Theories of Archi and Urban- Comparative Analysis

SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE, BUILDING AND DESIGN BACHELOR OF SCIENCE (HONS) IN ARCHITECTURE

THEORIES OF ARCHITECTURE & URBANISM (ARC61303)

PROJECT 2 A COMPARITIVE ANALYSIS BETWEEN THE STREET OF QUIAPO AND JALAN TUANKU ABDUL RAHMAN

NAME: PHILIA CHUA YI SIAN STUDENT ID: 0318936 TUTOR: AR. PRINCE FAVIS ISIP

TABLE OF CONTENTS

NO.

CONTENT

1

INTRODUCTION

PAGE

1

1.1 STREET OF QUIAPO 1.2 JALAN TUANKU ABDUL RAHMAN

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COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS

2–4

2.1 STARTING NODES

5–7

2.2 ENDING NODES

7 – 10

2.3 MAIN STREET AND ALLEYS

11 – 13

2.4 RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN NODES AND MAIN STREET

13 – 14

3

CONCLUSION

15

4

REFERENCES

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1. INTRODUCTION

1.1 STREET OF QUIAPO

The bustling street of Quiapo is located in the heart of Manila, Philippines. Its history dates back to more than 300 years ago, where the imperial conquest were manifested in Islamic and Spanish architecture. In the 1900s, religious life and faith in merchandise converge in Quiapo‟s inner streets. The incessant foot traffic became an opportunity to purchase lower priced goods from all types of businesses run by the Filipino-Chinese community.

1.2 JALAN TUANKU ABDUL RAHMAN

Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman (T.A.R.) is major one-way road located in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Initially named as „Batu Road‟, it began as a track leading to Batu Village, connecting limestone caves and tin mines. Retail units were set up along the street during the pre-war era, consisting mainly of three-storey Art Deco shop houses that remain until today.

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2. COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS

Unplanned and sculpted by time and history, the life between buildings of the street of Quiapo and Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman (T.A.R.) tells an interesting story of how they both came to be traditional shopping districts for the local communities. With historic built forms lining both streets, alleys and back lanes form webs of interactive spaces as stalls and booths are set up, injecting life and vibrancy within the streets as the opportunity for contact across all social classes is established.

This comparative analysis is conducted only on selected sections of both streets. Along Quiapo Street, the selected stretch starts from Plaza Lacson, passing by Carriedo LRT Station and ends at Plaza Miranda in front of the famous Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene. On the other hand, the analyzed section of Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman (T.A.R.) starts from Laman Tuanku Abdul Rahman (a dedicated plaza), passing by conserved buildings such as Coliseum Theatre and Coliseum CafĂŠ, with Sogo Shopping Center marking the end of the stretch.

Sta. Cruz Parish Church

Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene

Plaza Lacson

Plaza Miranda

Carriedo LRT Station

Selected stretch along Quiapo Street.

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Sogo Shopping Center Node at Entrance Area

Laman T.A.R. Coliseum Theatre and Cafe

Selected stretch along Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman.

It is important to note that both chosen sections start and end with distinct nodes, and these nodes as well as the path that is formed between the nodes will be the focus of this analysis.

How does the quality of the physical environment influence the intensity and frequency of contact at the street level?

Open areas at nodes and building footprints along Quiapo Street.

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Open areas at nodes and building footprints along Jalan T.A.R.

To provide a clearer picture of the building footprints enclosing these streets, a figure ground analysis was conducted. It is seen that similarly on both ends of the streets in both contexts, fair amount of open space allows the formation of nodes as gathering and resting points, while the streets and alleys between the nodes lined with closely arranged buildings create a sense of intimacy on a human scale, increasing the chances for contact and social activity.

It is observed that there is an apparent difference between the frequency and intensity of social activity and contact along both streets two streets, highly influenced by the quality of the physical environment dictated by the scale of built forms as well as the presence of soft scape among hard scape. A comparative analysis on three separate parts is conducted: the starting nodes of both streets (the positive qualities of open plazas), the ending nodes of both streets (the importance of soft scape to enhance the quality of the physical environment), and the street and alleys that connect both nodes (the influence of the traffic-free zones in creating contact points).

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2.1 COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS ON STARTING NODES

Images of Plaza Lacson (left) and Laman T.A.R. (right).

The starting node of Quiapo Street is Plaza Lacson while the starting node of Jalan T.A.R. is Laman T.A.R. Both nodes are dedicated plazas situated next to historic landmarks of the area, Plaza Lacson being in front of the Sta. Cruz Parish Church and Laman T.A.R. located next to Coliseum Theater. There are a number of similarities between these two plazas, the first being that they both possess a clear boundary which isolates the open space from the adjacent vehicular pathway.

Along the boundary of Plaza Lacson, concrete bollards are dotted along one edge of the plaza while potted plants are loosely placed along the opposite edge. Whereas the boundary of Laman T.A.R. is not only defined by strips of planter boxes with tall trees and hedges, but also by the difference in levelling (a “sunken� plaza). These physical qualities apparent in both plazas create a safer environment for necessary activities (such as people walking freely across the plaza and waiting for the bus) and social activities to occur.

Physical boundaries along the edges of Plaza Lacson.

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Level difference leading downwards to Laman T.A.R, bounded by hedges and tall trees.

Next, both plazas provide primary and supplementary seating which allows optional activities to develop. These seating provides places for people to sit and rest, to interact with one another, and to form contact such as chance and passive contact points. These seating areas and intensity of contact points are summarized in the diagrams below: Steps leading up to General MacArthur statue as supplementary seating

Vases as boundary and supplementary seating when waiting for busses Chance contact point: Strangers have a chance to interact with one another when waiting for public transport

Passive contact point: People get to see and hear passer bys and tourists

Seating areas and contact points at Plaza Lacson.

Chance contact point: Vendors interacting with buyers during bazaars

Concrete benches as primary seating

Steps as supplementary seating

Passive contact point: People get to see, hear and smell the festivities of the bazaars

Seating areas and contact points at Laman T.A.R.

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Images of supplementary seating and primary seating at Plaza Lacson and Laman T.A.R.

In terms of the differences noted between these two plazas, the density of greenery is seen to be much lower in Plaza Lacson when compared to Laman T.A.R. Although both plazas attempted to use greenery to line the edge of the open spaces, the rows of hedges and tall trees in Laman T.A.R. creates a better and more pleasant physical environment for the people who rest around the area as it acts as a noise buffer from the traffic and provides fresh air. As a result, bazaars are set up occasionally within Laman T.A.R. due to this favorable environment, an apparent form of optional and social/“resultant� activity.

2.2 COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS ON ENDING NODES

Images of Plaza Miranda (left) and the entrance space in front of Sogo Shopping Center (right).

Next, a comparative analysis is conducted at the ending nodes of the two streets. The ending node at Quiapo Street is Plaza Miranda, whereas at Jalan T.A.R. it is the entrance space in front of Sogo Shopping Center. Situated in front of the Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene, Plaza Miranda is an open space freed from restricted possibilities. It was formerly used as a military parade ground during Spanish rule, but in current context, it is transformed into a

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market space. The node in front of Sogo Shopping Center serves as an informal gathering space for shoppers and tourists, where street performers and portrait artists attract crowd throughout the day.

The similarity of both nodes which increases the frequency of social activities within the open spaces is the fact that they are both located at the entrances of well-known landmarks within the area. With the Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene and Sogo Shopping Center housing necessary activities for religious and shopping purposes respectively, an existing crowd is already generated as people walk across the open space at the entrance areas.

According to „Life between Buildings‟ by Jan Gehl, “Wherever there are people – in buildings, in neighborhoods, in city centers, in recreational areas, and so on – it is generally true that people and human activities attract other people. People are attracted to other people.”

In relation to this, stalls and vendors are set up in Plaza Miranda, and street performers flock to the entrance of Sogo Shopping Center. These are optional activities occurring in favorable conditions, providing platforms for social contact such as chance contact as vendors and buyers interact, as well as friends or close friendship contact as people tend to visit churches and shopping centers with their loved ones.

Vendors flock to Plaza Miranda, street artists and performers gather in front of Sogo Shopping Center.

Besides that, several differences between the two open spaces are also noted. Firstly, the blurred distinction of vehicular and pedestrian paths in Plaza Miranda result in chaos and deterioration of the quality of its physical environment. This condition is evidently different with the entrance space in front of Sogo as is it clearly segregated by a strip of wellmaintained hedges and tall trees from the main arterial road of Jalan T.A.R.

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Difference in distinction between vehicular and pedestrian pathway between Plaza Miranda (left) and Sogo Shopping Center (right).

Other than that, the availability of seating area is compared between the two open spaces. It is seen that there are no seating areas provided within Plaza Miranda, whereas steps leading towards the entrance of Sogo Shopping Center act as supplementary seating for the people at Jalan T.A.R. In relation to this, it is observed that people in Plaza Miranda tend to only carry out necessary activities such as shopping within the market area, whereas the people at the open area in front of Sogo Shopping Center are seen to conduct optional activities as well such as resting along the concrete steps and enjoy exciting performances from buskers.

Thirdly, the lack of greenery within Plaza Miranda poses a striking dissimilarity, as the quality of the open space in front of Sogo Shopping Center is further enhanced by the flourishing green along its edge. This green provides natural shade from the afternoon Sun, acts as a noise buffer for adjacent vehicular traffic and provides fresh air for the people, as opposed to the environment in Plaza Miranda where it is fully exposed to the climate.

Importance of greenery in creating a positive outdoor environment for social activity to occur.

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These three differences in the quality of physical environment between the two areas affect the frequency and intensity of social activity greatly. The decreased possibility of people staying together at a concentrated area would result in a shorter time frame for contact forms to develop from low to high intensity. This also decreases the occurrence of social activities as the environment is less favorable. Hence, it is apparent that a wider variety of activities occur in the entrance space of Sogo Shopping Center than at Plaza Miranda.

Lack of seating area and greenery resulting in occurrence of necessary activities only such as walking and shopping in market

Blurred distinction of vehicular and pedestrian pathways result in deterioration of physical environment Close friendship contact point: Visiting church and market with loved ones

Chance contact point: Vendors interacting with buyers and tourists

Condition of physical environment and contact points at Plaza Miranda.

Greenery to enhance quality of physical environment and provide clear boundary between vehicular and pedestrian pathway, provoking optional and social activities to occur

Chance contact point: Artists interacting with shoppers and tourists

Steps at entrance as supplementary seating

Close friendship contact point: Visiting Sogo shopping mall with loved ones

Condition of physical environment and contact points at the entrance area of Sogo Shopping Center.

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2.3 COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS ON MAIN STREET AND ALLEYS

Furthermore, the street and alleys that connect the starting and ending nodes at both streets are compared and analyzed. The formation of streets and alleys are heavily influenced by the built forms along the streets. Similarly on both streets, a main arterial road is plotted, with alleys branching outwards perpendicularly. A variety of building typologies line the sides of the streets, including commercial, residential, religious etc. It is mentioned previously that the closely arranged buildings create a sense of intimacy on a human scale, increasing the chances for contact and social activities.

Although the height, concentration and skyline of existing buildings are similar along both streets, it is noted that the frequency and pattern of social activities is more intense along the street of Quiapo compared to that of Jalan T.A.R. The difference lies in another factor of built form – the scale of the streets themselves. The width of the pedestrian-orientated street in Quiapo is noticeably narrower than the major one-way road of Jalan T.A.R., which consists of three vehicular pathways and pedestrian walkways on both sides. The narrow street of Quiapo heightens the sense of intimacy between people, as streets at a smaller scale is deemed to be more sensitive and considerate towards human scale. Intimacy promotes interaction and connection between people, as opposed to the physical environment of Jalan T.A.R. where the pedestrian traffic is segregated by wide vehicular lanes occasionally congested with hostile and inanimate automobiles.

Narrow and congested street of Quiapo (left) in contrast to streets at a larger scale along Jalan T.A.R. (right).

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In relation to that, this distinct difference also shows how the quality of outdoor space is dictated by the designation of traffic-free zones in terms of physical planning. As the streets and alleys of Quiapo have been dominated by pedestrian traffic over the years, stalls and vendors have been sprawling uncontrollably, flooding every turn and dominating the street scape. However, with Jalan T.A.R. being the main one-way arterial road which connects the Bukit Bintang district at the North to the Masjid Jamek area at the South, it caters to a high amount of vehicular traffic. Stalls and vendors are set up within the alleys and back lanes rather than along the main street, which is dominated by proper storefronts set up throughout the years.

According to „Life between Buildings‟ by Jan Gehl, “The significance of quality improvement to daily and social activities in cities can be observed where pedestrian streets or traffic-free zones have been established in existing urban areas”. The traffic-free zones of Quiapo street creates a consistent concentration of social activity along the entire street, with the mixed building typology around the area contributing to the spontaneity of occasional activities amongst the necessary, a wide range of contact forms across different intensities is also established. Thus, a uniquely stimulating experience is created: vendors hollering to attract tourists and shoppers, residents greeting familiar street vendors as they replenish their household groceries, kids running out of their apartment blocks to meet and play etc.

This offers a stark contrast with the condition observed along Jalan T.A.R. The pattern of social activity is seen to be focused more along the alleys and back lanes, away from the main arterial vehicular pathway. Thus the main street is dominated by occurrence of necessary activities rather than optional, where people along Jalan T.A.R. are mostly seen to be walking or shopping among the retail units.

The quality of the physical environment dictated by the scale and function of the streets, as well as the intensity of contact points are summarized in the diagrams below:

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Acquaintance contact point: Residents visit the same local market below their apartments, making acquaintances with vendors and neighbours.

Small scale streets as trafficfree zones, create a sense of intimacy, increasing the frequency and intensity of social activities

Chance contact point: Vendors interacting with buyers and tourists

Scale of street dictating frequency and intensity of contact points and social activity at Quiapo Street.

Stalls are set up along alleys, away from traffic Chance contact point: Vendors interacting with buyers and tourists

Large streets as main vehicular pathway, diminishing the sense of intimacy, decreasing the frequency and intensity of social activities

Passive contact point: Eye contact between pedestrians as they walk along the street

Scale of street dictating frequency and intensity of contact points and social activity at Jalan T.A.R.

2.4 RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN NODES AND MAIN STREET

After analyzing all three parts of both streets, it is important to note the relationship between the starting and ending nodes with the path which connects them. The relationship between these three parts summarizes the overall pattern of social interaction of the two streets.

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Frequency and intensity of social activity along Quiapo Street.

Frequency and intensity of social activity along Jalan T.A.R.

Along the street of Quiapo, the frequency of social activity is concentrated on its main street and alleys rather than the starting and ending nodes. However, the pattern along Jalan T.A.R. is completely reversed, with the main concentration of social activity located at the nodes rather than the main path. Thus, the physical environment of the main path of Quiapo Street induces human integration more than that of Jalan T.A.R., and that the physical condition of the starting and ending nodes at Jalan T.A.R. promotes social interaction more than that of Quiapo Street.

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3. CONCLUSION

In conclusion, the quality of the physical environment influences the intensity and frequency of contact directly, shaping the pattern of social activity as a whole. The result of the analysis clearly show how good physical planning is able to ensure that streets are positively activated, either through mentally influencing users by creating a bounded and safer environment as well as providing seating, through enhancing the outdoor condition by increasing softscape amongst hardscape, or by designating traffic-free zones and being more sensitive towards human scale. Life between buildings exist within the spaces between buildings, and it is these spaces that subconsciously define, strengthen and give meaning to a community.

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4. REFERENCES

- Asian Journal. (2017). Retrieved from http://asianjournalusa.com/clients/asianjournalusa/512-2014-11-31-00-PM-3735101.jpg

- Gehl, J. (2011). Life between buildings. Washington, DC: Island Press.

- Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman Kuala Lumpur. (2017). Retrieved from https://i.ytimg.com/vi/5g3g_diElJ8/maxresdefault.jpg

- Lynch, K. (1960). The Image of the City. Cambridge: The Technology Press & Harvard University Press. Retrieved from http://italianstudies.nd.edu/assets/68866/lynch.pdf

- Shankar, S. (2017). Quiapo Church seen from Plaza Miranda. Retrieved from https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2892/9364642018_2c2676c1f6_b.jpg

- Ted, K. (2013). Retrieved from http://3.bp.blogspot.com/LgBHcZ2AR1U/UZUDWqpldQI/AAAAAAAADgQ/zJvGJWi_bKo/s1600/e+%2528 15%2529.JPG

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