09/03/2023
"What does the town's form mean to the people who live there? What can a planner do to make the town image more vivid and memorable to the public?"
โThe Imageabilityโ
Kevin Lynch's findings and approach in his book The Image of a City, inspired these esquisses to create mental maps that the public will not only appreciate and remember, but to use. These mental maps, showcasing Bamban Town Proper potentials, include edges, nodes, paths, districts, and landmarks.
โGiving what is for the peopleโ. There are selected areas for this revitalization proposal: the dilapidated public market center, public library and daycare complex, the road along these complexes, the Rotary mountain, and the iconic Bamban Bridge d**e and embankment.
1. The Public Market.
Since its desolation, from a building to a flea type, the market was not as vigorous as before. Nevertheless, a new building complex was on the rise, and merchants ready for relocation, what will happen to the bleak site? What if a new public space proposal?โA public plaza.
Public plazas are important public spaces that serve as gathering places for communities. By introducing this kind of public space, it promotes sense of community and belonging, a platform for people to voice their opinions, become a symbol of pride, attract local business, and most importantly contribute to the well-being of the community. Hence, it serves as important social and cultural spaces that promote community engagement, economic growth, and healthy lifestyles.
2. The Public Library Complex.
In this age of social media culture, public libraries are somehow neglected in a similar case of our town library, not unlike before, few might still pay a visit. But what if this townโs library will transform into a more functional library building that offers free programs to students and integrate it with a childrenโs playground and an area for placemaking? Or a cafรฉ wherein it will cater employment to locals? Will it not rise from its slumber? This idea is a third-space approach. Integration of additional space that will attract the use of such a building creates a new node.
3. The Road.
Along these complexes, road pedestrianism is of concern. What if the existing road-right-of-way (RROW) is not car-centric but pedestrian-friendly? Will it not improve the walkability and inclusivity of these RROWs? Incorporating a New Urbanism principle about pedestrianism, a simple improvement of sidewalks as a catalyst for the development of the whole municipality. Simple decisions and involvement can make a change.
Inclusivity, safety, and comfort of the public (inclusive paths for persons with disabilities, bicycle lanes for cyclers, and a safe walkways for the locals, especially for students) is the highlight of pedestrianism. In addition, we can incorporate greeneries and natural shades that will significantly impact the macro-climate and local environment.
4. The Embankment of the Bridge and the Bragging Sign.
I always envision the embankment like the esplanade of Iloilo City. With its iconic Nielsen-Lohse bridge structure joining the city of Mabalacat and the town of Bamban, it is a statement to be proud of because it is one of the longest basket handle bridges in the world. The bridge is a landmark and a border-gateway to the province of Tarlac. So, what if its embankment has a multi-active park, has areas for local vendors, helps the community's image along it, and becomes an area where you can appreciate the local biodiversity or might also improve it?
What if there is a Hollywood sign counterpart here in Bamban that brags its name and welcome the people of the south? I envision it to be located on the Rotary Mountain, as they call it, where the previous enormous logo of the renowned organization stood. Will it not become a highlight and a tourist spot, and a landmark that everyone will remember?
All these envisioning are part of Environmental and Habitat Planning (syn. Urban & Regional Planning) graduate course. I know there are a lot of considerations and factors needed to be considered, evaluated, and debated before the implementation of such revitalization projects.
But these are only what-ifs. These are my mental maps--a product of imageability, of how I envision Bamban.
