Theories of Architecture and Urbanism, comparative essay between Jakarta and Kuala Lumpur

Theories of Architecture and Urbanism // ARC 61303 //

Theories of Architecture and Urbanism // ARC 61303 //

PROJECT 2 Comparative Analysis Essay

Lovie Tey Yiqing 0318155 Tutor : Mr.Prince

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

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2.0

3.0

Introduction 1.1

Introduction to M.H.Thamrin

1.2

Introduction to Jalan TAR

Analysis 2.1

Contact points of M.H.Thamrin

2.2

Contact points of Jalan TAR

Comparative Essay 3.1

Necessary activities

3.2

Optional activities

3.3

Resultant activities ( Social Activities )

4.0

Conclusion

5.0

References

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1.0

Introduction

This paper requires studies through the book, ‘ Life between buildings’, by Jan Gehl. Studies are carried out by analysing two selected city, which is Jalan M.H.Thamrin from Jakarta and Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman from Malaysia, and identifying the similarities and dissimilarities based on the patterns of social activities, the different type of contact points as well as the degree of contact intensity between the two cities.

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1.1

Introduction to M.H.Thamrin

Image 1.1.1 Top View of Bundaran HI

Jalan M.H.Thamrin is located in the heart of Jakarta that runs through the Central Business District. It is considered as the main road that stretched from Jalan Sudirman, the home to international office buildings, to Jalan Thamrin where the shopping districts, working and entertainment areas are located. Jalan M.H Thamrin is one of the best pedestrian area located in Jakarta, as it is wide, clean and it consists of low crime rate as the police patrols normally. It is also considered as the main road where road users will pass by everyday, hence identified as the hub of Jakarta. However, huge social gap exists here as there are certain low class commercial points, and high class commercial points. As parts of the streets are not visible, the high class social life is more distinguished.

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1.2

Introduction to Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman

Image 1.2.1 Street View of Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman

Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman is a traditional shopping district in Kuala Lumpur. It is located in the heart of Kuala Lumpur, that stretched from Jalan Tun Perak, place where all the historical buildings are, to Jalan Chow Kit, a place known for bargain shopping and food. As it is a one-way road,it is considered as one of the busiest road in Kuala Lumpur.

The stretch of road is full of pre-war buildings that have been preserved for decades, and readapted to accommodate modern business with minimal alteration. Every Saturday, this road is closed to traffic during the evening to make way for night market with hawkers and street vendors, creating an unique local experience of food and fashion.

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Analysis As extracted from the book ‘ Life between buildings’, Jan Gehl had came out with

three types of outdoor activities, which is necessary activity, optional activities and resultant activities, which is also known as social activities.

Outdoor activities are important as it creates the public scene, that is dependant on the physical environment.

Most outdoor activities only take place when the physical environment is welcoming and pleasing. Weather and the quality of space is the main elements to a good outdoor space.

Image 2.0.1 Graphic Representation of the relationship between the quality of outdoor spaces and the rate of occurrence of outdoor activities

To explain the different kind of

categories, necessary activities are considered as compulsory activities which includes tasks that are required to be achieved in one’s daily life, and it

includes going to work, attending school as well as grocery shopping at the nearby shops. It is necessary as it happens throughout the year.

On the other hand, optional activities are the activities that only take place when the time, place and weather are acceptable. Optional activities is at it’s highest point when the physical environment is in good conditions. These activities includes, taking a dip in the cool sea or running under the cool breezy wind, where the situation is inviting. As stated by Jan Gehl’s text, ‘ when the quality of outdoor area is good, optional activities occur with increasing frequency. Furthermore, as levels of optional activity rises, the number of social activities usually increases substantially’.

Other than that, resultant activities which is also known as social activities, only

occurs based on the people that appears in public spaces. Social activities includes passive contacts, which is seeing and hearing others.

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2.1

Contact Points of Jalan M.H.Thamrin

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Image 2.1.1 Jalan M.H.Thamrin Map

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Image 2.1.2 Patung Kuda located at Jalan M.H.Thamrin

Contact point 1 : Patung Kuda Displaying moderate contact intensity through passive contact and close relationship among the users. The water feature becomes a point form typology which acts as a magnet to pull the people’s attention.

Image 2.1.3 People Eating At The Stall

Contact point 2 : Nasi Goreng Kambing Kebon Sirih The activities happening at the stall form a linear typology arranged alongside the alley.The area has high contact intensity as it is a point where people bring along their friends or families to eat. The narrow space available and the popularity minimize the users’ personal boundaries .The food stall is located at a small alley which is uninviting as there is no street light and has very minimum passerby without the stall. It is an unmaintained street in contrast to Jalan Thamrin 8

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Image 2.1.3 Sarinah BRT Station during Car Free Day

Contact Point 3 : Sarinah BRT Station The contact intensity is moderate to high as it involves passive contact and close relationship.The BRT Station itself forms a point form typology which acts as a shelter for the people to wait for bus.The pedestrian bridge eases the accessibility of users and forms a linear space typology, which creates an integration of various types of people and activities.

Informal activities are undergoing along the bridge drawing the attraction of people.A wide pedestrian walkway with shaded greeneries creating an obvious wayfinding public realm for the user to the BRT Station.

Image 2.1.4 Plaza Sarinah

Contact point 4: Plaza Sarinah The contact intensity is moderate as it involves passive contact and close relationship.

The open plaza becomes a point form typology where the people gather and conduct their activities.During car free day, parked cars can be spotted in this area.

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Image 2.1.5 People Parking Bike during Car Free Day

Contact point 5 : Plaza Indonesia The contact intensity is moderate to high as it involves passive contact and close relationship among the users.The point form typology at the open plaza in front Plaza Indonesia is utilized by people to park their bikes during car free day as it is located at the starting point of the car blocking area.The pedestrian pavement along the Plaza Indonesia form a linear space typology while vendors can be spotted along the which act as a magnet to attract the passersby.

Image 2.1.4 Bundaran Hotel Indonesia that acts as a platform for activities during Car Free Day

Contact point 6: Bundaran Hotel Indonesia As it involves passive contact and close relationship among the users, it belongs to moderate-tohigh contact intensity.Bundaran HI forms a point form typology which the landmark attracts the people naturally. During car free day, Jalan Kebon Kacang Raya is blocked and become a mustpassby road for joggers and cyclists to reach the main road-Jalan M.H. Thamrin.Jalan Kebon Kacang Raya itself forms a linear form typology as there is a market along the road which attracts the visitors during the car free day, creating intimate interaction among users

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2.2

Contact Points of Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman

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Image 2.1.1 Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman Map

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Image 2.2.1 Exterior of Sogo Shopping Centre

Contact point 1: SOGO Shopping centre The contact intensity involves low to high contact intensity as it involves passive contact and close relationship. Most of the people gathers at the plaza during the evening to watch the street performance while families shop inside the shopping mall. SOGO plaza that is shaded act as a point form typology that attracts people, Â while the vendors along the street become a linear form typology.

Image 2.2.2 Coliseum Cafe

Contact point 2 : Coliseum Cafe This cafe is one of the oldest cafe that had existed in Jalan TAR, hence the contact intensity is high as it is an area where friends and family dining occurs. The enclosed area in the cafe enhances intimate contact.

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Image 2.2.3 Coliseum Cinema

Contact point 3 : Coliseum Cinema The contact intensity is moderate to high as it involves passive contact and close relationship. This cinema is one of the oldest cinema along Jalan TAR, and had existed till now. The cinema forms a point form typology which acts as an entertainment hub for people to relax.

Image 2.2.4 Laman Tuanku Abdul Rahman

Contact point 4 : Laman Tuanku Abdul Rahman The contact intensity is moderate to high as it involves passive contact and close relationship.

This open plaza acts as a point form typology where people gathers when events such as Ramadhan Bazaar occurs. However, the lack of shaded area discourages people to use the plaza.

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Image 2.2.5 Kamdar Plaza

Contact point 5 : KAMDAR’s plaza The contact intensity is low as it involves passive contact among the users. The huge setback of Kamdar act as a breathing space and open plaza, where people wait for the bus to arrive.

Image 2.2.6 Frenz Hotel

Contact point 6: Frenz Hotel The contact intensity at this area is moderate to high as it involves passive contact and close relationship among users. The wide pedestrian pavement along the hotel form a linear space typology, as vendors can be spotted outside the hotel which acts as a magnet to attract passerby.

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3.0

Comparative Essay

3.1

Necessary Activities With Jalan M.H.Thamrin and Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman as comparison, there’s

still similarity among these two roads. These two streets are considered as shopping nodes in their own city. Jalan M.H.Thamrin consists of more than 10 shopping mall hotels, from the first-class shopping and lifestyle destination to famous wholesale prices marketplace. As for Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman, it is one of the most popular and oldest street in the heart of Kuala Lumpur, featuring wholesale and retail shops, which focuses more on textiles, fabrics and clothes.

Image 3.1.1 Plaza Sarinah

Image 3.1.0 Shopping Area Along Jalan M.H.Thamrin

Image 3.1.2 Plaza Sarinah

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Image 3.1.3 Shopping Area Along Jalan TAR

Image 3.1.4 Shophouses along Jalan TAR

Even though these two streets are known as shopping district, there’s still differences in within them, which is the walkability. The two contact points that are comparable will be the empty space in front of Plaza Sarinah, as well as the plaza in front of SOGO Shopping Complex.

In Jalan M.H.Thamrin, the empty space in front of Plaza Sarinah is designed as a huge carpark where people park their car. There are more cars as compared to pedestrian as it is located next to the main road, where vehicles drive face, hence discouraging pedestrian usage. However, during car free day, most of the people gather around that empty place as it is a spot for activities as well as street performance. Most of the crowd are attracting the people outside the fence, where the BRT station is located at. The steps into the plaza are also used as a secondary seating for those who are tired.

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Image 3.1.5 Activities Ongoing along Plaza Sarinah, with the identification of contact intensity

Along Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman, the empty space in front of SOGO Shopping Complex act as a shaded plaza. The large pedestrian walkway encourages people to walk. In this area, most of the users tend to walk as compared to drive as Jalan TAR is highly congested, even though it functions as a one way road. It is considered as necessary activity at this area as the shoppers are shopping for their daily needs while the street performers are performing to earn a living. In this scenario, the street performers also act as a magnet that attracts people to stop by.

High

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Image 3.1.6 Activities Ongoing along Sogo Shopping Complex, with the identification of contact intensity

As both the area are shopping district, hence they are also considered as necessary activity. As referred from Jan Gehl’s Life Between Buildings, it is mentioned that daily tasks and activities belong to this category. This category also includes the great majority of those related to walking. Other than that, it is obvious that most of the necessary activity took place when the quality of the outdoor spaces are high.

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3.2

Optional Activities Optional activities occurs when the exterior conditions of a certain location are

inviting, and when the weather and location are favourable.

The other similarities between this two road is the presence of public transport hub. Both cities are considered as cities that are well-developed. Jalan M.H.Thamrin and Jalan TAR are both the main road that are located in the heart of the city, hence most of the users uses vehicular transportation to get from one location to another location.

Image 3.2.1 BRT Station which is located in front of Plaza Sarinah,

Along Jalan M.H.Thamrin, the well-designed transportation hub, which is the BRT Station, allows people to use the public transport to their destination in a comfortable way. The station had been utilised in various way, including the empty space below it. As vendors set up stalls along the bridge, the pedestrian bridge also act as a shelter for people to do their prayers. A favourable environment was created for people’s past time when the street is closed. Sometimes, street artist that performs at the pedestrian bridge gathers and attracts people.

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Image 3.2.2 Section of Sarinah BRT Station alongside with the identification of contact intensity.

With a transportation hub that is well designed, people can be easily attracted as it is well shaded and inviting. This contact point creates opportunity for all user groups to step out of the house, and pursue outdoor.

Image 3.2.3 Huge Setbacks of Plaza Kamdar, Jalan TAR, that act as a Transportation Stop

Although vehicular transportation such as bus passes through Jalan TAR most of the time during the day, it is obvious that no transportation hub can be detected. The public uses empty space, which was the setback of the Kamdar building.

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It is obvious that not much people can be seen here as the surrounding is uninviting. The street users treat this area as a touch and go area because no proper shade is available.

This informal transportation hub does not support any others activities, except for the shopper who wanted to visit Kamdar, the textile shop.

High

Low

Image 3.2.4 Section of the empty space in front of Kamdar with the identification of contact intensity

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3.3

Resultant Activities Social activities, or known as resultant activities are activities that occurs depends

on the presence of others in public spaces. From the book , ‘ Life Between Buildings’, Jan Gehl stated that these activities can be termed resultant as they evolve from the activities which are linked to the other two category which is stated above, necessary activity and optional activity. It occurs spontaneously and it can also be said to support indirectly.

In this scenario, the two contact points that was chosen are the Bundaran Hotel Indonesia as well as the Laman Tuanku Abdul Rahman. These two contact point are chosen as they’re all plaza and the activities at this area only occurs with the presence of others.

Image 3.3.1 Section of the empty space in front of Kamdar with the identification of contact intensity

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Activities occurs around Bundaran HI as it consists of a water feature that cools down the hot weather of Jakarta. Other than that, the huge setback of Bundaran HI from the main road resulted in a large open space that serves as a pedestrian pathway. Most of the street users sit around the fountain and talk to each other despite it being located in the middle of the city centre.

Image 3.3.2 Section of Bundaran HI alongside with the identification of contact intensity.

Image 3.3.3 People walking around the Bundaran HI

As street users saw people gathering around here, naturally it acts as a magnet and attracted others to the fountain as well, creating a ‘ people attract people' effect. It is also a hotspot for photography and chilidren’s playing area. Most of the contacts at this area are considered as passive contact as street users sees and hears conversation from a great number of unknown people.

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Image 3.3.4 Street View of Laman Tuanku Abdul Rahman

In this scenario, Laman Tuanku Abdul Rahman is not as lively as Bundaran HI. It is designed as a place where people can meet up and conduct activities. However, the lack of planning and shaded area discourages people to hang out around this area. Most of the street users choose not to visit this place as it is hot and humid. The only reason they visit this area will be the public toilet located on the right side of the plaza. However, when activities are planned at this area, for example the Ramadhan Bazaar, people will start and join the activity continuously.

High

Low

Image 3.2.4 Section of Laman Tuanku Abdul Rahman with the identification of contact intensity

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Conclusion In conclusion, it is obvious that Jan Gehl’s theory about the relationship of the

physical environment quality and the rate of occurrence of outdoor activities is indeed undeniable. From the analysis above, it can be seen clearly that most of the activities occurs under favourable conditions. It offers an opportunity to understand how activities can happen under certain circumstances.In these two city, it is observed how closely the planning of cities are interrelated, and how are the planning of cities are able to affect and shape the daily life of all the users.

( 3050 words)

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References

1. Gehl, J. (2011). Life between buildings: using public space. Washington, DC: Island Press.

2. https://jakarta.grand.hyatt.com/en/hotel/activities/area-activities/ ShoppingInJakarta.html 3. https://connectingthedottes.files.wordpress.com/2015/09/20slides-life-btwbuildings.pdf 4. https://prezi.com/lfirls8ziggz/from-life-between-buildings-using-public-space-1987/ 5. https://charlottebikes.files.wordpress.com/2011/09/gehl-life-between-buildings-citiesfor-people-6-18-11.pdf 6. https://www.pps.org/reference/jgehl/ 7.

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