Comparing Architecture Theories in Roponggi Hills and Jalan TAR

PROJECT 2: COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS ESSAY
THEORIES OF ARCHITECTURE & URBANISM [ARC61303]
PROJECT PART 2: COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS ESSAY (Individual)
Tristan Yu 0317729
Mr. Nicholas Ng

Table of Contents
1.0 Introduction
1.1 Roponggi Hills, Japan
1.2 Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman (TAR)
2.0 Comparative Analysis Essay
2.1 Pattern of Social Activities
2.2 Type of Contact Points + Degree of Contact Intensities
3.0 Conclusion
4.0 References and Citations

1.0 Introduction
1.1 Roponggi Hills, Japan
Roppongi Hills is a multipurpose development project in Tokyo, Japan. Combining “living, working,
playing, resting, studying and creating” in an area of approximately 11.6 hectares, based on the
concept of a “Tokyo cultural center.” It adapt grid system into its urban grid pattern in order to achieve
greater permeability by offering greater visual perspective from any direction. These grid become the
most important factors of allowing overlapping of path and district, enabling stronger channel of
movement spreading across the city. By developing pedestrian walkways travelling north and south,
east and west, separating pedestrian areas from vehicle areas, and eliminating level differences with
elevators and escalators emphasizes walkability.
As the legibility of both from and use has deteriorated in modern environment. Therefore, as
mentioned by Minoru Mori, president and CEO of Mori Building, the goal for the Roppongi Hills project
is to make the area the “cultural center in midtown Tokyo.” He insisted cities worked well in terms of
legibility. A sense of attractiveness can be contributed as the places looked important were important,
and public spaces could be easily identified. It emphasizes the importance degree of maturity of its
urban culture. Accordingly, Roppongi Hills is intended to be a symbol of contemporary Japan and to
showcase a new city model for the rest of the world. To bring this planning concept to fruition, Roppongi
Hills comprises building complexes that address the business, commercial, cultural, and leisure needs
of the community at large as well as provide residential towers in which people can move about and
interact freely, share information, and enjoy a culturally rich environment.
1.2 Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman (TAR), Kuala Lumpur
Our selected site for studio to be compared with Roponggi Hills is Jalan Tunku Abdul Rahman which
has also share some similarility and comparison within each other. 'As the flexible grid pattern
facilitates the dynamic movement redefines the immediate areas as a new and refreshing shopping
environment in the city centre of Kuala Lumpur. Known as the silk shopping street, the urban design
concept is inspired by the interconnectivity and overlapping attributes of lines, shapes and form of
textile. The path and nodes were linked strongly as connecting channel between the public open
spaces and linear building line where the direction of human movement maintained its linear manner.
With series of strongly distinctive urban nodes generate a new form of shopping experience to the
users. Yet, the surrounding fine grain provides consistency and solidity which makes clear reference to
our cultural and historical buildings. As the advantage of having fine grain could maintain the views and

vistas contributes towards better visual quality to enhance walkability in terms of developing stronger
sense of engagement from the surrounding. Yet both contributes highly pedestrian flow density due to
strengthen the sense of walkability which signifies the element of supporting continuous engagement.
Figure 1.1.1 Pedestrian path and vehicular route in Roponggi Hills,Japan.
Figure 1.2.1 pedestrian path and vehicular route in Jalan TAR.

2.0 Comparative Analysis Essay
2.1 Pattern of Social Activities
As mentioned in Chapter 1 "Life between Building" by Jahn Gehl, he has categories outdoor activites
into 3 types which are necessary activities, optional activities and social activities. Beforehand,
starting with public life and the areas in which it takes place, building design becomes a means to an
end, rather than an end in itself. Gehl emphasizes that life between buildings is a dimension of
architecture that deserves more careful treatment. It is where social interaction and perception, urban
recreation, and the sensory experience of city life take place. Life between buildings comprises the
entire spectrum of human activities in public space – the necessary, the optional and the social types of
behaviors that take place together creating a healthy physical environment.
As we look into Japanese human behaviour , the locals would often take public amenities and walking
as it is safe and efficient. Therefore, the few physical factor of resulting the occurence of social
activities including the shades provided by plantation, public facilities, walkable route and efficient
transportation along the street. Not only that, the surrounding building also contributes to the
movement of the community as the void and form allowing community channel across these space with
ample experience which provides quality public spaces.
Since Roponggi is a culturally enriched hub of entertainment, art and retails along with traditional old
Japanese neighbourhood in Minato district of Tokyo, Japan. People interact and enjoy their daily life is
deeply connected with the city is being sculptured and presented itself in terms of the sense of space
and situation to the dwellers. Looking forward social activities occur spontaneously indirectly supported
by necessary and optional activities are given better conditions in public space. One of the physical
factor of having vegetation and green pockets around the neighbourhood has encourage the usage of
the street as people walk pass through these greeneries comfortably from one side to another. Besides
that, public transportation like bus stop and railway station has introduced increase the usage of public
transport that urge walkability and also reducing congestion especially country like Japan as the
population growth increase simultaneously.

As mentioned by Gehl, social activities in public spaces can be quiet comprehensive, for example
greetings, conversations, discussions, and play arising from common interests . Different group of
people within the area including workers, students, locals and more are driven by necessary activities
as people would pass by walkable route to which involved better participation which the participants
have no choice. Two bridges merged into a landscape plaza. Serves as the main gate to the entire
area and incorporates a station plaza connected to the Hibiya Line subway station. Art walk & West
walk (Both of these promenades) originate at Metro Hat (Roppongi Station, Hibiya Line) and serve as
main arteries of pedestrian traffic through Roppongi Hills. Indirectly, public spaces contributes towards
the channel of movement creates a strong social pattern through the nature of activities within
Roponggi Hills.
Optional activities take place only when exterior conditions are optimal which brings the vibrancy of
the street level interaction. As one of the example, Coffee shop along the pathway attracts
pedestrian who strolls along the shopping street. As the primary seating provide furniture in front the
shop which overlook the street, with chairs oriented promotes prospect view of human activities.
Canopy which provides open view to all direction and maintaining the level of privacy at the same time.
It offers social interaction towards the pedestrian, which including meeting people and sharing
experiences which offers opportunity to maintain in contact. With frequent becoming an active meeting
spot maintained in a far and less demanding way.
Figure 2.1.1 Surrounded by greenery at Roponggi Hills

Figure 2.1.1 Transportation system from North to South, West to East
Figure 2.1.1 Coffee shop attract pedestrian
As compare to Jalan TAR, one of the most significant element found along the street which is the 5-
footway that provide ample canopy for the pedestrian. The walkways of the five foot way are a mixture
of private and public space. It contributes much to the usage of the frontage of the shop with business
activities spill out onto the walkways, from cafes and restaurants to wholesalers and metalworkers. Not
only that, the covered space below has become another form of public space that allow strong
occurrence of human activities. Yet it provide an enclosure that allow pedestrian to feel safe walking
under the shaded zone. Therefore, 5-footway not only plays its role from the cultural extension of the
architectural built form , but also encourage the presence of human social activities interaction by its

present. And providing a platform which is favourable for communication and interaction between one
another.
Figure 2.1.1 five footway along Jalan TAR
2.2 Type of Contact Points + Degree of Contact Intensities
As the social activities interweave to form an active public spaces contribute much to form contact
point. It become the main factor of providing human interaction, it become a contact point whereby it
may also be refer as 'magnet'. Contact point here not only refer as an active spot, but it also determine
the level of interaction happen. As mentioned by Jan Gehl (pg.17), “see and hear contacts ”
considered in relation to other forms of contact and as part of the whole range of social activities.
Whereby the type of contact points varies accordingly due to the varying degree of contact intensity.
As social activites become the main factor of providing human interaction, it become a contact point
whereby it may also be refer as 'magnet'. A place where people meet often and allow more intimate
level of interaction happen. As mentioned in Kevin Lynch "Image of the city", he pointed out places like
junction or square are define as node. As node can also be refer as contact point where physical form
is not necessary needed to the recognition of a concentration the place, yet they are both define by the

perception and experience senses of people. Where by node is define by how an individual define
through his own vision, while contact point is formed through experience of the visual and sensory
take place.
In Roponggi Hills, the type of contact point found here in context relies much on the existing object act
as a focal point which draws the attention of the crowd and made use as a focal point for meet up point.
The 9 meter height spider sculptured standing firmly on the open space become a node. Drawing
crowd attention from all direction bringing strong sense of protection in front of the building plaza. Not
only that, ample seating areas located around the edge of the sculpture contributes towards optional
activities to stay connected with the surrounding. Sometimes, crowd intensity grows as the plaza turns
to a venue of art programmes, which draws people stimulate interaction.
Figure 2.2.1 The junction at Shibuya Pratunam where mini stalls set up around it with crowds

Figure 2.2.1 Spider figure act as contact point
In Jalan TAR, level of contact point here involving people relying on the intimacy of human relationship
regardless of external and tangible closure of the place. Not only that, activities happening along Jalan
TAR is more target oriented as most of the people will easily being influenced to follow on e another, as
the street itself is strongly rich in social and cultural content activities like night market, art & craft and
street performance. These could stimulate the engagement of the people contributing higher chances
of engagement between individual through the lowest level of contacts which could later provide
opportunities to form a higher intensity of contacts as the crowd draw people closer especially the
passerby which become a strong contact point for social interaction. From my observation, SOGO
shopping mall has become a landmark in Jalan TAR. As mentioned it acted as marker sequence to
remind pedestrian of their position along the path concerned, and give a sense of getting somewhere.
It contributes publicly-relevant treated as landmark to make its own legible, and thereby becoming as a
street marker. As it is stay at junction, it has benefits from visual exposure to several routes which will
contribute to the legibility of the junction, supporting visual permeability. Yet the optional activities
which happen here where performance being held here contributes largely towards human interaction

as pedestrian participate as the large open area offers an opportunity to be with others in a relaxed and
undemanding way.
Figure 2.2.3 SOGO Shopping Mall distinguish as landmark
Figure 2.2.3 Night life crowd around the open space in front of SOGO Shopping Mall
As contact point come in varying degree of contact intensity based on the interaction and relationship
between people. As Jan Gehl mentioned the opportunities for meeting and daily activities in the public

spaces of city enable an individual to see and hear others ,to experience other people functioning in
various situations. The chances of people carrying out daily activities at any place could create a
higher possible chances for people to have social exchange to take place.
As one of the contact point in Roppongi Hills Arena is a multi-purpose entertainment space sheltered by
a giant retractable roof, which provides a circular stage. This space responds seemingly to the
requirements of a various events with a versatile stage and an ambience that only an open-air venue
can provide. The arena imposes a constant stream of creative programs befitting its location in a town
where new ideas flow without end. An open spaces at the intersection of 2 major pedestrian arteries
draws the attention of the crowd as landmark. Allowing certain degree of physical interaction due to its
strategic location as an intersection point. Therefore, people could join in the activity happening and
building higher interaction intensity within its context. As social events can evolve simultaneously, it is
the contact point with highest meet up possibilities among all the others. Necessary activities like
worker passerby, optional activities such as concerts and exhibition held here and even social activities
as a meeting spot for meet up. Which could relate back to Jan Gehl regarding the interwoven pattern
of the three categories of activities that work simultaneously at the same time. This experience
distinguishes the formation of achieving a strong character that utilizing its initial function as a cross
junction. With chances of contacts unintended occasionally meet up of the same face offers an
opportunity to be in the presence of others in the most demanding way. The existence of in between
space, the essence of participation of the human experiences gathered from repeating their daily task.
Figure 2.2.4 Arena with plenty of social activities going on

Besides that, back lane of Jalan TAR which provides only single lane motorway became one of the
hotspot as the street was pampered by foodtrucks and vending stores. The motorway which is flanked
by privatized zone, which demarcations of threshold is dissolved between pedestrian and motorway
uses. Eventually, it turns the backlane to be more lively than the front, due to its narrower, more
intimate and less glary sunshine exposure due to the tall buildings that flanked the narrow street. As
mentioned by Jan Gehl it was obvious that human activities, being able to see other people in action ,
constituted the area’s main attraction as in between space is strongly presented here. As in between
space allows human experiencing a sense of closeness towards adjacent built form. The type of social
activities happening along the street including bargaining, chatting and selling stimulate the
experiences of sharing among each other. Whereby increases the chances of people being able to
make contact and share experiences with each other.
Figure 2.2.5 (Left) Back lane crowded with people especially night time and during the weekend
3.0 Conclusion
Visual permeability through urban pattern has largely influence the way how people interaction. As the
combination of street activities drive the engagement of social activities create a more defined social
pattern taking into consideration of cultural, social and pattern. The senses of experience drives the
participation of human behaviour to share and make contact with each other through the existing
legibility potential of the site and its surrounding. It clearly define the idea of the existing space with the
presence of the human interaction in combination to establish an image of the city with the participation
of the community.

4.0 References and Citations
1. Architecture and Community Come to Life at Roppongi Hills Synergistic Collaboration of Leading
Architects & Designers Creates Global City | Press Releases｜Press Room | Mori Building Co., Ltd. -
MORI Building. http://www.mori.co.jp/en/company/press/release/2003/04/20030425172353000300.html
2. Roppongi Hills: controversial blueprint for Tokyo's new breed of high-rise – a history of cities in 50
buildings, day 38. Philip Tsubuku - https://www.theguardian.com/cities/2015/may/18/roppongi-hills-
tokyo-controversial-new-high-rise-history-of-cities-50-buildings-day-38
3. https://www.pps.org/reference/jgehl/
Gehl, J. (1987). Life Between Buildings: Using Public Space (transl. by Koch, J.), New York: Van
Nostrand Reinhold.

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