Rethinking the Public Realm: Behaviour Settings in Malaysian Cities

Powell, Robert; Kusumo, Camelia May Li; Srirangam, Sucharita

doi:10.1088/1757-899x/471/9/092087

Cited by 2 publications

(3 citation statements)

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“…As shown by Malaysian urban behaviour settings that have been documented and roughly grouped in order of three magnitudes of scale, i.e. Large Behaviour Settings, Medium-size Behaviour Settings and Small Behaviour Settings (Powell et al. , 2018), most of the identified behaviour settings in Malaysia are characterized by its climate and local culture.…”

Section: Literature Review Sticky Five-footwaymentioning

confidence: 99%

Five-footways: the generator of public realm in Malaysian historical urban centre

Kusumo

Cho

Powell

2022

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PurposeFive-footways are an important feature in historical urban centres of tropical South East Asian cities. These colonnades along the rows of commercial shop houses provide comfortable pedestrian walkways. In spite of the decline of the liveability in many historical urban centres, the “kaki-lima” or five-footways in Klang Valley Malaysia are bustling and alive. Many studies have been done on kaki-lima, however it focuses mostly on historical and cultural context. There is lack of understanding on how the physical attributes of kaki-lima facilitate the liveliness of urban life. The paper aims to investigate the five-footway as the generator of public realm and to analyse the physical attributes of the five-footways that contribute to the “stickiness” of the public space.Design/methodology/approachThe study utilized behaviour mapping to identify the sticky activity, then subsequently used Roger Barker's theory of Behaviour Settings to observe different stationary activities along the five-footways of the historical centres of Kuala Lumpur and Klang.FindingsThe findings show that all the identified behaviour settings along the five-footways are strongly characterised by tropical climate and local diverse culture. Additionally, the small architectural detail provides an important physical setting for informal activities to take a place in the five-footways.Research limitations/implicationsThe study is limited only to two urban heritage districts in Malaysia, namely Kuala Lumpur and Klang.Practical implicationsThe findings have the implication for the public space policy of the local municipalities, specifically for urban design policy of the five-footways. Firstly, the inclusion of five-footways should be encouraged in any new shophouse development and secondly, the policy maker should consider to retain certain physical features of the five-footways that support not only the informal economy activities but also the creation of third places in the neighbourhoods.Originality/valueThis study will contribute to the discourse of urbanism, especially in understanding the public realm in South East Asian cities. Additionally, the outcomes will assist the local municipality in developing urban design policy of the five-footways.

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Section: Literature Review Sticky Five-footwaymentioning

confidence: 99%

Five-footways: the generator of public realm in Malaysian historical urban centre

Kusumo

Cho

Powell

2022

ARCH

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“…Of all issues that arise, the key is the city's fragmented connectivity, which affects sustainable urbanism for pedestrianisation and placemaking (Adenan et al, 2021). Very few publications in the 21st century focus on the public realm of Southeast Asia's rapidly growing cities, specifically Malaysia, as places for people (Powell et al, 2018).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…, 2021). Very few publications in the 21st century focus on the public realm of Southeast Asia's rapidly growing cities, specifically Malaysia, as places for people (Powell et al. , 2018).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Spatial intelligence: integration of land use to connectivity in the context of eastern urbanism

Srirangam

Gunasagaran

Mari

et al. 2023

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PurposeThere is an urgent need to develop a systematic tool for urban design in the cities of the Klang Valley, Malaysia. Sustainable Development Goal 11 (SDG11) proposes ideas to make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable. This paper approaches this goal through land use, integrated into an effective connectivity network. It offers a scientific and systematic approach. The research employs Space Syntax of the University College London as a tool for urban analysis and the principles of Sustainable Street Networks developed by the Congress of New Urbanism to respond to connectivity issues.Design/methodology/approachThe paper employs empirical research through case studies. A systematic literature review is conducted on the diversified applications of the Space Syntax correlations, which steered the fundamental analysis of the elements of deconstruction to structure and land use. Space Syntax and Sustainable Street Network characteristics were the essential research methods. It is important to note that these data a new finding on the Syntactic Maps of the two case study cities.FindingsThe paper summarises a set of results on (1) international comparison of spatial intelligence, (2) patterns from the Eastern cases and (3) theoretical guidelines for spatial intelligence through the Syntax by offering key characteristics of the New Urbanism principles, which could be considered, while revitalising the cities in the Klang Valley, Malaysia.Research limitations/implicationsThe findings are specific and applicable to the oriental contexts. However, such results have been further compared to the Western context.Practical implicationsThe study develops a toolkit for urban planners and designers and architects in Klang Valley, Malaysia.Social implicationsThe research has focused and will add value for SDG11: Sustainable Cities and Communities. Theoretically, the paper offers insights to urban design readers.Originality/valueIt is important to note that the data itself is a new finding on Syntactic Maps of the two case study cities. The investigated setting is unique, and the first attempt in generating a Space Syntax map to the cities of Klang Valley, and the findings, therefore, offer a new set of knowledge-base to the city planners, urban designers, researchers and architects.

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Rethinking the Public Realm: Behaviour Settings in Malaysian Cities

Cited by 2 publications

References 5 publications

Five-footways: the generator of public realm in Malaysian historical urban centre

Five-footways: the generator of public realm in Malaysian historical urban centre

Spatial intelligence: integration of land use to connectivity in the context of eastern urbanism

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