cognitive mapping

THEORIES OF ARCHITECTURE & URBANISM [ARC61303] [ARC2224]
PROJECT: THE IMAGE OF THE CITY,
PART 2: COGNITIVE MAPPING
NAME: _________________________________
STUDENT ID: _________________________________
LECTURER: _________________________________
SUBMISSION DATE: 23TH NOV 2015
CHUAH SAY YIN
0315301
PUAN NOR HAYATI

TABLE OF CONTENT
1.0 INTRODUCTION
1.1 Introduction to the site
1.2 Reasons of Site Selected
1.3 Introduction of Cognitive mapping
2.0 COGNITIVE MAPPING
2.1 Background of The Participants
2.2 Comparison of the Cognitive Mapping
2.2.1 Dissimilarities
2.2.2 Similarities
2.3 Theories Associated to The Comparison of Cognitive Mapping
2.4 Conclusion
REFERENCES
COGNITIVE MAPPING
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1.0 INTRODUCTION
1.1 INTRODUCTION TO THE SITE
Figure 1.1: The location of the site
The site chosen is Kuala Lumpur City Center when further narrows down to the
few streets of Jalan Ampang, Jalan P. Ramlee and Jalan Pinang at the vicinity of
Petronas Twin Towers.
Kuala Lumpur City Center (KLCC) is the conceptual redevelopment project of the
former Prime Minister of Malaysia- Tun Dr. Mahathir, to develop the former Selangor
Turf Club, an hour race track of 100-acre which positioned in the heart of Golden
Triangle, the commercial district of the city into a self-contained city within a city. This
concept was also to create a new landscape for the capital city of Malaysia.
It is a mixed use development area which composed of commercial, offices,
residential, entertainment, public spaces which are the parks, etc. It hosts some of the
most famous landmarks in Malaysia which makes in a place of tourists’ attraction. The
main focal point of the area is 88-storeys Petronas Twin Towers which houses offices
and connects to shopping complex, Suria KLCC with various other activities such as art
gallery, concert hall, conference center etc. The public spaces of the KLCC park has
also make the area distinctive whereby it becomes a place for public gathering and a
getaway.
The specific street chosen are a small stretch of Jalan Ampang, Jalan P. Ramlee
and Jalan Pinang. Jalan Ampang is a very famous street especially for it nightlife. It
houses several entertainment hubs. Not only then, a shopping mall named Ampang
Park is also located at the small part of area next to Jalan Ampang. It is the first
shopping complexes and the most popular one prior to the built of KLCC.

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1.2 REASONS OF SITE SELECTED.
For one, it is strategically located around of the major landmarks of the city
attractions and have had a varieties of elements especially the one mentioned by Kevin
Lynch, each with unique characteristics. Not only then, the streets chosen are also
interesting in such a way that much of important features and buildings at the area are
all located at the surroundings of Petronas Twin Towers, the main focal point that have
influenced the imageability of the place significantly. Furthermore, it also possesses
strong mobile features such as heavy human and vehicular traffics, a variation of
activities which could strongly engage with one’s five senses that further enhance the
experience of the site. Lastly, I choose the site because I had done architecture site
study at the area a few years back and should perceive the place differently.
1.3 INTRODUCTION TO COGNITIVE MAPPING
Cognitive mapping is the selective representation and mental image of an
individual integrated from the observations gathered over the time and the recalled
interaction with the city. According to Jiang (2012), the two major important issues
concerning the cognitive mapping are the external representation of the place and how
these have been processed mentally and form an image or map about its physical
environment.
Firstly, external representation of the city is discussing mainly on legibility and
imageablity. Imageability refers to the identity which is also known as individuality and
oneness owned by an object physically such as shape, color or arrangement which are
distinguished from others and evokes a strong and vivid image in any observer. (Lynch,
1960). Secondly, legibility refers to the visual qualities and obvious clarity of the city of
which its structures and layout could recognized and formed a coherent pattern in one’s
mind.
Besides, mentally formed images are sometimes not because of visual stimulus
but due to the personal values associated to the area such as the environmental
behavior, facets of memories of the past experience as well as history and culture of the
place. Not only then, activities and event taking place at a particular place has also built
the identity of a place in one’s remembrance. In fact, any object in the environment
afford different activities to various individuals and those forming ones’ special meaning.
(Gibson 1979). This statement is James J. Gibson’s notion of accordance formulated in
his perception theory which are closely related to Kevin Lynch’s concept of legibility and
imageability.
Cognitive mapping is essential for one as it is a basic components of human
adaptation to the environment and it influences the everyday environmental behavior
(Roger & David, 2011). They refer to the basic needs for human to live in an

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environment as it helps one to remember the relative positioning of the places and ease
them in finding the routes to a particular place. Besides, the formation of the images has
help one to feel sense of familiarities emotional security and able to form a harmonious
relationship with the city as the fear with disorientation and being in an unfamiliar place.
According the Lynch (1960), the five commonly perceived elements that form the
image of the city which influence one’s cognitive mapping are path, edges, districts,
landmarks, and nodes. Path is referring to routes associated with movements such as
roads, canals, etc. Besides, district as a group of building with similar backgrounds of
function which are divided by the edge between two different district. Furthermore,
nodes is a break or a concentration point of a movement. It could be a park, square or
convergence of roads. Lastly, landmarks act as the point of reference which are often of
some distant away. These have influenced how the people unconsciously in recognizing
a place.
All in all, cognitive mapping is important as it gives the people a sense of
direction and familiarity that help one in adapting to the environment and develop the
remembrance of a place. While the designer professionals and city makers could not
help to do anything in helping one to construct their personal meanings to a place, the
study of cognitive mapping is important in order to study human needs and thus
enhance their spatial qualities and experience as well as respond to their needs.

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2.0 COGNITIVE MAPPING
2.1 BACKGROUND OF PARTICIPANTS
The reasons of choosing the participants are to compare the cognitive mapping among
the people of the twenties that have seldom been to the site with the one that goes
frequently.
Although we have been to the site together for a few times especially during young,
participant 2 and I are the one that have gone to the site for more times and regularly
especially for the tasks to be done concerning our occupation background. Whereas for
Participant 3, she goes to the area the least amount of times and most of the site she
went was for holidays.
Finally, the last reason is because I have done site visit before at the area and thus
hope to compare cognitive mapping of those who should be more sensitive with the site
architecturally and those without art or architecture background but have been to site
both occasionally and frequently.
1. Participant 1: Chuah Say Yin (Myself)
Age: 21
Nationality: Malaysian
Occupation: Degree Student of Architecture
She has been to the site quite frequently since young for holidays and have also done a
site study while pursuing the course of architecture during foundation year. As such, she
is more sensitive to the sceneries and senses presented at a specific area of the site
where the site visit has been done.
2. Participant 2: Chuah Say Chin
Age: 27
Occupation: Proposal Engineer (currently work in power and electrical base
company)
She had often been to the Kuala Lumpur for holidays when she was young. Besides,
currently she occasionally goes to the area near to the site selected for meeting with her
employers of which most of the time she comes by following others’ car.
3. Participant 3: Chuah Say Wei
Age: 26
Occupation: Primary School Teacher
She had occasionally been to the site. Most of the time she went to the site is by driving
herself to go for shopping and holidays.

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2.2 COMPARISON OF THE COGNITIVE MAPPING
2.2.1 DISSIMILARITIES
In broader sense of interpreting all the cognitive mapping, they are all drawn in a
very different way which mark the distinctive way of perceiving the city even though
some of the elements noticed are similar.
For example, participant 1 has drawn the map in a more detailed way whereby
more elements have been noticed in a smaller and limited area near to the front of
KLCC and are drawn in detailed especially the physical look of the buildings. This is
because she is an architecture student who had been to Petronas Twin Towers for a
site visit as well as had done personal sketches via observation of the surrounding site
during the visit. She had remembered the texture of the ground as well as small
detailings of the street and has got most of the positioning of the building correct as well
as small routes annotated.
Whereas for participant 2, who has been to the area quite frequently for meetings
and holidays has notice a broader context of the site. Most of the buildings she had
notice are notable landmarks especially commercial and offices buildings which
includes Ambank tower, Menara Maxis, Lembaga Getah Malaysia, Wisma Equity, BSN
etc which most of them are only drawn in boxes and a few of them with notable shape.
In the interview, she mentioned that it was because she always has the impression that
Kuala Lumpur City Center is a very commercial area and have always observed much
of the businessman and workers at the area. She has also remembered Ampang Park,
a popular shopping mall prior to the existence of KLCC from her childhood as she went
there for holidays. Not only then, participant 2 does not have a clear idea of the exact
location of the elements noticed. Some of the buildings she has drawn are actually
visible but are far away from the site. Besides, the location of some of the buildings are
not in their correct position. This is because she had most of the time been to the area
by following others’ car and does not have a clear idea of the correct positioning of the
buildings and the routes but clearly realize the existence of those elements.
Lastly, for participant 3 who have been to the site the least amount of time, has
drawn the mapping in such a way that most of the buildings are only in boxes with the
name remembered. She has not remembered much of the elements of the site as most
of the time she is just passing by the street by driving. As such she could remember the
routes better by knowing where the traffic light is, junction of the route and scale of a
road, as well as traffic congestion and presence of the tourism bus.

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2.2.2 SIMILARITIES
One of the similarities observed by all three of the participants including myself
are a few notable building as the landmark as well as a few nodes. For instance, all the
three of us have noticed the Petronas Twin Towers, Wisma Equity and Standard
Charted park. Those buildings are noticed due to its unique appearance as observed in
the mapping and does not bear much personal importance to them.
Next, a few nodes are also shown in the cognitive mapping. Participant 1 and 2
have notice the KLCC park and Lake Symphony. Whereas for Participant 3, she has
remembered only the fountain and the small park in front of KLCC, together with
Participant 1. Participant 1 and 3 has mentioned that the remembrance the parks are
due to holidays whereas participant 2 has remember as she feels unique to have a
small park in the middle of the city.
Lastly, traffic noises and sight of tourism buses and vehicles as well as traffic
congestion has formed an impression on all the three of us.

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2.3 THEORIES ASSOCIATED TO THE COMPARISON OF COGNITIVE MAPPING
As discussed in the comparison of the cognitive mapping, it is clear that the
maps drawn are mostly associated with the past memories of the participants and has
proven the theories mentioned by Kevin Lynch in which most of the imageability draws
does not have a particular geometric, visual or historical significance, but is vividly
identifiable and strongly relates to the personal experience. (Lynch, 1960) This could
especially be seen from the map drawn by participant 2, the Ampang Park Mall, which
bears no significance physical look but is remembered. Besides, participants 1 have
also remembered the sceneries in detail in front of Petronas Twin Towers mostly due to
the memories.
Other than that, the studies have also portrayed the importance of landmarks as
a type pf point reference seen from a distant angle, and it varies from one to another.
(Jiang, n.d) Certain landmarks are made universal due to its important status or
important events associated with them. This in the findings, is KLCC. It appears in all
the mapping as it holds the important background being the identity of Kuala Lumpur as
well as Malaysia. While certain landmarks are only appeal to each individual which
closely associated with the memories, one’s daily life and environmental behavior.
(Jiang, 2012) This could be seen from the mapping of participant 2, whereby most of the
landmarks are commercial building related due to her background of coming to the site
mostly for business affairs. While participant 3 who has come to the site the least has
made her own landmarks mostly related to the banks, the duty that brought her to the
site.
Furthermore, according to Lynch (1960), it would usually be at least a node found
in the cognitive mapping of a person. From the findings, this may be proved right as all
the three of us notice nodes of KLCC park, fountain as well as Standard Charted park.
This is because it is a break in the journey of transportation that is always appealing to
one unconsciously as being a pleasant sight in the midst of busy street. The parks
connect and interact to the users both through the senses of sight and own memories
created.
Besides, the study of the mapping has clearly demonstrated the idea that unique
physical appearance indeed plays an important role in shaping imageability of the site
as discussed by Kevin Lynch where physical representation of colour, shape etc. are
important to stimulate the visual senses and form the image in one’s mind. This is
because the shape of the building of Wisma Equity and Petronas Twin Tower has been
drawn correctly even in the mapping of Participants 3, who has the least memories if the
place. Besides, an ordinary bus stop is made to be remember by participant 1 and 3
due to the distinctive appearance with steels bubble decoration on top of it.

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CONCLUSION
A quote from Kevin Lynch has stated that a highly imageable city would invite the
eyes and the ears for greater attention and it is the basic first step in stepping towards
the expression of inner meaning (Lynch, 1960) While it is true that physical
representation is indeed essential in forming an identity, image and thus a meaning in
one just like the city studied has formed certain image in one even the one that is the
least to the site, it is however only a small part of imageability. Mapping from the
familiars are after all the link to the fragments of memories and the deepest personal
value while elements designed in a city are only to be enhance one’s memories as well
as forming an impression in the least familiars.
In conclusion, the images of the site selected are forming different perspective
and recollection in one’s mind. The vast variety of the city elements particularly the five
elements of path, nodes, district, landmark and edge as well as the senses engaged of
sight and hearing has made the images of the site clearer. The people that have been
to the site for a number of times would have a stronger image of the area, not only the
positioning and the existence of the elements, but a clearer pictures of the surrounding
with personal value. However, the one that has been to the site the least amount of time
does not forget the image of the place completely, but still able to form certain images
especially the major focal point created by city designers as well as some of the striking
figures.
Lastly, in my personal opinion, the elements of the site are well designed and
interesting that has helped to enhance form not only my own experience and
remembrance of the site, but also the others who have been there.

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REFERENCES
Abada, G. (n.d) Petronas Twin Towers. Retrieved from:
http://www.akdn.org/architecture/pdf/1969_Mal.pdf
Downs R. M. and Stea D. (2011), Cognitive Maps and Spatial Behavior: Process and
Productcs, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd: Chicago.
Jiang, B. (2012), The Image of the City Out of the Underlying Scaling of City Artifacts or
Locations, Sweden
Jiang, B (n.d.) Computing the Image of the City, Sweden. Retrieved from:
http://arxiv.org/pdf/1212.0940.pdf
Kuipers, B. (1983), The Cognitive Map: Could It Have been Any Other Way?, (pp 345-
359) Plenum Press: New York. Retrived from:
http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/download?doi=10.1.1.54.5500&rep=rep1&type=pdf
Lynch, K. (1960), The Image of the City, The MIT Press: Cambridge, Massachusetts.

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COGNITIVE MAPPING
Participant 1
Participant 2
Participant 3

cognitive mapping

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