Little india klang theories report project 2
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Transcript of Little india klang theories report project 2
SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE, BUILDING AND DESIGN
Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Architecture
THEORIES OF ARCHITECTURE AND URBANISM (ARC2224) (ARC61303)
PROJECT PART B
NAME : Yuan Khai Shien
ID : 0314818
LECTURER : Ms Ida
Contents :
1.0 Introduction
1.1 Site Introduction
1.2 Introduction to Cognitive Map
2.0 Finding and Discussion
3.0 Relate Findings based on Kevin Lynch's theory
4.0 Conclusion
1. Introduction
1.1 Site Introduction
Figure 1 : Location of Little India Klang
The Little India is popular as a shopping area which located in South Klang
City, just beside the Klang river and it dominant along Jalan Tengku Kelana since old
century. “Little India” is named by the locals because Klang is the biggest Indian
street in Malaysia and all the stalls area consists of Indians. Fierce competition
among shop owners translate into cheaper prices for consumers, and people are
literally spoilt for choice amidst the rows of shops on the left and right sides of the
road, with stalls spilling onto the sidewalks and back lanes. Myriads of items such as
saris, colorful accessories such as bangles and necklaces, textiles, stainless steel
pots, Indian jewelries, gold and flowers are sold in Little India.
Figure 2 : Street of Little India
The atmosphere at Jalan Tengku Kelana is increasingly felt as the
approaching Deepavali celebration. During Deepavali, the street is transformed into
a colorful spectacle of light and sound .The shop owners will used their resources
together to decorate the street and the walkways of their shops weeks before the
actual festival. The atmosphere during Deepavali will be crowded and clogged traffic
with thousands of people make their way to make their purchases. Some shop
owners will also invite shoppers into their shops to share their delicious food and to
celebrate the festival together.
With the amazing culture implant in Little India , Little India is always crowded with
people and resident surrounding. However, it is also strategically located close to
major public transportation link which is Ktm Klang,this making it easily access from
the other side of Selangor and centre part of Kuala Lumpur.
1.2 Cognitive Mapping
Through the study of Kevin Lynch, he used sketch maps to show human perspective
on large scale complex of site which people nowadays used to use cognitive map as
the main direction for people to reach their destiny or understand the particular site.
A cognitive map 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.In the
other hand, this can obviously show what is important in that entire location and what
is less.
Cognitive map is usually generated from visual system and the experience of
what the person went through. Much of the cognitive map is created through self
generated movement which what they have observed from the surrounding. Those
are the inputs from the sense of vision, hearing, smell,etc all 5 senses to understand
a pserson's location.This matter is good to used by the architects nowadays as a
draft to present their idea or even to remember the spaces.
Figure 3 : Cognitive drawing that done by Taylor’s Student, Yuan Khai Shien
2.0 Finding and Discussion
Through this study, it was carried out based on the Kevin Lynch theory by using
five elements which are path, nodes, edges, district and edges.From the map that
draw by Taylor's student, certain district can be identified such as the commercial,
residential, education can clearly see in the map. However, Kevin Lynch has stated
that "districts have various kinds of boundaries" which this have give a sense that
edges and boundaries are somehow related. District boundaries play an important
role to organizing the area of the city or even the state. Edges may be the role to
seperate the district and increase the tendency of the district and at the same time
fragment the city from the other city.
From this map, we can clearly identify the path edges and landmark which
exist in Little India,Klang. Based on the principle of Kevin Lynch, as a landmark, it is
more easily identifiable, more likely to be chosen as significant, if they have a clear
form ; if they contrast with their background; and if there is some prominence of
spatial location. The location of the landmark serves as a reference point for the
people to identify their own location. From their own location, people are able to
guide the others to the other location or its own location which this serve as an
anchor point and used as a guidance to navigate location around Little India. There
are few main landmarks which can easily seen at the site are Masjid India Klang, Lax
Boutique Hotel and also Balai Polis Klang. The Masjid India Klang is a great example
which also propose in this map as a great landmark. It is based on the height and the
volume which it looks prominent in the site in Jalan Tengku Kelana. Besides the
colour that choose for this masjid is also create a contrast feeling compare to the
other building and it can easily see from the opposite area across the river. In the
other hand, this Masjid is also classified as a historical building for the local resident
and it has a strong identity in Little India. It was constructed in 1910 for religious and
social activities by Indian - Muslim community living in Klang and the surrounding
area . The original building of this mosque was demolished and replaced with new
mosque construction in 1973. However, this building was torn down to be replaced
with a new 2-storey mosque with a large and modern to accommodate the
increasing number of pilgrims . Throughout all these, it has strongly match with the
theory that stated by Kevin Lynch. Besides this, Balai Polis which located just right
beside the Masjid and Lax Boutique Hotel also act as a landmark due to the size of
the building and the unique colour of it. Three of these building's size has dominant
the site when pedestrian and driver pass by and also easily notice and led the user
to the district. Eventually the path makes immediate effect on the way finder to a
certain location.
Figure 4 & 5 : Masjid India Klang & view from opposite site
Figure 6 : Balai Polis Klang
In the other hand, the Klang river has formed a very strong edges to seperate
Little India and the site opposite the river. It is also inaccessible to pedestrains
without the bridge and this has create a prominent edges for the site. We can also
see most of the Indians are live within the Little India area compare to the outsider
which strongly merge the identity of Little India. However, there has also second
edges with form by green pocket on the right side and isolated Little India,at the
same time there has also one big highway which located at the left side of Little india
just beside of the authority area which this has well shown at the picture underneath.
Figure 7 : Green Pocket located at the right
Figure 8 : High way located at the left
Big highrise building and high slope has eventually form a small edges within Little
India.This could also create a boundary between commercial area and also office
area within the site. As what Kevin Lynch has stated for the edges, it is a linear
elements not considered as path; they are usually, but not quite always, the
boundaries between two kind of areas. They act as lateral references. Based on all
these edges that found in Little India, they have strongly merge with the statement
that Kevin Lynch has stated in the book.
Moreover,Kevin Lynch also stated that nodes are the strategic foci into which the
observer can enter, typically either junctions of paths, or concentrations of some
characteristic. But although conceptually they are small points in the city image, they
may in reality be large squares, or somewhat extended linear shapes, or even entire
central districts when the city is being considered at a large enough level. By
considering Lax Boutique Hotel as one of the landmark, there is some stalls located
just beside the building and reach until the street opposite which can considered as a
linear nodes. Among the road, the area of all these stalls has form a nodes which
people pass by will go there to have their foods and drink.
Figure 9 : Stalls along the road side
Besides that, the major railway station, KTM Klang station which allow people from
outside to reach Little India is always a main nodes in that area. Its is because
there's a spot that buses, taxi and pedestrian which come from different places will
be gathered. However a small bus stop which located right beside the Lax Boutique
Hotel can also considered as a node due to the same reason with KTM Klang
station. In the other hand, the street of Little India is the other big node which there is
a shopping spot that will attract people to go there.
Figure 10 : Ktm Klang
Futhermore,The path is depicted as a network of habitual lines of movement
through the urban complex.As a visitor, The street of Jalan Tengku Kelana is always
claim to be the main path that consist of bridge which both side together by crossing
the river. this road also surrounded by all the Indian shops at the road side which
that's the main identity of this site. However, the street or junctions also made a
different experience that attract the user to come in. Besides that, Jalan Jambatan
Kota will be also the main major path because that's also one of the entrance which
allow Persiaran Sultan Ibrahim which is the road opposite the river to cross and
reach Little India. There will be plenty of cars and passbyer to cross the bridge.
Lastly Jalan Dato Hamzah is the last main major path which link both the main road
Jalan Jambatan Kota and Jalan Tengku Kelana together and it also can act as a
nodes that shorten the road for driver and pedestrian to reach destiny.
Figure 11 : Jalan Tengku Kelana
Figure 12 : Jalan Dato Hamzah
3.0 Relate Findings based on Kevin Lynch's theory Kevin Lynch's core concept was the idea of the "legibility" of the built
environment. That is, how easy can the parts of the cityscape be organized into a
recognizable pattern. He used two primary methodologies. First, he conducted
extensive fieldwork observing the physical layout of the city. Then, in-depth
interviews with city residents were conducted to better understand the mental image
people have of their built environment. Kevin Lynch has identified five key elements
that make up an individual's perception of their city: paths, edges, districts, nodes,
and landmarks. Here are all the example of Lynch's concept that merge with Little
India in Klang
Path
“Paths consists of the "channels along which the observer customarily, occasionally,
or potentially moves" (Lynch, p. 47). These can include streets, paths, transit routes,
or any other defined path of movement. It is important to note that the paths an
individual identifies may not correspond to a traditional street network. These are
often the most predominant items in an individual's mental map as this is main
mechanism for how they experience their city.”
From Little India, Jalan Jambatan Kota, Jalan Tenku Kelana and Jalan Dato Hamzah
has clearly show in cognitive mapping and due to they are main entrance to the Little
India and act as a main path. However the road which link from the three main road
to the back alley or link to the other small road will be the secondary and tertiary
path.
Edges
“Edges provide the boundaries that separate one region from another, the seams
that join two regions together, or the barriers that close one region from another.
They are linear elements, but are not the paths along with the individual experiences
the built environment. They can be physical edges such as shorelines, walls, railroad
cuts, or edges of development, or they can be less well-defined edges that the
individual perceives as a barrier.”
In Little India, Klang river has act as a big edges that create boundary to clearly
separate both Little India and the opposite area. However highway road and green
pocket are also a tangible edges that well created boundaries at the both side. A
small edges that create by the building and slope has been observe as well due to
different building typology and height.
Districts
“Districts are "medium-to-large sections of the city" (Lynch, p. 47). They are typically
two-dimensional features, often held together by some commonality. The individual
often enters into or passes through these districts. According to Lynch, most people
use the concept of districts to define the broader structure of their city.”
There are quite some common district has been classified in Little India which is
commercial, residential, religions, authority and etc.
Nodes
“Nodes are points within the city, strategically located, into which the individual
enters (and which is often the main focal point to which she or he is traveling to or
from). There are often junctions – a crossing or converging of paths. They often have
a physical element such as a popular hangout for the individual or a plaza area. In
many cases, the nodes are the centers of the district that they are in.”
In Little India, Ktm Klang act as an obvious nodes and there is the first spot that
people or outsider will gather before they move forward to other place. Besides,
stalls beside Lax Boutique Hotel, Little India street which merge with british buidling
typology and also bus stop are also nodes in Little India where people usually gather
for purpose.
Landmarks
“Landmarks are also a point-reference (similar to nodes). However, unlike nodes,
which the individual enters during his or her travels, landmarks remain external
features to the individual. They are often physical structures such as a building, sign,
or geographic features (e.g. mountain). The range of landmarks is extensive, but the
commonality is that there are used by the individual to better understand and
navigate the built environment.”
Masjid India Klang is the mai landmark that can easily observe from the opposite site
and also easily observe within Little India area. However Lax Boutiqe Hotel and Balai
Polis Klang are also act as a landmark due to the height and the unique identity of
the building colour with give a sense of contrast.
4.0 Conclusion
For the conclusion, this can be concluded that Little India is a very impressive
spot. The mixture of different typology of shop lots and mixing with the contemparary
high rise building has create a series and sense of the existance between two
generations. This has strong culture in it and it should be preserve in order to keep
the original identity of it instead of changing the name or demolish the area.
Lastly, the 5 principle that propose by Kevin Lynch are well effective that enable
students to be more entensive understanding regarding to the current urban context.
Students are also able to create amazing urban context design by following the
guidance of basic concept by Kevin Lynch. This has been really helpful to the latest
generation architect.
5.0 References
Lynch, K. (1960). The Image Of The City. United States of America.
Sjsuedu. (2016). Sjsuedu. Retrieved 5 June, 2016, from
http://www.sjsu.edu/cfd/docs/enactAIM_hilary/
Tourismselangormy. (2016). Tourism Selangor Official Website. Retrieved 5 June,
2016, from http://www.tourismselangor.my/destinations/little-india/
Mpklanggovmy. (2016). Mpklanggovmy. Retrieved 5 June, 2016, from
http://www.mpklang.gov.my/jalan-tengku-kelana
Tolman, E. C. (1948). Cognitive Maps in Rats and Men.