The document compares two streets - Jalan Besar in Klang, Malaysia and Queen's Road in Hong Kong - by analyzing their contact points, intensities of activity, and how physical characteristics influence social interactions. Both streets experience tropical weather and have food establishments as major contact points. However, Jalan Besar utilizes its walkways more for commercial activities like vendors, while Queen's Road prioritizes pedestrian flow. Additionally, Jalan Besar sees most activity from morning to evening while Queen's Road remains busy into the night. Overall, the physical environment and amenities of each street shape the types and intensities of activities between their buildings.

1. BACHELOR OF SCIENCE (HONS) IN ARCHITECTURE
THEORIES OF ARCHITECTURE AND URBANISM
(ARC 61303)
PROJECT 2
COMPARATIVE ESSAY
QUEEN'S ROAD HONG KONG & JALAN BESAR KLANG
Name : Anderson Wong Chun Seng
Student ID : 0323836
Tutor : Mr Nicholas Ng

2. INTRODUCTION
People and buildings are connected which have been and will continue being
connected. In thebook of Jan Gehl, ‘Life Between Building’ shows what
planners and designers can do to activate public spaces. The designs of
buildings, cities or streets can affect the people and at the same time can be
affected by the people. This assignment requires an analysis as well as a
comparative essay on the findings from case study and a local site visit from
Architectural Studio 5. The analysis will be done on the contact points and
contact intensities of both streets while the comparison will be based on the
similarities and differences on the pattern of activities. The streetchosen for
the case study is Queen's Road, Hong Kong while a local site chosen is Jalan
Besar,Klang.This comparative essay is focused on the various activities and
the number of physical conditions that influence them. These activities then
brings life between buildings, which Gehl suggest the concept of varying
degrees of contact intensity as the basis or outline of various contact forms.

3. 1.1 BACKGROUND OF STUDY
1.1.1 LOCAL CITY - JALAN BESAR, KLANG
Klang used to be Selangor's administrative centre before Kuala Lumpur and
Shah Alam was formed. Klang as the royal town consits of palace, mosque
and other buildings associated to the Selangor Sultanate consists of long
history making it the oldest historic city in Malaysia. The town of Klang is
divided into North Klang and South Klang by the Klang River.The original
commercial epicentre of the town is Klang North which can now be
considered as the older part of Klang. The new developments happens more
rapidly in South Klang.
“ Jalan Besar” is also a common street name in Malaysia, used as an
occasional substitute for the colonially named “Main Street” and “Main
Road”, as part of the country's increased use of Malay over English. One end
of Jalan Besar meets Jalan Stesen while the other adjoins Jalan Raya Timur.
Nowadays, Jalan Besar is just a place for people to carry out necessary
activites after completing their task such as going to the bank or having a
meal at a few notable restaurants around the area which are Chong Kok
Kopitiam, Yap Kee Banana Leaf and Seng Huat Bak Kut Teh. The social
activity at the site today is mostly transient whereby people would use
the public spaces as a transitional space rather than it being a
destination itself.

4. CONTACT POINTS OF JALAN BESAR
These are the contact points where these landmarks consist of well-known
eateries and transportation facilities along Jalan Besar such as KTM station,
Chong Kok Kopitiam, Seng Huat Bak Kut Teh, and others have made this
road come alive despite its worn out look at first impression. These locations
have eased people for transportation and became an attraction for food
hunters.

5. 1.1.2 QUEEN'S ROAD, HONG KONG
Queen's Road is located in the nothern coast of Hong Kong island, spanning
from Central to Sheung Wan, Queen's Road was one of the first few earliest
emerging roads to be constructed by the British colony.Formerly, it was the
first road in Hong Kong, constructed by the British between 1841 and 1843,
spanning across Victoria City from Shek Tong Tsui to Wan Chai. It is a
commercialized hotspot and a human-centralized area acting as a transition
space for locals and tourists.

6. CONTACT POINT OF QUEEN'S ROAD
1) Hillside Escalator
2) H's Queen Hong Kong
3) Pottinger Street (Stone Slab Street)
4) Li Yuen Street
5) MCM Broadwalk
On the same note, Queen;s Road too has its vital contact points whereby
locals and tourists are drawn to, namely Hillside Escalator, Pottinger Street
and H's Queen Hong King where people meet, have a meal together and
enjoy each other's company. Moreover, Li Yuen Street is located between
Lansing House's building and Prosperity Tower. The street is used as a
shortcut to travel between Queen's Road Central and Dex Voeux Road
Central. This can facilitate in bringing more people to frequent this road.

7. 2.1 WALKWAYS
Jalan Besar
Situated in a tropical climate, Jalan Besar is exposed to sunlight all
year round, with heavy rainfall during the monsoon season. The best
time to walk throughout the day is in the morning, when the sun is still
on the rise, or in the evening when the sun is setting. During the British
colonisation, in order to adapt to the weather, 5-foot walkways were designed
to shelter pedestrians to carry out their necessary activities despite the
weather. However, over the years, tenants along Jalan Besar use this
space to travel, and set up tables and stalls. These necessary activities
confined within the 5-foot walkway increases the chance of social activity
among merchants and pedestrians in the form of passive contact from
low to high intensity.
Local authorities have widened the walkway up to 10 feet due to the increase
in pedestrian traffic, extending into the vehicular road in the open area,
allowing bigger capacity of traffic, or dining area, giving more potential for
other activities to happen. Roofs and overhangs are also installed above the
extended walkway, yet inconsistent throughout the street. Therefore, due to
the harsh weather at times, optional activities such as relaxing or taking a
walk around the street rarely happen at theextended walkway as people
would rather stay around their building perimeter carrying out their
work or meeting friends. Although the frequency of optional and social
activities is small, necessary activities such as walking by pedestrians,
setting up tables by coffee shops owners and exhibiting of their
products such as clothes, plastic wares and such by shop owners still
remains.
2.0 COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS

8. Contact Point :
A restaurant along Jalan Besar has utilised the
walkway with awning as part of its premise.
Type of Activity:
Necessary activity - people would patronise
the restaurant to eat.
Optional activity - if the weather is favourable,
people would stay back and sit as long as time
allows.
Social activity - visitors might coincidentally
bump into their aquaintances.
Intensity :
Low intensity to medium intensity.
Passers-by would make eye contact witht he
other pedestrians or they might be greeted by
acquaintances or sales personnel from the
shops.
Contact Point:
A cobbler using the 5-foot walkway along
Jalan Besar to render his services.
Type of Activity:
Necessary activity -a merchant providing
shoe repairing service.
Social activity -the merchant can
haveconversations with his customer while
repairing the shoes.
Intensity:
Low intensity to medium intensity.
Passerby would make eye contact with the
merchant, or they might be greeted by
acquaintances met.

9. Queen's Road
Comparatively, Queen's Road experiences the same weather as Jalan Besar as
it is located in tropics too. However, the walkways in Queen's Road are only
protected from the roof extension of shops to serve a similar purpose as of
blocking sunlight for the convenient of passerby. This results in less in
advantage for the shop owners to display their merchandise or coffee tables
in the five foot walkway where optional activities such as shopping and
browsing affects passive and chance contact to be less frequent between
shopkeepers and pedestrians.
Thus, it can be concluded that the walkways on both streets serves different
purposes even though the experience similiar climates. The harsh tropical
weather causes discomfort and constraints activities, yet at the same time
creates different opportunities resulting in social activites. If Queen's Road
were to have these opportunities of displaying their merchandise on the
walkway if would disrupt the heavy human traffic whereas Jalan Besar has
less human traffic which gives them the privilege to fully utilize the five foot
walkway by making more passive and chance contact.
Contact Point:
Intersection between road and shops along
MCM Broadwalk.
Type of Activity:
Necessary Activity - people would walk
through the area, but heading to their own
destination without interacting with passive
contact.
Intensity:
Low intensity
Passersby would only interact with
merchant if the has the purpose of getting
goods from them.

10. 2.2 PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION
Jalan Besar
Due to Klang's identity known as a producer of tin and also the former capital
state of Selangor representing the headquarters of the district, this has formed
the existence of high accessibility of transportation in Klang. The KTM
(Klang Komuter Station formerly known as the Klang railway station) and
the bus station which is within the walking distance from KTM increases the
efficiency of transportation to the whole of Klang and the surrounding areas.
The roof and overhangs installed outside the KTM shades people from the
weather while waiting for the arrival of their transport. On the other hand, the
bus stop along Jalan Besar do not have proper shading installed. The
KTM station and bus stop acts as a means to contact points along Jalan
Besar as people would gather to carry out their necessary activities. This
promotes social activities, as there is the presence of others in the public
space, allowing others to have passive contact, simply seeing and
hearing other people.

11. Contact Point:
KTM Station along Jalan Besar
Type of Activity:
Necessary activity -people would use the
KTM to get from one place to another.
Social activity -passengers or commuters
might ask directions from other people.
Intensity:
Low intensity to medium intensity.
Passers-bywould make eye contact with
the passengers who are waiting for the
trainto arrive, or among passengers
themselves they might interact with one
another.
Contact Point:
Bus stop along Jalan Besar
Type of Activity:
Necessary activity -people would use the bus
to get from one place to another.
Social activity -passengers might ask
directions from other people.
Intensity:
Low intensity to medium intensity.
Passers-bywould make eye contact with the
passengers,or fellow passengers might
interact with each other.

12. Queen's Road
Likewise, Queen's Road is highly vehicularly connected. There are numerous
bus stops that can be found throughout the area.The availability and
convenience of transportation assist in providing choices for people to carry
out their necessary activities, resulting in people having more chances to
carry out optional and social activities which is to gather and communicate.

13. Contact Point:
Queen's Road Central
Type of Activity:
Necessary activity -people would use the
bus to get from one place to another.
Optional activity -people would take a
walk in the shops while waiting for their other
transport or friends.
Social activity - passengers might
askdirections from other people.
Intensity:Low
intensity to high intensity.
Transport users can interact with other
passengers or shopowners , increasing the
level of social activity.
Both roads are highly accessible via public transport such as buses
or trains. This has facilitated pedestrians to reach their destinations,
carry out their necessary activities while allowing social activities to
evolve from it.
Queen's Road
Likewise, Queen's Road is highly vehicularly connected. There are numerous
bus stops that can be found throughout the area.The availability and
convenience of transportation assist in providing choices for people to carry
out their necessary activities, resulting in people having more chances to
carry out optional and social activities which is to gather and communicate.

14. 2.3 Food Culture
Jalan Besar
Jalan Besar is also known for its food culture. These shops are commonly
visited by locals, white-collar workers and tourists, making it a high contact
point. These shops are commonly packedwith people mostly during
breakfast and lunch hours as people carry out their necessary activities.
As tables are arranged in shaded areas although on the outside of the shops,
when exterior conditions are favourable, optional activities take
place with approximately the same frequency as necessary activities.
Sitting out in the public would also make social activities possible.

15. Contact Point:
Chong Kok Kopitiam at Jalan Besar
Type of Activity:
Necessary activity -people would visit the
coffee shop to eat.
Optional activity - if the weather is
favourable, people would stay back and sit
for as long as time allows.
Social activity -visitors might
coincidentally bump into their acquaintances.
Intensity:Low intensity to high intensity.
Visitors can be talking with their friends
while having their meal and chances of
contact would happen while they order
their food from the stall owners.

16. 2.3 Food Culture
Queen's Road
In the same way, at Queen's Road, food is also an attraction for both the
locals and the tourists. These places are considered as high contact point,
especially during daytime. This is because often white collar workers and
friends would gather together during lunchtime or after work to enjoy their
meal together. Seatings at these restaurants are not poured out as Jalan Besar
but decorated with signs and shadings to attract people. These would promote
social activities and also encourage optional activities as during the night as it
would be cooler to linger around the area.

17. Contact Point:
Li Yuen Street
Type of Activity:
Necessary activity -people would walk
through the street as it is a shortcut travel
between Queen's Road Central and Dex
Voeux Road Central.
Optional activity - People that passes through
might engage in buying street foods if
attracted.
Social activity -visitors might
coincidentally bump into their acquaintances.
Intensity:Low intensity to high intensity.
Visitors can interact with shops owners or
even ask for direction which is a good way of
increasing social activities.
Food has always been the attraction for people regardless of where they area.
Thus, various restaurants along Jalan Besar and Queen's Road offer both daily
such as breakfast, lucnh and dinner and both streets have their own strategy of
attracting people looking for food. Most diners like Chong Kok Kopitiam along
Jalan Besar operate mostly from morning till the evening same goes to Queen's
Road. Thus Jalan Besar would be quiet with very few pedestrians in the night
unlike Queen's Road which is busy due to its location. The intensity of people
frequenting in Jalan Besar would be from morning till evening when shops and
banks are operating while the intensity of Queen's Road would be from morning
till late night. Jalan Besar and Queen's Road have low or high volume of people
depending on the hours of the day.

18. 3.0 CONCLUSION
As a conclusion, there are a lot of factors determining the life between streets.
The physical characteristics of a street, type of activities, intensity of contact
points shapes the overall spatial quality and character of the street. Most of
the activities on both street are same but each street has their own strategy of
improving social activities in term of their walkways, transport accessbility
and contact points. The intensity at different times of the day and activities
such as eating food, banking, postal needs or enhancing physical health needs
are different at different junctures of the day for these two locations. People
on these roads carry out their much needed activities and social activities as
well as doing some forms of optional activities occasionally depending on the
availability of their time. Queen's Road is much longer and broader than
Jalan Besar. It offers more contact points and higher intensity as the volume
of residents as well as tourists is much more compared to Jalan Besar,

19. 4.0 REFERENCES
https://www.sutra.my/learn-the-history-of-klang-on-this-delightful-walk/
https://zolimacitymag.com/picture-hong-kong-the-vanishing-landscape-of-
queens-road-west/
https://www.timeout.com/kuala-lumpur/things-to-do/klang-railway-station