Urban Street Comparison: Quiapo vs Jalan TAR

URBAN THEORIES COMPARATIVE ESSAY !1
THEORIES OF ARCHITECTURE AND URBANISM
(ARC 2224)
PROJECT II : COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS ESSAY
MANILA, PHILIPPINES AND KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA
NAME : LIEW JIN
ID : 0318449
TUTOR : AR. PRINCE FAVIS ISIP

TABLE OF CONTENTS
1.0 Introduction ……………………………………………………………………………….…3
1.1. Introduction to Quiapo, Manila ………………………………………………………3-4
1.2 Introduction to Jalan Tunku Abdul Rahman, Kuala Lumpur. ……………………..…5-6
1.3 Comparison between Selected Sites. ………………………………………………….…7
2.0 Comparison Analysis
2.1 Social Activities ………………………………………………………………………..8-9
2.2 Contact Point Type ……………………………………………………………….…10-11
2.3 Contact Intensity ……………………………………………………………………12-13
3.0 Conclusion …………………………………………………………………………………14
4.0 References …………………………………………………………………………….……15

1.0 INTRODUCTION
The importance of a street as a public open space is one of the most critical characteristic within
the public realm in cities (Gehl, 1987). In this comparative analysis essay, I will be comparing two
streets, which are Quiapo Street of Manila and Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman, Kuala Lumpur.
The comparison will be focus on the social and physical attributes as well as the contact points
and its intensity along the streets base on my observation and gathered data for Jalan TAR and
internet researches for Quiapo.
1.1 Introduction to Quiapo, Manila
Manila
Manila, also known as the City of Manila, is the
capital of the Philippines and it is one of the most
densely populated cities in the world. This city is
located at the eastern shore of Manila Bay, home
to many landmarks which have been conserved
since the 16th century. Besides being the country’s
capital, Manila is also a ﬁnancial, publishing and
business centre. Founded in 1571, Manila is one of
the oldest cities in the Philippines and was known
was the seat of power towards the colonial country
rulers. The city is composed of 16 districts:
Binondo, Ermita, Intramuros, Malate, Paco,
Pandacan, Port Area, Quiapo, Sampaloc, San
Andres, San Miguel, San Nicolas, Santa Ana,
Santa Cruz, Santa Mesa and Tondo. The city has
six congressional districts that represents it on the
Lower House of the Philippine Congress.
Figure 1.1a Map of Philippines

Quiapo
Quiapo is geographically located at the very centre of the city of
Manila, bounded by the Pasig River. It is one of the most famous
district of Manila, Philippines. Referred to as the old downtown
of Manila, Quiapo has also made a name for itself as a place for
marketplace bargain hunting. During the late 1970s, Quiapo
shared its status as the center of the activities of Manila's social
elites as well as trade, fashion, art and higher learning with its
surrounding vicinity.
History of Quiapo Street.
In Quiapo, more than 300 years of imperial conquest were manifested in Islamic and Spanish
architecture, with a few mosques and numerous Catholic churches dotting the district. One of
the many famous churches is the Quiapo Church (Figure1.1c) which is also known as the Minor
Basilica of the Black Nazarene. This church is where the feast of the Black Nazarene is held with
millions of people attending annually. In the 1970s, Religious life and faith in merchandise
started to converge on Quiapo’s inner streets (Figure1.1d). The incessant foot trafﬁc is also an
opportunity to purchase lower-priced goods from all types of business run by Filipino-Chinese
community. However, with the construction of the Manila Light Rail Transit System's LRT-1
spanning over Rizal Avenue, the occlusion of light, the trapping of smog and vehicle emissions
left the streets beneath dark, gloomy and with an increase in crime and transient (Figure1.1e).
Figure 1.1b Location of Quiapo.
Figure 1.1c Quiapo Church Figure 1.1d View of Streets Figure 1.1e Growth of
Construction

1.2 Introduction to Jalan Tunku Abdul Rahman, Kuala Lumpur.
Kuala Lumpur
Kuala Lumpur is the largest capital city of Malaysia, which have started its growth as a tin
mining hotspot in the 19th century. It was the Chinese immigrants whom have searched for jobs
and the British government whom have wanted to colonize during the industrialization era
arrived in Kuala Lumpur, in search for the wealthiness of the area. Onwards, more people began
to depart to the city forming communities and residences around the area. Through the 20th
century, Kuala Lumpur started revolutionizing from a tin ming industry into a central business
and residential hub and therefore became one of the fastest growing metropolitan regions in
South-East Asia, in both population and economic with rapid development in recent decades.
Figure 1.2a Map of Malaysia

Jalan Tunku Adbul Rahman
Jalan Tunku Abdul Rahman was initially known as
Batu Road. It began as a track leading to Batu
Village, connecting limestone caves and tin mines.
The street was then renamed as Jalan Tunku Abdul
Rahman (Jalan TAR), and became one of the longest
streets with retail units set up during the pre-war era
consisting mainly of 3 stories Art Deco shophouses
that remain until today. It was one the streets where
iconic textile businesses started its contribution
towards the economic growth of the street.
History of Jalan Tunku Abdul Rahman.
Figure 1.2b Red Line representing
Jalan TAR
Road Track Growth of Street
Development of Business Retail Stores.

1.3 Comparison between Selected Sites.
The selected street of Quiapo is located alongside the river of Pasig, whereby the street runs
along busy commercial, administration and social hubs within the city and opportunities such as
meetings and daily activities are used extensively by the locals throughout the day in the urban
environment. Similarly, Jalan Tuanku Adbul Rahman is also a street kept alive with the busy
shopping pedestrians, street vendors, tourists due to the street’s historical values, and as well as
the working community due to the ofﬁces around the area. If observed, both streets has its own
juxtaposition. To comply with the shape of Manila and the original track of Jalan Tuanku Abdul
Rahman, the urban footprint of the surrounding elements were build according to the ﬁxture of
the streets whereby respecting the urban site context.
Figure 1.3a Selected Street of Quiapo
Figure 1.3b Selected Street of Jalan TAR

2.0 COMPARISON AND ANALYSIS
2.1 Social Activities
One of the main social grounds of Quiapo is its public plazas, one named Plaza Miranda. This
geographic centre of the district is the site of political rallies where-by rallyists could be physically
close to the residence of the country’s chief executive, whether in loyal support or oppositionist
denunciation. Also, this plaza acts as a beehive of commercial activities where markets were held
by vendors, fortune tellers, passer-by such as churchgoers and it is typically where every man on
the street converge. Other than that, there are numerous religious buildings such as the Santa
Cruz Church and Quiapo Church which uses its religious functions to bring or gather people
together to interact within each other, enhancing and enlightening the street’s vibrancy.
Jalan Tunku Abdul Rahman and its surroundings, by comparison, is mainly a business district
today, and is famous for its wide variety of choices of textile for the local community. The
businesses on the street of Jalan TAR are mostly conducted by the Indian-Muslim community.
Also, this street is also considered a heritage interest area whereby one of the oldest colonial
restaurant named the Coliseum Cafe is located. Hence, this cafe also contributes to the vibrancy
of the streets by bringing not just the local community but also the tourists around the area.
Overall, the social activities that precise both Quiapo Street and Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman
are quite distinctive. Although they have similarities in terms of attracting people through
business, both of the streets’ function plays different roles. Based on the observations social
activities, the streets of Quiapo is more on community based where not only interaction happens
between peers but also interactions with the community in the form of activities which promotes
a sense of community and togetherness. In contrast, the social activities on Jalan Tuanku Abdul
Rahman only focuses more on local businesses and usually only visited by circle of peers. The
interaction towards the site may be had such in the case as going shopping for textiles or for food
but other than that any contact or communication with anyone else in the public is limited to
none.

Figure 2.1a Plaza Miranda, Manila
Figure 2.1b Jalan TAR, Kuala Lumpur

2.2 Contact Point Type
The street of Quiapo is not one of the many streets which are pedestrian friendly. The irregular
mushrooming stalls and heavy trafﬁc only intensiﬁes interaction between subjects, creating
blurred distinction of pedestrian and vehicular paths, resulting in chaos and quality deterioration
among people. In streets and city spaces of poor quality, only the bare minimum of activity occur
(Gehl, 2006, pg 13). Instead, people around Quiapo often goes to the Carriedo LRT Station
whereby using it as a form of transport for the locals to travel to nearby schools and wanted
destinations. Although there are stalls located along streets creating a sense of vibrancy in a sreet,
it does not encourage or cause people to socialize due to hectic circulation. Instead, the contact
points are destination based, in that the location of the destination itself becomes the contact
point such as the public squares and religious buildings. According to Jan Gehl, a social activity
takes place everytime two people are together in the same space, to see and hear each other, to
meet, is itself a form of contact, a social activity. (Gehl, 2006,pg.15).
By comparison, Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman is one of the most pedestrian friendly street in
Kuala Lumpur whereby the culture of walking towards one’s destination and less reliance on
private motor vehicles is encouraged especially in KL. The straight forward axis and linearity of
paths made locations such as cross junctions, T-junctions, 5-way intersections and alleyways
become an informal meeting points as the movement pattern of pedestrians intersects. According
to Jan Gehl, a person we have often met on the street becomes a person we “know” (Gehl, 2006,
pg 23). The other possible contact points around Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman is the
transportation hub, Station Jalan Raja Laut.
As such, the contact point types between Quiapo Street and Jalan Tunku Abdul Rahman is very
different, mainly due to the types of social activities and the streets’ functionality implemented on
both societies. Although, both areas have the advantage of public transportation, the planning of
pedestrian walkability, and also surrounding shading devices and vegetation plays an important
role in changing the perception of a space.

Figure 2.2a Contact Points of Quiapo
Plaza Lacson Santa Cruz Church Carried LRT Station
Quiapo Church Plaza Miranda
SOGO Open
Space
Junctions and
Alleyways
Open Space
Open Space
Textile
Shoppers
Figure 2.2b Contact Points of Jalan TAR

2.3 Contact Intensity
Contact intensity is directly correlated to the types of contact point that is present on the site.
Therefore, in Quiapo Street, with the contact points type being destination based, the user would
experience far less contact intensity compared to Jalan Tunku Abdul Rahman, but the intensity
of the contact point when experienced would be on a far large magnitude. To explain, due to
everyone that visits the area being dropped off or having their ﬁnal contact destination in plazas
and religious buildings rather than the streets and intersection around it, contact intensity would
occur at a much higher scale as everyone converges to meet at the same area.
In comparison, where Jalan Tunku Abdul Rahman’s contact points are pedestrian based, the
contact intensity would be signiﬁcantly less but occurs in many more areas and more frequently.
For instance, instead of having a meet up at a certain area, the meet ups along around Jalan TAR
could either be recognize through road junctions, seating areas along the street or even certain
textile stores.
To conclude, the contact intensity between Quiapo and Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman can be
said as being the polar opposites of each other due to the conveniency or functionality of their
contact point types. Based on understanding, the contact points of Quiapo Street are somewhat
on a larger scale such as plazas and buildings whereby not only the locals but the tourist could
easily recognize to that point of area. On the contrary, contact points around Jalan Tunku Abdul
Rahman are mostly in a smaller scale due in terms of spaces and building elements whereby only
the local community could recognize places by familiarity.

Figure 2.3a Contact Point Intensity along Quiapo Street
Intensity of
Contact Point
Intensity of
Contact Point
Figure 2.3a Contact Point Intensity along Jalan Tuanku Abdul
Rahman

3.0 CONCLUSION
Based on the comparison of different aspects between Quiapo, Manila and Jalan Tuanku Abdul
Rahman, Kuala Lumpur, It shows that even though both sites have few similar spaces, the level
of contact point can be different due to the difference of built environment, culture, community
behavior, programs and functionality. In my opinion, pedestrian walkability should be taken in
consideration in the streets of Quiapo in order to create better spaces for interaction between
people along streets whereby revitalizing the main intention of how a street should be, hence,
improving the sense of street by engaging community with the street. According to Jan Gehl,
Architects and planners can affect the possibilities for meeting, seeing and hearing people (Gehl,
2006, pg 15). Cities could vary in many possible ways, but the best ways are to enhance and
enlighten street activities whereby there will be interaction not only among the community but
between both human and architecture.
(2300 words)

4.0 REFERENCES
Gehl, Jan. Life Between Buildings. 1st ed. Washington, DC: Island Press, 2011. Print.
“Social Activities | City of Norwood Payneham & St.Peters” . npsp.sa.gov.au. N.p. 2016. Web.
27 Nov. 2016.
https://www.scribd.com/document/319930583/Spatial-Analysis-of-Quiapo-and-Plaza-Miranda
http://malacanang.gov.ph/75022-defend-it-at-plaza-miranda-a-history-of-the-countrys-
foremost-public-square/
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/
257715534_An_Urban_Outdoor_Environment_in_the_%27Textile_District%27_of_Jalan_Tua
nku_Abdul_Rahman_K_Lumpur

Urban Street Comparison: Quiapo vs Jalan TAR

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