbour is the most important trading center in the city with regional, national and international products.

The city is pleasant and friendly, although quite hot, and is still a major port, and a good starting point for river tours.

The Rio Negro (northern) branch of the Amazon is the color of strong tea, peaty brown and its comparative acidity means there are fewer mosquitoes compared to other places. At Manaus the Amazon rises and falls almost twenty meters between seasons. In May and June it's at its peak, full and very wide, spreading way out into the trees. In November and December it's low; still massive but with sandbars.

The city itself has some genuinely rewarding sights, including a leafy zoo with as many animals out of the cages as in them, and a beach-and-museum combo that gets you out of the city center. It’s a place to stock up on anything you forgot to pack, or to refill your tank with beer and internet after a week in the forest. Manaus will be a host city for the 2014 FIFA World Cup, and the city is bustling with construction and improvement projects..

History

Located deep in the Amazon rainforest, Manaus would seem an unlikely place for a city.


http://wikitravel.org/en/Brazil


It flourished originally as the centre of the rubber boom in the late 1870s. Once rubber plantations were developed elsewhere, it lapsed into semi-obscurity once again.

But in the 1960s the military government, installed by a coup, was looking to consolidate its control over the country with economic development and galvanise its control over the Amazon region.

It encouraged businesses to expand into the area by offering generous tax breaks.

Arrival of technological companies

Manaus has grown in the ensuing decades. The population is now about 1.8 million, almost doubling in size since 1990.

With Brazil's healthy economy, the city is booming once again.

Many major multi-national technology manufacturers, like LG, Samsung and Philips, have a presence here and their business is swelling the population further.

The increase in workers in the city led to the decision to build a bridge over the Amazon to open up the south bank of the river to development.

Inaugurated in late 2011, the Rio Negro bridge will give more commuters access to dormitory towns where developers are already building more housing.

Other changes are on the way. Manaus will be one of the host cities when the Fifa World Cup takes place in Brazil in 2014.

Construction is already under way on a 40,000-seater stadium and several new hotels are planned for the thousands of visitors who are expected to descend on the city.

The tournament organisers have vowed the stadium will be environmentally friendly, using energy efficient lighting and harvesting rainwater.

Road building in Manaus and its effects

But even with such "green" credentials, Manaus' expansion is still a threat to the environment that surrounds it.

There are few roads connecting the city with the outside world and most visitors arrive by air or by boat, along the immense Amazon river.

As the city grows, there are concerns that more overland routes will become necessary. Ecologists say where roads are built, destruction of the rainforest is sure to follow.

Conclusion

As mentioned earlier, it is incredible to be able to witness a city built in the middle of the tropical rainforests, and most importantly the Amazon Rainforests. The city was chosen



as part of my case studies as it is a very good and convincing example that we can actually build a city in the tropical rainforests. The city is surrounded by vast areas of forests and is one of the hosts of the 2014 FIFA World Cup. This proves that a city in the forest definitely has the potential to expand and develop into a developed land.

However, the extension and development of Manaus also led to more and more destruction of the forest lands. Moreover, the city does not blend I with the forests and is actually an obvious separation between the natural and built environments.

All in all, Manaus served as a very important part of my case studies as it is a convincing example that we can build a physical city in the forests.

Investigation & Data Collection: The future city/cities



1) Kuala Lumpur Utopia 2057

Veritas Design Group was invited by The Sun newspaper to design a “utopian” vision on what the Kuala Lumpur skyline might look like in almost half a century time and as a result, Kuala Lumpur Utopia 2057 was proposed.

Utopia is a vision of a perfect place, wherein the beauties of society reign, where poverty, misery, corruption, crime and the illnesses of civilization are all non- existent. As proposed by Veritas, the Petronas Twin Towers still shimmers but in 2057 it is just one of several landmark icons in Kuala Lumpur. A dense community of soaring glass and steel will spawn around the KLCC area. The KLCC Park now lies in their shadows. VERITAS’ vision for Kuala Lumpur in 2057 depicts multiple centres forming multiple nodes of intensity and diversity, all interlinked by a multi-tiered network of access and public transportation and rings of new public spaces, built above the ground and suspended above the city below.

A noise-less train network hovers 100m high, forming a connective web above the street traffic stopping at the 25th floor of the buildings. VERISTAS also proposed that the original Bukit Nenas Forest Reserve is preserved inside a gigantic glass bubble held by a web of steel, preserving the rare bird species and insects within a globular haven. The glass bubble filters out the pollution within the city air, creating a sanctuary for the rare inhabitants of the forestry.

Rising even further above are green belts weaving their way around the tops of the office and apartment towers, swirling rings of floating public parks and plazas. Elevated 50 storeys above the silhouette streets, trees again prosper on the sunny decks. The hovering Sky Garden restores public space lost at the ground level.

The building skyline is intertwined with elevated infrastructure systems and floating parks and gardens creating a new public realm in the sky, domesticated from the restructuring of air lights.

Opinions

Personally, I think that the project is realistic and also a good suggestion to better shape the capital city of the nation to balance between the natural and built environments. However, the project only focuses on a limited space in the capital city and not the entire land. Therefore, further implementation should be carried out to make the proposal a convincing proposal.



A promotional image for the proposed project

2) TROPICOOL @ KL



Designed for the heart of Sentul, Kuala Lumpur, TROPICOOL @ KL envisions a series of self-sustaining mushroom skyscrapers that incorporate natural energy sources, rainwater harvesting, and bio-mass support for off-the-grid living in a truly green environment. An urban ecology modeled after the rainforest, complete with towering mushroom high-rises, is sure to raise some eyebrows.

The mushroom-like skyscrappers

A play upon the symbiotic nature of organisms thriving in the rainforest, TROPICOOL @ KL envisions a series of symbiotic energy-generating skyscrapers modeled after mushrooms. These tropical trees of life provide housing and recreational facilities while mimicking the five layers found within a tropical rainforest: the overstory, the canopy, the understory, the shrub layer, and the forest floor.

The structure’s c ircular tops are composed of miniature solar panels that provide a power source while mimicking the process of photosynthesis that takes place in rainforest canopies. Achieving the resemblance of equatorial rainforest, big canopy trees shading the ground still allowing penetrating rays of sunlight; generate ideas to create a distinctive structure ‘ A mushroom’, resembling urban rainforest trees which populate the whole city. The leaves act as a solar canopy, the branches accommodating homes to human beings and serving interaction areas at each of the community colonies for recreation and socializing, with energy funneling through its trunk and the small footprint preserves and promotes the ground greenery and supports sustainable lifestyles for the occupants below.

The proposed design also echoes the Malaysian vernacular house lifestyle which is always situated with the rural fabrics; in harmony with the natural richness and surrounded by trees. These spaces offer natural, passive cooling with the presence of the trees giving us the parameters for designing the cities within the trees.

Technically, the urban mushroom would be implementing integrated building

systems and enhance of the use of natural energy sources to generate power in the future city by rainwater harvesting and bio-mass as the main support for the city living. Self-reliance, a friendly environment and symbiotic buildings are the main themes of the new cityscape of the future city. It is our small contribution as Malaysians as part of the overall in battle against global warming.

The site is located at Sentul, Kuala Lumpur. This area has been developed originally as a train depot community. It is now developing an urban area. City was clustered with residential, commercial, offices, and green area which are sandwiched in the middle of the city. The adjacent area is littered with a variety of heritage buildings, horizontal and vertical residential, public and commercial buildings.


http://inhabitat.com/2008/08/30/could-solar-freeways-power-our-cities/

http://inhabitat.com/2008/03/26/tomorrows-skyscrapers-today-daekwon-parks-symbiotic-superstructure/

http://www.ifhp2007copenhagen.dk/Student%20Competition/Project%20Gallery.aspx?ProjectID=455ac469-17d3-4b4b-88aa-e607ceef8b16


http://inhabitat.com/2005/12/23/ecohouse-brazil/

http://inhabitat.com/category/energy/

http://inhabitat.com/category/energy/


http://inhabitat.com/2009/01/29/bird-island-by-graft-lab/

http://inhabitat.com/2009/01/29/bird-island-by-graft-lab/


With the population of 445,000 in Sentul-Manjalara district of Kuala Lumpur the residents will be increase by another 50,000 people by 2009, and by 2030 the existing public housing at Sentul will be congested as more and more people in rural areas move to the city. With the existing planning of the Sentul cityscape as a Green Urban Park city, it is essential to ensure future development would not eliminate all the green areas.

Thus the proposal of, TROPICOOL @KL: SYMBIOTIC TROPICAL MUSHROOM is a concept to retain and sustain the green area and to develop green urban parks without destroying and losing the meaning of the existing green urban lung.

The aim of the major planning objectives are

Promoting flexibility of uses Emphasizing built form Protecting the environment and

promoting the usage of alternative energy sources.To establish a vertical dwelling design that can cope and accommodates the over population at the city but still emphasizing on the life quality, security, community value, and suited to the Malaysia climate.

The final design: Incorporates building integrated systems: transparent solar panels to make use of

free solar energy and natural daylight while optimizing heat losses.

The footprints of the urban park housing are minimized in order to maximize the introduction of landscaping elements, water and vegetation on ground which helps in reducing the green house gasses. In addition, to preserve the existing building heritage on the ground.

Minimizing of air and noise pollution by reducing road traffic and setting up a centralized transportation core at the underground subway .On the ground will be 90% used by pedestrian with green parks, free from any individual transportation, still accommodating a public share car concept. A public share car can be utilized in the whole city and it will function like a taxi, but without a driver.

Designing the habitat in each colony to strengthen the community and introducing communal space in each community colony to develop a community spirit.

Centralized sewer and sanitation on each urban mushroom structure to generate bio-mass energy, which would be channeled to each colony on the mushroom; supplying electricity. Even water resources are provided independently on the urban mushroom supply by rain harvesting on top of the hub. Accordingly, each mushroom is independent and self sustaining and reacts as powered generator to its habitable units.



Opinion

The proposal is indeed a great proposal as it is not only functional, but it also solved the problem of the limited availability of land use in the bustling capital city. The buildings are self-sustainable and definitely an eye-opener.

Information about the city location and site



The chosen site is the tropical rainforests of Malaysia.

Tropical Rainforests

i. Characteristics

Very dense, warm, wet forests Biodiversity of flora and fauna Home to half of the world’ s flora and fauna Generate much of the Earth's oxygen Constantly raining

-Rainforests get over 80 inches (2 m) of rain each year. This is about 1 1/2 inches (3.8 cm) of rain each week.

Temperature-Range is between 75° F and 80° F (24-27° C)

Exhibit different stratas (zones) or layers

EMERGENTS: Giant trees that are much higher than the average canopy height. It houses many birds and insects.

CANOPY: The upper parts of the trees. This leafy environment is full of life in a tropical rainforest and includes: insects, birds, reptiles, mammals, and more.

UNDERSTORY: A dark, cool environment under the leaves but over the ground.

FOREST FLOOR: Teeming with animal life, especially insects. The largest animals in the rainforest generally live here.

ii. Importance Cover about 7% of the Earth's surface and are VERY important to the Earth's

ecosystem Recycle and clean water Remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and store it in their roots, stems,

leaves, and branches Habitat for wide diversity of flora and fauna as well as the indigenous people.

They hunt for food and gather materials in the forest. Many of them also have small gardens in cleared areas of the forest. Since the soil in the rainforest is so poor, the garden areas must be moved after just a few years, and another part of the forest is cleared. The traditional agricultural system practiced by tribes in the Amazon is based on swidden cultivation (also known as slash-and-burn or shifting cultivation)

Considered as the "Jewels of the Earth" and the "world's largest pharmacy" one quarter of natural medicines have been discovered there.

Considerations


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slash-and-burn


Emergent layer

The emergent layer contains a small number of very large trees called emergents, which grow above the general canopy, reaching heights of 45–55 m, although on occasion a few species will grow to 70–80 m tall.

They need to be able to withstand the hot temperatures and strong winds that occur above the canopy in some areas.

Eagles, butterflies, bats and certain monkeys inhabit this layer.

Canopy layer

Majority of the largest trees, typically 30 metres (98 ft) to 45 metres (148 ft) tall.

The densest areas of biodiversity are found in the forest canopy

Epiphytic plants attach to trunks and branches, and obtain water and minerals from rain and debris that collects on the supporting plants

Fauna is similar to emergent layer, but more diverse.

Understory layer Birds, snakes and lizards, as well as predators such as jaguars, boa constrictors and

leopards The leaves are much larger at this level and insect life is abundant Only about 5% of the sunlight reaches here

Forest floor Receives only 2% of the sunlight Relatively clear of vegetation because of the low sunlight penetration.

Soil Soil quality is often quite poor. Rapid bacterial decay prevents the accumulation of humus Only about 3-4 inches (7.8-10 cm) thick and is ancient Thick clay lies underneath the soil Once damaged, the soil of a tropical rainforest takes many years to recover The concentration of iron and aluminium oxides by the laterization process gives the

oxisols a bright red colour and sometimes produces mineral deposits such as bauxite

Soils throughout the tropical rainforests fall into two classifications which include the ultisols and oxisols.

Ultisols are known as well weathered, acidic red clay soils, deficient in major nutrients such as calcium and potassium. The clay content of ultisols is high, making it difficult for water to penetrate and flow through.

Oxisols are acidic, old, typically reddish, highly weathered and leached, however are well drained compared to ultisols.

The reddish color of both soils is the result of heavy heat and moisture forming oxides of iron and aluminium, which are insoluble in water and not taken up readily by plants.

Effect on global climate Cloud formation, for example, by recycling water vapour


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Water_vapour

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cloud

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oxisols

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ultisols

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bauxite

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deposition_(geology)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mineral

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oxisol

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laterite

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oxide

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aluminium

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iron

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Humus

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bacteria

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soil_quality


Buttress roots

A common feature of many tropical rainforests is the distinct buttress rootsof trees. Instead of penetrating to deeper soil layers, buttress roots create a widespread root network at the surface for more efficient uptake of nutrients in a very nutrient poor and competitive environment.

These roots also aid in water uptake and storage, increase surface area for gas exchange, and collect leaf litter for added nutrition

Additionally, these roots reduce soil erosion and maximize nutrient acquisition during heavy rains by diverting nutrient rich water flowing down the trunk into several smaller flows while also acting as a barrier to ground flow

Also, the large surface areas these roots create provide support and stability to rainforests trees, which commonly grow to significant heights

Tropical Rainforest Climate

the climate is very humid because of all the rainfall, which amounts to about 250 cm per year

The rain forest has lots of rain because it is very hot and wet.

This climate is found near the equator. That means that there is more direct sunlight hitting the land and sea there than anywhere else.

Water evaporates into the air. The warm air can hold a lot of water vapor. As the air rises, it cools. That means it can hold less water vapor.

Thus, the warmest areas of the planet also tend to be the wettest, and this sets the stage for the tropical rain forest.

Then as warm meets cold, condensation takes place and the vapor forms droplets, and clouds form. The clouds then produce rain.

t rains more than ninety days a year and the strong sun usually shines between the storms

A lot of the rain that falls on the rain forest never reaches the ground. It stays on the trees because the leaves act as a shield, and some rain never gets past the trees to the smaller plants and grounds below.

The latitude range for rainforest climate is 15° to 25° North and South of the equator

Rain forests are so hot because they are found near the equator. The closer to the equator you are, the more solar radiation there is


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buttress_root


Rain forest are never found in climates which have temperatures 32° Fahrenheit and below because the plant life will not be able to live because they aren't adapted to frost. All the plants will die out if the rain forest is cooler.

Effects of absence of rainforests

Rainforests recycle a great deal of rainfall back into the atmosphere by transpiration.

If the forest is removed, that precipitation will run off to the sea via river flow, as has been demonstrated in many experiments where forests are clear cut.

The proposed site

Area: Hulu Langat

State: Selangor, Malaysia

Population: 1,141,880

Location: Located near city centers such as Kuala Lumpur, Cheras and Ampang

Climate:i. Wind movement:

Wind movements in Hulu Langat are often recorded to be blowing from the western direction

ii. Average temperature: 30 degrees celcius

iii. Average wind speed: 1 km/ hr

iv. Rainfall 85 % 9mm of rainfall



All about The New “X” City (Rimba City)

Aims of the new city To create a sustainable living environment in the iconic rainforests so that men

can learn to dwell inside the wonders of nature without hurting Mother Nature Utilize the available resources in the rainforests maximally and at the same time,

ensure that the resources can be renewed, recycled and not depleted due to manmade factors

To create a new futuristic city that blends in with the rainforests and not to create another concrete jungle

What will I like to achieve for the inhabitants of the city? Ensure that the inhabitants can live peacefully, calmly, comfortably and willingly

in a close-to-nature environment Satisfy the basic needs of the rainforest city citizens to ensure that the city

progresses and develops steadily over the years

Is it a green city? Yes





Basic info of the city





Initial zoning of areas



Improved zoning of areas



Initial Transportation Links



Improved Transportation Links



Ideas for transportation stations



Facilities



The residential area



Section of residential area

Respective drawing of the city center



Close up drawing of the main area of the city





Sketches for the design of buildings and facilities in the city



The Pamphlet

What is a pamphlet? A small booklet or leaflet containing information or arguments about a single subject.

How to make it? There are various ways to make a pamphlet. Here are some examples:

Some inspiration and good examples

The draft layout



References list

Ellis, C. (2015). History Of Cities And City Planning. Retrieved 2015, May 18 from http://www.art.net/~hopkins/Don/simcity/manual/history.html

All about Rainforests. (2015). Retrieved 2015, May 18 from http://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/rainforest/

Rainforest Climate. (2015). Retrieved 2015, May 18 from http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/rnfrst_climate_page.html

The Tropical Rainforest. (2008, June 6). Retrieved 2015, May 18 from http://www.globalchange.umich.edu/globalchange1/current/lectures/kling/rainforest/rainforest.html

Zimmer, L. (2011, September 19). Retrieved 2015, May 18 from http://inhabitat.com/minimumhouse-energy-efficient-vacation-home-blends-into-the-forest/


http://inhabitat.com/minimumhouse-energy-efficient-vacation-home-blends-into-the-forest/

http://inhabitat.com/minimumhouse-energy-efficient-vacation-home-blends-into-the-forest/

http://www.globalchange.umich.edu/globalchange1/current/lectures/kling/rainforest/rainforest.html

http://www.globalchange.umich.edu/globalchange1/current/lectures/kling/rainforest/rainforest.html

http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/rnfrst_climate_page.html

http://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/rainforest/

http://www.art.net/~hopkins/Don/simcity/manual/history.html


Rainforest Guardian Skyscraper. (2014, March 20 ). Retrieved 2015, May 18 from http://www.evolo.us/competition/rainforest-guardian-skyscraper/

Meaning of a city. (2015). Retrieved 2015, May 18 from http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/city

Angkor. (2015). Retrieved 2015, May 18 from http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/668

Gray, M. (2014) Angkor Wat. Retrieved 2015, May 18 from http://sacredsites.com/asia/cambodia/angkor_wat.html

Angkor Archaeological Park. (2015, May 3). Retrieved 2015, May 18 from http://wikitravel.org/en/Angkor_Archaeological_Park

Water Mastery - Khmer Civilization. (2011). Retrieved 2015, May 18 from http://www.cambodia-travel.com/khmer/water-mastery.html

Introducing Manaus. (2015). Retrieved 2015, May 18 from http://www.lonelyplanet.com/brazil/the-north/manaus#ixzz3Ze24w2Vd

Manaus Travel Guide. (2015, May 1). Retrieved 2015, May 18 from http://wikitravel.org/en/Manaus

Grainger, S. (2012, April 7). Brazil's Amazon boom pits economic growth versus forest. Retrieved 2015, May 18 from http://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-17609842

Mushroom Skycrapers Soon To Be Presented By Tropicool@KL. (2015). Retrieved 2015, May 18 from http://trendsupdates.com/mushroom-skycrapers-soon-to-be-presented-by-tropicoolkl/

Southeast Asia New Projects. (2015). Retrieved 2015, May 18 from http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=1138871&pag

Ancient Roman Aqueducts. (2015). Retrieved 2015, May 18 from http://www.crystalinks.com/romeaqueducts.html

Buczynski, B. (2014, March 24). Retrieved 2015, May 18 from http://inhabitat.com/lotus-shaped-rainforest-guardian-skyscraper-harvests-rainwater-to-fight-fires-in-the-amazon/

Sky Greens. (2015). Retrieved 2015, May 18 from http://www.skygreens.com/

Krishnamurthy, R. (2014, July 25). Vertical Farming: Singapore’s Solution to Feed the Local Urban Population. Retrieved 2015, May 18 from http://permaculturenews.org/2014/07/25/vertical-farming-singapores-solution-feed-local-urban-population/

Images Reference Links

http://www.delivery.net.au/projects/colliers/

http://parker-design.co.uk/tag/property/

http://australia-tours.com.au/files/2013/06/Daintree-Rainforest-Australia-tours.jpg

http://costaricaexperts.com/things-to-do/rainforest/


http://costaricaexperts.com/things-to-do/rainforest/

http://australia-tours.com.au/files/2013/06/Daintree-Rainforest-Australia-tours.jpg

http://parker-design.co.uk/tag/property/

http://www.delivery.net.au/projects/colliers/

http://permaculturenews.org/2014/07/25/vertical-farming-singapores-solution-feed-local-urban-population/

http://permaculturenews.org/2014/07/25/vertical-farming-singapores-solution-feed-local-urban-population/

http://www.skygreens.com/

http://inhabitat.com/lotus-shaped-rainforest-guardian-skyscraper-harvests-rainwater-to-fight-fires-in-the-amazon/

http://inhabitat.com/lotus-shaped-rainforest-guardian-skyscraper-harvests-rainwater-to-fight-fires-in-the-amazon/

http://www.crystalinks.com/romeaqueducts.html

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=1138871&pag

http://trendsupdates.com/mushroom-skycrapers-soon-to-be-presented-by-tropicoolkl/

http://trendsupdates.com/mushroom-skycrapers-soon-to-be-presented-by-tropicoolkl/

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-17609842

http://wikitravel.org/en/Manaus

http://www.lonelyplanet.com/brazil/the-north/manaus#ixzz3Ze24w2Vd

http://www.cambodia-travel.com/khmer/water-mastery.html

http://wikitravel.org/en/Angkor_Archaeological_Park

http://sacredsites.com/asia/cambodia/angkor_wat.html

http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/668

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/city

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/city

http://www.evolo.us/competition/rainforest-guardian-skyscraper/


http://www.sundarayoga.net/Retreat-CR-Faculty.html

http://www.news.com.au/national/rainforests-not-at-risk-of-shrinking-from-climate-change-say-experts/story-fncynjr2-1226594180256

http://cairnstravel.net.au/daintree-rainforest/

http://www.nprsr.qld.gov.au/parks/mamu/

http://www.wctrealtors.com.my/rimba-residence/

http://seekretreat.com/retreats/costa-rica-yoga-retreat-center-samasati/#.VVSBdfDAw0M

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/jun/18/lasers-lost-city-angkor-wat-cambodia

http://www.travelforum.se/destinationer/asien/kambodja/

http://www.travel-cambodia.com/cam-travel-info/angkor-airtravel.htm

http://www.latimes.com/travel/la-tr-ff-world-cup-games-in-manaus-brazil-amazon-region-20140330-story.html

http://www.amazon-village.com.br/LocTrnsf.html


http://www.amazon-village.com.br/LocTrnsf.html



http://www.travel-cambodia.com/cam-travel-info/angkor-airtravel.htm

http://www.travelforum.se/destinationer/asien/kambodja/

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/jun/18/lasers-lost-city-angkor-wat-cambodia

http://seekretreat.com/retreats/costa-rica-yoga-retreat-center-samasati/#.VVSBdfDAw0M

http://www.wctrealtors.com.my/rimba-residence/



Education

ENBE Final Project Process Journal Compilation