This document provides a comparative analysis of social contact points between Quiapo district in Manila and Jalan Tunku Abdul Rahman in Kuala Lumpur. It analyzes how physical environments and human movement patterns affect social activities and interactions. Key contact points like plazas, streets, and riverbanks in both areas are examined based on Jan Gehl's theories of optional, necessary, and passive social activities. The document concludes that human movement and behaviors shaped by local culture heavily influence the formation of social patterns and intensity of contact between people in urban spaces.

1. CONTENT
1.0 Introduction 3
2.0 Comparative analysis essay 4 – 11
3.0 Conclusion 11
4.0 Reference 12

2. 1.0 Introduction
Manila, known as the Pearl of the Orient, located in Luzon, the largestisland in Philippines.
Besides being the country’s capital city, it is also a financial, publishing and business centre. Itwas a
central location of the nation’s battles for independence, and exhibitthe marks offoreign influence in
the widespread Roman Catholicism. The selected streetor districtto be analysed is called Quiapo.
Quiapo is well known for its hustle and bustle city life in the district as it is flooded with people and
activities. Attractions, commercial areas, religious buildings and public plaza can be found along the
district as we are going to discuss aboutthe movementpattern and user’s behaviour which mightaffect
the pattern of social activities and the contact points. The uneven or unorganized grid form ofthe
district generates different walking distance between two intersections points ofthe streets which affect
the diversity of activities along the district. Varies contact points created as the factors that affecting it
change.
The selected streetfor our studio site to compare with Quiapo is, Jalan Tunku Abdul Rahman,
located in Kuala Lumpur. The street is well known for its textile industry for decades.Compared to
Quiapo, Jalan Tunku Abdul Rahman has a short walking distance from one end to another as it served
as a shortcut route between two main roads. Both streets shared a similarity as commercial area, public
plaza and social activities can be found. The idea ofknowing both sites are ‘’ same but different ‘’, living
the demarcated boundary ofsocial, in terms ofdeveloping the patterns ofsocial living between the
communities generated a series ofquestions and arguments.
Figure 1.1 Photo on the left showing the typical scenery in Quiapo, photo on the right showing the Ramadhan bazaar
during Raya season in Jalan Tunku Abdul Rahman.

3. 2.0 Comparative analysis essay
Jan Gehl stated that, ‘’ social activities ’’ are all activities that depend on the presence ofothers
in public spaces. Which meaning a social activity involved in two or more people and these social
activities occur under varies conditions and situations whether it is a public or private space. To its most
widespread ofsocial activities, passive contact, that is simply contactwith other people using our own
senses such as hearing and seeing. In my opinion, contactpoints can be analysed as the substances
that accumulated by the social activities within it and affected by a few fundamental aspects.
First, we discuss aboutthe pattern of social activities in Quiapo. Social activities along the
district mightaffected but the physical conditions and environmentsuch as the route system, coverage
of buildings and shadings within the district, public spaces and the unforeseeable factor, the weather
condition ofthe particular area. Spaces to be discussed are categorised as Zone A, B and C. Zone A
as selected is Plaza Miranda, a space freed from restricted possibilities and served as a marketplace
currently. As mentioned above, the topics to be discussed is the movementpattern and behaviour that
affecting the similarities and dissimilarities ofthe contact points.
This open area with uncountable folding umbrellas created varies ofsocial activities in relation to
Gehl’s theory, the optional and necessary activity which forms the contact point. The physical contextof
the site, in this case the tropical climate of the region affected the activities in that area. Folding
umbrellas as a critical elementto maintain the flow of pedestrian and indirectly, the social activities of
Plaza Miranda. People tend to move along the streetunder the folding umbrella instead ofexposing
Figure 2.1 Image above showing the illustration of Plaza Miranda and highlighted contact points.

4. towards the tropical sunlight. With this behaviour and movementpattern, the occurrence ofchance
contact with high frequency can be observed throughoutthe area.
On the other hand, in this city with its tropical climate, there is a significant building elementcan
be observed throughoutJalan Tunku Abdul Rahman, the five-footwalkway as verandah for
pedestrians. Changes ofmovementalong the streetin relation with the shading ofthe area had a
significant impacton the social activities that occur along the street. In this case, the five-footwalkway
not only served as partofthe cultural legacy oflocal architecture, it encourages the occurring of
movementbeneath the shades which nurtures the usage ofthe frontage ofthe building. With this
happening factor, frequency ofcommunication and interaction between pedestrian and workers in the
building is much more higher compared to the distanced pedestrian walkway. Correspondence to the
intensity ofthe contact points along the street, high frequency ofsocial activities beneath the five-foot
walkway created high intensity of the contact points. Occurrence ofseasonal social activities along
Jalan Tunku Abdul Rahman can be seen during weekend and weekdays as the bazaar is available
during weekends. Similar elements used along the streetduring weekend bazaar, which is the folding
umbrella, as the shades under the tropical climate. When this public walkway space turned into a social
space, lowest form ofcontact created as the possibility ofengagementbetween individuals is higher.
Even this lowestform contact of merely seeing or hearing while pedestrian is walking along the bazaar
is more demanding than other street activities unless the person is interested to interact or to
communicate.
Figure 2.2 Photo above showing the scenery of vendor stalls with folding umbrellas in Plaza Miranda. Showing the
usage of folding umbrella under the heat of tropical climate in order to maintain the activities in the area.

5. Moving on to Zone B, which is Muelle Del Banco Nacional, along the Pasig River. The tactile
senses ofpedestrian along the riverbank stimulated by their movementand behaviour. In the sense
that, diversity ofvisual experiences thatpedestrian can getalong the riverbank forced them to create
diverse movementpattern. For instance, the Pasig River stimulating walking experiences due to
unexpectable intervals ofhard and softscape. High intensity of contact pointfound in that particular
area which can reach up to close friend relationship, as limited seating available by the waterfront, it
created chances for pedestrian to sittogether and communicate with each other. Landmarks across the
Pasig River implemented a chance for pedestrian to create static movementand observe across the
river thus formed a higher potential ofinteractions between pedestrian. Senses triggered and the space
is experienced by the consciousness ofpedestrian along with the eye contactbetween pedestrian while
they stop walking.
Figure 2.3 Sketch above showing the similar concept for shading device, the five-foot walkway along Jalan Tunku Abdul
Rahman encourages activities to take part beneath it and make use of the frontage of shop houses.
Figure 2.4 Image above showing the illustration of riverbank along Pasig River and highlighted
contact points.

6. In Jalan Tunku Abdul Rahman, negative experience in terms oflow intensity contact forms
offered towards the southern end ofthe street. In relation to Jan Gehl’s theory, if activity between
buildings is missing, the lower end ofthe contactscale also disappears. The varied transitional forms
between being alone and being together have disappeared. The boundaries between isolation and
contact become sharper. Through self-experience along the streetas a pedestrian, the intensity of
contact pointdecreases gradually from the northern end to the southern end as the social activities are
more concentrated in front ofthe open spaces and business area. The northern end itselfis rich in
cultural and social contentas the open spaces are usually used for streetperformance, vendors, and
events, and the cultural aspectwould be the congested textile business which served as a main
targeted agenda for the transient and local group ofpeople.Atthis point, the social activities in the area
increases the chance ofpeople meander around and indirectly involved in the engagementof
interaction between individuals through the activities. Passive contactmightbe the only form of low
intensity contact pointcan be experience when pedestrian walking towards the southern end ofthe
street. Restricted visual experience and social activities in this area causing the low intensity oftactile
senses among pedestrian.
Figure 2.5 Photo above showing the scenery of pedestrian stop along the riverbank and observe the landmarks across
the river.

7. This passive contactpointalong the streetoften affected by the characteristics ofthe
pedestrian walkway itself. As we know that Jalan Tunku Abdul Rahman is full of peripheral alleys and
walkways which created intersections along the street. These passive contacts vary in every peripheral
walkway, for instance, pedestrian collide with pedestrian or pedestrian collide with motorcyclist. On the
intersection itself, occurrence of ‘’ momentary waiting ‘’ can be observed as two parties collided,in this
case, lowestform ofcontact intensity formed as two parties are visually connected and movement
pattern changed to avoid conflict.
To the last zone to be compared with, Zone C is known as Plaza Lacson, a public square in
Santa Cruz. It is a high intensity contact pointwith possibility ofpedestrian collision among each other.
Figure 2.6 Photo above showing the occurrence of isolation towards the southern end of Jalan Tunku Abdul Rahman.
Intensity of contact point reaching its lowest level can be observed throughout the street in this area.
Figure 2.7 Diagrams above showing the intersection points on certain parts of Jalan Tunku Abdul Rahman. Collision of
pedestrian occurred when the movement pattern changed from the peripheral ally to the promenade.

8. Plaza Lacson is located ata strategic spotwhere three roads, Bustos Street, Carriedo Streetand
Palanca Street are intersected at one point. An emphasized statue ofGeneral MacArthur served as
visual cue around the public plaza, created similar visual experience among the pedestrian throughout
the street. Beside the statue, is the steps designed to accentuate the statue butbecame a
supplementary elements thatprovide seating for the public square. Occurrence oflowestform of
contact pointcreated as the chance contact among users on the steps created. The steps essentially
became a fundamental or vital builtform around the area to serve the publics and to activate the
contact points. This trend can be found regarding the steps that provide a good view towards the public
area and the vendors around the square. Besides, commercial shops and vendors are located nearby
the public square. Pattern of social activities vary with different behaviour and movementpattern of
pedestrian as they crowd over the vendors or sitalong the streetto wait for public transportation.
Utilised the public space,the cross junction ofthe street, at its finest pointand these activities along the
streetwould become necessary activities and optional activities for certain group ofpeople.Working
class, locals and touristare spotted around the area and experience in this contactpoint. For instance,
working class people will crowd the food stalls during lunch hour or along the streetwaiting for bus after
working hour.
Figure 2.8 Image above showing the illustration of Plaza Lacson and the highlighted contact points.

9. Back to Jalan Tunku Abdul Rahman, the comparing location is an open space in front ofSogo
Shopping Mall. A space where the flow ofpedestrian is uncertain and varies ofsocial activities can be
observed throughoutdifferenttime in a day. Nevertheless, the formation of the pattern of social
activities is similar as what we found along Plaza Lacson which is differed or influenced by the
movementpattern and behaviours ofworking class, locals and tourist. Steps that initially function as the
connector between the inside and outside ofthe mall are used as the supportive elements for the
vendors and streetperformances along the open space, which served as seating for the pedestrian.
The formation ofthe pattern ofsocial activities vary in selective time as the streetperformance and art
painting is one ofthe activators ofthis contact point. From close friends relationship to the modestlevel
Figure 2.9 Photo above showing the crowded vendors nearby the Plaza Lacson. Served as the destination for
necessary and optional activities for certain groups of people.
Figure 2.10 Photo above showing the scenery of social activities can be observed in Plaza Lacson, such as working
class waiting for public transportation, tourists and vendors selling goods along the road junction.

10. of intensity of passive contactcan be observed on the steps itself. For instance, live music performance
will be held occasionally during night time, in front ofthe mall. As stated in Gehl’s theory, ‘’ It was
obvious thathuman activities, being able to see other people in action, constituted the area’s main
attraction….Music blaring out on the streetfrom loudspeakers in front ofrecord shops elicited no
reaction, but the momentlove musicians began to play or sing, there was an instantaneous show of
lively interest. ‘’ It was obvious that, this high intensity of contact pointcreated through the theory of
‘’people are attracted to other people ’’.
3.0 Conclusion
In conclusion, movementpattern and behaviours ofpedestrian are the vital aspects that
affecting the human activities and the life between the architectural built form, while activities vary
depend on the social and cultural legacy ofthat particular area, differ and form the pattern of social
activities which directly contributed to the formation of contactpoints of that area. ’ Life between
Buildings‘ by Jan Gehl, clearly shows that the vitally ofhow the public spaces are essentially used to
allow people to be connected with the architectural builtform in urban design. With this, the remarkable
culture and social identity ofthe community can be maintained as the theory implemented on daily life
and the life between the buildings.
Figure 2.11 Photos above showing the open space in front of Sogo Shopping Mall has been utilised during day and
night with human activities. These activities as an activator towards the formation of social activities and directly affected
the intensity of the contact point in this area.

11. 4.0 Reference
1. Jayatilake, K. (n.d.). Chapter Review of Life Between Buildings by Jan Gehl. Retrieved June 30,
2017, from
http://www.academia.edu/13448521/Chapter_Review_of_Life_Between_Buildings_by_Jan_Gehl
2. Life between buildings: using public space by Jan Gehl (extract). (n.d.). Retrieved June 30, 2017,
from http://www.rudi.net/pages/8741
3. Kahn, L. (n.d.). Interpreting Site. Retrieved June 30, 2017, from https://books.google.com.my/books
4. Natural Movement: Or, Configuration and Attraction in Urban Pedestrian Movement. (n.d.).
Retrieved June 28, 2017, from
http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1068/b200029?journalCode=epba