Theories Essay

Theories of Architecture and Urbanism ARC61303 Cheah Teck Wei 0315215

Table of Content1.0 Introduction …………………………………………………………………………………..2

1.1 Introduction to macro site: Petaling Jaya

1.2 Introduction to micro site: PJ Seksyen 1

2.0 Introduction to Cognitive Mapping………………………………………………………4

2.1 Findings of Cognitive Map

3.0 Discussion in relation to Kevin Lynch’s the Image of the City………………………..73.1 Path3.2 Edge3.3 District3.4 Node3.5 Landmark

4.0 Conclusion…………………………………………………………………………………14

5.0 References…………………………………………………………………………………15

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1.0 Introduction

Figure 1 Macro Map of Petaling Jaya Old Town

1.1 Introduction to macro site: Petaling Jaya

The macro site selected for this project was Petaling jaya, which is also called as the twin sister of Kuala Lumpur. Petaling Jaya is a major Malaysian city originally developed as a satellite township for Kuala Lumpur. Starting from a small, peaceful town in the fifties measuring only 2.12squre kilometres, it has rapidly grown and developed into a large metropolitan city with more than 500,000 inhabitants, officially granted the city status on 20 th June 2006. Located in Petaling district of Selangor, it is positioned strategically surrounded by the Malaysian capital, Kuala Lumpur to the east, Sungai Buloh to the north, Shah Alam to the west and Subang Jaya to the south. Due to its close proximity to Kuala Lumpur, Petaling Jaya becomes a popular choice amongst city dwellers and visitors alike as it is extremely convenient to get to the city centre. More than that, as a busy and crowded city, PJ consists of numerous commercial, residential and business districts thus making it one of the best city to live in Malaysia.

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Figure 2 Micro Map of Petaling Jaya Seksyen 1

1.2 Introduction to micro site: PJ Seksyen 1

Petaling Jaya is divided into several sections and the micro site selected for the project is PJ Seksyen 1 which is part of the oldest section in PJ, also called as PJ Old Town. PJ Old Town is the first settlements of PJ that is established since 1953, consisting of total 4 seksyens. Located by the corner of PJ Old Town, seksyen 1’s boundary is created by the KTM railway at below, Jalan Othman on top, Jalan Pasar and Jalan Templer on the left and right, forming a section of residential district with numbers of old shop houses, religious buildings such as church and temples, educational buildings such as a college and primary school and a big field for people to gather and play. With all the facilities around, it has made PJ Seksyen 1 a good choice for families to stay in.

2.0 Introduction to Cognitive Mapping

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Figure 3 Example of Cognitive Mappings. (Source: ACSU, 1998)

A cognitive map, also called as mental map or mental model is a concept introduced by Edward Tolman in 1948. It is a type of mental representation which serves an individual to acquire, code, store, recall, and decode information about the relative locations and attributes of phenomena in their everyday or metaphorical spatial environment. Basically it is a type of map drawn by people to represent their own interpretation of a place based on what they remember the most. A cognitive map provides the user with a virtual model of the environment where significant objects are emphasized and unimportant information was excluded, it can be varying based on different individuals.

A cognitive map can be developed based on various sources such as visions, proprioception, olfaction, and hearing when they walk around the place. This is where image and legibility of a place or the surrounding environment have become a very important role in giving an identity to a place, and eventually making it a remarkable facet of memory to the people.

2.1 Findings of the Cognitive Map

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Figure 4 Cognitive Map drawn by myself of PJ Seksyen 1.

Based on the cognitive map that I have drawn, the boundary of the site are clear and obvious that it is created by a long stretch of KTM railway, entering to Jalan Templer followed by Jalan Othman by turning right then continued to Jalan Pasar; creating four intersections as junctions at the corner. The path is clearly defined as primary path due to the wider road with high density of traffic as compared to the secondary path in the residential area which is lesser in density of traffic and narrow. The primary path is more accurate based on my memory as they have more difference due to the variety of shops and a wider road with high density of traffic gives an impression of the main road whereas the secondary path in the residential area is not accurate due to the proximity of road conditions; unorganised car parking by the road, narrow roads, single and double-story houses flanking the paths. The impression of main road can be explained by the term Association which is the common feeling between two examples (pg. 44, Semiology and Architecture, Charles Jencks), where the common impression for a main road is a wide road with high density of traffic usage. The location of the road construction zones creates a deep impression as it is located on the primary path, creating traffic congestions due to the bad road condition.

Due to the proximity of exterior appearance and also least of interest and demand, districts, nodes and landmarks are more memorisable. Approximate area of business district are drawn out accurately as they are concentrated at intersection between Jalan Othman and Jalan Pasar and the rest are mostly residential district. Nodes such as Mac Donalds, Restaurant Jin Xuan Hong Kong, basketball court and the field are drawn out accurately due to their strategic location and crowd that stands out of the peaceful seksyen. For instance, Mac Donalds is located at the corner of business district facing the T-junction, Restaurant Jin Xuan Hong Kong having a huge crowd of people having lunch due to its popularity among residents around, basketball court located at the center of the bottommost recreational garden, and lastly the field that is located strategically in the center of the PJ Seksyen 1, surrounded by residential housings. The landmarks are drawn out as they provides a certain special

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services, contrast among the buildings around or leaves a deep impression to observer. First and foremost, the only signage of PJ Seksyen 1 is located at the junction of Jalan Pasar and Jalan Railway (road beside KTM railway) that shows where is PJ Seksyen 1. Other than that, the Sekolah Kebangsaan 2 Petaling Jaya is a landmark as it stands out of the residential area by its multi-story classroom blocks, located at the center of the seksyen. Last but not least, SSL (PJ) Haemodialysis Centre and Cheng Leong Keong Temple is also a landmark of the residential district as they are initially normal residential housings but renovated to serve their own function, forming a contrast among the normal housings around.

3.0 Discussion in relation to Kevin Lynch’s The Image of the City

From Kevin Lynch’s book The Image of the City (1960), there are five elements which is path, edge, district, node and landmark (Figure 5) that can be used to form mental maps (cognitive map) that allows users to understand their surrounding in a consistent and predictable way.

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Figure 5 Examples of five elements from the Image of the City.

3.1 Path

Figure 6 Example of Paths

Lynch defines that paths are the channels along which the observer customarily, occasionally, or potentially moves. They may be streets, walkways, transit lines, canals, railroads (pg. 47). In PJ Seksyen 1, the primary and secondary path can be defined easily due to the density of circulation happening on them. The primary path are mainly happening on Jalan Othman and the shop lot areas beside it. This is because that Jalan Othman is the main road that the vehicle turns into PJ Old Town area, hence even the residents of other PJ Seksyens have to pass through Jalan Othman to go back home. More than that, shop lots have a variety of shops that the residents required for daily life such as Hong Leong Bank, Pharmacy, Pasaraya, Pos Malaysia and popular food restaurants such as Mac Donalds, Secret Recipe, Restaurant Jin Xuan Hong Kong and Heng Kee Bak Kut Teh. This has attracted people around the PJ area to come over PJ Seksyen 1 and created the crowd. The secondary path is the narrow roads at the residential housing area caused by unorganised car parking which made the double lane route became single lane. The secondary path is only used by the residents hence the frequency of cars driving around is very less. One to mention that is, the highlighted secondary paths has an increase in frequency of car pass by due to the road construction that is happening and people make an alternative route into the residential area to avoid the bad road condition. Lastly, apart from primary and secondary path, there are a path created for jogging at the bottommost of PJ Seksyen 1 beside the KTM railway. Unfortunately due to the hot weather and lacking of shading, the path has been left abandoned instead, the pedestrian path beside has been used as jogging path as it was shaded by trees. This has proven the theory of Jan Gehl in Life between

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Buildings, “when outdoor areas are of poor quality, only strictly necessary activities occur” (pg. 13, Life between Buildings, Jan Gehl).

Picture 1 Jalan Othman

Picture 2 Pedestrian path used as jogging path.

3.2 Edge

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Picture 3 Unused Jogging path.


Figure 7 Examples of Edges

The edges are linear elements not used or considered as paths by the observer, boundaries between two phases and linear breaks in continuity (pg. 47). Jalan Othman and Jalan Templer has become an edge to the peoples in PJ Seksyen 1 due to the heavy amount of traffic. Initially Jalan Othman wasn’t an edge as they can go to PJ Seksyen 2 by the flyover, but now it has been sealed and abandoned hence people can’t go opposite the busy road. They are both linear elements used and considered as path by the observer but at the same time it has also created a boundary between two places because of the unavailability to pass through it. Besides that, Lynch mentioned that the edges seems strongest which are not only visually prominent, but also continuous in form and impenetrable to cross movement (pg. 62). Applying this to PJ Seksyen 1, the long and continuous KTM railway is prominent from far that people driving along the highway Lebuhraya Baru Pantai would notice it but due to safety reason, people and cars are prohibited to pass through it, forming a strong edge for PJ Seksyen 1.

Picture 4 Jalan Othman as edge, due to the fast moving cars.

Picture 5 KTM Railway that acts as an edge.

3.3 District

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Figure 8 Examples of District

Districts has been said as the medium-to-large sections city areas where the observers are able to mentally go inside of, and with some mutual characteristic that can be recognised internally; occasionally can be used as external references if visible from the outside (pg. 47, 66). PJ Seksyen 1 is clearly zoned as different district based on its usage such as business district, residential district and recreational district. The location of different district is well-planned and easily identified; business district is formed by rows of three-story shop lots located near edges such as Jalan Othman and Jalan Pasar due to the high frequency of car passing by, promoting the business sector in the area while preventing noise produced affects the residential area by the inner part of the Seksyen. Residential district accommodates mostly local families since PJ was still developing hence the district consists of single and double-story houses that are unique of its kind as some are there since before; some renovated.

Picture 3 Business District.

Picture 4 Residential District.

3.4 Node

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Figure 9 Examples of Node

By Lynch, nodes are points, the strategic spots, genius loci of a city that observer can enter and creates a focus (pg. 47). More than that, nodes can also be classified as where people gathers by reasons such as common interest, shading and seating. In PJ Seksyen 1, one of the most noticeable node is the T-junction located at the top left corner, which connects all four Seksyen 1, 2, 3 and 4 by Jalan Othman and Jalan Pasar; hence it gathers most of the traffic around the area. More than that, famous restaurant such as Mac Donalds and Restaurant Jin Xuan Hong Kong is also a high density node during noon due to its popularity, attracting people to drop by and gather to have their lunch. The public space with bus stop located outside Mac Donalds is a node where people sits and gather while waiting for the bus to arrive. Seatings and shadings are provided hence there are people that sits down and have a great time chit-chatting. Places like basketball court, playground and field in PJ Seksyen 1 creates temporary nodes as people gather together only for a certain interest such as playing basketball and football. The Sekolah Kebangsaan 2 Petaling Jaya also creates temporary node at certain timings, for example morning when school starts, noon and evening when school dismisses when people send their children to school or back home. Based on Lynch, nodes are also classified into introverted and extroverted nodes.

Picture 7 T-Junction by intersection of Jalan Othman and Jalan Pasar.

Picture 5 Public Area and Bus Stop in front of Mac Donalds that people gathers because of seating and shading provided.

3.5 Landmark

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Figure 10 Example of Landmarks

Last but not least, according to Lynch, landmarks are another type of point references that are external where observer do not enter within them; usually a rather simply defined physical object such as building, sign, store, or mountain (pg. 48). A landmark is also something that an observer has the strongest impression about the place. PJ Seksyen 1 is mainly a residential area hence It has no significant landmark like tourism area but the landmarks here are distinguished by the buildings or authorities with certain function or places that the people remembers the most. Based on interviews with local residents, the Mac Donalds and Restaurant Jin Xuan Hong Kong are the most recognised landmarks of PJ Seksyen 1 as when they gives a direction of where this Seksyen is located, others can immediately understand where is it by mentioning them. Besides that, the landmark of this Seksyen can also be categorized as landmark where demanded knows. The SSL (PJ) Haemodialysis Centre is one of the landmark of the city but only among demanded people. According to Lynch, Spatial prominence can establish elements as landmarks in either of two ways; by making the elements visible from many location, or by setting up a local contrast with nearby elements (pg. 80). From the theory, Cheng Leong Keong Temple is a temple renovated from a residential housing hence it stands out along the row of residential housing, creates a strong contrast with nearby houses forming a landmark of the Seksyen. Besides that, the large rectangular building of Sekolah Kebangsaan 2 Petaling Jaya also becomes a landmark of PJ Seksyen 1 as it is the only primary school around the area. Last but not least, the signage of PJ Seksyen 1 located at the end of Jalan Pasar is the physical object (signage) that represents the Seksyen. Unfortunately, located far from the primary path makes it unnoticed in most eyes which makes it an ineffective landmark.

Picture 8 Sekolah Kebangsaan 2 Petaling Jaya.

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Picture 9 PJ Seksyen 1 Signage.

Picture 10 SSL (PJ) Haemodialysis Centre.

4.0 Conclusion

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In conclusion, by creating a cognitive map using the five elements that Kevin Lynch has introduced us in his book the Image of the City, a better and clearer understanding towards the town is formed and developed. Based on the elements like path, edges, districts, nodes and landmarks of the site, the connection between each of them are interrelated and without one of them it may not form the PJ Seksyen 1 that it is now. First of all, the primary paths such as Jalan Othman, Jalan Pasar and Jalan Templar has become the foundation for other five elements as the frequency of traffic of these path and the KTM railway has also created the edge for the seksyen. As a well-planned town, the districts are planned at the highest potential of the area such as by the intersection of busy streets of Jalan Othman and Jalan Pasar are the most suitable area to have a business district and residential district at the inner area as nearby KTM railway has the least frequency of car passing by due to the prohibition to cross-over the railway thus a quiet and peaceful area is created. As time passes where people settled down, slowly nodes has been formed based on the lifestyle of peoples living in the seksyen for example every morning people gather at Restaurant Jin Xuan Hong Kong to have the breakfast and some stayed for a chit-chat session, the traffic pattern created according to the school start and dismiss time, places where children in the seksyen gather and play. This is what gave the seksyen a lively-ness. Lastly, landmarks of the seksyen has been formed sub-consciously in the mind of residents in or outside the seksyen as they might or not notice. All these elements are interconnected and with them a proper and lively city is formed and easier to be understood when they’re being plotted out in a cognitive map.

6.0 References 1. Lynch, K. (1960). The image of the city. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press.

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2. Jencks, C., & Baird, G. (1969). Meaning in architecture. London: Barrie & Rockliff the Cresset P.

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

4. Petaling Jaya. (n.d.). Retrieved June 06, 2016, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Petaling_Jaya

5. Petaling Jaya - Everything you need to know about Petaling Jaya. (n.d.). Retrieved June 06, 2016, from http://www.kuala-lumpur.ws/klareas/pj.htm

6. Cognitive Mapping. (n.d.). Retrieved June 06, 2016, from http://richarddagan.com/cogmap.php

7. Mapping: Cognitive maps. (n.d.). Retrieved June 06, 2016, from http://psc.dss.ucdavis.edu/sommerb/sommerdemo/mapping/cogmap.htm

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Education

Theories Essay