Author:

Keywords:

Urban Coherence, Intercultural learning, Phnom Penh

Abstract:

A group of RUFA students presented a case-study at the 3rd International Students Workshop organized by the Program of Urban Design of the Department of Architecture, University of Moratuwa (23-24 October 2015). This workshop creates an opportunity for a wider group of RUFA students to pursue the case-study and acquire new insights in urban issues and the complexities and subtleties of urban environments through on-line exchange and interaction with fellow students at Moratuwa University. The workshop will focus on the old neighbourhood of which street 13 forms the backbone. Like many other parts of the city, this area suffers major flooding, traffic congestion and pollution. Moreover, its historical value is under threat due to poor maintenance and dilapidation of its built heritage, inadequate planning and building controls and social ills undermining its living heritage. A group of Sri Lankan students who looked into this case study identified the nearby market activities as one of the major causes for congestion, pollution and petty criminality. They proposed to “ease” these problems by spreading activities in time and space and (re-)introducing “walkability” as a key element in the revitalization of the area. The purpose of this follow-up workshop will be to critically examine the feasibility of these proposals and work out scenarios that could help to materialize them.