Sk comparative analysis essay

PROJECT 2: COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS ESSAY
School ofArchitecture, Building and Design
Bachelor ofScience (Hons) in Architecture
THEORIES OF ARCHITECTURE & URBANISM [ARC61303]
PROJECT PART 2: COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS ESSAY (Individual)
Foo Shi-Ko 0318262
Mr. Prince Favis

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

1.0 Introduction
1.1 Phetchaburi Road, Bangkok
In the city ofBangkok,itshares many similarities with its fellowAsian mega-cities including snarling traffic,
explosive growth, tasty streetfood and multiplicity of cultures. However, Bangkok’s canal-inspired street
layout complicates and lengthens daily commutes for its residents in a way that sets it apart from
neighbouring cities, yetits nonsensical streetpattern could become Bangkok’s saving grace despite its
obviousnegatives.
The selected street from Bangkok is the Phetchburi Road which also as known as ‘New Petchburi’ or
‘Petchburi Tat Mai’ in Bangkok stretches all the way from the east side to the west side ofthe city right
off Ratchathewi Road, making it one of the longest roads in Bangkok. Its strategic location is close
proximity to a series ofmixed-use commercial and residential buildings, touristattraction spot and Siam
areas of downtown Bangkok as Phetchburi’s biggestselling point. On this topic, we will discuss on the
patterns of social activities as well as the types of ‘contact points’ along the street and identifying the
varying degrees of contact intensity.
1.2 Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman (TAR), Kuala Lumpur
Whereas the selected street from locally which is used as our studio project site to be compared to
Phetchaburi Road is Jalan Tuanku AbdulRahman (TAR). Bothstreet seemto share a numberofcommon
features where it is the centre of attraction where it is a famous gathering pointof the local community
and also serves as a popular touristspotas itis where all the commercial and local streetfood delicacies
congregate and meetup.This helps to betterunderstanding ofboth sites as each has familiarise a certain
degree of social encounters between the people and its communities which helped them in terms of
developing a pattern ofsocial living that made up to the interesting comparative points worth arguing.

Figure 1.1.1 Street view of Jalan TAR
Figure 1.1.2 Map of Phetchaburi Road, Bangkok.
Figure 1.1.1 Street view of Phetchaburi Road, Bangkok.

2.0 Comparative Analysis Essay
2.1 Pattern of Social Activities
Generally speaking,the public outdooractivities canbe dividedinto three categories:necessary activities,
optional activities and last but not least social activities. Social activities is defined as such that it is a
characteristic of experience, behaviour as well as interaction of person’s forming group. Jan Gehl from
‘Life Between Building” had described such that “social activities area all acrivities that depend on the
presence ofothers in public spaces.” Itcould be children atplay, greetings and conversations,communal
activities of various kinds and simply seeing and hearing other people. Communal spaces in cities and
residential area become meaningful and attractive when all activities of all types occur in combination
and feed offeach other.
Looking into Petchaburi’s road socialactivities pattern, the overallsocialactivities levelofintensity is very
high as it is one of the longestlinear street in Bangkok where it is a popular attraction due to its well-
known for their commercial buildings and street food stalls run along this street. Many of the local
community as well as tourist enjoy visiting here mostoftheir time spentin Bangkok. There are not much
of a proper communal spaces or resting area for people to interact with each other except between the
buyer and the sellers as observed on Phetchaburi.
These all contributes to the physical factors where the occurrence of social activity including route
planning of the streets where most stalls are packed behind the alleys which became a contactpointfor
people to walk on. The public infrastructure and facilities offered along the sideways such as the resting
seats are poorly lacked however there the public phone booth which does not used by the local and is
viewed as a hindrance to the walkability of people.
Referring back to Jan Gehl’s theory, “Social activities also known as the term “resultant” activities,
because nearly all instances they evolve from activities linked to the other two activities categories.”. For
instance, the marketing activities on the streets draws more and more public transportation especially the
cabs and tuktuks to stop by the roadside where Petchaburi has become a main public route thatbecome
a necessary activity to the locals,students,workers,visitors and ecetera.The commercialblocks provides
to fulfill the needs ofboth the necessary and optional activities ofthe people where people come here to
restock theirgrocery,have awalk or shopping withtheir family and friends and many more. This ultimately
leads to generate a form of social pattern through the nature of activities and also circulation created by
the people movementwithin the selected public spaces.

Figure 2.1.1 Local community circulation from residential area to Phetchaburi Road
Figure 2.1.2 Vistors/ Tourists circulation from residential area to Phetchaburi Road

Figure 2.1.3 Workers circulation from residential area to Phetchaburi Road
However in Jalan TAR, its social activities patterns runs mostly inside the five-footwalkway on the street
level ofthe colonial shophouses as itserves as a sun shading properties protecting the pedestrian from
the harsh tropical climate. The covered space beneath creates a kind of interactive space between the
buyerand sellers where shop ownerdisplay their merchandise ortemporary plastic seats on the walkway
encouraging human activities and communications to occur.
Figure 2.1.4 Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman (TAR) shopping street

Jan Gehl's research focuses upon the quality ofthe urban public space which, according to the author is
a necessary condition for guaranteeing the vitality of environments. In this case, what drives the crowd
to Jalan TAR was the shopping involved similar to Phetchaburi Road. As times passes, the streets
became a gather pointdue to the high intensities oftrading and retail along the road.
2.2 Type of Contact Points + Degree of Contact Intensities
Contact point are define widely as a focal point where opportunities of meeting to communicating with
another being could be found at. According to Jan Gehl, “the concept of carrying degrees of contact
intensity is the basis ofthe following simplified outline ofvarious contact form.” As an example from the
lowestintensity ofthe hierarchy which would be the Passive contacts and to the highestintensity contact
point which is to the degree of relationship between chance contacts, acquaintances, friend and close
friendship.
In Phetchaburi street, the main contact points could be identified through the major landmarks on site
which supply the local community to realizing their necessary activities such as running errands for daily
needs, going to school or to work and to religious purposes. The first contact point is discovered on
Shibuya Pratunam which located adjacent to one of the backlanes of Phetchaburi main road. The
interesting part in this contact pointis we can notice the junction of the road became a recessed drop off
area and pickup pointfor the visitors and localcommunity as there are no properparking space provided.
People hail taxis or getpicked up by acquaintances and these create various various contact intensities
beside promoting contactbetween pedestrian and the vehicular community. Hence, this form a relatively
high intensity contact point as mostofthe visitors here are mostly family or friends come together and
have a good shop together and the condition engages conversation and interaction as people using
communication to indicate their needs.
Small stalls are being setup around the junction as the seller intends to use the contact intensities as to
their advantage for marketing of merchandise. You can hear conversation between the seller and buyer
bargaining prices, the walking steps ofthe pedestrian walking across the road, the constant honking of
vehicular at the road stimulating the senses ofthe users adding a vibrantand interestoflife to the street.
Distinctively, the large canopy offered by the mini stalls became a stopping pointfor shoppers to stop by
and have a view of their merchants as well as shading themselves from the tropical harsh weather.

Figure 2.2.1 Mini stalls along the Soi Phetchaburi street in front of Shibuya Pratunam
Figure 2.2.2 The junction at Shibuya Pratunam where mini stalls set up around it with crowds
The second contactpoint would be the Darul Aman Mosque, similar to Shibuya Pratunam,
which is located one ofthe backalley ofthe Phetchaburi streetnamed Phetchaburi 7 alley. However,
the surprising discrete difference between these two streets is that this street appear to be quieter in
overall compare to Shibuya Pratunam. This can be explained through the necessary activities which
is the prayers conducted by the Muslim are constricted to a certain time and day otherwise the other
time it pretty much is empty as it is also a mixed-use area with residential buildings could be found next

to the Mosque as well. Another reason being is the mosque location being strayed away towards the
West side from the main street where all the well-known shopping commercial business are placed at
and the mosque provide the basic daily needs ofthe residents living in that area.
In Darul Aman Mosque, the streets reflects strongly upon Jan Gehl’s theory where the
possibilities related to the low-intensity contact forms offered in public spaces perhaps can bestbe
described by the situation that exists if they are lacking. The involvementand engagementofthe
community here circulate mainly on the opening hours ofthe mosque only more crowd would be
spotted otherwise there seem there is nota obligatory pointto walk on the same merchandise
displayed everyday as opposed to the shopping streets which keep up to the latesttrends and fashion
which sparks curiosity as well as the attention ofvisitors.
Figure 2.2.3 Mini stalls with lesser people located adjacent to Masjid Darul Aman
The third contactpointwould be the Talad Neon night market where shops are arranged in a grid system
accordingly creating directive linear typology enhancing the walkability experience ofusers. Talad Neon
Night market located on the border of Phetchaburi Road and can easily grabbed the attention of the
pedestrian across the streetthrough its eye-catching brightneon LED lights all over the place. Along the
rows of market stalls, local hawkers and buyer interact with potential customers that passes by,
establishing chance contactand eventually become a cohesive social activity space.
This contact point relies heavily on its surrounding elements as the mere existance of bright, colourful
lights illuminate and overcast the neighbouring building, it has already successfully draw the
concentration of crowd and made use as a focal point. A variety offood stalls with atmospheric outdoor
seatings along the streets also add points to inviting customers to taste their food.Another reason for this
high intensity interaction being is that are large range of activities conducted on this space where
happenings other than food and beverages, there are even street performances, music performances
and even public programme held, this increases the chance of people to linger for a longer period and
catering to a social communication space for the community.

Figure 2.2.4 Bright multi-color stalls aligned in a grid system increasing the walkability experience
for the visitors
In Jalan TAR, the building form is much more different from what is observed in Phetchaburi Road. As
the street evolves through the years, the colonial shophouses on site gradually replaced by high rise
modern style building which affects the street level interaction between the pedestrian and the
architecture itself where the visual communication is blocked away from the eyes and viewers have no
intentions nor the desire to go in into the building at all more or less taking interest into the stalls.
As refer to Jan Gehl “the trend from living to lifeless cities and residential areas that has accompanied
industrialisation, segregation ofvarious city functions, and reliance on the automobile also has caused
cities to become duller and more monotonous,namely the need for stimulation.” The diminishing multi-
cultural essence of the local community is being replacedby isolationthroughthe increasing highrise,
modern style building yet people forget to attain the sense of belonging of the people is the key to
imagining public space.

This could be explained through the significant lack of interaction caused by the existing macro grain
buildings found everywhere in Jalan TAR compared to Phetchaburi Road where the fine grain buildings
create intimacy between people which leads to higher concentration for human interactions to engage.
There is another statement in which Gehl stresses the importance ofsymphathetic with human scale and
proportion of a city’s urban life consider the level of interactions relationship between the intimacy of
people with the public spaces.
As an instance, the junction at Busana Kompleks is visibly empty in the broad daylight compare to
Shibuya Pratunam in Phetchaburi Road. Mostofthe shop/ commercial stores here do notsetup in mini
stalls but more of a proper architectural settings inside the building. The barrier that the wall or glass
ultimately creates a distance away between the pedestrians and the store as itlessens the directcontact
and decrease the pedestrian’s interest with the merchandises itself as displayed on the Shibuya
Pratunam.
Hence, the engagementof activity is low in this area as people just walks pass the store without even
glancing towards the merchandise inside the store decreasing social interactions unlike the mini markets
on Tadal Neon Night marketwhere the seller display their merchandise across the table and thus reduce
the distance between the buyer and the seller again this put a light upon the importance of visual
permeability between the buyers and the products.
Figure 2.2.5 (Left) The Junction in front of Busana Kompleks
Figure 2.2.6 (Right) Pedestrian walkway opposite Busana kompleks
As the second comparative contact point on Jalan TAR, Gulatis is textile and commercial landmark
among the local communities which consists of mainly the Malays and the Indians. On this area, the
building typology are mostly linearas itis where mostofthe remainshophouses were leftfrom the colonial
period and preserved. The implementation of five foot walkway which locates on the street level floor of
every shophouses becomes a crucial aspects for the walkability of shoppers as itprovides the basic sun
shading purposes as well as increasing contactpoints between the buyer and seller. Notonly, Jan Gehl

has briefly stated that “living cities, therefore, ones in which people can interact with one another, are
always stimulating because they are rich in experiences, in contrastto lifeless cities.”
As compared to Darul Aman Mosque, Gulatis and Darul Aman both have similarities that shares direct
frontier interactions for the buyer and the seller only the sense of belonging is stronger in Gulatis as
cultural aspects ofthe shophouses community and sun shading properties ofthe 5 footway on the harsh
climate has helped as a tool to attract people concentrations.
Figure 2.2.6 Seats or merchandise from the store usually displayed inside the 5 foot walkway
On the backlane ofJalan TAR, Jalan Bunus is filled with colourful textile display on the exterior of shop
frontage providing amore favourable conditionfor communicationand interaction betweenthe objectand
subject. The experienceofcolourfuland attractive conditionstimulates the user’s senses hence providing
a great opportunity for people engaging in activities such as physical and mental interactions with the
inanimate objects which offers a sensual experience as opposed to Darul Aman Mosque.
Figure 2.2.7 Shophouses streets along Gulatis

Last butnot least,the night marketin Lorong Jalan TAR is one ofthe long lasting market in Kuala Lumpur
district as the streets would be packed with stalls from evening till night time as the local would enjoy
delectable local streetfood and casual walk along the streets. Similar to the Tadal Neon Night market in
Phetchaburi Road, the night market runs along the straight narrow path with mini stalls with canopy on
both side ofthe streets as it encourages high intensity ofinteractions due to the level of intimacy drawn
by smaller scale context.
Contacts are mostly developed instinctively through small exchange of words, brief analysing the
merchandise, watching the lady flipping the pancakes, chatting away with your family or friends on the
side ofthe stools enjoying the streetfood provided to the man speaking through a microphone marketing
his cleaning agent producton the side ofthe crubs. All these employ the users to trigger their attention
and stimulate their senses.“Through the mass mediawe are informed aboutthe larger, more sensational
world events, but by being with others we learn about the more common but equally important details.
We discover how other works, behave, and dress, and we obtain knowledge aboutthe people we work
with, live with, and so forth.”
The stalls also targeting not only a single race but all the major three races in Malaysia which are the
Chinese, Malay and Indian. This offers a large diversity ofproducts to be advertised and mostofthe local
communities come to the night market instead of the foreigners occasionally. The variety of cultural
products approaches has been a triumph especially during the main religious holidays such as the
Ramadhan and Deepavali became a gathering pointfor families to shop for their new clothes and props
getting ready for new year celebration.
Figure 2.2.8 Stalls set up on both side of Lorong Jalan TAR

3.0 Conclusion
In a nutshell, visual permeability and communication has become a huge influences on the level of
interactions between human and building scale and proportions.This determines the activities driven
around the contextas whether if it provides a suitable condition as a social platform to invite the peo ple
into the building and engaging in various activities. The types ofactivities also controls the people’s
walkability in a certain area and it drives the operation ofthe city to a degree whether the social pattern
defines the existance ofthe space and human circulation patterns.
4.0 References and Citations
http://www.bangkok.com/petchburi/
http://www.urbanistdispatch.com/2441/making-the-case-for-bangkoks-labyrinthine-streets/
https://www.pps.org/reference/jgehl/
Gehl, J. (1987). Life Between Buildings: Using Public Space (transl. by Koch, J.), New York: Van
Nostrand Reinhold.
http://www.planum.net/jan-gehl-public-space-public-life

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