Urban comparative essay

1.0​ ​Introduction Medan​ ​Pasar Medan​ ​Pasar​ ​(Market​ ​Square)​ ​is​ ​located​ ​at​ ​the​ ​heart​ ​of​ ​Kuala​ ​Lumpur.​ ​It​ ​was​ ​known​ ​as​ ​the​ ​starting​ ​point of​ ​KL.​ ​When​ ​people​ ​talked​ ​about​ ​Kuala​ ​Lumpur,​ ​Medan​ ​Pasar​ ​used​ ​to​ ​be​ ​the​ ​first​ ​thing​ ​to​ ​come​ ​up​ ​to their​ ​mind.​ ​It​ ​was​ ​originally​ ​a​ ​residential​ ​area​ ​of​ ​Malays​ ​who​ ​inhabited​ ​the​ ​village​ ​along​ ​Gombak​ ​and Klang​ ​rivers.​ ​Then​ ​in​ ​the​ ​1986,​ ​the​ ​development​ ​of​ ​Medan​ ​Square​ ​is​ ​bloomed​ ​as​ ​a​ ​trading​ ​center​ ​because of​ ​the​ ​tin​ ​mining​ ​industry.​ ​Before​ ​the​ ​pedestrianised​ ​of​ ​the​ ​street,​ ​it​ ​was​ ​a​ ​mini​ ​square​ ​which​ ​also​ ​acts​ ​as​ ​a street​ ​divider.​ ​It​ ​allows​ ​street​ ​vendor​ ​as​ ​wells​ ​as​ ​cars,​ ​services​ ​trucks,​ ​busses​ ​and​ ​motorcycles​ ​to congregate​ ​there.​ ​After​ ​the​ ​pedestrianisation​ ​of​ ​the​ ​square,​ ​it​ ​became​ ​a​ ​more​ ​inviting​ ​and​ ​accessible landmark​ ​with​ ​the​ ​existing​ ​clock​ ​tower.​ ​However,​ ​due​ ​to​ ​the​ ​lack​ ​of​ ​planning​ ​of​ ​the​ ​site,​ ​it​ ​is​ ​now​ ​a community​ ​hub​ ​for​ ​mostly​ ​the​ ​foreigners,​ ​the​ ​migrant​ ​workers​ ​there​ ​and​ ​the​ ​locals​ ​rarely​ ​visit​ ​that​ ​space anymore.​ ​Currently​ ​there​ ​are​ ​a​ ​bunch​ ​of​ ​white​ ​collar​ ​locals​ ​who​ ​work​ ​at​ ​the​ ​bank​ ​offices​ ​there​ ​ ​as​ ​it​ ​is​ ​still a​ ​financial​ ​district​ ​with​ ​a​ ​coexist​ ​of​ ​foreign​ ​money​ ​trading​ ​businesses.

Figure​ ​1.​ ​Shows​ ​the​ ​situation​ ​of​ ​Medan​ ​Pasar​ ​before​ ​and​ ​after​ ​pedestrianised.

Rao​ ​He​ ​Street The​ ​other​ ​Asian​ ​street​ ​that​ ​being​ ​compared​ ​is​ ​the​ ​Rao​ ​He​ ​street​ ​which​ ​is​ ​a​ ​night​ ​market​ ​that​ ​located​ ​at Taipei,​ ​Taiwan.​ ​Taipei​ ​city​ ​is​ ​the​ ​capital​ ​city​ ​of​ ​Taiwan,​ ​it​ ​is​ ​located​ ​at​ ​the​ ​northern​ ​area​ ​of​ ​Taiwan.​ ​Rao He​ ​Night​ ​Market​ ​was​ ​known​ ​as​ ​one​ ​of​ ​the​ ​oldest​ ​night​ ​market​ ​in​ ​Taiwan.​ ​It​ ​was​ ​originally​ ​a​ ​main​ ​road that​ ​was​ ​busy​ ​with​ ​vehicles​ ​and​ ​pedestrians.​ ​However,​ ​in​ ​the​ ​1980s,​ ​there​ ​was​ ​a​ ​major​ ​train​ ​station​ ​named as​ ​Song​ ​Shan​ ​train​ ​station​ ​built​ ​to​ ​serve​ ​the​ ​district.​ ​People​ ​no​ ​longer​ ​use​ ​Rao​ ​He​ ​street​ ​as​ ​a​ ​mean​ ​for transportation,​ ​it​ ​became​ ​a​ ​secondary​ ​road.​ ​In​ ​1987,​ ​to​ ​aid​ ​the​ ​situation,​ ​the​ ​government​ ​decided​ ​to resume​ ​the​ ​vibrancy​ ​of​ ​the​ ​street​ ​with​ ​night​ ​market.​ ​Till​ ​then,​ ​the​ ​area​ ​surrounding​ ​Rao​ ​He​ ​street​ ​was developed​ ​rapidly​ ​and​ ​is​ ​now​ ​designated​ ​as​ ​a​ ​major​ ​commercial​ ​and​ ​tourists​ ​destination.

Figure​ ​2​ ​shows​ ​the​ ​crowd​ ​of​ ​Rao​ ​He​ ​Night​ ​Market.

The​ ​two​ ​sites​ ​are​ ​to​ ​be​ ​analysed​ ​and​ ​compared​ ​with​ ​a​ ​detail​ ​level​ ​of​ ​understanding.​ ​According​ ​to​ ​Jan Gehl’s​ ​“Life​ ​Between​ ​Buildings”,​ ​he​ ​studied​ ​on​ ​the​ ​different​ ​types​ ​of​ ​contact​ ​points​ ​and​ ​varied​ ​degrees​ ​of contact​ ​intensity​ ​of​ ​people​ ​in​ ​a​ ​city.​ ​These​ ​are​ ​to​ ​be​ ​extracted​ ​and​ ​apply​ ​on​ ​the​ ​comparative​ ​analysis​ ​of the​ ​two​ ​sites​ ​with​ ​their​ ​similarities​ ​and​ ​dissimilarities.

2.0​ ​Comparative​ ​Analysis 2.1​ ​Pattern​ ​of​ ​Social​ ​Activities According​ ​to​ ​Jan​ ​Gehl’s​ ​“Life​ ​Between​ ​Buildings”,​ ​the​ ​social​ ​activities​ ​that​ ​take​ ​place​ ​at​ ​the​ ​public​ ​can be​ ​categorised​ ​in​ ​three​ ​types,​ ​which​ ​are​ ​the​ ​necessary​ ​activities,​ ​optional​ ​activities,​ ​as​ ​well​ ​as​ ​social activities.

Zooming​ ​into​ ​the​ ​pattern​ ​of​ ​social​ ​activities​ ​at​ ​Rao​ ​He​ ​street​,​ ​it​ ​has​ ​a​ ​very​ ​high​ ​intensity​ ​of​ ​social activities​ ​as​ ​it​ ​is​ ​served​ ​as​ ​a​ ​night​ ​market​ ​which​ ​not​ ​only​ ​the​ ​locals​ ​but​ ​tourists​ ​are​ ​also​ ​visiting​ ​the​ ​site.

Commonly​ ​like​ ​other​ ​night​ ​markets,​ ​there​ ​are​ ​seats​ ​which​ ​allows​ ​the​ ​people​ ​to​ ​enjoy​ ​their​ ​food​ ​and​ ​also plaza​ ​which​ ​can​ ​be​ ​a​ ​congregation​ ​spot​ ​for​ ​the​ ​people​ ​that​ ​contribute​ ​to​ ​interactions​ ​of​ ​people​ ​in​ ​the​ ​night market.​ ​In​ ​a​ ​macro​ ​level​ ​of​ ​analysis,​ ​the​ ​train​ ​station​ ​nearby​ ​the​ ​night​ ​market​ ​is​ ​also​ ​a​ ​factor​ ​of contribution.​ ​This​ ​allows​ ​tourists​ ​or​ ​locals​ ​even​ ​from​ ​other​ ​areas​ ​of​ ​Taipei​ ​able​ ​to​ ​travel​ ​to​ ​this​ ​night market​ ​as​ ​it​ ​is​ ​very​ ​convenient​ ​and​ ​accessible​ ​by​ ​using​ ​train.​ ​The​ ​commercial​ ​buildings​ ​and​ ​the​ ​food​ ​stalls also​ ​cater​ ​to​ ​the​ ​optional​ ​activities​ ​of​ ​the​ ​people​ ​there​ ​as​ ​people​ ​would​ ​come​ ​for​ ​food​ ​hunting​ ​and​ ​also shopping​ ​with​ ​their​ ​families​ ​and​ ​friends.​ ​Referring​ ​back​ ​to​ ​Jan​ ​Gehl’s​ ​theory​ ​again,​ ​social​ ​activities​ ​can also​ ​known​ ​as​ ​“resultant​ ​activities’,​ ​which​ ​he​ ​mentioned​ ​that​ ​nearly​ ​all​ ​instances​ ​they​ ​evolved​ ​from activities​ ​linked​ ​to​ ​other​ ​two​ ​activities​ ​categories.​ ​Relating​ ​back​ ​to​ ​the​ ​site,​ ​the​ ​pepper​ ​pork​ ​bun​ ​located​ ​at the​ ​Eastern​ ​gate​ ​of​ ​Rao​ ​He​ ​street​ ​is​ ​certainly​ ​a​ ​very​ ​popular​ ​stall​ ​in​ ​the​ ​night​ ​market.​ ​It​ ​influences​ ​a​ ​high intensity​ ​of​ ​people​ ​while​ ​the​ ​eastern​ ​gate​ ​is​ ​possessed​ ​as​ ​a​ ​magnet​ ​to​ ​pull​ ​in​ ​more​ ​people.

In​ ​contrast,​ ​during​ ​the​ ​day,​ ​the​ ​street​ ​is​ ​quiet​ ​and​ ​there​ ​are​ ​not​ ​much​ ​activities​ ​being​ ​carried​ ​out​ ​there.

However,​ ​there​ ​are​ ​some​ ​locals​ ​would​ ​gather​ ​at​ ​Fu​ ​De​ ​Temple​ ​which​ ​is​ ​at​ ​the​ ​middle​ ​of​ ​the​ ​street​ ​and​ ​Ci You​ ​Temple​ ​which​ ​is​ ​located​ ​at​ ​the​ ​Eastern​ ​gate​ ​to​ ​pray​ ​every​ ​morning.​ ​It​ ​is​ ​also​ ​a​ ​tourist​ ​attraction around​ ​the​ ​market​ ​vicinity.

Figure​ ​3.​ ​Shows​ ​that​ ​the​ ​whole​ ​stretch​ ​of​ ​Rao​ ​He​ ​Street​ ​is​ ​sandwiched​ ​between​ ​Song​ ​Shan​ ​Railway Station​ ​and​ ​tourist’s​ ​spot​ ​Rainbow​ ​Bridge,​ ​which​ ​contribute​ ​to​ ​the​ ​social​ ​activities​ ​in​ ​the​ ​night​ ​market.

Figure​ ​4.​ ​and​ ​5.​ ​Shows​ ​that​ ​the​ ​contrast​ ​of​ ​the​ ​crowd​ ​in​ ​the​ ​night​ ​market​ ​during​ ​the​ ​day​ ​and​ ​night.

However​ ​in​ ​the​ ​case​ ​of​ ​Medan​ ​Pasar,​ ​during​ ​the​ ​day,​ ​the​ ​social​ ​activities​ ​are​ ​mainly​ ​happening​ ​in​ ​the​ ​five foot​ ​walkway​ ​due​ ​to​ ​the​ ​tropical​ ​climate​ ​here.​ ​Although​ ​the​ ​pedestrianising​ ​of​ ​the​ ​street​ ​increases​ ​the accessibility​ ​of​ ​the​ ​street,​ ​but​ ​the​ ​square​ ​itself​ ​can​ ​be​ ​scorchingly​ ​hot​ ​in​ ​the​ ​afternoon​ ​as​ ​the​ ​buildings alongside​ ​the​ ​square​ ​are​ ​mostly​ ​three​ ​to​ ​four​ ​storeys​ ​height.​ ​The​ ​people​ ​would​ ​rather​ ​to​ ​hide​ ​underneath the​ ​five​ ​foot​ ​walkway​ ​for​ ​shading​ ​purposes.​ ​The​ ​hiding​ ​spot​ ​becomes​ ​a​ ​space​ ​for​ ​necessary​ ​and​ ​optional activities​ ​where​ ​the​ ​migrant​ ​workers​ ​promoting​ ​their​ ​trading​ ​and​ ​boutique​ ​businesses​ ​and​ ​having conversations.​ ​However,​ ​the​ ​five​ ​foot​ ​walkway​ ​could​ ​be​ ​an​ ​obstructive​ ​path​ ​due​ ​to​ ​the​ ​staggering

walkway​ ​and​ ​also​ ​occasional​ ​displacement​ ​of​ ​businesses.​ ​Therefore,​ ​there​ ​are​ ​also​ ​some​ ​people​ ​would prefer​ ​to​ ​take​ ​the​ ​flat​ ​pavement​ ​on​ ​the​ ​square.​ ​Besides​ ​the​ ​shoplots​ ​on​ ​the​ ​site,​ ​there​ ​are​ ​also​ ​banks​ ​offices that​ ​are​ ​dominating​ ​the​ ​street.​ ​There​ ​are​ ​quite​ ​an​ ​amount​ ​of​ ​white​ ​collar​ ​locals​ ​there​ ​during​ ​weekdays.

This​ ​is​ ​also​ ​a​ ​necessary​ ​activity​ ​that​ ​are​ ​happening​ ​on​ ​site.​ ​At​ ​night,​ ​the​ ​busy​ ​bus​ ​transportation​ ​and​ ​cars slow​ ​down​ ​and​ ​the​ ​pedestrians​ ​are​ ​also​ ​getting​ ​lesser​ ​as​ ​there​ ​are​ ​not​ ​much​ ​activities​ ​happening​ ​there except​ ​for​ ​the​ ​view​ ​of​ ​Masjid​ ​Jamek.

Figure​ ​6.

Type​ ​of​ ​activity: Necessary​ ​activity, The​ ​white​ ​collar​ ​locals​ ​are​ ​waiting​ ​for​ ​public transportations​ ​at​ ​Medan​ ​Pasar.

Figure​ ​7.​ ​Shows​ ​that​ ​the​ ​people​ ​in​ ​Medan​ ​Pasar​ ​normally​ ​congregate​ ​at​ ​the​ ​five​ ​foot​ ​walkway​ ​instead​ ​of gathering​ ​at​ ​the​ ​plaza​ ​due​ ​to​ ​the​ ​climate.

2.2​ ​Contact​ ​Points​ ​and​ ​Contact​ ​intensity Contact​ ​point​ ​are​ ​defined​ ​as​ ​a​ ​focal​ ​point​ ​where​ ​opportunities​ ​of​ ​meeting​ ​and​ ​communicating​ ​with another​ ​being​ ​could​ ​be​ ​found​ ​at.​ ​Based​ ​on​ ​Jan​ ​Gehl’s​ ​theory,​ ​“the​ ​concept​ ​of​ ​carrying​ ​degrees​ ​of​ ​contact intensity​ ​is​ ​the​ ​basis​ ​of​ ​the​ ​following​ ​simplified​ ​outline​ ​of​ ​various​ ​contact​ ​form.”​ ​The​ ​lowest​ ​degree​ ​of contact​ ​intensity​ ​would​ ​be​ ​passive​ ​contact​ ​and​ ​the​ ​highest​ ​would​ ​be​ ​acquaintances,​ ​friends​ ​and​ ​close relationships.

The​ ​plaza​ ​in​ ​Medan​ ​Pasar​ ​itself​ ​is​ ​a​ ​contact​ ​point.​ ​There​ ​will​ ​be​ ​two​ ​or​ ​three​ ​food​ ​trucks​ ​parking​ ​at​ ​the plaza​ ​and​ ​selling​ ​food​ ​to​ ​the​ ​migrant​ ​workers​ ​and​ ​the​ ​white​ ​collar​ ​locals.​ ​The​ ​tourists​ ​would​ ​also​ ​pass​ ​by the​ ​site​ ​to​ ​visit​ ​the​ ​significant​ ​clock​ ​tower.​ ​However,​ ​most​ ​of​ ​the​ ​time​ ​people​ ​rarely​ ​gather​ ​at​ ​the​ ​plaza​ ​not only​ ​because​ ​of​ ​the​ ​climate​ ​issue,​ ​but​ ​also​ ​it​ ​is​ ​just​ ​a​ ​transient​ ​space​ ​for​ ​people​ ​to​ ​travel​ ​to​ ​other​ ​more important​ ​landmarks​ ​such​ ​as​ ​Masjid​ ​Jamek,​ ​River​ ​of​ ​Life​ ​and​ ​also​ ​the​ ​Kasturi​ ​Walk.​ ​The​ ​plaza​ ​is​ ​also sandwiched​ ​between​ ​the​ ​Masjid​ ​Jamek​ ​and​ ​Pasar​ ​Seni​ ​Lrt​ ​station.​ ​During​ ​the​ ​day,​ ​the​ ​white​ ​collar workers​ ​who​ ​travel​ ​to​ ​the​ ​site​ ​by​ ​train​ ​would​ ​pass​ ​by​ ​the​ ​site​ ​to​ ​their​ ​own​ ​respective​ ​offices.​ ​The​ ​intensity of​ ​contact​ ​at​ ​the​ ​plaza​ ​are​ ​mostly​ ​just​ ​passive​ ​contact​ ​to​ ​the​ ​tourists​ ​and​ ​white​ ​collar​ ​locals.

Figure​ ​8.​ ​Shows​ ​the​ ​existing​ ​food​ ​trucks​ ​attracting​ ​people​ ​at​ ​the​ ​end​ ​of​ ​the​ ​plaza.

Figure​ ​9.​ ​Shows​ ​that​ ​people​ ​are​ ​passing​ ​by​ ​the​ ​plaza​ ​to​ ​other​ ​destination.

Figure​ ​10.​ ​Shows​ ​the​ ​location​ ​of​ ​Medan​ ​Pasar​ ​is​ ​surrounded​ ​by​ ​other​ ​significant​ ​landmarks In​ ​comparison,​ ​there​ ​is​ ​also​ ​a​ ​plaza​ ​which​ ​located​ ​near​ ​the​ ​western​ ​gate​ ​of​ ​the​ ​Rao​ ​He​ ​night​ ​market.​ ​It​ ​is also​ ​defined​ ​as​ ​a​ ​contact​ ​point​ ​of​ ​the​ ​street.​ ​While​ ​having​ ​the​ ​role​ ​as​ ​the​ ​entrance​ ​and​ ​also​ ​the​ ​exit​ ​of​ ​the night​ ​market,​ ​the​ ​western​ ​gate​ ​is​ ​the​ ​busiest​ ​spot​ ​of​ ​the​ ​street​ ​at​ ​night​ ​when​ ​the​ ​night​ ​market​ ​starts.​ ​It​ ​is​ ​a path​ ​where​ ​most​ ​of​ ​the​ ​passerby​ ​enters​ ​or​ ​leaves​ ​the​ ​night​ ​market.​ ​Eventually,​ ​it​ ​attracts​ ​crowds​ ​of​ ​people to​ ​the​ ​plaza​ ​which​ ​sits​ ​next​ ​to​ ​the​ ​gate.​ ​There​ ​are​ ​also​ ​seats​ ​in​ ​the​ ​area​ ​which​ ​allows​ ​the​ ​shoppers​ ​to​ ​sit, rest​ ​and​ ​also​ ​socialise​ ​while​ ​enjoying​ ​watching​ ​the​ ​crowd​ ​in​ ​the​ ​night​ ​market​ ​which​ ​would​ ​also​ ​allows chance​ ​interactions​ ​happen​ ​there.

Figure​ ​11.​ ​Shows​ ​that​ ​the​ ​western​ ​gate​ ​is​ ​always​ ​busy​ ​with​ ​people​ ​and​ ​they​ ​would​ ​rest​ ​and​ ​sit​ ​at​ ​the plaza.

The​ ​intersection​ ​point​ ​of​ ​both​ ​streets​ ​are​ ​taken​ ​into​ ​consideration​ ​as​ ​the​ ​contact​ ​points.​ ​The​ ​junction which​ ​is​ ​at​ ​the​ ​center​ ​of​ ​the​ ​Rao​ ​He​ ​street​ ​is​ ​one​ ​of​ ​the​ ​significant​ ​point​ ​that​ ​located​ ​at​ ​the​ ​intersection from​ ​different​ ​directions​ ​of​ ​2​ ​major​ ​path​ ​ways,​ ​Rainbow​ ​bridge​ ​&​ ​Mrt​ ​Station.​ ​The​ ​junction​ ​acts​ ​as​ ​a assembly​ ​point​ ​it​ ​usually​ ​gets​ ​crowded​ ​when​ ​the​ ​night​ ​market​ ​started.​ ​Due​ ​to​ ​its​ ​large​ ​size,​ ​it​ ​can accommodate​ ​a​ ​huge​ ​amount​ ​of​ ​people​ ​and​ ​also​ ​it​ ​is​ ​familiar​ ​as​ ​an​ ​intersection​ ​junction.​ ​There​ ​are​ ​also some​ ​tourists​ ​or​ ​locals​ ​would​ ​pass​ ​by​ ​the​ ​junction​ ​to​ ​another​ ​tourist​ ​spot,​ ​the​ ​Rainbow​ ​Bridge​ ​ ​as​ ​they take​ ​it​ ​as​ ​the​ ​fastest​ ​route​ ​without​ ​the​ ​need​ ​to​ ​walk​ ​through​ ​the​ ​whole​ ​stretch​ ​of​ ​the​ ​street​ ​which​ ​could​ ​be a​ ​chance​ ​interaction.​ ​During​ ​the​ ​day,​ ​there​ ​is​ ​also​ ​a​ ​building​ ​in​ ​construction​ ​which​ ​tends​ ​to​ ​stop​ ​people​ ​in their​ ​tracks.

Figure​ ​12.​ ​Shows​ ​that​ ​people​ ​are​ ​passing​ ​by​ ​the​ ​junction​ ​either​ ​to​ ​Mrt​ ​station​ ​or​ ​the​ ​Rainbow​ ​Bridge.

Figure​ ​13.​ ​Shows​ ​the​ ​construction​ ​that​ ​is​ ​happening​ ​at​ ​the​ ​corner​ ​of​ ​the​ ​junction.

While​ ​in​ ​Medan​ ​Pasar,​ ​there​ ​is​ ​a​ ​busy​ ​road​ ​which​ ​segregates​ ​the​ ​square​ ​and​ ​Jalan​ ​Hang​ ​Kasturi.​ ​The contact​ ​point​ ​of​ ​the​ ​road​ ​is​ ​also​ ​a​ ​bus​ ​hub​ ​which​ ​was​ ​originally​ ​at​ ​the​ ​plaza​ ​before​ ​the​ ​pedestrianisation​ ​of the​ ​street.​ ​The​ ​bus​ ​crowd​ ​alongside​ ​the​ ​road​ ​also​ ​leads​ ​to​ ​the​ ​variety​ ​of​ ​shops​ ​that​ ​has​ ​mushroomed​ ​along the​ ​road.​ ​These​ ​shops​ ​are​ ​catering​ ​the​ ​need​ ​of​ ​the​ ​bus​ ​crowd​ ​who​ ​are​ ​mostly​ ​the​ ​migrant​ ​workers​ ​which the​ ​intensity​ ​of​ ​their​ ​contacts​ ​are​ ​as​ ​high​ ​as​ ​acquaintances​ ​and​ ​friends.​ ​However​ ​there​ ​is​ ​also​ ​vehicle disorder​ ​issue​ ​happening​ ​there,​ ​which​ ​is​ ​the​ ​consequence​ ​of​ ​the​ ​pedestrianised​ ​plaza.​ ​Due​ ​to​ ​the elimination​ ​access​ ​of​ ​vehicles​ ​in​ ​the​ ​plaza,​ ​the​ ​road​ ​has​ ​become​ ​congested​ ​as​ ​there​ ​are​ ​cars​ ​and​ ​busses pick​ ​up​ ​as​ ​well​ ​as​ ​drop​ ​off,​ ​and​ ​also​ ​services​ ​drop​ ​off.​ ​The​ ​multiple​ ​vehicles​ ​parking​ ​forms​ ​an​ ​obstructive edge​ ​between​ ​Medan​ ​Pasar​ ​and​ ​Jalan​ ​Hang​ ​Kasturi​ ​which​ ​also​ ​cutting​ ​off​ ​the​ ​continuation​ ​of​ ​pedestrian flow.

Figure​ ​14.​ ​Shows​ ​that​ ​the​ ​busses​ ​are​ ​congested​ ​at​ ​the​ ​road​ ​which​ ​has​ ​become​ ​an​ ​edge​ ​between​ ​Jalan Hang​ ​Kasturi​ ​and​ ​the​ ​Square​ ​in​ ​Medan​ ​pasar.

Figure​ ​15.​ ​Shows​ ​that​ ​the​ ​business​ ​alongside​ ​the​ ​road​ ​are​ ​catering​ ​to​ ​the​ ​bus​ ​crowd,​ ​which​ ​also​ ​causes the​ ​congestion​ ​of​ ​traffic.

In​ ​terms​ ​of​ ​the​ ​seating​ ​area,​ ​to​ ​cater​ ​to​ ​the​ ​needs​ ​of​ ​the​ ​shoppers​ ​in​ ​Rao​ ​He​ ​night​ ​market,​ ​there​ ​is​ ​a​ ​huge seating​ ​area​ ​located​ ​after​ ​the​ ​junction​ ​of​ ​the​ ​street.​ ​It​ ​is​ ​a​ ​place​ ​that​ ​people​ ​usually​ ​bring​ ​along​ ​their friends​ ​and​ ​families​ ​to​ ​sit​ ​and​ ​enjoy​ ​their​ ​food​ ​after​ ​the​ ​shopping​ ​at​ ​the​ ​front​ ​part​ ​of​ ​the​ ​night​ ​market.

Although​ ​there​ ​are​ ​ample​ ​seating​ ​area,​ ​however​ ​it​ ​is​ ​still​ ​proves​ ​insufficient​ ​because​ ​of​ ​the​ ​huge​ ​amount of​ ​people​ ​that​ ​go​ ​to​ ​the​ ​night​ ​market.​ ​So​ ​normally,​ ​people​ ​would​ ​have​ ​to​ ​stand​ ​beside​ ​the​ ​tables​ ​to​ ​wait for​ ​the​ ​seatings.​ ​This​ ​could​ ​create​ ​acquaintance​ ​interactions​ ​between​ ​the​ ​people​ ​who​ ​are​ ​waiting​ ​and​ ​the people​ ​who​ ​are​ ​sitting.

Figure​ ​16.​ ​And​ ​17.​ ​shows​ ​that​ ​the​ ​crowd​ ​of​ ​people​ ​at​ ​the​ ​seating​ ​area​ ​and​ ​others​ ​would​ ​have​ ​to​ ​stand beside​ ​the​ ​tables​ ​to​ ​wait​ ​for​ ​their​ ​seats.

For​ ​Medan​ ​Pasar,​ ​there​ ​are​ ​also​ ​seating​ ​area​ ​at​ ​both​ ​sides​ ​of​ ​the​ ​plaza.​ ​The​ ​people​ ​who​ ​are​ ​utilizing​ ​the seats​ ​are​ ​mostly​ ​the​ ​migrant​ ​workers​ ​and​ ​the​ ​homeless​ ​people.​ ​Unlike​ ​the​ ​seating​ ​area​ ​in​ ​the​ ​night​ ​market, the​ ​seats​ ​are​ ​normally​ ​occupied​ ​only​ ​in​ ​the​ ​morning​ ​and​ ​night​ ​due​ ​to​ ​the​ ​lack​ ​of​ ​shading​ ​devices​ ​for​ ​the seating​ ​area.​ ​If​ ​it​ ​is​ ​raining,​ ​naturally​ ​the​ ​seating​ ​areas​ ​will​ ​be​ ​abandoned.​ ​The​ ​intensity​ ​of​ ​contact​ ​that​ ​is occurring​ ​here​ ​is​ ​just​ ​merely​ ​passive​ ​contact.​ ​In​ ​the​ ​morning,​ ​a​ ​few​ ​of​ ​the​ ​migrant​ ​workers​ ​would​ ​gather around​ ​the​ ​seats​ ​to​ ​have​ ​conversations.​ ​When​ ​the​ ​sky​ ​is​ ​getting​ ​dark​ ​in​ ​the​ ​evening,​ ​the​ ​homeless​ ​people will​ ​start​ ​to​ ​occupy​ ​the​ ​seats​ ​as​ ​their​ ​“home”.

Figure​ ​18.​ ​Shows​ ​that​ ​the​ ​seating​ ​area​ ​in​ ​Medan​ ​Pasar​ ​are​ ​seldom​ ​occupied.

Figure​ ​19.​ ​And​ ​20.​ ​Shows​ ​that​ ​most​ ​of​ ​the​ ​seats​ ​are​ ​taken​ ​by​ ​the​ ​homeless​ ​people.

3.0​ ​Conclusion To​ ​summarize​ ​the​ ​analysis,​ ​Rao​ ​He​ ​night​ ​market​ ​is​ ​a​ ​place​ ​which​ ​is​ ​lively​ ​at​ ​night.​ ​On​ ​the​ ​other​ ​hand, Medan​ ​Pasar​ ​is​ ​lively​ ​in​ ​the​ ​morning.​ ​This​ ​is​ ​because​ ​as​ ​a​ ​night​ ​market​ ​which​ ​operates​ ​every​ ​night,​ ​a​ ​lot of​ ​people​ ​will​ ​visit​ ​Rao​ ​He​ ​night​ ​market​ ​without​ ​fail.​ ​As​ ​for​ ​Medan​ ​Pasar,only​ ​the​ ​locals​ ​and​ ​white​ ​collar workers​ ​make​ ​up​ ​the​ ​crowd,​ ​with​ ​ ​an​ ​occasional​ ​event​ ​to​ ​liven​ ​up​ ​the​ ​place​ ​every​ ​once​ ​in​ ​a​ ​while.

Although​ ​both​ ​these​ ​sites​ ​are​ ​in​ ​close​ ​vicinity​ ​with​ ​famous​ ​and​ ​important​ ​landmarks​ ​but​ ​the​ ​patterns​ ​of their​ ​social​ ​activities​ ​are​ ​very​ ​distinctive​ ​even​ ​though​ ​geographically​ ​they​ ​are​ ​very​ ​similar.

School​ ​of​ ​Architecture,​ ​Building,​ ​and​ ​Design Bachelor​ ​of​ ​Science​ ​(Hons)​ ​in​ ​Architecture

Theories​ ​of​ ​Architecture​ ​&​ ​Urbanism Project​ ​1​ ​Part​ ​B:​ ​COMPARATIVE​ ​ANALYSIS​ ​ESSAY​ ​(Individual)

Chong​ ​Xin​ ​Dean 0325353 Tutor:​ ​Mr.​ ​Nicholas​ ​Ng

4.0​ ​References

1. Gehl,​ ​J.​ ​(2011).​ ​Life​ ​Between​ ​Buildings:​ ​Using​ ​public​ ​spaces.​ ​Washington,​ ​D.C.:​ ​Island​ ​press.

2. Lynch,​ K ​ .​ ​(1962)​ ​The​ ​Image​ ​of​ ​a​ ​City.

3. https://www.englishintaiwan.com/shopping-in-taiwan/taipei-night-markets/rao-he-night-market