THEORIES OF ARCHITECTURE & URBANISM [ARC61303]

PROJECT PART 2

COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS ESSAY

STUDENT NAME:

NG HONG BIN 0319735

TUTOR:

AR PRINCE FAVIS ISIP

TABLE OF CONTENT

1.0 INTRODUCTION 1 – 2

2.0 COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS 3 -12

3.0 CONCLUSION 13

4.0 REFERENCE 14

1

1.0 INTRODUCTION

Figure 1 Map highlighting the area of coverage in Jalan MH Thamrin.

Jalan MH Thamrin is one of the main avenues of Jakarta, Indonesia. Construction of the road was started

in 1949 and it is named in honor of the national hero Mohammad Husni Thamrin , which runs through the

Central Business District. This road extends 2.5 KM from Bundaran Fountain of Bank Indonesia , Gambir,

Gambir, Central Jakarta to Dukuh Atas , Tanah Abang, Central Jakarta. The main district stretched (South

to North) from Jalan Sudirman where all the international office buildings are, to Jalan Thamrin where

shopping malls, offices, theatre, and hotels can be found, until Jalan Medan Merdeka where all the

government buildings and activities are located. Myriad of international and big national project investments

were injected which make it one of the most prominent areas in Jakarta.

The street is one of the best areas for pedestrians in Jakarta, it is wide enough, clean, and low in crime

because police patrols regularly. It is the hub of Jakarta where people travelling around the city will need to

pass by the road. Due to the fast paced and technology dependent community, the government organized

Car Free Days on 23 May 2002. The activity is held every Sunday at 6am to 11am along Jalan MH Thamrin

which aims to socialize vehicle-free lifestyle and enhance the environment quality of Jakarta. However, the

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area has big social gap (usually the very poor people will work as office boy, cleaner, etc) so there are quite

some number of low class commercial points for the workers to have food, rest, or hang out. However, this

part of the street is not really visible, instead the high-class social life and activities are more prominent.

Figure 2 Map highlighting the area of coverage in Jalan TAR.

Jalan Tunku Rahman was once the main street in Kuala Lumpur It was originally known as Batu Road,

because it began as a track leading to Batu Village, limestone caves to tin mines. Later, it was renamed

Jalan Tunku Abdul Rahman, after our first Prime Minister. It is also the city’s longest road with shops set up

in pre-war buildings along both sides. These buildings reflect changing trends in architectural design.

The pre-war buildings still stand through the more derelict have been torn down to give way to modern multi

storey buildings. Jalan TAR was famous for the Coliseum Café and Coliseum Cinema. Then Globe Silk

Store opened and shoppers flocked here to pick up affordable clothing. Like a magnet, Jalan TAR attracted

business with shops and restaurants selling all kinds of things from shoes and clothes to watches and

souvenirs. The neighborhood flourished and in the early 1980s. Jalan TAR was turned into one way street

to ease traffic flow. Narrow alleys between the rows of shops offer a huge range of clothes and accessories.

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2.0 COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS

City is different in all aspect in the world. It is no doubt that the spatial layout of the city itself would

generate a chance variation of probability to encounter and influencing the human behavior. Most of the

buildings imply social activity which is originating from the intended function, however it is then

unintentionally follows by random encounters that may generate from the designated events. There is no

doubt that the influence of architecture would affect the human action, and in turns, they would regulate the

course of lives as well as the images of the city. Every event comes in its own unique way that would

greatly define the identity of the city itself.

Although Jalan MH Thamrin and Jalan TAR can be classified as the cultural district for their respective

country, both depicts significantly different social patterns which corresponds to their respective local

climate and cultural context. There has been a long standing thread of recognition of the way people live in

the city and the distinct of behavior causes by the built environment, both individually and socially. Other

than the built environment, the behavior is also affected by the climate of the country, cultural aspect and

also the form of communication among the residents living out here.

Figure 3 Map showing core districts spread into the sub urban area of Jalan MH Thamrin.

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First and foremost, the land planning in Jalan MH Thamrin is quite different from Jalan TAR. Jalan MH

Thamrin consists of a linear layout that is designated to be dense and walkable, obviously dense around

the core business and commercial districts spread into the sub urban area. Sitting in between the

transitional point of residential and core business district, Jalan MH Thamrin becomes one of the most

highly populated destinations that is dominated by local people and also foreigners.

Figure 4 Map showing disorder layout of mixed use environment scattering along Jalan TAR.

As for Jalan TAR, it is mostly occupied by old dwellers who remain from the past, and also foreigners from

our neighboring countries such as Vietnam, Indonesia, Bangladesh etc who move in to replace the young

generation that has chosen to leave. Despite of its degeneration as a formerly vibrant city, it still contains a

strong functional characteristic which remains the whole experience that is entirely absent from the proper

planning space in Jalan MH Thamrin. The mixed used of environment which seems disorder may somehow

energize the residents and makes it a vibrant neighborhood like before.

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Despite of the dissimilarities of the impact of development, both the streets share linear typology which

consists of various contact points. These contact points are the outdoor activities influenced by different

conditions in public spaces such as necessary, social and optional activities in relation to the degree of

contact intensity as mentioned by Gehl in his ‘Life Between Buildings’ 1986.

Figure 5 Utilization of ‘sidewalk garden’ in front of the commercial building along Jalan MH Thamrin.

Figure 6 Utilization of ‘sidewalk garden’ in front of the shop houses along Jalan TAR.

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The first contact that comes at first place upon reaching the street is usually the edge of the street that acts

as a crossing between the street itself and the adjacent one. It is an area to express the characteristic of

the street especially when people barely pass by. Both of the streets use the similar tactics that would help

to set up the vision in the first place. For example, both streets utilize the ‘sidewalk garden’ which appears

at the sidewalk in front of the building. Hence, when public firstly approach the street, they encounter the

sidewalk garden before entering the buildings. This form of contact is aspired by the building environment

which is functional and attractive, which would enhance the possibility for involvement, interaction and

knowledge exchanging in place. This strategy generates the structural properties that drive people to slow

down their pace to appreciate the elements in a space rather than coming for a specific activity only. Due to

the lack of sitting area along the streets, it may create spontaneous experience for the public to utilize the

elements of space as the informal sitting area. This brilliant strategy tends to beautify the landscape using

greeneries, in turn directly influencing behavior architecturally by using this area as an informal sitting spot.

For instance, in shopping districts such as Sarinah at Jalan MH Thamrin and SOGO Mall at Jalan TAR,

there is a tendency for people who decided to wait outside the building while waiting for relatives or friends,

may utilize the sidewalk garden as the spontaneous informal sitting spot. However, the degrees of contact

intensity is considered as fairly low as it only involves in the passive and possibly chances contacts in all

sense.

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Figure 7 Bundaran Hotel Indonesia acts as a point form typology in Jalan MH Thamrin.

Figure 8 Patung Kuda Arjuna Wiwaha acts as a landmark and major node in Jalan MH Thamrin.

Along Jalan MH Thamrin, plaza and squares located at major street intersections while connecting other

main routes. As Bundaran Hotel Indonesia and Patung Kuda Arjuna Wiwaha located at the intersection

between main street where transportation network from commercial and residential zones intersects, they

both form a point form typology and major node in Jakarta, a place where most people meets. During Car

Free Day, as most of the roads will be blocked, these public squares become a must-pass by area for

joggers, cyclists, strollers etc to reach the main road, Jalan MH Thamrin. The utilization of sidewalk with

vegetation provides cozy and comfortable for the public which encourages them to participate the Car Free

Day event.

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Figure 9 Public square in front of SOGO Mall in Jalan TAR.

In contrast, there are less formal creation of proper public squares and plazas in Jalan TAR. Social

activities in Jalan TAR occur mainly in between the alleyway or five footways. These spaces are sheltered

by buildings or roof thus creating promising condition for social activities in countries with hot and humid

weather to occur. On the other hand, there are plazas and squares which are carved out from building

blocks at major street intersections. For example, for the SOGO Mall, the chamfering of building blocks

instead of enclosing, creates an open space that allows the integration of building with the public space

where seating and shading are provided. It creates squares and plazas that encourages for optional

activities such as street performances, when the weather and time permits.

Along Jalan MH Thamrin, varied storefronts, plazas and squares as well as shaded sidewalk create

positive conditions for optional and social activities to occur. Comparatively, Jalan TAR lacks of open

spaces and street furniture along the sidewalk, although it has favorable direct physical and visual access

to the street stores. Therefore, with reference to Gehl’s theory, the quality of necessary activities affects the

occurrence of optional and social activities. Hence, Jalan TAR has less favourable condition for optional

and social activities to occur than Jalan MH Thamrin. People go to their targeted destination without

noticing its surroundings.

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Both building typology in Jalan MH Thamrin and Jalan TAR encourage active ground floor usage,

expanding the apparent public realm which creates an interaction between pedestrian and the store’s

occupant. “A great number of stops were noted in front of shops and exhibit that had direct relationship to

other people and the surrounding social environment.

Figure 10 Implementation of broader sidewalk and parking area

at the commercial building along Jalan MH Thamrin.

Alongside Jalan MH Thamrin, it is noticeable that most of the commercial building tends to make good use

of the broader sidewalk and parking area which is reserved for the public for an extension to their own

usage. Due to the unfavorable climatic condition, the broader sidewalk and parking area tends to invite

public to enter the building which provides cozy and comfortable environment. By implementing this

strategy, it creates a smoother transition from indoor to outdoor. It allows people to have similar living

spaces to those you have inside for a seamless transition. With the integration of broader sidewalk and

parking area along the street, people tends to be attracted by things beyond physical form, perhaps it

creates a connected leisure that would support people to be part of the street. Every components in urban

has a crucial human meaning. In addition, instead of fully enclosing the wall on the shop fronts, most of the

buildings use large window panels and openings for the extension to flow. By emphasizing inside outside

relation, it creates more appealing environment and enables people to have freedom to stay either indoor

or outside. However, the intensity of contact level between pedestrian and store occupants is relatively low

as they are set apart by a physical façade and do not have direct interaction with each other.

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Figure 11 Shop houses extend business extends towards five footways along Jalan TAR.

Figure 12 Unobstructed visual and physical informal contact between sellers and pedestrian.

In Jalan TAR, the typology of shop houses which opens its façade and extends towards the five footways

and the street stalls has direct unobstructed visual and physical informal contact between the seller and the

pedestrian as compared to the commercial buildings in Jalan MH Thamrin. At the same time, the extension

creates a smoother transition from indoor to outdoor. Therefore, it encourages optional activities with

moderate contact intensity level. It was obvious that human activities, being able to see other people in

action constitute the area’s main attraction. Passerby can be noted stopping to observe or took slower

walking pace as they passing by these locations. Besides, in order to get rid of the scorching sun, people

tend to use the five foot way as sun shading device which relatively increases the contact intensity level.

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Figure 13 & Figure 14 Open square allows occurrence of necessary, social

and optional activities in Jalan MH Thamrin during Car Free Day.

During Car Free Day along Jalan MH Thamrin, the sidewalk, main road and bus lane fuse into one which

creates open public space for necessary, social and optional activities while allowing seamless walking

experience. It encourages active usage of street as outdoor. For example, necessary activities were found

as some small informal businesses such as the vendors setting up the stalls and street art performances

occurring at the sidewalk; social and optional activities occur as the road is closed to create a favorable

environment for gathering, strolling, cycling and jogging. Due to the lacking of primary seating, people often

utilize the steps, planter box and curb as the secondary sitting area by leaning, resting and sitting on them.

The informalities occur around Jalan MH Thamrin creates unforeseen and diverse experience for people,

adding sense of lively to the street. As the linear form typology of Jalan MH Thamrin provides mixed used

of environments for different purposes during different days, it ensures and diversifies the quality of the

street as well as fosters the relationship of the neighborhood. As it is said, ‘killing two birds with one stone’.

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Figure 15 & Figure 16 Extension of businesses to the small alley & back in Jalan TAR.

As opposed to Jalan MH Thamrin, the sidewalk in Jalan TAR lacks of proper guidelines. Thus, causing

privatization of sidewalk where businesses expand to the edge of the street, leaving limited circulation

space for pedestrian. However, the lack of formalities allows the personalization of sidewalk, adding a

sense of robustness to the asian street culture experience. Because of its role as an essential feature of the

place, the intensity of contact level is the most widespread social activity compare to Jalan MH Thamrin. It

is because that there is constantly active contacts where people exchange greeting whenever they

purchase item either in the shop house, alley or back lane. This modest form of contact happens randomly

everywhere when one explores all around the street, because it does not consist of a specific form to

determine the edge of the place. Furthermore, it increases the possibility for this modest form of contact to

grow into something more extensive. Although the obstruction of shop fronts view is something that should

have considered, it is noticed that this phenomena did little in such a way to obstruct the overall activity

pattern in Jalan TAR. Although it is obvious that everything seems to be disorder and not organized in

Jalan TAR, it makes all the scattered spaces bound together all over again, creating an environmental

quality that is manipulated by human behavior.

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3.0 Conclusion

In conclusion, human activities become a major factor in the formation and completion of in between

spaces as lives is the dominance subject in this topic. The categorization of activities primarily based on its

involvement of social engagements creates a more defined thought on the affections to the social pattern in

terms of the site culture, social and intellectual pattern. It defines clearly the idea of maximization and

declaration of the existence of space with the presence of human and their activities in attempting to

establish an image of city through the relevance of these lives in the spaces between buildings. An urban

formation and pattern falls closely within the assessment of this at which the development of a city move

synchronized with participation of the community. There is no right or wrong in the spatial layout design,

however we could conclude that most of this form of contact points creates contact form exterior to interior,

it does not just contend within its basic built form.

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4.0 Reference

Gehl, J. (1971). Life Between Buildings. Using Public Space. In J. Gehl, Life Between Buildings. Using Public Space (pp. 11- 31). New York: Van Nostrand Reinhold Company.

Frampton, K (1983). Towards a Critical Regionalism: Six Points for an Architecture of Resistance. n.d.

Spaces, P. (2016). Jan Gehl – Project for Public Space. Project for Public Space. Retrieved 28

June 2017, from http://www.pps.org/reference/jgehl/

Architecture, urbanism, design and behavior: a brief review – Architectures. (2017) Architectures.donlockton.co.uk. Retrieved 25 June 2017, from http://architectures.danlockton.co.uk/2011/09/12/architecture-urbanism-design-and-behaviour-a-brief-review/

Lynch, K. (1960). The image of the city (1st ed.). Cambridge, Mass.: MIT Press.