The document provides a comparative analysis of Kota Tua Street in Jakarta, Indonesia and Jalan Tukang in Kajang, Malaysia. It identifies four contact points along each street based on Jan Gehl's theories of outdoor activities and contact intensity: 1) transition spaces, 2) public transport stops, 3) open public areas, and 4) food vendors. The analysis finds that while the contact points are similar, Jalan Tukang encourages more social interaction and higher contact intensity due to features like covered walkways and gathering spaces.

1. THEORIES OF ARCHITECTURE AND URBANISM
(ARC 610303)
PROJECT 2 : COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS ESSAY
KOTA TUA STREET, JAKARTA, INDONESIA
KOH JING FAN
0330792
TUTOR : Ms. Filzani Illia Ibrahim

2. TABLE OF
CONTENTS
01 Introduction 01
02 Street Background
2.1 Kota Tua Street, Jakarta 02-03
2.2 Jalan Tukang, Kajang 04-06
03 Contact Points Comparative Analysis 07-08
- Contact Point 1 09-11
- Contact Point 2 12-13
- Contact Point 3 14-15
- Contact Point 4 16-17
04 Conclusion 18
05 References 19

3. 01 INTRODUCTION
Jan Gehl, a Danish architect and urbanist, have once mentioned “First life, then
spaces, then buildings, the other way around never works”. The formation of spaces
and buildings are influenced by the character of a particular town, city and even
country. And this ‘character’ is further enhanced by the quality of built environment
provided. As discussed by Jan Gehl in his publication ‘Life Between Buildings’, he
talked about how the environment of urban public space hinder or enhance people’s
quality of life and the measures which can be taken to improve life between buildings
and the city life experience.
A comparative analytic research is carried out through this project between Kota Tua
Street, Jakarta Indonesia and local Malaysian street, Jalan Tukang, Kajang. The essays
explores on the similarities and dissimilarities in relation to social patterns, type of
outdoor activities, as well as identification of contact points and contact intensity
between the two streets of similar context. These identifications are then studied and
analysed in reference to Jan Gehl’s urban theories.
Both sites share similar scenario of history where cultural aspects have layered
themselves throughout the years, all the way back in the colonization days till present.
Efforts in maintaining the rich culture can be seen whilst adapting to the fast
changing modern society. However, there are still notable difference in both the
environment and this would influence the activities to a varying degree and in many
different ways as mentioned by Jan Gehl.
This analysis discovers the similarities and differences in the patterns of social activity,
contact points and degrees of contact intensity of both streets. At the same time, the
contextual and physical understanding of shared public space as settings for public
life in allowing people to congregate and interact can be better understood.
/01

4. 02 STREET
BACKGROUND
Fatahillah, the national hero in which he ejected the Portuguese and renamed the
port to ‘Jayakarta’, making him the founder of today’s Jakarta. The Dutch East India
Company (VOC) then destroyed Jayakarta and was rebuilt in the name of Batavia and
functioned as the headquarters of VOC. Batavia from then on served numerous
political, administrative and even military functions for the dominant rulers along the
timeline including the Japanese. In 1972, the Jakarta Kota Tua that have witnessed the
rich history in the formation of this country became a designated heritage site. The
people acknowledges the historical value and have put in much effort to revitalise and
restore Kota Tua. And therefore, in each corner along the street, the traces of Dutch
architecture remain on most of the buildings.
2.1 Kota Tua Street, Jakarta, Indonesia
Diagram 2.1 Historical Timeline of Kota Tua (Zach, 2015)
Founding / 1500s Colonized / 1600s Independence / 1900s
Revitalization / 2000s
The conserved buildings
lining around Jalan Kota
Street becomes a popular
landmark for tourists.
The oldest street, Kota
Tua,was in no time known as
a historical site right after
claiming independence
The development of
Batavia City by the Dutch
have rapidly increase the
economy, thus, the
population
Fatahillah naming the port
as Jayakarta marks the
birth of Jakarta, which
shows the long existence
of this town.
/02

5. Museum of Fine
Art and Ceramics
Museum Bank Indonesia Museum Bank Mandiri
Wayang Museum
Jakarta History Museum
Diagram 2.2 the 5 museums along Kota Tua Street (Koh, 2019)
Kota Tua Street from then on became a significant street surrounded by colonial
Dutch buildings that interestingly blends with the characters and charms of the
Betawi (people of Batavia) culture. In the stretch of 540m in street length located in
the old town, Kota Tua. Surrounded by 5 museums around the street, it hints the
significance of the site for the richness in historical value. This naturally makes it a
must-go-to spot for tourists to witness such unique presence.
FIgure 2.1 Liveliness of Kota Tua Street leading
towards the Fatahillah square (Zach, 2015)
/03

6. Kajang was once ruled by the British in the 18th century, making the town to grow
rapidly economically with the introduction of new building materials, coffee, rubber
and tin mining industries. Being a trading port, it is no doubt that people form
different sides of the world gather for business, resulting in different races living
together in the same town. Each of these races serves their best traits in the town. For
example, the Indians worked as plantation labour and the chinese work as traders.
The town then peacefully serves as a humble trading port. Unfortunately, a great fire
occurred leading no choice but to rebuild the damaged parts of the town, creating a
modernism movement.
The difference in cultural under the surveillance of the British, have created an
interesting mix and match of opinions in building the environment. Even after
Malaysia have found its’ independence, the town still evolves according to the
changing economic demand. Kajang now functions as an administrative city with
new developments and settlement coming in denser than ever before.
2.2 Jalan Tukang, Kajang, Malaysia
Figure 2.2 Street view of Jalan Tukang
(Y. T. Yip, 2015)
/04

7. Introduction / 1800s
Kajang was introduced to the
generation of settlement and
later on the British Army took
over and introduced and
expand new economy
possibilities
Reborn / 1960s - 1970s
Due to the various
opportunities in town, people
from all over the world came
and there was an interesting
mix of culture in every aspect
including architecture and
urban planning. However, a
great fire occurred and during
restoration, Kajang moved
towards the modernism path
Development / 1980s - 2000s
There were high demands for
the property in Kajang and the
prices shot up. Even the rubber
plantations were bought over
for residential development.
Progression / 2000s - now
The economic aspect of the
town is steadily increasing,
more and more public
transport are introduced to
give convenience to people
who frequent the area. Kajang
is progressing towards the
service and commerce
function.
Diagram 2.3 Historical Timeline of Kajang (Koh, 2019)
/05

8. Stretching from Jalan Reko to Jalan Mendaling, Jalan Tukang acts as a link street
that fascinatingly, allows the witnessing of the different phases of town expansion in
order while walking along it as shown in diagram… The street itself not only embodies
the historical traces but in terms of present attraction, it is filled with variety of local
cuisines, religious places of worship, artisan trades, retails, corporate offices, financial
institution and even residential.
Diagram 2.4 Settlement development period and the stretch
of Jalan Tukang linking the different phases (Koh, 2019)
/06

9. 03 CONTACT POINTS
COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS
In the first chapter, Gehl identifies a framework of outdoor activities that take place in
cities inclusive of necessary activities, optional activities and social activities. He
establishes that necessary activities are independent of the physical environment that
merely enhances them. However, optional activities depend greatly on the physical
environment and the atmosphere in cities, and acts as catalysts for social or resultant
activities to take place. In short, the better quality the place has, the more optional
activities occur and the longer the necessary activity last. As a result, it sparks a series
of spontaneous social activities within the public space. And with positive outdoor
activity patterns, a positive public life can be formed.
Gehl have also pinpointed on the need for contact, which is leveled as shown in the
diagram below. With mild interactions as a driving source of Life Between Buildings,
it builds up into more complex interactions and this maintains the already established
contacts. This being the start of a lively city would only be livelier because “people
come where people are” (Gehl,2011) and the absence of it degrades urban life.
Diagram 3.1 Graphic
representation of the
relationship between
outdoor activities and
quality of environment
(Gehl, 2011, p.11)
Diagram 3.2 Simplified outline of various
contact forms (Gehl, 2011. p.15)
/07

10. Looking back at Kota Tue Street and Jalan Tukang, both streets share similar traits of
pedestrian walkways, shophouses, roads and public spaces. In relation to Jan Gehl’s
theory that activity as a mean for contact, both streets have different activity patterns
due to its cultural difference thus creating different interaction dynamics to formulate
as a contact point. Hence, the users on both streets react differently in terms of social
engagement. Hence, both streets differ in degrees of intensity.
Diagram 3.3 and Diagram 3.4 shows the identified contact points formed by the
outdoor activities. These contact points also corresponds to the five elements of
legibility by Kevin Lynch - nodes, landmarks, edges, district and paths.
Diagram 3.3 Contact points along Kota Tua Street (Koh, 2018)
Diagram 3.3 Contact points along Jalan Tukang (Koh, 2018)
Food vendor
Open public area
Bus Stop
Pedestrian
walkway
Bus Stop
5 foot walkway
Open
green space
Restaurant 2233
/08

11. Transition space in this context defines the passage from inside the building to the
outdoors. An area or main circulation where it is necessary for people to walk by to get
to respective destinations along the street. This in turns becomes a clear boundary
between open public spaces and the privately-owned shophouses or buildings.
Both the streets operates in a linear circulation, with a clear straight and continuous
walkway. Jan Gehl have stated that the principle of creating a linear structure is the
logical consequence of the limitations of human movement and a frontally and
horizontally oriented sensory system. When activities are assembled along a street,
the individual is able, merely by taking a short walk, to establish what is going on in
the area. Hence, the level of assurance and engagement are similar on both streets.
3.1 Contact Point 1 - Transition Space
Pedestrian Street - Kota Tua Street
5 Foot Walkway - Jalan Tukang
Diagram 3.5 Linear circulation
of the pedestrian walkway for
Kota Tua Street (Koh, 2018)
Diagram 3.6 Linear circulation
of the 5 foot walkway for Jalan
Tukang (Koh, 2018)
/09

12. Putting it simple, the human nature seek for the most comfortable ways in living. In
terms of being outdoors, it is quite unpleasant for the human body to walk under the
hot sun or rain, a scenario that have shown norm in both Malaysia and Indonesia. Kota
Tua Street comes short-handed in this case as it do not have designated shading
elements. There are of course greeneries beautifully decorating the side of the
walkway but the most they can do is to shade a limited amount of pedestrians.
However looking at Jalan Tukang, the 5 foot walkway introduced gives adequate
shade for every pedestrian along the span of the street. The business owners have
even used this opportunity to extend their business out from their shop boundary and
spill towards the 5 foot walkway as the shade provided will not allow weather damage
towards their ‘products’. For example, Restaurant Halipah Maju set up tables and
chairs onto the walkways. This even gives an informal introduction to the restaurant.
Kota Tua Street also has functional spaces long the walkway. The difference of both
these functional spaces is that in Kota Tua Street, it is temporary while in Jalan
Tukang, it is permanent. Temporary shade provides temporary function area while
permanent shades provides permanent functional space. Therefore, the pedestrians
along Jalan Tukang has more opportunities to stop along the street and evoke their
curiosity, establishing “a direct relationship to other people and to the surrounding
social environment” (Gehl, 2011, p.28).
Kota Tua Street has its walkway as wide as the main road because it is itself originally
a road for vehicles. It was blocked off and now serves as pedestrian walkway. Jalan
Tukang in contrast, has a narrow 5 foot walkway in ratio to the wide main road.
“Spaces are sufficiently narrow and rich in experiences, yet still wide enough to allow
room to maneuver” (Gehl, 2011, p.133). The 5 foot walkway reflects exactly to this saying.
With the better quality of route, the contact intensity increases. The level of intimacy
between pedestrians along the street is higher compared to the wide walkway of Kota
Tua Street because being in close proximity between two individual of arms-reach
encourages contact.
/10

13. Pedestrian walking
towards a destination
as necessary activity
Spill out tables and chairs
from hawker stalls
stimulating interaction
between hawker and
customers. Hence, creating a
chance contact point.
Greenery enhancing the
physical environment and
provides minimal shade to
the pedestrian
Close friendship contact can
be seen at the narrow 5 foot
walkway as the people walk
in close proximity
Social interaction
occurring between a
couple enjoying their
meal
Temporary vendor
stalls that allows
chance contact
between vendor and
customers.
Pedestrian walking
towards a destination
as necessary activity
KOTA TUA STREET //
PEDESTRIAN WALKWAY
JALAN TUKANG
5 FOOT
WALKWAY
5 FOOT
WALKWAY
Diagram 3.7 Condition of physical environment and contact intensity along the
sidewalks of Kota Tua Street (Koh, 2019)
DIagram 3.8 Intimacy of the sheltered 5 foot walkway along Jalan Tukang
encourages potential friendships between pedestrians, hawkers, visitors and
customers (Koh, 2019)
/11

14. Public transport is a great means to provide access and attract people to a certain
area. Both Kota Tua Street and Jalan Tukang has public transport located strategically
at the intersection of adjacent streets. Both these bus stops are considered one of the
significant landmarks due to its function as a transportation hub for daily commuters
to and fro from the area. As travelling to a destination is a necessary activity, both of
these spots share similar contact intensity of low to high, where locals and tourists
have passive and chance contact or friends meet up.
The bus stop along Kota Tua Street is an informal bus stop with no proper shelter and
seatings. Only a bus stop sign clearly visible to pedestrians and vehicles. This results in
a disperse of people. People will seek for somewhere with shade that has visual
connectivity to the bus stop to wait for their transport, such as the shophouses.
Hence, making the vicinity of the bus stop to “expand”. In relation to the saying by Jan
Gehl, cities and building projects of modest dimensions, narrow streets, and small
spaces are comparably perceived as intimate, warm, and personal. Conversely,
building projects with large spaces, wid streets, ad tall buildings often are felt to be
cold and impersonal (Gehl,2011, pg69). The large spaces between the people waiting
for the bus inhibits contact. Therefore the chance contact intensity is lower.
However for the bus stop at Jalan Tukang is nicely shaded with a generous amount of
seatings. Therefore, a larger amount of people will have to share the space in a more
intimate distance, resulting a higher chance contact intensity at bus stop of Jalan
Tukang compared to Kota Tua Street.
3.2 Contact Point 2 - Public Transport
Bus Stop - Kota Tua Street
Bus Stop - Jalan Tukang
/12

15. The wide proximity between people while
waiting for the bus decreases social
interaction and makes it as passive contact
point where people only see and hear the
passer-bys
Pedestrians look for
shade where it is still
in proximity of the
bus stop to wait for
their transport
High exposure to
vehicular traffic
results in unsafe
environment
Clear visual
connection from bus
stop with shade and
proper seating area
improves the quality
of space
Close proximity
between people
while waiting for the
bus encourages
chance contact
between people
People loitering
around while waiting
for their transport as
optional activity
KOTA TUA STREET
JALAN TUKANG
People waiting for
their transport as
necessary activity
Diagram 3.9 Pedestrian forced to look for shade away from the bus stop and also to avoid the
dangerous sidewalk. Thus, decreasing the opportunities to interact (Koh,2019)
Diagram 3.10 The physical condition of the environment encourages lingering and interactions
between people (Koh, 2019)
/13

16. The public space connected to the bus station at Kota Tua Street is sunken
underground with a void showing the sky. It exists in a circular form and has a circular
ramp leading towards the street above. The centre of the public space is nicely
decorated with greeneries and primary seatings acting as a ring to surround the
landscape. The outer ring of the public space is filled with shoplots, business of many
kinds including, snacks, drinks, electronic accessories and so on. With the greeneries
that provide shade and pleasing visuals, the variety to small businesses that tackle the
interests and needs of the people, it is no doubt that the public space is filled with
people. It encourages people to linger around before moving on to other destinations.
It even serves as a platform for people to gather. With the compact amount of people,
close relationships among people is established, which nurtures high intensity
contacts as people frequenting the place maintain their contacts of friends and
acquaintances.
3.3 Contact Point 3 - Public Space
Open Area - Kota Tua Street
Green Open Space - Jalan Tukang
Greeneries providing shade and
comfort for the pedestrians to
consider lingering around.
Hence, create optional activity
Stalls evokes curiosity and
interest of the pedestrians
making them loiter around the
public space as an optional
activity
Chance contact also occurs
within the stall owners,
customers and even among
pedestrians due to the close
proximity between.
Diagram 3.11 Good quality of physical environment encourages high rate of occurrence of outdoor
activity (Koh, 2019)
Open public space Ground level of
Kota Tua Street
Ground level of
Kota Tua Street
/14

17. However the green open space adjacent to the bus stop of Jalan Tukang has a
contrasting scenario. Even though, it is the only green space in the public realm along
the street, it lacks several aspects that would make it a positive public space. The
supposingly greeneries provided are not well maintained and give little to no shade to
the public space. The seatings provided are in good condition but with the lack of
shade, it is only natural that people avoid the area. Furthermore, there are visual
clutters surround the area, such as overturned dustbins, construction wastes and even
scaffoldings. Unlike the public space in Kota Tua Street, there is no particular reason
for people to consider lingering around the public space in Jalan Tukang. Outdoor
activities that are particularly dependent on the quality of the outdoor spaces are the
optional, recreational activities, and by implication, a considerable part of the social
activities. It i these specially attractive activities that disappear when conditions are
poor and that thrive where conditions are favorable (Gehl, 2011, p.32).
Weakly maintained
greeneries that supposingly
provides some shade for the
people
Visual clutters making
pedestrians avoid the
public area
Proper seatings provided but due
to the bad condition of the
environment, it is gone unused
Diagram 3.12 Poor quality of physical environment results in low rate of occurrence of outdoor activity
(Koh, 2019)
/15

18. Eatery nodes are essential in many places including both Kota Tua Street and Jalan
Tukang. The difference in local food culture creates a sense of place, a definition for
the locals and tourists to percept this area. The continuous flow of customers around
the eatery nodes formulates high intensity of contact point as it naturally becomes a
gathering spot. Pedestrians will therefore be drawn towards these spaces with
established activity and people because “being able to see other people in action,
constituted the area’s main attraction” (Gehl, 2011, p.29). Both eatery nodes mostly act
as a gathering or waiting spot from the adjacent buildings’ function. As Restaurant
2233 is an extension from an adjacent Chinese temple, this spot is known to be a
recess area for the Chinese temple visitors. As for Kota Tua Street, the food vendor
stalls are adjacent to a prominent landmark, Fatahillah museum. The Fatahillah
museum faces an empty square. Therefore, the food vendor stores are the only
distinctive spot for people to gather.
In Restaurant 2233, customers will share tables and interact more intimately, creating
opportunities for close contact during crowded periods such as cultural festivals. This
suggests apparent, intimate social dimension with frequent interactions during
daytime. However, the space changes to a low intensity contact area as night falls
when the shop closes.
3.4 Contact Point 4 - Eatery nodes
Food Vendor Stalls - Kota Tua Street
Restaurant 2233 - Jalan Tukang
The richness in culture act as the main attraction
for people to gather in this area
High frequency of social activity
occurs due to comfortable
atmosphere within the restaurant
Chance contact point
as patrons order food
from the waiter
Figure 3.1 Culture and atmosphere of Restaurant 2233 that attracts people, encourages lingering and
social interaction (Koh, 2019)
The well shaded atmosphere
encourages people to linger
/16

19. Looking at the food vendor stalls along Kota Tua Street, it is also observed that there is
a high level of social activity in the day. Tourists, families and locals visit the Fatahillah
museum on a daily basis, which results in frequent visits of visitors to the food stalls. In
such environment, chance and passive contacts prevails simultaneously whereby the
activity is generated by a balance composition of locals and tourists on site.
Furthermore, the billiards lining adjacent to the food vendor stalls act as seatings for
the people to sit down, rest and enjoy their food. As the food stalls serves mostly
snacks, it is more of a stop-and-go spot, resulting in a consistent circulating presence
of people. This further increases the contact intensity around the area, thus reaching
potentials to form contacts through users participating within the social setting.
Figure 3.2 Constant flow of people into the food stall lane,
makes the area overcrowded, gathering the social activity of
the dispersed pedestrians to one point (G. Author, 2014))
/17

20. As seen in the analysis, both Kota Tua Street and Jalan Tukang reflects the theory of
Jan Gehl that social patterns and street cultures are shaped by the built environment.
The study have shown similarities in the site frame in which both embraces the
ever-changing evolvement of society and human life. This allows us to expect the
streets subject to evolve further according to the differences in the spirit of their space
while not losing the roles of public spaces that provides necessary, optional and social
activities along the streets, forming various contact points with varying degree of
intensity.
There is a different approach to both streets. In terms of Kota Tua Street, it is has a
clear role set of being a historical street. This street will in hopes improve further in
terms of functionality and most definitely the ‘life between building’ as it is a tourist
attraction spot. Hence, the leisure and well-being to socialize will be perceived as the
main lifestyle along the street. However for Jalan Tukang being in the vicinity of
Kajang Old Town, that is moving towards the service and commerce function of the
city, it might end up strolling further away from the loiter and lingering mindset.
Inevitably, life between buildings is richer, more stimulating, and more rewarding
than any combination of architectural ideas (Gehl, 2011,pg22). Jan Gehl emphasized on
the significance of vibrancy and liveliness in between buildings where the people
inhabit the place. Hence, it is critical to acknowledge these contact points along the
urban streets and take good care of them.
04CONCLUSION
/18

21. 1. Gehl, J.(2011). Life between buildings. Washington, DC: Island Press.
2. Lynch,K. (1960). The image of the City. London: MIT Press.
05 REFERENCE
Books
Websites
1. Zach (2015). Retrieved from
https://heartlandertourist.wordpress.com/2015/06/05/kota-tua-jakarta-and-dutch-colonialisation/
2. Y. T. Yip (2015). Retrieved from
https://www.thestar.com.my/metro/focus/2015/03/31/digging-up-on-a-bygone-era-students-and-volun
teers-eager-to-preserve-kajangs-history-and-heritage
3. G. Author (2014). Retrieved from
http://opencityprojects.com/revitalizing-jakartas-fatahillah-square/
/19