This document summarizes a study on cognitive mapping conducted in Klang, Malaysia. Three cognitive maps were drawn by individuals with different backgrounds - an architecture student, a local young girl, and a café waiter new to the area. The maps showed both similarities and differences in how landmarks and routes were perceived. Key similarities included all three maps using the prominent RHB bank building as a reference point. Differences arose from familiarity with the area. The study supports Kevin Lynch's theory that individuals form unique mental maps based on their experiences and engagements in a place.

1. 1.0 Site Introduction
The site specifiedforthisparticularpaperis locatedinKlang.Tobe more specific,itisinthe
proximityof JalanTengkuKelanauptoJalanKota Raja.SultanAbdul AzizRoyal Galleryislocated
inJalan Istana,Klang,Malaysia.The mentionedgalleryisrightnexttothe KlangPostOffice,with
a walkingdistance of 180 metersfromthe nearbyKTMstation.
JalanTengkuKelanaandJalanIstana are mainlythe targetedareafor touristsaswell asthe
locals.JalanIstanaattracts pedestrianswithinthe proximityof transportationfacilitiesprovided
such as the KTM Stationandbus service. AsforJalanTengkuKelana,itisthe mainroad which
connectsthe southpart of Klangto the north part, bare inmindthat bothparts are dividedby
the KlangRiver. AlongJalanTengkuKelana,too,Isaw that there are a lotof textileshopsaswell
as jewelrystores.Fromthatobservation,Ithoughtthatthe area mightbe a greatarea as a
touristattraction.
Map of Southern Klang

2. 2.0 IntroductiontoCognitive Mapping
Cognitive mappingisaterm that hasbeenintroducedbya psychologist,E.CTolman,whenhe
was explainingaboutratslearningthe locationsof rewards(rewards =cheese) inamaze.
Basically,acognitive mapisa representationof physical locations. Humanstendtoremember
placesaccordingto theirownmap that theymade.Thismap(cognitive mapasthe official term),
that theycreatedisa mental representationwhich helpeachindividual inrecognizingand
recallinginformationaboutrelative locationsof phenomenaintheireverydaylife.
The differencesbetweenthe mental image thateachindividual have intheirmindandthe
characteristicof the existingphysical environmentof acertainlocationwill show whatis
importantto them. Throughthe map thattheycreated,itwill show the route that the users
alwaysuse.Itis some sortof theirownpersonal route thatperhapsonlya certainnumberof
people use themtoo.

3. 3.0 ProjectRequirementsonCognitive Mapping
Thispurpose of doingthisessayor the studyof cognitive mappingisforusto have a critical
understandingandevaluationforthisparticulartype of mapbetweendifferentpeople with
variousperceptionsandspatial behaviorof the selectedurbanspace.
In orderto furtherdevelopabetterunderstandingforthisproject, 3 cognitive mapsare drawn
by 3 differentindividualfoundaroundthe subjectedlocation.

4. Map 1
The firstmap is drawnby MeeraNazreen,anarchitecture student.Arrivingatsite viaher
personal car,she parkedright infrontof the shophouseslocatedbeside the PosMalaysiaKlang.
From there on,she walkalongJalan Istana,up to the small roadnamed,JalanStesen1.

5. Map 2
Thismap isdrawn by a local younggirl, Marsha, whoiscoincidentallyinthe neighborhood,
walkingaroundaftertryingoutsome of the local foodthere withherfriends.Initiallyshe was
reluctantto drawout the map but soonagreedafterbeingpersuadedbyherfriendsandmyself.

6. MAP 3
Thisthirdmap is drawnby one of the waiterworkingatone of the café calledKafe Café.He who
introducedhimself asAmir,saidthathe isa new part timerandis quite new tothe area. I chose his
map basedonhisdifferentbackground.

7. 4.0 Similarities
Similaritieswhichare foundbetweenthe subjectsselectedforthisprojectisthatall three of
themusesthe same landmarkor particularspotas theirreference togoto the SultanAbdul Aziz
Royal Gallery.Theirreference forthe mentionedplace isthe RHBbank.The subjectstendto
describe the “unpopular”orless-knownlandmarksasthe RHB bankis:
1. Big blue building(accordingtoAmir)
2. Easilyto differentiate the buildingforitscoloras the restseemsalmostsimilarinwhite
(Marsha)
3. It islocatedat the corner of a streetwhere people tendtostopfora bit while tryingtolook
for directions
Apart fromthat,all participantstendtohave memoriesof alivelieratmosphere,which
accordingto KevinLynchisknownto himas “nodes”.AccordingtoLynch, thispointnamed
“Nodes”playsanimportantrole on how a city isbeingperceived.Thisisbecause theyare
relatedtothe conceptpath, since theyoftenrepresentpathjunctionwhile otherssimplybe a
concentrationof some type of use or characteristic.Nonetheless,there tendtobe a few nodes
inthe cityand relatingbackto JalanIstana,the nodesmentionedbyall of the subjectsare KTM
station(whichislocatedatthe end of JalanIstana),the RHB bank (the midpointof JalanIstana
and act as the edge of that particulardistrict) andthe trafficlightsfoundall overKlang.
5.0 Differences
The difference Ihave conductedare mainlysprungfromsubject2VSsubject1 and 3. Thisis
mainlybecause forsubject1and 3, since theyare bothnew to the area, theyhave a similar
understandingonhowtogo aroundthe area witha differentintentionhowever.
For subject1 and subject3, bothof themfocusmore on a biggerscope of the area. Relyingon
the biggerpath wayand bigor a particularphysical structure tothemas theirroute totheir
destinations.
Subject2 however,asa personwholovesexploring,andhasbeenstayingthere foraslongas
she can remember,leansmore of relyingonhermemories,the identityandthe geniusloci of
the site.
Subject2 rememberthe more detailedphysical structure aswell asthe non-physical elements
aroundthe researchedarea. She mentionedthe small tree whichsproutrightinfrontof one of
the textile shopandatravel agency.She saidthat it issomehow odd yeteasytorememberasno
othershophouseshave suchunique exterior/façade. Thismemoryismostprobablythe result
frompassingby the streetfora quite numberof time.

8. 6.0 Discussion
In myown opinion,the circumstancesaswell asthe moodwill influenceanindividual’s
perceptionof aplace.Thisis whythere are differencesinthe subjects’cognitive map.There are
several factorswhichinfluence theirperception.The firstone might be the timing.Most
probablyall the subjectsare noton the same route,goingto the same destinationatthe same
time.Secondlyistheirbackgrounddifferences.Beingthe onlylocal subject(thatIcan found) on
that particulardayand time,subject2 seemstobe well knowledgeable,more organizedand
systematicnavigatingthroughthe areainKlang.She seemsto be pointingoutall the “hidden”
elementsthatthe non-localcannotreallypinpointontheirfirstvisitthere.
KevinLynchcomparedthree Americancitiestolookathow the localsof eachcity oriented
themselvesdifferently.He arguesthatthose people orientatedthemselvesthroughtheirown
mental map.Lynch believedthatcognitive mapsandthe mental imagesthat people createdin
theirmindsare mainlycomposedof the five famouselements;path,district,edges,nodesand
landmarks.
I myself have toagree toLynch’s argumentstatedabove.Afterconductingthisresearch,Lynch’s
argumentsseemstobe speakingforitself.The subjectsIhadinterviewedusesbuildings(either
tall or verydifferentfromthe rest) aslandmarks,livelyplacesasgathering(nodes) andsoon,
7.0 Conclusion
In conclusion,Ibelievedthatthe people inthe cityorat any neighborhood,city,town,etc.,their
experience andtheirengagementsinthe cityiswhatmakesthe city theirs.Theyare the one
whois makingthe environmentof the city.The formand imagesthattheyhave createdisa
resultfromtheirmemoryandinthe wordsof Kevin Lynch“the inhabitantssense theircity,in
whole andas a sum of itspaths, edges,districts,nodesandlandmarks.”
People willformtheirownmental map.Theywilleachhave theirown“private”route togetto
theirdestinations.Itisbasedonthe noticeable elementsaroundtownorcitythat helpsthemto
create theircognitive map.Theirelementsmightbe visible toall.
Lynch didsaidthat “In the processof way finding,the strategiclinkisthe environmentimage,
the generalizedmental pictureof the exteriorphysical worldsthatisheldbyan individual.This
image isthe product of both immediatesensationandof the memoryof pastexperience,andis
usedto interpretinformationandtoguide action.”

9. CONTENT
1.0 SITE INTRODUCTION
2.0 NITRODUCTION TO COGNITIVEMAPING
3.0 PROJECTREQUIREMENT OF CONGNITIVEMAPING
4.0 SIMIILARITIES
5.0 DIFFERENCES
6.0 DISCUSSION
7.0 CONCLUSION

10. THEORIES OF ARCHITECTURE AND URBANISM
(ARC61303/ARC2224)
PROJECT 1B: ILLUSTRATED ESSAY WITH COGNTIVE MAPPING
BY
MEERA NAZREEN
0309630
TUTOR:MS IDA