Jalan Alor in Kuala Lumpur is summarized as follows: 1) Jalan Alor has a fine-grain urban fabric with small buildings and shop lots that provide high permeability and encourage pedestrian activity, making the area vibrant. 2) The variety of commercial and residential uses along Jalan Alor and the cultural food stalls attract large crowds throughout the day and night. 3) Cullen's principles of contrast and vibrancy are evident along Jalan Alor, from the modern skyscrapers contrasting with the local food street to the lively mix of activities, buildings, and human flow that energize the area.

1. Tales of Three Cities
Assignment 2b: Mapping the
Townscape
Bridget Tan Shu Ting
Andrew Law Zi Hang
Chok Jia Jun
Saw Hwei Ying
Sharon Lim Yu Jung

2. Site Location
Malaysia

3. Site Location
Kuala Lumpur

4. Site Location: Bukit Bintang

5. Jalan Alor

6. Figure Ground
Analysis

7. Urban Grid & Urban Fabric
The urban grid is in a fragmented organic grid, whereby it sprawls along the road system. The
Urban fabric around Jalan Alor consist of fine grain, which have relatively small building footprints
and low height. This fine grain pattern provides more permeability and pedestrian accessibility, thus
the region is always throbs with human flow.
Course
Grain
Fine
Grain

8. Large
Scale
(>15m)
Small
Scale
(<15m)
Built Form Scale
The building scale along Jalan Alor is small, which decreases the hierarchy of the region. The five-foot-
walkway which located at the front of the terrace flanking Jalan Alor improves the permeability further
by increasing level of human activity around.

9. Built Form Typology
Line or terrace built form which Jalan Alor mainly constitutes of naturally provided a front that is
revealed to the public and a back lane where the reality is masked from the people. The point form
typology is found at the high rises, which confine its accessibility only to a designated target group.
Whereas Perimeter block are found at the Gang Sahabat Apartment, which encloses a garden-like
community area for the residences, apart from the public.

10. Public & Urban Realm
The shop lots around Jalan Alor are public realms which public spent their time in whereas urban
realm are privatized zone whereby only specific targeted groups are attracted to, thus forming an
invisible barrier against the public, although contradicting with their initial planning of wishing to attract
people of all ranges.

11. Activity &
Program

12. Activity & Programs
Jalan Alor compromises of shoplots which carries mixed function of both residential and
commercial. The variety of activity continuously charge the area with human flow throughout the
day and night. For instance, during the day, the shoplots are homes, whereas at night it is
transformed into a commercial food street. This variety in terms of uses, activities and human flow
shapes it into a vibrant area.

13. Culture
The permeable block structure encourages easy pedestrian access but to get concentrated
pedestrian flow, extra magnets such as the food stalls are introduced which attracts large
pedestrian flow. This culturalised the area to become a local cultural hotspot.

14. Movement

15. Diversity of Accessibility
Variety of means of access increased the permeability to Jalan Alor, whereby people can opt public or
private transport to reach there. The walkability of the area is considered moderate, because even
without proper pavement, pedestrian activity is still very active at the zone, especially Jalan Alor,
whereby vehicle and pedestrian can travel side by side at the same time, a culturalised norms in
here.

16. Movement
Mostly are mixed movement due to the high variety of the building typology which shapes the street
scape and the diversity of accessibility.

17. Cullen’s Serial Vision
Contrast

18. Across the busy street, the glitzy
LED laid façade of the shopping
mall lights up against the
monolithic concrete monorail line.
The concrete railway line forms
as an edge dissected the skyline
of the dense high rise jungle
against the lower elevation
streetscape of Jalan Barangan
which leads to Jalan Alor.

19. The narrow terrace flanked road
surprisingly opened to a wide view,
creating a contrast against the
previously hustled road.
The road slopes gradually
downwards, as if we are walking
downhill, which contrast to the
formerly flat land of Bukit Bintang.

20. A sharp turning leads to a dark
narrow alley, contrasting to the bright
open neighbourhood front. This gives
a sense of curiosity of what is
actually ahead.
Travel further down the slope,
various daily life of people can be
observed in the restaurants, barbers,
vendors and etc. revives the area
with a sense of neighbourhood.

21. From the narrow alley, we emerged
on the packed busy shop lots terrace,
whereby the sound of human haggling
contrasts with the silence of the alley.
At the right, Jalan Alor emerges in
view, whereby the local foodstalls
start to throb in wait for the night to
falls.

22. The modern skyscapers of Bukit
Bintang forms a contrasting backdrop
to the authentic local Malaysian food
street, a clear reflection of
anonymous globalization against the
quintessential roots of culture of this
land.
The big signage of the food stalls
light up with hawkers starting to set
up their stalls, juxtaposed with the
silent vacant road in the day.

23. Cullen’s Serial Vision
Vibrancy

24. Crossing the busy street intersection
(Changkat Bukit Bintang), one is
greeted by the highly engaged Jalan
Alor, famous for its scrumptious
delicacies. The richness (olfactory
and visual) triggers the senses of
locals and tourists alike.
A hotel sits by the street entrance,
indicating a mixed use of
development, its robustness
contributing to the vibrancy of the
place.

25. A myriad of restaurants with their
signages lit up and tables and chairs
organised in linear typologies greet
the passers-by along the road
frontage.
Distinct linear typology of multi-
coloured shop houses create a warm
embrace for passers-by. The
vibrantly-coloured shop houses
clustered according to their
function/use, fashioning a sense of
familiarity, whereby a relationship
between life and work is created.

26. Assortment of cultural delicacies
along Jalan Alor contribute to its
exuberance and liveliness as a
cosmopolitan street.
Perpetual buzzing of vehicular traffic
steers the pedestrian flow,
portraying a highly active street,
with its circulation kept abuzz
without providing respite from the
dynamism.

27. In the midst of the restaurants
emerges a contemporary café,
contributing to the vibrancy of the
street with its ability to cater to
different crowds.
The extension of the existing
building gives rise to the uniqueness
of the built form. The complexity of
the shop houses created by the
layering of facilities and amenities
attract crowds of different
ethnicities,

28. Running parallel to Jalan Alor is Jalan
Bukit Bintang, home to a multitude
of shop houses. A brightly-lit and
open Balinese food court gives rise
to the life of the street with its
permeability and use of materials
contributing to the visual
appropriateness amongst the heavy
structures along the road.
An exclusively unique Western
restaurant sits by the vertical shop
houses, enticing the scurried crowd
with its distinctive form, serving as a
landmark to the street.

29. Collage City

30. High Height
(>15m)
Low Height
(<15m)
Global & Local
Landmarks
Height & Proportion
Permanent Temporal
Push & Pull
Local & Globalized
Street & Alley
Pedestrianization
Urban void
Form Function Movement

31. Global & Local
Global influences can be found especially more in Point Form built typology, which are the large
retail stores, contrasting with the old shop houses which retained the local identity. Thus, giving
Jalan Alor a unique sense of place.

32. Landmark
Most of the landmarks are well connected with path, such as main road. Landmarks are reference
points which people experience from outside, thus the high composition of landmarks increases the
legibility of the place, whereby it is easily identifiable physically.

33. High
Height
(>15m)
Low
Height
(<15m)
Height & Proportion
Most of the buildings in high height and proportion give a sense of less welcoming, private zone, as
the city skyline are dominated and reserved for their users and cast much of the shadows on the
ground; whereas lower height and proportion buildings give a sense of warm, inviting ambience,
whereby the skyline is not interrupted and no much shadows are casted on ground, which is more
pedestrian friendly.

34. Permanent & Temporal
The vicinity have an interlace of permanently and temporarily used buildings. With the higher amount
of permanent building, the vicinity can be constantly pulsating actively with human activities, thus not
leaving dead zone which might decrease a city’s robustness.

35. Push & Pull
Creates a motion of human flow to be attracted to the destination. With the push and pull of human
flow, it enlivens the vicinity. Pushing force is especially clear when temporal building’s active time is
out and thereby when the permanent building stills operates, it creates a magnitude of pulling force
that attracts people there.

36. Polarity
The polarity is strong here whereby the local activities such as local food vending and restaurants
which have strong cultural identity attract foreigners in a higher composition as compared to locals;
whereas the international branding identity are more engaged by the locals.

37. Street & Alley
The busy and heavily congested highway, occupied mostly by vehicles contrasted with the alley,
where pedestrian movement is relatively slow-paced and relaxed.

38. Pedestrianization
Is strong along Jalan Alor whereby the road is paved with concrete tile, along with some trees planted
alongside to provide shade and introduce some softscape among the relatively hard street scape.
This suggests a more humanized streetscape as compared to the congested highway.

39. Urban Void
Punctual void functions as a focal point for people to stopby, such as park whereas linear void
provides connectivity which further increases permeability by reducing hierarchy, such as street.
The presence of void provides public realms for people to mingle and interact.

40. 6 Dimensions of
Urban Design
Kuala Lumpur Penang Kuching
Morphological dimension Rapid development
across the time result in
a high dense tall
buildings eliminated the
chances of having urban
void.
Under the law of
preservation, high dense
development is under
control. Thus, seal up
the urban scape against
rapid anonymous
development.
Relatively slow
development at the river
front preserving the
urban void which
engages public use.
Social dimension More necessary and
optional activity carry
out. Necessary activity
including office and
administrative work are
concentrated at the
commercial hub of Bukit
Bintang. Optional activity
includes retail and
leisure for the middle
and high class society.
Necessary, optional and
social activities happen
here due to the diversity
and vibrancy of the
urban scape and social
fabric due to the balance
between urban solid and
void
Development happens in
phase in different zone
thus creating variation in
urban scape
Visual Dimension Very contrasting formal
and informal transition in
the city, due to the lack
of buffer zone between
urban solid and urban
void.
: The introduction of soft
scape blends the
composition between
formal and informal very
well thus creating a
smooth transition in
visual dimension.
The preservation of
natural and man made
heritage create a
harmony ambience that
soften the transition
between old and new

41. 6 Dimensions of
Urban Design
Kuala Lumpur Penang Kuching
Functional Dimension The high demand on
land use push the limit of
functionality to the max.
Adaptive reuse is used in
the old building whereby
the functional is no
longer meeting the
current need. Thus
preserving the heritage
while meeting the needs
of today. .
The comparatively low
function demand towards
high rise development
allows the permeability
to public realm to be
maintained.
Perceptual Dimension Complexity and
contradiction. The
chaotic mix and match of
various elements creates
constantly contradicting
sequence whereby they
work against one
another.
Harmonious whereby the
old marries with the new,
structure marries with
the landscape.
Coherence in built form
and human activity this
preserving the local
identity.
Temporal dimension Very temporal city
whereby changes occur
everyday. Connection of
presence to the historical
past is fading rapidly.
Zeitgeist of the city
permeates well in the
development enhancing
the identity of past and
enriching the authentic
sense of the place.
A mild sense of time can
be feel as a result of less
rapid development that
injects hostile and bland
projects which eroded
the local fabric.

42. Reflection:
Tales of
Wish
Sharon Lim Yu Jung:
Kuching is my most
loveable city due to its
calm and soft
urbanscape that
promotes walkability
and permeability, with a
well preserved
authentic cultural
identity of its own.
Bridget Tan Shu Ting
Kuala Lumpur is the most compelling city to
me. As the capital of Malaysia, Kuala
Lumpur’s central location acts as a local
node with its diversity in culture and
activities. Home to a myriad of
entertainment outlets, it exudes a sense of
vibrancy with its pedestrian-oriented
functions. The range of activities and
distinct pursuits contribute to the identity of
this city, which brings live and work
together, creating an engaging
environment. However, the public
transportation network could be more
cohesive and the pavements for
pedestrians could be improved in terms of
its continuity and friendliness for the
disabled
Saw Hwei Ying:
Penang is my most
loveable city due to its
balance between urban
solid and void, which
preserve the old
heritage and meet the
current needs, thus
enhancing the identity
of Penang.

43. Andrew Law:
Kuala Lumpur is my
preferred city. Although it
is a rapid urbanized city,
cultural and heritage area
are still well preserved,
the contrasting form and
façade of the building in
the urbanscape has
created an experience
that makes everything
seems still connected,
which can be concluded
as the diversity of
modernity and traditionity
within the urban fabric.
Chok Jia Jun:
i like Kuching most as
compared to other two
cities. Not yet disturbed
by large development &
so it gives opportunities
to still being shape for
better. As compared to
other two cities, Kuching
towns-cape is much more
softer and human-scale,
projects a sense of
familiarity & welcoming
unlike the others forcing
un-contextual & tall
building to sit within the
existing townscape.

44. Conclusion
Jalan Alor, a contrasting urban
area whereby there is a
constant interaction between
permanent and temporal,
global and local, point and
linear and etc. that formulates
its vibrancy that eventually
becomes its cultural identity.