CDE110 2018-19 Group 4 Final

Yefan Liu: 1716544, in charge of local enterprises

Liyu Ding: 1717908, in charge of people and community

Mingkuo Li: 1715730, in charge of biodiversity

Taotao Lou: 1716455,  in charge of water

Zhe Li: 1715870, in charge of movement

Junyao Su: 1715854, in charge of energy

Xiwen Huang: 1715864, in charge of food and

Junyu Zhou: 1716018, in charge of facilities.

The map below is our group’s target site, which is a component of Lotus Village and it is located in the south of Suzhou Industrial Park (SIP). There are about 50 residential buildings within the target range. After they were built in 2007, they have become a significant residential area in SIP because of the strong carrying capacity.

In fact, most of the residential buildings there are built for accommodating the original inhabitants who used to live in rural area and be displaced because of urban expansion. Therefore, the community and neighborhood planning there are all young and need to be improved.

Checklist: We made a checklist before we start our field trip to define the objectives. We listed a series of common issues in usual neighborhoods and then do our research and analysis basing on the checklist.

                           (The checklist, by Lou, 2019)

Case study: We searched for lots of successful cases from journals and Internet, then analyzed the positive aspect in their experience. Finally, utilize the findings and ideas to improve the possible recommendations.

Taking photos and voice record: We took many photos about building environment in the Lotus Village during our site visiting. These photos could be reliable when we do the later research. Also, we recorded the process of resident interview by using record pen to help us double check the information.

Questionnaire (Sample size: 100)

Field trip:We went to the designated site (Lotus Village 4) for several times to take photos, interview residents and gather detailed data. During the trip, we deepened the understanding of neighborhood context and developed the relationship between local condition and theories. (Details will be illustrated next)

Total visiting time: 5 times; 10 hours.

                                                 (Routine of the first trip, by Li, 2019)

Twin-track analyze process:

Our group aims at analyzing the neighborhood planning system in the target site from eight aspects, then provide possible recommendations to improve the condition.

Also, we purposed to use successful cases and theories to support our ideas.

This part will briefly discuss the local enterprises and the relationship between these enterprises and local residents’ daily lives.

The local enterprises in the Lotus Village 4 are well regulated. Most of the businesses are held in the corner of this part. Only two are located between the residential houses.

1. Recycling business.

This business is acted by one people or by one family. It is a business that collecting the rubbish which can be recycled and selling them.

In the Lotus Village 4, we can only find one recycling business. The bundled plastic bottle, cans and wasted paper are stored outside. That actually influences the environment. Moreover, the recycling they do may not reduce the rubbish problems, because what they recycling mostly come from the rubbish cans, and also, they only search for the rubbish that can be sold.

2. Barber shop

                                               Figure 1barber shop which located inside the house

The barber shop is located inside the residential house, however, it does not harm to the environment nearby like the recycling business.

As the picture shows, it is a business in the private house. The barber shop is very convenience for the local residents, and also it is cheap.

3. Local market

                                                Figure 2 the exterior of the market

                                               Figure 3 the inside of the market

It is located in the corner of the community. Many vegetable and meat sales concentrate on this area. Ths market provides local residents with daily food metrial.

4. Little restaurants

                                                  Figure 4 restaurants located outside the market

This is the restaurant street located at the back of the local market. These restaurants are too small to gold customers. They mainly provide breakfast and snacks.

5. Street stalls

                                              Figure 5 the street stalls

                                              Figure 6 aired vegetable and meat

As the pictures show, the local residents, especially the old people, air meat and vegetable for sale. This is a method to increase their family income.

After the research about the local residents, we found a problem about the local market. Although most of people have no idea about the convenience, there are more people that agree with the viewpoint than the people disagree. Hence, it is supposed that there should be a method for the residents’ convenience.

The eco-system in Lotus Village 4 is defined as an important element in local neighborhood planning and be well planned. It mainly consists of plants (including wild and domestic) and small terrestrials (including livestock and birds). In fact, freshwater species should also be considered, but there is not accessible aquatic habitat except a polluted riverway beside the neighborhood, so the appraisal does not cover the information about freshwater species.

                                                           (Figure: map of green spaces in Lotus Village 4)

1.Vegetation: types and structure

                                    (Box wood ball)

                                 (Photinin serrulate)

                              (Privet)

                                (Sakura)

                               (Peach blossom)

                              (China rose)

                                     (Broadleaved deciduous forest)

                               (Phytocoenosium)

                                (Domestic plants)

Above are some usual plant species in Lotus Village 4. According to the group research, plants are protected to develop functions of landscape, entertainment and provide wild habitats there. However, the vertical structure of vegetation (combination of herbaceous plant and woody plant) is not completed and the plant corridor system is not planned well. Also, domestic plants and flowers are important component of eco-system.

2. Wild small terrestrial: species and habitat

                                 (Sparrow)

                                 (Turdus merual)

In Lotus Village 4, birds are most active. Wild birds utilize vegetation as protection and share a large range of living space. Unfortunately, there are almost not wild small mammals such as weasels or cats. \Also, the number of bird nests and source of food perhaps are not enough.

3.Domestic terrestrial: spaces and risk of species invasion

                                 (Pet dog and owner)

                                 (Domestic chicken)

Domestic species usually live in caves or designated sites for produce and pet, so that there is low risk of species invasion.

(Table: Brief comparison of eco-system between Lotus Village and common neighborhood in the UK)

                                                                   ( pie chart)

The research data from questionnaires and table illustrate that the awareness of eco-system of residents need to be improved and the number of species in this community is less than the same-scale community in the UK. Also, according to the research by Dr. Wang and Dr. Chang (2013), there are 43 kinds of birds and more than five hundred plants in SIP. However, the species and plants in Lotus Village are quiet less than the total number.

Water planning can play an important role in neighborhood planning, such as reducing downstream flood risk, reducing water scarcity and improving water quality. When neighborhoods are properly planned, water can also contribute to landscaping and biodiversity. (Barton, Grant and Guise, 2003)

According to the field survey, area 4 (figure 1), the survey area of our group, has two waterways. The river runs close to the edge of the community and then directly runs across the community, dividing the area into two parts. Still, railings at the edge of the river separate the community from the river and prevent residents from using the water directly.

              Figure 1: Lotus Village                                                                         Figure 2: waterways of Lotus Village

The waterways can be roughly divided into two sections, one running north and south and one running east and west. The north-south river channel is narrow, the river flows from the south to the north, the flow rate is fast, and then into the main river, the river flow from west to east, the flow rate is also slow. The water quality of the river as a whole is poor, and residents will complain about the water quality of the river and do not want to use the river water directly for domestic use.

                                                          Figure 3: West–east waterway

                                         Figure 4: North – south waterway

Residents' domestic water (white water) mainly comes from the tap water supply of the municipal pipe network. Residents do not have too many negative or positive attitudes towards the quality of tap water and think that the water price is relatively reasonable. For waste water, the community has a basic sewage pipeline system, which collects the residents' waste water and feeds it into the municipal pipe network, but the sewage system is not perfect. Some residents use water from fire hydrants for laundry or to collect rainwater for flowers, but most do not.

Figure below is an aerial view of Lotus new village, which covers green space, houses and water area.

                                                                      Figure1:  Lotus new village area 3

Accessibility:

Lotus new village is quite a accessible community which contains many social infrastructure such as the bus stations (figure 2), vegetable market (figure 3), fitness equipment (figure 4), etc. Because the community includes four parts so that each area has a bus station, which is much more convenient for the local residents. It has two main gate but one of the community gate (figure 5) is too short and small for the car or bicycle to move in.

                               Figure 2: bus station                                                          Figure 3: vegetable market

                                                                               Figure 4: fitness equipment

                                                                          Figure 5: one of the community gate

Exercises:

In the community, there are many pathways and boulevards for residents to walk. Besides, some basic infrastructures such as street lamp (figure 6) and bench are well prepared. In addition, there are many small parking spots around the communities for the cars (figure 7), and also communities contains many bike and electric bike sheds (figure 8). However, some of the rocky roads are rough and hard for bicycles to move through and the parking spots beside the pedestrian roads may reduce the walking space.

                                                                  Figure 6: street lamp

                                Figure 7: Parking lot                                                 Figure 8: bike and electric bike sheds

Safety:

Lotus new village is a open community, which allows every types of cohesion and people to enter. What is more, the car parking spots in the pedestrian road may not only reduce the walking space, but also cause some unsafe factors. Moreover, the road is too narrow to drive two cars side by side, and it increase the possibility to have a traffic accident. It is necessary for the Lotus new village to consider and deal with these insecurity problems above.

Viability:

There are many commercial facilities around the Lotus new village. For instance, there is a vegetable market (figure 3) in the corner of the community and a convenience store opposite the community gate. Besides, it has a barber shop (figure 8) in the ground floor of one of the buildings, which provides basic services. In summary, the community is viable for economic sustainable development.

                                                                           Figure 9: barber shop

Community:

The neighbourhood relationship in a community is very important. In terms of the Lotus new village, it has many sitting areas for the elderly people to take a rest or communicate with each other. In summary, the movement of the Lotus new village is easy to create a further development of the relationship.

Questionnaire:

The question is: Do u think it is inconvenient to walk on the road without sidewalks?

Figure 10 is the result of the survey and it is obvious that residents are mostly agree to separate the pedestrian road from the carriageway.

                                                        Figure 10: survey result

According to the field trip surveys, the most widely used energy in Lotus new village is electricity. Natural gas and charcoal could also be seen in this community.

The electricity facilities are a big potential problem in this community as the wires are surrounded the transformer station disorderly. They also expose to the air without any coverage. This situation could be extremely dangerous as Lotus new village is mainly a neighborhood filled with elder people and children.

The energy-saving system in this area is basically absent. Residents in here do not be equipped with the basics of civilized life. For example, only families live on the top floor could use solar panels. Most of the families use the natural gas which is more expensive than coal gas. However, nearly every family has air conditions and other high power consumption appliances.

Actually Lotus new village has a good geographic advantage to build solar panels, because this area has the flat terrain and atop gazebo is empty and flat too.

Residents also use portable coal stoves but without the mechanical exhaust to control the carbon dioxide flow and ensure their security.

Common energy facilities in the Lotus new village:

Based on the field trip, we find that there are three main ways for local residents to get foods. The first way is to go to the market near the Lotus new village or the small supermarket in community. The lotus market near the community, which not only provides vegetables and fruits, but also has many restaurants and breakfast stalls (As figure 1 and figure 2 show). In addition, Figure 3 and 4 shows a small supermarket in the community where residents can buy some snacks and drinks. They are convenient for residents to access there to buy foods. However, some residents said they prefer to buy vegetables at the Donghua market, which is farther away from the community, because the price of vegetables at the lotus market is too high and the variety is limited.

                                Figure1

                                Figure 2

                                Figure 3

                                Figure4

The second way is to buy food from a moving dinning car in the community. We find that there are moving dining car in the community selling fruits and snacks, as shown in figure 5 and figure 6. But the survey found that most residents were reluctant to buy food from the cars, possibly as a result of concerns that the food they were selling was unhygienic or not fresh enough.

                              Figure5

                              Figure 6

The third way is residents to grow their own produce on the land within the community. One of the interesting things we found was that the residents grew vegetables on the land in the community and dried wild vegetables on wooden poles or on the ground (As figure 7 shows). Since most of the people living in the lotus new village community are old man, they are willing to grow their own vegetables. Because they don't want to waste money to buy vegetables in the market, and they may feel the home-grown vegetables are fresher and healthier. However, the community has a lot of wasted green space that is not well used, so some residents plant vegetables on it casually. It's too messy, thus it is necessary to plan vegetable fields for the residents.

                                                                                                                                                  Figure 7

Meanwhile, there are some advantages for residents to grow crops in their communities.

-Increase the green space and community vitality because some vegetables also have ornamental value.

-Residents can eat fresher, healthier vegetables without worrying about pesticide residues.

-promote the neighborly relation.

The distinctive community facilities in lotus new village are divided into three types:

1. The special narrow gate facilitates the access of community residents and makes the whole community an open residential area.
2. There are bamboo racks built by the residents in the community, which is closely related to the local economy: the local people will use these bamboo racks to dry pickles and bacon, and make them into small dishes with strong local characteristics.
3. There are also green belts of various sizes in the community, some of which have been turned into small plots for vegetables by the residents.
4. There is a clear garbage classification system in the community, and garbage classification and treatment facilities are distributed in every corner of the community.

5. Community service centers also have recreational facilities for children.

The situation and problems in Lotus Village 3  can be identify in the aspects in the formal pages. In conclusion, this villiage has problems in sanitation, the water quanlity, the transportation and so on. Moreover, the relationships between local residents are on a tight rope.

In oreder to solve the problems there are recommadations in the next box.

1. It provides three main stems for the cars (yellow lines in figure 1), and because it is the carriageway so that people cannot walk on those roads. Similarly, cars can only drive on the carriageway, others are the pedestrian roads for residents.

2. In actual fact, the parking lot size in lotus new village is limited, so that cars can be parked beside the main stems (blue lines in figure 1). To be precise, the parking area would better set up on the side of green space, which can keep out sunshine in summer.

3. a roundabout parking lot could be constructed in the Lotus new village (green line in figure 1). Cars are able to park here, which saved many places and convenient for the residents.

4. Reconstruct the small doors, in order to give residents a safer and more convenient way to market.

5. Build a new supermarket in the central part of the village.

6. Add more facilities, such as benches in the red area, as the figure shows, in order to optimize residents' experience and create a good activity environment.

7. And in the yellow area, in order to create a better playing environment and experience for children, our group decided to expand the recreational facilities by cutting part of the greenery on the original basis, so that more children can enjoy better facilities.

8. There should be somewhere for planting vegetables.

9. Increasing the bus number, because there always be a long time for waiting a bus.

10. Poor sanitation, the public toilet should be constructed and the recycling business should be shut down.

11. The community centre should be used by more people (not only for Ma jiang).

Barton, H., Grant, M., & Guise, R. (2003). Shaping neighbourhoods: a guide for health, sustainability and vitality. London and New York: Taylor & Francis