[Arc 61303] Comparitive Analysis Essay

[ARC 61303]
THEORIES OF ARCHITECTURE AND URBANISM
Project 2 : Comparative Analysis Essay
Liew Min Yee
0324525
Tutor : Mr. Prince

CONTENT
1.0 Introduction to project
1.1 Introduction of Medan Pasar
1.2 Introduction of Pasar Baru, Indonesia
2.0 Comparative Analysis on contact point
2.1 Analysis on Medan Pasar
2.2 Analysis on Pasar Baru
3.0 Conclusion
4.0 Reference

1.0 Introduction to Project
1.1 Introduction to Medan Pasar
Medan Pasar, which known as Old Market Square in previous days was a trading spot that
surrounded by facilities such as banks, textile shops, grocers and traditional medicinal halls.To control
heavy traffic, Medan Pasar was made into a square for pedestrians with preserved and readapted
architecture from Art-Deco to Modern architecture style to accommodate retailing business from time to
time.
The square itself consist mainly 3-storey shophouses from the 1880s-1930s after relocation of the
market and now houses cafes, trinket shops, cheap boutiques and mobile phone stalls. In the middle of
the square stands an iconic clock constructed in 1973 in commemoration of the coronation of King
George IV and remains steadfast until today. It is a landmark that people often associate this place with.
Medan Pasar is a main transition stop for private and public buses for passengers, but it has lost the
uses as a busy trading market.
Figure 1.1 Historical changes along Medan Pasar
Figure 1.2
Historical development of Medan Pasar in relation to the surrounding areas.

1.2 Introduction of Pasar Baru, Indonesia
Pasar Baru is located in capital of Central Jakarta, named as the oldest shopping complexes in
the area. Before the market relocated, it was name Pasar Batavia It is a multicultural location that consist
of Chinese, Indian and Indonesian which attracts both local and foreign visitors for it’s uniqueness. Most
of shops here sell textiles, shoes, clothes and other fashion products, such as sportswear, watch and
jewelries. While shopping center on the north sides specialized on selling cosmetics, cameras and
photography product.
The market is a legacy from the Dutch time the VOC (Verenigde Oost Indische Compagnie) came
to power in Batavia. Pasar Baru has been relocate once from the Old Batavia, which named Kota area
now, to the Gambir area at Central Jakarta. The consistency of visitors gives the area a large opportunity
to produce a larger and wider range in business industrial. While at the same time, it is called the “Little
India” due to the settlement of Indian in the area for textile business.
Figure 1.2.1 Historical changes along Pasar Baru
The gate in front of the Pasar Baru was built in chinese architecture style as it was predominantly run by
Chinese. The place used to be a middle to high classes shopping and community area in Jakarta back in
the 1970s. Due to the development in technology and location it has lost the uses of being a major
destination for the middle to high classes nowadays. Yet, it is still a attraction for most of the travelers in
Jakarta.

2.0 Comparison Analysis on Contact Point
From Jan Gehl’s quote “Life between buildings is not merely pedestrian traffic or recreational or
social activities. It is the full spectrum of activities when combined make communal spaces in cities and
residential areas more meaningful and attractive.” , the supporting contact points that creates meaning of
Medan Pasar and Pasar Baru can be found in different types of outdoor activities : necessary activities,
optional activities, social activities.
Necessary activities are places where people work at, public transportation stops, or even local
running errands on site. Optional activities can be classified as recreational activities that drag crowd to
open spaces, where the crowd could have a break from the activities that are running through or seats for
observers on site. When looking into a smaller picture of the site, pockets of contacting point of varying
intensities horizontally as well as vertically to justify the suitable street for long-term lingering time.
According to Jan Gehl’s, contact form can be shown starting from low intensity contact, then
increasing to chance contacts and acquaintances, these two forms are more independent contact forms.
On the highest intensity shows the intensity of friend and close friendships where it is more complex. That
being said, Medan Pasar and Pasar Baru shares some interesting contact point that will be subsequently
result in the occurrence of varying degrees of contact intensity.
Figure 2.0.1 Jan Gehl’s referencing types of social contact points
Quality of the physical environment
Poor Good
Necessary activities
Optional activities
Social activities

Figure 2.1.1 Pasar Baru Figure Ground Figure 2.1.2 Medan Pasar Figure Ground
From the overview on both site, the square is developed along riverfront which is Ciliwung for
Pasar Baru and Klang river for Medan Pasar. The grid system is designed to suits the riverfront, it is clear
to be see where the cities grows outward and from the waterfront and having the road aligned to the river,
with necessary intervention carried out to ensure permeability of the developing city. Both of the cities
consist of rich historical activities that attracts tourists and locals, making it a melting pot that create
several intensity in contacting points around the area.
Figure 2.1.3 Nodes on Pasar Baru Figure 2.1.4 Nodes on Medan Pasar

In Medan Pasar, the contacting point is more passive and has low intensity. The contact points
can be seen as an optional activities through outdoor seatings, while the necessary activities focus on the
five-foot walkway. In figure 2.1.1 shows the crowd that sitting on the benches in the middle of the square
and crowd who are waiting for partners who are purchasing or exchanging money in the shops. There are
passerby who needs to cross the square to another section of the street that creates a passive contact
point of the crowd in Medan Pasar as well.
Figure 2.1.1 Photo of the crowd at Medan Pasar
The public transportation stop is one of the essence of life in the public realm. Medan Pasar has a
complex relationship in the pedestrian and transportation circulation. As people are attracted to other
people due to the activities and needs on the site, visitors are still wandering around even though the
crowd around them are almost strangers. Therefore, the passive contact is justified through the actions of
the crowd where the nodes create mostly along the five-foot walkway. The square itself was created to
stop heavy traffic that occurred at Medan Pasar days before, this is one of the biggest consideration from
the Kuala Lumpur City Council when constructed the square into pedestrian street. The density of
vehicular around Medan Pasar if very heavy, considering the safety and environment issue, the
circulation of the road was rerouted, making the square a more comfortable street design to users. In the
figure 2.1.2 shows how the traffic and pedestrian density in Medan Pasar and the cut-out space for a
comfortable drop-off spot at the square.
Figure 2.1.2 The traffic and crowd density at Medan Pasar

The outdoor space of Medan Pasar is also a hotspot for friends to close friends due to the
richness of optional activities in the site. Close friend favour spending their time by the events happening
on the outdoor. From the figure 2.1.3 shows the event that drag crowd into the space and shows the
shaded spot of friends would like to hanging around while waiting on around the landmark.
Figure 2.1.3 Site section shows the contact point & favour spot
Conversely, the opportunity of acquaintance contact point happens on Medan Pasar are not as high as
the others. Visitors often pass by to another office tower or waiting for a bus transaction. Since the square
is dominated by money changers and textile business, the area is crowded during certain season shown
in figure 2.1.4, such as Hari Merdeka, Hari Deepavali or Hari Raya because it is near to the Dataran
Merdeka and Masjid Jamek. It is one of a huge space for holding an event in that area. The community in
the site are mainly transient community, therefore causing the lack of necessary activities.
Figure 2.1.4 Photo of event on Medan Pasar

In Pasar Baru, the occurring frequency of a chance contact is as high as Medan Pasar due to the
transaction in transportation in front of Pasar Baru. The frequency of the activity is moderate as if is
highway at opposite of the street. The pedestrian bridge was build to provide an opportunity for the people
to access to Pasar Baru safely without interrupting the vehicle circulation. Similar to Medan Pasar, visitor
often drop-off at the end of the bridge to avoid traffic congestion happening on the site. The figure 2.1.1
shown the activities happening around the bridge.
Figure 2.1.1 Photo shows activity happening around Pasar Baru
At a high frequency, the entrance of Pasar Baru is where the road intersects at the road intersects and
people passing by each other, creating a passive contact on the site. However,it has a nodes for traders
along the alleyway that provide pedestrian walkway for customer to walk by and interact with vendors
which creates a chance contact. In the figure 2.1.2, the street is filled with the necessary activities which
is the interaction between the vendors and their customer bargaining for a good.
Figure 2.1.2 Photo taken at Pasar Baru

There are optional activities and social activities going on which is similar to Medan Pasar happening on
Pasar Baru which is the shading hotspot for group acquaintances to close friends who will gather at the
shop or stall to have a conversation with each other while waiting for their customer to walk-in as shown
in figure 2.1.4. At the optional spot, the greenery and the rooftop provides a shading spot for them to hang
on while waiting for their companions. Figure 2.1.3 shows the interaction happening at the front entrance
of Pasar Baru.
Figure 2.1.3 Diagram of activities at Pasar Baru front entrance
Figure 2.1.4 Photo taken in Pasar Baru

3.0 Conclusion
Overall, passive contacts are commonly happens on both Medan Pasar and Pasar Baru based
on the analysis, similarly in a different way of renovation, both Medan Pasar and Pasar Baru renovated
into a community that can provide a better environment for pedestrian and also to solve traffic issue. Due
to the minimum contact point of acquaintanceship happening on both site resulting the minimum intensity
in the transient community.
Although there are major activities going on at both sites, yet, the time that people tend to not
linger on the site. Both site has a huge potential using the historical building to recreate a place more than
just textile shops and industrial purposes yet it is not properly develop and slowly adapted by the outdoor
activities instead. Even though there are outdoor activities but due to the limited seating that provides on
both sites, the crowd does not want to stay for long time and also there isn’t much attraction that should
enhance the environment, such as giving the site a better use viewpoint.
The difference from Medan Pasar and Pasar Baru is the ambience of the street caused by the
function happens on the area. Looking at Pasar Baru, it is much more a textile and market area but
Medan Pasar is surrounded by office buildings, banks and the place isn’t much like an open market
unless there is an event happening on the site.
I would prefer a lively street like Pasar Baru due to the space in the area, it is much more narrow,
resulting the closer distance of people that can higher the chances of interacting each other. Comparing
to Medan Pasar, it is a more free open space due to the combination of outdoor and indoor vendors that
happens more frequently than Medan Pasar.
In the sense of ambience that is lacked in Medan Pasar, social activities can be improved by
providing more opportunity for people to interact with each other on the site instead of just passing by or
waiting for public transport. The absence of shading seats is one of the weakness of Medan Pasar too as
it is too exposed to high-rise building causing visitor doesn’t want to stay on the bench in certain time. The
possibility that could be apply to Medan Pasar could be improving the distance of people, events, and
function of the square, giving it a sense of belonging.

4.0 Reference
Genhl, J (2011), Life between buildings. 1st ed. Washington, DC : Island Press.
Spaces, P. (2017). Jan Gehl - Project for Public Spaces. Project for Public Spaces.
Lynch, K (1960). The image of the city (1st ed.). Cambridge, Mass : Mit Press.
Lockton, D. (2011) Architecture, Urbanism, Design and Behaviour : A Brief Review.

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