Comparative essay between Petchaburi Road (Bangkok) & Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman (Kuala Lumpur)

1. BACHELOR OF SCIENCE (HONOURS) IN ARCHITECTURE
THEORIES OF ARCHITECTURE & URBANISM [ARC61303]
PROJECT 2: COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS ESSAY
NAME: JAMES TAY JIA CHUEN
STUDENT ID: 0322210
TUTOR: AR. PRINCE FAVIS ISIP
SEMESTER 5 | MARCH 2017

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Table of Contents
1.0 INTRODUCTION ...............................................................................................................................3
1.1 INTRODUCTION TO BANGKOK (SITE) .......................................................................................3
1.2 INTRODUCTION TO KUALA LUMPUR (SITE) .............................................................................4
1.3 INTRODUCTION TO PETCHABURI ROAD (MICRO SITE)..........................................................5
1.4 INTRODUCTION TO JALAN TUANKU ABDUL RAHMAN (MICRO SITE)....................................6
2.0 COMPARISON AND ANALYSIS ......................................................................................................7
2.1 SOCIAL ACTIVITIES..................................................................................................................7-9
2.2 CONTACT POINT TYPES........................................................................................................... 10
2.2.1 DESTINATION BASED CONTACT POINT .....................................................................10-11
2.2.2 PEDESTRAIN JUNCTION BASED CONTACT POINT ...................................................12-13
2.3 CONTACT INTENSITY................................................................................................................ 14
3.0 CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................. 15
4.0 REFERENCES................................................................................................................................ 16

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1.0 INTRODUCTION
1.1 SITE – BANGKOK
Figure 1.1.1 shows a photo of Bangkok
Bangkok is Thailand’s most dominant city since the 19th century. This city was established as
the capital in 1767 after the fall of the ancient city of Ayutthaya. In the 1980s and 1990s, Bangkok
underwent rapid modernization, growing to approximately ten million people, making this the only major
city in a country of villages and small towns. This large city is known for ornate shrines and its vibrant
street life. The boat-filled Chao Phraya River feeds its network of canals, flowing past the Rattanakosin
royal district, home to opulent Grand Palace and its sacred Wat Phra Kaew Temple. Bangkok's ancient
palaces and Buddhist temples contrast with high rises and traffic jams. Up till today, dense air pollution
blankets the city and police directing traffic are required to wear masks. Still, despite modern problems,
Bangkok is a major tourist destination, drawing millions of visitors each year.

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1.2 SITE – KUALA LUMPUR
Figure 1.2.1 shows a photo of Kuala Lumpur
Kuala Lumpur in comparison is the home of 1.6 million people with more than 6.9 million
people in greater Kuala Lumpur, which is also called Klang Valley. The city is a friendly melting pot of
nationalities, religions and cultures. The city comprises a mixture of modern and traditional architecture;
such structures as glass-and-concrete skyscrapers, elegant mosques, Chinese shop, squatters’ huts,
and Malay stilt kampungs betray Western, Middle Eastern, East Asian, and local influences. Kuala
Lumpur blossomed in tin mining in the 19th century and until the 20th century when the tin mining
industry started to decline. On top of that, during the 20th century, Kuala Lumpur advanced by leaps
and bounds ever since the Asian Economic Boom. Skyscrapers have shot up and Kuala Lumpur,
formerly a languid colonial outpost, has become one of the most lively, advanced and vibrant cities in
South East Asia.

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1.3 MICRO SITE – PETCHABURI ROAD
Figure 1.3.1 shows aerial view of Petchaburi road (RED)
Petchaburi Road is a busy major vehicular road that stretches from West Side of Bangkok all
the way to the East Side, linking Phitsanulok Road to Phatthanakan Road, as one of the longest road in
Bangkok. The road has close proximity to the Pratunam, Chidlom-Ploenchit and Siam areas of
downtown Bangkok, with busy vehicular and pedestrian movements through it, making its’ biggest
selling point is its’ street food culture and shopping district. In the middle region of Petchaburi Road is
an active shopping neighbourhood intersecting with Ratchadamri Road on the South and Ratchaprarop
Road on the North. The latter eastern region of Petchaburi Road is coarser with larger office buildings
along the highways, separated by the Wat Sri Bunruang Water Gate and Thanon Kamphaeng Phet 7
rail line which acts as prominent edges. Some notable landmarks can be seen throughout the road
including the Darul Aman, Pantip Plaza, and the Royal City Avenue.

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1.4 MICRO SITE – JALAN TUANKU ABDUL RAHMAN
Figure 1.4.1 shows aerial view of Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman (RED)
Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman, sometimes referred to as Jalan TAR, was the 'grande dame' of
KL shopping in the days before modern shopping complexes took the KL metropolitan city by storm.
This stretch of road is flanked by pre-war buildings whose distinctive facades have been preserved and
readapted to accommodate modern retailing businesses. Here, you can walk through the archways of
shops for an immersion into a shopping and cultural experience that goes back several decades. Many
established shops like G.S. Gill, P. Lal and P.H. Henry chose to remain when others moved out. The
shops here offer a wide range of fabrics and textiles, imported leather goods, bags and luggage,
carpets, sports goods and winter clothing. Narrow alleys between the shops offer a fantastic range of
clothing material at irresistible bargain prices. Other established names offer collections of silver and
crystalware. Sogo Shopping Complex and Maju Junction Mall are also located along this stretch. Every
Saturday between 5pm- 10pm, Lorong Tuanku Abdul Rahman is closed to traffic and transformed into
a night market where petty traders and hawkers sell an assortment of goods in the open air. Walking
through it promises to be an interesting experience, and it is also a good place to pick up some casual
attire, local products, as well as sample local delicacies.

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2.0 COMPARISON AND ANALYSIS
2.1 SOCIAL ACTIVITIES
Through site analysis on both streets, Petchaburi road and Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman are
very alike in terms of the streetscape, function and types of social activities present. Petchaburi road is
one of the busiest street in Bangkok as it comprises of a variety of buildings with eclectic and post-
modern architectural styles ranging from two - three storey shop lots to local street markets and also
commercial buildings such as the Shibuya Pratunam as shown in Figure 2.1.1. Consequently, this
street is able to accommodate all user groups for example tourists, locals and so on as it offers
products ranging from local food items, snacks to daily necessities as well as entertainment. Similarly
on Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman, the urban streetscape and function is similar to that of Petchaburi
Road as it also consists of shop houses and commercial buildings such as SOGO as shown in Figure
2.1.2.
Figure 2.1.1 shows a photomontage of Petchaburi Road’s elevation
Figure 2.1.2 shows a photomontage of Jalan TAR’s elevation

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Petchaburi road and Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman provides active outdoor spaces at street
frontages but in different forms. According to Jan Gehl, (Gehl, 1987, pg. 12), “In city streets and city
centres, social activities will generally be more superficial, with the majority being passive contacts -
seeing and hearing a great number of unknown people.” To Gehl, this form of activity adds to the
vibrancy of a street in a way which could also be considered appealing. However on both Petchaburi
road, passive contacts do occur but coupled with active contacts such as street-fronting cafes as shown
in Figure 2.1.3 which provide outdoor seating that displaces onto the sidewalk outside Shibuya
Pratunam. This provides a convenient meeting landmark for shoppers from Shibuya. Furthermore,
street vendors take advantage of the wide public walkways and crowds of the main street by opening
their stalls outside shop lots to lure high density crowds from this main street. This outdoor space also
acts as a visual stimulant that adds interest and life to the street as shown in Figure 2.1.4.
Figure 2.1.3 shows street fronting outdoor cafes on Petchaburi road
Figure 2.1.4 shows street fronting vendors on Petchaburi road

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On Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman in comparison, the public walkway area is much smaller than
in Petchaburi road. It provides active outdoor spaces not in the form of outdoor cafes but rather
shopkeepers using the spaces of the five foot walkways of the shop houses as seating areas to strike a
conversation with theirs peers which promotes passive contact to passerbys or to engage with the
people passing by in order to attract customers into their shops as shown in Figure 2.1.5. This may be
a hindrance in a way that it would cause unnecessary obstruction to public circulation through the five
foot walkways but it also considered a necessary activity for shopkeepers to attract customers which in
turn acts as a social activity or social stimulant to create more social interaction which adds vibrancy to
the street life.
Figure 2.1.5 shows shopkeepers occupying five foot walkways spaces as a necessary activity/social activity on
Jalan TAR
Overall, the social activities that precise Petchaburi road and Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman are
very stark and similar as both streets offer active outdoor areas to promote social activities but this is
where their similarities end. Based on observations on Petchaburi Road, Petchaburi road is more lively,
messy and chaotic in a sense that even on street fronts, local vendors selling food items and snacks
can be found as they take advantage of their wide walkways. In contrast, Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman
social activities are more focused on how shopkeepers utilize the narrow five foot walkway by striking a
conversation with one another and to attract customers into their shops which promotes a sense of
togetherness and intimacy in such a small space of the five foot walkways.

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2.2 CONTACT POINT TYPES
2.2.1 DESTINATION BASED CONTACT POINT
In this study of Petchaburi road and Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman, the linkage and comparisons
of these famous streets and its neighbouring urban contexts is closely linked with Jan Gehl’s work on
“Life Between Buildings” (1987). In Gehl’s study on outdoor activities and quality of outdoor space
(Gehl, 1987, pg.31), he states that “there are two extremes of a city’s spectrum. The first one being a
city with multi story buildings, underground parking facilities, extensive automobile traffic, and long
distances between buildings and functions.” He states that “in such cities one sees buildings and cars,
but few people. Outdoor spaces are large and impersonal. With great distances between buildings,
there is nothing much to experience outdoors, and the few activities that do take place are spread out in
time and space.” However, in the context of Petchaburi road and Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman, it is a
whole different aspect and view. It is as how Gehl described of the other extreme in a city’s spectrum,
that “a city with low, closely spread buildings, accommodation for foot traffic, and good areas for
outdoor stays along the streets and in direct relation to public buildings, places of work and so on.” In
both Petchaburi road and Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman and its neighbouring contexts, it is possible to
see buildings, people coming and going, people stopping in outdoor areas such as alley ways because
these outdoor spaces are easy and inviting to use.
In response to the above, the contact points of the streets of Petchaburi road and Jalan Tuanku
Abdul Rahman and its neighbouring contexts are similar and this similarity lies around the alley ways
between buildings. By similarity, alley ways of Petchaburi road and Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman are
not just any mediocre, dull and boring alleys a person can stumble upon, but rather, these alleys ways
of are bustling and important streets which are used by local vendors as they open stalls along the alley
ways. Moreover, the side of shop lots selling food items or textile and so on open up not just to the
frontage of the street but also to the side of the street facing the alley. For example in Petchaburi road,
the alley way beside Shibuya Pratunam is converted into a covered bazaar. Multiple stalls form a
covered bazaar targeted at shoppers. This in turn creates a distinct node as shown in Figure 2.2.1.1.
On Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman, the alleys ways adjacent and parallel to Jalan Tuanku Abdul
Rahman namely Jalan Bunus 6 and Lorong Tuanku Abdul Rahman respectively are used by local
vendors as well to open stalls for their daily income as shown in Figure 2.2.1.2.
As Malaysia and Thailand are countries which rely heavily on private transportation for
circulation, therefore, the contact points around Jalan Petchaburi and Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman are
more destination based, in that the location itself becomes the contact point as users are dropped off to

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their destination directly by use of private vehicles. For instance, in Petchaburi road, the domain public
transport that drops people off on the destination itself would be by car, taxi or even Tuk Tuk directly on
the intersection of the street market itself such as the alleyway beside Shibuya Pratunam as shown in
Figure 2.2.1.1. Whereas in Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman area, people are dropped off mainly by buses,
taxis and cars directly at the pasar malam on Jalan Bunus 6 as shown in Figure 2.2.1.2.
Figure 2.2.1.1 shows the contact point at the intersection of street market beside Shibuya Pratunam mall
Figure 2.2.1.2 shows the contact point at the intersection of the street market at Jalan Bunus 6 to Lorong TAR

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2.2.2 PEDESTRIAN JUNCTION BASED CONTACT POINT
As mentioned above that both contact points of Petchaburi road and Jalan Tuanku Abdul
Rahman are very destination based but that doesn’t mean that they pay less importance and activity on
pedestrian crossings and junctions.
Other than contact points occurring only at intersections of street markets and shopping malls,
contact points also occur at pedestrian crossings and junctions. For instance, Talad Neon is a street
market that happens during the night time on Petchaburi road, various music performances and public
programmes are held at the open junctions between stalls. As a result, chance contacts can be seen
when passerbys crowd around to enjoy the show as how in Figure 2.2.2.1. This also invokes a sense of
social interaction and which in turn attracts more and more people to that particular area.
As for Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman, during the night it can be seen that similarly to Talad
Neon, musical performance also happens at the junction outside SOGO shopping mall which in turn
creates a stopping point for passerbys and thus resulting in a contact point itself as shown in Figure
2.2.2.2.
Figure 2.2.2.1 shows contact point at night performance at junction of Talad Neon

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Figure 2.2.2.2 shows contact point of night busking at junction outside SOGO shopping mall on Jalan TAR
Overall, the contact point types of Jalan Petchaburi and Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman are very
alike because both streets have contact points which are both destination based at intersections of
alleys as well as pedestrian junction based when there are special events occurring. The similarity of
contact point types in both Petchaburi road and Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman is mainly due to the types
of social activity and mode of transport used in both streets. The transformation of what seems to be a
dormant space such as an alley way and junction into a living space, one in which spaces between
buildings are supplemented with usable and interactive outdoor areas, and where public spaces have a
much better chance of working well and used to its fullest potential.

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2.3 CONTACT INTENSITY
Contact intensity is directly correlated to the types of contact points that is present on site.
Therefore, in Petchaburi road and Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman, the contacts points that exist are
destination based and pedestrian junction based contact points. Destination based being visitors
dropped off at entrances or intersections of street markets and shopping malls. Whereas pedestrian
based being street events such as performances which happens spontaneously on junctions of streets.
With the contacts point types being destination and pedestrian based, the contact intensity
occurs in fragments meaning in many areas at the same time. To elaborate further, in a single journey
from point A to point B, the pedestrian that walks from his origin point would experience a multitude of
contact points of different types resulting from different occasions.
In conclusion, the contact intensity between Petchaburi road and Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman
can be said to be coherent to one another due to the nature of their contact points. The results of
contact intensity which is able to attract more and more people to a contact point can also be directly
linked to Jan Gehl’s work on “Life Between Buildings” (1987). In Gehl’s study on activities as attraction
(Gehl, 1987, pg.23). He states that “Wherever there are people – in buildings, city centers, recreational
areas and so on – it is generally true that people and human activities attract other people. People are
attracted to other people. They gather with and move about with others and seek to place themselves
near others. New activities begin in the vicinity of events that are already in progress.” Similarly in both
types of contact points at both Petchaburi road and Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman, for instance during
the period of night performances taking place at Talad Neon, Petchaburi Road and the junction outside
SOGO, Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman, what starts of to be a single activity of performing in public which
leads to the formation of a big crowd enjoying themselves together and increasing the probability of a
chance contact among strangers is the most beautiful part in giving life to an urban street.

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3.0 CONCLUSION
In conclusion, Jan Gehl’s work in “Life Between Buildings” (1987) has clearly proven a point that
has already been found out from the start, which was the distinct similarity in terms of urbanistic rules
and associations that is seen from Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur. Both cities being in similarity of
seeming to result from an aimless and unplanned urban planning. However, this system has flourished
in its own area which gave rise to the unique urban cultures experienced from this two streets. There is
no right or wrong in studies of urban planning, ultimately, this creates a more interesting world filled with
diverse and different cultures sporting different ways, their own ways, of what a city and city life should
be, coined in their very own terms for their very own usage.
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4.0 REFERENCES
1) Bangkok. (n.d.). Retrieved June 29, 2017, from http://www.city-data.com/world-cities/Bangkok-
Introduction.html
2) Petchburi Road in Bangkok - Everything you Need to Know about Petchburi. (n.d.). Retrieved
June 29, 2017, from http://www.bangkok.com/petchburi/
3) S. (2017, March 12). An introduction to Kuala Lumpur. — thinkingoftravel.com. Retrieved June
29, 2017, from https://www.thinkingoftravel.com/introduction-kuala-lumpur/
4) Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman | Tourism Malaysia. (n.d.). Retrieved June 29, 2017, from
http://www.malaysia.travel/en/au/places/states-of-malaysia/kuala-lumpur/jalan-tuanku-abdul-
rahman
5) Life Between Buildings by Jan Gehl - Read Online. (n.d.). Retrieved June 29, 2017, from
https://www.scribd.com/book/252756039/Life-Between-Buildings-Using-Public-Space
6) S., C., Lam, R., Nyröp, M., & Miller, N. (2016, July 11). Points of Contact: Exploring the role of
architecture in public social behavior at Amherst College. Retrieved June 29, 2017, from
http://5colldh.org/points-of-contact/
7) Carrasco, J. (n.d.). Unravelling the social, urban, and time-space context of activity-travel
behaviour: results from a social network data collection experience. Retrieved June 29, 2017,
from http://www.academia.edu/2617432/Unravelling_the_social_urban_and_time-
space_context_of_activity-
travel_behaviour_results_from_a_social_network_data_collection_experience