the roles of cultural spaces characterising the identity of

UNIVERSITI TEKNOLOGI MALAYSIA

BORANG PENGESAHAN STATUS TESIS♦

JUDUL : THE ROLES OF CULTURAL SPACES CHARACTERISING THE IDENTITY OF

HISTORIC TOWNS IN MALAYSIA

SESI PENGAJIAN : 2011/2012/I

Saya (HURUF BESAR)

mengaku membenarkan tesis (PSM/Sarjana/Doktor Falfasah)* ini disimpan di Perpustakaan

Universiti Teknologi Malaysia dengan syarat-syarat kegunaan seperti berikut :

1. Tesis adalah hakmilik Universiti Teknologi Malaysia.

2. Perpustakaan Universiti Teknologi Malaysia dibenarkan membuat salinan untuk tujuan

pengajian sahaja.

3. Perpustakaan dibenarkan membuat salinan tesis ini sebagai bahan pertukaran antara institusi

pengajian tinggi.

4. ** Sila Tandakan ( )

SULIT (Mengandungi maklumat yang berdarjah keselamatan atau

kepentingan Malaysia seperti yang termaktub di dalam AKTA

RAHSIA RASMI 1972)

TERHAD (Mengandungi maklumat TERHAD yang telah ditentukan oleh

organsasi/badan di mana penyelidikan dijalankan)

TIDAK TERHAD

Disahkan oleh :

(TANDATANGAN PENULIS) (TANDATANGAN PENYELIA)

Alamat Tetap: 9/1296 Jalan Pantai Beserah, Nama Penyelia: P.M. Dr. Ismail Said

26100, Kuantan,

Pahang Darul Makmur.

Tarikh : Januari 2012 Tarikh : Januari 2012

CATATAN : * Potong yang tidak berkenaan.

** Jika tesis ini SULIT atau TERHAD, sila lampirkan surat daripada pihak

berkuasa/organisasi berkenaan dengan menyatakan sekali sebab dan tempoh tesis ini

perlu dikelaskan sebagai SULIT dan TERHAD.

Tesis dimaksudkan sebagai tesis bagi Ijazah Doktor Falsafah dan Sarjana secara

penyelidikan, atau disertai bagi pengajian secara kerja kursus dan penyelidikan, atau

Laporan Projek Sarjana Muda (PSM)

LEE YOKE LAI

“I hereby declare that I have read this thesis and in my opinion this thesis is sufficient in

terms of scope and quality for the award of

the degree of Master of Science (Urban Design)

Signature : ....................................................

Name of Supervisor : ....................................................

Date : ....................................................

P.M. Dr. Ismail Said

January 2012

THE ROLES OF CULTURAL SPACES CHARACTERISING THE IDENTITY OF

HISTORIC TOWNS IN MALAYSIA

LEE YOKE LAI

A dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the

requirements for the award of the degree of

Master of Science (Urban Design)

Faculty of Built Environment

Universiti Teknologi Malaysia

JANUARY 2012

ii

I declare that this report entitled “The Roles of Cultural Spaces Characterising the

Identity of Historic Towns in Malaysia” is the result of my own research except as

cited in the references. The report has not been accepted for any degree and is not

concurrently submitted in candidature of any other degree.”

Signature: ....................................................

Name : ....................................................

Date : ....................................................

Lee Yoke Lai

12 January 2012

iii

To my beloved father, mother, twin sister and siblings.

iv

ACKNOLEDGEMENTS

I would like to express my gratitude and sincere appreciation to my

supervisor Dr. Ismail Said for his supervision, guidance, advice, criticism, inspiring

ideas and writing technique approach throughout the discussion sessions.

Subsequently, I would also convey special thanks to Prof. Dr. Syed Idid Zainol

Abidin Idid who had shared many references material to complement for the case

study in this research. The continuous support had assisted me to complete this

thesis.

Indeed, I greatly indebted to UTM and SLAI had awarded scholarship to

pursue my master‟s programme in Urban Design. Not forget, my appreciation to

close friends who have contributed in the directly or indirectly in giving comments

and idea on collecting primary data collection. Their encouragement and suggestion

had been imbued with the new ideas throughout the process of research work.

Finally, I would like to express deep appreciation to my beloved parents (Lee

Foong Cheew and Chia Boo Eng), my sisters (Lee Yoke Ching and Lee Yoke Meng),

and my youngest brother (Lee Kok Soon) for their supporting and caring at all the

time.

v

ABSTRACT

Culture is the widespread substances to delineate people‟s thinking,

performing, and the practice of way of life, custom, event and festival inherit from

one generation to another. Consequently, people interactions within the spatial entity

by accomplish cultural activity to establish the cultural space. Cultural spaces are

constituted by the physical and social attributes to amalgamate with individual

perceptual in perceiving the cultural phenomenon and the place‟s meanings to

express the identity of a place. However, the alteration of space significant, function,

and the physical transformation in the historic town ultimately caused to the lost of

identity or „placelesness‟. Thus, this research examined and assessed the roles of

cultural spaces that characterising the identity of historic towns in Malaysia. Case

study method is selected by the supporting of literature reviews, site inventory, site

observation and the questionnaire survey (n=60) to investigate the main physical and

social attributes and peoples‟ viewpoints of the cultural spaces in Kuala Dungun and

Taiping. Both historic towns are selected accordance to the rich historical

backgrounds, significance of socio cultural and economic vitalities. The main

findings revealed the cultural spaces are depend on site historical background, socio-

cultural activity, spatial pattern, legibility on visual and accessibility, the

architectural form and historical structures to create the varieties of cultural spaces in

historic towns. Subsequently, the study has identified interpreted of cultural spaces

with the prominent socio-cultural and socio economic factors impetus to the

placemaking for trading, social interactions, recreational and workplace which to

enliven communal lifestyles and fulfil people needs. Eventually, the indication of

the most significant cultural spaces in Kuala Dungun and Taiping embraced the

marketplaces, waterfronts, and Lake Gardens are imposed by the sense of place,

space characters and activity experiences in assigning the identity to each historic

town. In sum, the cultural spaces are important for people to conduct the way of life

as well as to strengthen the urban fabrics, heritage and cultural identities of historic

towns.

vi

ABSTRAK

Budaya merupakan asas yang luas bagi mengambarkan pemikiran manusia,

perlaksanaan, amalan cara hidup, adat, upacara, dan perayaan yang diwarisi dari satu

generasi ke generasi seterusnya. Sehubunganya itu, orang yang berinteraksi dalam

entiti ruangan dan aktiviti kebudayaan telah mewujudkan ruangan budaya. Ruangan

ini terbentuk hasil daripada atribut-atribut fizikal dan sosial serta gabungan persepsi

individu yang mengamati fenomena budaya dan makna setempat bagi mengekspresi

identiti setempat. Walau bagaimanapun, perubahan kepentingan ruang yang ketara,

fungsi, dan transformasi fizikal bandar bersejarah telah menyebabkan kehilangan

identiti setempat atau placelessness. Oleh itu, kajian ini meneliti dan menilai

peranan ruangan budaya yang mencirikan identiti bandar-bandar bersejarah di

Malaysia. Kaedah kajian kes yang dipilih disokong oleh ulasan kepustakaaan,

inventori, pemerhatian tapak dan tinjauan soal selidik (n=60) untuk mengkaji atribut-

atribut utama fizikal dan sosial pandangan orang ramai mengenai ruangan budaya di

Kuala Dungun dan Taiping. Kedua-dua bandar bersejarah ini dipilih berdasarkan

latar belakang yang kaya dengan sejarah, kepentingan sosio-kebudayaan, dan vitaliti

ekonomi. Penemuan utama menunjukkan ruangan budaya adalah bergantung kepada

latar belakang sejarah, aktiviti sosio-budaya, corak ruang, kebolehbacaan pada visual

dan akses, bentuk senibina dan struktur sejarah untuk membentuk kepelbagaian

ruangan budaya di bandar-bandar bersejarah. Seterusnya, kajian ini telah mengenal

pasti penafsiran faktor-faktor sosio-budaya dan sosio-ekonomi yang ketara

mendorong placemaking untuk aktiviti perdagangan, interaksi sosial, rekreasi, dan

tempat kerja yang memeriahkan gaya hidup masyarakat dan memenuhi keperluan

orang ramai. Sesudahnya, petunjuk ruangan budaya yang singnifikan di tempat

kajian merangkumi pasar, persisiran air, dan Taman Tasik yang diperkukuhkan oleh

sense of place, ciri-ciri ruangan, dan pengalaman aktiviti yang memberi identiti

kepada setiap bandar bersejarah. Ringkasnya, ruangan budaya adalah penting bagi

orang ramai untuk mengendali cara hidup dan mengukuhkan fabrik bandar, warisan,

serta identiti budaya bandar-bandar bersejarah.

vii

TABLE OF CONTENTS

CHAPTER TITLE PAGE

DECLARATION ii

DEDICATION iii

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS iv

ABSTRACT v

ABSTRAK vi

TABLE OF CONTENTS vii

LIST OF TABLES x

LIST OF FIGURES xi

LIST OF APPENDIX xvi

1 INTROCUTION

1.1 Background of study 1

1.2 Problem Statement 3

1.3 Research Gap 5

1.4 Research Aims 5

1.5 Research Objectives 6

1.6 Research Questions 6

1.7 Scope of the Research 6

1.8 Limitation on the Research 7

1.9 Methodology of the Study 7

1.10 Organisation of the Dissertation 8

2 LITERATURE REVIEW

2.1 Introduction 11

viii

2.2 Culture and Cultural Spaces 11

2.3 Cultural Values 14

2.4 Urban Spaces analogues as Cultural Spaces 15

2.5 People Activities in Cultural Urban Space 18

2.6 Components of Cultural Spaces

2.6.1 Physical and Social Attributes

2.6.2.1 Perceptual components

2.6.2.2 Sense of Place

2.6.2.3 Memory

2.6.2.4 Orientation

2.6.2.5 Perception and Cognition

2.6.2.6 Identification and imageability

21

21

22

23

25

25

25

26

2.7 Historic Town versus New Town 27

2.8 The Characteristics of Historic Town in Malaysia

2.8.1 Cultural attributes

2.8.2 Behaviour attributes

2.8.3 Physical attributes

31

32

33

35

2.9 The Identity of Place 37

2.10 Summary of Attributes Place and Cultural Spaces 39

2.11 Conclusion 41

3 CASE STUDY

3.1 Introduction 43

3.2 Case Study Method

3.2.1 Review of the Literature and Past Studies

3.2.2 Site Survey and Site Observation

3.2.3 Questionnaire Survey

3.2.4 Research Variables

44

45

45

46

47

3.3 Criteria of selecting case study areas 49

3.4 Case study 1: Kuala Dungun, Terengganu

3.4.1 History background

3.4.2 Socio cultural activity

3.4.3 Spatial attributes

50

50

55

57

ix

3.4.4 Legibility: accessibility and visual

characters

3.4.5 Architecture form and physical structures

61

62

3.5 Case study 2: Taiping, Perak




3.5.4 Legibility: accessibility and visual

characters


64

64

69

72

76

78

3.6 Conclusion 81

4 ANALYSIS, FINDINGS, DISCUSSIONS AND

CONCLUSION

4.1 Introduction 83

4.2 Analysis, Findings and Discussions




4.2.4 Legibility: accessibility and visual characters


4.2.6 Summary of Findings

84

84

89

93

97

98

101

4.3 Conclusion 104

REFERENCES 107

Appendix A – B 114-117

x

LIST OF TABLES

TABLE NO. TITLE PAGE

2.1 Definitions of culture 12

2.2 Types of urban spaces similarity to cultural spaces 15

2.3 Categories of urban spaces 17

2.4 Diagram illustrates the attributes for a sense of place 24

2.5 Summary of the methodological approach by different

authors

40

3.1 Types of cultural spaces and activities in Kuala Dungun 57

3.2 Types of cultural spaces and activities in Taiping 71

4.1 Types of favourable cultural spaces in Kuala Dungun 90

4.2 Types of favourable cultural spaces in Taiping 91

xi

LIST OF FIGURES

FIGURE NO. TITLE PAGE

1.1 Research methodology flow chart 10

2.1 Correlation of man, space and culture indicates

formation of cultural space

13

2.2 Diagram for Sense of Place by Steele (1981) 24

2.3 Diagram for Sense of Place by Jon Punter (1991) 24

2.4 Diagram for Place by Montgomery (1998) 24

2.5 The conservation zones in Georgetown, Penang (left)

and Dutch Square in Melaka (right)

29

2.6 The scene of Buluh Kubu Market with majorities of

female traders (left) and traditional kite or Wau

handicraft making in Kelantan

29

2.7 The new buildings skyline (Left) and the reclaimed land

at the seaside (right) are parts of new development in the

Melaka historic city

30

2.8 The religious buildings at Jalan Tokong Melaka are

clustered by Sri Poyyatha Vinayagar Moorti Hindu

Temple, Masjid Kampung Kling (left), and Cheng

Hoong Teng Temple (right)

32

2.9 Street vendors (left and middle) and Boon Leong food

hawker stall (right) at Jalan Bunga Raya, Melaka Buffer

zone served as a favourable place for local foods and

desserts

34

2.10 Petaling Street known as ‘Chinatown’ is one of the

famous shopping attraction for street trading and night

34

xii

market activities

2.11 Narrow street frontages at Jalan Jawa (left) and direct

view towards Masjid Kampung Hulu (right).

36

2.12 The place identity and its components composed from

Relph (1976)

38

3.1 Case study and other supportive research method 43

3.2 Kuala Dungun is situated in between the states of

Kelantan on the north, and Pahang at south of

Terengganu state in Malaysia.

50

3.3 Aerial view towards Kuala Dungun old town from

Pantai Teluk Lipat and Sungai Dungun (left). The

morphological initially extended from two waterways

and fishermen jetty to the interior part of old town areas

(right)

51

3.4 The mining activities had turned Dungun district became

an important port of exporting iron ore during 1940s

52

3.5 The scenes of railways station (left) and the mining

activity at Bukit Besi (right)

52

3.6 The fishermen boats scenes berthed at Teluk Bidara

(Seberang Pintasan) opposite to Kuala Dungun fishing

jetty

53

3.7 The outlooks of historical street at Jalan Tambun during

the past and present

53

3.8 Sura Jetty or ‘Tiang Opal’ Jetty (left) and the leftover

patch of old structure jetty (right)

54

3.9 The land use pattern in Kuala Dungun 55

3.10 Fisherman is repaired a resting hut nearby the riverfront

(left) and children playing during low tide at Sungai

Dungun

56

3.11 Vendors are selling foods at Dungun wet market (left)

and coffee shop at the old shophouses neighbourhood

was a meeting place during leisure time

56

3.12 The cultural spaces allocation in Kuala Dungun historic

town

58

xiii

3.13 The merchandises activities at Dungun wet market (left)

and fishermen boat berthed at the jetty of Sungai

Dungun (right)

59

3.14 The extension of informal market at the nearby open

spaces are utilised the shaded trees and open space to

operate their business

59

3.15 The open view at Padang Astaka is permeable for people

to access Kuala Dungun old town

60

3.16 The pocket spaces are located near to shophouses used

as parking lot at Jalan Tambun (left) and the back lanes

or alley of shophouses is only for private uses (right)

60

3.17 The pedestrian walkway and landscape elements in Jalan

Tambun are provided to support pedestrian uses (left)

and scenic drive with lookouts at Pantai Teluk Lipat

(right)

62

3.18 The old shophouses have characterised the urban fabrics

of Kuala Dungun (left) and the dilapidated shophouses

was one of the factor that due to inactive frontages

63

3.19 Dungun Museum and Traditional Malay house at

Kampung Tanah Lot

63

3.20 Taiping located at the north of Perak State 64

3.21 Tin mining activity located near to Kamunting at 1870 65

3.22 The first railway line was built to connect Taiping and

Port Weld for transport tin

65

3.23 Morphology patterns in Taiping in 1840 to present 66

3.24 The overall view of dwelling in Taiping in 1878 67

3.25 The scene of crowded visitor at Taiping Lake Gardens in

1960

68

3.26 The land use distributions in Taiping 68

3.27 The merchandise activities at fish stalls of Central

Market (left) activities and street vendors selling

newspapers at Jalan Chong Thye Phin (right).

70

3.28 Chi Kong practitioners and water activities at Taiping 71

xiv

Lake Gardens

3.29 Cultural spaces indication in Taping Town centre 72

3.30 The rain trees, streetscape, and landscape amenities had

provided visitor a natural, shading and relaxation

environment in Lake Gardens

73

3.31 Padang Esplanade used for soccer training during

afternoon

73

3.32 The outdoor eating place at ‘siang malam’ or ‘day

night’of Central Market.

74

3.33 The pocket gardens located in front of Central Market

(left) and in opposition, the pocket space in between old

shophouses had converted into car parking (right).

75

3.34 The wide street at Jalan Pasar is safe for pedestrian to

walk or stroll during their shopping (left) and the

matured trees at Jalan Lim Tee Hoi (right).

75

3.35 Aerial view of gridiron town planning, Taiping 76

3.36 Green open space at District office 77

3.37 Most of the Taiping jewellery shops are located at Jalan

Pasar (left) and Taiping old Markets are fronting Jalan

Kota (right).

77

3.38 The unique Straits Electic architectural styles (1890s-

1940s) of old shophouses in Taiping

79

3.39 The Old Clock Tower and Taiping Government Office

at Jalan Kota.

79

3.40 Perak Museum and Taiping prison 79

3.41 Central Market (left) and the adjacent Bazaar (right) 80

4.1 The memory spaces in Kuala Dungun 85

4.2 The identification of landmark place in Kuala Dungun 86

4.3 The memory cultural spaces in Taiping 87

4.4 The identification of landmark place in Taiping 87

4.5 The types of activities in cultural spaces of Kuala

Dungun

90

4.6 The types of activities in cultural spaces of Taiping 91

xv

4.7 Types of cultural spaces perform as identity of Kuala

Dungun

94

4.8 Types of cultural spaces perform as identity of Taiping 95

xvi

LIST OF APPENDICES

APPENDIX TITLE PAGE

A Survey Questionnaire: the Roles of Cultural Spaces in

Kuala Dungun

114

B Survey Questionnaire: the Roles of Cultural Spaces in

Taiping

116

CHAPTER 1

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background of study

According to most sociological perceptions, culture is well known as

extensive notions which includes entirely explicate about individuals sharing their

“knowing, thoughts, perceiving, creating, evaluating, interacting, and doing” (Froster,

2011:19). In other words, culture is defined by a group of people way of life that

encompasses deliberations and behaviour as well as values, beliefs, rules of conduct,

political organisation, and economic activity which is transmitted from one

descendant to another across learning (Kroeber and Kluckhohn, 1952; Young, 1994;

Ferdous and Nilufar, 2008). The merging of nature and culture are apparently

bringing the concept of place is known as settlement with being of human

experiences (Lukermann, 1964; Relph 1976). Culture is one of the attributes devote

to the significance of a place (Tuan, 1980) and the introducing culture within a

framework is known as cultural space (Young, 1994). For instances, the majority of

urban space as cultural space in Malaysia is expanded by trading and cultural

activities which can be found at Petaling‟s shopping street, market place at Kota

Bharu, street in Melaka City and night market (Basri and Suhana, 2008).

Through the understanding of cultural space which attached to practices,

representations, expression, knowledge, and skills is identified as intangible and

tangible heritage (UNESCO, 2003). Wherein, the cultural heritage is an asset

2

persistently regenerated by group of people responsive to environment and history to

provide the sense of identity. Burra Charter had described the conservation principle

highlighted the purpose of conservation is to maintain the cultural significance of a

place to evade abandoned and unprotected conditions (ICOMOS, 1999). The

importance of conservation outlined by Tiesdell et al. (1996) was a succession to

attain the materials of cultural memories and heritage, economic, and commercial

value (Adeniran and Akinlabi, 2011). Hence, the endeavour to investigate cultural

space constitutes to the preserving the significance identity in the historic town.

Generally, historic cities establish in heritage conservation in Malaysia are depicted

by those main elements such as: distinctive cultures, existing historical sites, and

prominent heritage building (Mohamed et al., 2001). They also inscribe those major

heritage cities and towns in Malaysia are Melaka, Georgetown, Kota Bharu, Taiping

and Ipoh.

Since late 1980s, culturally led urban development has emerged as a theory in

urban planning (Boogarts, 1990; Griffiths, 1991 and Montgomery, 1990 and 2003).

The concept used to pertain as cultural led generation and virtually apply early in UK

(Wansborough and Mageean, 2000; Montgomery, 2003). Moreover, Fielden (1994)

and Adenirah (2011) suggest the only approach to protect cultural significant is

through conservation method. They agreed the conservation accomplishment is to

evade deterioration by prolong the living cultural and local heritage. Hence, the

historic cultural spaces and heritage inheritance are the decisive factors to affirm

Melaka and George Town are awarded as World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Both

historic cities are presence its own multi-cultural trading, distinctive architecture,

intangible and tangible heritage such as religious building, worship, festival, food,

and daily life to express the authenticity of traditional living city. The multi-cultural

heritage and traditions entities are those criteria that constituted to achieve

Outstanding Universal Value nomination (World Heritage Convention, 2008). This

proclamation has shown that vitality of protecting physical and cultural attributes

enable to preserve the identity of place by preventing impact of rapid developments

and globalisation.

Thus, the implementation of Convention in 1972 stated the natural and

cultural heritages of global community are important contributed and practiced on

3

sustainable development. Tweed and Sutherland (2007) elucidate the build of

cultural heritage is to achieve a sustainable urban development and improve quality

of life. It was essential to conserve cultural heritage mainly to define a place

characteristic and protect the local cultural identity. Young (2006) emphasised that

cultural features became essential and actual meaning for people to think and

perceive in this modern society. As summary, through the study of cultural spaces

had proven not only physical development but cultural aspects are able to flourish

and characterise the identity of historic towns.

1.2 Problem Statement

Culture is essential in heritage conservation especially in urban historic area.

Orbasli (2000) depicted culture is an indispensable part of people's life that

incessantly developed by community since from past, present and towards future. It

can be seen nowadays many countries gain to redevelopment in achieving cultural

heritage tourism and increases local economic entrepreneurship (Wansborough and

Mageean, 2000 and Yuen, 2006). Griffiths (1993) clarified the values of culture

aspect not only disclosed to human lifestyle but it was partially to advocate economic

regeneration and amplify new cultural facilities for society (embodied in

Wansborough, 2000). In additionally, cultural spaces formed by social activities

interactions which to define the local identity of a place (Ferdous and Nilufar, 2008).

On the other hand, the alteration of culture by globalisation; mass culture and

loss of place attachment have disappearance to the meaning of a place (Relph, 1976

and Carmona et al., 2003). Crang (1998) and Carmona, et al. (2003) stated

inevitable „mass culture‟ intervention has obliterated local cultural through the new

commercial imposed to the local. Moreover, Schmidt and Nemeth (2010) explained

the new culture influxes with trendy and new technology communications have

confronted with the declining of public spaces function. Simultaneously, they also

highlighted the present traditional open spaces are deficiency in attention and

unconcern by the new generations. In this circumstance, these public spaces or

4

cultural spaces are gradually become unmanageable, marginal, dilapidated, and in

vacant condition. The variation of place identity and function was conveying to loss

of territory which caused such place is no more belong or relate to those local people

(Crang, 1998 and Carmona et al., 2003). In the same perspectives, the abating of

place identity was considered as „placelessness‟ or else the place had lost the

significance of place meaning clarified by Relph (1976).

In the same perspective, Suhana and Norsidah (2008) indicated the issue of

local identity in Malaysia persistently descending inasmuch as the incompatible

developments due to the declining of place character in historic districts. In

additional, the new development had impacted to the existing traditional shophouses

through the replacing of new built commercial buildings and eventually has

destroyed local traditional street and the significance of cultural open spaces (Suhana

and Basri 2002 and Norsidah 2008). Besides, Zalina and Ismail (2009) denoted

some open spaces in historic cities of Malaysia such as Padang Maziah in Kuala

Terengganu, Padang Merdekan in Alor Setar and Padang Kalumpang in Kota Bharu

had transformed into parking areas. As well as the most important historical public

space of Padang Pahlawan in Melaka had turned into new modern commercial

buildings and caused to the modification of the traditional urban form and space‟s

functions in Melaka City (Zalina and Ismail, 2009). In other words, the change of

people perceptions and the inharmonious in physical milieu between old and new

developments slowly turn-down the genuine identity and local sense of place (JPBD,

2006; Suhana and Norsidah, 2008; Zalina and Ismail, 2009Norsidah, 2010).

As summary, the globalisation, mass cultural, change of people perceptions,

identity and place characteristic alteration are adversely caused to placelessness and

intangible heritage deterioration. In consequence to imbalance new economic

developments and ad-hoc built environments once again transform the virtual local

identity and image of historic district. Therefore, world councils like ICOMOS,

UNESCO and international charters are established to protect, conserve, and restore

the authentic cultural heritage which is being deteriorated and transform the character

of a place. Indeed, Yuen (2006) discloses community voices and perspectives are

crucially to determine and implement place‟s identity conservation. The main idea

of heritage conservation is to create a vibrant city. Yet, only place‟s identity is able

5

to remain and compose the culture, cultural spaces, livelihoods and human memories.

In fact, the historical open spaces likewise street and Padang are the essential urban

fabric to supplement and preserve the heritage inheritance, image, function, and the

sense of history of a historic city.

1.3 Research Gap

There have been numbers of valuable studies on the importance of urban spaces,

public spaces and cultural studies (e.g: Carmona et al., 2003, Carmona, 2010;

Golicnik, 2009). Due to the dissimilarities of the study context, cultural background,

urban spaces interpretation and public space utilisations, this research endeavour to

investigate and look into the cultural spaces of historic towns in Malaysia. Besides,

there is also lack of designation on people feeling, preference, and identification

cultural spaces of historic towns are influencing to the space and place identities. In

sum, the imperative of this research on cultural space enables to support and

designate the social space and physical structure setting in such historic town.

1.4 Research Aims

The aims of this study are to examine and assess the roles of cultural spaces in

conveying the local characteristic and identity of historic towns in Malaysia. The

examining of the role of cultural spaces denotes people associated with cultural

activities and social spatial consumption in defining the space characters of historic

town context. Furthermore, the assessing through types of people perceptions,

physical, and social attributes to determine the cultural spaces formation that

contributing to a place‟s identity.

6

1.5 Research Objectives

To achieve the research aims, the following objectives are formulated:

1. To examine types of physical and social attributes that shaped the

cultural spaces in historic towns;

2. To identify the roles of cultural spaces as placemaking in the historic

towns; and

3. To verify the significance of cultural spaces contribute to the identity

of place.

1.6 Research Questions

1. Why do the cultural spaces do available to protect the identity of place?

2. How does the cultural space constitute to the characteristics of historic

town in Malaysia?

3. What are the tangible and intangible urban components or elements

that constitute to the cultural spaces?

4. What are the importance cultural spaces that evolving human

activities in historic town?

5. What are the relation of interactions in between people, space, and

culture?

6. How does people behavior influence to recognition of cultural spaces?

1.7 Scope of the Research

The study is focuses on the roles of cultural spaces in characterising the identity of

historic towns in Malaysia. Therefore, Taiping and Kuala Dungun are selected as

7

case studies because of the historical background as the prominent heritage towns,

significant cultural activities, and well known spaces that create the place meaning to

people. Subsequently, this research also examines on the salient cultural space

attributes, and related people perceptions that influencing to the sense of place in

studies area. The research attributes encompasses historical background, social

cultural activity, spatial attributes, legibility on visual character and accessibility,

physical and architectural form and historic structure are collectively to create sense

of place and identity to the historic towns. The understanding of the relevance

physical characteristics and socio attributes are virtually to verify the

interrelationships between people and cultural activities experiences in the urban

historic context.

1.8 Limitations on the Research

The limitation of this research is to analyse the study area in depth. Nevertheless, the

deficiency of this problem will be elucidated through the comparative analysis of two

case studies. These case studies are selected to generalize the importance substance

of cultural spaces in protracting the identities of historic towns. In the same time, the

survey questionnaires are constructed to specify people perspectives in cultural

spaces socialisation, the influencing of momentous cultural spaces and characteristics

of studies area.

1.9 Methodology of the Study

The research design is to investigate the roles of cultural space characterising

the identity of historic towns in Malaysia. Case study method is selected to assist

and accumulate the qualitative data for this cultural spaces research. The research

methodology process are formulated via the related theoretical and literature review

8

studies whilst the primary data are collected from site inventory, observations,

questionnaire survey. Ultimately, the analysis stage used to accentuate the research

findings, discussions and conclusion. The overall research methodology procedure is

illustrated in Figure 1.1: the methodology flow chart. Consequently, the detailed

discussion of case study methodology is inscribed in Chapter 3.

1.10 Organisation of the Dissertation

The organization of report is divided into five chapters which are discussed as

followings;

i. Chapter 1: Introduction

This introduction chapter is to highlight the background study of research

topic. It is supported by the problem statement discussion, research gap,

identify of research questions, research aims, research objectives, research

scope and limitation of the research. As well as the brief research

methodology descriptions and flow charts will be included in this

introduction chapter.

ii. Chapter 2: Literature Review

The initiatives of this chapter is to review and describe the theoretical urban

design studies through the past studies and refer to the secondary resources

such as journal, book, report, article map, pamphlet, and websites. All of the

literature studies will help to indicate the definition and conception of culture

and cultural spaces; human activities in the cultural spaces; historic town and

characteristics; and identity of place. Besides, the reviews of each research

attributes in this chapter helps to determine and considerable of the research

variables for case study method in the following chapter. Furthermore, the

9

substances of literature reviews are able to elucidate the case study, analysis,

findings, discussions, and conclusion.

iii. Chapter 3: Case Study

The case study method will be discussed in this section. Two case studies are

selected which are Kuala Dungun in Terengganu and Taiping town in Perak

for the cultural spaces studies. Entirely, the information of case studies are

collective from the secondary data (literature reviews) and site investigation

(site inventory, site observation, and interview) are used to assist the further

research analysis, findings and discussions at the next chapter.

iv. Chapter 4: Analysis, Findings, Discussions and Conclusion

In chapter four, the data analyses are used to discuss and formulate the

research findings and discussions. The comparative analysis of the

qualitative data obtained from both case studies in Kuala Dungun and Taiping

to delineate the physical and social attributes of the cultural spaces in

defining the identity of historic towns in Malaysia. Meantime, the interview

data transcriptions from the questionnaires survey are complement to the

research findings and discussions. This chapter will be included the

conclusion part for the overall research outcomes. The essential implications

of the literature theories, findings and discussions are interpreted into the

conclusion to explicate the roles of cultural spaces, cultural spaces‟ attributes,

and the significant of cultural spaces in defining the identity of historic towns

in Malaysia.

10

Figure 1.1: Research methodology flow chart

Problem statement

ment

Research questions

Aims and objectives of research

Scope of Research

-To identify the roles

cultural spaces in

historic district.

- Verify the significant

cultural spaces that

characterising identity

of place. Limitation of Research

Historic Town and

characteristics

The Roles of Cultural Spaces Characterising

the Identity of Historic Towns in Malaysia

Culture and

cultural spaces

Identity of place

Literature Review

Sta

ge 1

S

tage 2

S

tage 3

S

tag

e 4

Conclusion

Data Analysis

(Comparative Analysis)

Interpret Findings and

Discussions

Primary Data

Conduct site inventory,

site observation and

survey questionnaire

Secondary Data

Journal, book, report, article

map, pamphlet magazine and

website.

Data Collection

11

CHAPTER 2

LITERATURE REVIEW

2.1 Introduction

This literature review chapter is divided into three parts. The first sections

will discuss about introduction and definition of culture and cultural spaces, benefits

of cultures, types of urban spaces analogue to cultural spaces, components of cultural

spaces, and cultural spaces‟ attributes. Meanwhile, in this literature chapter will be

discussing on people activities interaction in the urban spaces and its functions which

related to culture spaces characteristics. Next, the literature studies also cover the

general definitions and connotation of historic town opposed to new town and the

characteristic of historic town in Malaysia context. For the last part, the implication

of identity of place with the meanings, components and the identity significance will

be elaborated. In the last section, the review of the overall literature studies will be

recapitulated as the chapter conclusion.

2.2 Culture and Cultural Spaces

Culture defined by Williams (1983) as one of the most complex words in the

English Language (Richards, 2001). The meanings and function of culture are

summarized in Table 2.1 by Littrell (1997) and Richard (2001). Roodhouse (2006)

described cultural means to encourage cohesion, access, participation and ownership

as well as cultural activities engagement between communities, regional and national

12

level. The critique on cultural not only concerning to culture elements such like

traditional arts and heritage significances nevertheless culture values share the most

identities, memories, experiences, beliefs, and inheritance to next generations

(Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council, 2000 & Roodhouse, 2006).

Table 2.1: Definitions of culture

Culture definition Elements of culture

i. Cultures as what

people think

Attitude, beliefs, ideas, and values

ii. Cultures as what

people perform

Artwork, artefacts, and cultural products

iii. Cultures as

composed of

process

The ideas and way of life of people and the

products such as buildings, artefacts, art, customs,

„atmosphere‟, cultural event and festivals.

Source: Littrell (1997) and Richard (2001).

Onwards, the perception on culture is also expresses to social behaviour other

than the art and learning functions strengthened by William (1981) cited in

Wansborough & Mageean (2000). In other words, Froster (2011) identified

intangible culture as non-material culture (such as: idea, values, beliefs, and

behaviour) which created by certain group of society. On the other hand, material

culture is acknowledged as tangible substances (example: food, dress, artefacts,

artistic form, housing and others) which is produced by community or small

populaces. Moreover, Richard (2001) stated cultural can be learnt through tourism

experiences which perceived through traditional or contemporary cultural, heritage

cultural, and people‟s way of life. Those cultural materials contribute in sustaining

urban settings, socio interactions, economic vitalities and preserving cultural heritage.

Montgomery (2003) mentions culture is particularly important factor in

creating urban public realm as seeing likes: spaces, streets, and squares that help to

generate a city‟s identity. Likewise, Ferdous and Nilufar (2008) delineate about

„cultural space‟ considered as urban spatial which is associated with peoples‟

activities, space prototypes and its surrounding characteristic illustrated in Figure 2.1.

Furthermore, Rapoport (1977) indicated the “space, time, meaning, and

13

communication” are thoroughly associated to culture that involved daily life and

routine activities. Rapoport elucidated human behaviour and psychological spaces

are interrelated to structure a cultural space (Rapoport, 1977:14; Ferdous and Nilufar,

2008). Example, a case study of old Dhaka conducted by Ferdous (2008) indicated

the traditional characteristic of spatial pattern has created hierarchy of cultural spaces

in Dhaka city. The composition layers of history, neighbourhood activities, city‟s

morphology, streets and open space networks turn into lively spaces and perceive as

a sense of place among locals.

Figure 2.1: Correlation of man, space and culture indicates formation of cultural

space. (Source: Ferdous, 2008; Ferdous and Nilufar, 2008)

“Canter‟s metaphor for place” cited in Canter (1977) depicted all successful

urban spaces are generated from three main elements: activity (economic, cultural

and social), form (relation between building and space) and the meanings (sense of

place, historical and cultural) (embedded in Montgomery, 2003; Roodhouse, 2006).

However, the provisions of cultural elements are legible to refine the meaning of

culture quarters was the implication for cultural spaces amalgamate spaces and

artistic activities to create a sense of identity. Consequently, cultural quarters is get

used to the old and new buildings in valuing cultural to promote cultural production

and cultural industries (Roodhouse, 2006) which is contrast to cultural space. Young

(1994) explains the combination of cultural patterns and spaces to evoke people to

perceive and experience it.

As summary, the views of culture had given a broad understanding in values,

learning experiences, product consumptions, humankind lifestyle, social behaviour,

heritage entities. Culture and cultural spaces play important roles to engage people,

14

socio activities, and environment that shaped place meaning and sense of belonging

users. Other than that, the cultural space enables to symbolize a place‟s

characteristic on how people perceive and communicate through spatial patterns by

various cultural activities and collective of phenomenon.

2.3 Cultural Values

According to Wansborough and Mageean (2000), culture was pertinent to the

component for urban regeneration. Hence, the following descriptions have implied

culture aspects are values for physical developments, economic and social vitalities.

i. The cultural and arts activities are includes the event celebration,

performance, concert, festival and other likes enables to stimulate economic

profits and generate new facilities such as hotel and public transportation to

support the locality of cultural event and user needs.

ii. Subsequently, the cultural activity and consumption should be extending until

evening hours. It‟s used to assign more occasions and events through the

conception of „24 hours‟ city‟.

iii. Due to the time–scale, cultural activities and mix-uses are amplified through

the introducing of cultural quarter by social and economic regeneration to

remedy the dilapidated site.

iv. The culture vibrancy is pertains as the vital role in creating liveable urban

areas (in Montgomery, 1995). Therefore, the cultural activities emerge in

public spaces and green open spaces convey to the significance of place. As

well as the integrations of culture and physical environment help to the

placemaking.

v. Culture is a key component for urban public realm whereby its spaces, streets

and squares have created the identity to such urban area.

15

2.4 Cultural Urban Spaces analogues as Urban Spaces

Jan Gehl perspectives on social activity will be emerged when more than two

people participate, movement and interacted with public activities in the same urban

spaces (Gehl, 1996; Ferdous & Nilufar, 2008). For that reason, Ferdous and Nilufar

(2008) agreed that people being in urban spaces and open spaces consumptions are

considered as cultural space. Their discussion about cultural spaces distinctively tied

to human contacts and cultural activities. Moreover, Ferdous (2008) has highlighted

the cultural space can be described as social activities once the social connections

and activity pattern were bring together and executed in a particular space like the

public spaces and yet the street. The following Table 2.1 are described types of

urban spaces are analogous to cultural space. It is evidently showed that similarities

indications of cultural spaces or urban spaces are accordance to social factor, spatial,

physical aspect, neighbourhood dimension and human perceptions. In other words,

cultural space involved social or cultural activities, people behaviour and perception

relations with cultural activity spaces.

Table 2.2: Types of urban spaces similarity to cultural spaces

Types of urban

spaces Descriptions

Indications of

similarities

i. Social Space

A space that used by social groups to reflect their

behaviour pattern and perception (Rapoport, 1977).

Involve social

and spatial

factors.

ii. Neighbourho

od space

A group of people occupied a discrete territory

constituted a neighbourhood. Carr et al. (1992) denoted

the neighbourhood spaces including street corners,

vacant and undeveloped space which frequently utilised

by children, adolescents, and local inhabitants. (Known

as found spaces or everyday spaces)

Social and

physical factors

iii. Human

space

A small-scale physical space in the vast areal extent of

local area being defined by conceptual boundary but

involving a low level of social interaction.

Perceptual

boundary

iv. Community

space

A group of people lived together in one particular area

that considered as a unit because of their common

interest background and nationality. It was a

neighbourhood spaces designed, developed, managed

by local community on vacant land (Carr et al. 1992).

Neighbourhood

scale and

community

space.

v. Existential

space

Existential space as relatively as a stable system of

perceptual schemata, or image of the environment. It

was known as lived space by Relph (1976) where

people experience through culture rather than

perceptual space.

Human

perception

16

Furthermore, Carmona (2010) has explained the spaces exemplify via

physical form and function. He had justified the vast categories and complexity of

urban spaces as classified by Gehl and Germzoe (2001) are divided into five types of

main city square; recreational square; promenade; traffic square; and monumental

square. Whereas, Carr et al. (1992) verified the eleven functional types of public

spaces likeness: public parks; square and plazas; memorials; markets; streets;

playgrounds; community open spaces; atrium/indoor/marketplaces; found spaces or

everyday spaces; and waterfronts. Eventually, Kohn (2004) has summarised the new

typologies of urban spaces accordance to the classifications of public spaces which

are shown in Table 2.2. Therefore, he has verified three notions of differences

spaces which are support on the “ownership, accessibility, and inter-subjectivity” (to

support users in the communication and interaction) (in Carmona, 2010)

The urban spaces are commonly functioning as a gathering and leisure place

in the convivial way stated by Shaftoe (2008). Apart of the aesthetic and amenities

values, the urban spaces are priorities for pedestrian uses, to rediscovery experience,

green spaces encourage for health and well being, and the full public spaces as an

enjoyable spot, a comfortable place to linger, eat and drink (Shftoe, 2008). In fact,

Wan Hashimah (2010) also looked at how people perceptions in the outdoor context

of shophouses in historic area. She founded that the comfort and accessibility

components are influenced to the outdoor shopping activities in historic district. Carr

et al. (1992) agreed that comfort is the basic needs for public space which is

functions and interpret as an important aspect for a successful of outdoor space. In

fact, Jan Gehl‟s design principle had revealed the design on spaces between buildings

should interpreted good protection, comfort, and enjoyment so that people will be

attracted to reside in the spaces (in Soholt, 2004). In this case, by referring to

Carmona et al. (2003), a place provides people‟s needs must be in an attractive form

and safe atmosphere. Moreover, those supporting attributes allude in Project for

Public Space (1999) is clearly stated a successful place is necessity to achieve the

important aspects such likes the space should be comfortable and good image (eg:

attractiveness, safety, history, spiritually) and accessible and good linkage to the

adjacent area (e.g: readability, walkability, reliability). As well as the activity space

are compatible for different group of users and to a place to conduct varieties of

social activities (Carmona et al., 2003).

17

Table 2.3: Categories of urban spaces

Space type Distinguishing characteristics Examples

Po

siti

ve

spac

es

i. Natural/Semi-

Natural Urban

Space

Natural and semi-natural features

within urban areas, typically under

state ownership

Rivers, natural features,

seafronts, canals

ii. Civic Space The traditional forms of urban

space, open and available to all and

catering for a wide variety of

functions.

Streets, squares, promenades

iii. Public Open

Space

Managed open space, typically

green and available and open to all,

even if temporally controlled

Parks, gardens, commons, urban

forests, cemeteries

„Neg

ativ

e‟ S

pac

es

iv. Movement

Space

Space dominated by movement

needs, largely for motorized

transportation

Main roads, motorways,

railways, underpasses

v. Service Space Space dominated by modern

servicing requirements needs

Car parks, service yards

vi. Left Over

Space

Space left over after development,

often designed without function

„SLOAP‟ (space left over after

planning), Modernist open space

vii. Undefined

Space

Undeveloped space, either

abandoned or awaiting

redevelopment

Redevelopment space,

abandoned space, transient space

Am

big

uo

us

Sp

aces

Sp

ace

s

viii. Interchange

Space

Transport stops and interchanges,

whether internal or external

Metros, bus interchanges,

railway stations, bus/tram stops

ix. Public

„Private‟ Space

Seemingly public external space,

in fact privately owned and to

greater or lesser degrees controlled

Privately owned „civic‟ space,

business parks, church grounds

x. Conspicuous

Spaces

Public spaces designed to make

strangers feel conspicuous and,

potentially, unwelcome

Cul-de-sacs, dummy gated

enclaves

xi. Internalized

„Public‟ Space

Formally public and external uses,

internalized and, often, privatized

Shopping/leisure malls,

Introspective mega structures

xii. Retail Space Privately owned but publicly

accessible exchange spaces

Shops, covered markets, petrol

stations

xiii. Third Place

Spaces

Semi-public meeting and social

places, public and private

Cafes, restaurants, libraries,

town halls, religious buildings

xiv. Private

„Public‟ Space

Publicly owned, but functionally

and user determined spaces

Institutional grounds, housing

estates, university campuses

xv. Visible Private

Space

Physically private, but visually

public space

Front gardens, allotments, gated

squares

xvi. Interface

Spaces

Physically demarked but publicly

accessible interfaces between

public and private space

Street cafes, private

pavement space

xvii. User

Selecting

Spaces

Spaces for selected groups,

determined (and sometimes

controlled) by age or activity

Skate parks, playgrounds, sports

fields/grounds/

courses

Pri

vat

e S

pac

es

Sp

ace

s

xviii. Private

Open Space

Physically private open space Urban agricultural remnants,

private woodlands

xix. External

Private Space

Physically private spaces, grounds

and gardens

Gated trees/enclaves,

private gardens, private sports

clubs, parking courts

xx. Internal

Private Space

Private or business space Offices, houses, etc.

Source: Kohn (2004) (cited in Carmona, 2010)

18

There are many similarities of cultural spaces in the physical characteristics

and meanings that can be founded in the urban spaces justification. Indeed, the

characteristic of cultural spaces are parallel to the typologies of urban spaces, human

needs, and the criteria of creating a successful urban space which are congruence to

synchronize by the physical functions and people socialisation in a cultural space.

Additionally, the viewpoints with the presence functions of urban spaces are also

determined by people behaviour (or perceptions), social activities, and place

attachments in a cultural space.

2.5 People Activities in Cultural Space (or Urban Spaces)

Lynch (1960) once described, more activities are occurred in a place will

being created more memories. Therefore, the function of a place basically is

influenced by the manner how people dealings with that place (Carr et al., 1992).

The list of cultural activity indicators mentioned by Montgomery (2003) are selected

aim to success the cultural quarters as well as the cultural spaces which have the

similarity concern on cultural preservation and consumptions (refer to Table 2.4). In

other perspective, Montgomery (1998:100 & 2003) has revealed the economic

activity as a vital aspect to generate good urban place other than social and cultural

components. The following are the listed criteria of good cultural activity clarified

by Montgomery (2003) and Carmona et al. (2003).

i. Cultural venues (places) including difference scale to encourage more

active street and market life.

ii. Availability of spaces, including gardens, squares and corners, allow

people-watching and activities such as cultural liveliness.

iii. Festivals and events

iv. Availability of workspace for artists and low cost cultural producers.

v. Small scale economic development in the cultural sector.

vi. Managed workspaces for office and studio users.

vii. Locations of arts development agencies and companies.

viii. Art and media training and education

19

ix. Art in the environment.

x. Community arts development initiatives.

xi. Existence of day-time and evening activities.

xii. Stable art funding.

As documented by Carr et al. (1992), there are three main values have

pointed on public spaces should be responsive, democratic (protect right for the users)

and meaningful to user groups. This explanation denotes public spaces deserve to

provide benefits to users, the freely place for community to discover and reside

together and well built connections between the place through history or culture

relevant. Therefore, Whyte (1980) stated good urban place is possible to sustain

activity demands and inspired people to that sociable place (in Carmona, and Tiesdell,

2007). Jane Jacob (1960) also stressed the need of varieties activities to afford sense

of „surveillance‟ where people can feel safe and secure especially at the street (in

Carmona et al., 2003).

For this reason, the physical conditions (urban fabric) in a city is mainly

influenced the outdoor activities‟ characteristics explained by Gehl (1971), Carmona

and Tiesdell (2007). It is significantly in proven a city planning entirely effect on

activity‟s patterns, the quality and conditions of outdoor events, and place liveliness.

A study conducted by Gehl (1971) has verified the street activity increased

extensively after the street quality had been improved through the additional seats at

pedestrian streets of Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide, Australia. Whyte (1992)

agreed with Gehl (1971) where urban spaces quality and activities will be changed

accordingly through the simple physical improvements. Jan Gehl has clarified three

types of outdoor activities are depended on the discernible needs and physical

circumstances: necessary activities, optional activities, and social activities. These

activities do not presence in a single form but its functions to build a meaningful and

attractive communal space in the housing areas.

The necessary activity was more or less like a compulsory activity. It was

implicated by the greater or lesser degree requisite to participate in the majority

activities which is related to walking (Gehl, 1971; Carmona and Tiesdell, 2007).

These activities will be conducted throughout the year and almost dependency of the

20

outdoor setting for instance going to school, work, shopping, and waiting for bus or a

person, everyday jobs, distributing mail and others. Whereas, the optional activity

was executed as people desire to accomplish this activity if the time and place are

feasible. This activity mainly associated with recreational activity which is depended

on outdoor physical circumstances. When the quality of exterior condition is good,

the optional activities will frequently increase. The categories of activities involved

leisure walk, stationary, and a place stop for sit, eat, play and other like.

Consequently, the third category of social activity is reliant on the public accessible

spaces such as in dwellings, in private outdoor spaces (garden and balcony); in

public buildings and working place. The social activity is happening when it was the

indirectly underpin by necessary and optional activities as examples: children play,

people meeting, greetings, conversations, communal activities, passive interactions,

seeing and hearing other people (Gehl, 1971; Carmona and Tiesdell, 2007).

The traditional street in Malaysia had been identified as public open space

cohesion with the distinctive architectural character of local shophouses, and

possesses by the proportion of human scale spaces (Suhana, Bari and Haslina, 2008).

Carmona et al. (2003) has emphasised street became a social space for pedestrian

movement while people interactions with it. Accordingly, the street activities in

historic district in Malaysia are divided into two groups of users. There are the static

users who are attaches with shop owner, shopkeeper, vendors, office worker and

residents and the mobile user are not engaging to everyday activities (Dolbalni 2000;

Norsidah, 2008, 2010 & Wan Hashimah, 2010). These traditional street activities

become a part of outdoor activities for shopping, merchandises, and social activities.

Indeed, people interactions with those traditional shopping streets have preserved the

physical and social character of the street. And yet, the street activities are essential

to establish urban identity and benefits to local economic (Suhana, Basri, Norhaslina

and Maslyana, 2004 cited in Suhana & Norsidah, 2008).

As summary, the cultural activities conducted in urban spaces are utilised for

social activities, support street activity, operates evening activity uses, festival and

event and other likes. Hence, the importance of necessary, optional or social

activities are engaging with people way of life to achieve their needs and perform the

socio-cultural activities towards the meaning of a place. In the same time, the

21

physical environment such as traditional street with trading and shopping activities

enables local community entities to attain economic values. In sum, the roles of

activities in cultural spaces have contributed in creating the identity and a sense of

place.

2.6 The Components of Cultural Spaces

Regarding to Ferdous and Nilufar (2008), there are three main components:

physical, social and perceptual aspects that constituted to form a cultural space. Both

authors explained the cultural space is stems of “physical character and social

meanings of a place”. In additional, Llewelyn (2000) highlighted the feelings and

perceptions on place is formulate via the „genus loci‟. Consequently, people should

comprehending physical character: identity, the history of morphology, natural

features, buildings within the site and adjacent area and socio economic profile.

Thus, these components and attributes are interconnected with man perceptions and

psychological intensity of people‟s social connection in urban space or cultural space

settings (Ferdous and Nilufar, 2008).

2.6.1 Physical and Social Attributes

Man, Space and culture (refer to discussion in Figure 2.1: cultural space

formation) are the key elements combination that forms to the cultural space. Hence,

the physical and social attributes are relative and existence in this man, space and

cultural supportive features. According to Ferdous and Nilufar (2008), the physical

attribute of cultural spaces is established by the nature perceptual and morphological

of spaces in tangible form. Besides, Golicnik (2009) stated the social component of

that public space is also implied as its daily dynamic pattern of users. For both

physical and social attributes are possible constitute to placemaking or perform the

cultural spaces.

22

The further explains about the morphological of space is to express the site

physical characters whilst the perceptual indescribable as qualitative and intangible

appearances. Therefore, the morphological attributes can be determined by urban

fabrics, importance location, street network and open space arrangement (Ferdous

and Nilufar, 2008). Besides, Conzen (1960) inscribed the morphology pattern should

be considered as essential elements which include: landuses, building structure, and

street (documented in Carmona et al., 2003). Despite the fact on perceptual

components is further interrelated with memory, orientation, identification and

imageability, perceptual and feeling toward the quality of cultural space and

historical layering. Lynch (1960) described the physical virtues of urban environment

are connected to „identity and imageability‟ attributes which known as legibility.

The legibility of physical and visual aspects allows people to recognize deeply

through mental images and senses. In sum, all of the physical elements are important

to define the significance of cultural spaces.

Ferdous and Nilufar (2008) also indicate the cultural activity happened in any

spaces is considered as social experiences attributes that encompasses traditional

activity (ethnicity events), behaviour pattern, residential neighbourhood relations.

They also pinpoint to the social aspects are dependent on different religion or ethnic

background are constituent to the use of cultural spaces. Carmona et al. (2003)

verified that social space is reliance on the movement system and public space

network and vice versa. If the social space is impermeable to movement

subsequently the space‟s function will also face in declining. From the same

perspectives, human behaviour naturally rooted within physical, social, cultural and

perceptual in distinctive setting and context. Inasmuch, the understanding of human

and space interactions are through behaviour, psychological needs, and their

participation in urban activity are related to the cultural spaces formation.

2.6.2 Perceptual components

Human perception is more influence to the meanings of cultural space

because of the varieties culture affects to different physical settings especially urban

spaces of cities (Ferdous and Nilufar, 2008). People will be continued attach to the

23

public space if there are positive meanings that attain direct experiences of a setting

(Appleyard, 1979; Rapoport, 1982 & Carr, 1992). In other words, emphasised by

Carr (1992) the linkages between people, place, and living are formed because of

values bond to group, to entire history and culture, economic, politic, psychological

trueness and the like. Lynch (1960) explained identity can be experiential through

differences of images that interrelated to spatial or pattern and meanings in

distinction places. The followings perceptual component comprises: sense of place;

memory; orientation; perception and cognitions; identification and imageability are

interconnected in composition of a cultural space.

2.6.2.1 Sense of Place

Relph (1976) has explained the simplest meaning for „sense of place‟ is the

capability to familiarise “different places and different identities of a place”.

Hence, there are some important component such as orientation and sense of

continuity helps to improve the sense of identity of place (Harvey Cox, 1968 &

Relph, 1976). The following Table 2.4 shows the urban design attributes used to

improve the sense of place which is created by Steele (1981), Jon Punter (1991)

and Montgomery (1998). Steele (1981) elucidated the sense of place is shaped

by physical and social settings when people associated with their personal place

(Ferdous and Nilufar, 2008).

It seemed as people‟s experience within a place in a particular social context

(illustrated in Figure 2.2). Refer to the next diagrams (Figure 2.3 and Figure 2.4),

there are three main attributes summarised in the formation of a sense of place.

In fact, these diagrams had indicated the similarities of components in structuring

the sense of place which are: the activity, physical setting or form, and meaning

or image. Moreover, Zeldin (1885) and Mowla (2006) highlighted the “physical,

sensual and emotional (expressive)” derived from the sense of place when the

space became place together with the site itself, events happening in-situ and

people mutually associated to such space. However, according to Lang (2005),

sense of place is related with sociological and other psychological. This means,

the sense of place is concerns to sense of individual‟s location or community‟s

24

location in a large society as well as the subsequently deals with sense of

belonging to a region and a region cultural.

Table 2.4: Diagram illustrates the attributes for a sense of place.

Diagram designate for sense of place Components

Figure 2.2:Diagram for Sense of Place by Steele

(1981)(cited in Ferdous and Nilufar, 2008)

Surrounding (physical

setting) and context (social

settings).

Figure 2.3: Diagram for Sense of Place by Jon

Punter (1991)

Activity (Land uses,

pedestrian flow, behaviour

pattern, noise and smell,

vehicle flow); physical

setting (townscape, built

form, permeability,

landscape furniture) and

meaning (legibility, cultural

associations, perceived

functions, attraction).

Figure 2.4: Diagram for Place by Montgomery

(1998)

Activity(diversity, street

life, local traditions, fine

grain economy etc) ;

form (scale, intensity,

landmark, space to building

etc.) and image -cognition,

perception, and information:

(symbolism & memory,

imageability & legibility,

sensory experience &

associations) .

Source: (Montgomery, 1998; Carmona, et al., 2003; Ferdous and Nilufar, 2008)

25

2.6.2.2 Memory

Memory means a process of evoke realities and experiences which are

benefit to remembrance (recalling), images and identifying a place in

formulating a sense of place (Mowla, 2006). Ferdous and Nilufar (2008)

remarked the congregate of memories allied with time to engender a sense of

place and it was the component to shapes the cultural space and portray a

place‟s history. Moreover, Carr et al. (1992) elaborated people expressive

special meanings of space are emerging from significance memories. Even

as Rossi (1982) has mentioned a city is assembling of peoples‟ memories

because memories are attached with objects and places (stated in Ferdous and

Nilufar, 2008). For this reason, the memory is one of the cultural space‟s

elements for place making.

2.6.2.3 Orientation

According to Schulz (2000) elucidated memory characterise as

information or presumption of the orientation (Ferdous and Nilufar, 2008).

The orientation of a place integrates with memory function as important

component in delineating the physical existence of an individual within a

space. As the interpretation of visual and other senses in identifying space

orientation provided by vision mainly for observes to see and seek (Porteous,

1996 & Carmon et al., 2003). Consequently, Mowla (2002 & 2006) stated

landmarks, buildings and spaces in a city present as the denotation of a place.

These physical entities in urban space are important and constituent for

people‟s orientation (Ferdous and Nilufar, 2008).

2.6.2.4 Perception and Cognition

The study of „perception‟ towards urban environment is begun after

the environmental perception is developed in 1960s. Therefore, the

subjectivity of perception in urban environment is stressed on “how people

26

perceived environment and experience places” (Carmon et al., 2003).

Similarly, Rapoport (1977:178) defines „perception‟ is the primary process to

connect people with the peripheral surroundings and comprehend as

relationship within man-environment (cited in Ferdous and Nilufar, 2008).

Whereas, the denotation of „cognitive‟ space explained by Tuan is the

inherent and part of humanity in this planet. „Cognitive‟ is proficient to

definite and measured in the aspect of nature and level of “people‟s values,

feelings, beliefs, and perceptions about locations, district, and regions”. It

was classified as one the portions of perception emphasised by Ittelson (1978)

and Bell et al. (1990) (cited in Carmon et al., 2003). The gist of cognition

depicted by Rapoport (1977:31) as the manner for people to “understand

structure, learn the surroundings, and use the mental map to confer it” (quote

in Ferdous and Nilufar, 2008). In sum, people perceived cultural space

through perception by seeing or intellections of information from urban

environment while cognition is required of thinking, planning, and keeping

information (Carmon et al., 2003).

2.6.2.5 Identification and imageability

During the identification of any urban settings, memory pertaining as

elementary functions to record circumstances to develop as well known

indications. In short, Schulz (2000) exemplified that it is obligatory to

understand of a place by the way to recognise that identity (Ferdous and

Nilufar, 2008). The place‟s identity or characteristic is predominantly

perceived through visual sensation constitution to perceive and feel about a

space (Lawson, 2001). Imageability is directly connected with a space‟s

orientation. Lynch (1960) accumulated five physical elements includes: path,

edge, district, node, and landmark to structure an image of a district. In other

words, Kelvin Lynch named it as imageability is the quality of physical

object and spatial connections to the structure possibility to evoke by a strong

image and move easily, quickly and legible in a city (Lynch, 1960 and

Carmona et al., 2003; Zalina and Ismail, 2009). Hence, there are three

attributes of reasonable environmental images such as identity, structure

27

(spatial and pattern), and meaning is requisite to verify differences images.

Identity means the recognisable image (object) is difference from other image

and it was known as a distinguishable entity. Whilst, the image‟s (object‟s)

spatial connected to the observer and other object to indicate the positioned.

The observer perceived the image‟s meaning through the practical or

emotional attachment.

In the point of view, the perceptions, physical, and social attributes are

virtually have constructed and characterised the meanings of cultural spaces. In the

meantime, sense of place is created when the presence of people activity, physical

setting (form) and the meanings enable to understand the place‟s identity. The

compositions of space or place attachment which are experienced with memory,

orientation, perception, cognition, identification and imageability attempt to perceive

the identity or meaning of cultural space. Hence, these perceptual conceptions by

recognisable the image and memorable experience helps people to define and get

closer to various phenomenology of cultural spaces.

2.7 Historic Town versus New Town

UNESCO Recommendation 1976s declared historic area had considered to

all the significance elements that included human activities as well as the buildings,

the spatial organization, and its adjacent area (Jokilehto, 1990). Even as,

Washington charter indicated the historic town and urban area have built-up

progressively by urban community throughout history. The most importance of

historic town or urban area conservation is to preserve the tangible (material) and

intangible (spiritual) of that historical character of both “natural and man-made

environment” that encompassed significance of traditional urban cultures (ICOMOS,

1978). The historic town preservation also refer to the qualities of urban patterns,

relationships between buildings and open spaces, building facade, and the connection

with the adjacent environment and functions.

28

According to Hutchison (2010) has discussed there are two definitions to

define a historic city. Firstly, historic city recognized as the entirely a city amid to

spirit of place or genus loci. Secondly, historic area characterized as particular city

that distinguish from other area and new city. He also elaborated historic city

provide its significance identity and function of the inherent historical values is

different for every cultural and countries. For that reasons, the roles of preservation

actions and conservation on historic features effort to prolong and maintain the

historical functions, authenticity, and the place‟s experience.

Gurstein (1984) clarifies the urban inhabitants in Malaysia do not had a long

history and mostly “rural and Kampong (village)” are the early settlements (cited in

Wan Hashimamh and Suhana, 2005). Besides, Mazlinda (2010) studies had shown

the hierarchy of town and cities in Malaysia are generated from the city and major

town (Kuala Lumpur, Ipoh, Melaka, Kuala Terengganu and etc.) and small town

(Kuala Selangor, Taiping, Dungun, Kuala Pilah and so on). The indications of small

town in Malaysia are sub-divided into: district growth capital (100,000 to 300,000

populations), major settlement centre with 30,000 to 100,000 peoples and minor

growth centre (10,000 to 30,000 populations) (documented in JPBD (2006) in

Mazlinda, 2010).

In additionally, there are five major heritage cities or small towns are

characterised with its own distinctiveness features, significance architectural

characters, cities or town arrangement, historical backgrounds of an administrative

centre, commercial centre as well as multiculturalism or religious district (Mohamed

et al., 2001). The classifications of the historic towns are supported by differences

historical profiles and social-economic backgrounds. The Georgetown, Penang was

up built because of the strategic trade routes which are functions as trading port for

the British East India Company since it was establish in 1789s. Even as, Melaka was

renown since 16 to 18 th

centuries as a famous trading port amid in the strategic trade

routes and had been pertain as administrative centre in Melaka region. Mohamed et

al. (2001) also depicted Melaka was awarded as Historical City in 1989. Later,

Melaka and Georgetown declared are as the World Historic City in 2008 from

UNESCO. Both historic cities had remaining of multiples physical inheritances,

social, and cultural inheritances in the historical zones (Figure 2.5).

29

Figure 2.5: The conservation zones in Georgetown, Penang (Photos source:

Ahmad, 1998) (left) and Dutch Square in Melaka (right).

Besides, there are historic town which is constituted from the mining

activities can be traced in Taiping and Ipoh, Perak. Taiping historic town is known

as Kelian Pauh, and being formerly as the capital of Perak during British colonisation

(Teoh, 2004). This historic town was developed in 19th

century because of the

import and export tin mining activities. Likewise, Ipoh was being a tin mining town

and the administrative for Perak States in 1893s (Mohamed et al., 2001).

Consequently during the tin mining flourished period, these two historic towns were

populated by Chinese migrants and complemented by transportation, commercial and

facilities. Furthermore, Mohamed et al. (2001) have highlighted Kota Bharu in

Kelantan was underpinned as historic town as trading and cultural centre. In 1991,

this town was declared as Kota Budaya or cultural city inasmuch of rich history

backgrounds, revealed the image and identity by distinctive traditional culture

activities such as trading in Buluh Kubu Market and local handicrafts (Figure 2.6)

(Ahmad, 1998; Mohamed et al., 2001; Suhana and Basri, 2008)

Figure 2.6: The scene of Buluh Kubu Market with majorities of female

traders (left) and traditional kite or Wau handicraft making in Kelantan (right)

(Photos source: Ahmad, 1998)

30

In contrast, the new development or modern town is definite as reworking of

old urban settings (Shaftoe, 2008). Many new towns are alike company town which

have mining, other resource base, industrialized cities, military residences (Lang,

2005). There are diversification categories of new town design which depend on the

design trends such as „Garden City‟ was used in American and Europe or East Asia

have follow „rationalist principles‟. The urban designer aim is to create identity to

each new town concept. The modern city in Malaysia: Putrajaya and Shah Alam are

only utilized as administrative, business, and cultural services rather than a living

place. Therefore, Basri and Suhana (2008) clarified the new town are poor to provide

religious conveniences, dwelling, relaxation spaces, and public facilities within the

urban core.

Lanegran (2002) disclosed new town development in Malaysia is segregated

from the old part of traditional pattern initially to support settlement patterns. For

instance, the heritage and postmodern landscape in Melaka‟s historic city become as

tourist and cultural commoditization. Basri and Suhana (2008) discoursed the new

development should referred to the social cultural of the historic town in Penang,

Melaka, Kuala Terengganu, Kota Bharu and Kuantan and so on. Based on the Figure

2.7 illustrated Melaka Historic City is controlled by action plan of conservation in

buffer zones to prevent new development intrusion to the historic core zones (Idid,

2001). Through conservation‟s guidelines implementation insure Melaka be capable

to prolong as World Historical City by preserving its culture inheritance and local

identity.

Figure 2.7: The new buildings skyline (Left) and the reclaimed land at the seaside

(right) are parts of new development in the Melaka historic city. (Source: MBMB)

31

Through reviews, the historic town remains the authentic of tangible and

intangible historical and cultural significant to certify its identity as a historic town.

The old town or historic town in Malaysia can be exemplified truly a „living town‟ or

a sustainable town with presences of social cultural affairs, worship, and a

community gathering spaces. In fact, to accomplish the harmonisation of new

development and the adjacent old town to avoid imbalance development that may

cause social economic segregations. As can be said, the conservation approach had

reinforced Melaka as a Historic City via cultural and historical resources

conservations approach.

2.8 The Characteristics of Historic Town in Malaysia

In Malaysia, the urban pattern of historic town was founded since in early

Malay Sultanate period which is the „living city‟ had characterize the historic Town

central in Malaysia (Basri and Suhana, 2008). In this regards, the manifestation of

morphology presences of “palace, government office, main mosque, nobilities

„mansions, residential quarters, commercial centre and bazaars are placed closed to

each other to shape a significant urban pattern in Melaka, Kuala Terengganu, Kota

Bharu and Pekan. During the revolution and colonization, Malaysia is one of the

Southeast Asia country influenced by many layers of urban landscape and physical

settings which fabricated via succession of economic vitality and cultural groups

(Lanegran, 2002).

Apparently, those colonials like Portuguese built a fortress; Dutch changed

the delightful urban neighbourhood, street pattern and square to function as a centre

for Melaka town (Basri and Suhana, 2008). Furthermore, British occupied in

Malaysia after 160 years had brought major colonial administrative building,

facilities, recreational open spaces such as: the ‘padang‟, parade and playing field,

old shophouses, school, post office, place for worship, military barracks, palaces,

clock tower, prisons, government office, railways station, guest house and

monuments to form a compact urban form in historic towns or cities (Mohamed et al.,

32

2001; Lanegran, 2002; Ahmad Basri and Suhana, 2008). The functions of these

historic built forms greatly build a town as a place for trading activities, living, and

public facilities, social interaction.

2.8.1 Cultural attributes

The important features that suggested by Basri and Suhana, (2008) to

Malaysia historic town are formed by physical attribute, social cultural, psychology,

and behaviour character. They depict the multi-ethnic in Malaysia create the cultural

attribute through the form of religious spaces in the historic town context. Especially,

there are several types of worships which are visible from the same street at Jalan

Tokong, Melaka (Figure 2.8) and Jalan Kapitan Kling Penang. These worships

became harmonious place for local communities to attain religious and social cultural

benefits via cultural learning, community gathering, religious and event celebrations,

funerals and weddings. Moreover, the social cultural needs and the religious practice

are encouraging to achieve a sustainable “living city” in the historic city (Basri and

Suhana, 2008). Lawson (2001) also stated people used the spaces or places to

accomplish the significant rituals of life that conveys safety of constancy.

Figure 2.8: The religious buildings at Jalan Tokong Melaka are clustered by Sri

Poyyatha Vinayagar Moorti Hindu Temple, Masjid Kampung Kling (left), and

Cheng Hoong Teng Temple (right). (Photos Source:

http://foodandtravelwithdes.blogspot.com & http://www.lonelyplanetimages.com)

http://foodandtravelwithdes.blogspot.com/

http://www.lonelyplanetimages.com/

33

Other than that, social cultural point of view also focus on the streets and

squares that allow workplace and dwelling units attached to the old shophouses in

old town (Basri and Suhana, 2008). The traditional old shophouses regard as

essential urban prototypes in the early Malaysian town which signify linear

arrangement with specific width, five foot-ways, a covered passageway, spatial

morphology for public spaces and the distinctive space are created (Yeang, 1992;

Yeang, 1987; Hashimah & Suhana, 2005). The street arrangements and corridor of

five foot-way at the old shop houses frontage allow commercial activities, variety of

experiences, visual quality, and urban form (Suhana, 2002; Hashimah & Suhana,

2005). In additional, the uniqueness of old shophouses not only functions as livings

and retails but it has been provided to urban form the aesthetic townscape (Wan

Hashimah & Suhana, 2005). Besides old shophouses, school is another component

that strengthens to social character of traditional town. The location of school was

adjacent to the neighbourhoods where children can play at the field to enhance

social-cultural ambience in the historic town (Basri and Suhana, 2008).

2.8.2 Behaviour attributes

The perspective on behaviour attributes generally revealed how people

interacted and responded to the function of activity‟s place. In other words, the

formed of a place characteristic is created through different settings or locations and

provided by miscellaneous activities (Basri and Suhana, 2008). In the milieu of

traditional town, commercial activities and outdoor eating place robustly influenced

to the street identity and sense of place. For examples, street vendors and famous

hawker foods have strengthened the identity of Jalan Bunga Raya, Melaka renown as

a „Bunga Raya centre lane of hawker‟ (Refer to Figure 2.9). Basri and Suhana (2008)

indicated the outdoor eating places are widespread scenes in Melaka city have

provided an optional open-air eating place on the street that considered more

sustainable respond to tropical weather and less depended to mechanical ventilation.

Hence, the ambiences of outdoor eating places are encouraging to the convivial street

and sensory of the townscape.

34

Figure 2.9: Street vendors (left and middle) and Boon Leong food hawker stall (right)

at Jalan Bunga Raya, Melaka Buffer zone served as a favourable place for local

foods and desserts.

Other than that, the traditional street in Malaysia is distinguish to western

countries where the street transaction within old shophouses to provide a place for

social interactions, trading activities, and night market (temporary structure

connected to the street) (Suhana and Basri, 2002; Suhana and Norsidah, 2008).

Many main streets in big cities were identified by the image and character of the

street (Bentley, Alock, McGlynn, Murrain & Smith, 1992; Jacobs, 1999; Suhana &

Norsidah, 2008). As affirmed by Jacobs (1961), the success of urban places is

depending on the capability of these places efficiently associated with human activity

(cited in Suhana and Norsidah, 2008). The character of traditional street in Malaysia

constituted sense of place through local peoples‟ behaviour engaged with economic

activities and cultural interactions which can be seen in Petaling Street in Kuala

Lumpur (illustrated in Figure 2.10) (Suhana and Norsidah, 2008).

Figure 2.10: Petaling Street known as „Chinatown‟ is one of the famous shopping

attraction for street trading and night market activities. (Photos sources:

http://www.panoramio.com and http://visit-to-kl.com)

http://www.panoramio.com/

35

As summary, the diversity of uses in the old town for shophouses function as

living place and workplace, while streets function as commercials and outdoor eating

places to enhance people experiences by association activities and place. Therefore,

people behaviours are strongly tied with a place‟s activity in certain environment.

The traditional streets in Malaysia perform as public space for social and cultural

interactions. Furthermore, the significant character of the traditional streets acts as

identity of place with its special informal street vendors and hawker activities. This

social cultural mechanism is making a traditional street become a robustness place

via compatible uses in daytime and nighttimes‟ activities.

2.8.3 Physical attributes

The physical attributes predominantly comprises street, narrow lot size,

shophouses or historic buildings‟ frontages, layout, unique features to distinctive the

characteristics of traditional town. As mentioned by Mohamed et al. (2001), the

substantial physical characteristics of the historical buildings have signified a clear

image and unique identity as a heritage city which is distinguished from others.

Other than that, the street layout, sheltered five-foot way and archway as well

exclusive courtyard or opening located within the shophouses accommodates with

public and private spaces for commercials and residential uses (Basri & Suhana,

2008). The physical elements such as narrow street frontages, shophouses

arrangements, and connected with foot-bridge at Jalan Jawa, Melaka (Figure 2.10)

have created good visual cues and legible accessibility for pedestrian. Furthermore,

there are some special structure in old town clearly indicate as the serial vision, focal

points, nodes, and sense of enclosure. At the same time, this significant component

is essential to define as a landmark or focal point to guide users to the place. For

instance, direct vista to the picturesque of Masjid Kampung Hulu can be observed

from the main access of Jalan Kampung Hulu (Figure 2.10). Likewise, Basri and

Suhana (2008) believed that a clear structure is able to create pleasant setting used

for indication with appropriate human scale and apparent sense of place.

36

Figure 2.11: Narrow street frontages at Jalan Jawa (left) and direct view towards

Masjid Kampung Hulu (right).

Other than that, the space quality also contributed to physical attributes

though public, semi public and private spaces for socialisation (Basri & Suhana,

2008). The privacy space for the townhouse or shophouses in Melaka are provided

by family gathering in the courtyard space. This space functions as an indoor garden

or home landscape which is fully privacy experienced. Despite as the semi public

spaces and public space are utilized for commercial, neighbourhoods interactions,

five-foot way or veranda for pedestrian, and street for vehicle accessibility. The shop

frontages and narrow streets with closed distance are potentially for street

surveillance ultimately to create sense of safety. Norsidah (2010) highlighted the

physical attributes and activities are powerfully defines the identity of place.

In summary, cultural, behaviour and physical attributes are reasonable in

constitute to the characters of historic town in Malaysia. The historic town provide a

place for people to attachment with social cultural, commercial activities, livelihood,

and dwellings. Though, the heritage assets and historic fabrics remarkable with

existences of old shophouses, activities‟ spaces such as traditional street, open spaces,

private courtyard and the linking five-footway are viable to sustain a historic town as

a convivial space for living, economic and social cultural generations. In the same

time, these vibrant spaces had contributed to the identity of historic town. Therefore,

the interpretation of physical and cultural characteristics endeavours to bring the

sense of place and attraction to the local historic town.

37

2.9 The Identity of Place

Identity of place is generally term applied to discriminate of individual place

to another (Watson and Bentley, 2007). Their description on place‟s identity is about

people perception in perceiving the meaning of place. The understanding of place is

definite as : site, area, land, landscape, building or other work, group of buildings or

other works, and possibly will include components, contents, spaces and views

which are documented in Burra Charter (ICOMOS, 1999). As well as the

implication of „related to place‟ convey as a place that contributes to the cultural

significance of another place (cited in Bura Charter). There are many terms used to

define the meaning of place and differences interpretation depended on the research

(Hauge, 2007; Bell, Greene, Fisher & Baum, 2001; cf. Moore, 1997a). Instead,

Hauge (2007) have summarised place in the phenomenology research is focus on

daily life.

Relph (1976) explained the identity was the fundamental aspect of individual

experience of place whereby it was influenced by either both aspects or those

experiences. Subsequently, Relph justified the identity of place as “persistent

sameness, and unity which allows that [place] to be differentiate from others” (Relph,

1976:45). Hence, Relph has explicated the mechanism in identity of a place

(illustrated in Figure 2.12) is generated through people‟s experiences and notions in a

particular place are complemented by the components: physical setting or appearance;

visible activities and event functions; and symbols or meanings (Relph, 1976;

Seamon and Sowers, 2008; Taylor, 2009). Relph (1976) and Hauge (2007) also

emphasised the residential area where a living place is most engender to identity.

The identity of place is associated between people with traditional, cultural and

routines activities in particular place to decisive a sense of place and the spirit of

place. Therefore, the strongest sense of place experience was named as existential

insideness. In contrast, the weakly engagement to a place or feeling strangeness and

isolation to a place was known as existential outsideness (Relph, 1976; Seamon and

Sowers, 2008). In addition, Relph (1976) had categorised the seven types of

insideness and outsideness experiential which are implicated to the feeling and

meanings of place experiences and meaning of (Seamon and Sowers, 2008).

38

Figure 2.12: shows the place identity and its components composed from Relph

(1976).

Norberg-Schulz (1980) explicated the meanings of place identity is

commonly the kind of descriptions to pertain genius loci or the spirit of place (Lin, &

Lee, 2006). Besides, Lin and Lee (2006) also highlighted on Hague‟s perspective

(2004:7) where a place identity is generated through the “feelings, meanings,

experiences, memories even as personal decision to the environment and

substantially get across through social configuration or socialisationon.” On the

similar point of views, the notions of place identity has portrayed a place retains

memories and expressly of social identification (Hutchison, 2010). There are

dissimilarity experiences and people behaviours responded to a place which had

formed types of identities of place (Relph, 1976).

According to Lynch (1960), he delineates the identity of place is identified at

first place which is differentiated from others and it was well-known as a separable

entity. Lynch (1981) has stated place meaning revealed “a good place which is

suitable for someone or culture enables for individual responsive to her community,

her history, the life associations, and universe of time and space in which these are

restrained” (in Carr et al, 1992:187). This has verified the connection between space

and public life is associated with people‟s values of culture, history, economic, and

symbolically to other world by person genetic and psychological certainty (Carr et al.,

1992). Through the virtues place and place meanings, it was concerns on

psychological perspectives, culture and primarily to the built environment alteration

in urban settings (Altman & Low, 1992; Suhana & Norsidah, 2008). Consequently,

Von Meiss (1990) have founded three design principles are interpreted to constitute

39

the sense of identity by incorporating the understanding of peoples‟ behaviour, users‟

participation and attachment in design stage as well to create variations environment

that intended for alteration and adaptation (in Carmona et al., 2003). In short,

Hutchison (2010) also highlights that memories and place identities are strongly

relate to placemaking that executed on daily activities, inhabitant and the use of

meaningful place.

As summary, it is important to understand the physical setting which to

determine types of identity to place. In addition, the perceptive about space

experiential are broadly interconnected to people‟s everyday experiences in

clarifying their feeling, conception, memories and the appreciation to a place or

space when they interactive with it. In the simple words, identity of place is

generated through initial impression or first recognition when people experience to a

place. Also, people are able to judge such a place through physical appearance

which is distinguished from others. Indeed, these three important components in

identity of place which embraces: the physical setting, activities and meanings had

implied how people behaviour engaged with activity in a physical setting.

2.10 Summary of Attributes place and cultural spaces

Based on the Table 2.5 indicate the summary of the key attributes for place

and cultural spaces studies. The determinants of physical (tangible) and social

(intangible) attributes are necessary to comprehend the place‟s character, historical

background, composition of spaces, cultural characteristics and activities, the

linkages of settings (space legibility and connections to the main routes and street)

and architectural appearance. Furthermore, the most particular attributes was people

perceptual or behaviour which is contributed to the cultural space‟s consumptions

and meanings of a space. Indeed, the perceptual component is being to support the

individual in perceiving activity experiences and physical environment.

40

Table 2.5: Summary of the methodological approach by different authors

Disciplines Author Methods Attributes

i. Character

of the

place

Christian

Norberg-

Schulz

(1980)

Phenomenological Physical Features

Human Experience

ii. Character

of place

Llewelyn

(2000)

Site inventory Regional identity, linkages to

surroundings, local character,

morphology, nature features, socio

economic profile

Contiguous area (land use, views,

and skyline), character appraisal,

streetscape and public realm analysis,

building structure and spaces, uses

and activities, visual analysis.

iii. Cultural

quarters

Montgomery

(2003, 2010)

and

Roodhouse

(2006)

Case study Built Form

(Urban morphology, variety and

adaptability of building stock,

permeability of streetscape, amount

and quality of public spaces, active

frontage)

Activity

(landuses, cultural venues and events,

economic, cultural and social)

Meaning and identity

(Important meeting and gathering

spaces, sense of history and progress,

identity and imagery, design

appreciation and styles.)

iv. Understand

ing and

preserving

spirit of

place

(Rifaio and

Guchan

(2007)

Site inventory and

cadastral map

zoning

Perception,

integrated

methodology in

historical urban

contexts

Physical attributes

(natural characteristics of

environment, topography, location,

transportation, land use, historical

quarters, monuments, zones)

Social attributes

(Customs of inhabitants, economic

activities, touristic, historical places

and or view points, conservation and

planning activities.)

v. Cultural

spaces

Ferdous and

Nilufar

(2008)

Case study and

observation

(social attributes)

Physical attributes

(urban fabric, location, street

network and open space

arrangement)

Social attributes

(Cultural attributes, activity,

behaviour, ethnicity)

Perceptual components

(memory, orientation, perception and

cognition, identification and

imageability)

vi. Place

attachment

Suhana and

Norsidah

(2008)

Field survey, In-

depth interviews,

and field

observations

Accessibility and legibility

Vitality and diversity

Transaction, distinctiveness, and

comfort.

41

2.11 Conclusion

Cultures are the key tangible elements enable people to value, belief, perform,

experience, to enhance the way of life with the cultural substance such as customs,

cultural event, festival, artefact and buildings are inheritance to next generations.

Hence, the association between people, cultural activity and physical setting (spatial)

help to fabrication cultural spaces as well as the placemaking for public realm.

Moreover, the emergence of perceptual (people behaviour) and physical and social

attributes help to ascertain types of cultural spaces being in difference contexts. By

the understanding of similarities in between urban spaces or public spaces, the

cultural spaces are interplay to human perceptions, social activity, spatial, physical

characteristic, neighbourhood and community dimensions. Indeed, the typologies of

cultural spaces or urban spaces embracing of street, green open spaces, square, plazas,

marketplaces, everyday spaces and other like. These physical spaces had created

varieties of settings which are provided for social activities.

In the meantime, the successful of cultural spaces are achieved through the

criteria of making a successful urban space. Whereby, the comfort and image; access

and linkage; uses and activity and sociability are the major successful criteria for

cultural spaces. In fact, the reviews to types of outdoor activities induce to

apprehend of social dimensions and culture phenomenon in public space. There are

three categories of outdoor activities comprise: necessary activities (everyday

activities), optional activities, and social activities. These activities are imperative to

create the liveliness and to strengthen the quality of urban environments.

On the other hand, the meanings of historic town have denoted as a place

possess of the spirit of place and genus loci. The characteristic of historic town is

contrast to new town wherein it was important to preserve the values of tangible and

intangible historical features and also traditional cultural of natural and man-made

setting. The historical towns in Malaysia are characterised by the main components

such as palace, administrative office, main mosque, commercial, bazaar, residential

area which are located closed proximity to each other. Subsequently, the innovation

of colonials had brought to new facilities, recreational, townscape and interprets of

colonial architectural styles are visible in Melaka, Georgetown, Ipoh, and Taiping

42

town. Besides, the historic towns are also accumulated of physical attributes

(historical building, old shophouses, street, five-footway, space settings); cultural

attributes (related to socio-cultural), and behaviour attributes (people responded to

cultural activities). These attributes had been sustaining local historic towns being a

place for socio-cultural activities, commercial, workplace, worship, and living areas.

At the same time, people experience to the cultural spaces in historic town to

capture a meaningful sense of place through the physical appearance (form and

setting) and activities execution to the place. Consequently, those cultural spaces

will be recognised and constituted as identity to that place. The identity of place is

established by the physical component; function of activities, and to perceive the

meaning of the place. In sum, the literature review have covered the understanding

of theories are comprehend on culture and cultural spaces, human activities, historic

town, and identity of place. The overall gists of the literature studies are contribute

to the following chapters of the case study, analysis, findings and discussions

chapters.

43

CHAPTER 3

CASE STUDY

3.1 Introduction

In this chapter three, there are three sections of discussions denoted to

support the research method and documentation of qualitative data collected from

primary and secondary data. Initially, the case study and other supportive research

techniques are discuss in the first section. The case study method is chosen to

investigate the cultural space‟s phenomenon, functions and attributes that

characterised the identity of historic towns in Malaysia. Hence, two case studies are

selected which is Kuala Dungun, Terengganu and Taiping, Perak. These two study

areas are well known as heritage towns and in Peninsular Malaysia with their

significant historical backgrounds and the morphological settings are influenced by

local cultural, social economics, livelihoods, and people way of life. Subsequently,

the second part of this chapter is to elaborate and discuss on two case studies which

based on the research variables. In this second section, the interrelated of physical

attributes, social attributes and people perceptions on the cultural spaces are

interpreted to this discussion. Therefore, the determinant of research attributes are

comprises: i) site background study, ii) social cultural activities, iii) spatial attributes,

iv) visual legibility and accessibility, v) architecture form and historical structures

as regards to cultural spaces in the context of historic town. Thus, the third section

is to review and conclude the two case studies. The entirely findings in chapter

three will be contributed to the next chapter which are the analysis, findings,

discussions and conclusion.

44

3.2 Case Study Method

According to Groat and Wang (2002), the case study method is to examine

the phenomenon experiences. Creswell (2009) also emphasised the case study is the

process of getting sampling by mixture of data collections methods in a period of

times (retrieved in Stake, 1995). The importance of case study is to investigate the

actual life contextual which is supported by various sources of verification derived

from documentation, direct observations, interviews and site survey highlighted by

Yin (2003). The case study areas in Kuala Dungun and Taiping town are selected

accordance to the significant historical backgrounds and cultural decisive factors.

Hence, Figure 3.1 has illustrated the combinations of case study and other

supportive research tool for the historical towns‟ studies. There are five independent

variables which had been determined through the literature studies to validate the

research design. Subsequently, the case studies are implemented through site

survey, questionnaire survey, and reviewed of past studies. All of the qualitative

data are composited from the primary and secondary data as well as questionnaire

survey are devoted for the next comparative analysis and findings discussions.

Figure 3.1: Case study and other supportive research method.

45

The outline of each research techniques in the data collections enables to

support both case studies in the historic towns‟ contexts. Whereby, the following

descriptions are denoted as the case study frameworks through the re-examine past

studies, site survey and site observation, and questionnaires survey;

3.2.1 Review of the Literature and Past Studies

As stated by Groat & Wang (2002), the review of literature references is able

to classify the research questions. Besides, the literature review also concerns in

filling in gaps and expanding past studies (Cooper, 1984; Marshall and Rossman,

2006) and further interpretation in comparing or contrasting the result and findings

( cited in Creswell, 2009). Therefore, the literature study helps to review the

theoretical part of cultural spaces, human activities, characteristic of historic town,

and identity of place. In the meantime, the review of previous studies is being as

optional research technique that assists to accumulate secondary data as well as to

verify the variables selection. The literature resources comprises: journals,

conference paper, books, reports (municipal report and studio report), maps,

brochure, old photographs, and websites. These related documents had indicated the

research problem, research methods, and related theories that inscribed to the study

contents of cultural spaces. In other words, the literature study has grounded the

theories of the importance and the roles of cultural spaces which have influenced to

the identity of historic towns.

3.2.2 Site Survey and Site Observation

All data primary data are obtained through site survey, site observation, and

questionnaire survey. The integral part of site investigation is observed and

assemble the data on site physical characteristics, space setting, social cultural

activities, townscape, visual and accessibility linkages, buildings and historical

structures. As mentioned by Hutchison (2010), the use of photograph to study how

people use the sidewalk, plazas, and park as William H, Whyte did for his human

behaviour studied. Therefore, during the site inventory, all the visual and

46

phenomenon experiences are taken by the photo records. As well as the allocation

of cultural spaces in both historic towns are indicated on the site plan. Those

activities observation will be documented in the table format. In sum, the qualitative

data collected from site inventory are used to support the descriptive analysis,

finding, and discussion.

3.2.3 Questionnaire Survey

Questionnaire survey is to examine the significance of cultural influence to the

identity of place for both historic sites in Kuala Dungun and Taiping. Additionally,

the questionnaires are constructed to look into peoples‟ perception and the

experiential of cultural spaces in both selected historic towns in Kuala Dungun and

Taiping. For this reason, the overall of five questionnaire composed of one open

ended and four closed ended questionnaires with multiple choices answers (refer to

Appendix A and B). Each respondent was taken 10 to 15 minutes to complete the

questionnaire answer. The questionnaire investigation are undertaken through thirty

numbers of respondents (n=30) for both study areas. Meanwhile, the group

respondents consist of local communities to share their opinions and viewpoints on

the vital functions of cultural spaces.

The content of questionnaire had covered local community perceptions on their

memories on the cultural spaces uses in historic town, the identification landmark in

the historic town, the most favoured cultural spaces and the categories of cultural

spaces that characterised the identity of a place. According to Yin (2003), the

interview data used as verbal descriptions so that the behaviour information‟s

enables to support by various evidences and to validate the research data. Next, for

the analysis stage, the questionnaires data are transcribed into table and chart format

by using Microsoft Office excel version 2007. The entire gist of qualitative data

from past studies, site inventory, site observation and questionnaire survey would be

translated into comparison analysis. Finally, the implications of data analysis are

applied to support research finding, discussion and conclude the overall cultural

spaces study.

47

3.2.4 Research variables

There are five important dependent variables that congruent the physical and social

attributes of cultural spaces and identity of place in historic town. As well as the

independent variable is to investigate people perceptual on cultural spaces

consumptions. These variables mainly contributed to the research analysis and

findings.

i. Historical background

The site historical background can be attained through the secondary data

collective from books, report, old photographs, brochures and maps. Other

than that, the review of past studies are able to comprehend the local

historical cultural spaces, social economic, cultures, morphological pattern,

landuse, and other historic physical entities. Furthermore, there are the

historical information and old photograph are obtainable from Dungun

Museum, Municipal Council and books.

ii. Socio- cultural activities

Site inventory, site observation, and secondary data are used to investigate

and accumulate types of cultural activities encompasses daily activity, social

economic and event celebrations. In addition, the questionnaire survey is

also conducted during site inventory which to examine peoples‟ perceptions

and their routine activities executed in different cultural spaces. All of the

social activities data are inscribed and presented in graphical illustrations in

the table format, bar-charts and graphical map.

iii. Spatial attribute (open spaces and public spaces)

The main references used to identify types of social activity space settings

(or cultural spaces) are through site observation, map verification from past

studies embraced studio report and technical report and other supplementary

data from books and old photographs. In the meantime, the physical spaces

Legends

1. Taiping Lake

Gardens

2. Padang Esplanade

3. Taiping Central

Market

4. Pocket space

between shophouses

5. Thoroughfare

48

identification is justified on the activities interaction to the cultural spaces

and also the phenomenon experiences that engaged to the spaces‟ functions

based on history records. The findings of distinctive physical spaces would

be translated and indicated on cultural spaces map.

iv. Legibility : accessibility and visual

The legibility study is accentuated on the visual and physical connections

within the cultural spaces and other adjacent area through site inventory, site

observation and secondary data from previous studies. Therefore, the

accessibility and visual assessment are also collective from secondary data

which are included books, studio, reports, and maps. In sum, the entire data

that specified on the legibility on accessibility and visual permeability are

recorded and documented through photographs and site plan.

v. Architecture form and historical structure

Historical building is one of physical characteristic that constituted to the

urban fabrics of a historic town. The recognition on types of architectural

styles and historical features in historic town are able to obtain from site

survey and secondary data such as books, and report, maps, and websites.

Besides, the site inventory and observation are conducted to investigate the

relations of activity spaces in between significant heritage buildings and

other historical structure are cognition as the landmark and local identity of

both historic towns.

vi. Perceptions

Questionnaire surveys are conducted to investigate peoples‟ cognition, and

feeling in perceiving the cultural spaces in both historic towns of Kuala

Dungun and Taiping. Moreover, the perception on activity experiences in

the cultural spaces enables to verify the local identity and meanings of a

place.

49

3.3 Criteria of Selecting Case Study Areas

Both study area in Kuala Dungun and Taiping are selected as regards to the

criteria of historic town thrive in the rich historic background, significant socio-

cultural activities and economic vitalities. Additionally, the re-examine of past

studies and literature reviews had rationalised the importance of physical and social

factors had influenced to the case studies area selection. Forepart, both historic

towns established with the strong historical background that related to tin mining

activity in the earlier morphology pattern of towns evolutions. In the meantime, the

historic towns have shaped by the traditional urban form revealed by street patterns,

building plots, and urban fine grains.

Furthermore, the physical characters of the activity spaces in both historic

towns are constituted by unique architectural forms, unique building facades, old

shophouses, traditional street, public spaces (Pasar Besar Dungun and Taiping

Central Market), open spaces (waterfront, Esplanade and Lake Gardens) and

historical features (e.g: Tiang Opal, Taiping Clock Tower etc.). These physical and

cultural attributes are constructively to reflect the characteristics of historic towns in

Malaysia. Indeed, the cultural features allow people engage with their routines

activities in this social space, neighbourhood quarters and community area.

Apparently, the socio-cultural spaces are the most recognisable gathering and

meeting spaces by local people. This is because people interacted with the activity

spaces by the daily activities performance and cultural experiences in the historic

towns.

Besides socio-cultural factor, the presences of cultural spaces have

contributed to the local economic values. Whereas, the formal and informal

activities such as commercial, marketplace, street vendor, and food stalls had

generated to the socio-economic tendency to support as workplace as well as the

indicator of mercantile cultural experiences. In sum, the tangible (physical

attributes) and intangible (social and economic cultural attributes) characteristics

enable to remain the sense of historical and heritage significance that build up the

identity of historic town in Kuala Dungun and Taiping town.

50

3.4 Case study one: Kuala Dungun, Terengganu

3.4.1 Historical background

Figure 3.2: Kuala Dungun is situated in between the states of Kelantan on the north,

and Pahang at south of Terengganu state in Malaysia.

Kuala Dungun located at the East Coast of peninsular Malaysia, the capital

of Dungun district and the oldest district in Terengganu States. Dungun is being

documented by Prapanca (1365 AD) in his Nagarakertagama, poetry compilations

evidence Dungun was under Majapahit reign (cited in Dungun Museum). It was

believed that „Dungun‟ was named after Dungun tree (Heritiera Littorialis) because

many Dungun trees can be founded at this town. Kuala Dungun is categorised as

small town with populations‟ growth of 39,000 residents (Dungun Municipal

Council, 2008).

The natural geography of Kuala Dungun was positioned strategically near to

the river estuary of Sungai Dungun (is known as Sungai Buaya) and the Pantai

Teluk Lipat which is faced to the South China Sea (Illustrated in Figure 3.3). The

strategic location of Kuala Dungun with both waterways had flourished as seafaring

and trading activities (source: Dungun Museum). Thus, accordance to the history

recorded, Dungun‟s port had been discovered by Chinese traders for active trading

51

whilst the local community used the river to reach the port. It was connoted that two

main waterways became active trading port and human activities hub for transit.

Figure 3.3: Aerial view towards Kuala Dungun old town from Pantai Teluk Lipat

and Sungai Dungun (left) (Photos source: Dungun Museum). The morphological

initially extended from two waterways and fishermen jetty to the interior part of old

town areas (right).

Hence, Kuala Dungun was known as the famous port amongst the locals in

East Coast for trades. In early 1919s, office of the Harbour Master was established

to conduct the port management. Furthermore, people from the inner villages such

as Pasir Raja, Kuala Jengai, Tepus, and Jengau are travelled towards Kuala Dungun

to market their crops and forest products at Kuala Dungun Markets (the existing site

of LKIM jetty). In 1940s, Kuala Dungun became a mining town where the iron ore

had been exported to Japan through Nippon Mining Company. The mining activity

was executed at Bukit Besi (Figure 3.4 and 3.5) which was linked to Kuala Dungun

port became as the busiest seaport with the existence of overseas cargo ship and

barges.

Other the smaller ports such as Sura port and Nibung port were built which

to reduce the ports congestion. Whilst, the main port is accommodate to export

loads of tin ore to other places. By 1970s, the tin mining activity in Bukit Besi had

been shut down and subsequently Kuala Dungun town had changed to being as a

traditional fishing town (Dungun Municipal Council, 2010). Concurrently, there

are also small scale businesses such as retails which are operated at the old

shophouses. In that transformation, Kuala Dungun was undergo a huge changes

from the active export port had converted into a low-key fishing villages.

Sungai Dungun

Pantai Teluk Lipat

52

Figure 3.4: The mining activities had turned Dungun district became an important

port of exporting iron ore during 1940s. (Photos source: Dungun Municipal Council)

Figure 3.5: The scenes of railways station (left) and the mining activity at Bukit Besi

(right). (Photos source: Dungun Municipal Council)

Hence, the fishing activity in Kuala Dungun was still remaining as the main

livelihoods that generated incomes for each household. The numbers of fishermen

are in the declining situation nevertheless the Fishery department of Dungun District

documentations have stated most of the old jetties are still fully utilised although

some of these jetties are in the deterioration condition and being modification.

Indeed, before in early 80s, the local fishermen still using the traditional boats (such

as Kolek and Sekunci), traditional fishing techniques, and lift nets. Another fishing

village located opposed to Kuala Dungun town which is known as Seberang

Pintasan (Figure 3.6). In the past, there was a famous ferry service used to carry

people whom want to transit from Seberang Pintasan and other inner part of villages

to Kuala Dungun‟s jetty by Dungun River. Besides, the fishermen‟s engine-fitted

boats from Kuala Dungun are anchorage at the Seberang Pintasan or Teluk Bidara.

The most picturesque landscape scenes had strengthened the image of Kuala

Dungun as a fishermen town (shown in Figure 3.6).

53

Figure 3.6: The fishermen boats scenes berthed at Teluk Bidara (Seberang Pintasan)

opposite to Kuala Dungun fishing jetty.

Consequently, today Kuala Dungun is known as old town due to the earlier

morphological settings, local settlements, fishermen activities at LKIM fishing jetty

(existing Kuala Dungun market) and trading activities which are concentrated at old

part of the town. In a part of Kuala Dungun town have remained only few rows of

wooden shophouses, a Malay traditional village at Kampung Tanah Lot. The old

town development was expansions began from the river mouth of Kuala Dungun

and spread to the old street of Jalan Tambun (Figure 3.7). Jalan Tambun was the

main street that connected the old town and new town (Sura Gates). Whereas, the

new developments are extended onward in Sura Gate with the new commercials

located on the both sides of Jalan Yahya Ahmad, a direct trunk road divert to Kuala

Terengganu (Lee & Ismail, 2011). The old railway line which is linked from Bukit

Besi connected to port at Pantai Teluk Lipat had left only the heritage remnant

structures called Tiang Opal (Refer to Figure 3.8). It was renowned as Sura Jetty

which has been functioned as the export jetty of iron ore in 40s.

Figure 3.7: The outlooks of historical street at Jalan Tambun during the past and

present.

54

Figure 3.8: Sura Jetty or „Tiang Opal‟ Jetty (left) and the leftover patch of old

structure jetty (right).

In presence the landuse patterns (illustrated in Figure 3.9) have influenced by

types of social activities and the concentration of a range of activities spaces in

Kuala Dungun. The prevailing land use in Kuala Dungun old town are

agglomerated by village settlements, commercials used, and open spaces. The

commercial activities in old town comprises: retail, service, workshop, specialised

shop, hardware, electronic, coffee shop, and restaurant. Even as, the compatible

open spaces embraces of open field, waterfront, and pocket spaces are potentially for

recreational and cultural activities. The discontinuity of old town and new town of

Kuala Dungun are demarcations by the village settlements which are Kampung

Tanah Lot and some of the governance offices. Besides, the piecemeal development

impacted to the unravelling of old part and new part of Kuala Dungun Town (Lee &

Ismail, 2011). Thus, the old town‟s functions are slightly declined since many

facilities and entertainments are available in new town.

It can be summarised the history background of Kuala Dungun town is

reveal when it began as a river port, fishing village settlement, and extended to the

mercantile old shophouses and Malay traditional villages. The physical form and

Kuala Dungun‟s morphology are characterised by the trading, river activities (river

transportation), Kuala Dungun market, and tin mined exported jetty. Moreover, the

landuse patterns influenced to commercial and social activities in Kuala Dungun.

As well as Jalan Tambun was a vital street that connected the inner village‟s

settlements at Kuala Dungun to the new Sura Gate. These physical and historical

entities consents Kuala Dungun to pertain its identity as a coastal fishing town. Due

to the current conditions, Kuala Dungun‟s development is relatively neglected with

55

comparison to the new town. For this reason, the initiative to maintain and prolong

Kuala Dungun as a historic town is practical to preserve the uniqueness characters

especially the significant activity spaces that shaped by local cultural.

Figure 3.9: The land use pattern in Kuala Dungun

(Source: Kuala Dungun Municipal Council, 2009-Local Plan)

3.4.2 Socio Cultural Activity

The social spaces allocations in Kuala Dungun are denoted with commercial

and outdoor recreation related activities. The most popular spaces for local people

Village Residential Industrial Commercial Hospital/Clinic Government office School Religious building Civic hall Community facilities Cemetery Open spaces Green open spaces/ recreational Vacant land (natural) Vacant land (manmade) River/sea

LEGEND:

Kuala Dungun

Sura Gate

Pantai Teluk Lipat

N

LANDUSE

56

to perform their activities in Kuala Dungun are: Dungun market, riverfront, fishing

jetty, Padang Astaka (open green spaces), pocket spaces in between old shophouses,

and scenic promenade at Pantai Teluk Lipat. Kuala Dungun town is survived

because of the social economic activities were executed in marketplace; fishing

industry and the small scale business at old shophouses areas (refer to Figure 3.10

and 3.11). Hence, economic factor and public spaces utilisations had influenced to

the cultural activity in this historic town. These activity spaces are predominantly

used in morning and afternoon which means these activities are more active during

daytime which compare to evening. The summary for types of activities in Kuala

Dungun old town is shown in Table 3.1.

Figures 3.10: Fisherman is repaired a resting hut nearby the riverfront (left) and

children playing during low tide at Sungai Dungun.

Figures 3.11: Vendors are selling foods at Dungun wet market (left) and coffee shop

at the old shophouses neighbourhood was a meeting place during leisure time.

57

Table 3.1: Types of cultural spaces and activities in Kuala Dungun.

Space types Activity types Characteristics

i. Riverfront

(at Sungai

Dungun)

Fishing, waiting jetty depart to

Tenggol Island, leisure activities,

photography, people watching,

pedestrian walking, sitting, cycling

and children play.

Social and outdoor

recreational activities

ii. Fishing jetty

(LKIM)

Boating, Loading and unloading

work, fishermen repairing fishing

nets and resting area.

Livelihood and influence

by economic activities

iii. Dungun

Market (Pasar

Besar

Dungun)

Merchandise sold (vegetables,

fruits, fish, seafood, meat, special

utensils groceries and handicraft),

food vendors activities and eating.

Social and cultural place

for people meeting and

iv. Padang Astaka

Special event use such as carnival,

fishing competition, special

performance show.

Neighbourhood park for

social activities and

gathering.

v. Pocket spaces

between old

shophouses

Trading and passive activities such

buying goods, passage, chatting,

and neighbourhood interactions.

Communal spaces in the

commercial and

residential area.

vi. Scenic

promenade at

Pantai Teluk

Lipat

Outdoor recreational, sightseeing,

people walking, strolling, hang out,

relaxing, cycling, and children play.

Social and recreational

activities

3.4.3 Spatial Attributes

The cultural spaces in Kuala Dungun old town are influenced by daily

activities such as merchandise goods at Dungun wet market or old shophouses, the

outdoor recreational at waterfronts. Figure 3.12 illustrated the distributions of

cultural spaces in Kuala Dungun. Kuala Dungun town are enlivened by formal or

informal wet market and the fishermen loading and unloading activities by the

fishing jetty at LKIM (Kuala Dungun Fishery Department) (Figure 3.13). The

market interior spaces are divided into few sections with wet and dry goods in

different floor levels. The eating place, wet and dry merchandises (groceries items,

fish, seafood, chicken, meat, vegetable and fruit) are located at ground level. Whilst,

the local handicraft shop, retails and other services store are accumulated at the first

floor of the market‟s building.

58

The extensions of informal market from the main Dungun Market had

converted the adjacent outdoor space into outdoor bazaar (Figure 3.14). Whereby,

street and sidewalk are the main component that connected to these two

marketplaces. The interior and exterior markets‟ spaces are utilised for merchandise

activities which denotes that people in Kuala Dungun actively attached to the

marketplaces' activities. Whereas, the fishing jetty is linked to the riverfront

promenades, and there is a pocket gardens which is facing to the riverfront. Dungun

wet market and the fishing jetty function as public space for local to perceive as

meeting place, retail activities, working place or employment place to get revenues.

Therefore, the cultural spaces between market and fishing jetty are formulated via

the physical layout of fishermen‟s loading jetty at Sungai Dungun, social

interactions between local communities, and economic supporting for fishermen‟s

livelihoods.

Figure 3.12: The cultural spaces allocation in Kuala Dungun historic town.

Legend 1. Riverfront and fishing jetty 2. Pasar Besar Dungun 3. Padang Astaka 4. Pocket spaces between old

shophouses 5. Scenic promenade and

Pantai Teluk Lipat KAMPUNG

TANAH LOT

LKIM

SUNGAI DUNGUN

PANTAI TELUK LIPAT

1

2

3

4

5

Jetty to

Tenggol Island

Medan Ikan

Bakar

TO SURA GATE (NEW TOWN)

Kuala Dungun

Bridge N

59

Figure 3.13: The merchandises activities at Dungun wet market (left) and fishermen

boat berthed at the jetty of Sungai Dungun (right).

Figure 3.14: The extensions of informal market at the nearby open spaces are

utilised the shaded trees and open space to operate their business.

Besides, the green open space like Padang Astaka is only utilised when the

prize ceremony of fishing competition, carnivals and special event celebrations. The

green open field has been provided facilities such as sheltered stage, seating as well

as the shady trees have afforded the comfort and socialisation space for outdoor

activities (Figure 3.15). Padang Astaka was unlike others cultural spaces because

only seasonal activities will be executed at this green area within certain period.

Nevertheless, Padang Astaka is function as an importance green open space for

visual connections and orientations of this historic town. The indication of north

location from Padang Astaka is headed to old town. Whilst, Jalan Tambun located

alongside of south east direction of Kuala Dungun have connected to Sura Gates

(located at the South). Dungun Bus station is also important to direct the sense of

orientation which is situated at the west direction of Padang Astaka. Even as, the

spatial pattern and setting are salient to allow Padang Astaka performed as a

direction indicator and visible focal point in the centre of Kuala Dungun old town.

60

Figure 3.15: The open view at Padang Astaka is permeable for people to access

Kuala Dungun old town.

The public space and private space in between the old shophouses are

constituted by neighbourhood and individual activities. The fines grain layout and

the narrow street of shophouses have created the sense of enclosures. Therefore,

these physical layout spaces are articulate for people movements and permeability

on visual quality. In additionally, the rows of shophouses‟ facades are facing to the

river and sea views had form the series of panoramic views. This visual quality

helps to emphasis as visual cues and to intimate on space‟s orientation in the historic

town. Indeed, the cohesion of linking buildings and spatial arrangement has created

the positive spaces for commercial, dwellings, and neighbourhood socialisation.

However, the existence of pockets spaces, back lane and alley spaces in old

shophouses area are inactive uses (Figure 3.16). Almost certainly, there are some

old shophouses are being used for storages and warehouses and even if in the vacant

circumstances that resulted to unusable spaces and less liveliness.

Figure 3.16: The pocket spaces are located near to shophouses used as parking lot at

Jalan Tambun (left) and the back lanes or alley of shophouses is only for private

uses (right).

61

The linear spaces such street, promenades and sidewalk are linked to all

green open spaces, public spaces areas and neighbourhoods district in Kuala Dungun

old town. Approximately, the eight kilometres distances of „scenic drive‟ or the

coastal road at Jalan Pantai Sura had connected with the old town and new part of

Kuala Dungun town. The provision of promenade and sidewalk near to the edges of

seafront and riverfront meanders along Pantai Teluk Lipat and Sungai Dugun are the

favourable spots for sightseeing, leisurely walks and watching the tranquillity

panorama views. In other words, the natural urban spaces generated from the

natural landscapes and accommodated with urban amenities to remain as a pleasant

outdoor recreational for the optional activities.

Historically, the key impetus of Kuala Dungun‟s development was

functioned as the prominent trading port and activities hub for communities. But

today, the existing morphological spaces in Kuala Dungun such like the water edges,

linear street, green open spaces and the pocket spaces which are association with the

interior marketplaces and old shophouses viable to build up the cultural spaces for

various social cultural and economic activities. In fact, these old shophouses located

faced to the water edges have signified as a remembrance scene or the identity‟s

place of the old town in Kuala Dungun. As well as the linear space (street) and

natural urban space in waterfront are strongly tied to the local cultural spaces for

communal to interaction with those public activities. In sum, the culture spaces in

Kuala Dungun are characterised by the physical forms, historical inheritance and

social context.

3.4.4 Legibility: Accessibility and Visual Characters

The legibility of visual and accessibility in old part of Kuala Dungun is

guided by the waterfronts edges. These vehicular circulations are legible where the

main street of Jalan Tambun is connected the shophouses areas in town directed to

Jalan Yahya Ahmad at Sura Gate (new town). Jalan Tambun is under the widen

road construction and streetscape enhancement which to improve the increase of

traffic volumes and define the road hierarchies to avoid the illegibility routes when

62

users ahead to old town district (Urban Studio Report, 2010). The „scenic drive‟ at

Jalan Pantai Sura is another potential greenway and also an alternative route to direct

pedestrians to Kuala Dungun‟s old town (Figure 3.17). In the same time, the

pleasant vista from the water edges induces user‟s headed to old commercial areas,

riverfront and fishing jetty. As well as, the street junctions in between the rows of

shophouses at Jalan Tanjung, Jalan Pasar, and Jalan Kelab MCA have created visual

nodes towards the seafront and riverfront. In short, the legibility in Kuala Dungun is

constructed by the open views from the seafront and riverfront.

Figure 3.17: The pedestrian walkway and landscape elements in Jalan Tambun are

provided to support pedestrian uses (left) and scenic drive with lookouts at Pantai

Teluk Lipat (right).

3.4.5 Architecture Form and Historical Structure

The rows of wooden old shophouses located at Jalan Pasar and Jalan Lim

Teck Wan intensely to specify the architectural styles of Kuala Dungun. By contrast,

some of the shophouses are not in good condition, dilapidated and being abandoned

(Figure3.18). Based on the report, 102 units of shophouses are categorised in poor

conditions (Urban studio report, 2010). Furthermore, not all of the shophouses are

actively operates as commercial frontages and residential neighbourhood. In part

some of the shophouses are reuse as storages and warehouses and affected the

shophouses‟ environment became inactive, and dull during evening and nigh time.

There are 44 numbers of stores being function in old shophouses (Urban studio

report, 2010). The existences of street and alley had defined the physical spaces in

63

between old shophouses. In addition, the shophouses‟ facades have provided the

distinctive visual quality and the proportional scale of building form in revealing the

significance ambience for the historic town. Apart of that, Dungun museum (old

residential of Dungun district officer) and traditional Malay houses in Kampung

Tanah Lot had contributed to the architectural identity of Kuala Dungun as a historic

town (Figure 3.19). It is essential to conserve the heritage buildings as the safeguard

to the historic entities that characterise the image of Kuala Dungun as a historic

town.

Figure 3.18: The old shophouses have characterised the urban fabrics of Kuala

Dungun (left) and the dilapidated shophouses was one of the factor that due to

inactive frontages.

Figure 3.19: Dungun Museum and Traditional Malay house at Kampung Tanah Lot.

(Photo source: http://tripwow.tripadvisor.com & Urban Design Studio report, 2010)

http://tripwow.tripadvisor.com/

64

3.5 Case study 2: Taiping town, Perak

3.5.1 Historical backgrounds

Taiping is the second largest town in Perak States situated of the trunk road

between Penang and Ipoh (Figure 3.19). Kelian Pauh was the old name of Taiping

town, „Klian’ mean mine and „Pauh isa‟ types of a small size mango fruit (MUCI,

2011). Taiping was a tin mining town, where the mining area commenced at Larut

District in 1848. Mostly, those tin miners are Chinese clans (Figure 3.20) worked

under Secret Society in their own territory (Teoh, 2004). After the end of Larut war

in 1874, the name of Kelian Pauh was changed and replaced as Taiping which

denotes in Chinese word as the “everlasting peace”. The indication of the peaceful

development after eleven months of Pangkor Treaty, Taiping population had

increased from 4,000 people in 1873 to 33,000 after end of 1874. Taiping was also

known as “Raining Town” amid by the heavy rainfall with approximate 4,000mm.

Figure 3.20: Taiping located at the north of Perak State.

Legends

1. Taiping Lake

Gardens

2. Padang Esplanade

3. Taiping Central

Market

4. Pocket space

between shophouses

5. Thoroughfare

Legends

1. Taiping Lake

Gardens

2. Padang Esplanade

3. Taiping Central

Market

4. Pocket space

between shophouses

5. Thoroughfare

65

Table 3.21: Tin mining activity located near to Kamunting at 1870.

(Source: Teoh, 2004)

In 1885, the first railway lines had built priority for export tin or tin ore, and

to import foods and mining‟s tools. The first railway track was directed heading

from Port Weld to Taiping (refer to Figure 3.21) (Ho et al., 2010). At 19th

century,

Taiping was also named as „tin mining town‟ and being set up of the many first

government buildings and institutions such as: public office, recreation, education,

transport and communication, religious institutions, recreation, publication and

associations in the (Teoh, 2004). Therefore, the development growth in Taiping was

influenced by the mining and trading activities which are concentrated in the

Taiping town centre.

Figure 3.22: The first railway line was built to connect Taiping and Port Weld for

transport tin. (Source: Ho et al., 2010)

The morphology of Taiping town was begun in 1840s whereby the early

stage (1840s-1875s) of Taiping town transformation. Initially, the mining industry

66

in Kelian Pauh (old name of Taiping) is developed well accordingly to the first tin

ore were exported to Britian in 1844s. Consequently, the numbers of population had

increased to 4,000 of Chinese populace who had emigrated from San Neng District

(in Kwang Tung Province) in mainland China. Then, Taiping was flourishing as the

busiest city in the midst of 1870. The physical development in Kelian Pauh

consisted of the half mile of paved road, shops, and market ware built along the

main road that connected to mining areas. At that time, the Chinese residents in

Taiping was increased up to 6,000 people (Figure3.23).

Figure 3.23: Morphology patterns in Taiping in 1840 to present. (Source: MUCI,

2010)

During the flourished era began in 1875 to 1937, Taiping town was in the

process of rapid developments. During that time, Taiping was operated as the main

administrative centre. There are many government offices such as: treasury office,

police station, hospital, weaponry warehouse, stores and other likes. As well as the

upgrading transportation routes at Jalan Chung Thye Peng, Jalan Stesen, Jalan Asam

Kumbang, Jalan kota, Jalan Pasar, and the road directed to Parit Bundar are

constructed to connected to other commercial and administrative area. Additionally,

new railways lines in 1885 were built for the tin ore exportation which had

connected Taiping to Port Weld, Parit Bintar and up to Kemunting. Yet again, the

local populations once had increased up to 21,111 in 1921 and the numbers of

Chinese dwellers are back to 4,000 people at 1860 (MUCI, 2010). Figure 3.24 has

shown the early residences in Taiping are concentrated in the town centre.

(1840-1875) (1875-1937) (2000 to present)

Mining land

Taiping

Town centre

Lake

Garden

s

Lake

Gardens

Shophouses

& new road

Shophouses &

government offices

67

Figure 3.24: The overall view of dwelling in Taiping in 1878. (Source: Teoh, 2004)

In present, most of the vacant lands had been developed except the reserve land

and green areas. Many housing areas were built in this town especially at the south

of Taiping. Moreover, the new development had increased the original building

heights from 2 storeys up to 4 storeys (MUCI, 2010). The variation of building

height has caused to the visual quality interruptions and the declining of Taiping‟s

imageability.

Besides, the recreation, leisure and cultural activities are the essential factors

that configured to the development of Taiping town. In fact, there are activity

scenes described by the early traveller of their impressions on Taiping was

resembles as English part of town (Teoh, 2004). On the whole, these travellers

express Taiping comprises: council chambers, rest house, and cricket field between

two club houses, rest house, museum, rows of shade Angsana trees (Pterocarpus

indicus) are planted at the interval between the street, retreat quarters at Larut Hills

or Maxwell Hills, a golf course and the rain trees surrounded at Lake Gardens.

(Wright, 1908; Harison, 1910 quoted by Teoh, 2004). Whilst, the indigenous part of

Taiping town is almost Chinese inhabitants where the lively local streets are with

stores, eateries, street‟s hawker performs their skills, street haircut, street dentist, and

rickshaw-puller (CM Enriquz, 1972 cited in Teoh, 2004).

The most memorable and reminiscence heritage landscape in Taiping was

Lake Gardens (Teoh, 2004). It was about 222 acres (62 hectares) of open spaces

which are reclaimed from the ex-mining lands. In 1884, the deserted mines were

drained, levelled, planted and fenced to be a public gardens stated by (Khoo, and

68

Abdur-Razzaq, 1997). Mazlina (2010) stated the Lake Gardens was the biggest

recreational green infrastructures or larger park among colonial town in Malaysia.

The man-make lakes in Taiping Lake Gardens are utilised as the channel waterways

where to collect the rainwater of Taiping town (Ho et al., 2010). During 1911,

Taiping Lake Gardens was awarded the most beautiful gardenss in the Federated

Malay States (Khoo, and Abdur-Razzaq, 1997). It was the most encouraging

recreational spot for people and families in Taiping town. Ho et al. (2010) also

mentioned the serenity and relaxation of Lake Gardens as a recreational place was

being an identity of Taiping which implicate as the “Everlasting Peace” (Figure

3.21).

Figure 3.25: The scene of crowded visitor at Taiping Lake Gardens in 1960.

(Source: Ho et al., 2010)

Figure 3.26: The land use distributions in Taiping (Source: Mazlina, 2010)

Village Residential Industrial Commercial Park/recreational Lake/river

LEGEND:

LANDUSE

N

69

In present, the landuse prototypes in Taiping heritage town are mainly

utilised for commercial, residential, administrative, open spaces for recreational

(Figure 3.25). The total population in Taiping had reached of 191,104 residents

which are documented in 2007 (Ho et al., 2010). Furthermore, these types of

mercantile activities in shophouses areas are erected by retails (furniture, textiles,

jewellery, pawnshop, hardware, electrical, bakery, others specialist shops); services

(beauty salons, barber shops, laundry, bank and vehicle shop), eateries (restaurant,

food court, and coffee shop). The green open spaces such as Esplanade at

Government Offices, Lake Gardens, Padang Esplanade, and pockets spaces

enormously for special events and outdoor recreational.

As summary, the physical and social developments of Taiping had across

from a tin a mining town has transformations being a historic town in dominating by

commercial and retails activities. Then, the town‟s morphology was alteration

according to the new built roads that connected to others transportation routes,

railways, shophouses, government administrative and some recreational areas. In

present, the landuse character of Taiping town centre is predominated by

commercial and state government offices. In the same time, the inhabitant‟s

growths are commencing and expansion from the town centre. Consequently, the

heritage inheritances such as Central market, administrative buildings, old

shophouses, street, Lake Gardens, heritage square (Padang Esplanade), schools,

associations, and religious buildings had contributed to the economic viability and

cultural affairs among local to attain the peaceable life and enjoyment in Taiping

historic town.

3.5.2 Socio Cultural Activity

Taiping‟s old shophouses and Central Market have retained as the

importance of social economic accordant through mercantile activities, shopping,

trading, people workings, socialisation, communal meeting, and eating. The taxi

depot centre (position of old bus station) and bazaars located close proximity to

Taiping Market allow people to be concentrated at that marketplace. These

70

necessary activities are being performed through routines activities in daytime.

Conversely, those commercial, services and retails activities became less active and

only few convenient, specialist shops, and hawker stalls at Central Market are still

operated till night time. However, the street activities are also influenced by the

business operating hours at old shophouses area. There are more likely passive

activities such as street vendors, people walking, sitting, passage, and waiting bus.

Taiping‟s thoroughfares or wide streets are connected closed to the old shophouses

and five-foot way hence pedestrian are able to experience the comfort walking

distance from shops to shops (Figure 3.27).

Figure 3.27: The merchandise activities at fish stalls of Central Market (left)

activities and street vendors selling newspapers at Jalan Chong Thye Phin (right).

Teoh (2004) described Lake Gardens was a physical activities centre for all

ages of people in Taiping. There are miscellaneous activities at Lake Gardens which

is began in the early morning for joggers, brisk walker, fan dancers, Tai Chi and Chi

Kong practitioners, martial art, aerobics dancers, and dancing (Figure 3.28) (Teoh,

2004). During the late afternoon, there are some physical healthy and thrilled

activities gathered by families with their children. Hence, it can be signified the

outdoor recreational in Taiping Lake Gardens provided variation significant pocket

spaces which are available for a range of activities either for local communities or

visitors. Other than Lake Gardens, the Padang Esplanade also functioned as a green

open field for many sports activities and divisions of training area for soccer, hockey,

and rugby. The annual National Day celebration was also executed at this heritage

square with formality ceremony, parade, and marching bands. Table 3.2 shows the

types of activities executed in Taiping town.

71

Figure 3.28: Chi Kong practitioners and water activities at Taiping Lake Gardens.

Table 3.2: Types of cultural spaces and activities in Taiping

Space types Activities types Characteristics

i. Lake

Gardens

Recreation, scrolling, jogging ,

biking, sightseeing, water

recreation (boat paddling),

boating, fishing, sports event,

health activity, children

playground, special carnival,

relaxation, picnic, bridal‟s

photographing etc.

A town park with peaceful

landscape environment,

attracted for outdoor

recreational and social cultural

activities among the local

communities.

ii. Central

market (or

Taiping

market)

Wet and dry merchandise sold

such as: meat, fish, vegetables,

fruits, eateries and hawker stalls.

Merchandise activities, a place

for eating, and socialisation.

iii. Padang

Esplanade

(Heritage

square)

National Day celebrations

(National Parade), soccer games,

sports competition (Taiping

Heritage Run), physical healthy

activities.

The open field use as formal

event celebration and sport

recreational activities.

iv. Pocket

spaces

between old

shophouses

Commercial activities, shopping,

community socialisation, and,

loading and unloading works.

Commerce and trades

activities and some

shophouses are lack of

residential activities because it

had been replaced by

commercial, hotel, storages,

and warehouses.

v. Thoroughfare

(wide street

between old

shophouses)

Passage, loading and unloading

works at commercial building,

trades, street vendor, sitting,

stationary, and cycling.

The active commercial

frontages are associated with

the street activities near to the

shophouses.

72


The cultural spaces in Taiping historic town are found in the public urban

spaces, marketplace, street and pocket spaces in between old shophouses (Figure

3.28). The early town planning in Taiping have designed the buildings layouts and

spaces accord to the „gridiron system‟. All of these physical built forms and spaces

are closely connected to the street. Hence, the spaces articulation in Taiping town

centre is cohesive with building plots (lots) and the street layout.

Figure 3.29: Cultural spaces indication in Taping Town centre.

Taiping Lake Gardens was the first Public Park in peninsula Malaysia and

capable to support numerous types of outdoor leisure and recreational activities.

This green space had cover 17% of Taiping town area (Mazlina, 2010). The Lake

TAIPING TOWN CENTRE

1

2

3

4

5

Legend

1. Taiping Lake Garden 2. Padang Esplanade 3. Taiping Central Market 4. Pocket space between

shophouses 5. Thoroughfare

Bukit

Larut

Taping Zoo

73

Gardens was surrounded by the adjacent administrative building and other

recreational spots such as District Office Hill, Bukit Larut, Taiping War Cemetery,

Taiping Prison, public pools (Coronation and Burmese pool) and the main circular

road, Jalan Perkeliling. It was the biggest natural landmark in Taiping town with the

hundred year olds rain trees, vegetations, manmade ponds and lakes, jetty, shelter,

footbridge, and others landscape amenities (Figure 3.30). Besides, this peaceful

town park also functions as the water retention pond in the central of Taiping town

for preventing flesh floods (Ho et al., 2010). Padang Esplanade or Taiping

Municipal Square (Figure 3.31) was a green public open space provided by British

government intended for formal parades and sporting events (MUCI, 2010). This

green field is close proximity to the Lake Gardens, new club house, and

administrative buildings. Therefore, it was a functional as gathering space for big

event likes National Day and game competitions.

Figure 3.30: The rain trees, streetscape, and landscape amenities had provided

visitor a natural, shading and relaxation environment in Lake Gardens.

Figure 3.31: Padang Esplanade used for soccer training during afternoon.

74

Taiping Market or Market Square comprised two buildings which the old

market is built in 1884 and the new market in 1885. It was the best preserved

market building in 19th

century. The market building was built in the dimensions of

200 feet long (60.96m), 60 feet wide (18.3m), and the building is supported by

timber structures and trusses, plain concrete floor and iron roof (Khoo and Abdur-

Razzaq, 1997; Teoh, 2004). In present, the interior spaces of Central Market are

remained as both wet and dry merchandises likes: meat, chicken, fish, vegetable, and

fruits. The other sections of old Central Market which is fronting the main road was

utilised as hawker stalls where many famous local foods were sold in this place.

Local people had given the name of “siang malam” or “day night” to the market

eating‟s stalls. Thus, the famous name is specified to the foods sold hours which is

starting from daytime until midnight or even expressed as 24 hours' eateries. The

semi open space is the only lively outdoor eating place at Jalan Kota during night

time robust through the hawker‟s cookery, foods serving, cultural of dining and

supper, meeting with friends, and chatting. The cheerful eating culture during night

time has created a simple social interaction between people and market‟s space

(Figure 3.32)

Figure 3.32: The outdoor eating place at „siang malam’ or „day night‟of Central

Market. (Photos source: http://www.taiping.ws/food.htm)

The private spaces of the old shophouses are used for dwelling or family

activities. Whilst, the semi public space at the business frontages and the five-foot

ways are remaining for trading, loading and unloading work, and communal

activities. There are twenty-two pockets spaces which have defined the urban

spaces between commercial and shophouses neighbourhood in Taiping Town

(Ismail and Mazlinda, 2007; Mazlinda, 2010). Some of these pocket spaces are well

maintenance as positioned at Jalan Kota, the old Clock Tower and pocket gardens

http://www.taiping.ws/food.htm

75

located in between Jalan Taming Sari and Central Market (Figure 3.33). By contrast,

some of the pocket spaces in between the shophouses and street had converted

became parking area. Although, these pocket spaces are potential to utilise as pocket

gardens for civic gatherings somehow as regards to the private property and land

ownership issues, it was incompatible to adaptive reuse as public space but only for

private space usage.

Figure 3.33: The pocket gardens located in front of Central Market (left) and in

opposition, the pocket space in between old shophouses had converted into car

parking (right).

Thoroughfares or wide street in Taiping are located between the cross road.

The picturesquare of Taiping‟s street with shade trees alike London thoroughfare

(Khoo and Abdur-Razzaq, 1997). Since the gridiron urban system had implemented

by British in 1880 whereby these cross streets are perpendicular connected to main

street to provide wide spaces to shophouses (Ho et al., 2010). These spaces are

valuable for street activities and landscaping. It can found some of the matured trees

at Jalan Jalan Pasar, as well as the cross streets at Jalan Chung Thye Phin, Jalan Lim

Tee Hoi, Jalan Ong Saik and Jalan Maheksana (Figure 3.34).

Figure 3.34: The wide street at Jalan Pasar is safe for pedestrian to walk or stroll

during their shopping (left) and the matured trees at Jalan Lim Tee Hoi (right).

76

In sum, the presence of people associated with cultural activity in this

historic town have transformed these important cultural spaces for socialisation

opportunity, cultural cohesions, to support civic facilities, economic diversities, and

to protect the heritage landscapes and historic identity of Taiping town. Other than

that, Taiping is the well planning town with the strategic commercial hub,

government offices, and also green open spaces for outdoor recreational. These

spatial planning has contributed to the types of cultural activity spaces which had

created either for indoor or outdoor uses. Thus, these cultural spaces and activity

experiences have characterising Taiping as a meaningful and reminiscence‟s historic

town.

3.5.4 Legibility: Accessibility and Visual Characters

The gridiron layouts in Taiping town centre with the rectilinear road system

are feasible to the physical movement and visual legibility (Figure 3.35). Hence,

Taiping is an accessible town whereas pedestrians are able to explore the heritage

experience through the optional urban trails in Taiping town (MUCI, 2010).

Meanwhile, the urban fabrics such historic building, structures, streetscape and other

visible activity nodes are the most significant guidance for people movements get to

each activity spot in the historic town‟s settings. Those attributes of British planning

on the straight roads was to gather all the troops in emergence at the Esplanade

(current green open space at District Office) (refer to Figure 3.36).

Figure 3.35: Aerial view of gridiron town planning, Taiping (Source: Ho et al., 2010)

77

Figure 3.36: Green open space at District office.

Moreover, the types of commence facades or types of building uses are

identifiable for pedestrian and vehicle accessibilities. These commercial activities

have created important node to accelerate people in legible accessibility. As

Example, Jalan Kota is the main road that connecting Kamunting district in Taiping.

Likewise, this street was characterised by the both furniture and household utensils

trading activities. Whilst, Jalan Pasar is also another famous street in Taiping are

entirely amalgamated by jewellery shops, second hand jewellery and pawnshops (Ho

et al., 2010). In other words, Taiping town is legible since people can indicate the

street based to commercial‟s activity type. The rows of shophouses provide the

continued five-footway allow pedestrians to walk under the sheltered archway.

Besides, the street character, landscape features, historic buildings‟ facades and

historic features ascertain people‟s direction and movement routes in Taiping town.

For instance, pedestrian is able to recognise the Victorian architectural building of

Taiping Government Offices at Jalan Kota to specify the entry route to Lake

Gardens. As well as the two block of Taiping old Markets are fronting Jalan Kota.

Figure 3.37: Most of the Taiping jewellery shops are located at Jalan Pasar (left) and

Taiping old Markets are fronting Jalan Kota (right).

78

The open vista in between the old shophouses and wide streets yet increase

the visual legibility in the historic town. Some of the landscapes elements such as

street plantings and street furniture have build a significant symbol or landmark in

Taiping town. Especially those matured trees lines at the streets and shared with the

parking lots are visible at the cross streets. Similarly to the aesthetic landscapes in

Lake Gardens are ornamented by the rain trees, lakes plus the numerous recreational

functions to being the most prominent landmark in Taiping. As summary, the

physical spaces in Taiping town are highlighted by these urban fabrics and the

collective of shophouses frontages and activities which effort to improve the visual

cues and accessibility. Nevertheless, the landscape features, historical building and

landmarks‟ orientation have emphasis the street characters for visual and accessible

legibility.


Taiping town is shaped by numerous historical and unique architectural

styles. There are many heritage colonial buildings in Taiping which are functions as

the administrative building, institutional, recreation, society, and worship. These

historical buildings encompasses: Taiping Government Office, Clock Tower,

Taiping Prison (Gaol), Club House, Perak Museum, associations, school and other

likes. These heritage buildings can be seen at Jalan Kota, Jalan Taming Sari and

Jalan Stesen. Each building design has pertains with its distinctive character,

function, height, scale, colour, material, detailing, special decorative, and building‟s

history should be congruent as a vital landmark and integrated with types of activity

node. The constitution of spatial patterns in old shophouses Taiping is greatly

influenced by building‟s activity. For instance, the groceries, furniture shops and

vehicle servicing workshop have extended the use of five-foot way to place the

merchandise goods, furniture‟s‟ display, and working space for vehicle‟s services.

Substantially, these commercial or civic activities have extended the use of private

and public spaces in between the building spaces.

79

Figure 3.38: The unique Straits Electic architectural styles (1890s-1940s) of old

shophouses in Taiping.

Figure 3.39: The Old Clock Tower and Taiping Government Office at Jalan Kota.

Figure 3.40: Perak Museum and Taiping prison.

(Photo source: http://www.panoramio.com)

Taiping Market or Central Market would be crowded during morning when

commercial activities began. The Central Market facade is made by timber trellises

which is adapted to local climatic and good for air and lighting ventilations (Ho et

al., 2010). Whereas, the interior spaces of Central market had divided into several

80

sections. The two market buildings sells different goods where the old market near

to Jalan Pasar with fish, fruit, and Pork stalls and another market located at Jalan

Kota comprises hawker stalls, vegetables, meat, beef, and chicken stalls. Taiping

market was designed with separating of non-halal zones by using fruits and

vegetables sections as the buffer zones (Ho et al., 2010). Till today, this old market

has created a good meeting place for local people with their cultural activities and

spaces interactions which are still remaining in the same market buildings.

Moreover, there are bazaar (Figure 3.41) and taxi station which are situated adjacent

to Central Market enable this market place became an attractive activities node of

mercantile culture.

Figure 3.41: Central Market (left) and the adjacent Bazaar (right).

In summarise about architecture styles and historical structure has proven

these building characters and utilities have strengthened the image and

distinctiveness of urban fabric in Taiping as a historic town. Apart of that, the

establishment of colonial buildings or old shophouses with the social activity have

defined the cultural spaces are existence in the indoor and outdoor of building‟s

spaces. In short, the building use, facade, and layout is imperative to determine type

of cultural spaces either related to commercial or social activities or both of them.

81

3.6 Conclusion

The case studies in Kuala Dungun and Taiping had revealed the historical

background, social cultural activities, spatial attributes; visual and accessibility

legibility, architecture form and historical structure are the keys attributes to

determine the cultural spaces that characterised the identity of each historic town.

Initially, the morphological and landuse patterns are moulded from the physical

form and spaces in urban settings. Both study areas are developed since the mining

industry had impinged to these towns and flourished into trading, transportation, and

activities hub. At the same time, the historic towns‟ transformations had developed

by the urban components supplementary such as streets, old shophouses, inhabited

area, and transportation. But, the role of Taiping town is more comprehensive to

being as a heritage town because of the well town planning and the unique

architectural building such as administrative offices, school, recreational, association,

and society. Nonetheless, both historic towns had developed into commercial or

trading core likewise Kuala Dungun being as a fishing town and Taiping was as

commerce town.

The social activities and space prototypes in Kuala Dungun and Taiping are

accordance to the traditional urban patterns. Most of the cultural activities occurred

in marketplace, old shophouses, street, green open spaces and natural open spaces.

Therefore, the activities concentration is considered to the physical built form, space

setting, and categories of public open spaces in each particular town. For instance,

Kuala Dungun is located near to the river mouth and coastal area with almost the

cultural activity is engage to waterfront, fishing jetty and marketplace. Whilst, the

commercial and recreational facilities in Taiping had been developed since it was

administered by British colonial. Consequently, the local cultural activities are tied

to outdoor recreational (such as Lake Gardens and Esplanade) and mercantile

activities in the old market and shophouses. The social attributes in these historical

towns are performed by routine activities which are relative to livelihood,

merchandise, meeting, gathering, leisure or even the eating place. These social

spaces are associated with the local neighbourhoods and communities who are able

to share and conduct the cultural activity at the same place.

82

Generally, the cultural spaces in historic towns were enclosure by the

buildings, streets, and natural landscapes which had formed to the activity spaces

interplay and position close to each others. The physical characters in historic towns

allow people to indicate the allocation of activity space through visual and

accessible legibility. This means, the legibility of these historic towns are

constituted by the recognising of building uses, building styles, historical structures

and the significant landscape features. In Kuala Dungun, the old town legibility is

depend to the natural vista of Dungun River (north) and coastal area (west) which is

facing to South China Sea. These natural landscapes have assisted people on way

findings and place‟s orientation being in the old town milieu. Despite, the legibility

in Taiping town is more influenced by the gridiron system of the town planning.

These route options help to increase the accessibility in Taiping town with close and

short distances road that connected to each old shophouses‟ plots. Moreover, the

existence of heritage buildings and historical features in Taiping had assisted to the

visual cues to reach a place. In fact, the visual and accessibility legibility are induce

by the clarities and identifiable of activity nodes or landmark features in both

historic towns.

The historical buildings had characterised the formed of spaces and being as

the prominent historical tangible in both historic towns. As mentioned before, the

building types and functions have configured to the activities types and spaces

attributes. Thus, people memory and cultural experiences involve the tangible and

intangible of site history, cultural activities, spaces, legibility and the architecture

forms that evocative to a sense of place. In other words, the physical entities, social

components, and people‟s perceptions are ascertained to describe the meaning of

place. In sum, the view on cultural spaces in Kuala Dungun and Taiping historic

town have signified the composite of people way of life and social behaviour

interactions within public spaces or open spaces.

83

CHAPTER 4

FINDING, ANALYSIS, DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION

4.1 Introduction

Chapter 4 is divided into two parts with the beginning of finding analysis, and

discussion on both case studies in Kuala Dungun and Taiping and subsequently with

the research conclusion. The initial comparative analyses of two case studies are

discussed regards to each independent variables of this study are encompasses:

history background, social cultural activities, spatial attributes, legibility on visual

characters and accessibility, architecture form and structure. Meanwhile, the

similarities and differences of the qualitative data will be dissertated through

comparative analysis by interpreting the literature theories and case studies‟ findings

from chapter 2 and 3. In addition, the data collections through questionnaires survey

to verify local communities‟ perceptions on the roles of cultural spaces, the most

preferred cultural spaces for daily activities and the cultural spaces identification to

being as the identity of historic town. The questionnaire results are used to support

the research comparative analysis and discussions. Next, the analysis results and

findings used to explain the roles of cultural spaces characterising the identity of

historic towns in Malaysia. Yet, the end section of this chapter is to elucidate the

overall conclusion and the significant of cultural spaces implications to the identity

of historic town in Malaysia. Apart of conclusion, the summary of recommendation

is to elaborate the aspect of future research related to cultural space.

84

4.2 Analysis, Finding and Discussions

4.2.1 Historical Background

Taiping development was prompted in 1844s when first exportation of tin ore

to Britian while the Kuala Dungun is flourished in 1940s when the first exported iron

to Japan. Accordance to the history recorded, the name of two historic towns are

related to the meaningful historical backgrounds. Dungun is name that taken from

the native Dungun trees (Heritiera Littorialis) are many found at Kuala Dungun and

the Chinese phrase was connoted Taiping as the everlasting peace is to emblematise

Taiping as a peaceful town. Both historic towns have the similarity in the mining

evolutions where Kuala Dungun was developed beginning of iron ore

entrepreneurship whilst Taiping town was lead to tin mining industry. In present,

Kuala Dungun town was remained as fishing town which is clings on fishery

industry and marketing together with the small capacity of retail commodities.

Likewise, Taiping town have extensive of medium-scale commercial and specialised

retails which are available in the shophouses. Subsequently, the residential areas are

expansions from both old towns centre either the dwellers living in the shophouses or

nearby villages. Withal the morphological patterns and landuse distributions for both

historic towns have indicated the social cultural spaces and trading hub are situated

closed proximity to each others.

Therefore, these social activity spaces enable local community to utilise as

the gathering space intent for socio-economic vitality and recreational functions. In

Kuala Dungun, the morphological pattern was begun from old market and jetty at

Dungun River outspread to the inland where the old shophouses and the Jalan

Tambun main street were built to connect local villages and new town (Sura Gate).

This had been clarified the earlier cultural spaces are concentrated on mercantile

activities in old market (existing location of LKIM jetty), old shophouses and transit

jetty in the past. Nowadays, the only cultural spaces that remained vigorously are the

Dungun Market and waterfronts. At the same time, the waterfront recreational at

Pantai Teluk Lipat emerges as another imperative cultural space in Kuala Dungun.

There is also a heritage structure with the remnant portion of Sura Jetty or Tiang

Opal can be seen at the beachfront of Pantai Teluk Liapt. Tiang Opal is renowned

85

as the iron ore export jetty in 40s which had connected from Bukit Besi (the main

mining area in Dungun) directed to the Sura Jetty at the coastal area.

The perceptual findings evidenced people memories are associated to the

placemaking through how they perceiving the cultural spaces. Figure 4.1 shows that

natural landscape of Sungai Dungun and Pantai Teluk Lipat (21%) and the Pasar

Besar Dungun (21%) attained the utmost percentages as the most remembrance place

in Kuala Dungun. Notably of local communal activities are interrelated to

merchandise activity in marketplace, fishermen‟s livelihood and recreational

activities are engage to the waterfront. Figure 4.2 illustrated the most identification

spaces in Kuala Dungun. Accordingly, the memorable spaces in Kuala Dungun had

reflected Pantai Teluk Lipat and Pasar Besar Dungun achieved the major percentage

(28.9%) to being an important landmark in Kuala Dungun. As the distinctive

geography pattern of old town Kuala Dungun was positioned facing to the river

estuaries and coastal area enables the natural and aesthetic scenes to characterise the

imageability of Kuala Dungun as a fishing town. Indeed, people have expressed

their memories and the senses of place for each cultural space have implied the

discovery of activity experiences throughout the physical spaces or natural settings in

Kuala Dungun.

Figure 4.1: The memory spaces in Kuala Dungun

14

8

4

10

9

10

2

21

22

0 10 20 30

Riverfront

Fishing jetty

Open spaces : Padang astaka

Old shophouses

Historic features

Bus station

Scenic drive

Pasar Besar Dungun

Natural landscape

Percentage

Me

mo

ry s

pac

esi

n K

ual

a D

un

hgu

n

86

Figure 4.2: The identification of landmark place in Kuala Dungun

Whereas, Taiping historic town and its morphological pattern was began from

the main street which connected to ex-mining land. The town transformation is

followed to the main streets at Jalan Kota and Jalan Taming Sari with the extensions

of shophouses, market, and administrative buildings at both sides of the streets. In

other words, Taiping town have been developed in the well town planning which are

supported by infrastructure, facilities, entertainment, and recreational area. Today,

all the old shophouses are operates as retail, services shop, eateries and also the old

buildings are adaptive reused as hotels and new commercials. Therefore, the social

or cultural spaces are closely attached to the old shophouses, streets, Central Market

as well as the Lake Gardens and Esplanade. Despite, the identity of Taiping historic

town are intimately cohesion with people whom familiarise to that particular place

through the physical and social interactions. Figure 2.4 illustrates peoples‟

perception in assigning their memories on Taiping‟s cultural spaces.

The dominant percentage (23.7%) has shown Lake Gardens is the most

memorable cultural space in Taiping where it was one of the reclaimed ex-mining

lands which had converted into a peaceful town park for outdoor recreation. The

questionnaire have resulted the Old Clock Tower (14%), Taiping Central Market

(13.2%), and Bukit Larut (or Maxwell Hills) (12.3%) are categorised as the

remembrance cultural spaces by local people. Thus, the sign of landscape recreation

(Lake Gardens and Bukit Larut) and historical built forms located at Kota Street

6.7

28.9

28.9

4.4

13.3

2.2

2.2

4.4

2.2

2.2

2.2

2.2

0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35

Fishing jetty

Pasar Besar Dungun

Pantai Teluk Lipat

Sungai Dungun

Bus station

Light house

Tanjung Jara

Old shophouses

Pantai Kuala Abang

Uitm Dungun

Old police station

Railways sculpture

Percentage

Lan

dm

arks

87

(Clock Tower and Taiping old market) have indicated as the memorable cultural

spaces in Taiping town.

Figure 4.3: The memory cultural spaces in Taiping.

Furthermore, with the striking result of 39.2% notified the Lake Gardens was

the most memorable space and being as a landmark place to Taiping town. In fact,

the theories had proven the strong connection between time and memory to stimulate

the sense of place in connotation the history of place emphasised by Ferdous and

Nilufar (2008). Once, the evocative of Taiping Lake Gardens as a memorable

cultural space through site historical background and the greenery landscape adheres

to provide a pleasant family gathering spaces and outdoor recreational opportunities

to the public users.

Figure 4.4: The identification of landmark place in Taiping

10.5

23.7

4.4

2.6

9.6

13.2

2.6

5.3

14

12.3

1.8

0 5 10 15 20 25

Open spaces (e.g: Padang esplanade)

Town park (e.g: Lake Garden)

Pocket spaces in commercial and town centre

Old commercial & administrative buildings

Old shophouses

Taiping market (central market)

Wide Street (Thoroughfare)

Railway corridor

Historic features (e.g.: clock tower etc)

Natural landscape (e.g: Larut Hill)

Others, please specify: Taiping Zoo

Percentage

Me

mo

ry s

pac

esi

n T

aip

ing

39.2

15.7

17.6

7.8

3.9

2

2

2

2

2

2

2

2

0 10 20 30 40 50

Lake Garden

Bukit Larut

Taiping Zoo

Taiping Prison

Taiping Museum

Old shophouses

Clock Tower at Jalan Tamingsari

Clock Tower at Jalan Kota

Rain trees

Historical buildings

Masjid Lama

Hospital Taiping

Central Market

percentage

Lan

dm

arks

88

As summary, the cultural spaces in both historic towns are configured by the

layering of history, morphological pattern, cultural backgrounds, physical settings

and landuse distributions. Other than that, the history revealed Kuala Dungun‟s

name which have given after Dungun trees (Heritiera Littorialis) and Taiping in

Chinese words delineated as „Everlasting Peace‟. According to Mowla (2006), he

highlighted a name of a place together with the memory enabled to constitute the

natural identity to a place. Both towns attained the significant names in defining the

place‟s identity as regards to the historical background and the presence of physical

and social characters in creating the sense of place to the historic towns. The finding

was also paralleled with the theory that exemplified by Steel (1981); Ferdous and

Nilufar (2008); Montgomery, (1998); Carmona, et al., (2003) which concerned to the

sense of place are formed by the physical setting, social activity and people

experience to it. In fact, Lynch (1960) also described the more activities are

happening in a place subsequently will being generated more memories.

In the point of view, the collectives of memories through the understanding

of town‟s histories are accumulative from activity space experiences; articulate their

feeling and the way to perceive the cultural spaces. Mowla (2006) and Zeldin (1885)

believed the remaining of memory and previous experience ability to generate the

sense of place especially through the collective of past occasions and features.

Whilst, Lang (2005) also advocates that socio-behavioural and emotional are

connected to the sense of place. Therefore, the perception findings have resulted the

most recognisable cultural spaces in both historic towns are included Pantai Teluk

Lipat, Pasar Besar Dungun and Lake Gardens which are relative to the place

meanings, space environment and social factors. Additionally, these cultural spaces

also performed as the landmark and image to the historic towns. As Lynch (1960)

has emphasised the recognisable image (imageability) and significant visual elements

in urban setting strongly to create a landmark and identity to a place. In sum, the

historical background had evoked to the sense of history, memory, sense of place,

image or place meanings, and place identification which are important to induce

people for experience and cherish the phenomenon of a particular cultural space.

89

4.2.2 Social-Cultural Activities

Social-cultural activity in Kuala Dungun and Taiping historic town are tied to

the routine activities and special event celebrations which have performed in cultural

spaces. Notwithstanding, the frequently visits and familiarisation to these cultural

activities enable people interacted with the social spaces in differences perceptions

and cognitions in both historic town settings. The respective historic towns are

intensified by the active marketplaces, shophouses, street activity, and outdoor

recreational with the tendency to fulfil people needs, socialisation, and the meanings

of place are configured from the characters of cultural spaces. Yet, a successful

urban space is reliant to the efficiencies of space associated with human activity

(Jacobs, 1961; Suhana & Norsidah, 2008). Additionally, these heritage cultural

spaces have contributed as the important features to generate the dynamic socio-

economic, creating workplace, neighbourhood activities, and communal facilities.

Kuala Dungun is a fishing town therefore the local cultural activities are

closed related to the riverfront and fishermen activities. In which, the river and

coastal area became the main component of fishermen‟s livelihood as well as a

workplace. Table 4.1 shows the types of favourable cultural spaces in Kuala

Dungun. The largest percentage of the respondents favoured (36.2%) to the local

market, Pasar Besar Dungun which is located adjacent to fishing jetty, riverfront and

old shophouses area. This market is preferred by Kuala Dungun‟s people because of

the selling and buying activities intact to people needs and also socialisation affairs.

Besides, the local people also favoured riverfront and jetty (29.3%) because of the

cultural space was the fishermen workplace and recreational spots. Indeed, Figure

4.3 illustrated the trading activity is leading the highest percentage (21.2%) as

regarded to the most prominent social-cultural activity in Kuala Dungun. It can be

denoted as socio-economic activity is notably leverages to commercial commodities

in Dungun Market. As Montgomery (1998 and 2003) stated economic activities is

the most important factor to form a greater urban place as well the social and cultural

aspects.

90

Table 4.1 Types of favourable cultural spaces in Kuala Dungun

Types of cultural spaces Percentage (%)

i. Riverfront and jetty 29.3

ii. Padang Astaka 15.5

iii. Pasar Besar Dungun 36.2

iv. Pocket Spaces between old shophouses 1.7

v. Scenic promenade and Pantai Teluk Lipat 17.2

Meanwhile, the recreational activity (16.5%) is esteemed as the secondary

preferred activities in Kuala Dungun historic town (Refer to Figure 4.5). The boat

jetty located at Sungai Dungun functions as departure jetty to Tenggol Island.

Although Pantai Teluk Lipat is hazardous for swimming activity but there are many

leisure activities had been carried out such as fishing, picnic, sightseeing, scrolling,

and others passive activities. Moreover, the monthly and annual fishing competitions

are the occasional event that have enlivens the recreational activity at Pantai Teluk

Lipat. The many types of socio-cultural activities and the natural settings of the

riverfront and waterfront had attracted people to participate as an optional activity

viable for leisure and relaxation activities.

Figure 4.5: The types of activities in cultural spaces of Kuala Dungun

Taiping town are well provision by numerous of commerce, recreational

facilities, and entertainment hub. Commonly, the merchandise activities executed at

old shophouses, old market, some other retails and services shops. Even if, some of

the street corners and pocket spaces in between the shophouses are cas eating place

or hawker stalls. The Lake Gardens and Esplanade utilised as outdoor recreation for

14.1

21.2

10.6

0

5.9 7.1

16.512.9 11.8

00

5

10

15

20

25

Pe

cen

tage

Types of activitiy functions at the cultural spaces in Kuala Dungun

91

many sports and healthy activities. Through the questionnaire survey, Lake Gardens

is resulted as the most favoured cultural space in Taiping which obtained the highest

percentage (41.1%) as a recreational area (Table 4.2). Furthermore, the recreational

or leisure activity is put on as the priority social activity among Taiping communities

is indicated in Figure 4.6. This means that Taiping people are often participated in

optional activities through social interactions, meeting, gathering, and conducting the

outdoor physical activity particularly in public recreational park. As stated by Gehl

(1971), if the outdoor physical is in the good condition directly the optional activities

will be increased.

Table 4.2 Types of favourable cultural spaces in Taiping

Types of cultural spaces Percentage (%)

i. Lake Gardens 41.1

ii. Padang Esplanade 15.1

iii. Central market (Taiping Market) 20.5

iv. Pocket Spaces between old shophouses 11.0

v. Thoroughfare (Wide Street in between shophouses) 12.3

Likewise, respondents also favoured Central Market (20.5%) where it is a

notable‟s cultural space for merchandise activities, seating place, shopping, and

socialisation. As well as the hawker stalls in Taiping old market operated within 24

hours in local food selling throughout in the morning until night time. Due to the

long hour‟s operation and actively functioned, local people have named that hawker

stalls as „siang malam‟ or „day night market‟. The phenomenon in Central Market

had thrived to varieties of social activities to reveal as the active market place for

economic and social cultural vitalities.

Figure 4.6: The types of activities in cultural spaces of Taiping

10.2

5.78

1.1

13.610.2

26.1

13.6

1.1

10.2

05

1015202530

Pe

rce

nta

ge

Types of activity function at the cultural spaces in Taiping

92

As summary, the social cultural activities in both historic towns are reliance

on the necessary activity or everyday activity. In the case of Kuala Dungun, local

people are favoured Pasar Besar Dungun to conduct social-economic activities

(trading) and the outdoor recreational at fishing jetty and waterfronts. Whereas,

Taiping Lake Gardens was the most preferred outdoor recreational possess of

pleasant landscape setting and amenities are able to support local community in

everyday socio-cultural activities. Taiping old market was being a cultural activity

spot intended for merchandise activities and eating place. Ferdous and Nilufar (2008)

have elucidated the types of cultural activity accomplished in cultural spaces are

gathered by people way of life and phenomenon experiences. In other words, the

finding implies both historic towns are associated relative to people lifestyles and

social integrations by trading activities, gathering, meeting, social interactions,

recreational, and eating culture.

On the other hand, the less favourable of cultural space are verified by the

lowest percentage of vote which included the green open field (Padang Astaka and

Padang Esplanade), street and pocket spaces in between old shophouses in both

historic towns. Due to the limitation of activity choices and only certain occasion is

executed whereby have caused Padang Astaka to became less popular among the

local communities. The dissimilarities of green open spaces in Taiping which are

more actively used compare to Kuala Dungun. It‟s because local people in Kuala

Dungun are preferred the vibrant seafront‟s activity at Pantai Teluk Lipat. As

Montgomery (2003) and Carmona et al., (2003) have elucidated one of the

achievement in good cultural activities must be extensive of daytime and nighttimes

activities. Nevertheless, there is lack of evening activity in Kuala Dungun old town.

By contrast, the “day night” or “Siang malam” market in Taiping old market have

served as eating and meeting place during morning session until nighttimes.

The old shophouses in Kuala Dungun have been turning down because of the

incompatible uses, declining of the dwellers and the buildings are in dilapidated and

ruined conditions. In the same time, the poor circumstance of old shophouses in

Kuala Dungun also affected to the pocket spaces and street are inactive used. Again,

the theories had proven the liveliness of outdoor activities is depended on physical

setting factor and the quality of public space (Gehl, 1971; Whyte, 1992; and

93

Carmona and Tiesdell, 2007). But in Taiping, the informal street activities are still

active compare to Kuala Dungun. Through the site investigation, there are groceries,

food vendors, newspaper stall, outdoor eating stalls, pedestrian passage, and the

merchandise activities are attach to old shophouses.


Cultural spaces in old towns are amalgamated by the important physical

attributes such as street pattern, administrative building, recreational (Padang or

playing field, and religious place for worships (Basri and Suhana, 2008). The

integral part of the private spaces and public spaces in the historic towns of Kuala

Dungun and Taiping had formed the socio-cultural settings in between to the old

shophouses district, market, street, located adjacent to government building and

public recreational park. Through the literature study, cultural space is analogues to

urban space or public space. Apparently, the public spaces or cultural spaces‟

characteristics are accordingly to the supportive by ownership (how public space is

managed), accessibility, and social or community interaction (Kohn, 2004 and

Carmona, 2010).

The spatial activities in Kuala Dungun are shaped by the main commercials

building (old shophouses and market), the vast natural urban space (Sungai Dungun

and Pantai Teluk Lipat) and the linear street. The spaces in Kuala Dungun are

erected for trading or commerce activity, mercantile culture, and leisure recreational

are profoundly to create the social and community spaces in Kuala Dungun old town.

Therefore, these cultural spaces in also play an important roles to enhance the

imageability and identity as a historic town. The questionnaire survey resulting

majority Kuala Dungun communities decided Pasar Besar Dungun (the highest 90%)

and Pantai Teluk Lipat (86.7%) as the most prominent identity in Kuala Dungun

town (refer to Figure 4.7). Conversely, the old shophouses and the pocket spaces

gained the lowest percentage (only 10% of overall results) which is not prominent to

remain as heritage identity of Kuala Dungun.

94

Figure 4.7: Types of cultural spaces perform as identity of Kuala Dungun

The findings had examined that meanings of cultural spaces are strongly

engage to history background, significance landmark and social interactions. Kuala

Dungun market place had created active commercial and social spaces in connecting

the closed proximity fishing jetty, riverfront, and informal market (extension from

the main market). The spaces settings in between the internal and external public

spaces in Dungun market allowed people to conduct many activities such as selling,

buying, shopping, meeting, and eating. Moreover, the reminiscence of Sura jetty or

Tiang Opal positioned at Pantai Teluk Lipat has evoked the historic town‟s memory.

Besides, the natural open spaces as well as the serenity beachfront have connecting

Kuala Dungun old town and new town by the scenic road (at Jalan Pantai Sura).

Taiping town centre is connected by the gridiron street system, buildings

layout, and numerous pocket spaces and green open spaces. The typologies of

physical spaces and activities settings informally have constructed types of cultural

spaces in Taiping. Hence, the characteristics of these cultural spaces in Taiping had

reflected the image as a heritage town. Regarding to the findings result, the highest

percentage (100%) has verified Lake Gardens perform as the identity place for

Taiping (Figure 4.8). The physical settings of Lake Gardens have emerged as green

backdrop to Taiping town, provided relaxation landscapes and green amenities for

outdoor leisure and physical sports activity. Furthermore, the calmness recreation in

73

46.6

90

33.3

86.7

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

Waterfront and jetty

Padang Astaka Kuala Dungun Market (Pasar

Besar Kuala Dungun)

Pocket Spaces between old shophouses

Scenic promenade and

Pantai Teluk Lipat

Pe

rce

nta

ge

Types of cultural spaces in Kuala Dungun

95

Lake Gardens engendered to the harmonised of Taiping which had symbolized as the

„Everlasting peaces‟. Adversely, the pocket spaces in between old shophouses

unfavourable to be an identity to Taiping with the lowest percentage (30%).

Figure 4.8: Types of cultural spaces perform as identity of Taiping

There are three important points to be discussed about the spatial attribute

had influenced to the character of cultural space in both historic towns. Initially, the

space setting is one of the physical components to establish an identity of place.

Consen (1960) and Carmona (2003) have denoted that the traditional urban patterns

are composited of important street, land uses, building structure, and plot pattern

(building lot). Hence, the traditional form and physical attributes are essential to

characterised the identity of Kuala Dungun and Taiping as historic town. Through

the reviews, Taiping remained the compactness of traditional form compare to Kuala

Dungun town. The densities of building blocks have refined to the urban fine grain

to increase the permeability of Taiping town. In contrary, the intervention of

piecemeal development caused to the space modification and undefined spaces had

existence in old town Kuala Dungun. Therefore, these legibility spaces in Kuala

Dungun are weakly in connecting the historic town with the periphery area in

compare to Taiping town.

100

46.756.6

3036.7

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

Lake Garden Padang Esplanade

Central Market Pocket Spaces between old shophouses

Thoroughfare (Wide Street in

between shophouses)

Pe

rce

nta

ge

Types of cultural spaces in Taiping town

96

The key perspective expressed by Basri and Suhana (2008) where retail

activities and inhabited spaces, and the functions of each ground level in shophouses

have created pleasant and liveliness to the townscape. Therefore, people who live in

the historic town profitable from the local facilities that provided in the town centre.

In the same point of view, Relph (1976) and Hauge (2007) have emphasised the

living area is the most imperative to stimulate place identity. However, the cultural

spaces survey for both historic towns have resulted the identity and people

conceptions about the settings and activity at the shophouses area are inactive and

almost run-down. The most critical case was in Kuala Dungun, whereby 102 units

of shophouses are categorised in poor conditions and including 44 numbers of

shophouses had turn into storages and warehouses. In Taiping, the buildings

conditions are much better than Kuala Dungun but some of the pocket spaces are not

well maintained and converted into car parking lots. There are partly shophouses in

Taiping had been adaptive reuse became commercial hotels and restaurants. Due to

that situation, the living households (private spaces) and neighbourhood socialisation

became decreased whereas the shophouses only active in commercial and retail

purposes.

Similarly, the street characteristics are also accordance to the shophouses

activities. Though, the wide street in Taiping retained as the commerce street

suchlike Jalan Kota are known as retails of furniture and kitchen utensils whilst Jalan

Pasar is amalgamated of jewellery and pawn shops. The activities at Taiping

shophouses are more liveable and robust compare to Kuala Dungun. Basri and

Suhana (2008) also stated religious place is one of the culture attribute which is most

visible and signify to the characters of traditional town. In contrast, Kuala Dungun

and Taiping are not significantly influenced by worship although it was the important

religious gathering place for local ethnics. Indeed, the cultural spaces in Kuala

Dungun and Taiping historic town are strongly influenced by the mercantile culture,

workplace, and recreational rather than religious place.

Based on the discussion, spatial attributes are the key component to shape the

cultural spaces and space networks in historic town context. The clear images that

connected to spatial and other physical objects are possible for people to move easily

and quickly (Lynch, 1960; Carmona et al., 2003; Zalina and Ismail, 2009). The

97

notions of perceived each cultural spaces and physical settings was the impression to

express the identity of a place. Thus, the understanding and recognising of space

setting enable to refine the imageability of a historic town. In sum, the perceptual

findings have revealed the most outstanding cultural spaces are the natural or man-

made landscape spaces and the marketplaces which have characterising the identity

of Kuala Dungun and Taiping town. It can be disclosed that the most frequently

used of space interactions with the routine or socio-cultural activities are influenced

to the sense of place.

4.2.4 Legibility on Accessibility and Visual Characters

The legibility of historic towns in Kuala Dungun and Taiping are dependent

on nodes and landmarks in the form of activity or event spaces, historic building or

structure, and landscape features. Indeed, the cultural spaces of both historic towns

are strategically located in the town centres which are legible for users to move from

one space to another. Additionally, the literature studies have justified that building

blocks in between the street patterns have defined the urban spaces and increased the

permeability choice of routes. Thus, the visual and accessibility connections are

usable for people to get close proximity to all the activity spaces which are

concentrated in the historic towns.

The site investigation has verified the legibility of Kuala Dungun town is

assisted by the riverfront at Sungai Dungun and the Pantai Teluk Lipat beachfront

(Refer to Figure 4.9). The rows of old shophouses facing to the riverfront have

demarcated as old town of Kuala Dungun. Moreover, Jalan Tambun the main street

and Jalan Pantai Sura known as scenic drive (be at the distances of 8 Kilometres) are

being as the main road to connect the old town and new town (Sura Gate) of Kuala

Dungun. However, there is some built form which is obstacle the direct vista

towards the waterfronts. The monotonous forms of buildings scale, heights, and

skylines in Kuala Dungun are illegible for people to recognise and confine the spaces

position. In fact, the scenic views of Dungun River and costal (Pantai Teluk Lipat)

are the most visible landscape features perform as the place orientation indicator and

98

also to increase the routes legibility. Therefore, the visual permeability and

accessible legibility of these cultural spaces in Kuala Dungun are highly reliant to the

water edges and main street.

Figure 4.9: Main road at Jalan Tambun and Jalan Pantai Sura (left) and gridiron

system in Taiping town centre (right).

The literature studies have exemplified grid-iron system in Taiping was

connected by the main road was perpendicular to the cross street enables to improve

the accessibility and visual legibility of the historic town. Consequently, the choices

of route in Taiping town are strengthened by the permeability movement and visual

connections through types of historical buildings or monuments which have

signifying as the landmarks or nodes. Furthermore, the buildings‟ activities and the

active frontages in old shophouses have emphasised the image of a place and yet to

imbue the visual legibility in Taiping historic town. Hence, the linkages of wide

streets and the five-foot way attached to the shophouses have created the continuity

routes and comfort walking environments to pedestrian. Landscape elements such

as old rain trees also help to intensify the visual qualities and sense of place to the

Taiping historic town.

The research findings revealed the benefit of grid-iron layout in Taiping and

compactness of urban fine grains in the town centre had had created further

permeable networks for accessibility and visual connection from one area to another.

As highlighted by Basri and Suhana (2008), the physical attribute of historic town

such as street, frontages and five foot way and unique features of traditional town

99

had created: series vision, direct vistas and landmark or focal point to guide user in

movement. The proponent viewpoints which have proven Taiping town is more

legible with the primary supporting of permeable street pattern, significant historical

buildings or monuments, building frontages, and townscapes compare to Kuala

Dungun. Nevertheless, the natural landscape and scenic vistas had defined the

legibility of Kuala Dungun town. Inasmuch, Carmona et al. (2003) and other authors

have emphasised people‟s needs in a place should be achieved comfort and attractive,

accessible and good linkages, and created spaces to conducted varieties of social

activities. Besides, the user perceptions on comfort and accessibility is essential to

influence outdoor shopping activity at traditional street and shophouses of historic

city (Suhana and Norsidah 2008; Wan Hashimah, 2010). Herein, the legible of

visual and accessibility in Taiping town have provided a comfort walkability

environment as well as the alternative urban trails to discover and experience the

historic town. The convivial ambience in Taiping town are constituted by the active

frontages, street activities and sheltered five-foot way and aesthetic building facades.

Whereby, the pleasant of physical and social settings are encouraged people to

congregate and perform multiple activities in those cultural spaces in Taiping.


Heritage buildings are the tangible assets of the historical elements to

characterise the identity of historic town. The fabrications of cultural space are

enclosed by the internal or external buildings‟ spaces. Therefore, the building uses

are attachment to the public or privates‟ spaces with others physical urban

components such as street, pocket spaces in between the shophouses, five-foot way

and marketplace had established the compatible urban settings for formal and

informal activities. The influences of British colonial in Taiping whereby the

building architectural characters are greatly distinguish from Kuala Dungun heritage

buildings. However, the historical buildings are one of the main tangible

components to reveal the characteristics of historic towns both in Kuala Dungun and

Taiping town. According to Mohamed et al. (2001), the significant of historical

100

buildings viable to enhance the lucid image and unique identity as a heritage town in

distinguish from others places.

Kuala Dungun town possess of wooden old shophouses with simplicity

building facades and some are built in the modern styles. There are as well Malay

traditional houses which are located at Kampung Tanah Lot, a Malay village that

situated closed adjacent to Kuala Dungun old town. The present Malay vernacular

houses are left in small numbers and most of these houses have been modified or in

the decayed conditions. Its alike as the traditional fishermen dwellings, there are not

many left over since the Kuala Dungun new bridge had constructed across to Sungai

Dungun connected to Tanjung Jara, Teluk Bidara and Kuala Terengganu. Hence,

there are only few rows of old shophouses considered as heritage buildings which are

facing to the Dungun River have disclosed the significant image and position of

Kuala Dungun as a historic town. However, the most concerns critical issue was the

deterioration of old shophouses which had caused to the abating of social activity and

impinge on the space liveliness in Kuala Dungun.

On the other hand, the heritage buildings in Taiping are prominent with the

old shophouses used for commercial and inhabitant whilst the colonial buildings

which are functions as government buildings, religious institutions, association,

education, and club houses. The amalgamated buildings layouts in Taiping town are

conform to the gridiron road system planning. In the previous discussion, the

building layouts are accordance with the gridiron street pattern, the continuity of

building facades (building blocks), building massing, and the urban fine grain in the

historic town have improved the legibility of the town. Substantially, the unique

architectural styles of shophouses, old market, and administrative buildings emerged

as the landmark buildings in Taiping historic town. As well as the historical

structure such as Old Clock Tower situated at Jalan Kota is being as visible focal

point and historic landmark of Taiping town.

In sum, these heritage buildings in Taiping are more outstanding to denote as

a landmark of the historic town since the building characters are more varieties and

accentuated of active socio-cultural and commercial activities which are contrast to

Kuala Dungun. Nevertheless, the finding has exemplified the well town planning

101

and the physical components in Taiping viable the entire town to be legible for both

visual and accessibility. As mentioned by Bari and Suhana (2008), the visible

physical structure such as old shophouses, street frontages, five-foot way, and special

structures had shaped as visual indication, pleasant setting of proportional human

scale and in fact to generate the sense of place. Furthermore, Mowla (2002 & 2006)

has delineated that landmarks and buildings in the urban area denoted as space

indicator to avoid misplaced. The building structures have constituted to the

legibility of urban form and physical setting once again to support the users‟

movement and way finding in Taiping historic town. The research result also

consistent to Carmona et al. (2003) theory, he expressed building or physical spaces

are the visible physical object whereas it‟s would influence to people behaviour. So,

the finding has signified the architectural forms and historic structures are

accommodated with the physical settings in historic town act as space sign, visual

cues and references point to the cultural spaces. Particularly, the mass building and

spaces had created solid and void which are important to determine the types of

cultural spaces for certain activities.

4.2.6 Summary of Findings

The entire analysis denotes each cultural space in historic town on its identity

which are characterised by different physical and social attributes embraces: 1)

historical background; 2) socio-cultural activities; 3) spatial attributes; 4) legibility

on visual and accessibility aspect; and 5) architecture form and historical structure.

As mentioned by Niloofar and Ferdous (2008), cultural spaces are composited of

people perception and space interactions. Thus, the questionnaires survey had

conducted in both the study areas to examine the influence of user behaviour and

their conceptions on the cultural spaces.

Initially, the historical background included of the past related history,

morphological pattern, landuse distribution, early social activities and physical

spaces had moulded the elementary early settlements, physical context, townscape,

and the early socio-cultural pattern of a historic town. These historically entities are

102

imperative to familiarise or the feeling of „sense of place‟ in the historic towns.

Therefore, memory and landmark (remembrance) are the key elements to

substantiate the sense of place in forming the cultural spaces of Kuala Dungun and

Taipng. Apparently, the cultural spaces in each historic town are strongly influences

by the green recreational park and old market space. In particularly, the most

memorable cultural spaces in Kuala Dungun are the Pasar Besar Dungun and natural

space of waterfronts (Pantai Teluk Lipat and Sungai Dungun). Whereas, the Lake

Gardens, Bukit Larut and Central Market being as the most remembrance spaces in

Taiping town.

Subsequently, social cultural activities for both historic towns are leveraged

by routine or necessary activities rather than specific event celebrations. Hence, in

Kuala Dungun and Taiping the cultural activities are reinforced by range of

commercial, marketplaces, street, old shophouses, recreational spots (town park and

Padang) since in the past. In Kuala Dungun, the socio-cultural activities are

interconnected to the trading, workplace, and waterfront activities. Through the

questionnaire survey, Pasar Besar Dungun, fishermen jetty and waterfront are the

most favourable cultural spaces and frequently used for trading and social activities.

This findings claim that, the socio-economic was the key aspect to shape the cultural

spaces in Kuala Dungun as a fishing town. In the case of Taiping town, the

questionnaire result has connoted Lake Gardens and Central Market is the majority‟s

votes as favourable cultural spaces where people enable to perform outdoor physical

activities and commerce activities. The findings have notified active cultural spaces

in Taiping are inclined to recreational activities follow by the merchandise culture.

In sum, the socio-cultural experiences in Kuala Dungun and Taiping revealed

peoples‟ way of life congregated from mercantile activity, outdoor recreational, and

social gathering.

The spatial attributes are the vital physical settings unite with social attributes

to characterise types of cultural spaces in historic town. The mechanism of people

interacting with their activity experiences in a physical space is to refine the identity

of place. Consequently, the most significant cultural spaces in Kuala Dungun were

composited by the market places and the waterfront. Dungun market provides the

internal and external spaces for trading, merchandise sold, meeting, and eating.

103

Furthermore, the urban natural spaces of Sungai Dungun and Pantai Teluk Lipat

being as the identity‟s place to reminiscence Kuala Dungun as important transit port

and iron ore exportation jetty. These scenic waterfronts allocated as leisure

recreational hub for fishing, family gathering, picnic, sightseeing and other like.

Taiping was a well planning town and solidly supported by commerce, recreational

and entertainment places. Yet again, Lake Gardens is being the most meaningful

cultural space to embody the „Everlasting Peace‟ of Taiping collective with pleasant

landscape, green amenities and pocket spaces for physical sport as well as water

recreation activity. Central market is also recognised as identity place with

historically as the oldest market and „day night market‟ as commercial, social-

cultural, and eating place.

As mentioned before, the water edges (waterfronts), the main street (Jalan

Tambun) and scenic drive (Jalan Pantai Sura) in Kuala Dungun guidance for visual

and accessible legibility. Moreover, the rows of wooden old shophouses direct

facing to the open vista of riverfront and seafront have justified the location of old

town area in Kuala Dungun. Nonetheless, to be addressed by some of the ruined old

shophouses and incompatible commercial used had affected to the liveliness and

declining of community activities in that particular area. In opposed, the buildings

arrangements in Taiping town are followed the gridiron street pattern has formed the

mass buildings, urban fine grain, and the continuity building blocks to increase the

legibility on visual cues and routes permeability. Meanwhile, the varieties of

uniqueness architectural buildings, historical structure and active frontages of the

shophouses intensify to function as landmarks and activity nodes in Taiping town. In

short, the heritage buildings and other urban fabrics in Kuala Dungun and Taiping

have carried out in pertaining as the spatial indicator, physical connection and

created strong image and identity to the cultural spaces.

104

4. 3 CONCLUSION

Through the composited tri-fold interrelation in between man, culture, and

space to form the cultural spaces that characterising the identity of historic towns in

Malaysia. The presences of cultural spaces in historic towns had defined the

physical settings and social functions in Kuala Dungun and Taiping. Hence, the

composition of physical and social attributes in the layering of site historical

background, socio-cultural activity, spatial pattern, legibility (visual and accessibility)

as well as the architectural form and historical structures have constituted to the

meaningful cultural spaces in the historic town. Besides, the perceptual components

enable user to perceive cultural spaces through the sense of memories, familiarisation,

the feeling on sense of place, orientation, identifiable place and imageability. In

short, the collective of experiences retained of memories and meanings via activity

and space interactions to generate the remembrance identity of place.

These cultural spaces are performing as important roles of placemaking in

urban context especially the historic town. Cultural spaces have served the physical

place or space for socio-cultural activities, merchandise activity, workplace,

communal meeting place, outdoor eating place and a recreational hub. Furthermore,

these cultural activities robustly to induce the market places, street, pocket spaces,

and outdoor recreational to manifestation the differences image and characters of

historic towns. For instance, the Central Market in Taiping are amalgamated of two

old wooden buildings which are excesses more than 127 years old in sheltering all

the cultural activities where people selling, buying, price bargaining, interactions,

meeting, and eating, loading and unloading activities in liveliness atmosphere.

Whereas, the cultural ambience revealed of people selling and buying of

miscellaneous goods, bundles of colourful items, boisterous crowds, and varieties of

local foods was exemplify the old market became an identity and sense of place to

Taiping historic town. Other than that, the priority function of Pasar Besar Dungun

is utilised as mercantile activities and workplace. The findings have shown Dungun

market emerged as the most favourable cultural spaces because of the socio-

economic entities had gathered all scale of businesses complementary for local

livelihood, workplace, trading and social connections. Therefore, the discussion

105

designated the interpretation of social and economic cultural activities through

placemaking enables to enliven communal lifestyles, and people‟s needs.

The significance of cultural spaces in both historic towns had contributed to

the identities of place by interpretation of activities and space character. Through the

previous discussion, apart from marketplace, the natural and semi-natural urban

spaces in Kuala Dungun and Taiping are chosen as the identity place for both historic

towns. Conjunction to this main finding, the waterfronts and Lake Gardens

embodies the characteristics of cultural spaces and being a part of historic town

physical component. That means either natural or semi natural cultural space is

assembled of physical setting that allows diversity of socio-cultural activities

intermingles for outdoor recreational and communal activities. The most prominent

indication was people‟s perceptions and their collective of memories towards these

cultural spaces. Additionally, Kuala Dungun waterfronts and Taiping Lake Garden

are supported by the strong historical backgrounds that related to mining industries.

In fact, during the past these recreational spaces had been functioned as activity hub

as transit jetty and market place at riverfront (Sungai Dungun), iron ore export jetty

(Pantai Teluk Lipat), and the most prominent Lake Gardens was the first public park

in peninsula Malaysia and the largest green area of the heritage colonial town with

lush greenery landscapes and man-made lakes. Ultimately, the unique settings,

accentuate memories, outdoor activity experiences have anchored to the identities of

both historic towns.

As review, this research is generally focusing on the investigation in types of

cultural spaces that influence to historical towns in Malaysia context. The

identifying of cultural spaces in both historic towns will be contributed to the

management and preservation of cultural spaces in historic towns. Most of these

social spaces are being neglected although there are belonging to the town‟s physical

settings. The literature studied have justified street, five-footway and pocket spaces

in old shophouses are consider as physical and cultural attributes to from a traditional

town. In conversely, the most critical findings of are the traditional street and pocket

spaces in between old shophouses in Kuala Dungun and Taiping are facing the

declining of uses and the alteration to the place‟s identity. These cultural spaces in

Kuala Dungun and Taiping are unlike Melaka Historical City where the street

106

characteristics and active frontages at old shophouses and townhouses are more

vibrant with varieties of shopping and eateries. Likewise, Padang or Esplanades is

one of the cultural spaces which are restricted to the choices of social activities for

different group of users. Yet, there is certain formal event such as special ceremony

and National Day celebration which is executed only occasionally in Padang

contrasting to the waterfront and public park where these spaces have supported

various types of recreational activities. Nevertheless, each historic town are

possessed by distinction of physically character, cultural practice and identity.

Notably, the cultural spaces in Kuala Dungun and Taiping were actively taken place

by local marketplaces (old market) and natural urban spaces (waterfront and Lake

Gardens). Inasmuch, it was essential to preserve the space character and the

community way of life or their routine activities akin to cultural activities which have

strengthen the heritage identity and urban fabrics of historic towns.

Due to the limitation of this research, the study on cultural spaces does not

involve the ethnically aspect in verifying the spaces uses interrelations for types of

cultural spaces consumption. So that, the suggestion for future research is to expand

the scope on the effectiveness of ethnic groups influences to the identity of cultural

spaces in historic town. Other than that, it was also interesting to explore types of

cultural spaces in difference scale of urban historic town or even historical city. It is

important to evidence the distinctive of historical background, morphological space

pattern, cultures, and lifestyles to create diverse identity of place. Consequently, it

would be useful to specify the heritage landscape as a part of cultural space studies.

Whereby, the heritage townscape and nature landscape are also the urban

components to structure the physical and social settings in urban areas. In fact, the

suggestion of the study on local communities‟ participation in cultural spaces

management in historic town is profoundly concerns to conservation approach. As

well as the communities involvements are being as education of heritage

conservation and public awareness to be responsibility in public or private cultural

spaces management.

107

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APPENDIX A

SURVEY QUESTIONAIRE: THE ROLES OF CULTURAL SPACES IN KUALA

DUNGUN

Personal Information: Tick () the box and fill in your answer in the provided blank.

Are you a:

Resident Visitor

Ethnicity:

Malay Chinese

Indian Others, please, specify:

............................................

Gender:

Male Female

How old are you?

.................................................................

Please answer the entire questionnaires from question number 1 to 5.

1. What do you think about the spaces in Kuala Dungun are important to you as a place

for?

Shopping

Trading

Religious

Working

Visiting

Gathering

Recreational / Leisure

Eating place

Tourism

Others, please specify:…………………………………………………………...

2. What make you the easiest to identify and remember about Kuala Dungun?

Please tick () more than one answer

Waterfront

Fish jetty

Open spaces (e.g: Padang astaka)

Old shophouses

Historic features (e.g.: Tiang opal)

Bus station

Scenic drive

Pasar Besar Kuala Dungun

Natural landscape (Sungai Dungun & Pantai Teluk Lipat)


115

3. What are the important features for you as a guide or reference to get to Kuala

Dungun?

…………………………………………………………………………………………

…………………………………………………………………………………………

…………………………………………………………………………………………

4. The following spaces are found in Kuala Dungun. Please tick () as many as you

think your favourite spaces for visit and perform your daily activities.

Waterfront and jetty

Padang Astaka

Kuala Dungun Market (Pasar Besar Kuala Dungun)


Scenic promenade and Pantai Teluk Lipat

5. How much do you agree or disagree that the following spaces can function as identity

for Kuala Dungun? (Circle your answer).

Spaces Strongly

Agree

Agree

Neutral

Disagree

Strongly

Disagree

i. Waterfront and jetty

5 4 3 2 1

ii. Padang Astaka

iii. 5 4 3 2 1

iv. Pasar Besar Dungun

(Kuala Dungun Market ) 5 4 3 2 1

v. Pocket Spaces between

old shophouses

5

4

3

2

1

vi. Scenic promenade and

Pantai Teluk Lipat

5

4

3

2

1

THANK YOU

KUALA DUNGUN/2 NOV 2011

116

APPENDIX B

SURVEY QUESTIONAIRE: THE ROLES OF CULTURAL SPACES IN TAIPING

Personal Information: Tick () the box and fill in your answer in the provided blank.

Are you a:

Resident Visitor

Ethnicity:

Malay Chinese

Indian Others, please, specify:

............................................

Gender:

Male Female

How old are you?

.................................................................

Please answer the entire questionnaires from question number 1 to 5

1. What do you think about the spaces in Taiping are important to you as a place for?


Shopping

Trading

Religious

Working

Visiting

Gathering

Recreational / Leisure

Eating place


2. What make you the easiest to identify and remember about Taiping?


Open spaces (e.g: Padang esplanade)

Town park (e.g: Lake Garden)

Pocket spaces in commercial and town centre

Old commercial buildings & administrative buildings district office, prison etc

Old shophouses

Taiping market

Wide Street (Thoroughfare)

Railway corridor

Historic features (e.g.: clock tower etc)

Natural landscape (e.g: Larut Hill)


117

3. What are the important features for you as a guide or reference to get to Taiping?

……………………………………………………………………………………..

………………………………………………………………………………………

………………………………………………………………………………………

4. The following spaces are found in Taiping. Please tick () as many as you think

your favourite spaces for visit and perform your daily activities.

Lake Garden

Padang Esplanade

Taiping Market (Central market)


Thoroughfare (Wide Street in between shophouses)

5. How much do you agree or disagree that the following spaces can function as identity

for Taiping? (Circle your answer).

Spaces Strongly

Agree

Agree

Neutral

Disagree

Strongly

Disagree

i. Lake Garden 5 4 3 2

1

ii. Padang Esplanade 5 4 3 2

1

iii. Taiping Market (Central

market) 5 4 3 2 1

iv. Pocket Spaces between

old shophouses

5

4

3

2

1

v. Thoroughfare (wide

street in between

shophouses)

5

4

3

2

1

THANK YOU

TAIPING/2 NOV 2011

the roles of cultural spaces characterising the identity of

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