Cognitive Mapping (Core Studies)

School of Architecture, Building & Design Centre for Modern Architecture Studies in Southeast Asia Bachelor of Science (Honours) (Architecture)

Theories of Architecture & Urbanism (ARC 61603 / ARC 2224)

PROJECT PART II: Cognitive Mapping

Name: Cheah Ee Von Student ID: 0308719 Tutor: Datin Dr. Nor Hayati Hussain

Content 1.0 Introduction 1.1 Introduction of site – Masjid Jamek 1.2 Introduction of Cognitive mapping 1.3 Subjects Background Info & Maps 1.3.1 Cognitive Map 1 1.3.2 Cognitive Map 2 1.3.3 Cognitive Map 3 2.0 Comparisons 2.1 Similarities of maps 2.2 Dissimilarities of maps 3.0 Discussions of findings based on Kevin Lynch's theory on Image of the City & Imageability 4.0 Conclusion References

Page Number 3-4 4 5-6 7 8 9 10-11 12 13-15 16 17

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1.0 Introduction 1.1 Introduction of site – Masjid Jamek

View of LRT station & Burger King

Located at the intersection of Sungai Klang and Sungai Gombak, Masjid Jamek is the starting point of Kuala Lumpur’s legacy. Early settlers of Kuala Lumpur built shelters around the Moorish/Mugha/Islamic influenced mosque in the 1850s. These immigrants are usually miners who came to Kuala Lumpur in hopes of finding wealth through tin mining. They would unload their equipment and food supply here and then take the jungle trek up to Ampang, where the mineral ores are located. (Zain's Pix & Text, 2012)

Based on Sejarah Tingkatan 4 Buku Teks (Form 4 History Textbook) (Ministry of Education Malaysia 2002a), urban development tend to revolve around places where tin mining and rubber plantations took place. Kuala Lumpur is no exception. It was the second place in Malaysia after Taiping to build railroads. Railroads are significant as it eases mode of transportation, attracting investors to develop the area. Before

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we knew it, the heart of the city back then - Masjid Jamek expanded from a slum to the city we know now. The modern Masjid Jamek has no definite boundary or edges.

The Masjid Jamek LRT station is positioned at Jalan Tun Perak. Most people uses the LRT to reach their destination. Hence, the chosen study area is Jalan Tun Perak.

1.2 Introduction of Cognitive mapping The term was first introduced by Edward C. Tolman through his psychology paper “Cognitive maps in Rats & Men�. The research aims to learn how rats locate rewards in a maze. Cognitive maps represent the mental state of physical locations. Both humans and animals use them to discover their way and reminiscence significant features of a location. Hence, cognitive maps could differ from the actual place itself.

What humans and animals consider important may lie in the differences between mental representation and the physical characteristics of a location. It could possibly show where and how they move around. City planners or landscape architects sometimes use this technique to learn about how a space is seen by the public.

Cognitive maps could also expose the world of those with sensual deficits and physical handicaps. Sound and touch cues are more emphasized in maps of the blind; while physical barriers are more highlighted in maps of people in wheelchairs.

(Psychology.ucdavis.edu, 2015)

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1.3 Subjects Background Info & Maps The 3 maps (including the author) collected are from youngsters. The author wanted to conduct a study and compare how different people from her age group view Masjid Jamek. One map is from a female college student; the other is from a male high school student.

1. Puii Ling (who drew cognitive map 1) is a new first year degree student studying Business & Accounting at the nearby Segi College branch in Masjid Jamek. She travels back and forth from her home - Taman Bahagia to college every day for classes. It was convenient for her to study here as the LRT station is within the vicinity of her college. She does not hang out at Masjid Jamek unless there is class. She also brings her own lunch boxes to class so the only route she knows is from the LRT station to her college.

2. Zhongji (who drew cognitive map 2) is a Fifth form high school student from St. John’s High School. Alike Puii Ling, he does not hang out at Masjid Jamek a lot.

Most of his time is spent inside his school compounds as he is active in extra cocurricular activities and has to revision for his upcoming SPM examinations. He rides the LRT from Taman Jaya to Masjid Jamek every day. He uses several routes to school alternatively so he wouldn’t feel bored. He would sometimes stop by some of the food places he knows when he is on the way back home.

3. Ee Von (The author who drew cognitive map 3). It was her first time walking around Masjid Jamek. It has several spots crowded with people. These places

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are usually commercial places selling local goods, such as Jalan Melayu near OCBC bank and one of the alleys selling Indian stuff. Along the LRT road there are some food joints leading down to Segi College and Maybank.

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1.3.1 Cognitive Map 1 Name: Puii Ling Age: 20 Gender: Female Background: Segi College Student

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1.3.2 Cognitive Map 2 Name: Zhongji Age: 17 Gender: Male Background: High School Student

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1.3.3 Cognitive Map 3 Name: Ee Von Age: 21 Gender: Female Background: Taylor’s University Student

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2.0 Comparisons 2.1 Similarities of maps All three subjects expressed the following as part of their image of Masjid Jamek: 1. LRT Station 2. Busy road with many pedestrians and cars 3. Human pedestrian bridge 4. McDonalds 5. Burger King 6. 7-11 7. Heritage shophouses Out of the three subjects, only one is more familiar with Masjid Jamek. The other two was fairly new to the place. However, all three had some similar points in their drawings. All three subjects sketched Masjid Jamek roads in a few fairly straight lines with slight bents at the ends. The three maps have the same orientation and highlights Jalan Tun Perak as the main street. This is because all three subjects arrive at this street after stepping off from the Masjid Jamek LRT stop. They mentioned the street is always busy, full of cars and pedestrians at all time. They also highlighted the LRT station in blue ink with pedestrian bridges connected in between, probably because the real station is painted in blue with pedestrian bridges connecting the two separated blocks of the station. Along Jalan Tun Perak, there are two rows of shop lots on the two sides of the street, where McDonalds, Burger King and 7-11 are marked. A good mix of modern and heritage shop houses is mentioned when describing this street.

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Other frequent mentions: a. Banks b. Brick and Marble mosque (Masjid Jamek) c. Jalan Melayu “bazaar” d. Leboh Ampang “Indian” street e. Confusing f. Dense g. Indian street h. Foreign workers i. Air pollution j.

Dodgy and unsafe

Cognitive map 1 and 3 has marked OCBC bank at the upper right part of Jalan Tun Perak; Segi College and Maybank at the lower part of the street. Masjid Jamek is also marked at the upper left side of the road. As for cognitive map 2 and 3, both maps marked out Jalan Melayu “bazaar” and Leboh Ampang. These streets are drawn significantly thinner than Jalan Tun Perak. According to the subjects, these streets function more like an alley to the area due to heavy pedestrian traffic compared to cars. Leboh Ampang is also coloured in both maps, suggesting the colourful Indian culture the street has to offer. When the interview was carried out further about their impressions toward Masjid Jamek, verbal descriptions such as dense, confusing, haze, dodgy, foreign workers and unsafe were collected.

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2.2 Dissimilarities of maps One of the most obvious differences between the maps is the boundary of Masjid Jamek drawn by all three subjects. Cognitive mapping 1 and 3 only featured Jalan Tun Perak; while cognitive mapping 2 showed a larger area of Masjid Jamek covering Jalan Tun Perak up to Jalan Bukit Nanas where St. John’s High School is located. Subject 1 and 3 are not very familiar as they are still quite new to the area; while subject 2 is more familiar with the area as he takes different routes to and fro school every day for the past five years. As a whole, each subjects only sketched out a map based on their familiarity of Masjid Jamek.

Other than that, all three maps emphasize different elements on their maps.

Cognitive map 1 highlighted the architectural styles of buildings. She drew rough silhouettes of the major landmarks on Jalan Tun Perak such as Masjid Jamek, OCBC bank, Segi College building and Maybank tower. This is because the subject is still unfamiliar with this road since she just started class at Segi College two months ago. So she only observed the buildings visible in her sight while walking from the LRT station to her college. Cognitive map 2 featured lots of small alleys or “shortcuts” the subject always use to school. Some green pockets are found on his map as well. The main route he takes to school is highlighted in red where there are a lot of people because he feels safer. He likes the commotion happening on Leboh Ampang, which he calls it the “Indian Street” (painted in purple). Cognitive mapping 3 has a lot of human figures in her map. This is because her first impression towards Masjid Jamek is the huge crowd of pedestrians on the street as well as the bazaar at Jalan Melayu (marked with colourful umbrellas). She also mapped out Leboh Ampang (coloured in orange, yellow and red) with masses of human figures.

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3.0 Discussions of findings based on Kevin Lynch's theory on Image of the City & Imageability

Educational district Religious district Path Landmark

Bank district Commercial district

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Masjid Jamek image as derived from verbal interviews

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Aerial view of Masjid Jamek from Google Maps

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After comparing the maps, let us look at the physical reality underlying these themes which appeared in the image of Masjid Jamek. In all the three maps, the LRT station is considered a landmark which they refer as their starting point of the area. However the position of the station varies in all three maps. It is possible to miss the mosque in a glance, as it is set back from the road for about three metres and is often overshadowed by the gigantic overhanging pedestrian bridges connecting the two blocks of LRT station. Immediately, one will be greeted by Dutch colonial architecture styled shop houses after stepping off the LRT station at the western side of Jalan Tun Perak. Burger King Restaurant will be easily spotted at the corner of the shop lot. Hence, most subjects got this landmark correct. However, in between the station and the shop lots there is an open plaza that functions more as a junction that was not indicated by the subjects. As one furthers his/her journey towards south, they will encounter another junction. Further down, one will encounter a parking lot that belongs to Reggae Mansion followed by Jalan Tun HS Lee junction and more shop lots along the way. The programme of the shops changes from food & beverage to convenience stores, wholesale vegetable seller, more food & beverage and then hotels & cafes along the way. The pavement gets dirtier as one walks towards south. Streets also get quieter and dodgy. The shop lot sizes and storey heights varies along the road frequently with colourful wall paints as described by subjects.

From the opposite side of Jalan Tun Perak, one would cross a zebra crossing and see a late art deco styled building after stepping out of the station. Apparently, there are also pedestrian bridges connecting the two station blocks on both sides of the street. All subjects noted the bridges showing the bridges’ significance to the users in Masjid Jamek. The pavements on this side of the road are much wider than the other 14

side. Also, it has more landscaping efforts along with handrail barriers. About 200 metres, one would arrive at McDonalds. This landmark was documented accurately by all three subjects as well. Another 200 metres down, one will arrive at the junction of Leboh Ampang. Leboh Ampang is a street much occupied by Indian stores selling food and textile. There are some budget hotels as well. This path was highlighted with colourful inks by two subjects to suggest the vibrant atmosphere at this street.

This path is also a node because there are a lot of people at the street all day long.

After the junction, the walkways shrunk significantly. Then there will be more Indian shops and hostels with shaded walkways. One would walk towards south with a view of taller buildings gradually. As one advances further, the scale of the buildings varies from two storeys to ten storeys. At the end of the street, one would arrive at Segi College. This landmark is marked by two subjects. It is quite hard to miss this building because the architectural style of Segi College shifted drastically from the eclectic Dutch style shop houses to a modern mixed Cubism tower with two dominant Ionic columns at ground level. The case study ends at this point of the street.

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Conclusion Density of pedestrians and turning traffic is highest at the beginning at Jalan Tun Perak, where the LRT station is erected. Here the pedestrian stream is a mixture of workers, students and tourists. The flow of human traffic is often linear, either going south or north. The buildings grow gradually higher towards the southern part of the street where Segi College and Maybank tower is located, which creates an interesting visual interest. Indian goods stores, budget hotels and eateries spill on both sides of the road. There are virtually no transition areas in between although there are junctions. The topography is also flat. Hence, it is hard for first time users to familiarize themselves in the area. They refer to landmarks (usually food chains) in order to recognize junctions in their journey. As conclusion, Jalan Tun Perak has to include more plazas in between for transition, incorporate more landscaping efforts and wider pavements in order to create a more pedestrian friendly experience.

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

Psychology.ucdavis.edu,. (2015). Mapping: Cognitive maps. Retrieved 11 November 2015, from http://psychology.ucdavis.edu/sommerb/sommerdemo/mapping/cogmap.htm Sejarah Tingkatan 4 (Buku Teks), Cetakan Kesebelas. (2002) (11th ed.). Kuala Lumpur.

Zain's Pix & Text,. (2012). Heritage Building of Kuala Lumpur - Masjid Jamek of Kuala Lumpur. Retrieved 11 November 2015, from https://zainabdullah.wordpress.com/2012/05/09/masjid-jamek-of-kuala-lumpur-city/

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