ATTRIBUTES AND ACTIVITIES IN PUBLIC URBAN SPACES OF MALAYSIAN CITIES

Abstract

In contemporary society, urban spaces have emerged as the predominant locale for communal assembly among the general populace. However, a significant deficiency of urban spaces is observed in the majority of metropolitan locations in Malaysia.  This study raises the question of how urban space could promote community space in an urban area while considering activities and site physical attributes. Therefore, this study aims to identify the urban space attributes and activities in two categories of Malaysian cities: new urban areas and historical areas. This study uses cross-comparison and descriptive analysis to derive key attributes of urban spaces, including high walkability, diverse activities, vibrant street art, and green elements. The dominant attributes based on the evaluation were walkability, urban activities, street art, green elements, and aesthetically pleasing historic buildings. Primary activities were walking, photography, and cycling (100%). Predominant urban activities based on evaluation were walking, photographing, and sales booth streets. Sungai Segget Johor Bahru (mix of historical and new urban areas), Melaka Jonker Street (historical town) and River of Life Kuala Lumpur (a mix of historical and new urban areas) have the highest of urban space elements. Therefore, urban activities are highest in historical cities such as Melaka Jonker Street and Penang Street Art. This study provides stakeholders valuable insight into different urban space attributes and activity patterns between cities. By expanding the analysis scope beyond the main capital city in Malaysia and recommending further exploration of additional attributes, this research offers a more nuanced understanding of the interplay between urban space and activities.