Comparative Analysis Essay

School of Architecture, Building & Design
Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Architecture

Theories of Architecture & Urbanism (ARC61303)

‘Life Between Buildings: Using Public Space’
COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS ESSAY

Jalan Besar & Upper Lascar Row

Foo Ji Sun
0323550
Mr Prince Favis Isip

Contents

1.0 Introduction
2.0
2.1
2.2
Contact Points
Jalan Besar, Klang
Upper Lascar Row, Hong Kong
3.0
3.1
3.2
3.3

3.3.1
3.3.2
3.3.3
Comparative Analysis
Climate Difference
Building Typology
Activities
Necessary Activities
Optional Activities
Resultant Activities
4.0 Conclusion
5.0 References

Theories of Architecture & Urbanism Comparative Analysis Essay

1.0 Introduction

This comparative essay aims to examine the similarities and dissimilarities based on
the patterns of social activities, types of contact points, and the varying degree of
contact intensity between Jalan Besar, Klang and Upper Lascar Row, Hong Kong.

Jan Gehl’s theories as published in his book ‘Life Between Buildings’ were the base
considerations when comparing these streets.

Figure 1.1: Map of Jalan Besar, Klang.

Jalan Besar, with the Sultan Abdul Aziz Royal Gallery on one end and Klang KTM
Station on the other, is located in the heart of Klang. Historical significant buildings,
such as Sultan Abdul Aziz Royal Gallery, Royal Klang Club, Alam Shah Palace, Church
of Our Lady of Lourdes, Tengku Kelana Indian Muslim Mosque, and Gedung Raja
Abdullah make it a great place for tourists to explore. There is also the Royal Klang
Town Heritage Walk programme conducted by professional guides provided by the
city’s municipal council. Building types found along the street include shophouses,
eateries and amenities such as money changers, banks and a post office.


Figure 1.2: Map of Upper Lascar Row, Hong Kong.

Upper Lascar Row is a busy antique, curios and junk market which is a narrow alley
about 200m long in Sheung Wan that runs parallel to hollywood Road. In the past,
the street had been a run-down residential area. It was also known as cat street
because in the past, some antique shops used to sell items stolen by thieves, which
were known as rats, while the people that bought the items were referred to as cats,
and that was how the street got its nickname. Building types found along the street
include high rise mixed commercial and residential buildings, eateries and hotels.
Most storefronts sell antiques and second hand articles.


2.0 Contact Points

2.1 Jalan Besar, Klang

Figure 2.1: Jalan Besar contact points.

Contact Point 1 Klang KTM station

The Klang KTM station serves the KTM Port Klang Line and is the only train line that
connects Klang to Kuala Lumpur. As a result, the station becomes a high intensity

contact point during rush hours, whereby commuters travelling to Kuala Lumpur
leave and arrive daily. The interactions are mostly passive as commuters are usually
strangers. However, people may meet acquaintances at the station and there will be
some close relationship interaction at the contact point.

Contact Point 2 Chong Kok Kopitiam

Chong Kok Kopitiam had been run for almost 80 years by the same family for the
last 3 generations. The coffee shop is especially busy through the morning and
afternoon, making it a high intensity contact point. White collared workers arrive
for an early breakfast and go onto their commute to the city via train, while the
elderly community enjoy hanging out at the coffee shop throughout the day.
Interactions are mostly close relationship as those who eat together are often
colleagues and friends.

Contact Point 3 Post office

The post office generates a moderate intensity contact point from people using the
post office during the morning and afternoon. Interaction between people visiting

the post office are passive, while there is opportunity for chance interaction
between post office staff and customers.

Contact Point 4 Sultan Abdul Aziz Royal Gallery

The museum building was initially constructed as the Sultan Sulaeman Building in
1909. It was used by the British as the land and administration office and later by the
Japanese as a war headquarter. In 1988, The museum was initially opened as a
Memorial Museum but was later officiated as a gallery in 2007. The gallery sees a low
amount of visitors therefore making it a low intensity contact point. Interactions
are mostly passive. However, there is opportunity for chance interaction between
tourists and curators of the gallery.

Contact Point 5 Back alley

The back alley is a low intensity contact point as it is mostly used as a parking area.
It is also used by Pos Laju as a loading area and parking area. Interactions are close
relationship between the drivers and staff of Pos Laju who often relax and chat at
the back alley.

2.2 Upper Lascar Row, Hong Kong

Figure 2.2: Upper Lascar Row contact points.

Contact Point 1 Main entrance

The main entrance of Upper Lascar Road intersects Ladder Street becomes a high
intensity contact point as it is used as a shortcut by pedestrians travelling from
Hollywood Road to Lok Ku Road and vice-versa. The interactions are mostly passive
as there is an in and out flow of tourists and locals through the main entrance.

However, there is opportunity for chance interaction between tourists and locals if
they ask for directions.

Contact Point 2 Man Mo Dim Sum

Man Mo Dim Sum is a famous restaurant that serves european and local fusion
dishes. It is a well known meeting point which makes it a moderate to high
intensity contact point. Interactions are close relationship as those who eat
together are usually friends and colleagues. There are also opportunity for chance
interaction between customers and business owners.

Contact Point 3 Upper Lascar Row and Tung Street intersection

The street intersection between the main street and Tung Street has a couple
antique shops, boutiques and some eateries and is considered a moderate intensity
contact point. Interactions are close relationship as those who eat together are
usually friends and colleagues, passive for pedestrians only passing by the
shopfronts, and chance interaction may occur between business owners and
customers.

Contact Point 4 Hollywood Road and Square Street crossing

The crossing of Hollywood Road and Square Street is a place to discover new
street-art and murals and has become one of the most iconic street artworks along
Hollywood Road, thus making it a high intensity contact point. Interactions are
passive as pedestrians use this path to go from Hollywood Road to Square Street
and vice versa. Chance interaction may occur in the event that an artist is present
and interact with tourists and pedestrians.

Contact Point 5 Hollywood Road and Lok Ku Road intersection

Lok Ku Road, formerly known as Lower Lascar Row, was redesigned for vehicular
traffic. The number of cafes and shops make it a high intensity contact point. The
interactions are mostly passive as there is an in and out flow of people through the
exits of the roads. Interactions are close relationship as those who eat or drink
together are usually friends and colleagues.


3.0 Comparative Analysis

3.1 Climatic Difference

One of the biggest difference between Jalan Besar and Upper Lascar Row is the
climate of each respective country. Malaysia’s climate is categorised as equatorial
where it is hot and humid throughout the year, whereas the climate in Hong Kong is
subtropical, and is generally warm and temperate.

Figure 3.1: Average min and max temperatures in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Malaysians like to stay indoors due to the harsh weather conditions. For example,
there are very less human activity on the street on Jalan Besar as people prefer to
stay under shaded areas to avoid the hot sun, resulting in low contact intensity on
the street.

Figure 3.2: Average min and max temperatures in Hong Kong.

The temperature in Hong Kong is much cooler in the months of November to
February. Many people regard these as the best months of the year. There are a lot of
human activity, such as vendor stalls on the street even though it is not shaded, thus
contact intensity is very high.

In comparison, different weather conditions will result in different contact intensity.
A comfortable and desirable weather will encourage more activities and
engagement between people, especially in open areas.

3.2 Building Typology

Upper Lascar Row is a rather narrow street and a small space shrouded by high rise
buildings, often more than 100 meters tall. Businesses take place on the street level
while residential can be found on top, the living and working activities are carried
out in close proximity. People who move about the street experiences at closer
range, and these smaller spaces are perceived as more intimate, warm, and personal.

Figure 3.3: Jalan Besar & Upper Lascar Row scale and proportion.

Conversely, Jalan Besar is a wider street with low rise buildings on either side. The
average building height are 2-5 stories high, resulting in a rather consistent skyline.
Businesses take place on the street level as usual, but the upper floors had been
repurposed to function as offices, other smaller businesses and occasionally
residences. Pedestrian experience in Jalan Besar are often felt to be cold and
impersonal.

In Jan Gehl’s text, the relationship between distance and intensity, closeness and
warmth, in various contact situations has an important parallel in the prevalent
perception of architectural dimensions. A narrower street improves the chances of
contact between people and the surrounding environment.


3.3 Activities

Jan Gehl characterises cities in terms of its ‘personality’, which can be categorised as
either an ‘personal’ city or ‘impersonal’ city. Personal cities exhibit low, closely spaced
buildings at human scale, encourages foot traffic by blocking vehicular access, and a
generous amount of pleasing outdoor spaces that encourage more social activities.
Impersonal cities on the other hand exhibit characteristics such as having
multi-storey buildings, underground parking, catered mostly for automobiles and
poor conditions for pedestrian circulation.

The three types of activities that occur in cities according to Gehl can be divided into
Necessary activities, Optional activities and Social or Resultant activities.

Necessary activities include everyday tasks and pastimes including walking related
activities such as commuting to and from work and other activities that are essential
for daily life. These activities are slightly dependant on the physical framework of the
city.

Optional activities are defined as activities that make use of the quality of spaces
when it becomes available, such as sitting in the park, sunbathing, reading outdoors
and having picnics.These activities are highly dependant on the physical conditions
of the city for them to be effectively carried out.

Resultant or social activities include passive interactions such as seeing and hearing
people, as well as active interactions such as engaging in conversations, which
happens in more intimate spaces.

Both Jalan Besar and Upper Lascar Row contain a mix of these activities to a certain
degree. These activities depend highly on the scale and configuration of buildings
and open spaces as well as weather conditions.


3.3.1 Necessary Activities

Necessary activities in Jalan Besar revolve around the white collar working
community going in and out of the area, thus public transport plays an important
role in their daily commute. The Klang KTM station is a common contact point for
workers in the area, similar to the function of the Sheung Wan MTR station near
Upper Lascar Row. The Klang KTM station sits directly on Jalan Besar while the
Sheung Wan MTR station is approximately 300m away from Upper Lascar Row.

Jalan Besar is primarily a business street with restaurants, shops, and amenities such
as banks, money changers and a post office, mainly to serve the working
community. Whereas Upper Lascar Row is a commercial street catered towards
tourists with restaurants, antique, curios and junk shops, and plenty of street
vendors. Although functionally different, both areas can be considered similar in the
transient nature of pedestrian flow on site. Jalan Besar is mainly used as a
transitional space for people going to the train station, and Upper Lascar Row has
plenty of short cuts for pedestrians from Hollywood Road to cross over to Lok Ku
Road, and vice versa.

Although both sites share a similar nature of pedestrian flow, the pedestrian
circulation around the site is observably different. The pedestrian circulation on
Upper Lascar Row takes place on the open street, whereas most pedestrian
circulation would opt to walk under the five-foot walkway in Jalan Besar. This is due
to weather differences, time of activity, as well as the scale and proportion of the
elements on site. Heat and humidity during the day in Klang compels pedestrians to
use the five-foot walkways of surrounding buildings to get from point A to B through
Jalan Besar. The climate in Hong Kong is temperate which makes it more
comfortable to walk in the open.

Figure 3.4: Jalan Besar & Upper Lascar Row circulation.

3.3.2 Optional Activities

The most common optional activity that happen on both sites are sightseeing and
casual observations. Although Jalan Besar was not designed with pedestrians in
mind, the city’s municipal council had implemented the Royal Klang Heritage Walk
which encourages sightseeing. Upper Lascar Row on the other hand is a street with
no vehicular access and the abundance of street vendors and storefronts
encourages sightseeing and casual meetings as well.

The large amount of optional activities available on Upper Lascar Row, such as street
vendors, antique shops, and street art, is a result of the physical conditions of the site.
People who move about the street experiences at closer range, and feel intimate,
warm, and personal. On the other hand, the intensity of optional activities are low in
Jalan Besar as the physical conditions of the site are unfavorable. Its unfavorable
condition limits activities to strictly necessary activities, as people tend to use Jalan
Besar only as a transient space.

3.3.3 Resultant Activities

Resultant activities can be defined as social activities that happen between two or
more individuals in the city and is the result of the combination of necessary and
optional activities.

By comparing Chong Kok Kopitiam and Man Mo Dim Sum as contact points for the
respective streets, we can observe a high level of social activity on site, mainly due to
the nature of the contact point being eateries. The activities on both sites can only
take place with the presence of other people in the society to produce connections
between members of the community.

The difference of the two contact points in comparison lies in the type of community
that produces the social activity. It can be observed that most of the social activity at
Chong Kok Kopitiam is generated by locals rather than tourists. This is in contrast to
Man Mo Dim Sum whereby there is a balance in the composition of locals and
tourists on site.


4.0 Conclusion

It can be observed from the comparative analysis conducted between Jalan Besar
and Upper Lascar Row that although both site exhibit somewhat similar
characteristics, the differences in terms of the nature of the contact points, as well as
the configuration of the scale and spaces in the urban fabric is enough to produce
significantly different results.

Jan Gehl’s urban theory or ‘personal’ and ‘impersonal’ cities is apparent in this
analysis. Upper Lascar Row exhibits more of a personal city characteristic as
compared to Jalan Besar, which explains why it has become a prominent
destination in Hong Kong. In order to remain relevant, Jalan Besar needs to act as a
harness to the contact points surrounding it and transform itself into a more public
friendly destination.


5.0 References

Gehl, J. (1987). Life between buildings: Using public space. New York: Van Nostrand
Reinhold

Pratelli, A. Urban Street Design & Planning. 1st ed. Print

Architecture, urbanism, design and behavior: a brief review – Architectures. (2016)

Bishop, Ryan et al. Postcolonial Urbanism. Hoboken, Taylor And Francis, 2013.

Hamnett, Stephen, and Dean Forbes. Planning Asian Cities. Oxon Routledge, 2013.

Leung, Beng-Wa. 中西區風物誌 ("Heritage of the Central and Western District, Hong
Kong"). 香港: 中西區臨時區議會.

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