Page 40 - March 2023 #179

SPECIAL FEATURE - GLOBAL ARCHITECTURE & MASTERPLANNING

Foundations For The

Future

The last few years have been unique in ways people could never have imagined as the global pandemic had an
effect on people all around the world across every sector. Architects and masterplanners in every corner of the
globe had to take stock and decide how best to move forward in a world forever changed. Over the coming
few pages RLI takes a closer look at a selection of projects from around the world that highlight the changes
in mixed-use developments and how the design of these schemes is more important than ever.

t its simplest level, a masterplan is a framework within which a There are two main types of masterplan:
location is encouraged to develop or change. Great provinces 1. A strategic masterplan - This might identify how an entire country,
Aand historic cities are often held up as prime examples of region or group of cities might be regenerated or changed in order to
masterplanning, however current masterplanning practice is a relatively meet a perceived challenge. Public sector clients tend to be more likely
recent development. It faces a number of different challenges to historic to undertake strategic masterplans which may be commissioned by a
masterplanning such as the fact cities are changing at a faster rate than government department or regional board in order to help shape policy.
ever before, the make-up of our societies is changing and with this there 2. A project masterplan - This tends to be focused on a specific site
is an ongoing shift in the cultural expectations and requirements of the with definable boundaries. A project masterplan might be commissioned
urban realm. We have moved away from a stabilised vernacular culture by a developer with a piece of land to exploit, or by an estate wishing
in terms of technology, ethnicity, aspiration, economy, density, etc. Land to tackle a backlog of defects or alter its building stock to respond to
allocation and land use now follow different economic, civic and political changing requirements.
structures. The advancement of technology means that the way space The above are the viewpoints and thoughts of Andrew Comer from
is used is undergoing significant change and the population in many key Buro Happold and Steven Smith from urban narrative on the Designing
countries and cities is increasing rapidly. Buildings Wiki page ‘Masterplanning’ and over the next few pages RLI

11 SKIES, Hong Kong, China
Developer: New World Development