Theories of architecture and urbanism

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THEORIES OF ARCHITECTURE AND URBANISM
(ARC613303/ARC2224)
Project Part 2:
ComparativeAnalysisEssay
THE NATURE OF COMMUNITY AND THE BUILT
ENVIRONMENT AND HOW THEY AFFECT THE
INTENSITY OF CONTACT POINTS IN CITIES
CASE STUDY:
SEJONG DAERO STREET, SEOUL, KOREA
JALAN TAR, KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA
NAME
Lum Si Chu
STUDENT ID
0319502
Lecturer
Mr. PrinceFaris Isip

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Table of Contents
1.0 INTRODUCTION 3
1.1 INTRODUCTION TO SEJONG DAERO STREET, SEOUL 3
1.2 INTRODUCTION TO JALAN TAR, MALAYSIA 4
2.0 COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS ESSAY 6
3.0 CONCLUSION 13
4.0 REFERENCES 14

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1.0 INTRODUCTION
Basically this assignment aim is to study the life between buildings at Jalan Tar,
Malaysia and Sejong Daero Street in Seoul. Theoretical studies are carried out to
provide critical perspectives on key issue as well as relevant theories in
architecture and urban context. This comparative essay is produced in order to
analyze about the architecture, urban forms, activities and contact point in the 2
selected cities as mention previously. Also, this essay can enhance more about
the relationship between each contact point.
1.1 INTRODUCTION TO SEJONG DAERO STREET, SEOUL
Gwanghwamun Square is divided into six sections. At its center stands a statue of
King Sejong the Great, the fourth and most respected king of the Joseon Dynasty
and creator of Hangeul, Korea's alphabet; and a statue of Admiral Yi Sunshin, a
naval commander noted for his victories against the Japanese navy during the
Japanese invasions of Korea (1592-1598) and a hero among Koreans. Other
attractions include the popular 12.23 Fountain, a sculpture of Haechi (the
symbol of Seoul), a flower carpet, and Yeoksamulgil (or the "Waterway of
History") on either side of the square. Gwanghwamun Square stretches out
from Gwanghwamun Gate, once the main gate of Gyeongbokgung Palace, to
Sejongno Sageori Intersection. This area was once Yukjo-geori (Avenue of Six
Ministries), the center of Hanyang, which was the capital city during the Joseon
Dynasty. Nowadays it is home to the Government's major administrative
departments. Originally the area was a 16-lane roadway but in 2009, Seoul
Metropolitan Government decided to create a landmark national square by
transforming 10 lanes of the roadway into a public space where Seoulites could
rest and socialize. The statue of King Sejong is the square's focal point. In
front of the statue, the main inventions from King Sejong's reign are on display,
including the hangeul alphabet and scientific instruments such as a sundial, rain
gauge and celestial globe. A nearby gallery tells "The Story of King Sejong,"
featuring a variety of materials and artifacts portraying the life and
achievements of the great man himself.

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Sejong Daero Street
1.2 INTRODUCTION TO JALANTAR, MALAYSIA
JALAN Tuanku Abdul Rahman Jalan TAR in short) was the Main Street in Kuala
Lumpur at one time. It was originally known as Bata Road, so named because it
began as a track leading to Batu village, limestone caves and tin mines. Later, it
was renamed Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman, after our first Prime Minister. It is
also the city's longest road with shops set up in prewar buildings along both
sides. These buildings reflect changing trends in architectural design. The pre
war buildings still stand though the more derelict have been torn down to give
way to modern multi story buildings.
lalan TAR was famous for the Coliseum Cafe and Coliseum Cinema. Then Globe
Silk Store opened and shoppers flocked here to pick up affordable clothing. Like
a magnet, lalan TAR attracted businesses with shops and restaurants selling all
kinds of things from shoes and clothes to watches and souvenirs. Pertama
Complex, Campbell Complex and Odeon Cinema enjoyed some monopoly on
shoppers in the late 1970s to early 1990s.
Every Saturday night, a pusur nnGlurn (night market) from the junction near
Sogo to Jalan Tun Perak drew huge crowds until early 1990s. It is held in the
inner lane of Jalan Masjid Indi, People come to pick up clothes, local product and
sample some local delicacies. The neighborhood flourished and in the early

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1980s, Jalan TAR was turned into a one-way street to ease traffic flow.
Narrow alleys between the rows of shops offer a huge range of clothes and
accessories t bargain prices though you may also be able to find collections of
silver and crystal wares, Sogo Shopping Complex and Maju junction Mall are also
located along this stretch. Today, Jalan TAR may have lost its initial shine but it
still retains part of the charm and period still come here to shop and eat.
Jalan Tar

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2.0 COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS ESSAY
First of all, urban space is an important architecture element. Toward a habitat
spaces, urban planning is a first condition. Hence, urban design have
implement into the criteria to achieve urban spaces. For example, there are
buildings, public spaces, streets, transport and also the landscape of the places.
Therefore, the places can be more efficiently develop and more systematic.
Furthermore, urban spaces do not function as a space where public and social
activate and social activate take place, it also act as a medium movement that
create interaction among the society.
Seoul Sejong Daero Street is one of the main and oldest streets in Korea itself.
During the previous time this act as an grand entrance before enter the King's
palace. Double-landed boulevard is the ceremonial axis that connects the City
Hall to the front of Gyeongbukgung Palace. Beside that, most of the historical
fabric replaced by modern office tower. Fine grained deformed grid pattern with
extensively connected alleyway with parallel to the main road. Linearity of the
street encourages user movement as it gives clear direction and ease navigation.
Due to Sejong Daero as the Mainstreet most of the contact point such as Seoul
Plaza, Sejong Art Center, Historical Landmark, and the plaza square were all
along the street. Hence, the street itself formed a liner contact street. Based on
the movement pattern, liner form has formed into the street circulation system.
This street have became the main access way to all contact point in this area.
This condition might lead to not fully in used the lane way and decrease the
usage of other lane way due to not having much impact and purpose of using the
lane way.

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Contact Point in Sejong Daero Street
On the other side, in Jalan Tar Kuala Lumpur is also a linear circulation area. Due
to the street was heavy populated with local business such as trading, selling,
food and accessory. On the other hand the alley and lane way beside Jalan Tar
were utilized and merge into the culture itself around that area. Based on each
alley having their own purpose and activities along the way. Therefore, the alley
itself is a huge contact point that relate to the Jalan Tar. Activities related such as
food selling, motorcycle parking, access was to other nearby contact point.
Furthermore, along the street the other contact point contact join included the
coliseum cafe one of the oldest building in the street is also the main attration
towards the tourist nearby Jalan Tar. Beside that, the Sogo plaza in Jalan Tar
have become the main contact point for the community at Jalan Tar, event such
as singing and dancing will be host at the entrance to Sogo as a gathering point
for most of the community over there. Perhaps more effort is required to provide
a more comfortable walkway in the narrow alleys.
To be mention the framework studied by Jan Geh in 'Life Between Building:
Using Public Space', the outdoor activities can be categorized under necessary
activity, optional activity. Necessary activities are carried out on daily basis
regardless of environment changes. From the both cities, something similar was
carried out. The most necessary routine happens when the communities attend
to work. Public transit station act as a huge contact point that allows public
interaction at the modest level. Passive contacts that happened among regular
passengers taking public transportation for necessary activities allow low
intensity contact. This will causes an explanation on the weight of low intensity
contact point in urban spaces. Passive contact, could merely sense other people.
The minimal and primary driving force of life between architecture buildings.

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Jalan Tar Bus Stop Sejong Daero Bus Stop
Hence, it has linked both of the cities which are Jalan Tar and Sejong Daero into a
similarity. The interaction start from the necessity of the activities. Most of the
high usage building was surrounded the bus stop in Sejong Daore Street, such as
art center, ancient palace, historical monument and mostly the hotspot for
tourism. Public transports in this case act as a transit node that provides chances
of contact. Based on the concept of ' Gatheration of people" is the best
description to explain density of people.
Back to Jalan Tar, working is the routine of the community in that area, and most
of the foreign worker was using busses as their transportation. The bus station is
located at the hotspot where surrounded by local business and all kind of street
hawker where the place are most convenient to the tourist and also the
community. Due to the travel distance and most of the activities were all in 1km
radius mostly. Therefore, it covers up most of the human flow in this area. The
high dependence on public transportation bring towards the constant moving
public and vitality for the site area. Similar as the station in Sejong Daero Street,
these contact point act as an essential prerequisite to the formation of social
activity. Based on my perception, place where no necessary activities that
contribute to public flows, a desolated transit station without much user, might
create a sense of deserted and insecurity and causes developing failure.
To be analyzed, optional as oppose to necessary activity are much depend on the
climate and season of the place. As Korea is a 4-season country and not as rainy
compare to Malaysia, it makes the cities more walk able even without covering

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shelter.
Based on the case, the historical monument is on the middle of the street hence
the surrounding part of the street became a hotspot for tourist. Furthermore, the
usage of people and visit from the tourist impact the surrounding become more
develop with proper landscape as having a mini shelter for people to take a rest.
Therefore, even the community and whoever who tired can take a rest during
passing by the hotspot. Besides that, the accessibility around the area is not
affected, due to the wide pedestrian and road have designed.
The usage of people has increases and forms a contact point on that street. For
the regular who passerby that place will get to know each other and the
relationship of the community will get link from there. For example, where the
local community decided to go out for a walk during a good weather and
happened to meet their friends, as they will end up having interaction. These
activates are contribute to the physical environment and the climate condition
by creating high intensity of contact among the local community.
Kuala Lumpur located in Southeast Asia just north of the equator, it has an
annual high temperature of 85 F and annual low temperature of 68 F, which
considers a hot area and decreases the walkability in the city. Hence, the chance
of contact point decreases due to lack to people to explore the area. Therefore,
the contact point of Jalan Tar is definitely lesser than Sejong Street due to the

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condition of climate. However, there are still having some optional activities to
be carried out in Jalan Tar.
In Asia country, most of the business carried out at the ground floor present with
shop houses while accommodation space is on the upper floor. Hence, to create a
welcoming scene to attract client or customer, the owner of the shophouses will
create a pathway in front of the shophouses function as promoting area during
people passerby and it allow pedestrian movements to be dismiss from the busy
traffic. Based on my site analysis, the local community in Jalan Tar will visit the
neighbor store during their free time and having some conversation during their
free time. The five-foot walkway has provided a comfortable path that allows
them to carry on the optional activities such as store visiting. Thus, the
relationship between neighbors in Jalan Tar become stronger.

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The junctions that are built along the streets consider as the elements of the built
environment that contributes to contact points in to the city. On the Sejong
Street, one typically has to pass through many junctions to get into our final
destination. The junctions in Sejong Street are built spacious, the purpose of it is
to create a more comfortable and accommodate towards people during peak
hours. Hence, it makes the place more suitable for establishing conversation. The
straightforward natures stretches allow frequent bump ins at the junction.
Frequent meetings may increase chances of maintaining the density of contact
point. According to Jan Gehl, frequent meetings in connection with daily
activities increases chances of developing and maintaining contact.

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In Jalan Tar, the junctions were not designed with human comfort. The junction
is merely where the pedestrian traffic is located in order to provide a safer as
wider path for the pedestrians to cross the road. Activity that could happen along
the junctions is the zebra crossing as a result of one heading to a certain
destination. This event occurs fleeting moment and usually will not lead to other
forms of contact. Hence, the area is not suitable to have any conversation with
people. Therefore, it could lead a extreme short conversation as just in 1 or two
words contact if we bump in to others. In 'Life between buildings', it stated " to
see and hear each other, to meet, is in itself a form contact, a social activity". At
the end, low intensity occurs and it might lead the places into abandon situation.

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3.0 CONCLUSION
In conclusion, the nature of the activity, society, built and environment and the
local climate conditions is all contributes to the intensity of contact point both
Jalan Tar and Sejong Street. People tend to establish contact easily. Although
Sejong Daero Street is a popular street, the environment is built to oppress
contact point given the reason that they are a distraction. In contrast, Jalan Tar,
the environment is not built with the human factors. There are more contact
points due to the relationship between the community and built environment
toward site context. Hence, the architecture design plays an important role in
developing the area at the remaining empty land. As a good space, we do have
strict requirement as good architecture façade, functions, systems and
maintenance. The landscape architecture is one of the important element toward
any urban. As they wanted to make a successful play to attract human they do
need a good accessibility and public facilities. Therefore, people will feel
comfortable to enter to the area and end up making the place become successful.

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4.0 REFERENCES
English.visitseoul.net. (2017). Visit Seoul - Gwanghwamun Square. [online]
Available at: http://english.visitseoul.net/attractions/Gwanghwamun-
Square_/1901 [Accessed 4 Jul. 2017].
Google Maps. (2017). Google Maps. [online] Available at:
https://www.google.com.my/maps/@3.1548199,101.6963515,3a,75y,153.84h,
83.62t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1snHEULyjHrST9jdKyroOMkQ!2e0!7i13312!8i6656
?hl=en [Accessed 4 Jul. 2017].
Spaces, P. (2017). Jan Gehl - Project for Public Spaces. [online] Project for Public
Spaces. Available at: https://www.pps.org/reference/jgehl/ [Accessed 4 Jul.
2017].