Comparision Between Barbican Center, Federation Square, BatteryPark City & Jian Wai Soho

This is the inference of the study of the urban design of Jian Wai SOHO, Beijing; Battery City Park, Manhattan, NewYork; Federation Square, Melbourne & Barbican Estate, London.

LAND USE COMBINATIONS:

• BARBICAN CENTER LONDON
  • Primarily Residential(65%) – to bring in a stable population .
  • 27% Recreational – cultural hub in the heart of the city.
  • 8% Amenities – for the residents.

• FEDERATION SQUARE MELBOURNE
  • 86% Recreational – Melbourne is the cultural capital. The site was ‘created’ as part of the scheme for the Commonwealth Games’06 .
  • 14% Commercial – to sustain economic viability.

• BATTERYPARK CITY, NY
  • Residential cum commercial (nearly 50-50) with 2% amenities. It was designed to be a city in itself – self sustained.

• JIAN WAI SOHO, BEIJING
  •  Residential 50% and commercial 50%. Needed to provide housing for the growing population, and added to the commercial development of the CBD.

CHANGES OVER TIME:

• BATTERYPARK CITY, NY
  • With time ecological sensitivity has developed, green guidelines have been issued and efforts to preserve open spaces are continually made.
• JIAN WAI SOHO, BEIJING
  • Bright fluorescent lights shine through the glass facades like glowing beacons in the dark. As occupants personalize their spaces, it will perhaps not be as striking five years from now.

OWNERSHIP ISSUE:

 OWNERSHIP ISSUES:

• BARBICAN CENTER LONDON
  • The property was with the Corporation of London. It was given to a local firm to design that had previous success on a similar site.
• FEDERATION SQUARE MELBOURNE
  • An international design competition was held. It was awarded to a collaboration of a British architect with a local firm.
• BATTERYPARK CITY, NY
  •  Combined state and city ownership – led to the formation of the Battery Park City Authority that parceled off land and leased it to different developers under strict guidelines.
• JIAN WAI SOHO, BEIJING
  •  SOHO was awarded the contract from the govt. to develop the site. They brought in a foreign architect to develop it and then sold it off to real estate investors for a staggering amount.

ARCHITECTURAL CHARACTER/IMAGE:

• BARBICAN CENTER LONDON
  • The architects were greatly influenced by Modernist principles – exposed concrete – an honest expression of materials and form. Has resulted in cold and unfeeling structures.
• FEDERATION SQUARE MELBOURNE
  • On the centenary celebrations, it was a gift to the city. It was visualized to be an icon for Melbourne, internationally recognized for its architecture.
    
• BATTERYPARK CITY, NY
  • It is the work of several architects who have responded differently to the same site conditions. Today reckoned as a model living concept.
• JIAN WAI SOHO, BEIJING
  • It is designed to lend an international character to the city and project it on the world map.

RESPONSE TO METRO LINE:

• BARBICAN CENTER LONDONBARBICAN CENTER LONDON
  • The Metro line is entirely underground so that there is no visible indication of it on the site. Noise and vibration have been effectively dealt with through the construction technology. However, the line was straightened before construction began.
• FEDERATION SQUARE MELBOURNE
  • The buildings and the piazza are constructed on a deck built over existing rail lines. After accommodating the labyrinth, the level of the entire site becomes significantly higher than the street.