Wei Zheng Lim

Architecture MArch (Hons)

Rural Wee Lifestyle. Building density with intensity to promote a small footprint living within a rural town context through a plot-based urbanism approach.

About

Wei Zheng Lim

Similar yet different reasons for sprawling suburbs, suburbs around the city sprawl as they face affordability issues on living in urban centres due to gentrification whereas, in a town/ rural context, sprawling suburbs are caused by the demand of families favouring the lifestyle of spacious, quiet suburb living and with the current pandemic, the demand soars as more people learn to live locally nowadays. However, with the climate emergency, changes need to be made for a sustainable future, where one will be densifying the existing urban environment.

This research project acknowledges the impact on the environment and challenges of shifting the existing culture of 'living big', including living space and carbon footprint, and aims to design a neighbourhood that is not just dense but intense, mainly focusing on the gap sites within existing urban centres, ultimately successfully in promoting the lifestyle of small footprint living to the society. The project will be tested on Blairgowrie and Rattray, a twin burgh hinterland in Scotland. It is a small town yet with high vehicular flow due to its geographic location and gateway to the highlands for skiing in Glenshee. Hence, I aim to design the gap sites within the town centre to promote a small footprint living within and hopefully expands into neighbouring towns and villages.

The Plot and Block of Blairgowrie Town Centre

An arial view of the proposed intervention and relation with the overall block

An aerial view of the proposed intervention and relation with the overall block

The Wee Lifestyle of a Town Centre Small Footprint Living

A comic illustration of the lifestyle of small footprint living within the town centre

A comic illustration of the lifestyle of small footprint living within the town centre

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