Urban Planning & Design II

Basha Wolde Chilot

Basha Wolde Chelot
Urban Design Project
 The Project area is locally known as Basha
1.0 Introduction Wolde Chelot
It has a project action area of 39.1
hectares
It is located adjacent to the Arat Kilo
Central Business
Arat
Kilo
Merkato CBD District CBD area and the National Palace
CBD CBD area
National It has an area coverage of 39.1 hectares
Palace
CBD
Site is located behind the Ministry of
Southern National
Education and is well bounded by roads at
Theatre, Maskal the North and the East and West and a river
Square CBD
at the West
In terms of importance, it is situated in one
of the most important sites of the city;
- Historically relevant
- Administratively important
- Security wise needs proper attention
- Activity wise situated in one of the most
Project Location
active parts
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 2.0 Methodology
The Study followed a Hands on Participatory Urban Design Workshop as a
methodology to facilitate
- A participatory input
- A brainstorming platform
- A multidisciplinary input given the different dimensions to be
considered in the project: mixed use, housing and
landscape dimensions
For this, four teams were established with experts in dimensions of urban design,
housing, landscape design and infrastructure. After giving a general introduction
about the nature of the workshop and an inspirational lecture, participating
experts in the workshop were given the opportunity to visit the site with the client
institution and the relevant stakeholders. Then after, a break away session was
conducted in four teams to come up with ideas.
After the ideas were worked out and presented, similar ideas were grouped
together. Accordingly, the four groups were clustered into two groups to further
develop their ideas. Finally, the two groups presented their ideas and the
workshop was closed.

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 3.0 Concepts Developed in the Workshop
The basis for the commercial blocks:
The use of perimeter block layout with a
maximum of 5 stories ( for the sake of
security reasons of the area and
historicity except for the Piazza street
side which can go higher up to 8 stories)
to define street edges having an
arcaded
pedestrian friendliness and to pull
commercial impression of Piazza into the
project area; mixed use concept to
maintain activity of the
new project area

Arcades also allow the continuation

of the flow of the ground and mezzanine
floor commercial use

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 3.0 Concepts Developed in the Workshop

A public plaza and structured Activating the river side by

green was not seen in the former creating plots that face the river
morphology; green corridors and side in ensuring safety (in addition
open public areas need to be to activating pedestrian use and
developed as a special interface cycling); and respecting the
between the public and private sloppy nature of site by building
realm along it and not against it
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 4.0 Inputs from the Existing Situation and Data

The master plan of Addis Ababa;

every road as well as land use
proposed in the master plan has
been taken into account
Local development plan study
the program used to
generate the proposal has been
considered
Program of the Housing Agency
have been taken into account
- Condominium program
- Cooperatives
- Site for resettlement program
within the site
Existing leased out plots
Main existing infrastructural systems
7 Fig. LDP Study of the area
5.0 Proposals The Land Use of the site has been primarily adopted from
the LDP study
5.1 Land Use for the area except for the part in front of the parliament,
where the green
scheme has been changed into a mixed land use function
Along the Piazza road, the land use has been kept as
commercial, but
articulated by our study further implying that it should be
predominantly
commercial in nature
Along the road from the Arat Kilot to the Palace area, the
LDP had kept it
for green area and reserved the Ministry of Education
Compound. In this
study, the change made is making the land use along the
road mixed but
mainly administrative/business in nature to customize it with
the
Parliament use. But a green pedestrian corridor has been
created along
the axis of the Silassie church to the green belt along the
river
The Housing
Fig. Proposed Land Uselayer
Map comes beyond the Piazza street side
mixed use layer
up to the river edge green scheme
Further South, along the road going from the parliament to
the Banko di
Roma area the land use is mixed mainly administration with
a small tip of
8 the housing land use coming along the river edge
 5.0 Proposals
5.1 Land Use (contd)
In the land use, different combination of the percentage of
uses
had to be studied
One of the advantages of using this system is to control
the
density by introducing a hierarchy of building mix, in
diluting
the commercial mix more and more as one goes further
into the
super blocks

Fig 3: Mixed mainly When we come to the combinations in the different land
Fig 1 : Mixed mainly uses we
commercial Residential
have
Mixed mainly commercial (9.26% ground coverage)
two
bottom stories commercial and the rest of the
floors mixed
commercial (fig. 1)
Mixed use or administrative (5.16% ground
coverage) -
one bottom floor commercial and the rest of the
floors
being administrative (fig. 2)
Mixed mainly residential (10.42% ground
coverage)
Fig 2 : Mixed mainly Fig 4: Fully residential
or administrative Ground floor for commerce and the rest of the
9 floors used
for residence (fig. 3)
 5.0 Proposals
5.2 Morphology
The concept for the morphology as stated earlier is
the
perimeter block. For the mixed use area, the building
shapes the spaces, while in the housing area ( as will
be
explained in detail in the housing part) the spaces
give rise
to the nature of the blocks embracing them.
There is also a consistency of height to keep the
Fig. Continuity of arcades ambience
of the historical Piazza area with arcades especially
around
the mixed use areas

Fig. Aerial view of the pink perimeter block for the

Fig. Morphological map showing the perimeter block arrangements mixed mainly administrative land use, white perimeter
10 that come out of the street edge buildings and housing blocks that
come out of the green network
block for the mixed use mainly residential and fully
residential area and yellow and orange for the housing
area
 5.0 Proposals
5.3 Road Network
Since the Piazza road is historical, delicacy is needed in
handling the road system
The other issue is care needed to take care of existing
infrastructure
A third point was to keep the master plan proposal of
roads
and also keep a sense of hierarchy even within the site
itself
One important idea that was generated was to keep the
road
that goes from the Police Station into the National
theatre as
one way road and also make the road that goes
upwards to
the Tourist hotel one way to reduce traffic
This solution keeps also the spirit of the roads in the
Mahtama Ghandi street in reducing vehicular traffic
and
keep the buildings intimate with the buildings enclosing
them
In the hierarchy of roads, the proposal has attempted to
give
proper hierarchy
In road types according to use, there are also vehicular
Fig. Road Network Map only
11 streets that give access from the Silassie Church
Building to
 5.0 Proposals
5.3 Road Network: 40 and 30 meter two-way traffic
roads The road has also variety of sections going from the sub-
arterial
street (30 meters), to the collector street (CS) which is 20
meter
up to the local street (LS) which is 10 meters, Intermediate
roads
have also been labeled and shown in the diagrams.
For each road, the appropriate green and street side
lamping
positions have also been shown with the utilities as well (
as
shall be shown in section 5.8)

Fig. Forty meter (40 meter) PAS (top) and 30

meter SAS (right hand) two way traffic
12 road/street sections
 5.0 Proposals
5.3 Road Network: 30 and 25 meter two-way traffic
roads

13 Fig. Twenty five and Twenty meter (25 and 20 meter) SAS Road/Street
 5.0 Proposals
5.3
. Road Network: 20 meter pedestrian and 15 meters one-way traffic roads
Here the 20 meter road pedestrian road can be used for vehicular reasons in case of emergencies
The 15 meter one way road is an existing road that goes from Fit Ber area to the former Police Station that was
changed to a one
way road; since the road has so many infrastructural lines, the decision was to keep the width but change it into a one
way road

14 Fig. Twenty meter (20 meter) CS Road/Street Sections

 5.0 Proposals
5.3 Road Network: 12 meters two-way traffic and 10 meter one-way traffic
roads

Fig. Ten meter (10 meter) LS Road/Street Sections; here the 12 meters and 10 meters roads are proposed local
streets
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 5.0 Proposals
5.3 Road Network: 8 meter one-way traffic roads

16 Fig. Eight meter (8 meter) LS Road/Street Sections

 5.0 Proposals
5.4 Open Space, Green Scheme and Parking

For the open space and green scheme, the site has three
conspicuous layers:
- The Green belt around the river
- The Green corridor from Silassie Church to the green
belt
- The network of green in the housing scheme
The green belt has been treated with a proper buffer zone
Traffic and a
Corridor road that goes along the buffer for protection from
encroachment
Green

and to promote a visible, socially safe ( due to accessibility

Belt

into the
area a factor allowing continuous supervision to handle
problems of
crime) and equitable access to the public

Selassie Church
Plaza
These three layers of green are also networked and flow
Corridor

from one to
Green

the other is possible

In the open space, there is not only the green scheme (the
soft
space) but also the hard open space ( a plaza) along the
green
corridor
The total green open hard and soft surface is of 38% coverage
17 Fig. Open and Green Schematic Diagram
 5.0 Proposals
5.4 Open Space, Green Scheme and Parking

Fig. Green Networks and corridors blending with the overall

morphology as seen in the final drawings

18 Fig. Proposal of Green Scheme and Open Space

 5.0 Proposals
5.4 Open Space, Green Scheme and Parking
a. Green Corridor
The atmosphere of the green corridor is filled with trees
and
arcades to create a sense of enclosure and shade for
pedestrians
There are also street benches to make the area pedestrian
friendly and also active at night due to the street lamps
The width is around 20meters to create lanes for pedestrian
movement provided with trees and benches; three are 3+4
meter
wide pedestrian lanes with 2.5 wide lanes for planting trees
and
pedestrian sitting area on both sides of the street
3 2 4 4 2 3
Fig. Plan m . m m .
of Street 5 5

19 Fig. Aerial Perspective Drawing Fig. Sectional Perspective Drawing

 5.0 Proposals
5.4 Open Space, Green Scheme and Parking
a. Green Corridor
As can be seen in these pictures, the height of
building is
not highly dominating for pedestrians to enjoy the
open
space
It has also a space for a central sculpture may be in
remembrance of an historical event like the Bashe
Wolde
person and/or phenomenon
As one goes from the Silassie Church Building into
Fig. Aerial View into the Plaza
the
site, at the right hand side there is pedestrian only
green
open space; at the left hand side though, at there is a
Fig. Sectional Drawing Through the Plaza parking spot with both outdoor and underground
scheme

Fig. Top View into the Plaza and

20 enclosing Buildings
 5.0 Proposals
5.4 Open Space, Green Scheme and Parking
b. Green Network in Housing Area
Here the network of green in the housing layer of
the
urban design exercise is seen
These green spots are networked and flow into one
another creating a sense of continuity
It also becomes socially relevant in keeping
transparent
relationship in the community

Fig. Picture showing the conceptual

network of the green in the area

21 Fig. Green Network in the Housing Layer of the Project

 5.0 Proposals
5.4 Open Space, Green Scheme and Parking
c. Parking (Underground)
There is a wide parking area (outdoor and basement) at
the
heart of the administrative mixed area, where the number
of
customers is expected to be very high
The parking outdoor space adjacent to the pedestrian
plaza
can accommodate 114 x 2 levels, with a total of 228
number
of cars at both levels
The outdoor portion has also trees incorporated into it
for
aesthetic purpose and to reduce heat in the parking area
that
can make it uncomfortable for users in overheating cars
and
also inconvenient for pedestrians to walk through
There are glass blocks on the outdoor parking area to
allow
the entry of natural light into the basement parking
The parking has entrance and exit points at both levels
Glass blocks for natural to
lighting create a more convenient traffic flow in avoiding jams

22 Fig. Outdoor parking area

 5.0 Proposals
5.4 Open Space, Green Scheme and Parking
c. Parking (Underground)
The underground parking can be seen in the picture
with
convenient points of entry and exit as well as
circulation and
turning patterns
Roof height is 2.5 meters
There is also a surrounding circulation possibility to
give relief
of movement around the basement parking scheme in a
one
way counter clock wise direction
There are also glass blocks used in strips to provide
lighting

23 Fig. Basement parking area

 5.0 Proposals
5.5 Housing
a. Green System As an Organizer and Existing Terrain

24 Fig. Network of Green Concept

 5.0 Proposals
5.5 Housing
b. Typologies

Condominium Housing Mainly Residential

District
G+4 Condominium
Household per floor 4 families per floor for the L
typology,
and 5 families per floor for the Z
typology
Number of households 640 households

Ground Plus Four Cooperative Housing

Number of households 70 cluster
Number of households 395 400 households

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 5.0 Proposals
5.5 Housing
b. Typologies (contd)

Ground Plus One and Ground Plus

Two Private Residence
Privately Invested plots
Number of plots 97

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 5.0 Proposals
5.5 Housing
c. Typology Site Adaptations: Condominium
240 households / hectare

Parcellation Parking Typical Floor

Parcellation includes both the Commerce (1/10 of the floors) One block constitutes a studio
open space and the built up area and annex functions are provided one, two and three bed room
at split-ground level units
Studio 20%
One 20%
Two bed 40%
Three bed 20%
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 5.0 Proposals
5.5 Housing
c. Typology Site Adaptations: Cooperatives
280 households / hectare

Parcellation Parking Typical Floor

Parcellation is laid out following Parking is on a semi-basement One block accommodates a
the definition of the blocks level, where car access is via one studio type to three bed room
direction towards the split level type units

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 5.0 Proposals
5.5 Housing
d. Site Section Through the Three Layers of
Housing
The three layer of housing adapted according to the existing topography; the three are residential G+2 buildings, G+4
cooperatives
and condominiums with parking scheme

Parkin Common Parkin

g space g
G+2 residential G+4 G+4 condominiums
cooperative
Section across the residential district across the contour

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 5.0 Proposals
5.5 Housing
e. Proposed Morphology
The morphology combines the green scheme with the
blocks in such a way that the blocks define quality
spaces
Hence blocks serve the space in defining it rather
than the
other way round with the buildings becoming the
focus

30 Fig. Green network interwoven with housing morphology

 5.0 Proposals
5.6 Signage In addition to distinctive shapes, different classes of
signs
have distinctive color combinations
Number of different colors which can be effectively
used on
signs limited by both aesthetic and technical
requirements
For ideographic and symbolic signs size of sign
proportional directly to the approach speed of traffic
Lettering: lettering is lowercase initial capitals
There is one alphabet for use with light lettering on
a
dark background and a second for dark lettering on a
light background
A range of numerals, separators and other
characters
also available for each alphabet

31 Fig. Signage Distribution

 5.0 Proposals
5.6 Signage (contd) The Positioning of Signs
There are four aspects to the positioning of traffic
signs:
Point at which a sign becomes 1) The siting along the road in relation to the junction,
legible hazard, or other features to which it applies
Reading Distance 2) Its placement to in relation to the edge of the
carriageway and other features of the cross section
3) Its height above the road
4) Its orientation

Sign
Standard Colors to be Used for Signs, Posts and
Fittings
Cut-off RED - signal
distance red
BLUE - middle
blue
YELLOW - Lemon
GREEN - middle
green
GREEN /for primary route signs/ - light green
GREY /for posts, fittings, sign faces - aircraft
Fig. Figure on Positioning of signs grey
and backs of signs/
ORANGE - light
orange
BROWN - middle

32 brown
BLACK - black
 5.0 Proposals
5.6 Signage (contd)

33
 5.0 Proposals
5.6 Signage (contd)

34
 5.0 Proposals
5.6 Signage (contd)

35
 5.0 Proposals
5.7 Street Green Framework
Concept
Layer dealing with the green network appears to portray
the level of animation of the street in addition and in
combination with surface treatment of building facades
The street green apart from characterizing the street is
property of the pedestrian; street furniture all serve the
pedestrians
Green systems further extend into considering ways of
solid management and discouraging excessive vehicular
circulation, especially within neighborhoods
Different economical mechanisms on how to water trees
could be thought

36 Fig. Partial View into the Green Scheme

 5.0 Proposals
5.7 Street Green Framework (contd)

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 5.0 Proposals
5.8 Physical Infrastructure: Storm Water Drainage System

Storm Water Drainage System

Concept
The storm water drainage system is made to be
separate system
The storm water or the run off from the area is
collected and ultimately disposed into the river to join
the hydraulic cycle
To facilitate the collection and the disposal, the
study area is divided into three zones (sub-systems)
depending upon the road network
In each zone the collection is made with the help of
lateral and/or main sewer lines and then the flow is
intercepted for disposal
Note
Manholes should be provided at changes in size,
slope or direction
When the sewer line runs straight, the manholes are
provided at intervals of 30 to 40 meters

Legend
L Lateral Sewer; M Main sewer; I Intercepting
sewer
Estimation of Pipe Diameter
L Lateral sewer diameter 400 mm concrete pipe
M Main Sewer, diameter 600 mm concrete pipe
38 Fig. Storm Water Drainage System Map I Intercepting sewer, diameter 800 mm concrete pipe
 5.0 Proposals
5.8 Physical Infrastructure: Wastewater Sewerage System

Wastewater Sewerage System

Concept
The waste water sewerage system is made to be a
separate system
Conventional sewerage system is adopted as there
are two municipal sewer lines passing through the
study area

Zone 1 The entire area is divided into tow zones (sub-

systems) based on the municipal sewer lines
In each zone the collection is made with the help of
lateral main and intercepting sewer lines and then the
flow is discharged into the municipal sewer line
Note
Manholes should be provided at changes in size,
slope or direction
When the sewer line runs straight, the manholes are
provided at points where waste water from each point
is discharged into the sewerage system
Zone 2 Legend
P Proposed sewer by AAWSA; L lateral sewer; M
Main sewer; I Intercepting sewer
Estimation of Pipe Diameter
L Lateral sewer, diameter 150 mm PVC
M Main sewer, diameter 200mm PVC
Zone 3
I Intercepting sewer, diameter 250 mm PVC
39 Fig. Wastewater Sewerage System
Map
 5.0 Proposals
5.8 Physical Infrastructure: Water Supply System

Water Supply System

Concept
The proposed pipe is taken as the main source of
water supply for the study area
Loop system is adopted for water distribution
Estimation of Diameter
Proposed main pipe, DN 150 DCI Pipe
Sub-main pipe , DN 100 HDPE Pipe
Branch pipe, DN 40 HDPE Pipe
Lateral pipe, DN 20 HOPE Pipe

40 Fig. Water Supply System Map

 5.0 Proposals
5.8 Physical Infrastructure: Combined Utility System
Combined System allows future extensions and
expansions without disruption of other provisions
ARCADED WLKWAY
already
installed in the area
Well orchestrated and synchronized provision of
infrastructural facilities with profound allowance to
support
new and more future demands with ease of maintenance
Utility layouts (without storm water and waste water
drainage) are combined together in one system to
facilitate easy maintenance and modification possibilities
The initial cost may be high in this system but the
running cost is easier due to ease of maintenance and
modification possibilities POWER CABLE
LV COMMUNICATIO
POWER N CABLE
Portable
Powe Communicatio CABLE
Water
r n Cable Pipe
Cabl
e

COMMUNICATIO WATER PIPE

N CABLE

SEWERAG
E LINE

Standard distance between power, tele, water

pipe and sewerage line (with allowable
41 Fig. Section Showing Combined Infrastructure System distance between power and communication
cable)
 5.0 Proposals
5.8 Physical Infrastructure: Power Cable Lines Distribution Plan

Electric Power cable and Light Distribution

Plan
The need to establish a fertile infrastructure is
crucial
Intention to construct all basic infrastructural
facilities for
the new development to plug-in and make efficient
use of
System as stated already allows future extensions
and
expansions without disruption of other provisions
already
installed in the area

42 Fig. Power Cable Lines System Map

 5.0 Proposals
5.8 Physical Infrastructure: Power Cable Lines Distribution Plan
Electric Power Provision for Individual
Plots Conceptual Approach
Each residential plot is made available for lease or
reissuing will receive electric power in the system
designated here
However, diagram also indicates possible locations
for
compact station wherein the power from the
heavily
loaded KV lines are reduced through step down
transformers and appropriated for home use
Size of compact stations varies according to
manufacturers manual

Power Line Provision for the

Condominium Blocks Conceptual
Approach
The system purposely made to lie in the ground as
opposed to the conventional suspended wire
cables
Delivers reduced power to each condominium
through
the ground specifically where staircase would be
located
Distribution boxes and additional compact stations
43 Fig. Detail Sample Plans for Power Cable Lines Distribution
would be located according to diagram
 5.0 Proposals
5.8 Physical Infrastructure: Power Cable Lines Distribution Plan
Electric Power Provision for Plazas
Power would reach the public plaza and other
commercial zones in such a way that the compact
stations lie along either the stairways leading to
the
plaza from the parking level or else located in the
common use backyard of the commercial buildings

Fig. Sample Power Cable Line Distribution Map

44
 5.0 Proposals
5.8 Physical Infrastructure: Telecom Cable System

45 Fig. Telecom Cable System Map

 5.0 Proposals
5.8 Physical Infrastructure: Street Light Distribution
System

46 Fig. Street Light Distribution System Map

 5.0 Proposals
5.9 Regulations: Parcellations with Blue Line and Red Line

Red line
definition
Blue line definition
Yellow line definition

47
 5.0 Proposals
5.9 Regulations

Privately invested plots are only given property lines

with no restrictions on the setback from boundary.
But the blocks are bounded to build only a two level
units of 6 meters gutter line.

48
 5.0 Proposals
5.9 Regulations
Perimeter Blocks
Commercial and Mainly Commercial
Parcel of varying sizes are made available for
developers (Government and private alike)

Situation in which several social service units are

brought together for each to construct a building
edging the periphery of their plots and leaving a
particular setback at the back combined together
which forma a common open space shared amongst
the plots and made available for the public

This follows the same principle but only with more

density/proportion allowed to the built mass. In view
of allowing ample return from their investments for
the developers. A depth of 30-40 meters is allowed
given a particular logic presented on how all rooms
and spaces are naturally ventilated and lighted. The
frontage is also given more width surpassing the
constant limit of 15-20 meters for smaller sized plots
suitable for commercial and mixed uses.

49
 5.0 Proposals
5.9 Regulations

Perimeter Blocks
Cooperative residents which are built at a plot level
of 3 levels should have a front setback of 5 meters
from the property line for parking and gardening. As
long as enough parking is provided the setback might
be 3 meters with a maximum 2 meters extension of
the upper floors leaving the ground area with clean 5
meters distance from the boundary

Condominium blocks are arranged following the block

arrangements where the blocks themselves are the
red lines. Buildings are limited to 5 levels of gutter
line with 15 meters height.

Cooperative apartments take on the same principle of

having a gutter line at the top of the 5th level while
building lines follow the blocks edge of the
apartments. Perimeter block definition, both fro the
condominium blocks and cooperative apartments is
achieved via small blocks to keep the humanized
effect of residential districts.

50
 5.0 Proposals
5.10 Three Dimensional Drawings

Fig. Positions of views taken in the Project: points A and

B

51
 5.0 Proposals
5.10 Three Dimensional Drawings

Fig A. Cooperative Housing

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 5.0 Proposals
5.10 Three Dimensional Drawings

Fig B. Green corridor

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 5.0 Proposals
5.10 Three Dimensional Views from the Model

Fig . View across the Ministry of Fig . View of the Perimeter blocks and partial
Education from the North East into the view of the housing cooperative blocks with the
perimeter blocks centrally cutting road that goes from the Police
Station to the National Theatre area

54
 5.0 Proposals
5.10 Three Dimensional Views from the Model

Fig . A closer view into the arcade in

the building at the left hand side and
the building below it provided to have
pedestrian friendly buildings

Fig . View showing how the housing

blocks have been tailored with the
topography of the site
55