theories of architecture & urbanism

School of Architecture, Building and Design

Bachelor of Science (Hons) in Architecture

Theories of Architecture & Urbanism [ARC 61303/ARC

2224]

PROJECT : THE IMAGE OF THE CITY

Part 2: Essay & Cognitive Mapping

NAME: Joanne Bernice Chua Yunn Tze

STUDENT ID: 0315905

LECTURER: Mr. Lam Shen Fei

Part 2: Cognitive Mapping

ARC 61303/2224 Theories of Architecture & Urbanism 1

Table of Contents Page

1.0 Introduction .......................................................................................................... 2

1.1 Jalan Imbi, Kuala Lumpur................................................................................. 2

1.2 Definition and Theory of Cognitive Mapping ..................................................... 3

1.3 Participator/Subjects of Study .......................................................................... 3

2.0 Analysis and Interpretation .................................................................................. 4

3.0 Discussion ........................................................................................................... 7

4.0 Conclusion .......................................................................................................... 9

5.0 References ........................................................................................................ 10



1.0 Introduction

In this project, we were required to create a minimum of 3 cognitive maps

by interviewing and asking people in the selected city of study to draw out maps

based on their impression and interpretation of the site. Next, we were to

generate a comparative essay by analysing the similarities and dissimilarities of

their cognitive maps, and to discuss on the findings based on Kevin Lynch's

theory on Image of the City & Imageability. The site that I have chosen is the

area around Jalan Imbi, Kuala Lumpur.

1.1 Jalan Imbi, Kuala Lumpur

Jalan Imbi is considered a major road in Kuala Lumpur nestled within the

district of Imbi, being well connected with other city prime roads including Jalan

Sultan Ismail, Jalan Tun Razak, Jalan Pudu and Jalan Pudu. Accessibility is

considered one of the main advantages as the site resides within the heart of

the city centre, and the road is in close proximity to the many shopping malls

and hotels, therefore attracting many locals and especially tourists to roam

around. In 2003, the Imbi Monorail Station began operating its train services

and is one of the four stations that serve the Golden Triangle locality.

According to an interview done with an information desk lady at Melia Hotel

whom worked there for 25 years, there used to have a large football field with a

bungalow around that area. Originally, the land belonged to the millionaire

Cheong Yoke Choy but was purchased over for the construction of the current

Berjaya Times Square KL. Over time, the development has slowly transformed

the site from a once isolated, quiet area to an ever growing attraction

experiencing day-to-day traffic jam.



1.2 Definition and Theory of Cognitive Mapping

A cognitive map (also mental map) is an image of the layout of one’s

physical environment. When we create cognitive maps, we often omit irrelevant

and non-important information. This also means that our cognitive maps may

differ from the actual environment that we are mapping, however it makes it

easier for us to recall information, such as directions and also assist us in

learning information. The term was first introduced by phycologist Edward C.

Tolman to explain how rats learned the locations of rewards in a maze.

Architecturally, cognitive maps are used to supplement knowledge about the

physical characteristics of places by knowing how people perceive a location.

The tangible and intangible elements such as human facets (memory, identity

etc), spatial and temporal dynamics (traffic, people’s paths, barriers etc),

architecture (stairs, benches, trees, etc) microstructure (texture, material) so on

and so forth play important roles on the perception of the site.

1.3 Participator/Subjects of Study

I’ve managed to interview receptionists and housewives to understand their

impression of the site. In addition, the people that I’ve encountered on site and

requested to draw maps were tourists from overseas, students who came to

shop or study and working adults such as information desk workers and shoe

salesgirls. I decided to compare the maps drawn by the tourist, the studying

student, the shoe salesgirl and myself to understand how diff types of people

perceive the area in terms of their familiarity of the site and also the period of

time spent there.



2.0 Analysis and Interpretation

Map was drawn by Nisrine and Dhruv, a couple on vacations from France

Map was drawn by Hao Jie, a Form 6 student who was studying at

Starbucks in Berjaya Times Square



Map was drawn by Joan, a salesgirl who is working in Berjaya Time Square

Map drawn by me



Based on the cognitive maps that were drawn, they focus greater

towards the area nearer to city centre and the monorail station. One of the

similarities discovered is that the major paths and circulation around the area

were identified. This was because of the accessibility and convenience of the

site, whereby the paths were actually routes connected through different

linkages, mainly shopping malls, pedestrian bridges, the monorail station, bus

stops and taxi stands. The maps drew by Hao Jie, Joan and me highlights the

paths that we usually take when travelling to Times Square. We were able to

remember the shops that were along the paths taken which makes us more

familiar with that area. Most of us travel along the same route and did not take

other routes as they do not bring us to where we want to go, thus limiting us

from exploring further areas ahead. The major nodes whereby they come

together and then disperse were also laid out; however it was found that most of

us only gathered in shopping malls constructed nearby which are Low Yat Plaza,

Sungei Wang and Times Square. The reason may be because the most

convenient paths that we have adapted did not pass through any outdoor open

space that gathers people. Besides that, there were lack of activities and

entertainment spots which make us be attracted to any certain area. The nodes

also act as landmarks due to their large scale and being easily distinguished on

physical maps.

On the subject of dissimilarities, by comparing the maps drew by the

tourist couple and the locals, it is obvious that they cannot produce a clear

image of the site. From the map drawn by Nisrin and Dhruv, they have a slight

difference in the perception of the site. Even though they also travel on foot,

they did not draw out the bridge path that links to Times Square as they came

by using the monorail. Their unfamiliarity of the site omits the usual path that

most of the locals take. However, they tend to travel along the less travelled

paths as they find the site to be quite walkable and are driven to explore every

interesting area filled with culture and heritage that they can access to.

Therefore, tourists are less likely to be attracted to walk into shopping malls as

they do not see them as something which would excite them or allow them to

learn valuable knowledge within the site itself. With regard to locals like us,

since we often travel to the site we perceive it to be more of a commercial



district, whereby it is a convenient place in which we can get or buy what we

need and our purposes of going to the site mostly revolves within the malls.

Besides that, we are exposed to the fact that the area in the city centre tend to

be unsafe with all the crime happening. Feeling less secured, we would not

want to stroll or explore places that are too far and would stick to our main path

of circulation whereby the crowds of people are.

3.0 Discussion

Based on Kevin Lynch’s theory on Image of the City & Imageability (also

called legibility and visibility), Lynch argues that people in urban situations orient

themselves by means of mental images. Imageability means that the cityscape

can be ‘read’ and people who move through the city engage in way-finding.

They are able to recognize and organize urban elements into a coherent pattern

to form a mental image, and is the product of immediate sensation and the

memory of past experience. Lynch proposed that these mental images consist

of 5 elements: paths, edges, districts, nodes, and landmarks; also the



imageability of the city can be analysed in 3 parts: identity, structure and

meaning.

Based on the interviews done on site, the most identified paths taken

are easily remembered and are often used to navigate around the urban

landscape. For example the route that was memorized from the back entrance

of Sungei Wang all the way to the main entrance of Berjaya Times Square. In

addition, most of them could only recall nodes that are nearer to the major paths

taken, which is the route from Sungei Wang to Low Yat or across the bridge to

Times Square. For example, the nodes distinguished were the Imbi Monorail

station, taxi stands and bus stops whereby people are gathered then dispersed.

However, were not any open spaces that can be considered nodes and attract

people to have activities except for the malls The strollability of the area is also

considered limited and comes to a stop at the huge intersection between Jalan

Imbi and Jalan Pudu as there were no bridges spanning across and connecting

to the other side of the wide road, therefore the road breaks the continuity and

was concluded to be an edge that defined the boundary of Jalan Imbi area. As

for the intersection between Jalan Imbi and Jalan Sultan Ismail, there was a

vast difference in the scale and shape of the buildings, shaping the districts of

the area. Further up along Jalan Imbi, it was found that most buildings were

shop houses and residences which reach to a maximum height of only 3 to 4

storeys, giving the idea that the area is still a mixed development. As compared

to the multi-storey skyscrapers that loomed over the sky along the area nearer

to the monorail station, this makes it a more defined commercial district. In the

matter of the area’s landmarks, it is obvious that those closer to the road of

Jalan Imbi is easily recognized. Take for example, the capsule machine in front

of Berjaya Times Square. The machine consists of different colours that are

more unique and eye-catching.



4.0 Discussion

In conclusion, I feel that the imageability of the site is low as only a small

part of the city had identity. The urban area around Berjaya Times Square that

was most distinctive and was experienced most by the subjects of this study.

There were more tangible and intangible elements discovered and were easier

for the subjects to read and orientate themselves. Prior to that, the areas that

were further up along Jalan Imbi seem to be less perceived due to the lack in

strategic focus points with activities that would allow people to form their stories

or their mental maps, and paths that were less taken and do not orientate

towards the places where the subjects would want to go. This gives less

composition of physical and mental characteristics that can be represented in

the cognitive maps formed.



5.0 References

Tolman E. C. (1948). Cognitive maps in rats and men. Psychological Review, 55, 189-

208.

Lynch, K. (1960). The image of the city. Cambridge, Mass.: MIT Press.

De Lange, M. (2009, May 8). Review: Kevin Lynch – The Image of the City. Retrieved

November 17, 2015, from http://themobilecity.nl/2009/05/08/review-kevin-lynch-the-

image-of-the-city/

Steinfeld, E. (1998, October 23). Cognitive Maps. Retrieved November 16, 2015, from

http://www.acsu.buffalo.edu/~arced/arch&society/cogmap/cogex.htm

Williams, Y. (n.d.). Cognitive Map: Definition and Examples. Retrieved November 16,

2015, from http://study.com/academy/lesson/cognitive-map-definition-and-

examples.html

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