Comparative analysis essay

PROJECT PART 2 | COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS ESSAY
TABLE OF CONTENT
1.0 INTRODUCTION
2.0 ANALYSIS OF CONTACT POINTS
- 2.1 LOCAL CLIMATE
- 2.2 BUILDING TYPOLOGY
- 2.3 LOCAL CULTURE AND COMMUNITY
3.0 CONCLUSION
4.0 REFERENCES
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1.0 INTRODUCTION
Located at the southwest of Tiananmen Square, Beijing, China, Dashilan District is one of the
largest and most intact historical and cultural block near the city centre. Dashilan is the epitome of Beijing’s
culture, essence and origin which experience four seasons throughout the year. It was the most important
commercial center in Beijing during the Ming and Qing Dynasty. The urban texture and neighbourhood
pattern were retained since the Jin Dynasty.
Majority of the shop lots in YingTao and TieShu byways are located adjacent to the narrow streets
as back then, they were catered specifically for pedestrians to use. However, with the advanced
technology today, the vehicles have invaded into the byways which has caused the movement patterns to
be disrupted. In result, it has altered the contact intensity between the drivers and pedestrians as the
movement pattern has slowed down, which in returned creating visual awareness to their surroundings.
Most historical buildings in Dashilan are of one to two storey high. Dashilan was awarded the first “Chinese
Heritage Gathering Area”.
On the other hand, Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman (TAR) in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, is experiencing
the hot and humid tropical weather with a major transformation and most of the pre-war shops have been
redeveloped or extensively renovated, where only the eastern quadrant of Jalan TAR (from Dataran
Merdeka to Bulatan Pahang) has these pre-war shoplots, which are either ⅔ storeys. Jalan TAR has a dense
urban environment with formal streetscapes, but surrounded with the chaotic “life” of the city throughout
the day and night which is similar to YingTao and TieShu byways. Narrow alleyways between the shoplots
and five-foot ways offer fantastic range of clothing material at low prices. Sogo Shopping Complex and
Maju Junction Mall are also located along this stretch.
This essay will look into how building typology, local climate and local culture affect the patterns of
social activities within these two selected sites.
Figure 1.1 – Location map of Dashilan District, Beijing China Figure 1.2 – Location map of Jalan TAR, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
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2.0 ANALYSIS OF CONTACT POINT
2.1 Local Climate
According to Gehl’s theory, social activities are indirectly supported whenever necessary and
optional activities are given better conditions in public spaces (Gehl, 2006). Climate is one of the major
factors which have caused the differences between each site. It has made a few impacts to the activities
and lifestyles happening in the site. The city of YingTao and TieShu byways is in a four season’s climate
country. Due to the seasonal changes, the level of contact intensity varies. In spring, summer and autumn,
majority of the days are of good weather conditions. This will then increase the density of pedestrian
traffic which will create a chance contact between the pedestrians. People of Dashilan district do enjoy
walking under the sun as the temperature is very low compared to the weather in Jalan TAR. During winter,
the weather condition is not favourable which causes the level of contact intensity to drop drastically.
The selected contact point is an open space between two shop lots of TieShu byway (Figure 2.1.1).
This open space acts as a bridge linking both rows of the shop lots together. Although the open space is not
shaded, the favourable weather condition has attracted the local community to rest after buying their
grocery or maybe a long walk. It is a good hangout space for the communities to gather. With this, the level
of contact intensity is “acquaintance to close friendship” between the community. Besides that, it can be
seen that a girl was using the open space to cross to the other street instead of taking the longer route
around it. As she was crossing the open space, she was currently undergoing passive contact through “see
and hear” conversations of people talking in the open space.
CONTACT POINT
Open space between shop lots of TieShu byway.
TYPE OF ACTIVITY
Social Activity | A good spot for people to gather as benches are also provided.
Optional Activity | The open space located between shop lots acts as a shortcut for passer-by to go to the other side.
INTENSITY
Low to High | People would hear and see others when using the plaza. Friends can gather under the favourable condition.
Figure 2.1.1 – Open space between shop lots of TieShu byway.
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Meanwhile, the city of Jalan TAR is located in a hot and humid climate country. With the harsh
weather in Jalan TAR, not many optional activities will happen during the day. This is because the weather
condition is not favourable as the scorching sun will usually pierce through the skin which causes
discomfort to the pedestrians. In Jalan TAR, you can see many pedestrians walking on the five-foot
walkway and also areas which are shaded by building mass and vegetation. An open space which is not
shaded will not attract social activities during the day unless it is a cloudy day. But, there will be times
where pedestrians will sacrifice to walk under the sun just to have a shorter route to their destination but
otherwise there will be little to none.
In comparison to the chosen open space between shop lots of TieShu byway, the plaza located next
to Coliseum Cinema is deserted during the day except when there are events happening in it (Figure 2.1.2).
The plaza is not well shaded which does not invite the people to hangout as it is very hot during day time.
Although there were big trees at the side, it is not a favourable hangout spot as there were many bird
droppings coming from the branches above. The level of contact intensity is low because pedestrians will
usually brisk walk to their destination as there are no activities happening in the plaza. During night time,
the plaza will be a place for the homeless to stay. As time pass, the homeless might eventually become
acquaint4ances and help each other out.
Although the climate condition between the two sites are different, it can be said that people
prefer to have social activity under favourable weather conditions which is cooling and/or shaded. The
local climate really shapes the local activities and their lifestyles.
CONTACT POINT
Plaza next to Coliseum Cinema
TYPE OF ACTIVITY
Optional Activity | Plaza is usually used as a short cut to the adjacent street.
INTENSITY
Low | Passive contacts will occur due to the harsh exterior conditions of the plaza which causes pedestrian to walk quickly
Figure 2.1.2 – Plaza next to Coliseum Cinema
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2.2 Building Typology
Building typology varies due to the local climate of the site. In Pallasmaa’s “The Geometry of
Feeling”, The eidos of architecture, stated that building is not designed primarily as physical objects but the
images and feelings of the people who live in them (Pallasmaa, 1994). By having a good design response,
favourable conditions can be achieved to suit the site which then can increase the contact intensity within
the people. Due to high population in China, the buildings were built closely within each other to save
space. With this, the entrances are located two to three steps away from the adjacent street. This design
has helped to increase the contact intensity between the shop owner and the pedestrian. A passive
contact will occur which allows the shop owner to “see and hear” the pedestrian passing by from inside.
Based on Figure 2.2.1, the favourable weather condition encouraged the shop owners to sit outside
on the junction between YingTao byway and YingTao Hutong Street while enjoying the sunlight and breeze
sweeping onto their cheek. With a few shop owners sitting outside together, the level of contact intensity
is at “friends”. This has created social activity within the street junction. As pedestrian passed by, the level
of contact intensity varies. Sometimes, passive contact occurs as pedestrian will just make eye contact with
the shop owners whereas shop owner’s friends and acquaintances will greet them as they are passing by.
Furthermore, a fruit stall owner located opposite Lu Ren Restaurant took the opportunity to display
their fresh fruits on the street (Figure 2.2.2). By displaying boxes of vibrant fruits on the street, optional
CONTACT POINT
Street junction between YingTao byway and YingTao Hutong
TYPE OF ACTIVITY
Necessary Activity | shop owners brought out their chairs for sitting to draw attention as their storefront is small.
Optional Activity | Pedestrian to look what is happening.
Social Activity | Activity such as making conversations between the shop owners and the passer-by
INTENSITY
Low to High | chance contacts to close friendships will be developed between the shop owners and passer-by as the shops are
located right on the junction between two streets which has high pedestrian circulation.
Figure 2.2.1 – Grocery shop on the street junction
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activity will form and this can draw pedestrian’s attention to stop and look at the fruits and maybe
purchase it. This, eventually, will create passive or chance contacts between the shop owner and the
potential customers (pedestrians).
Throughout the whole year, Jalan TAR will experience dry and wet weathers. To solve the weather
problem, five-foot ways were designed back then to provide shade and protection for shop lots and people
away from the scorching sun and heavy downpours. The five-foot walkway was a great design as it has
offered pedestrians to use it for strolling, eating, working, sitting and talking. Besides that, storefronts
were designed wide enough to allow a visual permeability from the walkway to inside of the shops. These
necessary and optional activities have created different level of intensity contact within the shop owners
and the pedestrian.
Similar to the shop owner in TieShu byway, the shop owner of Muaz has prepared few benches on
the five-foot walkway as a necessary activity for people to sit while waiting for their family to purchase
textile from their shop (Figure 2.2.3). This is a good strategy for business as customers can take a bit more
time to maybe purchase more textiles. Without noticing, the contact intensity between the people waiting
will change from passive contact to acquaintances. Besides that, with a crowd surrounding the entrance of
the shop, optional activity can occur to passer-by at passive contact.
CONTACT POINT
Fruit stall located opposite Lu Ren Restaurant.
TYPE OF ACTIVITY
Necessary Activity |Shop owner took the opportunity to display their fresh fruits on the street.
Optional Activity | With boxes of vibrant colours, this can draw pedestrian’s attention to stop and look at the fruits and maybe
purchase it.
INTENSITY
Low to Medium | Some pedestrians would just see and look without complex interaction but some might develop an interest
to purchase the fruits resulting acquaintances between the shop owners and customers.
Figure 2.2.2 – Spilling of fruits boxes on the street.
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With dense pedestrian traffic on five-foot walkway, this has encouraged the shop owners to display
their goods at the storefront and also spilling onto the walkway (Figure2.2.4) like how the fruit seller
displaying fruits on the street. By doing so, optional activity will be formed as the pedestrians will
eventually slow down their movement and “stop and look” on the items which has displayed. Thus, this
can increase the business opportunity of the shop owners.
To summarise my analysis, building typology has indeed affected the social activities and also the
economic activities. Although both of these sites have different building typologies, they share similar
characteristics in terms of social and economic activities.
CONTACT POINT
Five-foot way of Muaz Textile shop
TYPE OF ACTIVITY
Necessary Activity | Shop owners prepared some benches outside their shop
Social Activity | It might happen between the people who are waiting.
Optional Activity | With a sudden crowd waiting between the five-foot walkway, it will draw attention to the other passer-by to
see what is happening which creates passive and chance contacts.
INTENSITY
Low to Medium | Chance contact to acquaintances will be developed between the people while waiting for their family.
Figure 2.2.3 – Five-foot way of Muaz Textile shop
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CONTACT POINT
Five-foot way located opposite Coliseum Cafe
TYPE OF ACTIVITY
Necessary Activity | With a wide storefront, shop owners took the opportunity to display their items and also spilling out
onto the five-foot way. This forces the shop owners to sit outside to prevent snatch thieves.
Optional Activity | This can occur between passer-by, shop owners and items. The passer-by will eventually stop and look at
the items and this can increase the business opportunity for the shop owners to promote their items.
INTENSITY
Low to High, passive to chance contact might occur between shop owners and passer-by whereas acquaintances to close
friendship can happen between two neighbouring shop owners while taking care of their shops.
Figure 2.2.4 – Five-foot way opposite Coliseum Cafe
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2.3 Local Culture and Community
Local culture and community are important as it represents the vibrancy and the essence of a place.
This can in fact shape the social activities of a site. With strong influence, the local community will uphold
their culture despite the changes of the site. In China, strategy board games such as Chinese chess and
Wei Qi are very popular among the Chinese community especially the elderlies. These games can usually
bring people together which will increase the intensity contact. In Figure 2.3.1, social activity is happening
in the small crowd in the middle of the street junction between YingTao byway and YingTao Hutong.
Although the street is not shaded by the short buildings, the favourable weather condition encourages the
community of YingTao to set up a small table to play Chinese chess in the middle of the street. This will
create optional activity for pedestrian to “stop and look” within the crowd. If they stay longer, there will be
a possibility the group of community will welcome the people from the crowd to join in. Thus
acquaintances might occur between the community and the pedestrian.
Malaysia has a rich culture as there are varieties of races living together as one. With diversity of art
and culture, many talented individuals likes to take the opportunity to perform in a crowd and also to earn
slight pocket money. In Jalan TAR, the most prominent area for street performers to perform will be the
huge walkway located outside the entrance of Sogo Shopping Complex. With wide steps leading to the
entrance, it has created an opportunity of informal sittings to form. Optional activity such as sitting on the
CONTACT POINT
Street junction between YingTao byway and YingTao Hutong
TYPE OF ACTIVITY
Social Activity | Favourable weather condition encourages the community of YingTao to set up a small table to play Chinese
checkers in the middle of the street.
Optional Activity | Pedestrian will tend to stop and look on what is going on.
INTENSITY
Low to High | Friends can gather and hangout in good weather condition. Passive to Chance contacts will occur to pedestrian
who stopped and looked. Possibly the intensity contact at acquaintances might occur between the group of community and the
pedestrian.
Figure 2.3.1 – Social activity happening at the street junction
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steps creates various contact intensity from low to high. It can be a meeting place for friends to meet or
just a pedestrian resting after a long walk. With this optional activity, street performers and beggars take
the opportunity to set-up on the wide pedestrian walkway. This will eventually draws in more crowds
which will form more passive and chance contacts within the people.
In short, with the help of street designs, local culture and community play a role to stimulate the
contact intensity and also social activity to the site. With social activity happening in the middle of the
street, it will definitely attract people to gather around to “see and look” and eventually the level of
intimacy between people increases.
3.0 CONCLUSION
In conclusion, the local climate, building typology and local culture and community really affects the
social activities happening within the site. Despite the differences, both of these sites have created life
between buildings. Although YingTao and TieShu byways are relatively narrow and unorganised compared
to Jalan TAR, these streets share a few similar traits of social activities. These two sites have their own
uniqueness which cannot be replaced.
CONTACT POINT
Main entrance of Sogo Shopping Complex
TYPE OF ACTIVITY
Optional Activity | With wide steps leading to the entrance of Sogo Shopping Complex and some parts shaded, it has created
an informal space for passer-by to sit and rest.
Social Activity | There is also a big open space walkway which attracts street performers and beggars to set-up there during
the evening.
INTENSITY
Low to High | Friends can gather and hangout at the entrance of the shopping complex in good weather condition. With the
crowd, it has lure street performers and beggars to set-up in the middle of the walkway which will create passive and chance
contacts.
Figure 2.3.2 – Street performers setting up on walkway
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4.0 REFERENCES
 Gehl, J. (1971). Life Between Buildings. Using Public Space. In J. Gehl, Life Between Buildings. Using
Public Space (pp. 11-31). New York: Van Nostrand Reinhold Company.
 Dobbins, M., & D. (2011). Urban Design and People. Wiley.
 GuangAn Holding. (2013). 大栅栏历史概况 . Retrieved April 24, 2017, from Dashilar:
http://www.dashilar.org/#A!/A/A1a.html
 腾讯 . (2017). 腾讯地图 . Retrieved April 15, 2017, from 腾讯地图 :
http://map.qq.com/?l=557082899
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