Medan Pasar in Kuala Lumpur and Tung Chau Street in Hong Kong are analyzed and compared. Both are characterized by rows of shophouses serving commercial and residential functions. However, they differ in public spaces. Medan Pasar has a central public square while public areas in Tung Chau Street are under overpasses due to land constraints. Additionally, Medan Pasar now caters more to tourism while Tung Chau Street remains focused on industry. Contact between people also varies from passive interactions to chance encounters depending on the location within each site.

1. SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE, BUILDING AND DESIGN(SABD)
BACHELOR OF SCIENCE (HONS) IN ARCHITECTURE
ARC61303 THEORIES OF ARCHITECTURE AND URBANISM
PROJECT II COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS ESSAY
MEDAN PASAR(KUALA LUMPUR)
&
TUNG CHAU STREET (HONG KONG)
NAME: ONG SHI HUI
STUDENT ID: 0320303
TUTOR: MR NICHOLAS

2. CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION
BACKGROUND
I. CLIMATE
II. BUILDING AND STREETTYPOLOGY
III. ECONOMYAND STREETSCAPE
IV. URBAN CULTURE AND SOCIETY
CONCLUSION
REFERENCES

3. Introductionof the project
In this comparative analysis essay, findings fromcase study (Part 1) and local site research
(Studio) are to be analysed side by side. The main framework is to examine similarities and
dissimilarities based on the patterns of social activities, types of ‘contact points’ and the
varying degrees of contact intensity between the two cities.
Physical environment is one of the factors: a factor that influences the activities to a varying
degree and in many different ways. Outdoor activities, and a number of the physical
conditions that influence them. ( Gehl, 2011, p.9)
Outdoor activities in public spaces can be divided into three categories, each of which places
very different demands on the physical environment: necessary activities, optional activities
and social activities.
The concept of varying degrees of contact intensity is the basis of the following simplified
outline of various contact forms.
High intensity Close friendships
Friends
Acquaintances
Chance contacts
Low intensity Passive contacts (see and hear contacts)
Graphic representation of the relationship between quality of outdoor spaces and the rate of occurrence of
outdoor activities.

4. Background
Medan Pasar
Medan Pasar is the heart of the inner city of Kuala Lumpur. It is located at the confluence of
Klang and Gombak River where Kuala Lumpur started and expanded. It is the centre of the
original township as established by Yap Ah Loy. Also, it has been established prior to 1882
due to a fire engulfed Kuala Lumpur. So, the ornate Neo Classicalshophouses facing Medan
Pasar is remain in Medan Pasar. One of the centrepiece of Medan Pasar is the Market
Square Clock Tower which is to commemorate the coronation of King George VI.
History
Medan Pasar was the capital’s banking and shopping hub in the 1920s. When the miners
and traders first landed, a small trading post was constructed at the confluence between
Klang and Gombak. Business activity expanded eastwards to the Klang River, resulting one
of the busiest business centres in Kuala Lumpur. Shophousess were erected and street
formed. These rows of shophouses and streets, with the river located at the west, created a
rectangular space, known as the Old Market Square (Medan Pasar) which later became the
main focal point of Kuala Lumpur. During the administration of Kapitan Yap Ah Loy, he
owned majority of the buildings in that area.
The heritage shophouses in Medan Pasar. The location of Medan Pasar
The market square

5. Tung Chau Street
Tung Chau Street is a road along the flyover in Kowloon, Hong Kong. The southern end of
the road connects Tong Miu Road, while the northern end connects Lai Chi Kok.
History
Tung Chau West Street is located in the North Cheung Sha Wan industrial area. In the early
1920s reclamation plan, the original will be connected with Tung Chau Street, but after the
change due to land use, the two streets eventually failed to connect, to facilitate
identification, relatively short. A 1970s changed its name to Tung Chau West Street. When
the construction of the name of the street, and later renamed Fuzhou Street, and then
changed to the present name, the name taken from China’s Jiangsu Province, Tung Chou
City. Before 1978, Tung Chau Street was a sea road. Owing to reclamation relationship,
Sham Shui Po’s coastline is progressing westward. At present Tung Chau Street has become
an inland road. And because of this, from Tokyo Street to Nanchang Street, a section of
Tong Chou Street, is not westbound.
The location of Tung Chau Street in Hong Kong
Tung Chau Street
The street view

6. Climate
Medan Pasar
The climate of Malaysia are uniform temperature, high humidity and copious rainfall. Winds
are generally light. There is sunny and raining throughout the year. The weather is hot
during daytime. So, people will choose to stay indoor unless the place is covered or planted
with tree.
Tung Chau Street
Hong Kong has a humid subtropical climate. It has an average annual temperature of 23
C (73 F). From May to November, it may be attacked by tropical cyclones of various
strengths and occasional squally thunderstorms. The typhoon season is possible in
September. From November to April, the outdoor temperature is nice warm. It is usually
between 20-25 .
The max and min temperature in Malaysia
The max and min temperature in Hong Kong.

7. Buildings andstreet typology
Medan Pasar
Perhaps a lot of shophouses in Medan Pasar is built during British colonization and its
influence by Neo-classical architecture on that times. Rows of shophouses show linear form
in plan as they are located side by side with each other along the street. Most of the
shophouses is 3-storey shophouses. Also, open space typology is found in some part of the
road. There has a continuous overhang roof structure such as Kasturi Walk. It is one of the
shopping district because it has several stalls that retail traditional good in affordable price.
Due to the uniqueness of Medan Pasar, it became a heritage and tourist area.
Linear typology shophouse is along the street.
The function of shophouse is still same as the traditional shophouse. The ground floor is for
the businesses and the upper floor is for residences. Moreover, five-foot way is applied to
create an area for people to walk by. It also creates an opportunity to enhance the intimate
relationship between the neighbours.
ShophousesShophouses
Open space typology is applied in the street
Business
Residence
Business
Residence
Public
Shade provided
Building typology. The intimate relationship between businesses, residence and public caused by climate
needs.

8. Tung Chau Street
Tung Chau Street is a one-way road which located in between of buildings and overpass.
Due to lack of available land, the buildings built close to one another. The buildings are in
different of height because the higher buildings were constructed, and the old building was
retained. It reached the “maximum” urban density. Open space typology is found under the
overpass. Due to the land limitation, the space under overpass are used to create the
business opportunity and shelter for homeless.
Conclusion
The similarity of building style in both Medan Pasar and Tung Chau Street is shophouse.
Shophouses is built to serve as businesses and residence for the community there. While
the dissimilarity is the public area. The function of public area in both sites are different. In
Medan Pasar, the public area is located in between of shophouses. It used to create a public
realm for people to rest. Conversely, public area focuses on the space under the overpass in
Tung Chau Street. Due to the land limitation, the public area is widely used for different
function such as car park, market and shelter for homeless.
Overpass
Buildings
Business
Residence
Public
The environment of the street The street view
Building typology. The intimate relationship between businesses, residence and public caused by limitation
of land used and climate needs.

9. Economy and streetscape
The difference in economics activity resulted in different community and culture in both
Medan Pasar and Tung Chau Street. The similarity of both street is the outsider is slowly
occupying the place.
Medan Pasar
Medan Pasar is a place that rich of cultural and historical context, but now it flooded by the
foreigners. The economies and public streets are taking over by the foreigners. They came
here to earn for better life. Unfortunately, it caused some of the local communities were
move out from Medan Pasar. Nowadays, the core of the economic activities relies on the
tourist and the foreigners’ businesses. It considers as mixed economic zone because of the
hotel, restaurant and some local businesses between the foreigners.
Furthermore, there are a few significant landmarks such as the clock tower and HSBC
Tower. So, it is a guide for the tourist to visit Medan Pasar. Also, Medan Pasar is providing a
public square for them to sit down and rest.
Contact point: Old Market Square
Type of the activity: Necessary and
optional activity, people pass through
the Market Square to work. People
might be sitting down under the tree.
Intensity: Low. Passive contact. See and
hear contact.
Contact point: Kasturi Walk
Type of the activity: Necessary activity,
trading items is part of the daily life.
Tourist will stop by and might buy it.
Intensity: Low. The seller and the tourist
do not interact because they just
achieving the necessary activity for
economic goal.

10. Contact point: Medan Pasar Clock tower
Type of activities: Necessary and optional
activity, people pass through the Market
square. The foreigner and tourist will come to
visit and take photo. Also, the homeless might
sleep beside the clock tower.
Intensity: Low. Passive contact. See and hear
contact.
Contact point: Food stall in Medan Pasar
Type of activities: Necessary activity, food
trading is part of the daily routine.
Intensity: Low. The seller and customers do not
interact and only achieving the necessary
activity.
Contact point: Bus waiting area
Type of activities: Necessary activity, people is
line up and waiting for bus.
Intensity: Low. Passive contact. See and hear
contact.

11. Tung Chau Street
The core of economic in Tung Chau Street relies mostly on industrial economic because
there have a lot of steel making, garage and construction material’s supplier. Also, the space
under the overpass are used for different purpose such as shelter for homeless, market and
parking. Jade market is one of the example that used the space under overpass. It has been
set up by Sham Shui Po District Council to act as jade and gem trading centre. Before that,
about hundred jade vendors opened their stall in Apliu Street.
Not only than that, there are a few significant parks within the Tung Chau Street. For
instance, Tung Chau Street Park is an urban public park which providing several outdoor
activities such as basketball courts, central piazza, children’s play area and indoor game hall.
Unfortunately, this park was become gambling and drug area.
Contact Point: Tung Chau Street Park
Type of activity: Necessary and
optional activity, people are passing
by to school and work. People might
come to take a walk and play.
Intensity: Low. People feel unsafe in
this park.
Contact point: Sham Shui Po Park
Type of the activity: Necessary and
optional activity, People come to use the
facilities such as play basketball, jogging
and swimming.
Intensity: Chance contacts. People
might talk to each other when playing.

12. Contact point: Temporary shelter for homeless
Type of activities: Necessary activity, people is
living under the overpass.
Intensity: Low. The only interaction is the
people who live together.
Contact point: Jade Market
Type of activities: Necessary activity, people is
trading jade and gem.
Intensity: Low. The seller and customers only
interact when explain and persuade the
customers to buy the items.
Contact point: Temporary Market
Type of activities: Necessary activity,
merchants and local community trading for
their daily items and some social activity such
as conversation are created.
Intensity: Low to high. From hear and see to
converse. Social activity take place under the
overpass.

13. Urban culture and society
Medan Pasar
Medan Pasar was headed by Kapitan Yap Ah Loy, and known as Macao Street or Hokkien
Street by the old Chinese community. Large number of foreigner at Medan Pasar has
changed the cultural scene entirely. Foreign workers are hired as shop keeper instead of
local communities because the foreigners can be hired in cheaper cost than the locals.
Moreover, the foreigners and local communities came from different background and speak
in different language, so it creates a barrier between them. Their interaction is kept to a
minimal and only deal with the necessary activities such as work and trading. The optional
activity is hardly seen. Nowadays, the majority in Medan Pasar is foreigner instead of the
local communities. Also, there are only a few homeless in Medan Pasar.
Tung Chau Street
Tung Chau Street is a high population area which consists of low income’s local community
and refugees. Large number of refugees in Hong Kong is because of executing torture
claimant. It is a person claiming protection in the prospective country from being returned
to another state where there are” substantial grounds for believing that he or she would be
in danger of being subjected to torture” according to the United Nations Convention against
Torture. Also, Tung Chao Street is the best choice for them because this street was
considered as low living cost area compare to other places in Hong Kong. Although the living
cost is low, but some of locals and refugees are not affordable to live in a shelter. So, huge
amount of homeless where living under the overpass. Furthermore, non-refoulement
claimants were stayed to illegal work and other criminal activity. Also, some of the peoples
are involve in gambling and drug activities in Tung Chau Street Park and Jade Market. Owing
to the local community must be walk through these areas for necessary activity such as
going to school and to work. Thus, this street became an unsafe area to local community.
Conclusion
The similarity in both streets is large number of foreigner but they come for different
reason. In Medan Pasar, the foreigner came here for better economic. The only social issue
is they do not interact with the local community. Conversely, the foreigner in Tung Chau
Street is victims of political persecution or torture. Also, some of the illegal foreigners were
join the gangland, so it caused a lot of social issues such as walloping and drug trafficking.
The safety issues remain critical to the local community.

14. Conclusion
In conclusion, both Medan Pasar and Tung Chau Street have a lot of contact point, but the
quality and activities of the contact points vary depending on the external factors such as
the human behaviours in respond to weather and streetscape.
When analysed from a closer perspective, Medan Pasar provides a heritage atmosphere of
smaller scale street, whereas Tung Chau Street is more economic with larger scale.
However, I think both streets have its own good contact point. Medan Pasar places in a
strategic location and attracts people during night time. The only weakness is the weather,
so people prefers to other places with shading instead of Medan Pasar. Conversely, Tung
Chau Street, the streetscape is well designed, but the weakness is the complexity of the
society.
Life between buildings at both sites are similar but both have their own qualities and unique
experience.

15. References
- Gehl, J., & Koch, J. (2011). Life between buildings. Washington, D.C.: Island Press.
- Tye, T. (2017). Medan Pasar (Market Square), Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Kuala
Lumpur. Timothytye.com. Retrieved 28 November 2017, from
http://www.timothytye.com/asia/malaysia/kuala-lumpur/medan-pasar.htm
- Life under overpass: A homesick Vietnamese homeless. (2017). LYNN LIU. Retrieved 28
November 2017, from https://lynnliu.me/2014/10/30/a-homesick-vietname+se-homeless/
- Climate of the World: Malaysia | weatheronline.co.uk. (2017). Weatheronline.co.uk.
Retrieved 28 November 2017, from
https://www.weatheronline.co.uk/reports/climate/Malaysia.htm
- Medan Pasar the hub of KL in the 19th century - Community | The Star Online.
(2017). Thestar.com.my. Retrieved 28 November 2017, from
https://www.thestar.com.my/news/community/2007/03/03/medan-pasar-the-hub-of-kl-in-
the-19th-century/
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