Comparative Analysis Essay

SC H OOL OF A R C H I TE C T URE, BUIL DING AND DESIGN (SABD) B A C H E LOR OF S CIENCE (h o n s) IN ARCHITECTURE

ARC61303 THEORIES OF ARCHITECTURE & URBANISM

PROJECT II: COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS ESSAY PETCHABURI ROAD, BANGKOK, THAILAND & JALAN TUANKU ABDUL RAHMAN, KUALA LUMPUR

N A ME: CHIA SUE HWA S TUDENT ID: 0 3 1 7 9 2 0 TU TOR : MR PRINCE FAVIS ISIP

CO NTE NTS

I NT R O D U C T I ON BA C K G R O U N D 1 / UR B A N L A ND S C A P E S 2 / RE S P O N S E TO T R O P IC A L C L IMATE 3 / EC O N O M Y AN D S T R E E T S C A P E 4 / UR B A N C U LT U R E A N D S O C IE TY CO N C L U S I O N RE FE R E N C E S

I NTR O DUCT I O N I n t hi s c o m p a r a tiv e analy s i s es s ay, f i ndin g s fro m Pro je ct 1 (Ca se Stu d y) a n d th e lo ca l s i t e r e se ar c h f r o m D e s i gn S t udi o V are t o be a n a lyse d sid e b y sid e . Th e ma in fra me wo rk o f thi s p a per i s b u i l t u p o n t he s im i l arit ies and dis simila ritie s b a se d o n th e p a tte rn s o f so cia l a ctiv i t i e s , t ypes o f ‘ c o n ta c t point s ’ and t he v ary i ng d e g re e s o f co n ta ct in te n sity b e twe e n th e two c i t i e s .

A l t hou g h b o t h c i ties are pl ac ed i n t he s a me co n te xt o f u rb a n la n d sca p e s, th e y d iffe r in t e r ms of phy s i c a l e n v i r o nment : a f ac t or t hat in flu e n ce s th e a ctivitie s to a va ryin g d e g re e a n d i n ma n y di ff er e n t w a y s ( Gehl, 2011, p. 9). This essa y is fo cu se d o n th e o u td o o r a ctivitie s a n d th e n u mber o f p h y s i c a l c ondi t ions t hat i nf l uenc e th e m. Th e se a ctivitie s th e n sp a rk life b e twe e n b u i l d i ngs, w h i c h Ge h l s ugges t s t he c onc ept o f va ryin g d e g re e s o f co n ta ct in te n sity a s th e ba s i s o r out l i n e o f v a r i o u s c ont ac t f orms .

I n sum m a r y, o u t door ac t i v i t ies i n publi c sp a ce s ca n b e d ivid e d in to th re e ca te g o rie s: n e c e s sa r y a c ti v i t i e s , o pt i onal ac t iv i t ies and s o cia l a ctivitie s. Ea ch o f th e se a ctivitie s p la ce s d i ff e r e n t dem a n d s o n t h e phy s i c al env ironm ent (Ge h l, 2 0 11 , p .9 ).

Fi g. 1. Gr a p h ic r e p r e s ent at i on of t he r el at i ons hi p bet w e e n th e q u a l i ty o f o u td o o r sp a ce s a n d th e r a te o f o ccu r e n ce of outdoor a c tiv itie s ( Ge h l , 2011, p. 10) .

Fi g. 2. Dia g r a m o f th e s i m pl i f i ed out l i ne of v ar i ous c o n ta ct fo r m s ( Ge h l , 2 0 11 , p .1 0 ) .

BACKG RO U N D PE TC H A B U R I R O A D P e t ch a b u r i R o a d is a bus y m ajor v ehi c ula r ro a d th a t stre tch e s fro m We st Sid e o f Ba n g ko k a l l t h e w a y t o t h e E a s t S i de. M eas uring aro u n d 5 km, Pe tch a b u ri is kn o wn a s th e lo n g e st ro a d i n B a ngk o k . F u r th e rm ore, P et c haburi is a co n n e ctio n b e twe e n ma jo r ro a d s su ch a s Ph itsa n u l o k R oad t o P h a tt h a nak an R oad. P l ac ed i n clo se p ro ximity to th e Pra tu n a m, Ch id lo m-Plo e nc h i t a n d S i a m a r e a s o f d ow nt ow n B angk ok , it i s in fu se d a n d fille d with b u sy ve h icu la r a n d p e d e s t r i a n m ove m e n t s .

A mo n g l o c a l s a n d t ouri s t s , it s ’ bigges t se llin g p o in t’ is its stre e t fo o d cu ltu re a n d sh o pp i n g di st r i c ts . T h e n e w er phas e of P et c habur i is a lso fa mo u s fo r co lo u rfu l n ig h tlife , sca tte re d wi t h m assa g e p a r l o u r s, bars , c lubs and res t au ra n ts.

S o m e n o t a b l e l a n dmark s c an be s een t hro u g h o u t th e ro a d in clu d in g th e Da ru l Ama n , Pa n t i p P l a za , a n d t h e R oy al C i t y Av enue.

J AL A N T U A N KU A B D U L R A H MA N ( TAR) Ja l an Tu a n k u Ab dul R ahm an (or J al an TAR) is a ma jo r o n e -wa y ro a d th a t stre tch e s fro m J a l a n C how K i t i n t h e Wes t t o J al an R aja B ot in th e Ea st. Ma n y n o ta b le ro a d s a re co n n e cte d t o J a l a n TA R , s u c h a s t h e K ual a Lum pur I nner R in g Ro a d a n d Ja la n Tu n Pe ra k. Stre tch in g a b o u t 1 . 9 k m i n t ot a l , t h e r o a d i s loc at ed c l os el y in betwe e n d istin ctive d istricts o f Ja la n Ra ja L a u t ar e a , M asj id I n d i a a r e a and Lengk ok R aja area .

Ja l an TAR i s f l a n k ed by pre-w ar bui l dings with d istin ctive fa ca d e s o n e ith e r sid e s th a t h a v e been p r e s e r v e d and adapt ed t o ac c om m o d a te mo d e rn re ta ilin g b u sin e sse s. Na rro w a lley s bet we e n t h e s h o ps off er a w ide range of clo th in g a t b a rg a in in g p rice a n d p o p u la r stre et f o o d .

O t her e s t a b l i s h e d brand nam es off er c olle ctio n s o f te xtile , ca rp e ts, silve r a n d e ve n cry s t a l w ar e, w i th t h e o c c as i onal ‘m amak ’ or resta u ra n t.

N ot a b l e m o d e r n l andmark s s uc h as S ogo Sh o p p in g Co mp le x a n d Ma ju Ju n ctio n Ma ll a r e l o c a t ed a l o n g t h e r o a d. C ul t ural landmark s i n clu d e th e Co lise u m Th e a tre a n d Re sta u ra n t.

1/ URBAN L A N S C A P E S U r ban l a n d s c a p e s are t he phy s ic al c haracte ristics th a t co n stitu te s a ce rta in p la ce , city or t ow n . W i th t h at , P et c haburi R oad and Ja la n TAR b o th sh a re simila r a n d d isimila r t ra i t s.

PE TC H A B U R I R O A D W hen l o c a l s r e f e r t o P et c haburi R oad, t h e ima g e o f th e b u sy, ve h icu la r ro a d with e q u a l l y bus t l i n g r o a d s i de mov em ent c omes t o min d . Th u s, wh e n o b se rve d a s a p a tte rn fro m a ma c r o s c a l e , t he di ff us ion of m ov em ent is a p p a re n t fro m th e ve h icu la r ma in ro a d to t h e sm a l l e r, p e d es t ri an-f riendly ‘s oi’s ’ alo n g sid e it. ‘So i’ is th e lo ca l te rm u se d fo r ‘sid e st r eet t h a t b r a n c hes out f rom main road’. Th e se sid e stre e ts b e co me lo n g ro a d s th a t m ean d e r, s o m e ev en branc hi ng repeat edly, fo rmin g d istrict a re a s o f va rio u s size s, wh ic h ar e a l l p l a c e d a l o ng P et c haburi. B es ides co n n e ctin g th e su rro u n d in g d isticts, th e ‘so i’s ’ al so f u n c t i o n a s s hort c ut s (s ome are only d riva b le , wa lka b le , o r b o th ) fro m Pe tch a b u ri t o i t s a d j a c e n t m ain roads , S irat E x py R o a d a n d Su kh u mvit Ro a d , wh ich a re lo ca te d a di st an c e a w a y f r om eac h ot her due t o t h e p re se n ce o f d istricts.

F r om t h i s u r b a n pat t ern, a number of diffe re n t e co n o mic a n d so cia l-fo cu se d d istricts a r e cre at e d , a l l c o n t ribut ing t o f orm a c ol ourfu l a n d co mp le te la n d sca p e o f Pe tch a b u ri Ro a d .

J AL A N T U A N KU A B D U L R A H MA N ( TAR) S i mi l a r l y, w h e n J al an TA R i s ment ioned, th e ima g e ry o f a co n g e ste d ve h icu la r ro a d f ra m e d b y p e d e s t rian ac t iv i t ies on t he s id e wa lk co me s to min d . Bu t wh e n o b se rve d f ro m a m a c r o s c ale, adjac ent main roads like Ja la n Ra ja L a u t a n d Ja la n Su lta n Isma il, ar e l o c a te d i n m u c h c l os er prox im i t y t o Ja la n TAR, a n d co n n e cte d b y se ve ra l a lle ys or ‘ l o r o n g s ’ i n b et w een. Thes e al l ey s are mu ch sh o rte r th a n th o se o f Pe tch a b u ri, a n d m ai nl y f u n c t i o n as a pedes t ri an or s erv i ce la n e . Eco n o mic a n d so cia l-fo cu se d n o d e s a r e l oca t e d a l o n g s i d e J al an TA R , at t he groun d le ve l a n d e n tra n ce s o f b u ild in g s, sp illin g ou t on i m m e d i a t e s i d ew alk .

F r om t h i s u r b a n lands c ape, s t reet ac t iv i tie s a re mo re p o in t-fo cu se d in ste a d o f sp re a d out ov e r a d i s tr i ct .

Pe tch a b u r i R o a d

Se co n d a r y r o a d w h i ch l e a ds to th e a d j a ce n t ve h i cu l a r r o a d D i str i ct

Ad j a ce n t ve h i cu l a r r o a d ‘ So i ’s’ o r si d e a l l e ys, w h i ch b r a n ch o u t i n to sm a l l e r r o ads

Fi g. 3. No r th e r n a r e a o f P et c habur i R oad.

In co n si ste n t l o ca ti o n o f ‘ l orongs’ o r si d e a l l e ys Pa r ki n g l o t M a sj i d In d i a str e e t m a r ke t

Fi g. 4. Ma p o f J a la n TA R .

2/ RE S P O NS E TO T R O P I C A L CL IM AT E T he w e a t h e r i n B angk ok i s domi nat ed by a tro p ica l mo n so o n clima te wh ich me a n s th e re a r e t h r ee m a i n s e a s ons : hot s eas on f rom Ma rch to Ju n e , ra in y se a so n fro m Ju ly to Octo b e r a n d co ol s e a s o n b e t w een N ov em ber and Feb ru a ry. As Ba n g ko k h o ld s cla im to b e in g th e h o t t e s t c i t y i n t he w o r l d , d a y t i m e t em perat ures are u su a lly in e xce ss o f 3 0 d e g re e s ce n tig ra d e . Ove r a l l , i t i s unr e l e n ti n g s i mply bec aus e it does n’ t co o l sig n ifica n tly a t n ig h t.

Weat h e r i n K u a l a Lumpur is largely s im i la r to th a t o f Ba n g ko k - th e tro p ica l mo n so o n cl i ma t e .

W i t h t e m p e r a tu r es f luc t uat ing bet w een 25 a n d 3 5 d e g re e s ce n tig ra d e th ro u g h o u t th e yea r, h o t and h u m i d w e a t h er i s ex pec t ed w it h a f a ir a mo u n t o f ra in a ll ye a r ro u n d . As o b se rve d on s i t e , t h e b u s i e s t h u m a n t raff i c al ong J alan TAR a re in th e mo rn in g a n d e ve n in g , wh e n th e wea t h e r i s l east h a r s h . P e o p le ret reat i ndoors f or wo rk o r b u sin e ss in th e a fte rn o o n . Sh o p p e rs a n d t o u r i st s a l s o t e n d t o begi n t heir w alk in t he mo rn in g o r e ve n in g d u rin g co o le r we a th e r.

A l o ng P e tc h a b u r i R oad on bot h s i des , build in g s a re se t b a ck to ma ke sp a ce fo r a p e d e s t r i a n si d ew a l k . F o r s h oppers , t ouris t s and ped e stria n s, th e sid e wa lk is th e ir o n ly wa y o f g e tti n g f r o m one p l a c e t o a n o t her, regardles s of t he we a th e r. It is lin e d with tre e s a n d sh ru b s (in var y i n g f re que n c i e s ) t h a t prov i de a buff er z one an d mo st imp o rta n tly, sh a d e fo r p e d e stria n s a nd s h o p per s. W h e n p a i r e d w it h t he ov erhangs and ro o ve s o f b u ild in g s, p le a sa n t wa lkin g ro u te s a n d eve n c o s y s h o p f ront s are c reat ed due t o th e p re se n ce o f sh a d e a n d clo se p ro ximitie s.

O t her t h a n r o o f ov erhangs , many buil din g s a lso h a ve re ce sse d e n tra n ce s o r ste p s th a t f u n c t i o n a s a n e x c e l l ent , t em porary s hel t er f o r p e d e stria n s a n d a lso sh o p ke e p e rs. To e sca p e t h e busy f l o w o f h u m an t raff ic under t he s c o rch in g su n , p e d e stria n s simp ly cro ss in to th e en t r a n c e t h r esh o l d o f b u i l dings f or a s hort res t . Sh o p ke e p e rs o fte n p u ll u p a sto o l in fro n t o f th e i r s h o p s t o mi n g l e a m o n g st eac h ot her under t he co o lin g sh a d e o f th e b u ild in g o ve rh a n g s. Acq ua i n t a n c es t o c l o s e f r i e n d s hips are t he t y pe of c o n ta ct fo rms cre a te d , d u e to th e p o te n tia l fo r ac t i v i t y.

Fi g . 5 . C o n ta ct p o i n t - N e a r Kr u n g Th o n g p l a za, Petchaburi Road.

Typ e o f a cti vi ty: N e ce ssa r y a cti vi ty o f w a l ki n g f rom o n e d e sti n a ti o n to a n o th e r. Op ti o n a l a cti vi ty o f window sh o p p i n g a n d m o to r b i ke p a r ki n g . Pr e se n ce o f shady tr e e s cr e a te co m fo r ta b l e zo n e fo r p e d e str i a n s t o walk sl o w l y a n d i n fo r m a l m e e ti n g a r e a , fo r m i n g r e sultant a cti vi ti e s.

C o n ta ct i n te n si ty: Pa ssi ve co n ta cts, ch a n ce contacts a n d a cq u a i n ta n ce s a r e fo r m e d b y sh o p p e r s a n d pedestr i a n s tr a ve l l i n g

Fi g . 6 . C o n ta ct p o i n t - Sh o p s n e a r M e tr o Fa sh ion Mall, Pe tch a b u r i R o a d .

Typ e o f a cti vi ty: Sh o p ke e p e r s ca r r y o u t r e su l tant a cti vi ty o f r e sti n g i n r e ce sse d e n tr a n ce o f sh o ps. This r o u ti n e i n cr e a se s i n te r a cti o n a n d co n ve r sa ti o n betw e e n th e m .

C o n ta ct i n te n si ty: Acq u a i n ta n ce s a n d fr i e n d s are fo r m e d d u e to cl o se p r o xi m i ty o f i n te r a cti o n o n a daily b a si s.

C om p a r e d t o P e tc haburi R oad, t he main simila rity o f Ja la n TAR is th e p re se n ce o f b u ild i n g ove r h a n g s a n d r oov es t hat s hel t er t he s id e wa lk fro m th e sco rch in g we a th e r. Fo r th is rea s o n , m any s h o p s a r e inc li ned t o s et up addi t io n a l ra cks o r ta b le s in th e sh a d e to a ttra ct p a s s i n g pedes t r i a n s , i n c r eas ing c ont ac t int ens i t y. Sh o p ke e p e rs a lso ta ke a d va n ta g e o f th is sh ad e , pr om o te a n d e n g age w it h t he pedes t ri ans. Th e re su lt is th a t th e n e ce ssa ry a ctivity o f tr a v e l l i n g t h r oug h t t h e f i v e - f oot w ay ev ol v es i nt o t he o p tio n a l a ctivity o f sh o p p in g a n d b ro wsin g . P a s s i v e and c h a n c e c o n t ac t s are f requent bet w ee n sh o p ke e p e r a n d p e d e stria n .

C ont r a r y t o P e tc haburi R oad, t here are in co n siste n t sh a d in g th a t e xists a lo n g Ja la n TA R. T h e co m m o n f i v e - fo o t w ay s hel t ers pedes t ri a n s a s th e y tra ve l fro m o n e p la ce to a n o th e r, cr e a t i n g dense c o n t a c t p oint s in c l os e prox im i t y. L o ca te d d ire ctly in fro n t o f sh o p e n tra n ce s, sh o p p e r s ca n w e a v e i n a n d out w it hout hav i ng t o b e e xp o se d to th e h o t su n . Simila rly, p a ssive a n d ch anc e c o n t a c t s are f requent bet w een s h o p ke e p e r a n d p e d e stria n .

Fi g . 7 . C o n ta ct p o i n t - Sh o p s n e xt to Ka m d a r, Jalan TAR.

Typ e o f a cti vi ty: Sh o p ke e p e r s ca r r y o u t r e su l tant activity o f r e sti n g i n fi ve - fo o tw a ys i n fr o n t o f sh o p e n tr ances. This r o u ti n e i n cr e a se s i n te r a cti o n a n d co n ve r sa ti o n between th e m .

C o n ta ct i n te n si ty: Acq u a i n ta n ce s a n d fr i e n d s a re formed d u e to cl o se p r o xi m i ty o f i n te r a cti o n o n a d a i l y basis.

Fi g. 8. Re s p o n s e to tr opi c al c l i m at e on J al an TA R c r ea te s c ontact p o in ts a n d a c ti v i t i es .

Fi g . 9 . R e sp o n se to tr o p i ca l cl i m a te o n Pe tch a b u r i Road crea te s co n ta ct p o i n ts a n d a cti vi ti e s.

Fi g . 1 0 . C o n ta ct p o i n t - Sh o p s, Ja l a n TAR .

Typ e o f a cti vi ty: N e ce ssa r y a cti vi ti e s o f p e d e st rians and sh o p p e r s w a l ki n g i n th e sh a d e o f th e fi ve - fo o t ways. O pti o n a l a cti vi ti e s o f w i n d o w sh o p p i n g a n d b r o w sing through g o o d s.

C o n ta ct i n te n si ty: M o st co n ta cts a r e p a ssi ve a nd chance co n ta cts a s p e o p l e w a l k p a st e a ch o th e r. Acq u aintences a r e a l so fo r m e d b e tw e e n sh o p p e r s a n d sh o p keepers.

Last l y, t e m p o r a r y f ood and ret ai l s t all s / ca rts a lo n g Pe tch a b u ri Ro a d a re a ffe cte d h e a vi l y b y t h e t r o p i c a l c l i m a t e. Mos t s t all s are s et up u n d e r th e sh a d e o f b u ild in g s, wh ile so me a r e s h e l t e r ed b y l a r g e u mbrel l as t hat al s o hel ps to cre a te co n ta ct p o in ts d u e to a mo re co o lin g wa l k i n g exp er i e n c e . T h i s phenomena c reat es mo re a re a fo r o p tio n a l a ctivitie s, wh ich a re sh o p p i n g a n d br ow s i n g . To a v o i d direc t ex pos ure f rom th e su n , se ve ra l sta lls a lso se t u p in th e ‘so i’s ’ o r si d el a n e s b r a n c hing out f rom P et c haburi Ro a d .

A d j ac e n t t o t h e f oot w ay s , w ide pav em ents th a t a re su p p o se d to fa cilita te h u ma n tra ffic a r e i r oni c a l l y a v o i d e d due t o it s direc t ex posu re to h a rsh we a th e r. Pu b lic se a tin g p ro vid e d o n s a i d pave m e n t i s h a r dly us ed in t he hot af t ern o o n we a th e r. L a stly, g ro wth o f tre e s a n d sh rub s a l o n g Ja l an TAR a r e t o o s m all and inc ons is t en t to p la y a b ig p a rt in sh a d in g p e d e stria n s. Du e t o t h ese r e a s o n s , t he nec es s ary ac t i v i t y of tra ve llin g p la ce to p la ce d e cre a se s in e fficie n c y.

W i t h o n e e x c e p t i o n, t he onl y helpf ul t ree th a t p ro vid e s sh a d e is th e ta ll o n e in fro n t o f t h e G S G I l l s e n tr a n c e . T he rec es s ed ent ranc e an d fro n t ste p s o f th e b u ild in g h a s b e co me a n in f o r ma l gat h e r i n g p l a c e f or loc al s and s hoppers a like , a n d a lso a sp o t to sto p a n d cro ss th e roa d . T h e bui l di n g a l s o i n d irec t ly mark s t he end of th e te xtile d istrict if Ja la n TAR. Th e slo w h u ma n t r a f f i c h e r e c r e a t e s opport unit y f or c hanc e a n d a cq u a in ta n ce co n ta cts.

Fi g . 11 . C o n ta ct p o i n t - Sta l l s a t th e e n tr a n ce of Shibuya Pr a tu n a m M a l l , Pe tch a b u r i R o a d .

Typ e o f a cti vi ty: N e ce ssa r y a cti vi ti e s o f p e d e st rians and sh o p p e r s w a l ki n g o n th e e xp o se d si d e w a l k. Optional a cti vi ti e s o f sh o p p i n g fr o m sh a d e d sta l l s.

C o n ta ct i n te n si ty: M o st co n ta cts a r e p a ssi ve a nd chance co n ta cts a s p e o p l e w a l k p a st e a ch o th e r.Acq u aintences a r e a l so fo r m e d b e tw e e n sh o p p e r s a n d sh o p keepers.

Fi g . 1 2 . C o n ta ct p o i n t - GS Gi l l s e n tr a n ce , Ja l an TAR.

Typ e o f a cti vi ty: R e su l ta n t a cti vi ty o f r e sti n g i n the shade o n th e w i d e e n tr a n ce ste p s o f th e b u i l d i n g i n cr ease intera cti o n . Al so a n i n fo r m a l m e e ti n g sp o t th a t m a r ks the end o f th e sh o p p i n g str e e t.

C o n ta ct i n te n si ty: M o st a r e a cq u a i n ta n ce s a n d close fr i e n d s th a t m e e t o r si t to g e th e r,

3/ E CO NO MY A N D S T R E E T S CAPE C i t y s tr e e t s c a p e s are f irs t and f oremos t p la ce s— a g g lo me ra tio n s o f p e o p le — ra th e r th a n e c o nom i c a n d p o l i t i cal unit s . That f ac t c om p lica te s th e stu d y o f u rb a n e co n o mics. L o o kin g mo r e cl o se l y a t t h e l a n d us e of t hes e t w o s i t es, th e sp a tia l o rg a n iza tio n o f a ctivitie s o n stre e t l e v e l m ust b e a n a l y z e d .

A m ai n s i m i l a r i ty i s t hat c omm erc e is t he ma jo r e co n o my fo r b o th Pe tch a b u ri Ro a d a n d J a l a n TA R - t h i s o p t i o n al ac t iv i t y has renow ne d itse lf a s a n e ce ssa ry o n e h e re . Cro wd s fro m d i ff e r e n t par t s o f t h e c i ti e s f l oc k t he s t reet s w i t h th e p u re in te n tio n o f b u yin g a n d sp e n d in g . In P e t c h abur i R o a d , p e o ple v i s i t diff erent dis t ric ts fo r th e ir we ll-kn o wn sp e cia ltie s, wh e re a s in J a l a n TA R , e c o n o m i c t y pol ogi es are v ery muc h te xtile -b a se d , b u t n o d e s a re mo re p o in t-b a se d .

F or b o th P e tc h a buri R oad and J alan TA R, th e e co n o my a ctivity is co mp a ra b le . In Pe tcha b u r i R oad, t h e d i s tr i c t t hat c ons is t s of Met ro Fa sh io n Ma ll, Pa n tip Pla za a n d Kru n g Th o n g Pl a z a i s t h e m o s t c o n g es t ed duri ng t he day t i m e . Du e to th e h ig h n u mb e r o f ma lls, la rg e cro w d s a r e obse r v e d e n t e r i n g and leav i ng t he large p la za s, cre a tin g o p p o rtu n ity fo r ch a n ce a n d a cq u a i n t a nce c o n t a c t s . Opt i onal ac t iv i t ies of w i n d o w b ro wsin g a n d sh o p p in g fro m te mp o ra ry st a l l s a r e al so c o n s t a n t d u e t o t he w ider areas f or se t u p . Th e e co n o my is d ive rse , a s b u ild in g s r a n g i n g f ro m b e d a n d b r eak f as t s , beaut y parl ours, co n ve n ie n ce sto re s, d e p a rtme n t sto re s a re si t u a t e d al l a l o n g t h e r o a d.

D ur i n g d a y t i m e at J al an TA R , t he m ain co mme rcia l a ctivitie s a re lo ca te d a t th e sto re fro n t s o f l ar ge t e x t i l e s t o r es w here s hoppers l i nge r to in q u ire a n d b ro wse th ro u g h th e co u n tle ss o p t i o n s .

T he c o n t a c t i n te ns i t y i s hi gh, i nv ol v i ng pa ssive a n d ch a n ce co n ta cts, a s e xistin g cro wd s d r a w m or e p e o p l e t o t he s hopf ront . Friends and a cq u a in ta n ce s a re a lso cre a te d d u e to th e p e r so nal a c t i v i t y o f t ex t i l e s hoppi ng. C apt i va tin g a n d co lo u rfu l b u n tin g s, b a n n e rs a n d sig n a g e s al so c a p t u r e t h e at t ent i on of pedes t rians. Alo n g th e ro a d , te xtile wh o le sa le rs a n d clo th s h o p s of al l s c a l e s m a ke up t he ec onom y of J a la n TAR, with th e o cca sio n a l re sta u ra n t o r ‘ma ma k ’ .

T he w o r k i n g c o m m uni t y t hat w alk s f rom n e a rb y p a rkin g lo ts to o ffice b u ild in g s h a ve to t r a v el t hr o u g h J a l a n TA R al s o c ont ribut es t o th e n e ce ssa ry a ctivitie s ta kin g p la ce th ro u g h t h e f i ve- f o o t w a y s .

Fi g . 1 3 . C o n ta ct p o i n t - C i ty C o m p l e x M a l l , Pe tch a b uri Road.

Typ e o f a cti vi ty: N e ce ssa r y a cti vi ty o f e n te r i n g a n d l e a vi n g m a l l , a s w e l l a s w a l ki n g p a st to g e t to a n o th er d e sti n a ti o n . Op ti o n a l a cti vi ti e s o f sh o p p i n g fr o m te mpor a r y sta l l s.

C o n ta ct i n te n si ty: R e su l ta n t a cti vi ty fo r m i n g ch a n ce conta cts a n d a q u a i n ta n ce s si tti n g o r r e sti n g to g e th e r.

Fi g . 1 4 . C o n ta ct p o i n t - R o w o f te xti l e sh o p s, Ja l a n TAR.

Typ e o f a cti vi ty: N e ce ssa r y a cti vi ty o f w a l ki n g u p and d o w n th e str e e t to g e t to d e sti n a ti o n . Op ti o n a l a cti vities w h e n w i n d o w sh o p p i n g a n d e n g a g i n g w i th p r o d u cts at sto r e fr o n t.

C o n ta ct i n te n si ty: Pa ssi ve , ch a n ce co n ta cts a n d a cquinta n ce s.

Fi g. 15 . A t J a la n TAR, w or k i ng c om m uni t y w al k i ng t o w o r k pas s by s h o p p e r s fr o m t ex t i l e s hops , al l i n t he 5- f oot wa y.

Fi g . 1 6 . At Pe tch a b u r i R o a d , cr o w d s a r e fo r m e d i n front of sh o p p i n g m a l l s. Sta l l s a r e se t u p h e r e a l so .

I n t er m s o f i n fo r m al and t emporary s t al l s, b o th Pe tch a b u ri Ro a d a n d Ja la n TAR sh a re si mi l i a r i t i e s a n d d i ffe r e nc es . On P et c haburi R oad , th e p e rce n ta g e o f sta lls se llin g stre e t fo o d i s h i g h est , f o l l o w e d b y ret ai l s uc h as c l ot hing an d d a ily e sse n tia ls. So me o f th e se sta lls a re lo c a t e d i n f r on t o f s h o p pi ng mall s and large s hop fro n ts wh e re h u ma n tra ffic is th e h ig h e st. Typ i c a l l y, t h e sta l l s a r e a r r anged al ong t he s i dew alks fo r e a sie r e n g a g e me n t with p e d e stria n s a s t h e y pass. M o s t s t a l l s are c l us t ered along t he ma in ‘so i’s’ th a t b ra n ch o u t fro m Pe tch a b u ri R o a d , f o r m i n g s m a l l s c ale baz aars .

W her e a s o n J a l a n TA R , a higher perc enta g e o f te mp o ra ry sta lls co mp le me n t th e e xisting e c o n om y b y s e l l i n g t ex t i l e and c l ot hing, w hi l e se ve ra l mo re se ll stre e t fo o d . As b a rg a in in g be t we e n sh opk e e p e r a n d s hopper t ak es plac e mo re vig o ro u sly o n th e stre e tsid e , cro wd s o f sh o pp e r s t e nd t o l i n g e r a n d w al k at t heir ow n pac e, cre a tin g h ig h fre q u e n cy o f p a ssive a n d ch a nc e co nt a c t s . C o m p a r ed t o P et c haburi R oad, th e sta lls h e re a re d iffe re n t in te rms o f p a tte r n : t h e y st ar t i n t h e l o r o n gs leading f rom J al an TAR to Ma sjid In d ia , a n d a ctu a lly fo rm th e b e g inn i n g o f t h e a r e a ’s p o p u l a r s t reet m ark et . U nli k e Pe tch a b u ri Ro a d , n o te mp o ra ry sta lls a re fo u nd o n t h e si d ew a l k s d u e t o lac k of s pac e.

Fi g . 1 7 . C o n ta ct p o i n t - Ba za a r n e xt to Sh i b u ya SHopping M a l l , Pe tch a b u r i R o a d .

Typ e o f a cti vi ty: Op ti o n a l a cti vi ty o f sh o p p i n g fr o m stalls.

R e su l ta n t a cti vi ty fo r m s so ci a l i n te r a cti o n b e tw e e n shopp e r a n d sta l l o p e r a to r s.

C o n ta ct i n te n si ty: Pa ssi ve , ch a n ce co n ta cts a n d a cquinta n ce s.

Fi g . 1 8 . C o n ta ct p o i n t - Ja l a n Bu n u s, a si d e l a n e i s home to te m p o r a r y sta l l s w h i ch fo r m s th e M a sj i d In d i a st reet m a r ke t Ja l a n TAR .

Typ e o f a cti vi ty: Op ti o n a l a cti vi ti e s w h e n b r o w si n g and b u yi n g i te m s fo r sa l e . R e su l ta n t a cti vi ty fo r m s so cial i n te r a cti o n b e tw e e n sh o p p e r a n d sta l l o p e r a to r s.

C o n ta ct i n te n si ty: Pa ssi ve , ch a n ce co n ta cts a n d a cquinta n ce s.

Fi g. 19 . A t J a la n TAR, r et ai l and f ood s t al l s s t ar t i n t h e si d e al leys le a d in g to th e M as j i d I ndi a s t r eet m ar k et .

Fi g . 2 0 . At Pe tch a b u r i R o a d , sta l l s cl u ste r i n th e side alleys a n d u n d e r b u i l d i n g sh a d e to a vo i d h a r sh su n , e sp ecially near b u sy a r e a s l i ke m a l l s a n d sh o p s.

Last l y, w a l k a b i l i t y and w alk i ng ex peri ence o f th e stre e tsca p e in Pe tch a b u ri Ro a d is a n a l y s e d w i t h t h a t o f J a l a n TA R . A t P et c haburi R o a d , co n siste n t sid e wa lks lin e b o th sid e s o f th e b u i l d i ngs, a l o n g w i th t rees and peri m et er plantin g . Du e to se ve ra l la n e s o f fa st-ve h icle s o n P e t c h abur i , s k y b r i d g e s are loc at ed av eragely e ve ry 5 0 0 m to 1 km, th u s, p e d e stria n s d o n ’t h a v e t o w or r y a b o u t c r o s s i ng t he dangerous road. Tra ve llin g o n skyb rid g e s a s a n e ce ssa y a ctiv i t y a l s o cre at e s o p p o r t u n i t y f or pas s iv e and c han ce co n ta cts in a sa fe e n viro n me n t.

C onve r s e l y, J a l a n TA R is s mall er i n s c ale a n d co mp rise s o f fe we r ve h icle la n e s tra ve lli n g a t l ow er s p e e d . To f ac il i t at e t he c ros s i ng of ro a d s fo r p e d e stria n s, a fe w ze b ra cro ssin g s a r e ava i l a b l e a l o n g t he road. I n addit ion t o th a t, lo ca ls a re o b se rve d cre a tin g th e ir o wn in fo r ma l sp ot s t o p a u s e a nd w ait t o c ros s t he roa d . Fu rth e rmo re , p a rke d ve h icle s a lo n g sid e Ja la n TA R sl o w s d o w n v e h i cular t raff ic and eas es th e p ro ce ss.Th is p h e n o me n a fo rms a sma ll co nc e n t r a t i o n o f p e o p l e , l e ading t o pas s i v e c ont acts.

I n t er m s o f w a l k i ng ex perienc e, bot h s t ree ts g ive a se n se o f lin e a rity, a se n se o f tra ve ll i n g i n a st ra i g h t l i n e t o get f rom one pl ac e t o a n o th e r o n th e stre e t itse lf. Bu t a cce ss to a n a d j a c e n t st r eet w o u l d h a v e t o be t hrough a s ide alle y. Bo th Pe tch a b u ri a n d Ja la n TAR a lso co mp r i s e o f publ i c f e a t u r e s s uc h as publ i c phones an d se a tin g , b u t a ma in simila rity th e y b o th sh a r e a r e bus s to p s . T h e r e are s ev eral s t ops loc ate d a lo n g b o th ro a d s, cre a tin g a n o d e fo r p e o p l e t o w ai t f o r t r a n s p o r t . This is a nec es s ary a ctivity wh ich le a d s to ch a n ce a n d a cq u a n ta in ce c o n t a ct s.

Fi g. 21 , 2 2 . A t J a la n TA R , c ar s ar e par k ed on t he bus l a n e , c aus ing v e h ic u la r tr a ff i c t o dec r eas e. T hi s enc our ages p e d e strians to c r o s s th e r o a d.

Fi g . 2 3 , 2 4 . At Pe tch a b u r i R o a d , skyb r i d g e s a r e th e only way to cr o ss to th e o th e r si d e , d u e to h e a vy ve h i cu l a r t raffic.

4/ URBAN C U LT U R E A N D S OCIET Y U r ban c u l tu r e i s t he behav ioral pat t erns o f th e va rio u s typ e s o f u rb a n a re a s. It re fe rs t o a c u l t u r e p l a c e d a n d root ed i n an urban s pac e , a sp a ce fro m wh ich th e cu ltu re h a s o rig in a te d a n d m ani f e s t e d i ts e l f in a m anner s t ri c t ly rel a te d to th e sp a tia l ch a ra cte ristics o f th e sp e cif i c g i v e n ur ban c o n t e x t . Analy s i s of urban c ul t ure a n d its so cie ty ca n a ffe ct o r e xh ib it h o w we ll e d u c a t e d t h ey a r e , h o w h e al t hy t hey are and us ua lly h a ve a stro n g co rre la tio n to wh a t th e y va lu e .

F r om a o n c e - r e n ow ned s t reet f or bi g s hop p in g b ra n d s a n d th e Co lise u m, Ja la n TAR h as b e e n co nve r t e d t o a v i brant s hopping s t reet i n mo d e rn time s, p o p u la r fo r ch e a p b a rg a in s a n d d e a l s .

T he l a r g e n u m b e r of f orei gn / mi grant w o rke rs a t Ja la n TAR h a s ch a n g e d th e cu ltu ra l s c e n e ent i re l y. T h e e c o nom y of t he s t reet us ed to b e ru n b y Ch in e se o wn e rs a n d p re stig io u s b r a n d s , sp ecia l l y c a t e r e d f or t he upper c l as s . B ut n o w, g e n trifica tio n is a d e ve lo p in g p h e n o me na a s f o r ei g n w o r k e r s are hired as s hop k eepe rs, in ste a d o f lo ca ls. Th e in te ra ctio n b e twe e n t h e f o r ei g n e r s a n d t he l oc al s are k ept t o a min ima l, o b se rve d th ro u g h o p tio n a l a ctivitie s su c h a s sh opp i n g a n d b u y i ng f ood. A s t he loc al s o n ly sta y te mp o ra rily fo r re ta il re a so n s, ch a n c e a n d passi v e c o n t a c t s are t he m os t c om m on amo n g th e two typ e s o f co mmu n ity in Ja la n TAR. Re su l t a n t a c t i v i t i e s are rare or one-s ided, an d d o e s n o th in g to stre n g th e n so cia l b o n d s, a s l o c a l s have a p e r c e p t i o n of f orei gners bei ng t hre a te n in g a n d ro u g h p e o p le .

T hese r e s u l ta n t , or s oc i al ac t iv i t ies t ak e th e fo rm o f ta rg e te d cu ltu re s a t Ja la n TAR. On e o f w hi ch i s t h e p o p ular M as ji d I ndia s t reet ma rke t, wh ich sp ills in to Ja la n TAR via sid e lor o n g s .

Ja m m e d w i th s t a l l s s el l i ng c lot hing and stre e t fo o d , th ro n g s o f p e o p le mo ve th ro u g h th e ma r ke t , b r o w s i n g f o r t heir des ired goods . This b u stlin g , a tmo sp h e ric ma rke t ca te rs fo r th e l o c a l s , i n sea r c h o f c h e ap bargains . A c quaint ance a n d ch a n ce co n ta cts a re fo rme d b e twe e n sta l l o p er at o r s a n d l o c a l s as a res ult of t he s ho p p in g e xp e rie n ce .

C onve r s e l y, t h e s hop k eepers and s t al l own e rs a t Pe tch a b u ri Ro a d co n sist o f mo stly lo c a l s , r unni n g t h e e c o n omy f or t he dai l y c row d o f lo ca l sh o p p e rs, to u rists a n d visito rs. Ove r nu m er ou s y e a r s o f hi s t ory, t rac es of old ar ch ite ctu re a re re p la ce d with mo d e rn b u ild in g s, t h u s t h e e x i s te n c e o f s hoppi ng mall s and mi d -rise s a lo n g th e stre e t. Se ve ra l sh o p ke e p e rs a r e se ni o r c i ti z e n s , prov i ng t o hav e been op e ra tin g b u sin e ss a t Pe tch a b u ri fo r so me time . Re s u l t a nt a c ti v i t i e s h e re are als o t arget ed t o sp e cific co mmu n itie s, o n ly stre g th e n in g re la tio n s h i p s am on g s t a c e r t a i n group.

S i mi l a r l y t o J a l a n TA R , t he Tal ad N eon n ig h t ma rke t is a we ll-kn o wn re su lta n t a ctivity at P e t c h abur i R o a d . K e e p i ng in t rend w i t h mult ico lo u re d te n ts a n d n e o n lig h ts, th is ma rke t a ttra c t s a hi gh p e r c e n ta g e of y oungs t ers i n B angk ok city, fo llo we d b y fa milie s. Th e clo se p ro ximit y o f st al l s a n d w e l c o ming at mos phere i nc rea se th e in te ra ctio n b e twe e n sta ll o p e ra to r a n d c u s t o mer. A n o t h e r e x a mple of opt i onal and res u lta n t a ctivity in th e ma rke t a re mu sica l p e rfo rma n c e s and v a r i o u s p u b l ic program m es , at t rac t i n g cro wd s to g a th e r a ro u n d .

Fi g . 2 5 . C o n ta ct p o i n t - Th e M a sj i d In d i a m a r ke t i s busie st n e a r i n g e ve n i n g a n d n i g h t.

Typ e o f a cti vi ty: Op ti o n a l a cti vi ty o f b r o w si n g fr o m stall to sta l l . R e su l ta n t a cti vi ty fo r m s so ci a l i n te r a cti o n b e tween sh o p p e r a n d sta l l o p e r a to r s.

C o n ta ct i n te n si ty: Pa ssi ve , ch a n ce co n ta cts a n d a cquinta n ce s. C l o se fr i e n d sh i p s a r e a l so fo r m e d fr o m cr owds th a t vi si t th e m a r ke t to g th e r.

Fi g . 2 6 . C o n ta ct p o i n t - Ta l a d N e o n n i g h t m a r ke t i s a tr e n d y h o tsp o t o n Pe tch a b u r i R o a d .

Typ e o f a cti vi ty: Op ti o n a l a cti vi ti e s w h e n b r o w si n g and b u yi n g i te m s fo r sa l e . R e su l ta n t a cti vi ty fo r m s so cial i n te r a cti o n b e tw e e n sh o p p e r a n d sta l l o p e r a to r s.

C o n ta ct i n te n si ty: Pa ssi ve , ch a n ce co n ta cts a n d a cquinta n ce s.C l o se fr i e n d sh i p s a r e a l so fo r m e d fr o m cr o wds th a t vi si t th e m a r ke t to g th e r.

I n t er m s o f m u s i c al perf ormanc es , S OGO Sh o p p in g Ma ll lo ca te d a t th e e n d o f Ja la n TAR i s f r e quent e d f o r i ts b us k i ng perf ormanc es eve ry n ig h t. Attra ctin g fo re ig n wo rke rs a n d sh o p pe r s i n t h e p r o x i m i ty, t h e w ide pl az a is an ex c elle n t a re n a fo r th is re su lta n t a ctivity, wh e re e ver y o n e get s t o e n j o y t h e perf ormanc e as an audie n ce , with o u t b o th e rin g a b o u t e co n o mic d iffe r e n e c e s .

Last l y, p a r t y i n g and night li f e is anot her fo rm o f so cia l a ctivity th a t ta ke s p la ce in a d ist r i c t ca l l ed R o y a l C i ty Av enue at P et c haburi Ro a d . Th e re a re va rio u s clu b s a n d b a rs fo r visit o r s , su ch a s e n j o y i n g i nt ernat i onal D J s , as we ll a s live co n ce rts a n d so u n d tra cks b y p o p u la r l o c a l ar t i st s a l l i n o n e ni ght . R C A i s s eparat ed in to fo u r b lo cks, two o f wh ich a re co n n e cte d t o t h e l oca l M RT u n d e r ground s t at i ons . A c quai n ta n ce s a n d clo se frie n d sh ip s b e twe e n to u rists g r o u p s ar e h i g h , a s w e l l as t he y ounger B angk o k cro wd . Clo se p h ysica l co n ta ct b e twe e n p e o p l e a n d t h e i n te n s e a t m o sphere c reat es a es t at ic re su lta n t a ctivity.

Fi g . 2 7 . C o n ta ct p o i n t - Th e SOGO sh o p p i n g m a l l is acti ve w i th l i ve p e r fo r m a n ce s a n d p u b l i c e ve n ts, Ja l an TAR.

Typ e o f a cti vi ty: A cu l tu r e o f r e su l ta n t a cti vi ty w h e n ped e str i a n s a n d sh o p p e r s o n th e str e e t si t to g e th e r to enjoy p e r fo r m a n ce s w h i l e i n te r a cti n g .

C o n ta ct i n te n si ty: Pa ssi ve , ch a n ce co n ta cts a n d a cquinta n ce s. C l o se fr i e n d sh i p s a r e a l so fo r m e d fr o m cr owds th a t vi si t th e m a r ke t to g th e r.

Fi g . 2 8 . C o n ta ct p o i n t - R o ya l C i ty Ave n u e i s a h a ven for n i g h t cl u b s a n d str e e t fo o d o n Ja l a n Pe tch a b u r i .

Typ e o f a cti vi ty: R e su l ta n t a cti vi ti e s b e tw e e n cr o w ds of p e o p l e th a t vi si t R C A to se a r ch fo r n i g h t cl u b s a n d bars.

C o n ta ct i n te n si ty: M o stl y a cq u a i n ta n ce s a n d cl o se friendsh i p s a r e cr e a te d h e r e .

CO NCLUS I ON To co n c l u d e , J a l a n TA R and P et c haburi Ro a d a re ve ry simila r o ve ra ll: b o th a re co mme r c i a l st r eets t a r g e t e d t arget ed at s hoppers an d to u rists. Th o u g h su p p o rte d with slig h tly d iffe r e n t act i vit i e s a n d c o nt ac t i nt ens i t ies , t he ha b its a n d in te n tio n s o f p e o p le in b o th a re a s a re a l i k e .

W hen a n a l y s e d f rom a c los er pers pec t i v e , Ja la n TAR p ro vid e s a cu ltu ra l a tmo sp h e re o f s ma l l er sca l e , w h e r e a s P et c haburi R oad i s mo re mo d e rn , a n d o f a la rg e r sca le . Ja la n TAR p r o v i d e s gr eat e r i n ti m a c y and c ult ural c onnec t i on b u t Pe tch a b u ri Ro a d is mo re wa lka b le .

Li f e b e tw e e n b u i ldings at bot h s it es are g re a tly simila r o ve ra ll b u t b o th h a ve th e ir o wn q u a l i t i e s w h e n e x p e r i e nc ed pers onal l y.

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