essay

1. Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Architecture
Theories of Architecture and Urbanism [ARC 61303]
Assignment 2: A Comparative Analysis Essay
Name: Kong Xhiang Lynn
Student ID: 0317730
Tutor: Mr. Nicholas Ng

2. Table of Contents
Subject
1.0 Introduction
1.1 Introduction to Beijing Site
1.2 Introduction to Kuala Lumpur Site
1.3 Micro Site Introduction
2.0 Comparison and Analysis
2.1 Urban Planning
2.2 Social Activity and Contact Point
3.0 Conclusion
4.0 References

3. 1.0 Introduction
1.1 Introduction to Dashilar, Beijing
Figure 1.1 Photo of Dashilar street
Dashilar district is located at the southwest of Tiananmen Square, and it is an
important element of the South Zhongzhou line where it has been a bustling commercial
centre since the ancient times. Dashilar hosts a lot of hutongs (alleyway), among which 66%
were developed in Ming Dynasty after the outer city was built. After the capital of Yuan
Dynasty was built, some residents in the southern part of Beijing started to migrate into the
old town and the flow of people between both the new and the old town was endless.
Dashilan is the epitome of Beijing’s culture, essence and origin. The area was the
centre of Beijing’s Imperial-era commerce from at least the Ming dynasty, serving the
neighborhood Imperial City (The Forbidden City) where commerce was not allowed. During
the Qing dynasty, it has then become an important commercial centre. The urban texture and
neighborhood pattern had been retained since the Jin Dynasty. Dashilan also witnessed the
formation and development of the Peking Opera, therefore, many grandmasters, dignitaries,
artists as well as commoners came to gather around the area.

4. 1.2 Introduction to Nothern City Centre, Kuala Lumpur
Figure 1.2 Photo of Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman
Tuanku Abdul Rahman is a traditional shopping district located towards the north of
City Centre, Kuala Lumpur. It is named after its main artery, Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman (Jalan
TAR). Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman stretches all the way from Chow Kit (north end), and ends
at Jalan Tun Perak (south end). The area is famous for its antiques from China, and carpets
from the Middle East. It is also renowned for its wide variety of textiles ranging from saree,
batik, to men’s clothing.
Despite that, it is also home to the colorful shopping street of Jalan Masjid India which
is chock a block with shops specialising in textiles, where the area is often called Little India
due to its high population of Indians and their culture spreading widely throughout the area.
Chow Kit, which is located at the northern end of City Centre is known for its wet market at
night.

5. 1.3 Micro Site Introduction
Figure 1.3 Map shows the location of Yingtao Byway (top) and Tieshu Byway (bottom)
Figure 1.4 Map shows the location of Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman (TAR)
Micro site analysis on Dashilar, Beijing is centered around Tieshu Byway as it is one of
the most important street of Dashilar as it is the relics of the common people’s life in the
ancient times. The street also notably separates the Great Eight Hutongs which acts as an
important passageway.
Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman which attracted businesses with shops and restaurants
selling a variety of goods is famous for its textile businesses and historical buildings flanking
the street.

6. 2.0 Comparison and Analysis
2.1 Urban Planning
To begin with, the land planning in Dashilar is very similar to Jalan TAR. The Tieshu
Byway, tucked away from the main street of South Xinhua Street, is formed through historical
means where it was flanked between the two destroyed cities when the Mongolians attacked
during the 1231. Because of this, it features many renowned hotels, guilds, and bathhouses
from the ancient times. It consists of great historical values which is in similar to Jalan TAR
where it also features some of the historical architectures which flanks the street.
Dashilar contains an off-grid layout (Figure 1.3) with tight walkways as it was not
designed but founded by the peoples during the ancient times where it acts as an important
passageway which connects both the capitals of Yuan and Ming dynasties. Sitting in between
the transitional point of residential and business district, Tieshu Byway becomes one of the
most highly populated byway of Dashilan.
As for Jalan TAR (Figure 1.4), its layout is almost similar to Tieshu Byway with a rather
off-grid layout. But it is designated to be dense and walkable with its wide walkways which
was implemented since the 19th
century to provide a five-foot walkway for shophouses. It is
mostly occupied by transient dwellers who moved in to replace the young generation that
has chosen to leave due to the monopoly of textile business around the area. Despite of its
degeneration of value, it still contains a strong functional characteristic whereby the mixed
use of environment of no order may energize the neighborhood.

7. 2.2 Social Activity and Contact Point
Based on the framework proposed by Jan Gehl in ‘Life Between Buildings: Using Public
Space’, the outdoor activities can be categorized into necessary activity, optional activity, and
social activity. Necessary activity are activities which are compulsory to an individual such as
everyday tasks and pastimes. The activity will occur no matter the exterior conditions and is
only influenced slightly by the physical framework. In both cities, necessary activity happens
when community attend to school or work. In this case, intersection point then became a
contact point in which it suggests public interaction at the modest level. The frequent meeting
in connection with daily activities which occur between passerby and local communities using
the same crossing increases the chance of developing contacts in which they are maintained
in a simpler and less demanding way. Therefore, this results in higher intensity of contact in
which it allows chance contacts which might slowly develop into acquaintances. This will then
give importance to how a passive contact with merely seeing, hearing, or being in the same
place with other people act as a driving force of life between buildings.
Figure 2.1 Photo shows intersection point of Tieshu Byway
Here shows a dissimilarity between Tieshu Byway and Jalan TAR on how a necessary
activity act as a connection point in which it suggests interaction between the community. In
Tieshu Byway, the intersection point which connects Yingtao Byway, Hanjia Hutong, Wudao
Street, and Tangzi Street, became a contact point as there is a high density of pedestrian flow
surrounding the area. Since going to work and grocery shopping is part of the necessary

8. activity, the high density of restaurant and grocery stores around the area will result in high
occurrence of necessary activity, where the locals will frequent the place as they have to work
or purchase groceries. The intersection which connect the 5 road will also lead to high
intensity of contact point and chance contacts. As mentioned, a simple and noncommittal
contacts could lead to a complex and emotionally involved connections.
Figure 2.2 Photo shows intersection point of Jalan TAR
The case is rather different in the intersection which connects Jalan TAR, Jalan Esfahan,
and Lorong Gombak. Shopping mall, offices, and school around the area contribute to
necessary activities such as working, shopping for goods, and going to school. But the high
vehicular traffic in between the intersection decreases the intensity of contact as people have
to walk in a hurry while at the zebra crossing. Therefore, the intensity of contact is low in
comparison to the intersection in Tieshu Byway where there is only passive contact that is,
the “see and hear” contacts.
Next, optional activity as oppose to necessary activity depends very much on the
exterior conditions. The pursuits are participated if there is a wish to do so and if time and
place make it possible. Tieshu Byway, located in Beijing, China, has an annual high
temperature of 27 °C (81°F) and the lowest being -4°C (25°F), making the city tolerable for
non-sheltered walkways.

9. Figure 2.3 Photo shows the narrow street of Tieshu Byway
But it is noticeable that the street of Tieshu Byway is rather tight, leaving only a reasonable
space for car to pass by in one direction. Therefore, optional activities are rarely found along
Tieshu Byway, and if so, it might cause obstruction to the other users. This results in only
necessary activities happening around the area, where the people usually have a clear
direction towards their destination. Therefore, when there is an absence of optional activity
in the area, the chance of contact also decreases as there is a bare minimum of activity taking
place.
Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman, located in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, however, has an
annual high temperature of 30 °C (86°F) and the lowest being 27°C (81°F), which is very warm
in comparison to Tieshu Byway. Thus, the walkway along Jalan TAR is sheltered by providing
a five-foot walkway to create a tolerable pathway for the pedestrian to travel around the city.
At the same time, a new policy has recently been reinforced where the new building would
require to provide at least a 7m setback for pedestrian walkway.

10. Figure 2.4 Photo shows the five-foot walkway of the shophouses along Jalan TAR
In this condition, optional activities are most likely to happen as the condition is favorable and
therefore seem inviting towards the shoppers or passer-by to stop, sit, eat, play and so on.
An example is how the local community would come out to smoke or sit around the benches
provided along the wide pedestrian walkway when the weather is favorable. This will then
lead to a high contact intensity where the frequent meetings of the local community along
the walkway in connection to the daily routine whereby they share a common leisure space
increase the chance of developing acquaintances or friendship relationship.
Figure 2.5 Photo shows the community sitting around the benches provided along the walkway

11. Gehl also stated that a social activity occurs spontaneously, even by being at the
same place with one another, passing by one another, or merely within view. This inform
that social activity depends on the presence of others in public spaces, and is usually
indirectly supported whenever necessary and optional activities are given better conditions
in public space.
Figure 2.6 Photo shows the introverted façade treatment of Tieshu Byway
In Dashilar, most of the buildings are tightly enclosed with minimal openings. Due to
this, there are little visual permeability and visual engagement between the inside and
outside where the building façade provides very little of transparency. It is noticed that
whenever people are exposed to the outer world, any form of social event could evolve
spontaneously. Therefore, the shop which extends their businesses to the front of the street
attract social interaction, as it suggests engagement which support people to be part of the
street. In this case, the contact intensity varies along the street, where the variable depends
heavily on the external condition where it needs to be favorable for the shop owners to
extend it to the shop front. At the points which the businesses are brought to the street, the
contact intensity would be at modest level as it suggests chance contacts between the shop
owners and the passer-by. Whereas at the points which the business is tightly enclosed within
the building, low intensity of contact only happens as there is only mere contact of seeing and
hearing one another.
As for Jalan TAR, the situation is different where the buildings are mainly covered with
glass façade or open to the public, allowing visual permeability and visual interaction between

12. the outside and inside. The complexity and visual richness of a building façade would also
capture the attention of the passer-by.
Figure 2.7 Photo shows glass façade of the shops along Jalan TAR
According to Jan Gehl, as stated in ‘In Spaces for walking, places for staying’, success
public spaces contains static and moving activities that attract people to stay or linger longer
rather than just passing through it. In my point of view, Jalan TAR may have met the
requirements of being a success public space as it has a variety of activities happening in the
street itself.
Figure 2.8 Photo shows the street performers which attract human engagement

13. For example, some of the street performers like to perform in at the wide pedestrian walkway
or in front of the shopping complex, this would then lead to high intensity of contact whereby
people would gather around and watch the performance. Some of them would also start to
engage conversation between one another as they share their personal thoughts and views.
3.0 Conclusion
As a conclusion, the concept of Jan Gehl is more clearly seen along Jalan Tuanku Abdul
Rahman, Kuala Lumpur as the crowd seem to effectively contribute in optional and social
activities in the city. The wide walkway for the pedestrian also makes the city more walkable
and favorable for optional activity. Whereas in Dashilan, the tight and narrow street with
introverted façade only allow for necessary activity to happen where the pedestrian have a
clear direction of their destination and do not intend to linger or stop by to embrace the
surroundings. Nevertheless, I think that the urban planning in Dashilan should be more
pedestrian friendly where the street should be wide and comfortable enough to allow for
optional and social activity, At the same time, we could conclude that most of the contact
points creates a form of contact between the exterior and interior, where it does not confine
to only within its built form.

14. 4.0 Reference
1. Caspani, P. (2012). Shaping of Urban Design Through a Humanistic and Pedestrian
Perspective. Retrieved July 1, 2017 frrom
https://issuu.com/pamelacaspani/docs/final_report
2. Gehl, J. & Koch, J. (2011). Life Between Buildings (1st
ed.). Washington, DC: Island Press.
3. Potter, E(2011). Cities for People by Jan Gehl. Retrieved July 2nd,
, 2017 from
http://architectureau.com/articles/cities-for-people/
4. Architecture, urbanism, design and behavior: a brief review – Architectures. (2016)
Retrieved July 2nd
from http://architectures.danlockton.co.uk/2011/09/12/architecture-
urbanism-design-and-behaviour-a-brief-review/
5. N. J., & A. B. (n.d.). Traditional Street Activities in Kuala Lumpur City. Retrieved July 1,
2017, from
http://www.academia.edu/2004427/Traditional_Street_Activities_in_Kuala_Lumpur_City
6. 大栅栏. (n.d.). Retrieved July 1, 2017, from http://www.dashilar.org