URBAN GREEN in VIENTIANE, LAO PDR – a Minor Field Study
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Faculty of Landscape Architecture, Horticulture and Crop Production Science URBAN GREEN IN VIENTIANE, LAO PDR – A minor field study. Linnea Widing Degree Project • 30 credits Landskapsarkitektprogrammet/ Landscape Architecture programme Alnarp 2015 Urban green in Vientiane, LAO PDR A minor field study Linnea Widing Supervisor: Gunilla Lindholm, SLU, Landscape Architecture, Planning and Management Co-supervisor: Jean Lacoursierer, HKR, Department of Natural science Examiner: Mattias Qviström, SLU, Landscape Architecture, Planning and Management Credits: 30 Project Level: A2E Course title: Examensarbete, landskapsplanering Course code: EX0165 Subject: Landscape Planning Programme: Landskapsarkitektprogrammet/ Landscape Architecture programme Place of publication: Alnarp Year of publication: 2015 Cover art: Linnea Widing Online publication: http://stud.epsilon.slu.se Keywords: MFS, Laos, Urban green, Vientiane, landscape architecture, SLU, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences Faculty of Landscape Architecture, Horticulture and Crop Production Science Department of Landscape Architecture, Planning and Management Preface Acknowledgements During the summer of 1999 I visited Laos for the fist time. This minor field study is a result of many components We spent about 2 weeks in Vientiane the capital of Laos working together. Thanks to the on going umbrella pro- and my strongest memory from that visit was that there ject between HKR and Laos which made it possible for a was absolutely nothing to do. I was 19 at the time and SLU student to join and be a part of it. was surprised how a capital could become as silent as the smallest village at night. During daytime we strolled Thanks to my supervisor Gunilla Lindholm who’s valuable around barely noticing any traffic at al. input has helped my report stay on the right track and In 2005 I went back to Vientiane and to my surprise the not straying to far from the subject. city had changed quite drastically. The small dormant village that I remembered had awakened with cars, Co supervisor Jean Lacoursiere who introduced the sounds, bars and everything else you might find in a big- concept of MFS and its possibilities. ger city. During this trip I decided to come back soon And thanks to Mrs. Saykahm and Mr Bounchan again but not only as a tourist but also as a Landscapar- urban planners in Vientiane. chitect. B n P guest house where I stayed during the field study who took me in as a family member. This is a final thesis in Landscape planning at SLU, Alnarp The minor field study was conducted in Vientiane, Laos during the spring of 2006. 3 Summary This is a Minor field study addressing the current situation in Vientiane, Laos where focus lies on the green struc- tures past, present and future. The city of Vientiane is growing rapidly and as a result of this there is a increasing development. The once peace- ful capital known for it’s lush and green environment is standing in a crossroad where important decision must be made to preserve valuable areas. During 8 weeks in- ventories and observations where made resulting into a proposal for future development. The proposal is divided into three parts. The urban fringe and surrounding landscape are still quite undeveloped and have a great potential of green wedges etc. The city of Vientiane and the green network linking im- portant recreational, commercial and cultural places. Detailed proposal over certain green objects such as parks and squares. 4 Sammanfattning Detta är ett examensarbete där den nuvarnade situat- ionen I Vientaiane med fokus på grönstrukturens för- flutna, nutid och framtid bearbetas. Vientaines invånare ökar dagligen I antal och som resul- tat av detta ökar bebyggelse trycket på stan. Den en gång lugna och lummiga staden star inför ett vägskäl där viktiga beslut måste fattas för att bevara den speci- ella karaktären. Under 8 veckor inventerade och observerades Vientia- nes grönstruktur för att kunna ge förslag på framtida ut- veckling. Förslagen är uppdelade i tre delar. Det omgivande land- skapet, staden Vientaine och groan object såsom parker och torg 5 t a b l e o f c o n t e n t Traffic and Public transportation. ..................................................................... 29 Movement observations ................................................................................... 30 Accessibility ..................................................................................................... 30 Shade analysis .................................................................................................. 31 PREFACE .............................................................................. 3 Park characters ................................................................................................. 31 Garden culture in Laos ..................................................................................... 32 Tourism and Vientiane’s image abroad. ........................................................... 33 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ...................................................... 3 SWOT-ANALYS ............................................................................................. 35 SUMMARY ............................................................................. 4 Urban green ......................................................................................................... 36 Mekong River Park. ......................................................................................... 36 Simuang ............................................................................................................ 40 SAMMANFATTNING ............................................................. 5 Novotel park ..................................................................................................... 42 Nam puh square ................................................................................................ 43 Sengdala ........................................................................................................... 44 BACKGROUND ..................................................................... 8 Avenue ............................................................................................................. 45 Private gardens ................................................................................................. 47 Vientiane, Lao PDR .............................................................................................. 9 Schoolyards ...................................................................................................... 48 New/planned urban green .................................................................................. 49 PROJECT OBJECTIVE ....................................................... 12 Nong chan ........................................................................................................ 49 Mekongriverarea .............................................................................................. 50 METHODOLOGY ................................................................. 12 Temple areas ........................................................................................................ 51 Pha That Luang ................................................................................................ 52 GREEN AND BLUE VALUES AND ASPECTS ................... 14 That dam ........................................................................................................... 53 Ecology ................................................................................................................. 14 Urban Blue ........................................................................................................... 55 Mekong............................................................................................................. 55 Culture ................................................................................................................. 14 Channels and wetlands ..................................................................................... 56 That Luang Marsh ............................................................................................ 56 Social .................................................................................................................... 15 PROPOSAL .......................................................................... 59 PAST, PRESENT AND ANALYSIS ..................................... 18 City expansion .................................................................................................. 19 Vientiane and surrounding countryside ............................................................ 60 City structure .................................................................................................... 25 Surrounding landscape and city expansion ...................................................... 27 Vientiane city ....................................................................................................... 62 Vientiane city ................................................................................................... 28 Identity ............................................................................................................. 63 6 Street vegetation ............................................................................................... 63 New green and blue links ................................................................................. 64 Central green