Theories of Architecture and Urbanism - Comparative Essay ft. Medan Pasar, KL & Pasar Baru, Jakarta

2. Table of Content
Introduction & History
Camparative Essay
Public Spaces
Socio-Economic Activities & Contact Points
Community
Conclusion
Reference
1.0
2.0
2.1
2.2
2.3
3.0
4.0

3. 1.0 Introduction & History
Medan Pasar or the Old Market Square is the heart of the inner city of Kuala Lumpur. It is the centre of
the original township as established by Yap Ah Loy. It‘s established prior to late 1800s, when a fire
engulfed Kuala Lumpur, and the British Resident Frank Swettenham directed that all buildings such be
built of more durable material going forward. It was a bustling place during the late 19th century. The
ornate Neo-Classical shophouses facing Medan Pasar were the result of guidelines put in place by AB
Hubback, the colonial government architect. Unfortunately most of these shophouses are not as well
maintained today as they ought to be. The centrepiece of Medan Pasar is the Market Square Clock
Tower.
Medan Pasar, Kuala Lumpur
Development of Medan Pasar (1862~2017)

4. As for Pasar Baru, it was built in 1820, it is the oldest shopping complexes in the capital in Central
Jakarta. The area is a melting pot of Indonesian, Chinese and Indian cultures, resulting in a
one-of-a-kind attraction for both local and foreign visitors. This market is a legacy from the Dutch time
when the VOC (Verenigde Oost Indische Compagnie) came to power in Batavia. In early 19th century
the Dutch colonial government decided to move their administrative center from Old Batavia (now
Kota area) a few km south to Weltevreden area (now Gambir area, Central Jakarta). The surrounding
of Pasar Baru has been developed into a residential area throughout the years, due to people all
around country flocking into the area as it provides a large number of business opportunity.
Pasar Baru, Jakarta
Pasar Baru (1700s)
Before the market relocated, it
was named Pasar Batavia. The
gate was built in chinese
architecture style as it was
predominantly run by Chinese.
Pasar Baru (1820)
Before the market relocated, it was named Pasar
Batavia. The gate was built in chinese architecture
style as it was predominantly run by Chinese.
Pasar Baru (1942~1945)
During Japanese colonization,
all forms of festivities are
prohibited by the government.
Pasar Baru (1942~1970)
Pasar Baru no longer became a major destination for the middle to high classes
of community in Jakarta.

5. 2.0 Comparative Essay
2.1 Public Spaces
The public spaces at along the site is a vital factor creating contact point as the open spaces can
make up various activities happening at the site.
At Medan Pasar, in between the streets, there’s a broad open square with a clock tower in the middle.
The open space is often used by the community as a gathering and waiting space. Besides,there’s
also tourists’ sightseeing and pedestrian accessing. Chance contact is more frequent at this site.
At Pasar Baru, there’s no open spaces or plaza along the street, but at the back entrance prohibits the
access of vehicles, which creates a space that attracts pedestrians to take a break at the space. It
also encourage the drawing of people into the street. Close contact is frequent at this space.
2.2 Socio-Economic Activities & Contact Points
The public open spaces influences the type of socio-economic activities happening at the place as an
usage of the place, creating contact points along the street.
At Medan Pasar, the street serves the local community as a retail and business, but different from
Pasar Baru, it’s more walkable and pedestrian friendly as it’s wide, clear and it’s built with landmarks.
As the center of the inner city of KL, the clock tower and the open square attracts tourists, but the
street itself still serves the community as retails and business. It can be said it is community oriented.
But in a specific way, the community could be divided into local people, migrant workers and foreign
tourists. The retails at the upper part of the streets serves the migrant workers with daily products,
money changers, remittance, bank, airlines， etc. The lower part of the street serves the local
community and the transition community (foreign tourist) as retails and business with daily products,
restaurants and cafes, hotels, etc.
Medan Pasar Public open square Pasar Baru Entrance

6. Among the chance contact points, which is the necessary activities are the activity at the open square
is high because of the landmark clock tower and the pedestrian circulation. Beside, shuttle buses stop
beside the square can provides transport for the people to Medan Pasar from different places.
Besides, the square also acts as a pedestrian walkway, which provides an accessible path for people
heading to different destination, such as the River of Life, the Central Market and the Kasturi Walk,
and also to the public transport station.
As for the close contact points, which is the social activities are where the roads intersects, which
creates a node with high human and vehicle density. The frequency of the activity beside the open
square is high because it is the station where the shuttle buses drop off their passengers. People
gather at the open square and walk along the street before they head to other place. Also, the people
at the open square gather and start a conversation with their friends and family while hanging around
having break or waiting for the arrival of the transport.
For the passive contact points, which is the optional activities, the open square is located in between
the River of Life and the Kasturi Walk and Central Market; and also in between two of the main public
transport station, become one of the point where people will stop by for sightseeing, taking
photographs or gathering. People are able to spend some time together, start off a conversation to
communicate with each other.
Medan Pasar Contact Point

7. At Pasar Baru, the street serves the local community
as a retail and business which is close to their daily
life. Although is serve as a tourist attraction too, it
could be said it is local community oriented as the
street was established as a shopping complex in the
capital of the Center of Jakarta early in 1700, instead
of building on the purpose of tourist attraction.The
retail mostly are selling daily products, such as
watches, textile and tailor, sports and music products
and etc.
Among the chance contact points, which is the
necessary activities are the people buying goods from
the vendors and bargaining for a discount create an
interaction between vendor and customer which
generate noises and attention. The activity in front of
entrance gate is high mainly because of the vehicle
and pedestrian circulation. Beside, Beca parked
beside the walkway can provides transport for the
people to Pasar Baru from different places. Also, the
public transport drop off their customer to ease the
vehicle circulation and avoid traffic congestion.
Pedestrian walkway also provides an accessible path
for people heading to different destination safely.
As for the close contact points, which is the social activities are where the junction is, where the roads
intersects to create a single spot which creates a node with high human density. This is the reason
that a junction is a perfect place for vendors to set up stalls. Besides, there’s a tightly-knitted
community of vendors, the stall owners usually chat with each other while waiting for the customers.
The frequency of the activity in front of Pasar Baru entrance gate is high because it is the only
accessibility for people to enter. People gather around the main entrance gate and walk along the
street before they head into Pasar Baru. Also, the people at the pedestrian bridge tend to lean on the
railing to start a conversation with their friends and family while waiting for the arrival of the
transport.
Lastly, for the passive contact points, which is the optional activities, some stalls provide table and
chairs for friends to sit down together comfortably to chat with each other. Some shophouses
provides air-conditioning which attracts people to stand outside the shop and have some small talks.
The calm atmosphere inside the mall attracts families to spend their time together in shopping malls.
On the other hand, the bridge that connects from the road to Pasar Baru create a path for people to
enter the street. River located besides Jalan Pasar Baru became one of the attraction point where
people will stop by and enjoy the scenery at the surroundings. People are able to spend some time
together observing the surroundings with their friends and start off a conversation to communicate
with each other.
Pasar Baru Contact Point

8. 2.3 Community
The public open spaces influences the type of socio-economic activities happening at the place, and
so, it also influences on the cultural activities at site and the community is identified.
At Medan Pasar, in between of two rolls of the shoplots along the street, a bright and broad space
exists with a clock tower as a significant landmark. Besides being one of the tourist attractions at
site, the huge open space is often used by the local community as a gathering space on weekends.
The migrant workers often gather at the open space as the shoplots along the streets are run by the
other migrant workers and are running services that benefits the migrant workers at site, such as
selling air tickets, luggages, and food that creates a sense of belonging to them, which makes them
feel comfortable to gather along the street during weekends. Other than the migrant workers, the local
senior citizens and jobless also are often hanging out at the open space. Near to the site, there’re
NGOs giving out free food, towels, clothes, toothbrushes and etc, hence the senior citizens and the
jobless people often hang out along the street at medan pasar while waiting for the NGOs. The local
homeless people also rest at the open space as it is an open space and no one will get rid of them
when they’re sleeping there, and also it’s breezy enough at night. Besides, at night, the open space is
lightened up with lights which make it looks beautiful and becomes a attraction to the people to take
photographs along the street.
Different with Medan Pasar, at Pasar Baru, besides the foreign tourists, there’s no migrant workers.
The community is mostly being occupied by the local chinese and indians. Pasar Baru’s primary
function is a market where locals and visitors can get cheap but quality food stock. Along the street,
it’s denser in human activity, even the front entrance is filled with fruit vendor and bemo driver
awaiting to do business.
Pasar Baru CommunityMedan Pasar Community

9. 3.0 Conclusion
To quote a passage from Life between Buildings by Jan Gehl, "Life between buildings is not merely
pedestrian traffic or recreational or social activities. It is the full spectrum of activities when
combined makes communal spaces in cities and residential areas more meaningful and attractive.",
at the inner city of Kuala Lumpur, Medan Pasar acts as the center of the city since late 1800s, a
transition space between other landmarks and tourist attraction, has been serving the community,
from the past to present, for the local people, the foreign tourists and the migrant workers community,
which had been here since few years ago. The public open space act as a communal space where
gathering often happens and hence creates a concentrate and radial form of contact points. As for
Pasar Baru, it is but a microcosm of its city within a massive metropolitan city bordering 10 million
people . When looking at pasar baru is crucial to look at it as several independent market centres
situated near together as over time "Pasar Baru" as we know it today expanded beyond just the main
street itself. Thus forming many pockets of contact points of varying intensities horizontally as well
as vertically.

10. 4.0 References
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