area in the interior. Here protection is offered from the outside noises and possible undesirable views are shielded from the pedestrians on that level.
The shape may also be considered for gaps or saddles in the slope line. View problems may then be elimin ated. Also, growth may be approxi- mated better to the contour of the hill by this use of the plan presented.
Cross ventilation: Single loaded corridor systems present cross ventila- tion possibilities in the layout. In tro- pical areas air movement is of prime importance.
By allowing a clear floor at five floor intervals, interior activity areas may be developed which also aid ven- tilation of the floors and provide a cooling effect to the interior spaces.
Interior openings: Interior ventila- tion plans may be proposed for tropi- cal areas where air movement is of prime importance. If the major design determinate becomes ventilation, in- terior wells allow the circulation as well as initiate a system of social con- trols on the interior walkways. Cross views from the various apartments into the light and ventilation wells onto the activity area would allow surveillance by the inhabitants.
This approach is to demonstrate some aspects which may be incorpor. ated into the general design.
Modified approach
With the same structural premise as the basic concept, this modification utilises tension in the slope spine in the building instead of compression. Instead of the spine transferring the sliding forces to a base mass founda- tion, the forces which the slope is un- able to accommodate are balanced against a similar building mass, back to back on an opposite slope. In effect, one has a saddle type of structure, with the ridge analogous to the horse's back and the saddle analogous to the building.
Inherent in this concept is a build- ing site separated by a ridge, where similar masses can be balanced against each other (a Janus building of two faces.) Access would be from the top; however, base access is possible if the foot of the building extends down to the base plane leaving expensive level land for other uses.
Construction procedure for the building would change from the pre- vious approach. Instead of the main
30
TT
force diagram
circulation
vertical hoist system stationed on the vertical hoist system stationed on the base plane, it could be placed at the high point of the ridge at the centre of the two halves of the building; in this fashion it services both sections of the construction with a single hoist.
Growth potential
By the balance of the base plane mass vs the slope mass, additional growth can occur up a slope, limited only by the ability of the existing structure to receive the additonal load- ing. In some cases, the building might be staged to finally develop into a complete unit, with part 1, 2 and 3 as the finished structure.
Stage 1 may be erected in a normal manner, without previous considera- tion as to growth. Stage 2 needs only depend on strengthening the force
3
transfer points and the compressive elements in the Stage 1 slope mass. For Stage 3 to be feasible, preliminary planning in the early stages must be included.
As to circulation, Stage 2 could only be built if some means of access at the top of the slope were possible. However, with Stage 3 to be added later, the temporary inconvenience may be rationalised.
Elements of the building may be combined to form another larger com- plex. The connection of the basic shape with interior elements while still retaining the structural integrity allows a continuous means of expansion along slope areas.
Conclusion
In many cities of the world today, and in many other cities which are not yet faced with the growth problems but will be confronted with similar problems within the next ten years, the rational use of the slope areas will become an increasingly important priority.
In this study a new approach of or ganising activities relative to the slope is presented and its different aspects are analysed. Geological, topographi- cal, structural, and technological as- pects resulting from the concept are considered parallel with the factors from the architectural and urban de- sign fields.
An entirely different approach may be established when planning new cities in heretofore infeasible sites to meet the pressing population demands.
Instead of developing the city from the level plane which is easiest to build on with the subsequent result of the termination of the city's growth when confronted with the sloped terrain, it is proposed to start the city at the slope with linear movement patterns connecting the residential, commercial and business units on the sloped ter- rain. In this manner, the scarce level areas may be saved for activities which are dependent on level land. Parks, sports area, transportation systems and agriculture areas to feed the city may now be developed in the centre of the 'urban region'.
If the region does expand even be- yond the linear movement system and the density feasibility of the slope buildings has been saturated, the growth could then still take place on the level plane approaching a tradi- tional urban landscape.
Far East BUILDER, September 1971