The document provides background information and a comparative analysis of two streets - Sisavangvong Road in Luang Prabang, Laos and Jalan Sulaiman in Kajang, Malaysia. It identifies key contact points along each street where social activities occur. Eateries are analyzed as important contact points on both streets, with Medan Satay and KFC on Jalan Sulaiman enabling close seating and passive social engagement. The Luang Prabang Night Market is noted as having an even higher intensity of contact due to its narrow alley layout and mix of locals and tourists during evenings. The document examines how the spatial qualities and types of activities at different contact points influence the levels of social interaction and contact intensities.

1. TAYLOR’S UNIVERSITY LAKESIDE CAMPUS
SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE, BUILDING & DESIGN
A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS BETWEEN JALAN SULAIMAN, KAJANG
AND SISAVANGVONG ROAD, LUANG PRABANG
THEORIES OF ARCHITECTURE & URBANISM (ARC61303)
Goh Wei Heng
0330929
Mr. Nicholas Ng

2. CONTENTS
1.0 INTRODUCTION TO PROJECT/ SITE STUDY
● 1.1 Project Objective
● 1.2 Street Profile: Sisavangvong Road, Luang Prabang
● 1.3 Street Profile: Jalan Sulaiman, Kajang
2.0 COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF CONTACT POINTS & INTENSITY LEVELS
● 2.1 Concept of activities pattern and contact form
● 2.2 Contact Point
● 2.3 Comparison: Eateries as the point of contact
● 2.4 Contact Point 3: Active frontages forming chance of contact
● 2.5 Contact Point 4: Underused spaces as contact point
3.0 CONCLUSION
4.0 REFERENCES
2

3. 1.0 INTRODUCTION
3

4. 1.1 Introduction : PROJECT OBJECTIVE
Urban streets, in such cultural contexts, are presented by social public spaces, where activities is
being carried out by the community, where interaction occur. The public life generates the
atmosphere of public realm which give a character to the particular urban street. The character not
only describes the physical environment but also brings a distinctive in cultural identity to the
overall landscape. The ambience, the atmosphere, the community behaviour would not be the
same at every point along the street, it varies from contact point to the corresponding contact
point along the street. The street patterns that affect the activity pattern needs to be studied and
understood in any approach of design and the implementation of urban design so they would
consider the cultural identity and the existing urban fabric .
Every single street embodies its own sense of place, an unique one, it is determined by how the
community interacts with each other and also with the environment in this case study, it will be the
streets. The variety of activities and the settings of a street contribute significantly to the character
of an urban space. Culture is the core as it affects the type of activity, the settings of a street
resulting in the sense of place.
Taking the street life of Sisavangvong Road, Luang Prabang in Laos alongside with Jalan Sulaiman,
Kajang in Malaysia to study the similarities and dissimilarities based on the patterns of social
activities, various in contact points, varying in degrees of contact intensity between two cities
specifically the two streets, namely Jalan Sulaiman represents the pacy working lifestyle and a
departure point while Sisavangvong Road representing a more cultural and touristic appeal of the
street.
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5. 1.2 Street Background: SISAVANGVONG ROAD, LUANG PRABANG
A beautiful street in the Luang Prabang town, situated at the northern segment in Laos, was being
named as the UNESCO World Heritage Site in the year of 1995. It is considered by many travellers,
backpackers and journalist as being the core of the Laotian culture. The tiny town was surrounded
by a majestic mountains, 700 metres above sea level at the convergence of the Nam Khan and
Mekong Rivers.
The Street span riddled with commercialized homes - turned shop lots spanning along the outer
perimeter along the street of Sisavangvong Road. The road being the main street which divide the
stretch of land between the Mekong and the Nam Khan , lies by the heart of the city, the main
tourist hotspots. Religious ceremonies like the Baci Ceremony and the Tak Bat Ritual brings
meaning to the place as it reminds the street of culture influence and traditional aspects in Luang
Prabang.
Along the road is accompanied by huge mountains and lush greeneries as well as its influx of
traditional and colonial built form. As the road has plenty of old buildings, the road had been
preserved of its architecture to raise the country profile. As time goes by, the growth of tourist
visiting started to raise rapidly, allowing mixed means of transportation, activities, paths, landmark
and nodes that create a dense and lively street stay until today.
Figure 1: Market along Sisavangvong Road ( Retrieved from : Laos Guide 999 )
5

6. 1.2.1 The Morphology: LUANG PRABANG, LAOS
During the 1350s, the Lao monarchs consolidated
the first kingdom known as Lan Xang which then
experienced a split into smaller Kingdom resulting
the formation of the Luang Phrabang during the
1707 . After a attack by the Black Flag Army in 1887,
the Royal Palace was destroyed , the Laos kingdom
chose to accept French protection. The new Royal
Palace was rebuilt in 1904 during the French
colonial era. The site for the palace was chosen as
official visitors to Luang Prabang could disembark
from their river voyages directly below the palace
and be received there.
1353 - 1975
1976 - 1995
1996 - Present
During the 1989, Laos opened to foreign tourism for
first time since 1975 after the Luang Prabang was
granted the Unesco’s World Heritage status, as to
preserve and enhance the historic architecture. The
Royal Palace was renovated and reopened to the
public as the National Museum.
A rapid growth of tourism in Laos especially near to
the Sisavangvong Road can be observed from the
transition of residential area towards touristic
residential area showing great richness in terms of
street cultures.
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7. 1.3 Street Background: JALAN SULAIMAN, KAJANG
As typical Malaysians, we often identify and connect places with food. For most KLites, when one
mentions “satay”, Kajang straightaway comes to mind. Jalan Sulaiman, one of the main street in
Kajang functioning as a departure point for taxi and a passage for community to exit Kajang
towards the direction of Cheras, Kuala Lumpur and other sub urban areas.
Kajang is a subdistrict or mukim in the district of Hulu Langat, which falls under the jurisdiction of
the Kajang Municipal Council.Its urban area is surrounded by Cheras in the north, Bangi in the west,
Semenyih in the east and Negeri Sembilan in the south. Prominent landmarks include Kajang
Stadium and Kajang Jamek Mosque, both of which were constructed in the 1970s.
Kajang was once being name as the cultural town in Malaysia as the community there is very
diverse, rich in the cultural aspects and also the food culture. At Jalan Sulaiman, we can observed
that the old shophouses are still being used and preserved until now. The phenomenon of new
displacing old is still under control at the particular Street. The street is a influx combination of
various type of shophouses based on the function such as the eateries, traditional business, the
services, retais, services resulting in richness of public life at the street.
The KFC building, the Hong Leong Bank and the Plaza Metro Kajang is the infill of modern
architecture into the Kajang Old Town functioning as services and also an attractor at an urban
context. Jalan Sulaiman is also one of the key departure point for people moving out from Kajang,
as Taxi Lane and Taxi Stop is being designed along the street to cater the needs of the community
moving out to KL and other area.
Figure 2: Jalan Sulaiman from the Plaza Metro Kajang ( Goh, n.d )
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8. 1.3.1 The Morphology: KAJANG, MALAYSIA
1850 - 1949
1950 - 1999
2000 - Present
During the 1850s, the Mandaleng came to Kajang
and settlement were built near the river bank. It is
the first tin mining industry started in Kajang. As
more settler moving into the town, mostly the
Chinese migrant comes here as labours for tin
mining and traders for business, more shophouses
were needed to accomodate the people. As Kajang
is rich for its tin mining, the British built the railway
track to transport tin to nearby port.
During the 2000s until present, more residential
areas were being built in the outskirt area of the
town to handle the phenomenon of increasing
in population. It caused many locals are forced
to move out from the old town due to
insufficient in capacity resulting in decreasing in
volume of activities in the old town. Recently,
with the new MRT line,it started to bring people
to the old town at the same time, modern
buildings are being introduced. As a result,
many of the old buildings are being displaced
by the modern development.
After the World War II, Kajang was seen as a
strategic location for the Malaya government to
implement mass development. Institutional,
educational and more commercial & residential
buildings was built such as the Stadium Kajang, Yu
Hwa Chinese School and the Shi Ye Temple. It acts
as the connector to connect others suburban area
such as Cheras and Semenyih, acting as the core of
Malaysia Development with the main economy
activity of tin mining and rubber tapping.
8

9. 2.0 COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF CONTACT
POINTS & INTENSITY LEVELS
9

10. 2.1 Concept: ACTIVITY PATTERNS & CONTACT FORM
Adapted from Jan Gehl’s Life Between Buildings, it is studied whereby the context of an urban
profile and public life is in close relation with the positive quality in urban living.
It is later stated in the book whereby the relationship between contacts draws the intensity of the
public space. The closer the relationship, the higher the intensity. The hypothesis where the
specific hotspot or a contact point as a quality of a node as how the type of people interact within
the space and the relationship of people that is formulated in relation of the place.
The elaboration of the outline in life between building represents mainly the low intensity contacts
at a lower scale. Although not important, this are independent contact forms and as a
prerequisites for other, more complex interactions related to the emphasis on 5 senses which
includes - contact at a modest level, a possible starting point for contact at other levels, a
possibility for maintaining already established contacts, a source of information about the social
world outside, a source of inspiration, an offer of stimulating experience. ( G. Jahn, 2011, p.15 )
Diagram 1 : Relationship of outdoor activities and quality of environment
Retrieved from: G. Jahn, 1971, Life between buildings: Using Public Space,pg. 11
Diagram 2 : The concept of varying degrees of contact intensity
Retrieved from: G. Jahn, 1971, Life between buildings: Using Public Space,pg. 15
10

11. 2.2 Contact Point
Based on Jahn Gehl’s Life Between Buildings, contact points are referred to the place that offers
for people to meet and carry out their daily activities by enabling them to see and hear others as
well as experiencing other people functioning in various situations.
Type of Activities
Based on Jahn Gehl’s Life Between Building, there are three types of activities in relation to the
quality of the physical environment.
Necessary activities: more or less compulsory activities. It basically revolves around our daily
routine and moreor less independent of the exterior environment.
Optional activities: happen only under favourable exterior conditions and when weather and place
invite them. These activities are especially dependent on exterior environment condition.
Social activities: all activities that depend on the presence of others in a public spaces. This type
of activity occur spontaneously, as a direct consequence of people moving about and being in the
same spaces, this proves that social activities are indirectly supported whenever necessary and
optional activities are given better conditions in public spaces.
Contact Point at Sisavangvong Road
Legend
1. Back Lane Night Market
2. Hmong Crafts Day Market
3. Wat Mai Suwannaphumaham
4. Wat Pa Huak Front Plaza
5. Mount Phousi
6. Royal Palace
7. Hwa Pha Bang
8. Luang Prabang Night Market
9. Shophouses
10. Heuan Chan Heritage House
Diagram 3 : Contact point along Sisavangvong Road, Luang Prabang
11

12. Contact Point at Jalan Sulaiman
Legend
1. Plaza Metro Kajang
2. Medan Satay
3. KFC
4. Hong Leong Bank
5. Back Lane Food Stall & Groceries
6. Pasaraya M.A.P
7. Five Foot Walkway
8. Taxi Lane
Diagram 3 : Contact point along Jalan Sulaiman, Kajang
12

13. 2.3 Comparison: Eateries as the point of contact
Jalan Sulaiman, Kajang Sisavangvong Road, Luang Prabang
MEDAN SATAY & KFC LUANG PRABANG NIGHT MARKET
MEDAN SATAY & KFC Jalan Sulaiman
Figure 4: KFC at Jalan Sulaiman ( Goh, n.d )
Figure 3: Medan Satay Kajang
Retrieved from: http://wanderlustdj.blogspot.com
Diagram 4 : Street Section of Jalan Sulaiman
Spatial quality:
Sheltered, Air conditioned (KFC), Intimate,
Proper food consuming area.
Necessary activity:
A place of eateries, resting area for taxi driver
Intensity of contact point:
High during the day
Low during evening / night
Medan Satay is an alternative built food court
style eatery as there is another Medan Satay
near to the Stadium Kajang. This is a landmark
where high intensity of influx in locals and
visitors. It establishes close contacts as
customers seatings are arranged in arm length
distance or sharing tables. High intensity of
close contacts can be observed. Besides, close
contacts also happen within the interaction of
taxi drivers, resting and talking while waiting for
their business at Medan Satay. Thus, high level
of chance contacts can develop into
acquaintances or to friend relationship.
“Contacts that develop spontaneously in
connection with merely being where there are
others are usually fleeting- a short exchange of
words, or a brief discussion”. ( Gehl,2011,p.19)
The KFC building is just newly renovated into a
much modern design, providing foods as the
attractors to create chance contact within
customer and worker & customer and
customer. As it is a multistorey building, the
level of contact may decrease as increase in
altitude due to more privacy.
The active frontage of both buildings, glass
facade and semi open facade form a positive
outdoor spaces and at the same time allow
great visual connection from the inside and
outside vise versa. This gentrifies interest
through the depth of the space within the
eateries which establishes the sense of ‘see &
hear’ relationship resulting in passive social
engagement.
13

14. NIGHT MARKET Sisavangvong Road
Figure 6: Crowded circulation in the night market
Retrieved from: www.golaos.tours
Figure 5: Luang Prabang Night Market
Retrieved from: www.golaos.tours
Similarly with the KFC and Medan Satay, this
street is a tourist spot to eat as well as a
market to the local community. Exotic
delicacies and fresh groceries invides high
intensity of tourists and locals to the alleys.
“ It is generally true that people and human
activities attract other people. People are
attracted to other people”. (Gehl, 2011,p.23) As
the placemaking of the market generates
interest of the people. Customers will be seen
squeezing in the narrow in between path unlike
proper seating area like the eateries at Jalan
Sulaiman. Due to the lacking of a public seating
space, this encourages the intensity of passive
contacts with one another within the market
where people just seeing and hearing other
people. The nature of the alley as a tourists
destination high level of social activity. In such
environment, chance and passive contacts
prevails simultaneously whereby the activity is
generated by a balance influx of locals and the
tourists.
Different from the Medan Satay and the KFC at
Jalan Sulaiman, Kajang, the Luang Prabang
Night Market has a higher intensity of contact
during the night since it only opens during the
evening period.
The close proximity between stall placements
and pathways riddles throughout the alley. This
impose intimacy among the contact of one
another.
Spatial quality:
Intimate long stretch of streets,
compact arrangement between stalls
Necessary activity:
A place of street food, souvenirs and
groceries
Intensity of contact point:
Low during noon
High during evening / night
Diagram 5 : Street section showing the Luang Prabang Night Market
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15. 2.4 Comparison: Active Frontage forming chance of contact
Jalan Sulaiman, Kajang Sisavangvong Road, Luang Prabang
FIVE FOOT WALKWAY WALKWAY & BALCONY
FIVE FOOT WALKWAY Jalan Sulaiman
Five-foot walkways are one of the key factor
that affect the overall sense of place at Kajang,
as it is being utilized at a very high rate. Besides
being used as a pedestrian path, some of the
shop owners use the space as a business
expansion area in order to increase the chance
of contact.
The intimate wide scale stretch of the
pedestrian shed walkway, which are connected
shoplots to shoplots creates the quality of a
path-space relationship whereby a person will
feel the everchanging realm of the spaces.
These acts as stopping points along the path,
an opportunity for chance contact, especially
among the locals and visitors. For instance, pop
up stalls are being implemented at the side
walkway of the Plaza Metro Kajang, creating a
stopping point for the visitors.
Secondary seating contributes to pause the
pedestrian in order to have a chance to contact,
also being implemented at Jalan Sulaiman. The
opportunity to see, hear and meet others can
also be shown to be one of the most important
attractions in city centres and on pedestrian
streets. (Gehl, 2011,p.28). To elaborate, these
active frontages generates interests to the
pedestrians whilst walking through the shaded
pathway, creating liveability whilst character of
the street thus the public realm of the street.
Diagram 6: Pop Up stall at walkway
Pop Up stall at
pedestrian walkway for
business expansion
encourages interaction
between the community
Figure 8: Business expansion at five foot walkway
(Goh,n.d)
Figure 7: Jalan Sulaiman, view from access
Retrieved from: Google image
Figure 9: Secondary seating at pedestrian walkway
(Goh,n.d)
Spatial quality:
Long stretch of shaded walkways with
infill of expansion of business.
Necessary activity:
Shopping interests
Optional activity:
Seating
Intensity of contact point:
Low during noon
High during evening / night
15

16. Walkway & Balcony Sisavangvong Road
Figure 11: Crowded circulation in the night market
Retrieved from: www.robertharding.com
Figure 10: Luang Prabang Night Market
Retrieved from: www.flickr.com
Similarly for the shoplots in Jalan Sulaiman, the
shoplots in Sisavangvong Road are also
oriented along the street. Their commercial
approach is towards the touristic aspects as
their local economy of the town. Also, the
active frontages such as the usage of the
walkway similar to Jalan Sulaiman creating an
opportunity for people to interact hence
increase in degree of contact through visual
permeability and the walkability.
The only difference is most of the shophouses
in Jalan Sulaiman Kajang did not have a great
visual permeability towards the upper level
while at Sisavangvong Road, the design of the
shophouse with an additional balcony at the
upper level, create another chance to connect
the people through visual interaction.
The locals interacting within the first floor can
be easily seen, or the general cleanliness and
tidiness of the openings indicated the use of
viewing by the locals inside the shophouses.
The result of this as a moderate contact
intensity point as this street responds to the
“walk, walk, walk, stop, see, walk.” whereby
pedestrian passes by each other - a contact
point for chance and acquaintances.
The extension of business on the walkway also
create another chance for chance contact and
acquaintances level of contact to occur as it
encourage the pedestrian to stop at certain
point,thus a beginning of interaction can be
observed.
Diagram 5 : Street section showing the Shoplots at Sisavangvong Road
Spatial quality:
Good visual connectivity, wide walkway
at the frontage
Necessary activity:
Shopping, By passing
Optional activity:
Seating, Sightseeing
Intensity of contact point:
High during morning till evening
High during night
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17. 2.5 Comparison: Underused spaces as contact point
Jalan Sulaiman, Kajang Sisavangvong Road, Luang Prabang
BACK LANE GROCERIES & FOOD STALL BACK LANE NIGHT MARKET
Back Lane Groceries & Food stall Jalan Sulaiman
Spatial quality:
Not well shaded, narrow path, hygiene issue
Necessary activity:
Buying groceries, having food, path to the
other places
Intensity of contact point:
High during the day
Low during evening / night
At Kajang, the back alleys of the street are not
being preserved well except the one at Jalan
Sulaiman. The degree of contact and
interaction at the particular back alleys make
Jalan Sulaiman has a unique sense of place
comparing to other street in Kajang.
Overall in Kajang, back alleys does not have a
specific function just an in between spaces or
an underused space, the infill of grocery stall
and little food stall invites people to utilize the
back alley making the underuse space has
similar degree of contact as the frontage of the
urban block. It can be said a contact point of
chance and acquaintance.
Having food at the back alleys provide a totally
different atmosphere, it is more private like a
hidden gem at Kajang. It is like those hidden
alley with delicious traditional local food
served. Based on the study, the intensity of
people using the back alley is very little due to
the condition of the back alley, hence a
decreasing in chance to gain higher degree of
contact up to close friendship. Only the locals
are using the back alley as they familiarize the
connectivity of the back alley towards other
places, it is an alternative path towards the
local community. Contact between locals and
tourist are lacking at this point, only for those
who discover the food stall at the back alley.
Figure 13: Sketches showing the relationship between
back alley and adjacent building
(Ho, n.d)
Figure 12: Back Alley of Medan Satay
(Goh, n.d)
17

18. Back Lane Night Market Sisavangvong Road
Figure 15: Night market at in between spaces
Retrieved from: www.tripsavvy.com
Figure 14: Back Lane Night Market
Retrieved from: www.flickr.com
Spatial quality:
Narrow walkway, Compact
arrangement of stalls
Necessary activity:
Shopping, Eating
Social activity:
Talking, asking for lower price
Intensity of contact point:
High during evening/night
Diagram 6 : Street section showing the Back Lane
Night Market at Sisavangvong Road
Cultural festivals and traditional markets are
the epitome to rejuvenate a town. Luang
Prabang celebrates this aspect by utilise the
underused spaces, the in between spaces such
as the back alley by spanning the market
throughout the alleys of Sisavangvong Road.
Although the walking path area is being
restricted due to the width of the back alley, it
still does not affect the intensity of interaction
in the night market. Using the underused
spaces and make it lively is what the night
market has contribute to the concept of urban
living a public life. Moreover, it become a
cultural unique character of the Sisavangvong
Road as utilize leftover spaces wisely with the
consideration of degree of contact, making the
weakness become an opportunity then the
strength.
“Prime concept that everyday life, ordinary
situations, and spaces in which daily life is lived
must form the centre of attention and effort.
This concept is expressed by three modest, yet
fairly broad requirements of public spaces:
desirable conditions for the optional,
recreational activities, desirable for social
activities.” (Gehl, 2011,p.51) as Gehl further
elaborated that being able toe to move about
easily and confidently, and to linger in the cities,
as well as to be able to take pleasure in city’s
cultural life, as it results to the a form of
contact point to gather and meet.The cultural
attraction offers possibilities of a form of high
intensity of a contact point whereby close
relationship of people gather and explore, the
possibility into meeting new people to develop
spontaneously in connection with merely being
where there are others.
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19. 3.0 Conclusion
In conclusion, both streets celebrates common events; but differs in experience. It is an evident as
the street in Luang Prabang, Sisavangvong Road, where history attain its value of the street identity
- history embodied through the abstract of time. The heed in the time for the street adapted to the
modern age to appeal and attain exposure as a vacation destination at the same time still inherit
such religious culture and tradition along the street. However, in Kajang, Jalan Sulaiman
formulates the working lifestyle atmosphere the society there. The pacy lifestyle where retails
operate through trade, eateries, finance, travel agencies as well as shopping centre and wholesale
of electrical appliances. This street creates dialogue with the street to the people indicating the
commercial service for the people. To balance with the history, old shophouses are still being used,
displacing element still under control, traditional eateries shop such as the Medan Satay still riddle
along the street, reflecting the preservation of history and the people. It developed together with
the tradition, the existing not by displacing.
The titled of UNESCO upon Luang Prabang become the initiative to conserve and preserve the
town, going through rejuvenation thus setting up the atmosphere will become more appealing for
the touristic aspect of the place. For Jalan Sulaiman, the sense of place is given by the community
behaviour and the lifestyle, the accumulation of this aspects will gentrify character not only of the
street but the city as a whole.
As Jan Gehl mentioned “Such an extension of opportunities for outdoor stays exactly where
everyday activities take place will almost without exception be a valuable contribution to a given
function and to life between building in the building project, in the neighbourhood and in the city.” as
how he emphasize the importance of vibrancy of activity in the urban context of the people
inhabiting the place.
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20. 4.0 References
● Gehl, J. (2001). Life between buildings: Using public space. Copenhagen: Arkitektens Forlag.
● Pacheco, P. (2017, June 09). Public Spaces: 10 Principles for Connecting People and the
Streets -. Retrieved from
https://thecityfix.com/blog/public-spaces-10-principles-for-connecting-people-and-the-stree
ts-priscila-pacheco/
● Carmona, M. (2018, August 21). Principles for public space design, planning to do better.
Retrieved from https://link.springer.com/article/10.1057/s41289-018-0070-3
● Night Market. (2017, September 27). Retrieved from
http://tourismluangprabang.org/things-to-do/arts/night-market/
● Cover Story: Preserving the old while embracing the new. (2018, December 11). Retrieved
from
https://www.theedgemarkets.com/article/cover-story-preserving-old-while-embracing-new
● Luang Prabang Night Market. (2019, April 26). Retrieved from
https://www.golaos.tours/luang-prabang-night-market/
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