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1Theories of Architecture and Urbanism [ARC 61303 / ARC 2224]

SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE, BUILDING AND DESIGN

Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Architecture

THEORIES OF ARCHITECTURE AND URBANISM (ARC2224) (ARC61303)

PROJECT PART B

NAME: TAN ZI CIN

ID: 0314079

LECTURER: MR. LAM SHEN FEI


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PROJECT PART B: ESSAY & COGNITIVE MAP ASSESSMENT RUBRIC (40 marks)

No.CRITERIA 1 2 3 4 5

Unsatisfactory/Fail Poor Satisfactory Good Excellent

1

Essay:(Critical analysis

of architecture

and urban

forms within its

social, cultural

and intellectual

context)

(20 marks)

No relationship

between theory andanalysis

Little

relationshipsbetween theory

and analysis

Evidence of

somerelationships

between theory

and analysis

Identified theory

which areinterrelated with

analysis

Identified theory

which are clearlylinked to analysis

2

Cognitive Map

(10 marks)

Arrangement of

images and

illustrations isconfusing.

Arrangement of

images and

illustrations isunclear.

Images and

illustrations are

roughly

arranged in a

workable order.

Images and

illustrations are

orderly arranged

with proper

annotations

Images and

illustrations are

carefully arranged

to add interest

and clarity with

correct

annotations.

Mapping is unclear

because there are so

many errors.

Mapping is often

unclear because

of the number of

errors.

Mapping is

generally clear

despite some

errors.

Mapping is

clearly illustrated

with slight errors

Mapping is clearly

with no errors.

3

References &

Research Skills

(10 marks)

No evidence of

sources. Lack in-

depth investigation.

Identified at least

2 sources.

Evidence of

investigation

however lack of

illustration and

visual images.

Uses at least 3

sources.

Evidence of

investigation

through

illustrations and

visual images

Uses at least 4

sources. Clear

evidence of

investigation

through clearly

identified

illustrations and

visual images.

Uses at least 5

sources. Indicated

rigorous

investigation with

abundance

illustration and

visual images;

cited and

annotated.


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TABLE OF CONTENTS PAGE

1.0 Introduction

1.1 Introduction of sitePetaling Jaya Old town Section 4..45

1.2 Introduction of Cognitive Mapping...6

2.0 Cognitive Mapping .7

2.1 Illustrative Essay based on Cognitive Mapping..811

3.0 Discussion on Kevin Lynchs Theory

3.1 Building the Image .12

3.2 Image Quality .12

4.0 Conclusion ..13

5.0 References.....14

6.0 Appendix (Original Map) ..15


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1.0 INTRODUCTION

1.1 Introduction of SitePetaling Jaya Oldtown Section 4

Petaling Jaya is located in the state of Selangor, surrounded by Kuala Lumpur,

Damansara and Subang Jaya. Petaling Jaya district is started in Petaling Jaya Old

Town, which is known as the first satellite township built by the British to deal with

overpopulation in Kuala Lumpur and to avoid the residents aid in communists during

Communist Insurgency in the 1950s. The development of Petaling Jaya witnessed

dramatic growth in terms of population and significance. Petaling Jaya is connected by

the first two main roads, which are Jalan Templer known as Jalan 1 and Jalan Othman

known as Jalan 2. In 1952, Petaling Jaya commenced as Old Town, which coveredSection 1, Section 2, Section 3 and Section 4. In presents, Petaling Jaya has developed

with 52 sections in total where 48 sections are known as New Town or The State.

Figure 1.1.0 showed the first main two main roads built in Petaling Jaya in the 1950s where the left is

Jalan Othman known as Jalan 2 with its landmark Pasar Besar Jalan Othman and the right is Jalan

Templer known as Jalan 1 with its landmarkHospital Assunta.


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Petaling Jaya Section 4 is one of the 52 sections in Petaling Jaya. an old and dignified

neighbourhood situated at the edge of Petaling Jaya Old Town, where was surrounded

by the junctions of Jalan Templer, Jalan Othman, Jalan Penchala and Jalan Selangor,

formed as a physical boundary between other sections as it can be defined by the

number in the name of roads. The area was previously a Malay village, based on

observations on site and research which will be elaborate further, Section 4 is dominant

by the residential area surrounded by institutional area, commercial area and industrial

area which provided the convenience to the local residents in their daily life.

Figure 1.1.1 illustrated the map of Petaling Jaya Oldtown where the location of Petaling Jaya Section 4 is

surrounded by 4 main roads which are Jalan Templer at the North, Jalan Selangor at the East, Jalan

Othman at the South and Jalan Penchala at the West.

New Pantai Express Highway (NPE)


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1.2 Introduction of Cognitive Mapping

The concept of cognitive map was first introduced by psychologist E.C.

Tolman (1948) through his psychology paperCognitive maps in rats and men, where

was concluded as a mental representations to describe the behavior of emotional

relationships, causal connections, and social networks between physical locations that

have been experienced in an environment.

According to J. OKeefe and L. Nadel (1978) The Hippocampus as a Cognitive

Image, a cognitive map is defined as a human wayfinding with recognition on the

spatial context in which objects and specific events occurred depending on current

needs and motivations.

Meanwhile, from the perspective of experimental production in urban planning,

according to Kevin Lynch (1960) The Image of the city, it has concentrated especially

on the legibility or imageability of the cityscape where the parts of city are at ease to

be recognizable and systematized into a coherent pattern. Based on the investigation

by Lynch, the legibility of city images were divided into 5 elements: path, edge, node,

landmark, and district.


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2.0 COGNITIVE MAPPING

2.1 Illustrative Essay based on Cognitive Mapping

According to Lynch (1960) The Image of City, environmental image are the

result of a two-way process between the observer and observed, in which the external

physical shape upon which a designer can operate plays a major role. Based on the

observation, Petaling Jaya Old Town Section 4 first comes to mind, the name

symbolized that the area is one of the sections in a district and that particular district is a

historical township which may be witnessed the development of Petaling Jaya and

Kuala Lumpur throughout the years, giving an image where the area may have its own

unique heritage culture.

During the research on Petaling Jaya Old Town Section 4, a cognitive map is

drawn based on the first impression and sensory observations by the author. From

Subang Jaya area to Petaling Jaya Old Town Section 4, New Pantai Express Highway

(NPE) is the shortest travel distance which only taken around 15 minutes in about 8km

without traffic congestion. The direction is easy to be memorized as it is just heading

straight from NPE Highway Toll until the entrance to Petaling Jaya Old town on the left

slight junction road named Jalan Templer underneath the flyover bridge. Next, leftturned at the first cross junction then heading straight. Along the road, University

Teknologi MARA is seen on the right in Section 3. Then, pass through the second

junction to reach Jalan Othman where was recognizable with its historical wet market

named Pasar Besar Jalan Othman on the right which is situated in Section 4.

Figure 2.1.1 showed one of the important landmarks in Section 4 situated at Jalan OthmanPasar Besar

Jalan Othman.


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Based on the cognitive map of Petaling Jaya Old Town Section 4, the main

roads with different names surrounding the area has formed as a physical boundary

between other sections or known as the edge, namely Jalan Templer, Jalan Selangor,

Jalan Othman, and Jalan Penchala. The physical boundary was identifiable due to the

characteristics of the section and the circulation of transports with directional qualities.

Nevertheless, each road had different situation based on observation. As the entrance

into Section 4, Jalan Othman is quite a strategic foci where it has high traffic flow and a

multiracial interaction area, crowded by the residents especially in the morning until

afternoon due to the existing PJ Old Town Wet market (Pasar Besar Jalan Othman) at

the cross junction area and the shophouses along the way of Jalan Othman where the

cars parked haphazardly by the side of the narrow streets on the roadside as well as the

main road, causing traffic congestion during peak hour. In the morning, the residents will

have their breakfast and buying ingredients for meals. However, the ongoing sewerage

project had worsened the traffic flow and congestion for hours. The environment of

Jalan Othman was full with hustle and bustle which leads to the feeling of anxiety as

observer passing by.

Figure 2.1.2 showed the hustle and bustle of Jalan Templer Section 4 with high traffic flow.

Pasar Besar Jalan Othman or known as PJ Old Town Wet Market, of course, is

the primary landmark in Section 4 with its heritage marks. It has unique curved faade

with function has stood out among the other buildings, as well as its location nearby the

cross junction of Jalan Selangor and its historical existence make it a key for central

Section 4 as a whole. This significant 30-year-old wet market with about 500 traders is

visited by the neighbourhood community, served as a multiracial diversity area. This

building represented itself as a symbol for directional orientation at Jalan Othman.


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Meanwhile, Jalan Templer in Section 4 had a contrast with Jalan Othman. It

was an institutional area of therapy and worship, which meant to be a peaceful and

tranquillity area. The trees were planted on the island of the road and pedestrian

pathway in adding the greenery and improve shades compare to other main roads

besides of reducing the heat intensity. The greenery of that area created a sense of

poetic experiences; bring a character of tranquillity to Jalan Templer in Section 4.

Figure 2.1.3 showed a sense of tranquillity in the greenery environment in Jalan Templer Section 4.

In Section 4 of Jalan Selangor and Jalan Penchala, there were numbers of

identifiable landmarks which mostly were institution building types such as hospital,

religion buildings, and educational building while most of the areas were residential

area. Based on the observations on Section 4, the facilities were mainly at the roadside,

which giving convenience for the user in accessibility of transportations and pedestrian

pathways especially for hospital and educational area. At Jalan Templer as mentioned

previously where Assunta Hospital, Assumption Church, and educational buildings were

located, the existing plants of the main road and path-enhanced the feeling of sacred.

Assumption Churchs unique in triangular faade in contrast with the background allow it

to visually expose in a distance, made it as one of the landmarks in that area besides of

its historical existence.

Figure 2.1.4 showed Assunta Hospital existing at the side in contrast with the unique form of Assumption

Church based on the cognitive map.


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Furthermore, in Jalan Penchala, the factories, and the workshops were mostly

at the roadside while on the other side were the residential area. The Firefighter Station

was a newly built building where the old site has been abandoned. At the side (back of

the playground) of Firefighter Station after a road entering, there was a row of double

storey shop lots which is the favourite spots of the nearby neighbourhood where it sells

foods and beverages in low prices. During free time around evening, senior citizens or

other residents nearby will drop by and have their meal under the tree in front of the

shop which is more comfortable with natural ventilation and green lively circumstance

while having social communication.

Figure 2.1.5 showed the newly built firefighter station and the eatery shop lots is behind the station.

Based on the location of religious buildings, most of them were located in the

residential area in Section 4, such as Christianity, Taoism, Buddhism, Muslim and

Hinduism, giving a sense of believing in the gods where faith as the center heart of

living in multiracial. Moreover, the unique appearance of different religion buildings

made them as local landmarks with strong references to attract observers attention.

Besides, different races of community would make a different outcome for unity and

allowing them to have more understanding of each others culturewhenever the time is.

Figure 2.1.6 showed the multiracial of religious building gathered at the center heart of the residential

area.


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3.0 Discussion on Kevin Lynchs Theory

3.1 Building the Image

The creation of the environmental image is a two-way process between

observers and observed. The human organism is highly adaptable and flexible, and

different group may have widely different images of the same outer reality. Hence,

different people have different meanings too, even the giving site. (Lynch, 1960)

3.2 The Image Quality

Imageability is the quality in a physical environment which gives it a high

probability of arousing a strong image in any given observer by shapes, colours, or

arrangement which helps the making of a vividly identified mental image of the

environment. Meanwhile, the imageability must at a study of various individual images

among the residents of Section 4 reveal certain other distinction between them (Lynch,

1960). For instance, the road has differed between observers in terms of their relatively

long, the extent to which they packed with details where is characterized simply as a

street bordered by housing area.


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4.0 Conclusion

This report is a helpful medium to allow the students to have a deeper

understanding of the Theories of Architecture and Urbanism based on The Image of

City by Kevin Lynch (1960). From the method of Lynch from design basis and to further

analysis in identifying the elements in related to Kevin Lynchs theory which is building

the image and image quality is been conduct from the cognitive maps.

In a nutshell, in my own interpretation, people with different background have

different perceptions regarding that area. Even the image produced in perceptual inputs

on that area are different, the personal experience, memories, and impressions are

irreplaceable. Thus, the cognitive map I have produced is according to self-

interpretations on the first impressions on site with stories and memories covered in the

map, making the Petaling Jaya Old Town Section 4 alive in deeper understanding of the

image of that particular city.


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5.0 References

Battersby, S. E. (2006). Distortion of Area in the Global-scale Cognitive Map: A

Geographic Perspective(Unpublished doctoral dissertation). University of

California, California, CA.

Chng, B. (2016, March 12). One-way streets to help ease traffic in PJ Old Town. The

Star[Kuala Lumpur]. Retrieved from

http://www.thestar.com.my/metro/community/2016/03/12/oneway-streets-to-

help-ease-traffic-five-major-changes-beginning-march-16-to-improve-situation-

in-pj/

Ch'ng, B., & Tan, V. (2016, June 1). Left out of Petaling Jayas rapid growth.The Star

Online[Kuala Lumpur]. Retrieved fromhttp://www.thestar.com.my/metro/community/2016/06/01/left-out-of-petaling-

jayas-rapid-growth-dilapidated-buildings-lack-of-parking-and-traffic-congestion/

Kitchin, R., & Freundschuh, S. (2000). Cognitive mapping: Past, present, and future.

London: Routledge.

Mak, K. W. (2010, March 12). PJs illegal development (Updated 1:05pm) | The Nut

Graph. Retrieved June 5, 2016, from http://www.thenutgraph.com/pjs-illegal-

development/

Mother Earth Travel. (2013). History of Petaling Jaya. Retrieved June 5, 2016, from

http://motherearthtravel.com/malaysia/petaling_jaya/history.htm

O'Keefe, J., & Nadel, L. (1978). The hippocampus as a cognitive map. Oxford:

Clarendon Press.

Shaw, G. L., McGaugh, J. L., & Rose, S. P. (1990). The Psychological Review:

Cognitive maps in rats and men. In Neurobiology of learning and memory:

Reprint volume(2nd ed., p. 67). Singapore: World Scientific.

Stainfeld, E. (1998, October 23). Cognitive Map Examples. Retrieved June 5, 2016,

fromhttps://www.acsu.buffalo.edu/~arced/arch&society/cogmap/cogex.htm
https://www.acsu.buffalo.edu/~arced/arch&society/cogmap/cogex.htmhttps://www.acsu.buffalo.edu/~arced/arch&society/cogmap/cogex.htmhttps://www.acsu.buffalo.edu/~arced/arch&society/cogmap/cogex.htmhttps://www.acsu.buffalo.edu/~arced/arch&society/cogmap/cogex.htm


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6.0 Appendix

Figure 6.0.1 showed the Tangible Map of Chosen SitePetaling Jaya Old Town Section 4.

Source:

https://www.google.com.my/maps/place/Assunta+Hospital/@3.0924197,101.6439056,16.5z/data=!4m5!3

m4!1s0x31cc498e8f955555:0x76e61e62e50d6163!8m2!3d3.0933408!4d101.645578?hl=en

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