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The aim of this article is to extend Kevin Lynch's theory in the 'Image of the City' (1960) by adding 'meaning' to the urban spaces observation because Lynch focused on the legibility factor only. The 'meaning' observation in this article is through the reading of space as 'third space' creation given by Lefebvre, Soja and Bhabha. The understanding of 'third space' (include the first-second spaces) gives a deeper understanding of the urban areas especially for urban areas that bear specific social condition of cultural hybridization. The understanding does not only read the physical layer, but also cultural and historical layers. This article is based on a study in kampungs (urban village) in Surabaya, Indonesia, with specific respondents of young adults aged 20-25 years old. This study shows that by adding 'meaning' to the urban elements identification of Lynch's especially in the view of third space reading, the result shows that elements related to the social construction within the place is the most crucial elements rather than elements with strong in legibility.

Kevin Lynch's concept of the image of the city has influenced many academics and practitioners around the world. However, misconceptions have arisen in applying Lynch's concept through a superficial understanding of his five elements. The main purpose of this article is to extend meaning making behind the urban elements identification, on which Lynch had put less emphasizes. The research, on which this article is based, has been conducted in Surabaya-Indonesia with young people from a mid to high economic family background that a have high dependency on private cars. In imagining the city, they emphasize more on meaning rather than physical appearances of the elements. Meaning is driven by their daily route, social life style, and ethnic background. Lynch identified three dimensions in imagining cities, namely identity, structure and meaning, which are embedded in the urban elements. In this case study, meaning is regarded as being more important than the other two and as it represents social symbols of a specific group in the city of Surabaya.

Contemporary perspective is to transform the theory reading of space in Asian cities, particularly to the reading of kampung in Surabaya. Kampung (urban village) are commonly read as a disorder neighbourhood located in a modern urban area. Through the perspective, analysed inside out of urban spaces, the kampungs is read not only on the physical structure but the meaning behind the use. It is compulsory to consider the three parameters of urban observation for this perspective: theoretical concept, phenomenological scope, and point of view. In this research, these observed parameters: theory of townscape by Gordon Cullen, phenomenon of public and private space in the kampung, and applying the research method of ground research. Cullen’s theory one of well known Western-centric theory is needed to be included since Asian still lack of theoretical presence. The observation of the phenomenon is to extend the theory and to read urban spaces in greater Asia including studying meaning behind the urban structure. The result of this research has shown that unfixed urban elements in the kampung create stronger sense of urban enjoyment than fixed elements. The unfixed are related to the social activities occurred that identify the fluid condition of private and public usage.