Every city has different aspect in the world.

Its no doubt that the spatial layout of the

city itself would generates a chance variation of probability to encounter and influencing the
human behavior. Most of the building implies social activity which is originating from the
intended function. There is no doubt that the influence of architecture would affect the human
behavior.
Formerly Saigon, Ho Chi Minh City, District 1 is the economical hub of Vietnam and the
core of its largest urban area. The city has been divided into 3 different layers (core,
peripheral, rural) with the inner core experiencing the least growth but with high density,
while the peripheral areas continue to grow rapidly. A distinguishable fact of the core are the
thin buildings due to taxation on plot widths. Ho Chi Minh has been a very lively
environment, streets with crowded pedestrians and roads with overcrowded vehicles.
To start with, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, District 1 is very different from Jalan Tar
itself. District 1 is located by the Saigon River, where many historical landmarks still stand
till this day, Vietnam in general is rich with historical value as compared to Jalan Tar, which
was the main street in Kula Lumpur at one time.

Diagram 1.0 shows the layout of micro analysis of District 1.

Ho Chi Minh City seem to have a distorted grid pattern layout but it is designed to be dense
and walkable, the streets are dense with shop lots and filled with street vendors roaming
around the streets. Ho Chi Minh City is one of the most populated city all over Vietnam.
Diagram 2.0 shows Jalan Tar has a similar distorted grid pattern as Ho Chi Minh City District

As for Jalan Tar, it is mostly occupied by old dwellers who remains from the past. Despite of
its degeneration as a vibrant city, Jalan still contains a strong culture and a whole experience
that is as similar to District 1, but the entire street of Jalan Tar is just mainly focusing on item
which is tactile items. Where District 1 has more shop lots are focusing on their own type of
items that they are selling where Jalan are mostly just tactile, there isnt much options.
District 1 shows more mixed used environment that has no order may somehow energized the
residents and makes it a more vibrant place, where Jalan Tar isnt.

Despite of the dissimilarities, both of the city shares the similar environments and
architectural patterns where Ho Chi Minh buildings are tall and thin, same goes to Jalan Tar.

Diagram 3.0 shows a similar comparison between Ho Chi Minh City and Jalan Tar building
typology.
 Contact point

Diagram 4.0 shows the first contact upon reaching Jalan Tar
The first contact that comes at the first place upon reaching Jalan Tar. It is an area that
express the characteristic of the street especially when people passes by, Both city uses a
specific tactic that would help to set up the vision in first place. Such as Ho Chi Minh City,
the occasional use of greenery on the sidewalks. Both city show similar greenery on the
sidewalk where the pedestrians people walk but in Jalan Tar it wasnt really properly shaded
for the pedestrian. In Ho Chi Minh the building environment is functional and attractive, that
would increase the possibility for involvement, and interaction and knowledge share in place.
This helps generates the structural properties that drives people to slow down their pace to
appreciate the elements in a space rather than coming for a specific activity only. Due to lack
of sitting area along the streets of Jalan Tar, it may influence the element of space into an
informal sitting area.

Diagram 5.0 shows and example og the sidewalk greenery in the street of Le Loi Street Ho
Chi Minh City.
In places like a shopping district, there is a tendency for people who decide to wait outside
the shop while waiting for the friends or family to their purchase. The sitting spot in sidewalk
would be an optional choice for them to use to wait for their friends or family and it would
enhance their experience in the space, but in Jalan Tar, shows lack of sittings areas which will
lead to informal sitting area.

Diagram 6.0 shows the pedestrian 5 foot walkway in Jalan Tar has lack of sitting areas for the
locals as compared to Ho chi Minh.

Diagram 7.0 shows the sidewalk occupied by shop owners in Ho Chi Minh City.
In contrast with Ho Chi Minh, which uses stunning environment as a form of contact, while
Jalan Tar Street uses an image where is it more straightly forward. Although both uses the
same concept to declare their identity, it is obviously that the degree of contact intensity In
Ho Chi Minh City is much higher than Jalan Tar. Alongside in Ho Chi Minh City, it is
noticeable that most of the shop owner tends to make good use of the broader side walk. Shop
owners extend their shop till the edge of the pedestrian walkway.

Diagram 8.0 shows the sidewalk transition from outdoor to indoor.

The sidewalk shops creates a smooth transition from indoor to outdoor. It allows people to
have a similar living space outside to what you have inside for a seamless transition. Most of
Ho Chi Minh shop lots are fully opened on the ground floor where mostly business of family
are operated and the levels above are more to a residential uses. With this tropical weather, it
is highly important that it is well ventilated for the users. In District 1 there are endless caf
almost every corner in Ho chi Minh. With all these caf integrating their shop with the
sidewalk helps people to be attracted by the things beyond physical form, it creates a
connected leisure that people would encourage to be part of the streets.
 Diagram 9 shows the uses of sidewalk in Le Loi Street in Ho Chi Minh City.

In Jalan Tar, the sidewalk arent really occupied and appreciated, given such huge
sidewalks, probably due to lack of greenery to shade the sidewalk. There are a few a few
restaurant in Jalan Tar that applies that same concept as Vietnam, but isnt practice all
around. Even though it has benefits of widened sidewalk that is extending from the five-foot
way, the hot weather in Malaysia makes it an unsuitable choice if its not shaded properly.
There isnt much shop owners occupying the sidewalk space during the day due to it hot
weather but during the night you can see restaurant extending table and chair toward the five-
foot way. It makes the degree of contact intensity high at this specific time of the day. Jalan
Tar arrangement of restaurant tables taking advantage of the sidewalk space. People are more
likely to walk alongside the pavement sidewalk which is wider in size compared to the five
foot way, which is no longer for used for sun shading purpose. People tend to divert
themselves to a more comfortable condition when its suitable for them to do so
 Diagram 10 shows the uses of five foot way as sun shading device in Jalan Tar during the
day.
During daytime, it does not apply as effective as the social context happening at night time. It
could be due to changes in climate properties which quickly grows uncomfortable for
customers to walk around and leisure. The arrangement of chairs and table which occupied
the five-foot way becomes and obstacle that prevent the access to somewhere because people
tend to use the five-foot way to avoid the sun.

Diagram 11 shows the arrangement of facilities that encourage social interaction in Ho Chi
Minh City.
The arrangement of facilities and its relationship to the sidewalk serves to encourage or
hinder communication. The arrangement of the layout that has control the degree of lane
access has affected the movement of the people. From example, In Ho Chi Mind City, the
sidewalk shows a simple space but it creates such potential for interaction in the space.
Jalan Tar is a place of myriad layers, each infused with memory of people, places and
experiences bounded with cultural values. The conversation of market pattern that has been
retaining since the past and is now architectural heritage that is inextricably linked to the
character and place making of the place. There isnt much privatization of the street along
Jalan Tar. The intensity of contact level is far lower compared to Ho Chi Minh City. It is
because that there is constantly active interaction of people. This modest form of contact
happens randomly everywhere when you explore all around Ho Chi Minh City, because it
does not contain a specific form to determine the edge of place.

Diagram 12 shows the outdoor space which is formed naturally by and offset between stalls
and building in Jalan Tar during the night.

It is found that people tends to pull off to discover every single use of space, such as
repurposing the outdoor space which is formed naturally by an offset between commercial
stalls and buildings. The area is then given a new function as a wide space to place any
commercial market use. Although it is clearly that everything is not organized in Jalan Tar,
creating an environment quality that is manipulated by human behavior.

After analyzing both cities on their streets and contact points, Ho Chi Minh City has a
systematic built form that makes people communicates in a more readable way. Hence, the
contact point is more or less direct and consistent. As for Jalan Tar, shows form of contact
usually appears out of random in a certain hour. Despite of their difference, the contact of
both is more or less the same way. It is just the condition and environment of the area itself
makes them somewhat different from others. In Jalan Tar, shows lack of public amenities and
urban conditions have resulted in low optional and social activities whereby necessary
activates flourished.
In conclusion, there is no right or wrong in the design of spatial layout for both places.
However we could conclude here urban planning and public amenities plays an important
role in the life between buildings.
(2033 words)
REFRENCE LIST

Michael P. Urban Design and People Jon Wiley & Sons, Inc. N.p, 2009. Retrieved 27
November 2016, from http://s1.downloadmienphi.net

Spaces, P. (2016). Jan Gehl- Project for Public Spaces. Project for Puclic Spaces. Retrieved
26 November 2016, from http;//www.pps.org/refrence

Gehl, Jan and Jo Koch. Life Between Buildings. 1st ed. Washington DC: Island Press, 2011
Print.

Architecture, urbanism, design and behavior: a brief review Architectures.

(2016).Architecture.danlocktan.co.uk Retrieved 27 November 2016, form
http://architectures.danlockton.co.uk/2011/09/12/architecture-urbanism-design-and-
behaviour-a-brief-review/
 SCHOOL OFARCHITECTURE BUILDING & DESIGN BACHELOR OFSCIENCE
(HONORS) IN ARCHITECTURE THEORIES OFARCHITECTURE & URBANISM
(ARC61303)

PROJECT: LIFE BETWEEN BUILDINGS: USING PUBLIC SPACES A COMPARATIVE

ANALYSIS ESSAY
RICCO SOH ZHENG WEI 0319890

TUTOR: Mr. Nicholas Ng