The purposes of this study, which focuses on 'canal cities,' are as follows. Firstly, as it is to grasp distinct characteristics that canal cities have, it aimed to closely examine what the role and significance of water in the canal cities and what t...
The purposes of this study, which focuses on 'canal cities,' are as follows. Firstly, as it is to grasp distinct characteristics that canal cities have, it aimed to closely examine what the role and significance of water in the canal cities and what the attribute is in light of spatial structure that these cities are differentiated from other cities. Secondly, it aimed to closely examine the characteristics of its spatial structure in line with water-by residential area situated in the canal cities. In other words, the aim was to grasp the essential attributes in spatial structure of water-by residential area by analyzing the spatial composition and the gathering pattern of housing, the function and form of outdoor space, and the spatial structure of the whole residential area. Thirdly, it aimed to propose the direction of design for water-by residential area to be developed in the future. Namely, the aim was to propose the diverse attitudes of planning and techniques of getting access to it and to suggest it with a series of 'space language'. This is what was elicited on the basis of the spatial structure of canal cities and water-by residential areas. This 'space language' is expected to be utilized as a series of methodology for developing water-by residential area.
To analyze the spatial structure of 'canal cities,' this study targeted both the historical canal cities and modern water-by residential areas. There was a proposition that all the characteristics in the spatial structure, which a human being implemented while having relationship with water, are in existence of historical canal cities. As a result, Suzhou in China and Venezia in Italy were selected as research subjects. As these two cities are the historical canal cities of standing for the East and the West, respectively, those cities have formed the distinctive urban space while positively coping with waterway, and have formed interesting environments such as diverse and wise residental space, community space, outdoor space, and road & waterway system. Also, this study analyzed the waterside-development district around Het Ij, which was operated in Amsterdam since 1980s, as a case of developing the modern water-by residential area. As this place is the waterside-development district that was enforced strategically by containing the future value even while maintaining the context of urban history, it is evaluated as 'exhibition hall of waterside development and high-tech architecture for the 21st century.'
This study, in the first stage, carried out general consideration on spatial structure of these 'canal cities'. And, in the next stage, their spatial structures were analyzed deeply centering on physical element called 'water way' with the focus on water-by residential area. Here, an item for analysis was divided into three categories. Those are as follows: 1)spatial structure of the whole residential area 2)spatial structure of outdoor space within residential area 3)spatial structure of housing and residing cluster of residential area. Here, the in-depth analysis was made by segmentally dividing these three categories again. As a result of analysis, it was confirmed that the character and pattern in light of the spatial structure of residential area are diverse, but have very common characteristic in an environmental goal and in a method of achieving it. Accordingly, this study confirmed that such common characteristic can be utilized as a wisdom for developing water-by residential area that we will carry out, and arranged its contents as a series of 'space language' for designing water-by residential area.
'Space language,' which was proposed in this study, is composed of 'spatial patterns' which were collected in the analyzed 'canal cities'. In other words, this language is what was elicited as the analytical result, rather than having arranged with the aim of design directly. Accordingly, this language can be said to be a collection of wisdoms available for being applied and utilized when designing the water-by space and water-by residential area in the future. The 'space language' is composed of the following contents. First of all, the items of 'space language' related to the whole water-by residential area include 1)form and spatial organization of the area 2)waterway system and road system 3)compositional pattern of residental block 4)arrangement of residential and commercial area. The items of 'space language' related to the outdoor space of water-by residential area include 1)form and character of outdoor space 2)joining method of outdoor space and water 3)green system in water-by residential area 4)arrangement and utilization of public and private space. And, the items of 'space language' related to the housing and residing cluster of water-by residential area include 1)type and spatial composition of housing 2)method of forming cluster by which houses are gathered together 3)joining method of housing, street and waterway 4)contacting surface that residential area meets with water, and items related to urban scenery.
This study conclusively proposed a direction of developing water-by residential area, which will be operated in the future. Its major contents are as follows: 1)Complexity would be pursued in composition of urban space. 2)Mixture of diverse urban functions would be induced and proposed. 3)Diversification of behavior would be induced in users of waterside space. 4)Semi-lattice structure would be pointed to which small spaces are connected organically. 5)Place with naturalness and authenticity would be encouraged. 6)The process of development would be procedural and progressive character rather than that of completed. 7)The development would be reflecting locality and historicity of the area. A reason that many cities in the world today pays attention to development of water-by space is because of the new image of city and residential area that are formed by attractiveness, interest, variation, and its rising function offered by water. The deliberate paradigm to which water-by residential area points is signifying attribute opposite to 'functionality,' which was made by a doctrine of modern architecture. As what develops water-by residential area is contrary to a city planning based on productivity and economic efficiency that had been prevalent in the 20th century, it is what seeks for authenticity of a place and pursues high-quality value of environment while respecting a value of human life. This study is expected to be likely to contribute to establishing and planning the future-oriented direction for planning the water-by residential area down the road.