Public Spaces in a
Mulitcultural Context
The case of
Malacca
Malaysia
Nathalie Egli
Date: 13.01.2012 Publisher: EPFL Publishing Author: Nathalie Egli Editing collaborator: Kah Leng Ng Rudolf Egli Book design: Nathalie Egli Printer: Neoprint, Morges Under the direction of: Monique Ruzicka-Rossier (professeur d’énoncé) Dieter Dietz (directeur pédagogique) Marc Schmit (maître EPFL)
Table of - Intro Introduction p.1 Why? Malacca - Chapter 1 Defining Public Spaces p.9 Definitions p.11 Western Concepts of Public Spaces p.29 Asian Public Space p.47 Identity of Public Space p.65 - Chapter 2 Introducing Malacca p.83 Multicultural p.89 Urban structure p.103 - Chapter 3 Public Spaces in Malacca Ethnical Areas in Malacca - Chapter 4 Introducing Potential Project Conclusion and proposal
p.135 p.177
p.107
Contents
Intro duction
Malacca Sharing
West
Activities
Public
accessible to All
Plaza
Dutch Portugese Britain
Heritage India Indonesia China
Parks Buket China
East
Market ExchangeCommerce Malls
Temple
Spiritual Mosque Church
Closed Static
Diversity
Streets
Open
Dynamic
Spaces
Dimensions
Perception
Introduction The public realm is a very vast subject and it is everchanging. This topic has been researched and analysed in various ways especially in the West. However, these spaces seem to be less clear as we approach Asia and the Eastern world. The East has been influenced over time due to colonial times and the existing public spaces have evolved along with the needs of the users. In these past twenty years, many of the cities in Asia have been growing at a very fast rate. Some of the developments have not been planned to meet social needs, but has been rather a growing towards economical power and gaining an international recognition, leaving behind some of the most valuable aspects of their cultures. These changes have been very politically- and economicallydriven, but with the passing of time, we are now able to observe the results of such changes and noticing that some decisions might have been hindering the evolution of the city towards a natural growth and appropriation of spaces. The question of social value towards spaces seems even less clear in a culturally-diverse country. One of the main clusters within South-East Asia that does have such a mix is Malaysia, as it is composed not only of Malays with Muslim beliefs, but also that of Chinese and Indians with there own cultures, some of which have been blended over the years. The diversity of such a rich culture not only shows some of the Western influences, but also the Asian values. The objective of this research is to better understand the actual usages (do you want to
1
Part I
Part II
Public Space
West
East
Identity
Malacca
Diversity Heat Night Market Heritage Shophouse
Part IV Potential Project
Universal Link Commerce Water
Dynamic
Part III Ethnical
Areas
Community
Seperation
Introduction 3
indicate many use? - various uses or actual usage) of public space and what has been applied so far, taking into consideration social values as well as economical needs. Can both aspects be considered? Proposing a project that could provide an answer to the contemporary needs of evolving and globalized cities, taking the case of Malacca as an example to address the question of public space in relation to cultural differences. As I consider today’s existing gathering places in Kuala Lumpur, the capital of Malaysia, I came to realise that the only spaces actually being used in modern cities are shopping malls, where all activities are being proposed. Some parks exist, but are not being used as the Westerns would, as they are either privatised in a community or not easily accessible. Is the future public realm still in enclosed and air conditioned buildings and do these places respond to all desires of the local users? Can new designs be proposed showing the “truly Asia� aspect of culture which Malaysia clams to have? In order to answer to these questions, I have chosen to not only question public spaces in Asia, but to understand what is the culture of Malaysia. What can be observed today in a historical city with a true Malaysian identity such as Malacca, which could be used in a positive way to respond to current needs? Some of the spaces in Malacca have lived through generations and others have been demolished, making some spaces more valuable. To approach such a study in a more specific way, I will first want to address the question of public space and defining it. As the uses and definition of public spaces defer from West to East, the understanding of these differences is essential
in the analysis of the cities’ usage of space. How is public space being valued in such places? Can divers cultures merge together? If not, what separates them? The need for identity will be introduced in Chapter One to better understand the symbolism used through architecture in a multicultural place. The second Chapter will introduce Malacca from its history to the urban structure of the city, by relating both aspects with maps. Followed by the analysis of the existing public spaces to better comprehend the way they function and their positive characteristics, which could be used for a new public space in the city. As a conclusion to the previous analysis, the final chapter proposes a way to respond in architectural and urban way the question of public space in a multicultural city.
Chapter 1
Defining
PubliSpaces
Definitions
To better understand the notion of public spaces, the definition of the words can help in the understanding (comprehension) of its use, or in the understanding of people’s perceptions of public spaces. In a multicultural society, the ethical and cultural differences may also be related to the way they use space. While the West may define public space in a certain way, one may question if this definition is applicable to all countries and places in the world. Public spaces may be perceived differently according to the various cultural values. For the Westerners, public spaces is just another manner of speaking for a park or a plaza, a place of gathering and social exchange, but for other countries, this might be difficult to define as a clear space. In many of the Asian countries such as China or Japan, public spaces are unclear to the Westerners and these seem to be very subtle within a city - there may be streets at some places and parks in others, but the usage and relation to the spaces might be different. The Japanese traditions celebrate nature in its different forms as seasons change, while this seems to be less important in Europe. Other cities such as Hong Kong do not have such places due to a political history, not giving such a freedom to the population to express their demands. Therefore politics have influenced the pattern of a cities and as such, the history should not be left aside as it may explain a lot of a cities’ design. In this chapter the different definition will be introduced with the aim to provide a better understanding of what public spaces can be identified to be in a multicultural context.
9
Public Spaces
Source:http://www.youphil.com/sites/default/files/ images/2010-06/2889883615-f5dea21318-b.jpg
Definitions 11
Public Oxford Dictionary
adjective 1. of or concerning the people as a whole: open to or shared by all the people of an area or country, of or involved in the affairs of the community, especially in government or entertainment. 2. done , perceived, or existing in open view 3. of or provided by the state rather than an independent, commercial company 4. British of, for, or acting for a university: Noun. 1. (the public) [treated as singular or plural] ordinary people in general; the community: -[with adjective or noun modifier] a section of the community having a particular interest or connection: “the reading public� -(one’s public) informal the people who watch or are interested in an artist, writer, or performer. 2. British short for public bar or public house
The sense of togetherness in a same space where all people are equal undifferentiated by race or religion or gender is what can be take most importantly out of the definition of public.
Public Spaces
Space Time Dimension
Source: http://img9.2u.com.cn/desk_pic/
big_334/333010.jpg
Definitions 13
Oxford Dictionary
Space
Noun 1. a continuous area or expanse which is free, available, or unoccupied: -[count noun] an area of land which is not occupied by buildings: she had a love of open spaces -(also commercial space)an area rented or sold as business premises. -[count noun] a blank between printed, typed, or written words, characters, numbers, etc.. -[count noun] Music each of the four gaps between the five lines of a stave. 2. the dimensions of height, depth, and width within which all things exist and move: -(also outer space)the physical universe beyond the earth’s atmosphere. -the near-vacuum extending between the planets and stars, containing small amounts of gas and dust. -Mathematics: a mathematical concept generally regarded as a set of points having some specified structure. 3. an interval of time (often used to suggest that the time is short considering what has happened or been achieved in it). 4. the amount of paper used or needed to write about a subject: -pages in a newspaper, or time between television or radio programmes, available for advertising 5. the freedom to live, think, and develop in a way that suits one. 6. Telecommunications one of two possible states of a signal in certain systems.
The notion of the emptiness, time and dimension relationship bring together the physical representation of space.
Public Spaces
Source: http://static.wix.com/media/fe57d7bfb45547b95cc10a315385241a.wix_mp
Definitions 15
In Malay
Tempat (http://www. archive. org/stream/ malaygrammar00winsrich/ malaygrammar00winsrich_djvu.txt)
place locality Malay word tempat place from old Javanese tepet spacious, vast+\.h.\’i infix, which he calls a durative. Schmidt summarizes its use in Austronesian tongues generally as expressing ‘ manner, internal movement, happening ‘. It is fairly common in Malay as a crystallized relic and conveys the notion of duration and repetition.
Awam (www.kitlv.nl/ pdf_documents/ asia-loan.pdf )
General, public, common (people)
The notion of duration and repetition, gives a sense of time and movement in space. This can be observed in Asian cities where some streets change with time and are used for different purposes.
Public Spaces
Jonker Street, Malacca
Definitions 17
In Chinese
公共场所 (Gōng gòng chǎng suǒ) Translation: Chih Pew Ng Etymology: wikipedia
公: fair, equitable; public; duke 共: together with, all, total; to share 场: 1. gathering place; field 所:
2. level open space; threshing ground; yard; stage 1. that; which 2. place, location; numerary adjunct
A new element of multiplicity is introduced with a sense of repetition of elements that are assembled together. This could be related to the repetition of row of houses in the Malacca streets.
Public Spaces
Once both words are joined “Public Space” take a new shape and meaning. There are many alternatives of public spaces and the following notions define those terms. The UK government has adopted the following definition:
Public Spaces “Public space relates to all those parts of the Camona (2004) built and natural environment where the public have free access. It encompasses: all the streets, squares and other rights of way, whether predominantly in residential, commercial or community/civic uses; open spaces and parks, and the ‘public/private’ spaces where public access is unrestricted (at least during daylight hours). It includes the interfaces with internal and private spaces to which the public normally has free access.”
In this definition there is a notion of access, which is free in public spaces. In this definition there is a clear notion that space is related to a physical and three-dimensional volume.
Definitions 19
Carmona M. (2010), p.137
Free access could be in indoor areas to a church to a played areas such as stadiums, which then implies the need to the following quality of “Publicness” of a space:
Ownership:
Whether the space is publicly or privately owned, and whether - and in what sense it constitutes ‘neutral’ ground
Access:
Whether the public has access to the space. This poses the question of whether a place becomes private when an admission fee is charged. Consider, for example, the difference between museums for which an entry fee is charged and for which no entry fee is charged. Is one public and the other not, or are neither public? While, in urban design terms, ‘accessibility’ is the capacity to enter and use a space, not all public spaces are ‘open’ and accessible to everyone.
Use:
Whether the space is actively used and shared by different individuals and groups.
Public Spaces
Third Place In Oldenburg’s (1999) thesis: daily life must find its balance in three realms of experience: Domestic, Work and Social, but this work was mainly focused on contemporary US society. “third place” signifies “...great variety of public places that host the regular, voluntary, informal, and happily anticipated gatherings of individuals beyond the realms of home and work.”
The third place is a neutral ground where people want to gather and has done so by no means of a given space but through appropriation of a space that becomes, in time, a space in which people meet. In a multicultural place, these places could be more commonly found as they might not be using space in a Western way, but through the identification of a space. A third place could be such a place.
Oldenburg (1999)
Definitions 21
The qualities of third places
• Their existence as neutral ground, where individuals can come and go as they please • Being highly inclusive, accessible and not having formal criteria of membership, thereby serving to expand possibilities • Their taken-for-granted-ness and low profile • Being open during but also outside office hours • Their character being marked by a ‘playful mood’ • Providing psychological comfort and support • Their ‘cardinal and staining’ activity being conversation and, hence, being ‘political for a of great importance’ The last quality highlights the overlap between third place and the democratic public realm, Oldenburg observes that it is understandable that coffee houses “... came under attack by government leaders” at various point in history.
Public Spaces
Public Life Public life is traditionally associated with public spaces. “...flourishing in private places...in small businesses such as coffee shops, bookstores and other such third places.� This public life happen in social spaces they could be streets, coffee shops or informal spaces.
This definition shows that public spaces can be observed in many different forms and that it must be well-noted that public life brings a bigger dimension to what is called public spaces.
Banerjee (2001)
Definitions 23
Public Realm Carmona M. (2010), chap 6
Public realm is a site for formal or informal public life. It can be either virtual through media and internet or physical in a three dimensional space where people can meet. Concept of physical public space can be categorized as such:
• External public space: those pieces
of land lying between private landholdings (e.g. public squares, streets, highways, parks, parking lots, stretches of coastline, forests, lakes and rivers). These are all spaces that, in principle, are accessible and available to all. This is public space in its purest form.
• Internal public seums, public tions,
‘public’ space: various institutions (libraries, mutown halls, etc.) plus most transport facilities (train stabus stations, airports, etc.)
• External and internal quasi-’public’ space: although legally private, some
public spaces (university campuses, sports grounds, restaurants, cinemas, theatres, nightclubs, shopping malls) also form part of the public realm. This category also include privatised external public spaces retain rights to regulate access and behaviour within these spaces, they are only nominally public.
Public Realm Functions Three key functions: • Political stage/forum: for political representation, display and action • Neutral or common ground: for social interaction, intermingling and communication • Stage for information exchange, personal development and social learning: that is for the development of tolerance.
LoukaitouSideris & Banerjee (1998)
Public Realm Qualities Four generally desirable qualities of public realm: • Universal access (open to all) • Neutral territory (free from coercive forces) • Inclusive and pluralist (accepting and accommodating difference) • Symbolic and representative of the collective and of sociability (rather then individuality and privacy)
Tiesdell & Oc (1998)
Definitions 25
Conclusion These different definitions of public space and their qualities show the large scoop of these spaces and what they bring to a city. The terms of access is prevailing in most of the qualities mentioned above, may it be limited by time or physical boundaries. The use of public space as a means of exchange of mental of material values is also dominant. Therefore both of these aspects should be understood in the analysis of a public space.
Western Concepts of PubliSpaces
Leon Krier (1990) four types of urban
Theories of Public Spaces
In western theories, many speak about different typologies of spaces within a city. Mostly categorizing the different spaces created and establishing new theories about them. These researches gave way to identify a type of space that can be found in a city. Characterising them according to their opinion about what a space should offer. This chapter will offer an overview of these different theories to better understand the public spaces in a city. However it has to be noted that most of these observations were done within Europe, giving it a very specific perspective.
Theory about patterns of urban space Within a cityscape, three main elements emerge: the blocks, which is the build element of the city; the streets, dividing the block and also making these blocks accessible; and the voids or free spaces within the city usually used as the public space, at least this concept is applicable to the Western design of a city. According to Leon Krier (1990), there are four types of urban spaces. In the first three, buildings define space; while in the fourth buildings become the object in space.
(a) The urban blocks are the result of the patterns of streets and squares. (b) The pattern of streets and squares is the result of the position of blocks. (c) The streets and squares are precise formal types. (d) The buildings are precise formal type.
Public Spaces
Square categorization, Krier Robert (1990)
Western Concepts 31
Squares Squares were originally from “agora”, from the Greek “open space”, usually used for markets or political debates. The root of the words come the words ageirein “to assemble,” from Proto-Indo-European base ‘ger- ‘ to “gather”. Squares can be differentiated between a sense of “grandeur” design for prestige or to value a particular building and a design as “people place” Several theoreticians had different approaches regarding such a space. Robert Krier researched on the morphological structure based on geometrical patterns, while Camillo Sitte and Paul Zucker valued the visual appreciation of a square. According to Robert Krier, the square is probably the first urban space to be invented by man. He says in his book “L’espace de la ville ” (1975) or “Urban spaces” that squares are the result of assembling of houses around an empty space. This disposition allowed the best public control over de interior spaces and also used as a good shield against exterior traits, since it reduced the attackable space. This form of grouping around a court yard was used as construction for numerous places for cult such as in agora, forum, monastery or courtyards for mosques. He categorised them by shape, accessiblity and openness. Although his analysis was a very vigorous one, it overlooks the essence of a place as to how people feel about the space, and that was what Sitte’s and Zucker’s research focussed most on.
Public Spaces
Square typologies, Krier Robert (1975)
Left: Sitte’s “deep” Piazza Santa Croce, Florence) Above: Sitte’s turbine plan-Piazza de Duomo, Ravenna Collins & Collins (1965)
Western Concepts 33 Collins & Collins (1965)
In Camillo Sitte’s analysis he views a square as such: “... structured like a picture and possessing the formal values of an organised canvas.” He analysed the visual and aesthetic character of squares across Europe and concluded the following principles:
1. Enclosure
“...public square should be enclosed entities” he even argued that it should not be possible to see out of the square along more than one street at a time. An example would the “turbine” plan.
2. Positive space
Buildings should be joined to one another in that way the facade can define the space and could also be the object of contemplation.
3. Shape
It should be proportional to the surrounding buildings, a space should be “deep” or “wide” in accordance with the buildings features, if it is long and low or tall and narrow, allowing a better appreciation of the building.
4. Monuments
An element in a free space on which one may focus, preferably placed along the edge of space. He recommends not to place them on a natural path that people take and that it should be aesthetically pleasing.
Public Spaces
Western Concepts 35
Paul Zucker wrote in his “Town and Square” (1959) in his analysis of artistically relevant squares that represented organised and contained spaces. His study demonstrated five basic types of “artistically relevant” urban squares:
1. The close square: space self-contained Completely enclosed interrupted only by the streets leading to it. Important elements in such space is the layout of the plan and the repetition of similar buildings or facade types. 2. The Dominated square: space directed
These squares give a sense-of-space, by leading to a building or an open space giving a view.
3. The nuclear square: space formed around a centre This element has a central point from which there is a tension holding the surroundings together. Just as a nucleus there is this charge to the elements that governs the size of the space.
4. Grouped squares: space units combined
Just as the Baroque palaces, there is a succession of rooms, where the first prepares for the following, giving a meaningful link and in a notion of space giving a successive mental images .and can either be linked by the means of an axial or non-axial relationship.
5. The amorphous square: space unlimited
They represent all of which do not fit in the previously mentioned categories.. They might not organized or have a particular shape they still give a senseof-space.
Public Spaces
Plaza San Pietro, Rome
Source: http:// www.clickz. it/user_images/1549740.jpg
Different scales of streets Source: Camrmona (2010)
Western Concepts 37
Streets The scale of a street is distinct from a road, as it still has a human scale and the latter is serving for vehicle traffic. The qualities of a street range from the combination of different element for more diversity, such as scale, visual dynamics and the openness of the space, if it is straight or curved. The rhythm of a street is also important; it can be expressed through its proportions and connections to other streets and squares. Streets are much more visually dynamic then squares and contain a sense-of-movement. Le Corbusier (1929) thinks that straight roads were the “way of the man” as man tends to take the shortest route to a place. Contrasting with Camillo Sitte “glorification of the curve line” that gives way to a certain beauty of a place. As for Rob Krier’s in his book “L’espace de la ville” (1975) streets are the product of the expansion in surface of a locality, as soon as a central square is linked in a narrow way to houses. Streets help organize the division of territory and sets boundaries of different plots. Its utility is much more evident than the squares, it allows us to walk around and also communicate the traffics and circulations intensity. The scale of the street was not designed for motorized vehicles but to the human and horse scale’s motion. It is rare that this element would be isolated and independent and is usually a structure’s entanglement within a city. They provide a surprising amount of diversity in spatial situations, as seen in many ancient cities. The element of street is very important in Asian cities and can be closely observed in Malaysia, as it is even more enhanced along shophouses with a five foot walkway. This will be further developed in the following chapters.
Public Spaces
Example of a Path: Champs ElyĂŠes, Paris
Example of an Edge: Weymouth; England
Western Concepts 39
While both element street and square seem to be distinct there is still a very unique way in which they both are connected to each other in a cityscape, a street can give a much bigger importance to a square and an important square can enhance the use of a street. Therefore the way in which both interact can bring an other dimension to a place. Lynch (1960)
Lynch (1969) p.9
In Kevin Lynch’s research and book “The Image of the City” (1960), his focal point was at the urban imagery and its legibility. How people orient themselves and navigate within the city. He argues that he way people could mentally organise the environment into a coherent pattern or ‘image’ is related to our ability to navigate through it. He speaks of ‘imageability’ : “...that quality in a physical object which gives it a high probability of evoking a strong image in any given observer.”
Lynth’s five Elements 1. Paths: channels along which observers move: street, walkway transit lines, canals, etc... These elements seem to be predominant in people’s image as they relate it to other elements along the path.
2. Edges: Linear elements not used or considered by
observers as paths and often forming boundaries between areas or linear breaks in continuity (e.g. shores, railroad cuts, edges of development, walls, etc.) Edges are important organising features, particularly when they perform the role of holding together generalised areas, as in the outline of a city by water or a wall. Water gives a distinctive edge to cities located on coasts (Istanbul, Hong Kong, Stockholm and along rivers (Paris, London, Budapest, Vienna, Prague, etc..)
Public Spaces
Example of a District: Manchester Gay village
Example of a Node: Times square, New York
Western Concepts 41
3. Districts : Medium-to-large areas, which observers
mentally go inside of, or identify characteristics such as texture space, form, detail, symbol, building type, uses, activities, inhabitants, degree of maintenance or even topography. It may have precise or unclear boundaries and some may only be known by the users.
Lynch (1960) p.47
4. Nodes: are points of references “...the strategic spots
in a city into which an observer can enter, and which are the intensive foci to and from which (s/he) is travelling.” Nodes are dominantly junctions or concentration areas with both functional and physical significance.
5. Landmarks: these are also point of references but de-
Lynch (1960) p.78
ferring from nodes, these elements are external to the observer. Examples of landmarks are towers, spires, hills. They can be seen from various points of view from a distance, while others, such as sculptures, signs and trees are locally visible only in some localities and from a closer distance. Their key characteristics is physical singularity, according to Lynch: “...some aspect that is unique or memorable in the context” and “spatial prominence”. The way the environment is being used around these elements can strengthen the landmark significance.
The elements provided by Lynch seem to be applicable to any reading of a city. This analysis is more accentuated on how the people interact with the space, as districts can be identified by the activities of an area, be it art, restaurant or other functions, nodes are central areas of interaction.
Public Spaces
Example of a Landmark: Grand Arch, DĂŠfense, Paris
Western Concepts 43
Conclusion The different approaches to the analysis of public space help identify different elements of the urban form in very detailed manners. Giving very specific criteria of spaces, but at the time of such analysis cities in Asia were not analyses. Therefore part of this approach can be used such as squares and streets in most Western cities, but would be harder to apply in cities in Asia. However the notion of streets seems to be much more prevailing in Asia, demonstrated in the definitions, the notion of movement is much more important in the Malay language. The analysis made seem to fit any city in a world speaking of a pure space, without the notion of people using such spaces. To understand a multicultural city, the notion of edges, paths and nodes by Lynches’ analysis seems to be the most appropriate, as in a city with diverse ethnicity these elements may be able to provide an insight as to what ruptures or links are existent in a city. The notion of what determines a district from another, will have to be more specific to the ethnicity and therefore to the identity of a district. This notion of identity will be further developed in this chapter, but first the determination of public spaces in Asia will be introduced in the following subchapter.
Asian
PubliSpaces
Nanjing Road, Shanghai
Asian public space To understand Asian urban spaces it is important to understand the main differences between the East and the West which induce different uses of spaces. The political and economical process have a very important roles in the evolution of a city and therefore in the usage of public spaces. This chapter will introduce the main aspect of the notion of public spaces in Asia. The Asia Pacific cities have had a major growth rate of Miao Pu (2001) population and a rising of wealth as GNP in the 90’s, putting these cities in an industrialization process. New constructions and buildings followed this growth along with shopping malls and the destruction of urban fabric was also a result of this evolution. Some of the largest cities in Japan are experiencing counter-urbanization since the 1980s, just like the developed Western countries, where people are moving from megapolis to smaller cities. This shift with time may explain why many of the urban planning in Asian countries are taking the example of the Western cities. But a strong difference can be made between regions of Asia according to their social and political systems and public space may be treated differently in a communist or socialist country. The influence of religion in different regions can also make a difference. The East Asian countries are mostly influenced by Confucianism and Buddhism while in the Southeast Asia are not only influenced by the latter but can be added Hinduism, Islam and Catholicism. Climate is also another factor, providing possibilities for public spaces to be used all year long.
Public Spaces
Street by Lujiabang Road, Shanghai
Asia 49
Mixed uses Miao Pu (2001)
In most modern cities the development has been defined by specific zones according to their functions, as can be found in the US city planning with concentric rings, starting from the central business district in the centre towards the middle-class residential suburbs at the periphery. The Asia Pacific cities are contrasted by their mixture in different land uses. An example would be the tiny stores in Shanghai neighbourhoods called lilong (compounds of townhouses) which provide users with their daily shopping needs within one block., Then from Taipei to Kuala Lumpur you will find a typology in urban building called the shophouse where stores and light industry are placed at the ground floor and shop owners residences and rental apartments take the spaces above. A Canadian geographer, T.G McGee, describe a phenomenon identified as the desakota zone , where the degree of mixture in inner-city land use matches that of the ambiguity between urban and rural areas. Many Western cities have green fields in rural areas and Asian cities, in contrast, we find developments with a blend of factories, rices paddies and housing projects along highways between cities.
Public Spaces
Nakamise dori, Sensoji Temple, Tokyo
Asia 51 A few examples of multifunctional characteristics in Asia are the ones uniting religious commercial and recreational functions within the same space. In Asakusa, Tokyo, the Sensoji Temple is preceded by a shopping alley leading into the Buddhist temple, while in Shanghai, the City God Temple area includes stores and restaurants, with a public garden and the temple. These Asian public places reinforce the role of tradition in such community centres, in strong contrast to one-purpose suburban shopping malls found in the US. The usage of Eastern public spaces is very active around the clock, compared with dead plazas in the after-hour financial district of modern Western cities. This blending of usage may sometimes create conflict between incompatible neighbours. The mix-use is an element that Jane Jacobs described in her theories is a essential element to place making. This phenomena in Asia is not only cultural but can be linked to politics and economical needs of the people in Asia, as in the 1960s, the bustling street markets of Hanoi were prohibited during the pre-reform socialist and the informal business reappear in socialist cities. This element of mix-usage is strongly felt in Malaysia, as neighborhoods try to provide essential stores for the daily life of the users. These stores are usually places close to main roads by the entrance of districts in residential areas. But the main multi-functional stores remain the best in shopping malls where restaurant and clothing shop have more of a variety to offer.
Public Spaces
Dimensions
Movement Distance Time
West
East
This diagram show that the use of cars in Malaysia is much more popular then public transportation that are unreliable, and the measure of the use of personal transportation not only to the office and back home, but also to go eat diner and lunch. In contrast with Western ways of travelling environmentally friendly vehicles, if possible by public transportation and using and only doing a daily journey from home to the work place. The daily activities in the East seem more common and distances taken daily are much more important as the scales of cities are bigger. This notion of distance and time is therefore not the same between East and West.
Asia 53
Intensity of use Miao Pu (2001)
Their are several differentiations to be made with regard to public spaces. The first being the intensity of the usage in Asia, and it will be more intense as it is serving more users than in Western cities. Secondly the shopping streets are much more crowded in Asia Pacific cities as markets are opened past midnight, while in the US the cities street life tend to be empty past opening hours of stores. Some factors of the Asia pattern can be for economical reasons, such as the lack of private car enabling longdistance travel to national parks, or the small surfaces in people’s home, pushing them to use the public spaces for private functions. But the cultural habits in Asia are also different to the Western, and strolling in the crowd is a form of recreation. In Malaysia shopping malls are open until ten o’clock in the evening and street markets in Malacca run businesses day and night in different parts of the city. This dynamic of usage is cultural and people also tend to eat out frequently as the food is cheap and there is a great variety to select from. Transportation is not really an issue in Malaysia as people are mostly motorised - being a country which produces their own cars and petrol, the promotion of motorised vehicles is high.
Jonker Street during Pasar Malam, Malacca
Asia 55
The Street Eastern Public Space Kurokawa (1987)
“In Asian cities, street spaces exist between private and public space and between residential and commercial space, possessing the characteristics of both the former and the latter types of space. I believe that there is a difference between this type of open space and the Western square which is more clearly defined both in terms of area and function. The Asian street, by contrast, is not so clearly defined, it is harder to tell where it begins or ends, and it generates responses to innumerable variations with time.” In the writings of Japanese architect Kisho Kurokawa, he relates this unclear definition of space in a philosophical way: referring to Western rationalism which needs to divide urban space, while the Eastern philosophy based on Buddhism speaks of a middle path, which is the inbetween space, the undefined areas of a city. Therefore, he proposes in his architectural designs, intermediating zones such as verandas, corridors and other such details in buildings. He says that this unclear space allows nature to penetrate with the built environment. “...the difference between the Western concept of space and the Japanese concept of space is the difference between spatial confrontation and spatial continuity. Western architecture emerged from a philosophy of confrontation with nature and the impulse to conquer it... The Japanese concept of space reaches out to embrace nature and to achieve unity and harmony with it.”
Bukit Baru Street by day, Malacca
Bukit Baru Pasar Malam by night, Malacca
Asia 57
Kurokawa (1987)
Kisho also write about the importance of the street in a temporal way, as mentioned in the intensity of use in the Eastern cities, time is an important element the function of a space. The alteration of space mutates just as nature changes with the season. “The street has no clearly defined spatial function, but within the twenty-four hours of the day, it is at times used for private and at times for public activities. In that sense it is space without substance, space with many overlapping complex meanings.� The importance of nature in Eastern culture is much stronger due to beliefs and in Malaysia, this can be seen in the Malay architecture where the use of wood, just as in Japanese architecture, gives the possibility to nature to penetrate within the space, letting air flow. In the Chinese architecture, the front porch, called a five-foot way, gives this same intermediary space. Although seasons are not present in Malaysia, nature does play an important role as trees are used for shading and water as a guiding element in the city. The temporal notion of use of space is a key element to the Eastern public space, as no space is truly permanent. In the progression of the city of Malacca, spaces such as Jonker street or the Dutch square, have evolved and their identities have changed to become more functional to modern needs. It is common for some streets used for traffic by day to be used as a space for markets by night.
Private
Public
Asia 59
Ambiguous boundary between the Public and the Private Miao Pu (2001)
In Asia, the boundaries between publicly owned (or subsidized) spaces and private usage are often unclear as the private activities are routinely trespassing those boundaries. Merchandises are being displayed along the sidewalk by the storefront, while restaurants and workshops use their backside alley for work or storage purposes. The possibility of such ambiguous spaces is due to a certain flexibility in attitude among users, providing better and various public spaces in very dense cities. An example of such flexibility in Southeast Asia is the time-sharing of streets, where traffic is highly frequented during the business hours but allows for pasar malams (night markets) during the night or weekends and even festivities or parades can take place.
Kurokawa (1987)
The Japanese architect Kisho Kirokawa developed a theory of symbiosis, arguing that a public space will be more responsive to human psychological needs in a layer where an ambiguous zone between private and public exists. In Malaysia informal settings are found along road sides or even in storefronts or restaurants and shops. These informal trades are usually places near residential areas along roadsides or places where businesses can take place; or by the entrance of a temple or frequented access. During festivities some of the main streets are closed for celebrations and pasar malams are very common in different neighbourhoods of the city.
Kuala Lumpur city centre
Malacca historical streets
Shanghai mixed city scape
Asia 61
Three categories of Asian city Public Spaces Miao Pu (2001)
1. Large-scale: These can be observed in contemporary
development of cities, offering modern-style plazas and malls in downtown, ceremonial structures in government centres or large green areas in newly developed districts, such as New Shinjuku City Centre in Tokyo, or the Olympic Park in Seoul, or Kuala Lumpur’s GigaWorld and the New Downtown of Singapore.
2. Preserved historic public places : Examples in-
clude the speciality shopping streets of Singapore’s Chinatown, the City God Temple of Shanghai, and the Spanish plazas in many Philippine cities.
3. Numerous
neighbourhood: include shopping streets, the community spaces in the mix of midand high-rise public housing estates, which are so typical in Asian cities, and the public paths and other improvements in squatters settlements.
In the case of Malacca, the category in which to set it would be a mix between the preserved historic public places with some the numerous neighbourhoods, as new estates have been implemented near the historical city.
Identity of
PublicSpaces
Identity of Public Spaces In the precedent chapters concerning the specification of public spaces, the dimension of the diversity within the users of such spaces was not taken into account. The identity of space can help provide a better understanding of public spaces in a multi-ethnical country such as Malaysia. This chapter will introduce the different notions of place identity and started introducing the role it places in space making. Butina Watson G. & Bentley I. (2007)
One definition of the image of a place can be described as such: a combination of place identity and how the place is perceived by the individual. The creation of the image and identity of a place can be done through distinctiveness in a physical and visual way. Identity gives a sense of belonging and security for people in search of a collective identity, especially in today’s shifting world this need seems to be even stronger. Identity can be categorized in two different cases:
Butina Watson G. & Bentley I. (2007)
1. Formal Identity relating to the historical part of a city,
where demolitions are made to better suit today’s need for road access, or even to have more efficient land use of places that were not well preserved. There are two ways to approach the issue: whether a place should be preserved or made a new. So opt for a progress towards modernization, such in New Downtown Singapore, or radical modernization such as the LinearCity in Kuala Lumpur - or preserve local tradition such in Malacca, Hanoi streets or Thai urban model and Japanese alley.
Public Spaces
Modern Plaza Taylor university, Kuala Lumpur
Identity 67
However the preservation of historical urban setting requires sufficient wealth, giving this possibility only to cities with such economical welfare. Another issue at hand, particularly in a multicultural context, is how much should a new or old square or building look “Chinese” or “Malay”, e.g. in the case of Malaysia. Is it important in the minds of urban residents to have the historical decorations to create a conscious formal identity? And whether new settings with air-conditioned malls are not simply representative of modern times. Butina Watson G. & Bentley I. (2007)
2. Functional identity
In many of the Asia Pacific cities, after the industrialization, there was a very rapid growth which induced in an immigration from rural areas, bringing a problem of housing shortage, pollution, traffic congestions and the need for lager quantities of new public facilities and open spaces. Several problems accrued in Asian cities. Some of the deficient functions in a cities are left as they are due to a lack of creativity among design professionals and government officials, while other economically successful Asian Pacific cities build plazas and parks imitating the Western ideas such as Central Park in New York, placing them in newly developed areas. But these spaces may not necessary fit with the climate or into the lifestyle of local residents.
Public Spaces
Traditional Malays “Kampung� (village) house on stilts and characteristic roof.
Shophouses in Malacca, with a 5 foot walk, shops at the entrance and residence above.
Train station n Kuala Lumpur.
Identity 69
Identity in Malaysia Butina Watson G. & Bentley I. (2007)
The need for identity in the Malaysian context can be very strongly felt through its architecture. The different cultures of the nation have been a part of this identity. While the traditional Malay village houses are built from timber, standing on stilts with high roof tops for better ventilation, these roofs are also used for governmental buildings to represent the new symbol of power. Meanwhile, the Chinese have assembled a nice mix of shop rows in many city centres around Malaysia, such as in George Town, Kuala Lumpur and Malacca. These shophouses are very particular in that they are very narrow but are stretched rows with an internal courtyard. The front part of the house is used for commerce while the back and upper floor of the building is used for living. During the colonial time of Britain in Malaysia, a few variation of mixed architecture had taken place in the big cities. Such as the train station in Kuala Lumpur, mixing a very classical European style with an Islamic variation into the detailing of the construction, such as the oriental domes above the staircases. As Malaysia achieved independence, the need for identity was very strong especially having been ruled during 500 years by different colonial empires. Therefore, the construction of emblematic buildings such as the Kuala Lumpur Toweer, the tallest communication tower in 1995 and the Petronas Towers, symbolized power and became big elements within the city of Kuala Lumpur. This approach in the construction of a city centre, similar to what we have seen in the US, still continues to this day.
Public Spaces
Symbole of power: Petronas Towers, KL
Administrative office: Jabatan Pengangkutan Jalan, Malacca
New administrative area: Putrajaya
Identity 71
There is a will to be recognized, not only as a traditional but also a contemporary nation to live in. A brand new city was design outside of the city of Kuala Lumpur called Putrajaya, the administrative city of Malaysia. Following on that same idea, the administrative centre of Malacca State was moved from Malacca’s city centre to an new area called Ayer Keroh, with a new buildings for the administration and other functions, and included a planetarium and hotels to attract future visitors to this area. The identity in modern Malaysia seems still very unstable, trying to give a new image. However, it can be observed that the contemporary design for administrative buildings focuses on preserving the Malays high-pitched roofs at a much larger scale, representing the new form of power, in contrast with the very strong Western buildings that used to be the administrative buildings, during colonial times. It is undeniable that the rapid growth of populations and urbanization of cities in Asia and Malaysia has influenced the desire to design new urban settings outside of the city. The strategy of such administrative towns is to give a second centre of interaction for businesses, forcing embassies from around the world to be placed in this areas, in the will for future collaborators to be living in the nearby districts and also having a better access as these cities are placed near highways. Such cities which are not being very well-populated are considered to be ghost cities.
Public Spaces
Jalan Kampung Hulu, Malacca
Near Jonker street, Malacca
Identity 73
Symbols The use of indications for areas can be observed in cities worldwide, well-known areas such as Chinatowns usually have a gate by the entrance of their areas indicating clearly the identity of the place. This method of symbolic representation in a city can tell a lot about the people living in it and can be used as a guide to interpret the actual users of the space. In Malacca a lot of these symbols can be seen especially in the Chinese areas as store signs and names are written in large, while other areas are only having storefronts in Malay. The Chinese signes are very imposing places along columns or other facade element, but today the modern signboards are require to have a Malay translation. This can be a disadvantage for the foreign tourist as they might not be able to orient themselves by reading the shop signboards, but they can definitely sense when they are in a Chinese or Malay district of the city. Another visual guideline can be observed through the rooftops of buildings by their different design according to their functions, such as temples or shophouses. The roof can also define what style of building it is, while the Malay have the high pitched roofs letting the air flow in the house, the old houses have a mix of Dutch and today’s Chinese areas have different significance and are based on the five elements of Feng Shui. Most temple rooftops have a three-tip end symbolising fire- in Chinese beliefs, these are representatives of holy places and humans should not be sleeping under such roofs. The rounded tip at the rooftop symbolises Metal, and this element means harvest, business and prosperity.
Chapter 2
Introducing Malacca
Situating
the city of Malacca
79
Situating
the city of Malacca
81
Equator line
e e
e e er e
er er
m
ms. m
s. s.
Figure 2.24: Map of Melaka during the Portuguese era Source: National Archive of Malaysia Figure 2.24: Map of Melaka during the Portuguese era Source:2.24: National of Malaysia Figure MapArchive of Melaka during the Portuguese era
Malacca during Dutch era
Source: national archives of Malaysia
Source: National Archive of Malaysia
en o
en ng en ho o ng hng h
Figure 2.25: Map of Melaka during the Dutch era Source: National Archive of Malaysia Figure 2.25: Map of Melaka during the Dutch era Source:2.25: National of Malaysia Figure MapArchive of Melaka during the Dutch era
Malacca during Dutch era
Source: national archives of Malaysia
Source: National Archive of Malaysia
Malacca during British era
Source: national archives of Malaysia
Figure 2.26 Map of Melaka the British era Source: National Archive of Malaysia
Introducing Malacca This chapter will try to give a brief overview of Malaysia and more particularly Malacca. Giving a historical context to understand the different parts of the city and the introduction to the diversity of cultures existing in this country. Malacca has been a big centre for commerce within history, as most colonization were seeking to get the power to rule over this city. Malacca is situated within the narrowest part of the straight settlements. It also had an influence over the current beliefs of the country today.
History
Malaysia. is situated in South- East Asia, at the tip of the Asian peninsula between Thailand and Indonesia and shares the Borneo Island with Indonesia and Brunei. Malaysia was colonized many times, first in 1511, by the Portuguese who took over Malacca because of its geographical position placed on the narrowest part of the Malacca strait. In 1641, the Dutch overpowered the Portuguese, leaving many landmark buildings in the city of Malacca. In 1824, the British Empire took over Malacca with the Anglo-Dutch treaty and stayed in power until 1946. During World War Two, Japanese had reached the eastern part of Malaysia, Sabah and Sarawak and Singapore for a period of three years. The country was once called Malaya before it became independent in August 1957. Between 1963 and 1965, the different states were united with Singapore until the latter became independent from Malaysia.
Latar langit selepas pembangunan yang pesat berlaku di Melaka.
h.
Fortress was built around StPaul’s hill 1613 Portuguese time
Melaka.
Tahun 1613 (Portugis)
Tahun 1753 (Belanda)
Opening of the fort and development of city on the Northern part of the river. 1753 Dutch time. Tahun 1753 (Belanda)
Malacca 85
Malacca is situated on the Malaysian peninsula 125 kilometres South of Kuala Lumpur. The state of Malacca extends from the mouth of the river of Malacca to Ayer Keroh the new administrative area. Lim (2006)
The heritage city can be spoken about in different times, such as the St-Paul’s Hill also known as bukit St Paul, situated near the original waterfront of the city on the East bank of the river. This was the point from which they could observe the enemies. The Sultanate built his palace and mosque by the foot of the hill, while the Portuguese constructed a church and convent with a fortress surrounding the hill. During the Dutch colonial time, they placed their administrative offices and garrisons by the riverside on the opposite side of the hill of the Sultan’s palace. During this time the Dutch also introduced the city to their way of building with brick building and rules for narrow facades with deep plots, well-known today as seen in the Jonker street of Malacca. During the Portuguese colonization, a fortress was built around the St. Paul’s Hill, protecting part of the city in case of invasions. The river was the separation with the residents of that time only allowed to access the fort through a bridge. During the Dutch settlement, part of the fort was demolished giving more access to the protected areas of the city. In the historical map, the relationship between both sides of the river was much stronger during the Dutch reign. According to history, the development of northern part of the town by the Portuguese was for the army to protect the city, and later during the Dutch times these houses were given to rich families.
el zar Kawasan Pusat Bandar Melaka sekarang (1987)
1916 British (pre-war)
n g
ana
ang
g
ak e.
ng
ri -
g Tahun 1916 (British / sebelum Perang)
1-8
1987 Central town area of Malacca
ti kan
el azar Kawasan Pusat Bandar Melaka sekarang (1987)
Malacca 1916
& ! % # % # $ Commercial Zone, especially along Jalan Tun Tan Cheng Lock. This is the earliest ! styles had dominant numbers and the others are Southern China and Late Straits
Figure 3.4: Melaka Town 1916 Melaka and George Town . Historic Cities of The Straits of Malacca .
" ! $ ! % ! Raya, Jalan Temenggong, and Lorong Bukit Cina. Art Deco Style can be seen dominantly along Jalan Bendahara and modern styles on the reclaimed land.
Malacca 87
M
t l u
t l ci u
e r u
Malacca 89
Multicultural When speaking of diversity in Malaysia, one is referring to the three ethnical groups, the Malays, Chinese and Indians. These three groups have managed to preserve over the years, their own cultural beliefs and habits, mainly due to the colonial times, when British power believed in the preservation the culture of each ethnicity. Colonisation had a strong influence on the mix of races present today in Malaysia, as they also brought over labour force from India to help in the rubber plantations. The Chinese were present during the 15th century when Sultan Mansur Syah married Princess Hang Li Po from China. The princess was accompanied by a senior minister of state and five hundred youth of noble births and handmaidens, forming descendants later called as Baba(for men) and Nyonya (for women). The second wave came during the 19th and early 20th century, Chinese immigrants, called coolies (manual workers), were running away from China due to the fighting of the Opium War in 1840. The British encouraged this immigration as they needed them to work on their rubber plantations and tin mines. In the early 15th century the conversion to Islam of the Malays grew, when the Hindu ruler named Parameswara (who founded Malacca) converted to Islam after marrying a princess from Pasai (known as Indonesia today). Malacca was the first Islamic state and was also considered to be the first independent state on the peninsula. Islam became the national religion but other beliefs are allowed to be practiced within the country.
Oth er
NonCitizens
6.1
%
n
ese
MALACCA POPULATION 788’700
die
Chin
60.8 %
In
26.7 %
Mala y
0.9 %
5.5 %
Data : Department of statistics Malaysia, Malacca State Economic Planning Unit (2010)
Fo rei gn 15 .3% 79 %
Do
mes
tic
Asia
5.6 %
NUMBER OF TOURISTS 10.35m
Data : Tourism Promotion Division, Malacca Chief Minister’s Department (2010)
Malacca 91
Population Malacca basic data (2010)
The population of Malacca State as of 2010 was approximately 788.7 thousand including non-citizens. There is a much higher number of Malays called Bumiputera representing two-thirds of the population, with almost onethird who are Chinese and a very low percentage of Indians. When talking only of the city area of Malacca the population is only of 483.7 thousand with half of the population being Malays and more then a third being Chinese with a low percentage of Indians and non-citizens. An important aspect in Malacca is the tourist it attracts, as it may not be represented in the population of the city, but they do have an important role in the use of space in the city. The number of tourists keep increasing every year and has risen to more then 10 million in 2010. This number can be subdivided in different categories. The highest number of tourists are mainly domestic at more than 8 million per year, while foreign tourists represent only 2 million. This large number of tourists transiting within the city represent more then 10 times the local population. The city has adapted to this new demand increasing the number of hostels and hotels in the city and added more tourist facilities and activities, such as observation towers and water jet cruise along the river. The population Malacca is not only diverse locally but internationally, making it a hub for dynamic interaction of cultures. It is important to take note of the important flow of tourist in the city, as it has had a major impact in the development of the city and therefore, should be accounted for in future interventions of the city.
200m
Malacca 93
Mapping of hotels and hostels in Malacca
Source: map based on data from heritage department zoning maps
China Japan Bengal
Pegu Slam
Coromandel
Philippines To Europem, Middle East, East Africa Via Gujarat
Padir
Kadeh
Pasai
Brunei Slak Kampar
Malacca
Indragiri
Lawe Molucca
Jambi Tg. Pura
Palembang
Sulawesi
Banten Sunda Keapa Cirebon
Damak
Grise
Timor
Map of commercial exchange in 1500 Source: redraw over map: http://www. anandarooproy.com/ portfolio/project/58
Malacca 95
Economical flow The ideal location of the city of Malacca made it extremely popular for trading, importing spices and gold from different points across Asia. Malacca was providing other countries with spices and essentials such as pepper, cloth, fabric and wood. These trades were done by the waterfront, and reached its peak during the 15th century, until the Dutch over-powered the city and concentrated most of its trade with Indonesia, more specifically Batavia (modern day Jakarta), thus affecting the trades in Malacca. During the British power, Malacca was part of the Straits Settlements, with Penang and Singapore, but Singapore’s growth overshadowed Malacca. During the early 20th century, Malacca made some success in rubber crops, with plantations mainly situated outside the city centre. Malacca statistics (2010)
In the modern city of Malacca, most employed people are working in the manufacturing industry, such as electronics or wood and furniture production, along with wholesale and retail trade and almost ten percent of the employment if working for the administrative departments of Malacca. The high number of tourists has meant that the accommodation has followed the demand and today there are over a hundred hotels in the city, along with resorts, home stays and other accommodations. In total more than five thousand rooms are available in the city, representing a enormous economical force.
Urban structure ofMalacca
Location Mapping
ROADS TOWN AREA RECLAMED LAND UNESCO HERITAGE SITE
500m 500m
99
CENTRAL STATION
MAIN ROAD
K. MORTEN
BUKIT CHINA E ET CIM
& RY RK PA
JONKER ST DUTCH SQUARE E UR LT CU E AG RIT HE
CL RE AIM
PULAU MELAKA
ND LA ED
Source: maps.google.com
Temporal Mapping
ROADS TOWN AREA RECLAMED LAND HERITAGE CORE ZONE UNESCO HERITAGE SITE MODERN AREAS COMMERCE/OFFICE RESIDTENTIAL FUTURE AREA
500m
Source: maps.google.com
22-2
CONSERVATION Malacca MANAGEMENT PLAN AND SPECIAL AREA PLAN : PART 1 CONSERVATION MANAGEMENT PLAN AND SPECIAL AREA PLAN : PART 1
1869 1869
1869
1891 1891
1969 1969
1891
1916 1916
1916
2010 2010
Figure 2.29: 2.29: St. St. Paul’s Paul’s civic zone and ofofMalacca Source: maps from heritage department Figure and its its relationship relationship to tothe theStraits Straits Malacca
2010
Urban structure 103
Evolution of the city Since the 1990’s most cities in Malaysia have developed their industries and in the last century, the city of Malacca has know a rapid growth. The evolution of the city around the old town demonstrates how the land reclamation on the seafront has pushed the city inland. Before 1980, the city was by the water front and some of the public spaces were situated by the edge of it, such as the Dataran Pahlawang , which used to be a field utilised for military or event purposes and today it is situated on the top of a shopping mall. The initial land reclamation formed the Malacca Raya area with new and taller buildings. In modern Malacca, a new reclaimed island is meant to become a tax-free haven, with hotels, commerce and office buildings, but is still under construction and is scheduled to be completed by 2013. The main objective of these reclaimed lands is for the land developers to increase the value of the land once the settlements are sold. This might explain why the waterfront is the most strategic area for new buildings to be constructed. While the seaside is being crowded with new developments, the river has also been revitalized, with a new pathways being added along both sides of the river. This new waterfront is proposing more accommodations and restaurants to be placed along the river. A new port is still being built today at the mouth of the river, and the design of the area has changed the course of the river, to allow for the implementation of a barrage and to have a better control of the level of water. Since Malacca was declared a UNESCO heritage site in 2008, new measures have been implemented to better preserve the waterfront and conserve historical parts of the city.
Urban Structure
Big traffic junction by Malacca Centr Source: personal photograph
Malacca Raya, night traffic Source: personal photograph
ral bus station
Malacca 105
Access The urban scape of the Malacca has changed throughout the years and it could be related to the means used at different periods to access the city. During the time when the port was a success of the city, the goods were being brought into the city by the water way. Shipments from the big boats in sea were being transported by smaller boat using the river as the main path to the city. Buildings storing rice and other goods where placed along the river and gave a new shape to the grid structure put in place during the Dutch settlements. This urban structure can be related to many Asian cities, such as Tokyo during the Edo time, when water was the access to most places in the city. Japanese relationship to nature is also a very important aspect to the usage of public spaces. This water access to the river, has contributed to the cityscape, as settlements grew along the riverside. By following the river, we are able to see many different architectures and areas of the city. Today the transportation is mainly done through vehicles, giving an entirely new scale and shape to the city. The modern fabric no longer opens up toward the water but towards the roads of the city. New means of transportation are being implemented in the city’s design, a project for an air-rail tram was in discussion for many years, but with priority for the conservation of the city, a tram track seems to be the most appropriate solution. Bus transportation does exist, but is not very reliable and taxi usage is much easier and affordable, making public transportation a secondary use.
at
Rajah 4.1: Sistem Jejari Yang Menghubungkan Bandar Melaka
Malacca
Bukit Baru
Rajah 4.1: Sistem Jejari Yang Menghubungkan Bandar Melaka Bukit Baru
Bukit Panjang
at
Peringgit
pit. am
Bukit Panjang Peringgit
pit. m
Klebang Kecil
Padang Piatu
Klebang Kecil
Padang Piatu
ka
a
g
a
e
ke
Padang Semabok
Padang Semabok
Ujong Pasir
Pusat Bandar
City Pusat Center Bandar
Ujong Pasir
Lingkaran Dalam
Inner Ring Lingkaran Dalam
Padang
Lingkaran Tengah
Ring Road Tengah
Lingkaran Jalan Jejari
SELAT MELAKA
Jalan Jejari Radial Roads
Two ring roads around the city centre with two incoming and outgoing radial Padang roads Source: heritage department
SELAT MELAKA
Pusat bandar Melaka terbahagi kepada dua bahagian yang dipisahkan oleh Sungai Melaka. Bahagian barat merupakan kawasan pemeliharaan dan kawasan perumahan, manakala bahagian timur selain dari kawasan Bukit St. Paul iaitu MelakaKg.Morten Raya adalah guna tanah baru. Pusat bandarantara Melaka dua bahagian yang dipisahkan oleh Sungai Melaka. Sistem perhubungan dua terbahagi bahagian inikepada bergantung kepada empat jambatan utama (Rujuk Jadual 4.2). Bahagian barat merupakan kawasan pemeliharaan dan kawasan perumahan, manakala
bahagian timur dari kawasan Bukit St. Paul jambatan-jambatan iaitu Melaka Raya adalah guna tanah baru. Tarikan aktiviti yang kuatselain daripada guna tanah baru, menyebabkan tersebut sentiasa menampung isipadu yang tinggi Jambatan Kim jambatan utama Sistem perhubungan antarakenderaan dua bahagian ini terutamanya bergantung kepadaTan empat Seng dan Jambatan Chan Koon Cheng. Keadaan ini juga memberi kesan kepada jalan-jalan (Rujuk Jadual 4.2). yang berhubung terus dengan jambatan-jambatan tersebut seperti Jalan Tun Tan Cheng Lock dan Lorong Hang Jebat.yang Di mana sesetengah jalan-jalannya menjadi laluan terus Tarikan aktiviti kuat daripadadaripada guna tanah baru, menyebabkan jambatan-jambatan (through traffic) kepada kenderaan yang lalulalang antara dua bahagian tersebut.
tersebut sentiasa menampung isipadu kenderaan yang tinggi terutamanya Jambatan Tan Kim
Kesesakan yang ketara berlaku terutamanya persimpangan-persimpangan Seng lalulintas dan Jambatan Chan Koon Cheng.diKeadaan ini juga memberidan kesan kepada jalan-jalan jalan-jalan yang berdekatan dengan jambatan. Jalan Laksamana, Jalan Kota dan Lorong terus kesesakan dengan jambatan-jambatan tersebut seperti Jalan Tun Tan Cheng Lock Hangyang Jebat berhubung mengalami masalah yang ketara sebab jalan-jalan tersebut adalah dan Lorong Jebat. Di mana sesetengah daripada jalan-jalannya menjadi laluan terus berhubung terus ke Hang jambatan.
(through traffic) kepada kenderaan yang lalulalang antara dua bahagian tersebut. Bukit
Tmn.Kota Laksamana
China Kesesakan lalulintas yang ketara berlaku terutamanya di persimpangan-persimpangan dan jalan-jalan yang berdekatan dengan jambatan. Jalan Laksamana, Jalan Kota dan Lorong Hang Jebat mengalami masalah kesesakan yang ketara sebab jalan-jalan tersebut adalah Selat Malacca berhubung terus ke jambatan. 4-1 Bukit St-Paul
Legend
Makota Parade
4-1
One way Two ways
Malacca Raya
Street direction Source: heritage department
Urban structure 107
Road Access The main highway to the city is situated outside of the city centre by Ayer Keroh, which is situated sixteen kilometres North of Malacca city centre. Highway roads in Malacca are privately-owned and it is therefore required to pay toll fees at the exit of the highway. There are roads leading towards the city centre which divides itself into two, and distributes toward the east and west of the city. The main roads within the city are all in one-way roads, with two ring roads around the city, giving a circular motion within the city. This does cause some road congestion during the closing hours of stores or after festivities. Although the modern areas of the city offer two- to fourlane roads, the traffic still remains high. These wide roads do cut out part of the city, such as the waterfront being divided by a main traffic road with hardly any pedestrians crossing it. Within the old city centre, streets are much more enclosed allowing passage for only one car with a very slow traffic, permitting pedestrians to feel safer. Pedestrian sidewalks have been installed when no five foot ways along the streets are available. The narrow streets not only provide with a better sense of security but also shading during the day time.
Malacca
Malacca postcard
Source: Chii Wong (2011)
Malacca river Source: personal photography
Urban structure 109
River Access The Malacca port was one of the most well-known and frequented cities for trades and a lot of the shipments were brought to the centre of the town by boat, using the river as a road. The buildings along the riverside were used for storage of good such as rice. The morphology of the riverside was influenced by the trading and the river sides were filled with merchants. This might explain why most of the settlements were placed along the riverside. The usage of water as a way of trade is very popular in Asian cities, examples of Tokyo Edo times when factories were place along the riverside. Unlike Tokyo, the city of Malacca is trying to find new ways to reconnect with the riverside, by placing a walk way along the river. Pedestrians are now able to walk from the old town to Kampung Morten (Malays settlement North of the old town). The river today is being used for tourist purposes, but is planed to eventually become a main means of transportation to the city centre, as it distributes to all the main areas. The idea of taxi boats could revitalise the waterfront, but only if this mean is affordable to all and that it is environmentally friendly.
1.
Proposal for a river transport system such as a water taxi that will link Malacca the WHS area to Melaka Sentral - the public transport where allthe Melaka Citycentral busesbus Proposal for futurehub connection Malacca station situated outside of the city centre, close to the river and taxi services are stationed; side.
Melaka Sentral
(p
Taman Rempah
Qua (existi
Buffer Core Zone Zone Padang Nyiru Kota Laksamana
River taxi proposal
Figure 6.2. To propose river transport from Melaka Sentral to Kota Laksamana Melaka and George Town . Historic Cities of The Straits of Malacca .
Source: heritage department
Figure 6.3. To trian bridge
nsport system at will link a sport City buses ationed;
using private cars are to park at P&R sites and use Urban structure 111 water transport, Panorama buses or taxis to the World Heritage Site. Current River Cruise path with proposal of stops for river jet taxis, stop by bridges would promote better pedestrian access to the different areas of the city centre.
entral Kg Morten (proposed stop) Hang Tuah (proposed stop) Kg Jawa (proposed stop)
Rempah
Lorong Jambatan (proposed stop) Padang Nyiru (proposed stop)
Quay Side (existing stop)
Hang Jebat (proposed stop)
yiru
River Cruise and future stops Source: heritage department
elaka Sentral to
ts of Malacca .
Figure 6.3. To propose jetty stops for water taxi and pedestrian bridge
Malacca
River today
Source: personal pictures
Urban structure 113
River today, by night
Source: personal pictures
6.
Malacca
7.
To integrate the buses, water taxi with the future tram system that shall be running from Ayer Keroh to Melaka. Two transit station has been # ) close to WHS and they are at Jalan Laksamana and near the bridge to Jalan Hang Tuah. To also integrate with the tourist buses and they should drop-off visitors at two to three spots at the perimeter of WHS and park at designated parking areas of outside of Core Area of WHS.
Figure 6.4. Proposed Water Transport Stops
Panorama bus Tour Figure 6.6. Proposed Panorama Bus Stops
Source: heritage department
Melaka and George Town . Historic Cities of The Straits of Malacca .
Proposal for tram stops in the city Figure 6.5. Proposed Tram Stops
Source: heritage department
Figure 6.6. Proposed Panorama Bus Stops
Urban structure 115
Public transportation There are existing shuttle buses doing a tour of the city, leaving from Malacca central station situated North in the outskirts of the city centre. The proposed panorama bus tour gives the tourist an overview of what the city has to offer, showcasing different areas and architecture styles. An air-rail was proposed from Ayer Keroh, placed by the high way exit, to the city centre, but the idea has been left aside as it did not respect the heritage area. The idea of a tram going along the city is now being put to place to propose an easier access to the city without the need of a car and avoiding potential traffic jam once in the city.
Malacca
View over Kampung Morten Source: Dennis De Witt
View over Malacca Raya Source: Dennis De Witt
Urban structure 117
City cape The city can be retraced by the historical footprint starting by the St-Paul hill with all the historical and administrative buildings, such as the Sultan’s palace and Dutch old headquarters. By the other side of the river, row of houses following the Dutch layouts have been changed over time, with two to three story high houses. As we follow the river, it is possible to identify Kampung Morten a typical Malays housing with a mix of the Dutch with their staircase by the entrance. These houses are usually elevated on stilts but the floor plan is only limited to one level. As the city progress, modern high rise buildings made their appearance along new roads or reclaimed land, with buildings going over twenty floors of height for condominiums or hotels in different parts of the city. Some of the modern parts tried to integrate the old style of shophouse to new version of it with four levels building along a wide road. The cityscape is very mixed and is hard to define, but in overall the most prevailing structure are no higher then three story high. Some of the sea front has been cut out by tall buildings, and tourist installations have been developing along the river and water front
119
Legend 1 level 1.5 level 2 levels 2.5 levels 3 levels 3.5 levels 4 levels more then 4 levels
Height of buildings
Source: heritage department
Public
Public
Private
Private
Regulations 121
History and philosophy of Public Space B. Cahen, (2006)
B. Magee (2010)
Glendinning S. (1999)
Napoleon Bonaparte was the first to established a decree concerning land use in a city, in 1810. Following an incident that had occurred in Toulouse in an industry, the decree sought to differentiate areas of the city as to prevent settlements to be placed to near to industries and any form of danger. Industries in Paris were placed out of the city as to prevent any danger. This specification of land use was the beginning of the differentiation between private and public use of a city. While the debate as to what a public space should be, was already being question by philosophers concerning the private and public sphere and its differentiation. In Aristotelean thoughts both should be dissociated, for the fulfilment of ones happiness as the public realm offers the possibly to respect rules and therefore practice ethical conduct, which brings joy to the private sphere where love and affection prevail. This topic is mainly debated in the politics, as to knowing if politics should be part of the public sphere or if it should be divided. Claude Lefort and Cornelius Castoriadis developed the conception of politics as a public space, the contour of which are shaped and determined by rights.
Zoning of the city
The core area of the historical city can be determined by the architectural and historical places. The western buildings along the St-Paul hill, offer a lot more open and green space then other parts of the city. The surrounding parts of the core zone is mainly used for commerce and residential. The newer houses and buildings are place in the outskirts of the city centre.
KG. CHITTY
Stadium Hang Tuah
Gajah Berang
an
Bunga Raya Pantai
Ka
mp
un
gE
mp
at
Jalan Kampung Hulu
Jal
Sek Men Pay Fong
Jal
an
On g
Kim
We e
Wisma Negeri
Jal
an
SJK(C) Yok Bin
Ta n
Ch
ay Ya n
u
Ja
lan
lan
b Ku
Ja
Te n
Masjid Kg. Hulu
SJK(C) Pay Teck
Jalan Pasar
gk
Baru
Kampung Ketek
SJK(C) Pay Fong 1
Kampung Jawa
Cheng Hong Teng Temple
Jala
lan Ja
ng Ha lan Ja
Je
Sri Poyyatha Vinayagar Morthi
ba t
ng
i
Ka stu
Jala
n Te
Ha ng
a an
lan Ja
Ja
a
ks
La
g
aba
Melaka Police Headquarters
aK and
lan
an
am
men
nB Jala
am
Ha
si
ks
ng ro Lo
Be
La
t ba
Je
ng
Ku l
g
ta
pu
an
Ko
Pa nta i
k Tu
lan
ng
m
lan
Ja
pu
Ja
ri
k
am
Kampung Ka Kuli
as
gL oc
n
Em
en
ng
la
g
Ch
Ha
ng
Lik
eu
Le k
iu
nK
Ja
an
Ta n
Ha
Masjid Kg Keling
k Tu
Tu n
lan
lan
lan
Ja
Ja
Ja
Lor o
Chiang Lin Si Temple
Jalan Tokong
Jalan
Kubu Fire Station
Bend
Jalan Bunga
Raya
era
The Stadthuys
ve r Ri ka ela
an a
M
La ks am
Jalan Kota
Ko ta
Jala
nC
Port Authority
han
K
Melaka Sultanate Palace Museum
Police Stations
St. Paul Church
Sek. Keb Sacred Heart
Medan Samudera
Jala
nP ara
me
Dataran Pahlawan
Jalan M
erdeka
DEVELOPMENT GUIDE PLAN FOR MELAKA WHS
123
MANAGING THE USE OF LAND AND BUILDING Figure 2.5
Activity Zoning Diagram
Pu te r
iH
an g
Li
Po h
This Activity Zones Map is to be read together with the Matrix of Non-permissible Activities in the WHS (Figure 2.6)
Ja
lan
Institution Zone
Kg. Bukit China
The zone includes civic buildings schools, police stations and fire stations
BUKIT CHINA
Places of Worship Jalan
Munsh
i Abdul
lah
Open Space/Green Zone
daha
ra
Commercial Zone Residential Zone Kampung Pokok Kelapa
Traditional Village Zone Jalan
Bukit
Cina
River Zone
ggo
Cin a
ng
gB ukit
Mixed Use Zone
g Ho
a Chen
aman
on
Laks Jalan
Gudwara Sahib Melaka
Traditional Trade
Kampung Banda Kaba
Koo
nC
hen
g
Sek Keb St Francis
Ancestral House Sekolah Tinggi Melaka
Sek Men Saint Francis
esw ara
Category I Buildings
Sek Keb Bandar Hilir
The use should remain as intended, or of similar use or nature of activity
Malacca Straits Hotel
Residential Overlay 0 0
100 100m
200 Meter
300
400
Zoning of the activity 500 m Scale: 1:8,500 Source: heritage department
Mapping the Activity
125
housing business office workshop empty institutions warehouse gallery / craft other No Information services store beverage stores shops restaurants religious Institutions government institutions antique Stores historical momuments hotels / bed & breakfast car parking educational institutions museums public market conservation area boundary
Zoning of the activity in greater details
Source: heritage department
Mapping the Activity KG. CHITTY
Stadium Hang Tuah
Gajah Berang
Wisma Negeri
la
n
K
am
Bunga Raya Pantai pu
ng
E
m
pa
t
en
gk
er
l Ja
an
K
an
u
b
u
Jalan
Muns
hi Ab du
a
Jalan
Pasar
Baru
llah
Jalan
Kee
An
Jala
Jalan T okong
ara
T
Y
Jalan B unga Ra ya
n
an
la
Jal
Ja
dah
y
Ja
ha
n B en
C
la
n
an
Jalan Kampung Hulu
T
is
n
tug
la
O
ng
K
Ja
Por
im
W
ee
Ja
ng
Pa
nt
ai
n la Ja
k am
m
p u
as
n
k
u li
g
an
g
n i
n
es
H
B
la
H
an
g
Je
ba
t
Ja
Ja
g
Ja
n la
La
a ks
ma
lan
Te
me
ng
go
ng
na a
ka
K
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as
T
on
t C in
n
tu
la
ri
Ja
L
or
la
Bu
Ja
ki
oc
K
L
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ng
po
n
E
he
m
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C
Ka
la
an
n
Ja
an
T
la
iu ek L at
g
b
an
Je
uk
un
g
T
T
an
n
n
H
la
la
n
Ja
Ja
Ja la
H
Ja
n
n nd
Ja
la
Ba a Ka ba
Ko t
a
La ks am
an a
Jalan Kota
eja Jalan Ger
Ja
Jal
Source :
* Map produced from existing land use information Land use survey, 2010 ;; AJM Planning & Urban Design Group Sdn Bhd
an
Pa
ram
esw
lan
Ch
an
Ko
on
Ch
en
g
ara
M
127
COMPREHENSIVE ACTION PLAN FOR MELAKA WHS
LIVING HERITAGE TOPOGRAPHY MAPS Figure 2.1
Existing Landuse (Overall)
Housing Fully Residence
30.22
Chee Ancestral House
0.48
30.70
Commercial
29.34
Wholesale Trade
2.5
u P
2.28
Professional Services
1.50
n
Personal & Household Services
la Ja
Kg. Bukit China
te
ri
H
an
g
L
i
P
o
h
Retail Trade
BUKIT CHINA
Bank & Financial Institution
Ja
la
n
Bu
ki
t
G
ed
on
Hotels & Motels
g
1.84
3.70
Restaurants & Cafe
4.14
Storage/Godowns
0.04
49.46
Industry Metalic Product
0.62
Basic Metal
0.15
Paper Printing
0.07
Food & Tobacco
0.11
Metal Fabrication & Machinery & Eqiupment
0.28
Wood 0.05 1.28
Institution Government Use
7.93
Non Government Body 0.15 Educational 14.32
Laksa Jalan
mana
Chen
g Ho
Public Facilities
Safety & Emergency
3.00
Cemeteries park
42.27
Religious
2.87
3.37 75.00
Recreational Park/ Open Space Open Space
7.93
Vacant Land
16.87
7.93
Vacant
Vacant Building 1.46 18.33
Infrastructure & Utility Electrical Supply
0.24 0.24
Transportation Car Park
4.34 4.34
Others Core Area
Buffer Area
River
Ujung Pasir
Melaka Raya
100
Melaka Raya
0
100 Meters
200
300 m
Zoning of the activity in details Source: heritage department
BAHAGIAN DUA:
GARISPANDUAN PEMELIHARAAN
GARISPANDUAN:
Pelan Tindakan Kawasan Pemeliharaan Majlis Perbandaran Melaka Bandaraya Bersejarah
BAHAGIAN DUA:
GARISPANDUAN PEMELIHARAAN
GARISPANDUAN:
Pelan Tindakan Kawasan Pemeliharaan Majlis Perbandaran Melaka Bandaraya Bersejarah
Langkah Kawa
Pembangunan infill harus mengikut Infill facade height should be in harmony with the adjacent buildings. jumlah bay bangunan sebelah
Pembangunan infill harus mengikut jumlah bay bangunan sebelah
Source: heritage department
Pembangunan infill harus mengikut jumlah bay bangunan sebelah
Pembangunan infill harus mengikut jumlah bay bangunan sebelah
Kebenaran dip Pemeliharaan y kes yang memp
Langkah Kawa Langkah Kawa Kebenaran dip Larangan Memy Pemeliharaan bangunan dan kes yang memp bangunan sedi diperlukan. Langkah Kawa
LaranganKawa Mem Langkah bangunan dan Pihak Berkuasa bangunan sedi berikut : diperlukan.
Ianya me mengura Langkah Kawa sebarang Pihak Berkuasa Berdasar berikutelemen : la
Ketinggian Pembangunan infill harus mengikut bangunan sebelah yang lebih rendah
Jumlah bay pembangunan infil harus mengikut keluasan bay tipikal bangunan sebelah.
Rajah 5.2g: Garispanduan Membina di Tapak Lompong (Infill) Rumah Kedai Tradisional di Kawasan Pemeliharaan Ketinggian Pembangunan infill harus mengikut bangunan sebelah yang lebih rendah
Jumlah bay pembangunan infil harus mengikut
keluasan bay tipikal bangunan sebelah. Infill facade height should be in harmony with the lowest adjacent building.
Source: heritage department
Rajah 5.2g: Garispanduan Membina di Tapak Lompong (Infill) Rumah Kedai Tradisional di 5.2.6 Larangan Meruntuh dan Mengubahsuai Bangunan Kawasan Pemeliharaan Langkah ini bertujuan untuk memberi perlindungan kepada kepentingan sesebuah bangunan dan bahagian-bahagian daripada bangunan yang termasuk :
Memusnah terhadap keseluruhan bangunan atau struktur di dalamnya
Memindah atau mengubah bahagian-bahagian asal bangunan 5.2.6 Larangan Meruntuh dan Mengubahsuai Bangunan Mengecat semula permukaan tidak di cat. Langkah ini bertujuan untuk memberiyang perlindungan kepada kepentingan sesebuah Maximum bangunan dan bahagian-bahagian daripada height bangunan yang termasuk : Mengganti bahagian-bahgian bangunan dengan bahan-bahan baru. Memusnah terhadap keseluruhan bangunan atau struktur di dalamnya Mengubah corak bagi bahagian-bahagian tertentu bangunan dan permukaan dinding yang asal. atau mengubah bahagian-bahagian asal bangunan Memindah
Mengecat semula permukaan yang tidak di cat.
Mengganti bahagian-bahgian bangunan dengan bahan-bahan baru.
Kebanyakan Berdasar ru elemen bangunan sehila
imem biasanya Sekiranya merupakan bah meningka dimusnahkan tersebut.b struktur pada b Kebanyakan ru bangunan sehi biasanya imem Langkah Kawa merupakan bah Pihak berkuasa dimusnahkan b bangunan yang struktur pada b bahagian utam
Langkah Kawa Langkah Kawa Pihak berkuasa Pihak berkuasa tertentu jika ia m bangunan yang Semua b bahagian utam (termasu Langkah Kawa dikekalka stru Pihak entiti berkuasa tertentu jika ia m Lain-lain
perlu men Semua b aspek be (termasu dikekalka entiti stru
Lain-lain perlu men aspek be
Mengubah corak bagi bahagian-bahagian tertentu bangunan dan permukaan dinding Additional floor level should respect maximum height. yang asal.
Source: heritage department of Malacca
Ianya me Sekiranya mengura meningka sebarang tersebut.
Regulations 129
City guidelines Municipal historic preservation of Malacca
Preservation of historical centre requires to follow some guidelines for any restoration of historical building, such as preserving the original facade or the traditional roof. Any addition of a building such as a new floor level or additional space has to be approved by planning office and respect the cities guide lines. Any new addition should not be at sight view and should not exceed a given height, while the facade should fit within the exiting street scape. Any signage have to respect guidelines for their placement on the facade. Any intervention for demolition should preserved any part of the building that can be preserved and try to use the same material as the previous construction to better blend in the cityscape. New constructions has to take in account the local surrounding, the facade should reflect some of the existing pattern of the locality and the height should be no higher then existing buildings. A new buildings should respond to the needs to commercial needs providing with spaces of commerce.
Malaysia construction laws
Fire regulation require a back lane to all new constructions giving access to buildings or houses from both side.
Chapter 3
Public Space in Malacca
135
Public Spaces in Malacca In a globalizing world, public space becomes a hub for social interaction between different cultures, this blend already exists in countries like Malaysia where different ethnicities live in a same country. Malacca being historic living city, demonstrates how well western colonisation mixes with Asian cultures can combine to provide an even more intense blend of cultures. The chapter will introduce the special qualities of different public spaces in Malacca. The subject of public space in Eastern and Western countries has already been mentioned in chapter one, providing a better understanding of the different aspect of urban spaces that can be found in a city. In the search of special quality in a public space, the initial process is the observation of different types of spaces, such as possible central poles of attractions and communal areas to understand the social quality that each has to offer. This will be followed by the identification of spaces with the best social interactions in the city and more profound analysis.
N째
Name
Type
1
Chetty village
Community
2
Portuguese settlement
Community
3
Central market
Market
4
Gan Gong Hoe market
Market
5
Jonker street
Street
6
Jalan Hang Tuah
Street
7
Jalan Medeka
Street
8
Dataran Palawan
Node
9
Dutch square
Node
10
Central station
Node
A
B
C
D
Observed Spaces 137
Public Space criteria In order to understand public space in a Malacca, they should be able to compare to each other with criteria, such as the connectivity, the frequency of usage, the function of the space and the clarity between private and public. The connectivity helps determine weather the public space is connected or in rupture with the urban fabric. Usually a rupture can is physical, either separated by a road or a river. In public space the need for a connection to the urban fabric gives a higher level of use. The function determines wether the use is divers or monofunctional. Does the space provide choice to the users of the space. As Jane Jacobs said mix use brings more life to an urban space. The use of a space, weather it is high or low, is the space being used by anyone or is the activity in the space low, giving a level of how public this space appeals to people. The observation of de clarity between private and public, this my also show clear differences between different cultures.
A. Boundaries
B. Function
C. Usage
D. Connectivity Rupture
Mix
Unclear
High
Low
High Mono Public Space
Low
Mix
High
Low Clear High Mono Low
Continuity
Observed Spaces 139
1.
Jonker Street, Jalan Medeka, Dataran Pahlawan
4. Jalan Hang Tuah 5. Gan Gong Hoe market 6. Central market
12.
Portuguese settlement
13.
Dutch square
14.
Central station
16.
Chetty village
The four criteria diagram provides a final classification of the observed public spaces. The top being the most frequented and offers all qualities.
Mapping ofObserved Spaces
1
ROADS TOWN AREA 500m
3
141
10
6
4
5 9 8
7
2
Source: maps.google.com
Community
Observed Spaces 145
Chetty Village
This village used to be where all the old Indian community resided. At the centre of the village you can find a Hindu temple accessible only at certain hours of the day. The houses are occupied today by Chinese Indians and Malays.
Surroundings
Users 10% Indians 40% Chinese
Location
Qualities
Forest
Function: Worship Location: Residential Commerce: Farming
Temple
School field
A. Boundaries School
B. Function C. Usage
50 m
D. Connectivity
Observed Spaces 147
Portuguese Settlement
This community is still very strong today and all residence speak in Portuguese. It is based by the water front and they still go out fishing when they can. New plaza and hotel have been installed along the coast line.
Surroundings
Users
Local sales people 10% Malays 80% Portuguese
Plaza Local buyers
90% Portuguese 10% Foreigners
Location
Qualities Function: Plaza, stage Location: Community Commerce: Restaurant, bar,
Plaza School
School
Parking
Hotel
50 m
museum
A. Boundaries B. Function C. Usage D. Connectivity
Market
The architecture of the place shows a strong value for Malays traditional high roofs.
Observed Spaces 151
Central Market
This market is a managed by the government and the users are divers. The central market used to be place in the city centre and was moved to this final location, the architecture shows a clear Malay style, promoted by the government. The pork section is placed in a separate building, sold by Chinese.
Suroundings
Users
Local sales people 41% 53% Chinese Malay 6% Indians
Buyers
Location
10% 10%Chinese Other 80% Malay
Qualities
River
Function: Market Location: Big traffic centre Commerce: Food, flowers,
College
restaurant
A. Boundaries B. Function Central Bus Station
50 m
C. Usage Central Bazaar
D. Connectivity
Observed Spaces 153
Gan Gong Hoe Market
This market is a privately owned market, the owner origins Chinese influencing the ethnical group of people selling the good. This market is in the city centre and serves for many of the surrounding inhabitants.
Surroundings
Users
Local sales people 90% Chinese 10% Indians
Buyers
Location
10% 10%Indians Other 80% Chinese
Qualities Function: Location:
Bukit China
Commerce:
Market Commerce, residential Food
A. Boundaries B. Function C. Usage 50 m
D. Connectivity
Streets
Observed Spaces 157
Jonker street
This street has a very slow traffic of cars but is mostly meant for pedestrians strolling along the boutiques and coffee shops of this very old heritage area of Malacca.
Users
Surroundings
Local sales people 90% Chinese 10% Foreigners
Buyers
10% 10%Malay Tourist Locals 90%
Foreigners
Location
Qualities Chinese Temple
Chinese Temple
Function: Street Location: City centre Commerce: Bar, restaurant, shops, museums, residential
Mosque Jo
nk er
St
re et
A. Boundaries B. Function C. Usage
50 m
er Riv
Dutch Square
D. Connectivity
Observed Spaces 159
Jalan Hang Tuah
This is large street scape with a wide side walk, but very few activities. The buildings along this streets are either administrative or universities or banks with a few coffee places and stores along the side walk.
Surroundings
Users
Local sales people 100% Malays
Buyers
Location
Qualities
Mall Bank
Function: Street Location: High traffic road Commerce: Restaurant,
nH
Jala
Stadium
10% 10%Chinese Foreigners 90% Malays
shops, offices, banks
Hotel
ang
h Tua
A. Boundaries
University
B. Function
Hotel
C. Usage River
50 m
D. Connectivity
Observed Spaces 161
Jalan Merdeka
This entier area is recent and has been developed by a Chinese contractor. The mix-used propse residential and shops along the street scape.
Surroundings
Users
Local sales people 100% Chinese
Buyers
Location
10% 10%Malays Foreigners 90% Chinese
Qualities Function: Main street Location: City centre Commerce: Bar, restaurant,
Dataran Palawan Mall
shops, offices
Ja
lan
Me
rde ka
A. Boundaries B. Function C. Usage
50 m
D. Connectivity
Nodes
Observed Spaces 165
Dataran Pahlawan
The location of this shopping mall is placed where a big field used for divers events, also know as the place where independence was declared. Therefor the field has been preserved and places on top of the shopping complex.
Surroundings
Users
Local sales people 50% Malay
Buyers
50% Chinese
30%
20% Malays Foreigners 40% Chinese
Location
Qualities
St-Paul Hill
School
Function: Shopping mall Location: City centre Commerce: Restaurants,
shops, branded stores, cinema
Dataran Palawan Mall Jalan M
erdeka
Dataran Palawan Mall
A. Boundaries B. Function
Makota Parade Mall 50 m
C. Usage D. Connectivity
Observed Spaces 167
Dutch Square
The location of this shopping mall is placed where a big field used for divers events, also know as the place where independence was declared. Therefor the field has been preserved and places on top of the shopping complex.
Surroundings
Users
Local sales people
30% 20% Foreigners Chinese 50% Malay
Buyers 100% Tourist
Location
Qualities Function: Plaza Location: City centre Commerce: Museums, monuments, tourism. A. Boundaries B. Function C. Usage
50 m
St-Paul Hill
D. Connectivity
Observed Spaces 169
Central Station
The central bus station, was once placed in the city centre, due to heavy traffic it was moved outside of the town, but places by the river side, as it once used to be. Both the bus station and the central market have always been placed together. The space offers a few restaurants and shop, with waiting areas for the buses.
Surroundings
Users
Local sales people
30% 20% Foreigners Chinese 50% Malay
Buyers 100% Tourist
Location
River
Qualities
College
Central Market
Function: Street Location: City centre Commerce: Restaurant, shops, bus tickets A. Boundaries
Central Bus Station
B. Function C. Usage
50 m
D. Connectivity
Jalan Hang Kasuri, back alley, Malacca
Observed Spaces 171
Conclusion This analysis one potential poles of attractions for public space, in the city, in search for not only public places but also that is capable of gathering the most ethnical diversity in a same space. The only place where such a mix seems to bring local people from all ethnical background in the same space is the central market. Since it is govern owen, the space can be used by any group of people. While the privatised markets usually favour own ethnical group over an other, driven partly by beliefs (such as no contact with pork). Other places of commerce bring people together such as the main shopping mal of the city, Dataran Pahlawan and the famous Jonker Street area, but mostly used by tourists today. There are many other third place, such as back alleys and spaces under a tree, providing an other form of public space for the people to either extend their house to the street or make use of nature to provide shade. The appropriation of space is an other form of public space in the city of Malacca, but has not been observed as thoroughly as potential public spaces described in this subchapter.
Ethnical Areas in Malacca
Mapping Ethnical Areas
ROADS CORE ZONE OF HERITAGE TOWN AREA RECLAMED LAND UNESCO HERITAGE SITE
CHINESE AREA
MODERN AREAS COMMERCE/OFFICE RESIDTENTIAL
MALAY AREA
FUTURE AREA
INDIAN AREA
500m
175
Source: maps.google.com
Kampung Morten
Bukit China Jonker Walk
Malacca Raya
Source: maps.google.com
Ethnical Areas in Malacca Municipal historic preservation of Malacca
The contrast in ethnical culture present today in Malacca, is due to the respect of each their roots. During the colonial times, the preservation of each ethnical group was an essential strategies to maintain harmony and to use each ethnic group to their best potential. The Chinese were considered to be traders having good contact for trades with China, while Indians were used to do the cole mining and Malays were good with the agriculture of the land. This preservation has also created a gap between the different cultures and can be felt in the layout of the city. Some areas are strictly reserved today for the Malays as they are considered to be the natives of the country. The government help towards Malays was meant to help them come from an agricultural background to the modern standards of living, helping them in their economical growth by providing spacial allocated areas for their businesses, such as the Jalan Hang Tuah street. The dissociation of different parts of the city by ethnical race is present in the city. As shown on the map, the core of the city is mainly dominated by Chinese. While a neighbourhood of Malays has taken place near a historical village, Kampung morten. The Chinese areas are composed of the old Chinese cemetery, bukit China, Jonker walk and the modern area Malacca Raya. The Indians only take a small part of the city with specialised shops providing them with goods from India, such as Bollywood movies and flowers for offerings to the temples. The observation done will be focusing on Kampung Morten and Jonker walk as they provide rich information about the urban use of space of the most dominant ethnical groups in the city.
Indian shop selling flowers for decoration and temple offerings, Malacca
Ethnical Areas 179
Indian shops, Malacca
Jalan Hang Tuah , Malacca
Ethnical Areas 181
Traffic and taller buildings along Jalan Hang Tuah, Malacca Shops at ground level, Jalan Hang Tuah, Malacca
Traditional Malay houses with Dutch staircase (above), Kampung Morten, Malacca
Ethnical Areas 183
Entranve porch
lan
Jan g Han h Tua
Source: redrawn data from heritage zoning maps
100m
Ethnical Areas
Kampung Morten The therm kampung means village in Malay, this is the only Malay village in the historical part of the city. It was founded in the early 1920 and named after J.K. Morten a commissioner of Land. The heart of the village is situated by the river side with a very dense layout of houses on specific plots of land. The Malay area goes from the river side up to the main Jalan Hang Tuah road. The way this area proposes different function in a very defined way, with areas of commerce placed along the main road and residential area by the riveside. The layout of the roads follow an almost continues grid following a very Western style of urban layout. The sidewalk along Jalan Hang Tuah is a clear example of Western grandeur with ten meters width, but with hardly no one to use it. Public space in this area is not very dynamic although it has two universities and commerce the streets are almost empty all day. 100m
0m
10m
50m
100m
Source:
http://lh3.ggpht.com/ chauandrew/R0UWQqe_swI/ AAAAAAAAA2E/UI5cwphMSbM/
s512/Malaysian+Kampong+Hous e+Axonometric.jpg
Entrance Porche
Kitchen
Living Room
Room
Room
WC
PLAN
SECTION 3m
Drawn plan an section based on visited house
Ethnical Areas 187
Malay houses The traditional Malay house has a very high roof usually over covering the living room area, standing on stilts with a wooden facade. The entire house is ussually set on one level, but today a side part of the house sets ground for the bathroom and kitchen facilities and connection to wather sources. A front staircase are very special in Malacca Malay houses, with a mix of solid staircase in the Dutch way with Chinese tiles. This staircases usually lead to a front porch, which is an important element to welcome visitors on the private grounds. This area gives this unclear boundary between the private and public area although a there is a definite limit set by the need to go up a few stairs to get to the space. In some cases the modern Malay houses are set on the ground level and some place the public space under a small huts, providing with shade and a space to sit.
Sketch
Source: redrawn based on data from heritage department and zoning maps
Ethnical Areas 189
Jonker walk This part of the city developed during the Portuguese settlement and hosted the army responsible of protecting the city and later used as luxurious residence during the Dutch period. This area is one of the most visited in the city, because it has a large variety of choice to offer, it is well known for its antiques and today modern stores selling the latest fashion, contrasting with the crafts workshop selling ..... goods. This mix in use makes the street one of the most busy all day long, particularly during the days offering a night market, reaching the most crowed place in the city. The map shows how divers the area is, with even temples and mosque situates on the same street creating even a bigger potential for all ethnic groups to meet. The street offer of this area have the best qualities, a sense of enclosure an also curved streets and a sense of repetitions the facade have the same width but have all different facades to offer.
m
20m
100m
Source: design according to heritage department map and google maps
m5
0m
10m
2 00 2
5m
50m
m5
100m
02 20
5m
Ethnical Areas 191
Block pattern In the Jonker Walk area, the blocks have a particular way of relating each plot,setting boundaries only by the walls separating each house. Each house has the facade facing a street with a clear repetition of the dimension of plot width of approximately six meters. The longest plots often have air wells giving in to the house light and air flow. Other houses seem to have a very narrow plot with a large back area. The organization within the block seems to adapting to the land left aside as an organic process, attaching itself to the existing naturally. Although the heavy brick structure of the shop contrast with the integration of nature, the way these plots progress and the integration of air wells, give to this mass a very close link to nature, penetrating into the house with walls to stop it.
Exploded axonometry of traditional Shophouse Source: heritage department
Figure 4.19: Axonometric views of a typical townhouse and shophouse
the availability of building materials, skills, transportation and the tropical climate. Construction and the Shophouse 4.11.3 The shophouses in the Historic Cities of Melaka and George Town share similar construction materials, techniques, ornamentations and elements. Most of the buildings used soft burnt clay bricks as the main construction material. The load bearing walls at both sides of the shophouse support the roof load through timber joists which span across the width of the building. The upper oors, of local timber planks, were placed on timber joists spanning between the party walls. 0
2
5m
Source: plans: Chii Wong (2011) section drawn according to plans
Melaka and George Town . Historic Cities of the Straits of Malacca .
Ethnical Areas 193
Shophoouse This particular housing type is embedded within a block of buildings sharing brick walls with the neighbouring plots. The facade is narrow and usually only posses a maximum of two windows by the entrance, as taxes were being played for each opening during the Dutch power. The layout is typical of Dutch housing with the very stretched plot narrow front and introducing brick construction, but contrary to Dutch housing the entrance level is at the same as the street level. The front area of the house is very particular as it offers a space for people to walk in without entering the house. This space is callet de “five foot way� allowing also people to walk along it in the shade. It is a famous style also seen in Georgetown and Singapore. The front part of the house is used for commerce while the back of the house and the second level were reserved for the family. Each house as a central air well, this area of the house was usually reserved to welcome guest, used as a living room. Some of these open rooms still have wells , so each family had their own water supply. The wells were placed against the wall, sharing it with the neighbour and in some cases having water access in the bathroom. The openings allowed air to flow and therefore were also place above the kitchen.
FIGURE 3.5 Six Main Shophouse Melaka FIGURE 3.5Styles, Six Main Shophouse Styles, Mela
ND SPECIAL AREA PLAN : PART 2 (MELAKA)
3-7
3-7
Different facade types along Jonker street Source: heritage department
s, Melaka Main Shophouse Styles, Melaka
Style le
yle ts yle
Dutch Style
Southern China Style Dutch Style
Late Straits Early Straits Southern EclecticChina StyleStyle
Straits ArtLate Deco Style Early Straits Eclectic Style Eclectic Style
Modern Style Art Deco Style
Modern Style
Early Straits Southern China Style Eclectic Style
Modern Style Art Deco Style
Melaka and George Town . Historic Cities of The Straits of Malacca . Melaka and George Tow
Ethnical Areas 195
The Dutch style of facade has a door and a single horizontal window able to open in two parts one towards the bottom serving as table to sell good. Today shops open most of the front area of the house only keeping the kitchen as the private area on the ground floor. This particular house allows a very free access to people setting almost no limits between public and private spaces.
Conclusion The analytical observation about the way different culture relate to space and function can help in the understanding of how the users relate to space. In a Malay district, the housing is set aside from the rest of the functions, but he architecture of the individual housing has a very interesting setting and relationship to nature, as the houses hardly touch the ground and the traditional construction is light and seems to be in harmony with nature. In contrast with the Chinese district giving a very strong community feeling with attached buildings and linked facades, and a five foot way opened to anyone passing by. The relationship to nature might appear less strong due to the heavy construction, but the unclear boundary between the private and the public gives a welcoming feeling to the users. The variety of choice proposed in the same area makes it even more vibrant for users. Both area and style offer a front area and this accessible area should be an important element in any future architectural design for the city of Malacca.
Ethnical Areas 197
Herren street, restored traditional shophouse dating from 1686 Jonker walk, Malacca
Opening over the kitchen area of modern restaurant along Jonker street, Malacca
Ethnical Areas 199
Different facade along the street today, Jonker street, Malacca
Front entrance to Herren street restaured shopehosue, Jonker walk, Malacca
Ethnical Areas 201
Street scape in Jonker walk area, Malacca
Chapter 4
205
Intro duction
potential Project
River
Malay
Indian
Chinese
Colonial
Introducing potential project 207
This chapter will conclude on the overall research about public place in a multicultural context. The first chapter has given a basic understanding of how public space is perceived in a theoretical approach and in a cultural differences in perception between East and West. The second chapter has provided a better understanding of the context of a multicultural city such as Malacca. Followed by the introduction of different public spaces in the city and a more profound analysis about the separation created by this different cultures. The Malay area has grown to welcome modernity and Western values in the design of urban spaces, with very monumental buildings and grid layout while trying to preserve the traditional kampung house. While the Chinese have appropriated themselves the Western buildings to better suite their way of living. These two way are very opposed in the conception of an urban layout, while the relationship between private and public seems the same through the architecture design. Malay relationship to nature no longer exists in modern construction, while the preservation of a five foot walk seems to be the main element kept in modern design of shophouses. The capacity of a same space to offer not only residential in the upper floor and commerce by the street level, but also integrating office spaces.
77'-4"
200m
Introducing potential project 209
The need for a commercial space seems to be the strongest link between all ethnical groups and also the link to the foreigners and tourists visiting the city. Commerce has linked the city of Malacca to the rest of the world for centuries and is what keeps this space so alive today. In an urban view of this separation in culture, the river is a very strong physical element that has fist been used as protection against enemies during Portuguese fortress. However the water was the road used for trade linking all parts of the city today. This is why I consider this element to be part of any future project, used as a connector between both sides of the city.
Free plots and green area in the city of Malacca
Source: Heritage Department of Malacca
The paths connecting the different parts of the city do exist however some of the nodes between them have not be activated. The idea of revitalising parts of the city by relating them to each other. An element that has been observed in Eastern use of public place and is also present in this heritage city, is the nothing of change in time of a place. The notion of a space allowing change to occur is important. This time maybe be shared between different parts of the city, activating parts in relationship to each other.
Building around nature, giving to any type of structure a permability for space to grow
Source: http:// www.artasiamerica.org/ images/Meditation_Space598/ Meditation_ Space.jpg
Interaction between the space and the users “Le mirroir d’eau” Place de la Bourse, Bordeaux Source: http:// images.nationalgeographic.com/ wpf/media-live/ photos/000/290/ cache/francebordeauxwater-mirror_29045_600
Introducing potential project 211
In design of physical space, the consideration of the local architecture being a hybrid between traditional and modern design, taking away the root of a specific identity of the space as it creates a gap between the ethnical groups. The space will try and respond to local users but also to all the foreigners, creating places for both to interact freely. In this idea different activities were being thought about, such as the possibility for an open air cinema, which represents not only a window to other cultures of the world through art in motion, but also an activity that includes anyone regardless of age gender or ethnicity. These project ion might introduce different cultures, giving a way for differenced to be understood. The idea of an open air space is also due to a very unchanging climate of Malaysia as it is situated by the equator, temperatures are high all year long allowing public spaces to be active all day long.
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Modern
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213
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