URBAN CONGESTION AS A DESIGN PARADIGM: NEW METHODS AND TOOLS FOR ANALYZING HYPER-DENSE ENVIRONMENTS
DS 136: Proceedings of the Asia Design and Innovation Conference (ADIC) 2024
Year: 2024
Editor: Yong Se Kim; Yutaka Nomaguchi; Chun-Hsien Chen; Xiangyang Xin; Linna Hu; Meng Wang
Author: Guo, Yi; Zou, Qichang
Series: Other endorsed
Institution: Universit
Page(s): 092-101
Abstract
This paper introduces a novel approach to urban design theory and methodology, building upon Walter Benjamin's theories of metropolitan life and Rem Koolhaas's concept of the "culture of congestion." Drawing inspiration from the concept of "productive chaos" in hyper-dense urban environments, we present a new design framework: the Conceptual Research Grid of Congestions. This systematic method for analyzing and potentially harnessing the generative aspects of urban congestion offers fresh insights into the complex dynamics of contemporary megacities. Using Hong Kong and Shenzhen as case studies, our approach challenges traditional urban planning paradigms and proposes new tools for understanding and designing in complex, high-density urban contexts. By synthesizing Benjamin's insights on the sensory experiences of modern cities with Koolhaas's embrace of urban intensity, this paper offers a timely reconsideration of congestion as a potentially productive force in urban design and development.
Keywords: Urban Congestion, Urban Design, Productive Chaos, Hyper-Density, Conceptual Research Grid