Architecture, Building and Planning - Theses
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ItemNegotiating a people’s space: a historical, spatial and social analysis of the People’s Square of Shanghai from the colonial to Mao to post-Mao era( 2014)This research investigates spatial formations of the People's Square of Shanghai from the 1840s to the 2000s against a shifting history of political and ideological backdrops. The research explores how the Square was formed and reformed, how it was used, how it facilitated and restricted certain social uses, and how it both reflected and subverted, to an extent, a predominant political and ideological control. The thesis reveals new layers of spatial politics of the Square and adds new dimensions to our reading of the meaning of the city centre of the Chinese metropolis.
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ItemConstructing and contesting the nation: the use and meaning of Sukarno's monuments and public places in Jakarta( 2007-10)Architecture and urban design are often powerful expressions of political desires to support and legitimise specific regimes. In many postcolonial cities, architecture and urban design are set out to construct national identity and affirm a political power that departs from the former colonial rule. Architecture and urban design may be used by successive postcolonial regimes to compete with each other to legitimise authority and symbolise power. While such concepts of national identity are established through a constellation of urban forms, national identity is always contested. Places may be used and interpreted in ways that differ from what is intended. Attempts to control the meaning of architecture and built form may conflict with the ways in which spatial practices undermine intended meanings. This research examines the role of Sukarno's monuments and public places and how their meanings and uses have been transformed under successive regimes. It deals with the establishment and the ongoing transformation of national identity embedded in Sukarno's monuments and public places. The study traces the history of central Jakarta as it emerged under the Dutch colonial rule and its transformation under Sukarno when he established a postcolonial national identity through urban forms. It then outlines the transformation of meaning and use of Sukarno's monuments and public places under Suharto and then the Reformasi. It explores how such places and forms embody national identity and political capital; and how they mediate practices of oppression, resistance liberation and democracy. It concludes that Sukarno's monuments and public places exemplify colonial and postcolonial relationships, and their transformation was an expression of different approaches by different regimes and spatial practices over time. While the research examines colonial influences upon the postcolonial era, it does not compare Jakarta with other postcolonial cities. Rather, the research is limited to a discourse on colonialism in Indonesia and how this influences postcolonial symbols and practice.
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ItemPublic open space and walking( 2012)Public open spaces (POSs) such as parks and playgrounds confer many social and physical benefits to communities. In relation to physical activity, POSs are important destinations and settings for walking in neighbourhoods and different aspects of POSs can influence walking. However, little research has explored how different aspects of POSs might influence POS-related walking. This study examined the impacts of proximity and attractiveness of POSs, perceptional qualities of their surrounding built environment and street configurations on two context-specific measures of walking — walking to and within POS. A sample of 335 residents recruited from three neighbourhoods in Melbourne completed a questionnaire about POS-related walking and their perceptions of their POSs and neighbourhood. Geographic information systems (GIS) and Space Syntax measures were used to calculate proximity of POSs and street configurations. The results showed that there were no associations between three proximity measures – distance to the nearest POS, number of POS within 1km, and total area of POS within 1km and attractiveness of POSs with either walking (versus not walking) to or within POS or the total amount of walking to or within POS. As well, distance to the nearest POS and the number of POSs within 1 km was negatively associated with the absolute amount of walking to POSs, and residents who lived in areas in which POSs were located on less integrated streets reported more walking to POSs. Nevertheless, several perceptual qualities of the built environment surrounding POSs including safety from traffic and crime and aesthetics, were associated with greater POS-related walking. In addition, residents who lived in areas with the most integrated street configurations reported less POS-related walking. The results show neighbourhood perceptions and street configurations are key urban design issues to consider in promoting residents’ use of POS for walking. Better understanding of how multiple factors related to POS, and their neighbourhood environments influence walking can provide academics and professionals in urban design and public health with sound evidence on which to base future research and planning aimed at improving residents’ walking.