Modernity, Nation and Urban-Architectural Form by Unknown

Author:Unknown
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9783319661315
Publisher: Springer International Publishing

The Padang and Square

The padang during this period fulfilled a multitude of public purposes (Home 1997), including as a site for parades to impress the local population with the coercive power of the colonial rulers. Apart from the open spaces mentioned above, there is another type known as a medan or square. It is usually formed by the shophouses located in the city centre surrounded by wholesale trading, retail and services. These vary in size from small to large, accommodating small groups to large crowds. In Kuala Lumpur, for instance, one of the famous squares originated from a settlement of Chinese miners and was among the earliest residences in the area of the confluence of the Gombak and Klang rivers. For example, in the case of the Gombak riverbank, the higher ground parallel to the river was the main thoroughfare, known for many years as the High Street, now known as Jalan Tun HS Lee. The square was surrounded by a trade settlement that served the outlying mines. The square started as a forum before it evolved into a marketplace.

The problem was made worse by the failure to appreciate and maintain the esplanade or padang, the open space, which is of historical and cultural significance for public usage. Padang Maziah in Kuala Terengganu, Padang Merdeka in Alor Setar and Padang Kalumpang in Kota Bharu are examples of padang located in front of the Malay sultanate palaces which have been converted into vehicle parking spaces. In the Malaysian scenario, the famous padang is currently seen and interpreted as a series of rooftop gardens that become a stage for singing contests and concerts, a far cry from its role in the past (Nor Zalina and Ismail 2008).

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