Inter-linked walkways will make Kuching walkable city

KUCHING: Urban development and planning should encourage the requirement for more pedestrian walkways to make Kuching a walkable city,

According to an architect this is because in many parts of the city at present, the pedestrian walkways are not well inter-connected and friendly to the public.

In this respect Mitchell Mos pointed to the development of Saradise as an example of a well planned urban design with proper management and maintenance.

“The humanistic approach is there, the urban design is there,(and) how you walk (is properly) inter-linked (which is an indicator of) good urban design,” he said.

“We are in Saradise now, Saradise is doing it (good urban design and planning) well. In the early morning and late evening, the pedestrian walkway is used by the public – people walk with their dogs, cycling, jogging or simply brisk walking. This is good urban design.

“When it comes to urban design, the emphasis should be made for the public – dedicating the space for the people, the human-place making, where the space is populated by human activities, instead of populated by cars.

“Too much emphasis and requirement for cars in our urban planning has created many car-oriented spaces in Kuching, instead of space for the people.”

This, he said, has made it less humanised, adding that landscaping is very important to creating a humanised and beautiful urban environment.

Mitchell said the Autonomous Rapid Transit (ART) is one way to improve public connectivity to major places in Kuching, but reiterated that a comprehensive plan and execution are in order.

“Most major cities in the world, have an avenue and some call it a boulevard. Kuching should have that, we might have Kuching Waterfront and it can be considered a successful public space but its potential is not fully maximised,” he said. 

Mitchell said that Kuching Waterfront has significant potential due to its location, history, culture and heritage. 

Its setting and with its natural environment – the river, mountains and sunset offers scenic views and experience, he said.

“London is famous for its Oxford Street, Paris for The Avenue des Champs-Élysées and Barcelona for its La Rambla.

“I think Kuching has the potential to have its own grand public spaces for the public and big pedestrian walkways as we develop further,” he said.

In this context he reiterated the need for proper urban development and planning.

“We have to be careful, to plan it well, to ensure (that) one of the problems of urban sprawl in most major cities (in Asian countries) does not become uncontrollable in Kuching –  traffic jams,” he stressed.

Mitchell is the Principal of Mitchell Mos Architect based in Saradise, Kuching. 

He also lectures final year architecture students at UiTM Sarawak, Kota Samarahan Campus.