Frnt cover (4 files merged) by Eelyn Cheong

SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE, BUILDING AND DESIGN CENTER FOR ARCHITECTURE STUDIES IN SOUTHEAST ASIA (MASSA)

BACHELOR OF SCIENCE (HONOURS) ARCHITECTURE THEORIES OF ARCHITECTURE AND URBANISM (ARC 2224) (ARC 61303)

PROJECT PART B :ILLUSTRATED ESSAY WITH A COGNITIVE MAPPING

NAME

: CHEONG SIEW YING

: 0314618

TUTOR

: MR. NICHOLAS NG

THEORY OF ARCHITECTURE AND URBANISM

INTRODUCTION

THEORY OF ARCHITECTURE AND URBANISM

INTRODUCTION TO SITE - BRICKFIELD, KL

Figure 01: View of Little Indian Streets

Brickfields is a small medium size town and also residential neighbourhood as well as an administrative zone located just outside central Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Brickfields is well known as the largest Little Indian of Kuala Lumpur, located at the South of City Center. Along the main road, Jalan Tun Sambanthan, formerly known as Brickfields Road, is lined from end to end with shops selling Indian clothing, provisions and foodstuff. Kuala Lumpur was once a land with greens, wooden house accompanied by attap roofs scattered everywhere. Brickfields began as the centre of brick - making in the late 19th century, after a huge fire and flood swept through Kuala Lumpur in 1881 which is during British rule. The double attack of disasters took turns destroying the town's wooden and thatched structures. Sir Frank Swettenham, the British resident responded by ordering the use of brick and tile in the construction of buildings. Hence, Kapitan Yap Ah Loy bought a sprawling piece of real estate for the setting up of a brick industry which would spur the rebuilding of Kuala Lumpur. The whole area was a clay pit and good quality bricks are made from clay. As a result, the area was named Brickfield. Brickfields used to be the main depot for the Malayan Railway also known as Keretapi Tanah Melayu or KTM by the locals, during the colonial era. The British brought people from Sri Lanka and Indians from southern Indian to work the railway and to ensure the locomotives and the depot. Many workers were housed in the area, this is why these days Indian community is so prominent in Brickfield.

THEORY OF ARCHITECTURE AND URBANISM

COGNITIVE MAPPING

THEORY OF ARCHITECTURE AND URBANISM

DESCRIPTION OF COGNITIVE MAPPING

A cognitive map is the selective representation and mental image of an individual incorporated from their observations gathered over the time and the recalled interaction with the city. Basically, the creation of a cognitive map relies on individual's memory as opposed to being copied from pre-existing map or image. According to Kevin Lynch's The Image of the City (1960), Lynch asks a participant to create map as follows:' make it just as if you were making a rapid description of the city to a stranger, covering all the main features. We don't expect an accurate drawing, just a rough sketch.'(Lynch 1960, p141). According to Jiang(2012), there are two major main issues with reference to the cognitive mapping, which are the external representation of the place and how these have been processed mentally and form an image or map about its physical environment. Basically, the external representation of the city mainly discussed on legibility and imageability. According to Lynch, imageability refers to identity which is also known as individuality and oneness owned by an object physically such as shape, color or arrangement which are distinguished from others and evokes a strong and vivid image in any observer. (Lynch,1960). Legibility refers to the visual qualities and obvious clarity of the city of which structures and layout could recognized and formed a coherent pattern in one's mind. Lynch states that:' Legibility or perhaps visibility in a heightened sense, where objects are not only able to be seen, but are presented sharply and intensely to the senses.'(Lynch 1960, p9,10).

THEORY OF ARCHITECTURE AND URBANISM

EXPLAINATION ON COGNITIVE MAP OF BRICKFIELD ZONE C After site visit in Brickfield, Zone C. All the observations and experiences were recalled and presented in cognitive map. Personal experiences and interactions with the surrounding, were interpreted and encoded into cognitive map. This cognitive map integrated Lynch's 5 elements including landmarks, nodes, edges, paths and districts. This typology represents the city as based on observations and understanding. In cognitive map, the journey starts from Nu Sentral. The area of Nu Sentral mostly are high rises building and it is noticeable from all direction in Brickfield. The area or also considered as high rises district can exist as the landmark of Brickfield. The high concentration of Nu Sentral that act as shopping mall while KL Sentral as main transit station, it acts as strong nodes in the city. Departing from the Nu Sentral, comes to a traffic junction either go straight to Kuala Lumpur road or turn right into Jalan Sultan Abdul Samad. Decision make to turn right as it is the direction to Zone C. Public Bank building located at the corner of junction easily to be notice. The pattern of tactile pavement actually act as guidance and give sense of path. At the traffic four junction, decision on turning right because of the footbridge's design that brings out curiosity. Along the way, there's a covered walkway which obviously act as a path. LRT railway crossed over the road can be see clearly as it is quite contrasting in that area. Before arriving another four junction, a unique triangular form of Tamil Methodist Church can be see on the right side as it is quite alien to the surrounding. At the junction, decision made on turning to left into Jalan Berhala because of the pedestrian walkway that decorated with the greenery. Rows of greenery actually gives a sense of welcoming and contrast compare to other normal walkway. It comes to a junction where it forces to turn right as the end this road, there's a LRT railway which give a sense of dead end. Along this road which still known as Jalan Berhala, it actually separate the residential on right from the old shop houses on left side. At the end of this road there's a junction, a Malays traditional house located right at the junction. This Malays traditional house stands alone which actually quite memorable as the materials used and the form is different from the nearby buildings. At this junction, it forces to turn right because there's railway at the end of the road so is a dead end. Along this road, Buddhist temple is located on the right where it's ornament of the gate is easily recognise as Buddhism. At the end of this road, a long hoarding construction actually block the vision and separated the public access and restrict area. There's a huge old tree located at the left side which give sense of interest and curiosity and decided to turn left. Along the road there's a junction, but automatically users will turn right as the road is bigger and design in curved flow which guided the users. Along this road , there's a church on right which easily

THEORY OF ARCHITECTURE AND URBANISM

recognised because of the symbol. At the end of the road, there's traffic junctions. This junction is so memorable compare to other junctions because of the colourful buildings and different pattern on facade that contrast it from the other junctions.

THEORY OF ARCHITECTURE AND URBANISM

ANALYSIS BASED ON KEVIN LYNCH'S THEORY Kevin Lynch was an urban planner who carried out pioneering work on people's urban cognitive maps from the 1950s. He was interested in analysing the urban form, and in particular identified the criterion of the 'legibility' of a cityscape which he defined as 'the ease with which its parts can be recognized and can be organized into a coherent pattern'(p.2); a legible city would thus be one 'whose districts or landmarks or pathways are easily identifiable and are easily grouped into an over all pattern'(p.3). Lynch proposed a set of elements which would be fundamental to the structure of the urban environment and thus were expected to be manifest in people's mental structuring environment. According to Lynch(1960), the five commonly perceived elements that form the image of the city which influence a person's cognitive mapping are paths, edges, districts, nodes and landmarks. According to Lynch, 'Path consists of the channels along which the observer customarily, occasionally, or potentially moves'(Lynch,p.47). These can include streets, paths, transit routes, or any other defined path of movement. Edge are linear elements not used or considered as path by the observer (Lynch,p47). They are usually boundaries that separate one region from another, the seams that join two regions together, or the barriers that close one region from another. Districts are 'medium to large sections of the city'(Lynch, p.47). According to Lynch, most people use the concept of districts to define the broader structure of their city. They have two dimensional extent, often held together by some commonality. In addition, the Nodes are points within the city, intentionally located into which the individual enters, which is often the main focal point to which observer is travelling to or from. Lastly, the landmarks are point reference which observer enters during their travels, landmarks remain external features to the individual.

THEORY OF ARCHITECTURE AND URBANISM

Figure 02: Site Zoning

After site visit in Brickfield Zone C, a cognitive map was done based on recalled memories and experiences during site visit. The journey starts from Nu Sentral. Nu Sentral is a transit station directly connected to KL Sentral railway station (with LRT, KTM, KLIA Express, Intercity trains and airport buses) and the Monorail station on the other side. Kevin Lynch mentioned that although conceptually nodes are small points in the city image, they may in reality be large squares, or some what extended linear shapes, or even entire central districts when the city is being considered at a large enough level (Lynch, p.72). KL Sentral is a major transit station which act as significant point to the city nodes. For instance, KL station is important where all railway station is connected, act as major transit point. All the buses and taxi gathered in front of the station building. In addition to that, Nu Shopping mall is thematic concentration located next to it. According to Lynch, nodes may be simply concentrations, which gain their importance from being condensation of some use or physical character as an enclosed square (Lynch p.47). Besides railway stations and shopping mall known as nodes, traffic light junction also considered as nodes. Lynch stated that junction or place of a break transportation is importance for city observer as decisions must be made at junctions, people heighten their attention at such places and perceive nearby elements with more than normal clarity. The traffic light located in Jalan Tun Sambanthan nearby KL Sentral is important and recognizable nodes where it is a junction break to Kuala Lumpur road. In addition according to Lynch, nodes become memorable when the space has some form , hence the impact is much stronger. For instance, in the traffic junction from Jalan Sultan Abdul Samad to Jalan Tun Samabathan, the colourful unique form of the building which different from other buildings, makes the junction more memorable.

THEORY OF ARCHITECTURE AND URBANISM

Based on Lynch's, the paths is the network of habitual or potential lines of movement through the urban complex, are the most potent means by which the whole can be ordered. Concentration of some special use or activity along their margins, characteristic spatial quality, special texture of floor or facade, particular lighting pattern, unique set of smells or sounds, typical detail or mode of planting are important singular quantity which marks the paths from the surrounding channels. For instance in Brickfield, tactile pavements are insert in to walkway. Tactile paving is a system of textured ground surface indicator found all along footpaths and train station platforms to assist pedestrians who are blind or visually impaired. The special texture of flooring not only act as a guidance for the blinds but also for normal people, which it gives a sense to certain direction.

Figure 03: Tactile Pavement creates path.

Figure 04: Blind people uses tactile pavement as the path which guided them.

In addition according to Lynch, classical continuity of bordering facades, repetition of space opening or monuments gives out senses of continuity to the path. For instance, walkway in front of shop houses opposite to KL Sentral, consists of a row of colourful monuments that gives sense of visual hierarchy of streets. Eventually enhance and emphasis on the walkway.

Figure 05: A row of colourful monuments that emphasized the pathway.

THEORY OF ARCHITECTURE AND URBANISM

Figure 06: Special texture of the wall facade strengthen the direction of the walkway.

Figure 07: Covered walkway gives a strong senses of axial, focus direction

According to Lynch, 'any visual expose of the path, or its goal, heightens its image. A great bridge may do this, an axial avenue, a concave profile, or the distant silhouette of the final destination' (Lynch p.98). Based on Figure 07 above, an obvious axial avenue and concave profile is a good case in point to Lynch statement. The covered walkway gives the strong axis where it guided the users to certain direction, which eventually highlighted the sense of walkway. 'Edges are the linear elements not considered as paths, usually but not quite always the boundaries between two kinds of areas' (Lynch pg.62). In addition to that, Lynch also mentioned that when the edges is no longer continuous, or it is self closing, then the edge is important that its ends have definite termini, recognizable anchors which complete and locate the line. Based on observation in Brickfields, LRT railway act as edges that visually gives a sense of dead end road. According to Lynch, regions bounded that differentiated the two sides of an edge. For example in Brickfields, hoarding construction located along the junction of Jalan Sultan Abdul Samad, separate the restrict region from the public region. District edges can be observed when once stands on Jalan Tun Samabanthan. The road which known a Jalan Tun Samabanthan act as district edges which separate the office high rises buildings district and low rise shop houses district.

THEORY OF ARCHITECTURE AND URBANISM

According to Lynch, physical characteristic that determine districts are thematic continuities which may consist of an endless variety of components such as texture, space, form, detail, symbol, building type, use, activity, inhabitants, degree of maintenance and topography. During site visit in Brickfields, type, form and symbol of buildings can be notice clearly to differentiate the districts. The area around KL Sentral consists of high rise buildings mainly are offices, while the opposite area are low rise shop houses, this two districts separated by Jalan Tun Sambanthan. Religion district located at southwest of Zone C. Religion district can be identify by symbol and ornament on the buildings which is different from other buildings. Meanwhile, residential located in the center of Zone C which mostly are high rise apartments. Based on Lynch, 'landmarks become more easily identifiable, more likely to be chosen as significant, if they have a clear form; if they contrast with their background; and if there is some prominence of spatial location' (Lynch pg.78,79). Hence, the figure background contrast seems to be the principal factor. Shell Office building located next to Nu Sentral is a strong landmark in Brickfield. The Zig Zag facade of the building, contrasting itself from the surrounding plain vertical buildings. In overall, the high rise office district, mostly uses glass as facade materials can considered as landmark in Brickfield. This is because of the height and materials wise that is so contrasting from the rest. In addition to that, the high rise office can consider as landmark because it is noticeable from every angle in Brickfield. To support my statement, according to Lynch: ' spatial prominence can establish elements as landmarks in either of two ways, by making the element visible from many location, or setting up a local contrast with nearby elements, i.e, a variation setback and height.

Figure 09: High rises office buildings are noticeable from any angle in Brickfield.

Unique triangular form of Tamil Methodist Church makes a huge contrast of the surrounding building. It stands as a strong Landmark not only in Jalan Abdul Samad but also in Brickfields. Figure 10: Tamil Methodist Church located at Jalan Sultan Abdul Samad.

THEORY OF ARCHITECTURE AND URBANISM

INTRODUCTION

THEORY OF ARCHITECTURE AND URBANISM

INTRODUCTION TO SITE - BRICKFIELD, KL

Figure 01: View of Little Indian Streets

THEORY OF ARCHITECTURE AND URBANISM

COGNITIVE MAPPING

THEORY OF ARCHITECTURE AND URBANISM

DESCRIPTION OF COGNITIVE MAPPING

cognitive map is the selective representation and mental image of an individual

incorporated from their observations gathered over the time and the recalled interaction with the city. Basically, the creation of a cognitive map relies on individual's memory as opposed to being copied from pre-existing map or image. According to Kevin Lynch's The Image of the City (1960), Lynch asks a participant to create map as follows:' make it just as if you were making a rapid description of the city to a stranger, covering all the main features. We don't expect an accurate drawing, just a rough sketch.'(Lynch 1960, p141). According to Jiang(2012), there are two major main issues with reference to the cognitive mapping, which are the external representation of the place and how these have been processed mentally and form an image or map about its physical environment. Basically, the external representation of the city mainly discussed on legibility and imageability. According to Lynch, imageability refers to identity which is also known as individuality and oneness owned by an object physically such as shape, color or arrangement which are distinguished from others and evokes a strong and vivid image in any observer. (Lynch,1960). Legibility refers to the visual qualities and obvious clarity of the city of which structures and layout could recognized and formed a coherent pattern in one's mind. Lynch states that:' Legibility or perhaps visibility in a heightened sense, where objects are not only able to be seen, but are presented sharply and intensely to the senses.'(Lynch 1960, p9,10).

THEORY OF ARCHITECTURE AND URBANISM

EXPLAINATION ON COGNITIVE MAP OF BRICKFIELD ZONE C

After site visit in Brickfield, Zone C. All the observations and experiences were recalled and presented in cognitive map. Personal experiences and interactions with the surrounding, were interpreted and encoded into cognitive map. This cognitive map integrated Lynch's 5 elements including landmarks, nodes, edges, paths and districts. This typology represents the city as based on observations and understanding. In cognitive map, the journey starts from Nu Sentral. The area of Nu Sentral mostly are high rises building and it is noticeable from all direction in Brickfield. The area or also considered as high rises district can exist as the landmark of Brickfield. The high concentration of Nu Sentral that act as shopping mall while KL Sentral as main transit station, it acts as strong nodes in the city. Departing from the Nu Sentral, comes to a traffic junction either go straight to Kuala Lumpur road or turn right into Jalan Sultan Abdul Samad. Decision make to turn right as it is the direction to Zone C. Public Bank building located at the corner of junction easily to be notice. The pattern of tactile pavement actually act as guidance and give sense of path. At the traffic four junction, decision on turning right because of the footbridge's design that brings out curiosity. Along the way, there's a covered walkway which obviously act as a path. LRT railway crossed over the road can be see clearly as it is quite contrasting in that area. Before arriving another four junction, a unique triangular form of Tamil Methodist Church can be see on the right side as it is quite alien to the surrounding. At the junction, decision made on turning to left into Jalan Berhala because of the pedestrian walkway that decorated with the greenery. Rows of greenery actually gives a sense of welcoming and contrast compare to other normal walkway. It comes to a junction where it forces to turn right as the end this road, there's a LRT railway which give a sense of dead end. Along this road which still known as Jalan Berhala, it actually separate the residential on right from the old shop houses on left side. At the end of this road there's a junction, a Malays traditional house located right at the junction. This Malays traditional house stands alone which actually quite memorable as the materials used and the form is different from the nearby buildings. At this junction, it forces to turn right because there's railway at the end of the road so is a dead end. Along this road, Buddhist temple is located on the right where it's

THEORY OF ARCHITECTURE AND URBANISM

ornament of the gate is easily recognise as Buddhism. At the end of this road, a long hoarding construction actually block the vision and separated the public access and restrict area. There's a huge old tree located at the left side which give sense of interest and curiosity and decided to turn left. Along the road there's a junction, but automatically users will turn right as the road is bigger and design in curved flow which guided the users. Along this road , there's a church on right which easily recognised because of the symbol. At the end of the road, there's traffic junctions. This junction is so memorable compare to other junctions because of the colourful buildings and different pattern on facade that contrast it from the other junctions. In conclusion, basically this cognitive map identifying the landmarks in certain area along the journey. In addition to that, edges that caused dead end by LRT railway also emphasized. From this cognitive map, paths and nodes are clearly presented, districts can be differentiate according to the landmarks in certain area.

THEORY OF ARCHITECTURE AND URBANISM

ANALYSIS BASED ON KEVIN LYNCH'S THEORY

Kevin Lynch was an urban planner who carried out pioneering work on people's urban cognitive maps from the 1950s. He was interested in analysing the urban form, and in particular identified the criterion of the 'legibility' of a cityscape which he defined as 'the ease with which its parts can be recognized and can be organized into a coherent pattern'(p.2); a legible city would thus be one 'whose districts or landmarks or pathways are easily identifiable and are easily grouped into an over all pattern'(p.3). Lynch proposed a set of elements which would be fundamental to the structure of the urban environment and thus were expected to be manifest in people's mental structuring environment. According to Lynch(1960), the five commonly perceived elements that form the image of the city which influence a person's cognitive mapping are paths, edges, districts, nodes and landmarks. According to Lynch, 'Path consists of the channels along which the observer customarily, occasionally, or potentially moves'(Lynch,p.47). These can include streets, paths, transit routes, or any other defined path of movement. Edge are linear elements not used or considered as path by the observer (Lynch,p47). They are usually boundaries that separate one region from another, the seams that join two regions together, or the barriers that close one region from another. Districts are 'medium to large sections of the city'(Lynch, p.47). According to Lynch, most people use the concept of districts to define the broader structure of their city. They have two dimensional extent, often held together by some commonality. In addition, the Nodes are points within the city, intentionally located into which the individual enters, which is often the main focal point to which observer is travelling to or from. Lastly, the landmarks are point reference which observer enters during their travels, landmarks remain external features to the individual.

THEORY OF ARCHITECTURE AND URBANISM

Figure 02: Site Zoning

THEORY OF ARCHITECTURE AND URBANISM

Figure 03: Tactile Pavement creates path.

Figure 04: Blind people uses tactile pavement as the path which guided them.

Figure 05: A row of colourful monuments that emphasized the pathway.

THEORY OF ARCHITECTURE AND URBANISM

Figure 06: Special texture of the wall facade strengthen the direction of the walkway.

Figure 07: Covered walkway gives a strong senses of axial, focus direction

Figure 08: Jalan Tun Sambanthan act as district edge that separate the high rise district from the low rise district.

THEORY OF ARCHITECTURE AND URBANISM

Figure 09: High rises office buildings are noticeable from any angle in Brickfield.

Figure 10: Tamil Methodist Church located at Jalan Sultan Abdul Samad.

Unique triangular form of Tamil Methodist Church makes a huge contrast of the surrounding building. It stands as a strong Landmark not only in Jalan Abdul Samad but also in Brickfields.

THEORY OF ARCHITECTURE AND URBANISM

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, Lynch emphasized that the physical environmental as independent variable, related to attributes of identity and structure in the mental image. Hence, imageability which means the quality of physical object gives high probability of evoking a strong image in any observer. The contents of the city image that influenced on imageability which are also referable to physical form , can be classified into five type of elements: paths, edges, districts, nodes and landmarks. Based on the theories of five elements implemented by Lynch, Brickfield is most recognizable by its landmarks which is the high rise office district and KL Sentral as a strong nodes that act as major transit point of transportation. Path also able to give spatial experience to users, not only because of the greenary along the walkway, but also the different pattern of wall facade and monument that arranged linearly along the walkway. In addition to that, tactile pavement can be notice in every walkway due to the population of blind people in Brickfields. Districts can be observes when observers stand in the edges. In Brickfields , LRT railways, main roads and hoarding construction act as edges. In nutshell, Lynch's five elements can be observed easily in Brickfield. This also helps the city so recognisable and memorable. People that have been to Brickfields would have strong image of the place, not only positioning and the existence of the elements, but a clearer pictures of surrounding with personal value. Lastly based on personal opinion, elements in Brickfields are well designed.

THEORY OF ARCHITECTURE AND URBANISM

REFERENCES Writer's Web: Writing an Analytic Research Paper. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://writing2.richmond.edu/writing/wweb/rsrchppr.html Kuala Lumpur Little India Brickfields - Kuala Lumpur Attractions. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.kuala-lumpur.ws/attractions/brickfields.htm# Little India Brickfields Kuala Lumpur - Malaysia Tourist & Travel Guide. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://kuala-lumpur.attractionsinmalaysia.com/Little-India-Brickfields.php Understanding Neighborhoods Through Mental Mapping: An application of Kevin Lynch's theory using Universal Design for Learning principles. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.sjsu.edu/cfd/docs/enactAIM_hilary/ Cognitive Map Examples. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.acsu.buffalo.edu/~arced/arch&society/cogmap/cogex.htm Moses, B. (2007). Brickfields: A place, a time, a memory. Kuala Lumpur?: Bernice Narayanan. Jiang,B. (2012), The Image of the City Out of the Underlying Scaling of City Artifacts or Locations, Sweden Lynch, K. (1960). The image of the city. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press.

Andrew Mondschein, Evelyn Blumenberg, & Brain D. Taylor. (2013). Going Mental: Everyday Travel and the Cognitive Map. Access Magazine, 43. Caroline Filmer. (2012, January 8). Cognitive Maps [Video file]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4k7oikkz9mg Oddur Bauer. (2015, October 14). Kevin Lynch - The Image of the City [Video file]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yM7QYvyvCuc Kanał użytkownika WydARCHIVOLTA. (2011, September 28). Obraz Miasta "The Image of the City" Kevin Lynch ARCHIVOLTA [Video file]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OHwbRLu0ymo

Kuala Lumpur Little India Brickfields - Kuala Lumpur Attractions. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.kuala-lumpur.ws/attractions/brickfields.htm# Little India Brickfields Kuala Lumpur - Malaysia Tourist & Travel Guide. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://kuala-lumpur.attractionsinmalaysia.com/Little-IndiaBrickfields.php

Moses, B. (2007). Brickfields: A place, a time, a memory. Kuala Lumpur?: Bernice Narayanan.