theory of architecture and urbanism

Bachelor of Science (Honours) (Architecture) Theories of Architecture and Urbanism (ARC2224) (ARC61303) Project 2: Cognitive Mapping Mr. Lam Shen Fei Kristine Yong Xi Wei 0311297

Figure 1 Map of Kampung Baru Source: https://www.google.com/maps/place/Kampung+Baru,+50300+Kuala+Lumpur,+Federal+ Territory+of+Kuala+Lumpur/@3.1627076,101.7037759,635m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m2!3m1!

1s0x31cc4827fef881e9:0xb8517d5f3ebeb49b Introduction “Rural enclaves inside large cities or in their peri-urban areas characterized by high building densities, poor building quality, irregular streets and open sewage”. (Mariam Alhabshi, 2015). This is how people describe and feel about the environment and situation of Kampung Baru. As with site context, it can also be describe as, “a pocket of pastry that stuffed with savory ingredients (spices and potatoes)”. Kampung Baru is just like the savory ingredient that surrounded by pocket of pastry (Kuala Lumpur). Kampung Baru is form by a community of people tied with some socio-cultural heritage. It is a village that is still closely tied to its cultural and traditional values however, situated and coexisting within a metropolitan area.

Kampung Baru is a residential township located at the midst of Kuala Lumpur. Up to the 1930s, Kampung Baru was purely a residential village settlement with houses built of wood and supported by stilt, with a small verandah, big living room surrounded by garden crops and extensive rearing of poultry. This style could still be found in certain parts of Kampung Baru. By 1960s basic upgrade such as utilities were accessed by all houses

and other basic social and economic infrastructures such as roads, mosque, schools were developed.

Researcher O’Keefe and Nadel (2015), a cognitive map consist of two major systems, place system and misplace system. Place system is by memory which is about the information placed in the organism’s environment, spatial relations, existence of certain objects in specific places. Misplace system is the changes in a particular place which is the presence of a new object or the absence of an old one. It is more towards to the exploration and a species-typical behavior which functions to build maps of new environments and incorporate new information into existing maps. This is one of the method to find way and to help recall important features of the environment. According to The Image of The City by Kevin Lynch, environmental images are the result of a two-way process between the observer and environment. The environment suggests distinctions and relations, and the observer with great adaptability and in the light of purposes by selects, organizes, and donates with meaning.

Cognitive maps of Kampung Baru have been drawn by three different background of people based on their understanding and memory. To collect the information and mapping from the people in Kampung Baru, interview as a chit chat conversation is required to create the warmth and friendly environment. But still there will be some rejection after all.

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Hanim, 32 years old, one of the person in charge of the hawker stall selling kuih-muih (malay cakes) beside the road of Jalan Raja Alang who is from Indonesia and work here for good income to carry the responsibility to take care of her family who remains in Indonesia with the accompaniment of her brother who also come to works. She used to walks to the place where she works as she lives nearby which is walking distance.

Edison, 35 years old, from Indonesia married to a local malay girl who originally born at Jalan Raja Alang therefore he moved to Kampung Baru to starts his own family life. He lives at Jalan Raja Ali which near to Pintu Gerbang and own a hawker stall beside the road of Jalan Raja Alang with a bicycle selling honey and sweet corns. His wife is a housewife due to the new born five months baby.

Eventually he is the only source of income to maintain his family. His business is based on the weather during monsoon season, he has less customers as hawker stall will be inconvenience for people to get themselves there compare to shop buildings.

Suriati, 36 years old, moved to Kampung Baru from Terengganu since 2012. She is the fifth child among nine siblings of her. The reason that Suriati moved to

Kampung Baru is because of her husband who is originally from this area. She is taking care of her two years old son. During the time of interviewing, unfortunately her husband has left for prayer because she has mentioned that her husband knows more about Kampung Baru. She lives at Jalan Raja Muda Musa which is right opposite Legasi, a new condominium which is still under construction.

Figure 2 Map with the location of houses and shop lots.

The first respondent, Hanim an Indonesian who works as an assistant at one of the hawker stall beside the road which is in the middle of Kampung Baru Medical Centre and Masjid Jamek Kampung Baru. The location of the stall is illegal as it is located at the commercial district beside the road which replaced the parking slot. She has been working there for two years as an assistant every day the same rountine of living.

According to Hanim, Kampung Baru is a safe village only where there is certain place with certain hour there will be drugs at certain back alley near morning market which consider as dangerous as this activities cannot be control but to be aware and prohibit the area. Beside that based on her experience and analysis, Masjid Jamek Kampung Baru is one of the landmark for her as there will be high tide of people around for certain hour which also benefits to the business. People who go to hospital for visitation will also buy kuih-muih at the hawker stall. Hanim is alone all the time as the owner has trusted in her and pass all the responsibility to her.

To be fully responsible to her job, she could not leave the hawker stall so she has to prepare her own lunch and dinner by her own self. So, she will just having her meal every time together with the senses of traffic sound, watching people walking around, even though there is another hawker stall right next beside hers but still there is no communication at all. Moreover, as the basic life style that Hanim carry on daily, she sees the changes of the environment within her boundary. From the old building to new building or renovation on an old building.

Figure 3 Map with emphasis of road to show the connection of Kampung Baru.

The second respondent, Edison who is also from Indonesia carrying his business by owning a hawker stall with bicycle at the roadside which is also an illegal spot. As he is not a local so he wanted to start off a business at first by selling beverages and sweet corns. But he is selling honey and sweet corns as honey can earn more than beverages.

He will only sell beverages during monsoon season because water will be easy to sell and fast as compare to sweet corn and honey, as the profit is lower compare to honey and sweet corns. The location of his stall is just right beside the road of Jalan Daud which

near to the cross junction, outside at the entrance of Al-Islam Hospital. So this stall has been sandwiching by Al-Islam Hospital and a row of shop lots. Edison was selling sweet corns since he moved to Kampung Baru which is three years ago.

During the interview, Edison mention about the Pintu Gerbang located at Jalan Raja Mahadi and use it as the landmark to further introduce the other places of Kampung Baru. He used to cycle to Jalan Raja Abdullah to start selling his sweet corn at 11am until he finish selling all of it. Sometimes he will change his business venue but most of the time will be at Jalan Raja Abdullah as his house is just around ten minutes away which is at Jalan Raja Ali. Before turn in to Jalan Raja Ali there will be a fruit stall beside the road at the T-junction where mostly attract tourist to buy in the middle of their way of ‘shopping’ in Kampung Baru according to the hot and humid climate of Malaysia.

Although Edison has just moved to Kampung Baru three years ago but he is quite familiar with the building and infrastructure of Kampung Baru. He used Masjid Jamek Kampung Baru as the landmark as it will be crowded constantly. He is selling 140 sweet corns per day. He used to sell more on Tuesday and Friday due to the crowds. His case is more slightly same as the first respondent, Hanim. As for future, Edison mentioned that Sekolah Rendah Agama will be the elementary school for his five months old baby. Reason is because it is within walking distance.

Figure 4 Map leading with famous food places.

The third respondent, Suriati who is a housewife originally from Terengganu. The location of her house is right opposite of the new construction known as Legasi. She used Legasi to mention where her house is and used Nasi Lemak Antarabangsa and Nasi Lemak Mak Wanjor as the food landmark especially to those outsiders and tourists. Pintu Gerbang has also be one of the landmark to describe and to be mentioned during the interview.

She used to chit chat with her neighbor who comes from Perlis as they are so close to one another. People tend to gather with those who is in the same situation when they do not have any relatives. Furthermore, Suriati wants to send her child to Sekolah Rendah Agama in future.

Based on the analysis by collecting all the data from different people, there are some similarities and dissimilarities that been found in Kampung Baru. The similarities are Pintu Gerbang as the landmark of Kampung Baru. Pintu Gerbang located at Jalan Raja Mahadi which is also area where Morning Market been host. Pintu Gerbang has been hold at the entrance of Jalan Raja Mahadi is because of the foods, activities, culture and the atmosphere. There is also a place where attract tourists and outsiders the most.

Besides that, according to the locals, there is a famous nasi lemak food stall which is famous and has become one of the food landmark. It is located at one of the shop lot at Jalan Raja Muda Musa. Although there is shop sign but it is still hardly to be seen. Normally people can find it out by asking the villagers or by seeing people queuing just to try the nasi lemak.

Based on the respondents, Edison and Suriati, the education landmark will be Sekolah Rendah Jalan Raja Muda Musa which is an elementary school in Kampung Baru especially for Malays. Around Kampung Baru, there are actually few choices for elementary school but still, distance is one of the matter to be concern. Decision always come fast when everything is convenience. Sekolah Rendah Agama has been built and starts at 26 July 2007. Students get increase as the time goes by since the old school is too small compare to the scale of the village, flood happens during monsoon season which will affect the studies and teaching for both parties.

The dissimilarities can be determine based on the preferences and interpretation of different people. One of the differences are the origin of the respondents. According to the analysis, more people who are not originated in Kampung Baru have been interviewed.

Most of the local people especially young people had left Kampung Baru to work in the

city as the high technology and opportunity created chance for those who seek. Therefore, Kampung Baru spontaneously slowly replaced by foreigners or may be even will be replace by high rise building in the future if the bond is not strongly tighten.

Furthermore, based on the first respondent, Hanim, she has different interpretation that Kampung Baru is safe but the crowded area is also the most dangerous place. Two types of activities has been carry out at different timing. The back alley of morning market is where the drugs parasite and bring out unhealthy activities. When there is an informal spaces there will be an informal motion happens.

Hanim is not as socialized as Edison although both of this respondents are Indonesian.

Edison is more open for a conversation he is one of the good friend of the security guard of Al-Islam Hospital. From this point of view, people who is more socialize will affect people around them and also the business on going. Edison mentioned that sometimes competitive will occurs and this is one of the interesting part in a living. From this it actually shows the life between Kampung Baru and Kuala Lumpur. Benefits and attraction will goes to the developed area as compare to Kampung Baru which slightly lack of the interest from people and almost been forgotten and demolished.

Moreover, from the third respondent Suriati, clearly shows that Kampung Baru is a slow motion life compare to the city of Kuala Lumpur. The life in a village is more easy and light to be live on whereas city is full of stress and lack of happiness. This is where the differences between a village and city. People living at village less worry about income especially high income. Focus will be based on the activities and foods before the day of tomorrow. This can be told as cultures of Kampung Baru. This is where the feeling of how easy their life is, just as colorful as the kek lapis (malay layer cake).

Based on my analysis and interpretation, Kampung Baru is neighboring and overshadowed by skyscrapers, modern urban constructions and transportation infrastructures. But people in the city do not appreciate this area. They tend to take advantage by using the road as shortcut to pass by which make the traffic jam inside the small town. The noise from bustling of vehicles has interrupted the villagers and make them have no choice but to accept as fact. This happens only during the peak office hours whereas Kampung Baru is originally a lively village. Kids playing and running around the compound and hawkers fighting for the attention of shoppers by shouting out their bargains, people talking along the roadside and guard talking to the owner of hawker stalls. These activities portrait the strong bond of community in a village.

To conclude, Kampung Baru basically stand firm for their own culture, and maintain their traditional housing and living method. Places can be determine mostly by the program itself instead of the building. The program that fills up the space in a building is called a live building. The diverse of programs in Kampung Baru reflect the diversification of the malay houses in terms of different era and based on their family property, the color use

for faรงade, ornamentation, and pattern. Somehow the building itself speaks their own language and reflect to one another. However, using informal space to bring benefits to themselves are the activities which seems normal in Kampung Baru. They use to parasite with one of the building or roadside and intervene the traffic and fill up the space of parking lot and pedestrian walkway. This is Kampung Baru and people of Kampung Baru.

Reference:

Mariam Alhabshi, S. (2015). Surviving Urban Renewal Program: Case Study of a Traditional Urban Village in Kuala Lumpur. Retrieved 20 November 2015, from http://repo.uum.edu.my/3179/1/S15.pdf O'Keefe, J., & Nadel, L. (2015). The Hippocampus As A Cognitive Map. Retrieved 20 November 2015, from http://www.cognitivemap.net/HCMpdf/HCMComplete.pdf