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1. BACHELOR OF SCIENCE (HONS) IN ARCHITECTURE
THEORIES OFARCHITECTURE AND URBANISM
(ARC 61303)
PROJECT II
COMPARATIVE ESSAY
INTRAMUROS, MANILA & JALAN BESAR, KLANG
Name: Heng Sy Hua
ID: 0321999
Tutor: Mr.Prince
2. 1
Content
1.0 Introduction---------------------------------------------------2
2.0 Contact Points Analysis-------------------------------------4
2.1 Intramuros, Manila
2.2 Jalan Besar, Klang
3.0 Space and Functionality------------------------------------15
3.1 Vehicular Movement
3.2 Public Transport
3.3 Built Form
3.4 Public Realm
3.5 Economy
4.0 Activities Analysia--------------------------------------------24
5.0 Conclusion-----------------------------------------------------25
6.0 References-----------------------------------------------------26
3. 2
1.0 Introduction
Intramuros, Manila
“… its historic buildings still stand today, asleep, unaffecting towards its citizens. A ‘Walled
City’ is known as Intramuros.” Intramuros is once a great fortified city which was erected by
Spanish conquistadors on the southern bank of the river Pasig, Philippines. The city is
affected by Spanish renaissance design where the city is filled with 7 guarded gateways
along its perimeter enclosing 51 city blocks. The city is once inhabits by Spanish elite and
Mestizos ethnic group. Throughout the history, many attempts to invade Intramuros have
been foiled because of the city’s size and strategic military defences. The area was also
equipped with medical and government infrastructure.
Today, the walled city has become a more inviting city by removing part of the colossal wall.
This strategic has indirectly changed the function from a military district to an economy and
tourism district. Turning the city a 180 degrees, Intramuros is no longer a shell but a
vulnerable city without public spaces that in lieu have been invaded by all kinds of informal
commercialization. Hence, the historical buildings in the city still standing today, quiet and
asleep.
4. 3
Jalan Besar, Klang
Jalan Besar is one of the busiest street in Klang town as it is one of the main road for
vehicular movement. The end of the route is located at the end of Jalan Besar which is also
one of the main reason that caused the busy street scape. Most of the historical buildings
are still standing in the city. Back to the late 1800’s during British occupation the population
of Port Klang was mainly British and Chinese. During the early 1890’s first KTM station in
Klang was built for mining purposes. Since then, more population had started to occupied
the city. Indian population as well as people from out-station started to run business around
the Jalan Besar and the road surrounding which included Jalan Tengku Kelana and Jalan
Dato Hamzah. Following the old shop house typology, the shop owners live at the second
floor and run their business as the ground floor. However, till today, the second floor of the
shop houses has mainly become the storage area or hostel for the foreign workers.
Today, the main purpose of the city has change from residential area to economic and
tourism area. However, most of the old buildings are still preserved till today and has
become one of the historical township too.
5. 4
2.0 Contact Point Analysis
Intramuros, Manila
Diagram 2.1 shows the contact points in Intramuros, Manila.
Contact Points 1: Jeepney Stop
6. 5
Diagram 2.2 shows Jeepney stop in Intramuros, Manila.
This is an area for Jeepneys, a small bus-like jeep, to park, to pick up waiting passengers.
Although there are no dedicated stops for the Jeepneys, both pedestrians and Jeepneys
driviers have recognised the localtion as a frequent pick-up and drop-off point. The stand is
located along Soriano Avenue opposite to Casa Rocha and Palacio Del Goberner. Due to the
high intensity level of the human movement, acquaintances and friends and close friends
contact can be easily seen in the contact points. Type of activities that can be found are
necessary activities, as wokers walk to Casa Rocha to reach their workplace. Secondly, is the
social activity while friends are talking to each other. Lastly, optional activities can be found
it the site with people waiting Jeepney under the shade.
Contact Points 2: Comelec Parking Lot
Diagram 2.3 vendors selling goods for passerby.
2 adjacent large parking space has bought in food and beverage street vendors to yield their
revenue by selling government officers and workers. Due to no proper shaded spaces,
vendors and pedestrians gather at secondary lanes that are shaded by buildings and trees.
Existing unshaded open area used for parking exclusively. According to Jan Gehl, “People
attract by people.” (Page 23). Type of contacts that occurs in the contact points are friends
and close friends, chance contact when people purchasing from the street vendors, and
acquaintances when the street vendors and customers converse. Type of activities that
involved are necessary activities, social activities and optional activities.
7. 6
Contact Points 3: Plaza De Roma
Diagram 2.4 shows tourism activities held by Plaza De Roma.
An open green space that is often visited by the tourist but the absence of street furniture
affects the behaviours of people towards creating informal seating place. The wide open
spaces and clean environment due to the law enforced by government building at contact
point. Type of contacts that can be seen in the contact point are friends and close friends,
chance contact when people hails a kelesa ride, and acquaintances when visitors converse
and tour guides. As a hotspot for visitors to gather, different kinds of activities can be seen
too. Firstly, is necessary activities where junior photographers taking pictures at the area.
Secondly, is social activities where tour guide explaining thr history of the city and also
optional activities for instance, sightseeing and resting at the fountain.
8. 7
Contact Points 4: Boarder of Intramuros
Diagram 2.5 shows one of the main entrance to Intramuros.
High vehicular movement can be seen in this contact points as this is one of the main road
that lead into Intramuros. Less pedestrian movement can be seen in the wider site due to
the absents of covered pedestrian pathway. The type of contacts available are passive
contacts, where pedestrian and vehicles passed by, chance contact where customers
purchasing food from the vendors and acquaintances when street vendors and customers
converse. Type of activities that can be found are necessary activities where pedestrian
walked pass to the national bank, social activities where the kelesa workers chat with each
other and optional activities where customers are eating by the roadside stalls.
9. 8
Contact Point 5: Postigo Street
Diagram 2.6 shows people gathering around the food stalls.
On Postigo Street behind BF Condominiums is Santo Thomas Street which is popular
amongst locals for its food stalls set up by the roadside. The optimum location between tall
condo building and college encourages small food stall to being set up. Type of contacts
available are passive contact where pedestrian and vehicles passing by and also friends and
close friends relationship. Due to the high intensity of human flow, the activities occurs in
the point is also the most among the others. For necessary activities, there are student and
staff heading to school and vehicles passing through the route. For social activities, are the
gathering of students and pedestrian for lunch and have interaction. Lastly, optional
activities can be seen when motorcyclist park their vehicles under the shade and customers
having meals in the food stall.
11. 10
Contact Point 1: KTM station
Diagram 2.8 shows KTM station located in Jalan Besar.
The KTM station situated at the end of Jalan Besar. Surrounding the KTM station, there are
also an informal bus station and taxi stand. Hence, this contact point is also a waiting area
for all types of public transport that will route passing by the site. However, high vehicular
movement has increased the difficulty for the pedestrian to cross the busy road as
pedestrian bridge is absent. The type of contacts can be seen in this contact point is the
passive contact where the vehicles will pass by , acquaintances when the customers
converse with the taxi and bus driver and also chance contact where people conserve with
each other when they are waiting at the gathering point. For the activities, there will be
necessary activities where workers and student walk towards school and office from the
KTM or bus station. Social activities can also be seen when 2 friends converse with each
other. Optional activities also take place when people waiting their travelling partner at the
point.
12. 11
Contact Point 2: Chong Kok Kopitiam
Diagram 2.9 shows Chong Kok Kopitiam.
This is one of the famous restaurant located along Jalan Besar. The human intensity in this
restaurant is also one of the highest as both locals and travellers will have their meals there.
Long queue can often being seen outside the shop occupying the five foot walk way. The
type of contacts can be found in this point is acquaintance where the workers converse with
the customers, and also friends and close friends relationship. Chance contact can also be
seen when people share table with each other. For activities, necessary activities can be
seen when pedestrian pass by the five foot walkway to the neighbouring shops. Social
activities can be seen when people chatting with each other while waiting also, optional
activities when people choose to have their meals in the restaurant and people queueing
outside the shop.
13. 12
Contact Point 3: Sultan Abdul Aziz Royal Gallery
Diagram 2.10 shows Sultan Abdul Aziz Royal Gallery
This is the only gallery situated in the site where the history of Sultan Abdul Aziz are being
exhibited in the building. The gallery is also the only area with large green space available in
the premise. The type of contacts ca be seen in the point are passive contact, where
pedestrian and vehicles passed by, friends and close friends relationship as there visit the
gallery in a group. Several activities can be found in the contact point. Firstly, necessary
activities where the gallery workers heading to the gallery office. Secondly, social activities
as visitors gather to visit the gallery and optional activities where passer-by having short rest
under the gazebo besides the building or sitting by the stairs of the building and travellers
having sight seeing and taking photos in front of the gallery.
14. 13
Contact Points 4: Back alley
Diagram 2.2 shows one of the back alley in Jalan Besar.
Most of the back alley in Jalan Besar is not accessible by vehicles, hence, it is relatively
having less human intensity and movement in compare witht the mainroad. However,
several mural arts are created in the back lane of jalan besar in order to increase the human
intensity of the road as well as allowing the visitors to explore the different faces of Jalan
Besar. The type of contact can be seen in the point is passive contact when pedestrian walk
by the road as a shortcut to their destination, and friends and close friends relationship as
their visit the mural art together. The activities involved are necessary activities for
pedestrian to walk across the buildings, optional activities when visitors having sight seeing
and photo taking with the mural arts.
15. 14
Contact Point 5: Roadside stalls
Diagram 2.2 shows roadside stalls in the contact point.
A row of temporarily stalls are set up along an alley way behind Jalan Solok Besar. The main
reason of setting the stall here are due to its strategic location where it is located near to a
housing area across the main road. Most locals will walk pass the space through the
pedestrian bridge and have their meals at the stall before continuing their journey. Hence,
the type of contact can be found in the site are firstly, passive contact when pedestrian and
vehicles passed by, friends and cose friends relationship as group of friends having meals
together. For activities, necessary activities that can be seen is the pedestrian walking
towards the main road, social activities, people having meals and converse with each other,
optional activities, stall owners setting up their stalls in the space as well as customers
eating in the stalls.
16. 15
3.0 Space and Functionality
3.1 Vehicular movement
There are great different in the vehicular movement between Intramuros and Jalan Besar.
Intramuros is a well-planned city where all the buildings and circulations are form by grids.
Hence, good vehicular circulation can be planned where the main road with high vehicular
movement are located away from the sightseeing and greenscapes. For instance, The road
surrounding Plaza De Roma are built relatively wider as it is set as one way road than the
other road which is set as two way road and is not directly connected to the main entrance
to the city to avoid traffic congestions.
Diagram 3.1 & 3.2 shows the width of the road surrounding Plaza De Roma (left) and one of
the main entrance to Intramuros (right).
For Jalan Besar, due to its linear site context, Jalan Besar is the main road that connects the
city to the KTM station. Hence, high vehicle movement can be seen throughout the day.
Also, due to the limited parking lots on site. The vehicle route has been further narrowed
down by double parked cars and caused serious traffic congestion. Jan Gehl stated “In
streets and city spaces of poor quality, only the bare minimum of activity takes place.
People hurry home” (page 14). With the unfavourable noises and pollution caused by the
vehicles, most social activities are held inside the buildings or at the sub road that has lesser
17. 16
Diagram 3.3 shows the congestion condition in Jalan Besar during day time.
Diagram 3.4& 3.5 shows the double park condition in Jalan Besar (left) and the source of
noise in Jalan Besar (right).
18. 17
3.2 Public Transport
Both Intramuros and Jalan Besar has informal gathering place for public transport. For
Intramuros, Jeepney stand can be seen locating in one of the contact point while informal
bus stop and taxi stand as well as KTM station can be found in Jalan Besar. Hence both the
street act as a public transport hub where necessary activities has higher percentage of
occurring as people will walk pass the street for transit.
Diagram 3.6 shows Jeepney in Intramuros.
Diagram 3.7 shows taxi driver standing by outside the KTM station.
19. 18
3.3 Built Form
Shoplot
In terms of built form, the two streets potray different qualities on how the built form
affects the people. As both streets are rich in historical aspects, most of their building
typology is preserved until today. For Intramuros, the building are built in multi-story, and
excessively enlarged surrounding a large plaza. This built form is affected by the Spanish
renaissance design where they concerned more to the visual expression of the cities and
buildings. (Page 46). Also the initial function of the space is not for outdoor activities, hence
less covered walkway and shaded area can be seen in the streets. With this, the shade that
caused by the tall buildings has become the key shading device in the cities and more
human intensity can be found towards the shaded area. For instance, food vendors tends to
set up their stall at the more narrow road as the shadow of the building beside are able to
shade the whole area and become more favourable for the passer-by to stop and stay.
Diagram 3.8 shows the effect of building shade to the human activities.
For Jalan Besar, the street was once a residential area for shop owners hence, the building
scale and proportion are in a better way in order to maintain the visual permeability within
the street. According to Jan Gehl, a concentration of activity depends on the active and
closely spaced exchange between street and façade. The shop lots in Jalan Besar is arranged
20. 19
closely together and in a linear manner which will also indirectly control the movement of
people in a linear way. The narrow façade of the shop lots also allows pedestrian to have a
better visual contact into the shop lots along the street. This will also aid in the increasing of
passive contacts and could be a starting point to create a higher level of contact. Also, the
creation of five foot walkway has provide a better environment for the pedestrian to walk
by and hence, high level of pedestrian movement can often be seen along the street. Hence,
the narrow and linearity of the street has indeed increase the chance of optional activity as
the pedestrian are able to look into the shop when they pass by.
Diagram 3.9 shows visual connectivity established by the narrow, linear streetscape.
Diagram 3.10 shows five foot way that encourage the human movement across the street.
21. 20
Back alley
Both back alley in Intramuros and Jalan Besar has minimal human intensity. For Intramuros,
the back alley is often used as informal car parking area as the space is nearer to their
destination. Only necessary activities can be found as pedestrian pass by the back alley to
their vehicles or as a transitional space to their destination. For Jalan Besar, minimal human
intensity can be found during the day and almost none during the night. This is due to the
poor street quality where the back alley is full of rubbish and no lightning facilities are
installed. There are some mural paintings painted in the back alley, however, due to the
poor street condition, it is not a favourable place for tourist to stop by and stay. Main
activities occurs in the back alley is necessary activities where local used it as a short cut to
their destination.
Diagram 3.11 & 3.12 shows street condition in Jalan Besar and Intramuros.
22. 21
3.4 Public Realm
Street Furniture
Both Jalan Besar and Intramuros are tourism hotspot nowadays and good street furniture is
one of the main factor that is able to hold the passerby. According to Jen Gehl, “The
opportunity to see, hear, and meet others can also be shown to be one of the most
important attractions in city centers and on pedestrian streets.” However, the absence of
street furniture has lead to the use of secondary street furniture as seating and resting area.
For Intramuros, planter box under a shaded area are often be used as secondary seating for
the pedestrian. As for Jalan Besar, the steps in five foot walk ways are commonly used as
secondary seating for the pedestrians. Some of the shop owner will have to prepare plastic
chair by their selves as the secondary seating area. Due to the physical condition of the
street which is not user friendly, pedestrian are forced to use secondary furniture are public
seating to observe the street activities.
Diagram 3.13 & 3.14 shows the use of secondary street furniture by the pedestrian.
Scale of Public Realm
Based on Jan Gehl’s saying, the size and scale of the public space tend to affect the comfort
of the individual in a space. In general, the size of a space correlates well with the human
sensory apparatus and number of people who use the spaces. An over dimension space
always resulted lack of pedestrian traffic and devoid of people as this act has prevented the
establishment of more intimate and better- used public space. For instance, Plaza De Roma
is a large plaza built by focusing more on physical appearance than functionality. Hence, this
caused the plaza to be over-dimensioning as the number of people using the square is not
23. 22
proportionate with the size of the plaza. This has caused the underutilized and will disperse
the people further apart. The intensity and possibility of contact will be decreased.
However, public walkways and gather points in Jalan Besar are more reasonable in size and
with the close proximity of people, it resulted a high pedestrian density and further increase
the opportunity of establishment of a higher intensity of contact.
Diagram 3.15 & 3.16 the optimum scale for human intensity in the space in Jalan Besar (left)
and oversized space in Intramuros ( right).
24. 23
3.5 Economy
Jalan Besar in the pass was a high density residential area due to the Chinese traditional
lifestyle, the shop owners commonly live at the second floor of the shop lots. Hence, the
human intensity that stays in the area are very high and the human intensity between day
and night are balance. However, today, Jalan Besar has become a commercial area where
the number of residents decrease drastically. Jalan Besar has now become a transportation
hub where most of the visitors will stay for a short period before they go to their next
destination. Hence, the rate of human flow increase but the human intensity during day and
night are imbalance. Therefore, Jalan Besar has changed to a transition space for most
visitors. Large amount of necessary activities are taken place but smaller range of optional
and social activitiy can be seen.
As for Intramuros, the city is initially a governmental and military area where minimal
residents live in this walled city. However, as time pass, Intramuros opened its gate to the
public and thus inviting more locals to move into the city. The city has now changed to a
tourism hotspot where it has change its status from enclosed to a city that is exposed to the
outside world. Hence, more optional and social activities are being establish along side with
the increasing tourism and commercial activities.
Diagram 3.17 high human flow and vehicular movement in Jalan Besar.
Diagram 3.18 shows social activities establish due to the development of tourism in
Intramuros.
25. 24
4.0 Activity analysis overview
Contact points Jalan Besar Intramuros
Necessary Activities
Heading to particular
destination
High intensity
Five foot way that
encouragepedestrian
to walk by
High intensity
Walkway shaded by
multi-storey buildings
during the day
Head to public transport
station
High intensity
People comes and go
from Jalan Besar by
public transport
High intensity
People gather at
dedicated spacefor
Jeepney ride
Social and optional activity
Sight seeing Low intensity
Uninviting streetscape,
poor physicalcondition
of the back alley, lack of
tourism attractions
High intensity
Eye pleasing
streetscape, planned
photo taking scene,
present of various
touristattraction
Sitting area Low intensity
Absent of primary
sitting area, lack of
street lightning
Low intensity
Absent of primary
sitting area
Visiting restaurantand
shopping
High intensity
Shop lots arranged
closed to each other
increase the proximity
between the pedestrian
and the shop lots and
increase the
opportunity in visiting
the restaurant
Low intensity
The oversized plaza
resulting low proximity
between people and
shoplot.
From the table, the intensity of necessary activity on both street are similar as necessary
activities are compulsory regardless how the physical condition. Therefore, the frequency of
the activities take place is identical for all condition.
On the other hand, optional and social activities varies between both streets as these
activities are not compulsory and dependant on the physical condition. These activities will
only take place when the street conditions are favourable for the activities.
26. 25
5.0 Conclusion
Generally, both Jalan Besar and Intramuros has pros and cons that encourage and
discourage social activities and optional activities. The linearity and close arrangement of
the shop lots creates higher possibility of passive contacts and more optional and social
activity within the pedestrian along the street. On the other hand, the presence of micro
business that caused by the tourism industry in Intramuros also increase the possibility of
chance contact, social and optional activities in the street.
In order to further increase the richness of live between buildings, more street furniture for
instance, public sittings and street lighting should be improve to hold the pedestrian that
pass by the street. Also, clean and hygienic streetscape should be maintain to create more
attraction among the people.
In short, Jen Gehl’s theory about the relationship between the physical environment quality
and the rate of occurrence of outdoor activities is actually inter related with each other
With good environment quality, people tends to stop in the space, and ‘people attracts
people’, more people will be attracted to the same space and thus create contacts with
each other which is also known as life between buildings.
27. 26
6.0 References
Making Cities for People. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://gehlpeople.com/
Gehl, J., & Koch, J. (2011). Life between buildings: Using public space. Washington, DC: Island
Press.
Jalan Besar 2 - Bandar Klang, Klang Selangor - MapQuest. (n.d.). Retrieved from
https://www.mapquest.com/malaysia/selangor/bandar-klang-klang/41000/jalan-besar-2-
3.043250,101.448230
Muthiah, W. (2014, December 10). The royal town of Selangor. Retrieved from
https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2014/12/11/the-royal-town-of-selangor/
