Theories of Architecture and Urbanism

1. School of Architecture, Building and Design
Bachelor of Science (Honours) Architecture
Theories of Architecture and Urbanism
[ARC 61303]
Project Part 02
Comparative Analysis Essay
University Belt, Manila, Philippines // Medan Pasar, Malaysia
Name: Tan Yincy
ID: 0318355
Tutor: Mr. Prince Favis ISIP

2. Contents
01 Introduction
02 Background
Urban Landscapes
Economy and Streetscape
Urban Culture and Society
03 Conclusion

3. Introduction
The purpose of this analysis paper is to have a more in depth understanding on the factors
that made a socially active street by analysing two selected city, The University Belt in
Manila, Philippines and Medan Pasar in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, in reference to the
book, ‘Life between Buildings’, by Jan Gehl. The 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 are examined and analyzed.
Findings from project 01 (Case Study) and the local site analysis/ research from Design
Studio V are included and analyzed side by side. Although both cities are placed in the
same context of urban landscapes where they are both located in Asia, they differ in terms
of physical environment as the people who lives in it are different and would influence the
activities to a varying degree in many different ways. The approach of this research
focuses on the different contact points in an outdoor setting and the three main activities
that took place in relation with the urban landscapes, climate, economy, streetscape and
cultures of these two cities.

4. Background
University Belt, Manila, Philippines
University Belt refers to one of sub-district areas located in Manila, Philippines and is
well-known due to high concentration or a cluster of colleges and universities in that city. It
is known mainly only in San Miguel district, but in a bigger scale include areas nearby
Sampaloc, Quiapo and Santa Cruz as well.
The pedestrian sidewalks are much more comfortable compared to the main roads and
highways of Manila, thus promoting the university belt. The granite-paved sideways are
well put and it is complemented with greenery to enhance the context of sustainable urban
design of Manila.
Across the Pasig River, the belt comprises of 36 educational institutions and each of the
colleges and universities are at a walking distance of each other to the extent it directly
forms irregular crescent shape, giving more sense to its nickname as time passed by. In
fact the oldest library in the country known as Santo Tomas started here as well, signifying
long due history of urbanisation in Manila up until today.
Figure 2.0 Landmarks around University Belt

5. Urban Morphology
A city of two halves - Informal city includes
Binondo & Tondo whereby Formal city
refers to areas across Pasig River.
Regular grid cities composed of rectangular blocks,
facing two sets of orthogonal streets - main typology
introduced by the Spanish during colonization derived
from European linear towns.

6. Medan Pasar, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Medan Pasar, stretching from Jalan Kasturi, has always been known as the most historical
site in Kuala Lumpur. From a trading hub to today’s tourist destination it became a
significant location due to its surrounding well known landmarks and historical shophouses.
Medan Pasar used to be a two laned motorway that had shifted into an open plaza which
occasionally host events and activities now and then. The clock tower was erected in 1937
in commemoration of the coronation of King George IV and remains steadfast until today,
right in the middle of the road. Although the road no longer plays host to the city’s busiest
market, Medan Pasar is still buzzing with activities as it is now one of the main hubs for
public transports. It has long been the main stop for private and public buses where
passengers can hop on the next bus to their respective destinations.
Medan
Pasar
Katsuri
Walk
Figure 2..0.1 Site connection of Medan Pasar and Katsuri Walk
Figure 2.0.3 Jalan Hang KasturiFigure 2.0.2 Medan Pasar Clocktower

7. Urban Landscapes
University Belt, Manila, Philippines
Besides Universities, Manila’s University Belt are also known for its heritage sites. The
image of properly organized pavements, often with with greeneries, fill with students,
locals strolling through, with equally bustling roadside movement, traffic would come to
mind. However, as the U-Belt consists of a large area, there are parts of it where the
sidewalks and alleys has deteriorated over the years without proper maintenance and
excessive usage. There have been effort from governmental officials to unify the walkways
to lump together heritage conservation and tourism. There is a pattern of duality within the
formal and informal boundary where the diffusion of organized and unorganized planning
formed districts within the U-Belt along the Pasig river where the river act as a separation
boundary as well. Also, because of the abundance of schools and students, the area’s
commerce is mostly dictated by the needs of the them and has become a hotspot for
bookstores, school supply stores and computer shops that offer services such as
photocopying, binding and lamination. Due to the ongoing demands and competition, the
informal districts grew and some even branch out repeatedly and created a very dense
and intertwining urban pattern that developed different economic and social-focused
districts.
Figure 2.1.1 Views

8. Medan Pasar, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
It is similar to Medan Pasar but in an intangible form where instead of vendors and shops
forming the urban pattern or the informal boundary, foreign workers act as the boundary
among the locals where the available imagery of groups of workers congesting the square
and sidewalks, streaming out of buses and Katsuri Walk. The duality pattern could be seen
in Medan Pasar where the pedestrian walkway of Jalan Hang Kasturi are more organized
and the effort to unify the pavements around the whole area to revive the streets and
alleys. Economic and social-focused nodes are located along Jalan Hang Kasturi and the
square. A similar natural boundary is also present - The River of Life that separates the
historical monumental buildings from Medan Pasar.
SKETCH
Figure 2.1.2 Foreign Workers waiting in the five
foot walkway & at the bus station
Figure 2.1.3 Organized pedestrians walkway

9. Economy and Streetscape
Good streetscape design begins with an approach that emphasizes wholeness, considering
how various elements interact to create an overall streetscape composition. Much more
than a strip of sidewalk laid down next to a roadway, a great streetscape incorporates a
holistic vision for the use of the street which takes into account the needs of all users.
City’s streets can become a fundamental component of a healthy, vital and thriving public
realm with well designed streetscapes. The spatial organization of activities on street level
must be analyzed in order to look more closely at the land use of these two sites.
Streetscape very much affects how people uses the public realm and how people reacts
towards certain things. Commerce is the major economy for both University Belt and
Medan Pasar where crowds from different parts of the city would come with the pure
intention of buying and spending. Although both sites are trading based but University
Belt’s commerce are more on stationeries, accessories and food whereas Medan Pasar’s
are more on art, cultural, accommodation and delicacies. The economy activity actually
aid on the public outdoor activities along with the streetscape.
According to Jan Gehl’s ‘Life between Buildings’, all three main outdoor activities can be
observed on both sites. As both function as a commercial street with its adjacent streets
hosting local community through residences and small businesses, the outdoor activities
that took place are mostly the same. Necessary activities such as people going to work,
locals running errands and grocery shopping, people waiting for public transportation and
students going to school are observable from both sites. Optional, recreational activities
tend to take place in open public areas, where sitting are made available to the public and
one can take a break from their activities to observe the surroundings on the streets or the
environment or ponder.

10. Social Activities
The vendors along the streets establish a
chance contact to attract local to buy
groceries. The low intensity underground
passageway connects to the complex
forming passive contact pedestrians
In University Belt’s informal city, the districts that consists of vendors and shophouses is
the most congested during daytime where people travel to the vendors or food stalls for
lunch or to purchase, creating opportunity for chance and acquaintance contacts. Optional
activities of window browsing and shopping are constant due to the competition is at the
highest, so low prices are a common offer among establishments. This have expanded the
commercial importance not only to the University Belt’s students but also to the general
public. The popularity of districts such as Claro M. Recto Avenue, which is a haven for both
used and brand new books and nearby Bambang Street, a known medical supplies capital,
have already reached the consciousness of the general public, that people from all parts
of the city visit the area to purchase products. It is an area with high consumer density so
fast food chains, restaurants, vendors are mostly situated nearby.
Optional Activities
While under the LRT station is a main
road that gather transportation at the
side with daily comings and implies an
opportunity to establish acquaintances
in that circumstance
Recto Avenue LRT Station
Known to be a major transportation hub, Recto station serves as the transfer point for
commuters to travel to either Baclaran or Roosevelt stations via a crossway to Doroteo Jose
station. Its convenient location has helped many businesses to start up in the nearby area. The
station is also located near popular shopping centers, landmarks, as well as educational
institutions.
Figure 2.2.1 Contact Point

11. In Medan Pasar, the main commercial activities are located at the storefronts where
shoppers stay to inquire and browse through all the countless options. There is a high
contact intensity, involving both passive and chance contacts, as existing crowds or queues
draw more people to the shops. There are also possibilities to form friends and
acquaintances. Besides that, urban furnitures are introduced on the street that enables
tourists, visitors or locals to take a rest after a long day of shopping. The working
communities of white collar workers and foreign workers that travel through Jalan Hang
Kasturi also contributes to the necessary activities and passive contacts that took place in
the five foot walkways. With these activities occurring, a high rate of social activities
otherwise known as resultant activities take place. Some examples of these activities are
locals engaging in cafes, tourists engaging conversations with traders through bargaining
of products and people greeting one another upon chance contact.
In terms of informal and temporary stalls, University Belt have a high percentage of street
vendors or street food stalls, followed by retail such as clothing and daily essential. Most of
these stalls are located in front of shophouses or shopping malls where human traffic is
highest. For the informal stalls in Medan Pasar’s Kasturi Walk, it is placed in an informal
alley which was then made official by the government. The stalls are arranged along the
sidewalk so that it is easier to engage with passerby. Similarly as University Belt, most
street vendors would arrange their stalls in front of shophouses as it it is deemed as a
suitable location to attract customers. The spillage of these activities are more suitable in
Medan Pasar as there are adequate space for street vendors as compared to University
Belt, where there are no overhangs or five foot walkways for them.
Street VendorsUrban Furniture - Seatings
Activities & contacts
in 5 foot walkways
Figure 2.2.2 Medan Pasar Site Section

12. The walking experience and walkability of the streetscape of University Belt in the formal
city where there are organized and wide pavements with plantings is definitely more
pleasing as the trees could act as shades, with consistent sidewalks on both side of the
buildings that promotes linearity and provides a directional indication. The availability of
pedestrian skybridges also aid on to the experience where pedestrians could cross
highways safely without worrying about speeding cars or the scorching sun. It is also a
necessary activity where it creates opportunity for passive and chance contact. The
informal city however is in contrast, where the pavements are narrow or there are none,
with no shading or plantation and pedestrians basically need to walk next to the road
against or along with vehicles.
In Medan Pasar, due to the majority one way roads, it is safer to walk next to the road as
there are fewer vehicles lanes where vehicles need to travel at a low speed. New potential
nodes could also be formed while waiting for transportation that would lead to passive
contact. The streets in Medan Pasar gives a sense of linearity as well, similar to University
Belt. In addition, it is easier to commute in public transport as the square itself is a
transportation hub.

13. Urban Culture and Society
Urban culture means the architecture, attitudes of the people, customs, beliefs, and overall
atmosphere and sense of connection of the city or town area. There are many different
types of cultures and by assessing an area's culture, the temperament of the people in
that area, the overall vibe, mood and setting, including how open they are to changes and
the types of change that they are aiming for could be understood. All of these could affect
or exhibit how well educated a group of people are and, usually have a strong correlation
to what they value.
Medan Pasar used to be a marketplace run by the chinese where money has always been
the motivating factor. In the past, it was the centre of gambling activities with a
casino-cum-market where miners would gamble in order to break out of their misery. It
was converted into roads then a market square from the original wet market. Over the
years, large number of foreign workers hired by locals to do the jobs we would not has
changed the cultural scene completely. The workers that were hired to be shopkeepers or
helpers took over as more and more locals are moving away from the city centre and
youngsters nowadays refuse to work with minimal pay. The interaction between these two
communities can be seen as none or kept to a minimal as foreign workers are seen as a
threat by the locals even though they did not do anything. Also, due to the fact that there
isn't any much locals that resides in the city, where they only stay temporarily during the
day, chance and passive contact are the only interaction among these two community. It is
now a common scene to see the foreigners filled the city centre as vendors, promoting
products to locals in search of cheap bargains.
Contrarily, the cultural scene in University Belt consists of mostly locals, supporting and
running the economy, serving shoppers and tourists on a daily basis. Shophouses are the
norm, gradually renovated over the years with modern materials. The resultant activities
for both sites are targeted to only specific communities, strengthening relationships
between certain group. However, another kind of social activity such as partying and
nightlife are present where acquaintances and close friendships between tourists groups
are high, with close physical contact between people and the atmosphere that creates a
ecstatic resultant activity as opposed to Medan Pasar.

14. The social pattern of the urban realm are greatly shaped by the spaces that is curated
within. If the formation and curation of spaces allows the urban realm to become a legible
contact point, the relationship of the presence of space and humans will establish the
image of the city. The cultural aspects also take on an important role and is more evident
in Medan Pasar which links to the Kasturi Walk, Central Market and other historical
monumental landmarks compared to University Belt and the settings of the urban fabric
provides greater intimacy and cultural connection. Medan Pasar and University Belt are
actually quite similar where both the commercial area targets the same user groups,
although both of them are supported by different forms of activities and contact
intensities.
Conclusion

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Fox, R. G. (2017, August 29). Urban culture. Retrieved November 27, 2017, from
https://www.britannica.com/topic/urban-culture
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https://encyclopedia2.thefreedictionary.com/Urban Landscaping
References