Theories of Architecture & Urbanism: Comparative Analysis Essay

SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE, BUILDING AND DESIGN (SABD) Bachelor of Science (Hons) in Architecture

THEORIES OF ARCHITECTURE & URBANISM [ARC61303]

Project Part 2:

COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS ESSAY A Comparison of the Contact Points of Mumbai’s Apollo Bandar and Kuala Lumpur’s Jalan TAR within the Context of the Rapid Urban Growth.

NAME

: Chan Yi Qin

STUDENT ID

: 0315964

LECTURER

: Mr. Nicholas Ng

1 .0 IN TRO DU CT I ON This paper is a comparative analysis essay between Apollo Bandar, Mumbai and Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman, Kuala Lumpur. Apollo Bandar is located on the southern part of Bombay, overlooking the splendid Arabian Sea. Here, at Apollo Bandar, with the original deep harbor on the right, settlers for Bombay have been landing since Portuguese days and indeed long before. Currently it is the location of a few emblematic landmarks in Mumbai, including the famed Grand Archway Gateway of India and Taj Mahal Palace Hotel. A number of modern cafes, hotels and clubs are also added to the atmosphere, ultimately attracting the presence of locals and tourists alike.

Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman (TAR), Kuala Lumpur is a historical Southeast Asia city with dense urban environment, the streetscape is formal as it is shaped and molded during the British Colonial era, but riddled with chaotic setting of lives. With diverse use of different pockets and holes of spaces in between buildings, alleyways are always privatized with markets, open spaces are turned into carpark and five-foot sideways are occupied by the homeless.

The objective of this comparative analysis paper is to draw a comparison between the two sites with regards of their social patterns, types of activities, identification of contact points and contact intensity to explore the similarities and dissimilarities.

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2 .0 AN ALYS I S O F CONTACT P OIN TS Contact points are points of human interaction subjected to varying degrees of intensity, can be mapped out in both Apollo Bandar and Jalan TAR, as illustrated in Figure 1 and 2 below. Activity is a medium for contact. Without activity, there is no requirement for people to use and share a space, erasing the need for contact (Gehl, 1996). Outdoor activities in public spaces can be simplified into three categories, each of which places very different demands on the physical environment: necessary activities, optional activities, and social activities.

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NECESSARY ACTIVITY OPTIONAL ACTIVITY SOCIAL ACTIVITY

Figure 1: Contact Points in Apollo Bandar

Figure 2: Contact Points in Jalan TAR

1.1 The Gateway of India

2.1 Street Market

1.2 Wellington Pier

2.2 In front of Sogo Plaza, Bus Stop

1.3 Dr. Shyamprasad Mukherjee Chowk

2.3 Street Feeding and Soup Kitchen Activity

1.4 Regal Cinema

2.4 Little India Bazaar

1.5 Colaba Causeway Market

2.5 Administration Office

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2 . 1 N E C E S SARY ACTIVITIE S Necessary activities include those that are more or less compulsory, such as going to work, waiting for a bus or running errands, activities that take place throughout the year and under nearly all conditions.

The necessary activities of Apollo Bandar, Mumbai mainly consists of people walking from Dr. Shyamprasad Mukherjee Chowk (figure 1.3), across the area towards the tourist districts at the southeast (Figure 1.1 & 1.2) to work where all the famous tourist districts located. Apollo Bandar is unfortunately lack of proper urban planning system to decide the positioning of its streets and built form.

There is no proper grid that divides the city into equal portions and there is insufficient amount of balance between built form and greenery.

Figure 3: There is no proper grid that divides Apollo Bandar into equal portions, amount between built form and greenery is also imbalance.

Apollo Bandar, the southern tip of the island, is a large concentration of commercial and administrative functions due to the fort was located here, which has, over the years, developed into a modern Central Business District. This is also the main area where buses stop for passengers to board or alight from the bus. Thus, the existence of public transportation is indeed a key feature in the area that eases movement throughout the district. Bus commuters who await the bus daily possess a high possibility in running into the same people at multiple occasions, giving rise to chance contact, possibly maintaining already established contacts.

Figure 4: Shyamprasad Bus Stop

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Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman, on the other hand, consists of people walking from the LRT Station towards the surrounding offices and hawkers trading along Jalan TAR itself. It exists from a river therefore creating scattered pattern. Although some type of grid exists within the city, it is however deformed due to the certain circumstances. Necessary activities mostly happen from the far west of the area, starting from the Bandaraya LRT station. A majority of people walk around the area, as the streets are frequently busy, and open spaces are unaffordable for parking. However, sidewalk conditions are not up to standard. It is poorly maintained with many obstructions along the street. As pedestrian await to cross the road or are crossing the road, the tendency to form human contact is high as people see and hear one another without advancing to another level of contact. Junction also acts as a possible meeting point for people who frequent the crossing, not to mention these pedestrian actually use them almost everyday to work. The possibility for development of contact to become acquaintance and even friends is relatively high.

Every pedestrian is an element of road space. The quality of the path context in the network is important criteria that can affect the likelihood of walking. However, only minimum facilities are provided for the pedestrian in some areas. Pedestrian are among the most vulnerable of all road users.

Pedestrians are usually exposed to accident risks, adverse weather, crime and other hazard which make people tend to avoid traveling by walking in long distance. Inadequate pedestrian facilities cause constant conflict between the pedestrians and the vehicles on the roadway between pedestrian and other pedestrians, parked vehicles and with roadside development. There is also a lack of greenery, which creates a very unpleasant experience for users to walk around to the area.

An interesting point to note would be the similarities in contact points between the two sites, as they seem to be predominantly established from the shopping and market culture of both cities, with examples of contact points being at an open food joint (sidewalk cafes, hawkers) or a location in close proximity to the market (open spaces, curbs, vendors). Hence, from this it is inferences that the overarching similarity between the two sites is the strong market culture and identity due to the presence of Colaba Causeway Market and the Jalan TAR Street Market. Pedestrians seem to be more attracted to places with an established activity and people, which can be supported by Gehl’s theory of how people are naturally attracted to people and other perceivable human activity. Evidence from the site sufficiently proves that street food are often more engaging than enclosed eateries, and a similar situation can be seen in Jalan TAR, where traditional hawker and open eatery stalls are the equivalent of street markets exhibited in Colaba Causeway.

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Figure 5: Colaba Causeway Market, a famous contact point with high intensity in Apollo Bandar. It is a commercial street famous for shopping and food hence bringing the attention of users to the street.

Figure 6: Jalan TAR Food Bazaar, contact point with high intensity. It is a platform conducive for necessary, optional and social activities.

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These are often high intensity and conducive contact points for developing closer relationships between people, highlighting the importance of street level engagement. Stall owners and regular customers establish an acquaintance network, whereas friendships are encouraged with willingly planned gatherings. As Gehl places it, people and human activity are the greatest object of attention and interest.

2 . 2 O PT I O NA L ACTIVITIE S Optional activities are pursuits that are participated in if there is a wish to do so and if time and place make it possible under favorable exterior conditions. Examples of optional activities are taking a walk to get a breath of fresh air, standing around or sitting and sunbathing.

The optional activities in Apollo Bandar, Mumbai mainly revolves around the famed tourist districts, such as the Gateway of India Precinct. Iterated by Gehl, a high quality outdoor space is the key determinant in influencing the duration of time people spent outdoors, and such is illustrated in contact point of Gateway Precinct overlooking the scenic ocean view. Gateway of India Precinct is the most prominent of the 14 sub-precincts within the Fort Precinct in South Mumbai. This area has a rich array of historic buildings and numerous hotels, shops and other businesses that cater to visitors from within and outside the city and country. As a result it has become the hub of tourist activity with a variety of landmarks, heritage buildings and a vital street life.

Figure 7: The wide open space in front of the Gateway serves as a major node to the locals who schedule their meet-ups at the famous landmark. Local syndicates (acquaintances) gather at the open space to aid in the photo-taking of tourists - forming passive contacts.

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This area is popular for Mumbai’s citizens, too, as it is both major urban space and a business district with a large number of shops, both formal and informal, that serve their needs. The hundreds of thousands of hawkers that line Mumbai’s streets are emblematic of the city’s compelling contradictions.

Although most are unlicensed, the profoundly shape the appearance and feel of the city. Over the years the prominence of the area has been increasing with more businesses springing up here, focusing on tourist activity in the area and creating a buzz and vitality that attracts visitors to the city.

In addition, not only does a substantial permanent population reside in this area, but many notable and important buildings of the city are also located within the precinct. The Gateway of India precinct is characterized by a mixture of different usages - form the intensely public to the private. This has led to ambivalence between the demands of the users and tremendous pressure the precinct is undergoing with regard to its infrastructure and environment. These tourist districts are though, not equipped with infinite supply of vegetation and grass fields, nor amenities for the public, its human contact and interactions are not affected at all.

Jalan TAR on the other hand, open spaces are barely non-existent, as most have been altered into carparks. However, a unique element in Jalan TAR would be the existence of high intensity contact points albeit the thin pedestrian volume in the space, exhibited by the five-foot way. Being a primary circulatory route for pedestrians, there is a higher tendency to interact with locals who frequent the fivefoot way to conduct own leisure activities. The narrowness of the street, creates an intimate space for the community to gather during lunch breaks or in the evening. Alleys become a favorite spot as it is well shaded by the buildings adjacent to it. This creates a sense of privacy and ownership for the community to claim alleys as their own. The back alley along Jalan TAR is also a famous spot for optional activities as it is the very few green belts left in the area that protects the community for the scorching weather.

Figure 8: Human behavior analysis at Jalan TAR. P R O J E C T P A R T 2 : C O M P A R A T I V E A N A LY S I S E S S AY

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From the previous point, it is evident that the market culture contributes a certain identity to both cities.

Both Apollo Bandar and Jalan TAR street vendors commonly occupy space inside the sidewalk width.

Reduction in total sidewalk width due to the vendor’s existence often impedes pedestrian movements. A city center is not a pedestrian friendly city if its lack of pedestrian linkage and existence of major deficiencies such as poor maintenance, inefficient design and poor accessibility. Besides that, the local and foreign visitors often find deficiencies in the pedestrian sidewalk facilities that are physically challenging to the disabled and the elderly. Unlicensed vendor using the pedestrian sidewalk for their business purpose and some building prohibit public access across their property worsen this scenario.

Cars are still permissible at Apollo Bandar’s contact points, though not easy; but at Jalan TAR, the entire alley is occupied by street vendors with no access to vehicles after certain hours till the night during the weekend.

Figure 9 & 10: People not constrained to the sidewalks, but rather, spill on the roads, illustrating dominance over vehicles at Causeway Market and Jalan TAR Street Market.

2 . 3 SO C I A L AC TIVIT IE S Social activities are all activities that depend on the presence of others in public spaces. Social activities include children at play, greetings and conversations, communal activities of various kinds, and passive contacts.

The overlapping of necessary and optional activities creates social spaces for the community. In Apollo Bandar, these social spaces are conducive enough to carry out social activities as it is well supplied with the optimum amount of open spaces. Large open spaces are mostly found designed specifically for social activities, such as Welling Pier, it is an important pier for people to take ferry to Elephanta Island.

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Figure 11: Communities can be seen lounging around the pier as designated seating areas are provided. Seating by the jetty provides opportunity for passive contact among sea onlookers.

Passengers of ferries that dock at the pier are greeted by jetty workers, passive contact relationship is highly encouraged. Street vendors and peddlers carrying out their daily businesses at the pier also form close rapports and with people who frequent the area. The accessibility and circulation of the users are not disrupted as most open spaces are separated from main roads.

Another similar social pattern between the two sites would be the curb culture unique to the market vicinity of Apollo Bandar and Jalan TAR. Regal Cinema is an art deco movie theatre located at Colaba Causeway. Local and international movies are played here, attracting both local and tourists alike onto the site. Jalan TAR on the other hand, also has a famous cinema named the Coliseum Theatre. It is one of the oldest cinemas in the city. It is now rebranded as LFS Coliseum Complex, showing mostly Bollywood and Tamil movies.

Regular moviegoers can organize meet-ups at the entrance, forming friendships and acquaintances among one another. In both cases, curb culture is developed due to the unmet demand for public benches and the lack of public spaces for enjoying eat-as-you-go street food, as most hawkers do not provide seating arrangements.

Figure 12: Regal Cinema, Apollo Bandar P R O J E C T P A R T 2 : C O M P A R A T I V E A N A LY S I S E S S AY

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Figure 13: Pedestrians are seen to sit on the curbs and sidewalks of the street to carry out optional activities like reading and socializing.

Besides that, Jalan TAR has a more informal approach in handling social activities. The lack of open spaces calls for social activities, for example events or concerts, to happen either indoors or along the street - which then require the shut down of certain roads and access points. This then disrupts the circulation of the entire street which heavily affects the already congested areas. Small activities such as soup kitchens and volunteer works can be seen happening along the small alleys such as the road outside Masjid India (Figure 2.3) as they have a more privatized space and better protection from the main areas.

Figure 14: Street feeding and soup kitchen activity held outside Masjid India (Figure 2.3) bring in people from outside KL in the name of volunteerism.

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Jalan TAR as a famous textile district, has a lot of textile shops along the street. The transparency and permeability of the shop frontages allows passers-by to observe the on-going activities inside the building, forming a source of inspiration, giving them an insight and awareness of the life parallel to them. Shop owners and window shoppers form passive contacts, however chance contacts develop where there are friendly accidentally encounters.

Figure 15: Transparency and permeability of shop frontages contribute to the indoor-outdoor interaction, whereby human activity can be perceived, passive contact between shop owners and shoppers is formed.

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3 .0 CO NC LU S I ON In essence, Apollo Bandar and Jalan TAR reinforces the idea that human behavior is shaped by the built environment, as social patterns and street culture are results of the way public spaces are designed. These two sites have been proved to be conducive sites for a wide range of activities.

Necessary, optional and social activities occur on a daily basis with varying degrees of contact intensity, with most within and bordering the market precincts in both sites.

Though Apollo Bandar town planning was ordinary, it has adequate open spaces for the community to lounge around in its open spaces. Though there is no optimum amount of greenery to improve the users’ comfort, street furnitures are provided, pocket spaces are successfully created for users to interact with one another through the site. At the other end of the spectrum, Jalan TAR has a more informal way of approaching things. Its linearity of the street creates a lack of open spaces which affects the community heavily. There is also no separation between the necessary and optional activities as the boundaries have been blurred through the privatization of its public spaces.

Nevertheless, the similarities of social patterns between the two cities are definitely interesting to note as they stem from the design of public spaces, reinforcing Gehl’s theory regarding the importance of designing quality outdoor spaces. To sum up, people and human activity are indeed the greatest object of attention and interest. Even the modest form of contact of merely seeing and hearing or being near to others is apparently more rewarding and more in demand than the majority of other attractions offered in the public spaces of cities.

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4 .0 R E F E R E NC E S Apte, P. (2013) Urban Growth Strategies: Mumbai Lessons. Mumbai : Platinum Press.

Federal Department of Town and Country Planning (2005). Open Spaces in Urban Malaysia. Kuala Lumpur : Author.

Gehl, J. (2011) Life Between Buildings: Using Public Space (6th e.d.). Washington : Island Press.

Goh, B.L. (1991) Urban Planning in Malaysia. Petaling Jaya : Tempo Publishing.

Jonathan, S, A. (2016). The Slow Boil: Street Food, Rights and Public Space in Mumbai. California : Stanford University Press.

Rao, N. (2013) Toward Greater Mumbai. Minnesota : University of Minnesota Press.

Urban Design Research Institute. (2004). Creating a Tourist District: The Gateway of India Precinct: A Proposal for Upgrading and Managing the Area. Mumbai : Author.

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