Planning and Design Attributes of Preplanned Postmodern Capital Cities: A Comparative Study

Abstract

Capital cities command a prominent position within the urban hierarchy, where in many countries they are the most significant city, as well as the economic, and cultural hub of nations. Capitals are under continuous infrastructure, economic, social, and environmental pressures to accommodate rapid urban growth. Therefore, some countries elected to relocate their Capital city. For purposes of comparison, a sample composed of five nations who relocated their Capital within the postmodern era were selected. They are from diverse geographic in Asia, Africa, and South America, as well as from varying economic and cultural background. New Capitals are analyzed in an attempt to explore the urban planning models implemented by these cities. The research work aimed to unravel the mechanisms utilized by Planners and Political leaders to bring their vision of the desired Capitol City to reality. It was evident that every case had its idiosyncrasies, and not all Capital projects realized the desired outcome. Planning and design principles were developing in the right direction to conform to contemporary urban planning and design practice. Future studies must address the impact of the digital revolution on the functional aspects of capitals layout.

References
[1] T. Hall, Planning Europe’s Capital Cities, First edit. Oxford: Taylor & Francis eLibrary, 1997.


[2] V. Rossman, Capital Cities: Varieties and Pattern of Development and Relocation. Oxen: Routledge, 2017.


[3] D. L. A. Gordan, Ed., Planning Twentieth Century Capital Cities. Oxfordshire: Routledge, 2006.


[4] E. Schatz, “When Capital Cities Move: The Political Geography of Nation and State Building Edward Schatz Working Paper #303 – February 2003,” no. February, 2003.


[5] D. M. Macedo and S. Ficher, “Brasilia: Preservation of a Modernist City (article),” Conservation Perspectives, 2013. [Online]. Available: http:// www.getty.edu/conservation/publications_resources/newsletters/28_1/
brasilia.html.


[6] B. A. Bertaud, “Brasilia spatial structure : Between the Cult of Design and Markets,” no. August, pp. 1–18, 2010.


[7] G. M. S. MUbyopyo, “The influence of New Capital on the Exixting Town, Dodoma, Tanzania,” University of Nairobi, 1975.


[8] A. C. Mosha, “The planning of the new capital of Tanzania : Dodoma , an unfulfilled dream,” 1988.


[9] S. Koreans, “The burden of being planned. How African cities can learn from experiments - INTI - International New Town Institute.” [Online]. Available: http://www.newtowninstitute.org/spip.php?article1050. [Accessed: 01-Jan2017].


[10] G. Ikoku, “The City as Public Space : Abuja - the Capital City of Nigeria,” vol. 6, no. 1, pp. 34–45, 2004.


[11] Nigerian Institute of Town Planners, “NITP Commends House of Reps on Abuja Master Plan Review” 2017. [Online]. Available: http://nitpng.com/nitpcommends-house-of-reps-on-abuja-master-plan-review/. [Accessed: 01-Jan2017].


[12] O. D. et al Ubani, “Physical Master-planning as Panacea to Physical Planning Challenges in Nigeria Cities : Case Study of Abuja , Nigeria Capital City,” Civ. Environ. Res., vol. 6, no. 2, pp. 28–34, 2014.


[13] Mayor’s Office of Astana, “MAYOR’S OFFICE OF ASTANA,” 2017. [Online]. Available: http://astana.gov.kz/en/modules/material/47. [Accessed: 01-Jan-2017].


[14] H. C. Siong, “Putrajaya – Administrative Centre of Malaysia -Planning Concept and Implementation-,” in Sustainable urban development and Governance conference, 2006, pp. 1–20.


[15] R. Associés, “The new city of putrajaya,” 2008. [Online]. Available: http://www.richezassocies.com/en/project/398/the-new-city-of-putrajaya. [Accessed: 01-Jan-2017].


[16] D. B. Omar, “The Total Planning Doctrine and Putrajaya development,” in The Sustainable City III, E. T. C.A. Brebbia, Ed. WIT press, 2004, p. 10.


[17] www.ppj.gov.my, “Planning and development of putrujaya,”. p. 72, 1995.