Amirul Jamil

Malacca shophouses in Malaysia contain historical wisdom, especially from design planning. The utilisation of these shophouses includes inhabitants' comfort, social and cultural needs. Most architectural research only emphasises determining the tangible aspect of observation for a shophouse, while empirical analysis is not presented. Thus, this paper is exploratory research to determine the shophouse's visibility and spatial connectivity through empirical approaches as an extension of the observation analysis approach of spaces. The paper aims to explore the spatial relationship between spaces and users by accessing the spatial connectivity of spaces by adopting space syntax. The selected heritage shophouses are Baba Nyonya Heritage Museum & Fwu Chang Gallery. The research sample was taken from the archival system of UCSI University for this exploratory research approach. This research adopts visual graph analysis (VGA) as a quantitative analytical tool to produce the exact values for space relationships. The spatial visibility value is then compared with a coloured chart according to its space categorisation. This study discovered that the Baba Nyonya Heritage Museum is bigger and has more spectrum depth in terms of topological connectivity away from the public street to create its own intimate indoor social integrated spaces. As a result of its simple topological space pattern, Fwu Chang Gallery has the most well-defined space function, and its public gallery workshop function relies heavily on street networks.

In Malaysia, streets could be identified as public spaces for various activities especially at the heritage district. This study aims to promote street node as a potential liveable and sociable public space between buildings focussing on Johor Bahru city. The paper objectively proposes a method on identifying street nodes liveability pattern and introduce a relationship between occupied sociophysical and visual connectivity. It is argued that people sitting and standing at the sidewalks can also be affected by the visual connection amongst the pedestrians in addition to the condition to the street itself. The distribution of static activities of people are measured according to socio-physical elements and visual graph analysis (VGA) in Depthmap software. The results show simple relationship between the socio-physical element and the presence of static activities of people in the walkway. It is suggested that street designers, business operator and the authority could be able to create liveable spaces according to the environmental conditions and types of existing static activity.

The resiliency of transportation infrastructures has been a major concern for the continuity of road services. In order to assess these issues, road network analysis is crucial to investigate the functioning of the existing road network and pinpoint each critical road segment. This enables early preparation for road operators and planners to focus on the road segment user most dependent on of which will be impacted most in case of disruption. This paper aims to introduce a method integrating different network analyses using a combination of three measures namely road segment length, betweenness centrality, and road density to identify critical road segments. The result shows the relationship between the different modes proposed with respect to the topological data implemented and concluded as the critical value of each road segment. This paper also includes the application of the methodology in a national scale region of Peninsular Malaysia road network.

Synopsis: Botanical parks are commonly placed in residential and commercial areas in the effort of minimising the impact from a massive and rapid development of cities. However, the low level of awareness towards the application of architectural spatial experience has led to the lack of usage of inspirational vegetation spaces in buildings and environment within the inner city of Kuala Lumpur. This thesis aims to optimize the visibility of human acquaintances to the visual field (isovist) of the vegetation spaces in the commercial and corporate district of the dense concrete jungle within the vicinity of Kuala Lumpur City Centre. In this case, the overall spatial configuration of the building is first determined and analysed by using Space Syntax Visual Graph Analysis (VGA). Next, the Isovist analysis is adopted in formulating the appropriation of spaces by the types of plants being exhibited and displayed in the effort to stimulate the aspect of loving our trees. The objectives are to identify the types of experiential spaces mediating the human acquaintances to the presence of green plants in the proposed botanical gallery. The journey of such experience started with the spatial visibility pattern of movement, leading through the sequence of vegetation spaces that are navigated by human sense of smelling and touching, depending on the spatial programs and activities. Next, the frequency of the architectural vegetation interventions towards human’s emotional need was recorded. The relation between visual connections and green plant spaces are then measured by the correlation analysis. Subsequently the building formation was then translated from the development of the green visual experience of the architecture that provides the relevant aspects of the design elements, which are suitable for enhancing the spatial environment wherein the different plants are located.

The sidewalk spaces in tropical cities are one of the most unique environmental settings that are found in Malaysia. The unique walkways embrace the blends of usages of the general urban physical environment. The sidewalks are often referred to as the five-foot walkway of shophouses, which have been traditionally built in city centres such as in Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia. This paper addresses the pattern of stationary activities of people in connection to the physical condition along the sidewalk spaces and its effect to the liveability of the area. The paper reviews the hypothetical insights by many scholars who claimed that the stationary pattern of behaviour was mainly influenced by the specific designated environmental design, conforming to the general cue of environmental probabilism. Hence it is argued that people sitting and standing in the sidewalks can also be affected by the visual connection amongst the pedestrians in addition to the condition to the sidewalk itself. The theory of "environmental possibilism" is then adopted to prove the case. The distribution of static activities of people performing their daily necessary, optional and resultant activities, are measured in relation to the physical, building, landuse elements existing on the sidewalks. People standing and sitting were observed and mapped several times and at different times in a single daylight. Through the visual explanatory diagrams, which is based on space syntax visual graph analysis in several layouts of sidewalk spaces, more objective condition of use of the sidewalks could be explained. The results show an interesting diagrammatic pattern between the sidewalk condition and the presence of static activities of people in the walkway. It is further suggested that urban designers could able to design liveable spaces according to the environmental conditions and types of existing static activity

Botanical parks been placed in residential and commercial areas in Kuala Lumpur to reduce the massive development impact. Low level of the awareness towards the application of the experiencing architecture lead to the inefficient inspirational vegetation space in Kuala Lumpur. This research aimed to optimize the visible experience of vegetation spaces in order to bring out the experiencing visual field of vegetation spaces hence stimulate the aspect of loving trees. The objectives of the research are to identify types of experiential spaces in the presence of green plants in botanical gallery based visual experiences and supported by smell and touch depending on space’s program. Next, the frequency of the architectural vegetation interventions towards human’s emotional need was measured and space syntax visual graph analysis was applied in finding the relation between visual connections and green plant spaces. This research focused on developing the green visual experiencing architecture by providing every aspects of design elements in designing vegetation spaces. This study hoped on providing better botanical architectural interventions towards the public. In seeking the possible solution, content analysis through literature reviews, case studies and a questionnaire were conducted throughout the study. This research has listed down the strategies and design elements in developing experiencing architectural philosophy based on visual field precisely in providing future inspirational vegetation spaces.

ABSTRACT A study was undertaken to evaluate the effects of green climbers on the thermal and lighting performance of a proposed academic building in Kuala Lumpur. A thermal model of green climbing plants was formulated using AUTODESK ECOTECT environmental simulation software. Model of climbing plants was created in order to test its shading performance in reducing overexposed glare, a passive daylighting environmental study environment. This paper addresses on designing environmentally in tropical climate and in line with computer simulation validation process. On the other hand, findings of a study with specific focus on the thermal and shading performance of a vertical deciduous climbing plant canopy were highlighted though out the paper. As for the initial conclusion, this study has resulted in lower annual energy transmittance for building surfaces, and these effects were more significant in the case of plant cover on glass panel design rather than a normal wall.

Sustainability is how biological systems remain diverse and productive for the healthy environment. Therefore, creating and preserving healthy environments are necessary for the survival of humans. Nowadays, the current rapid growth of the population demand for a massive development and it is an urge for us to conduct a sustainable development while sustaining the ability of our natural systems. Productive natural system will continue to provide the ecosystem services and the natural resources for us. Sustainable development has been overly interpreted in terms of three domains, “environmental, economic and social”. This paper will address the issues of social culture, governance and the environment ways to solve it with the guides of some good several case study from well-known and established sustainable city.

The trees around us are extremely important and have always been necessary for improving the human condition. The current rapid growth of the population demand for a massive development hence it is an urge for us to conduct a sustainable development while sustaining the ability of our natural ecosystems especially the habitat of our flora. The 1996 Environmental Quality Report (DOE, Malaysia) notes that almost all aspects of the environment have been affected by development activities ranging from deforestation to erosion, hazardous & toxic wastes to water & air pollution and creation of heat islands. Less appreciation and low level of the awareness towards the green ecology can be seen as the main factor contributing to the air pollution and environmental degradation in Kuala Lumpur. This paper addresses the necessity of reviving the green ecological awareness through the concept of “loving our trees’ coherently with some arguments on the green ecosystem especially at the heart of Kuala Lumpur. The initial aim of establishing this study is to bring a society understand about environment pollution and to drive an educated societies indirectly to senses of environmental concern (Comerio, 1984).

This online sharing session, initially presented to the startup architecture design and build company Arr Studio in September 2021 by Amirul Hakim, delves into the historical and contemporary dynamics of Johor Bahru's urban landscape. Special thanks to Arr Studio's director, Mr. Hakim Onn, for the invitation. The session was later shared with PERTUBUHAN KOTA KITA SABAH (KOTAKITA) in October 2021 as part of a twinning initiative between Johor Bahru and Kota Kinabalu, with gratitude to the president, Rashidah Kamaluddin.

The presentation begins with an exploration of the Sungai Segget River, located by the border of Singapore, and critically examines the shifting connectivity of Johor Bahru towards Singapore. Despite the Causeway Bridge's century-long existence, the relocation of the Custom Immigration Quarantine (CIQ) center in the past 20 years has led to a noticeable decline in Johor Bahru's city center, resulting in a sense of abandonment.

Additionally, the session addresses the significant demographic changes following the demolition of low-cost high-rise housing, specifically in Bukit Cagar and Lumba Kuda. This urban transformation has left a void in the social fabric of the city, prompting a need for rethinking urban connectivity and demographic strategies to revitalize Johor Bahru.

In an engaging online YouTube session held in 2022, I explored the pivotal role architects play in urban planning, particularly for UiTM Master Architecture students. This talk was graciously hosted by Studio Master, Ar. Puteri Mayang Bahjah Zaharin, and organized by the dedicated student's committee leader, Shamimie Johari.

The presentation delved into the multifaceted involvement of architects in drafting local city plans and highlighted their crucial position as intermediaries among the government, corporate entities, and society. Through collaborative efforts, architects contribute to creating sustainable, functional, and aesthetically pleasing urban environments. This session aimed to inspire and educate future architects on the importance of their role in shaping our cities and fostering cohesive urban development.

Walking is a basic mode of transportation for thousand years before humans were relying on faster animal to travel. However, our city seems to be stuck at transport-oriented development period upon the creation of city planning act right after the world war period. Have we ever questioned our freedom of walking when we were stuck with no vehicle to move around? Have we ever thought of just walking in the midst of traffic jam? Conceptually, vehicular is just a machine for faster and longer reliability to induce social and economic interaction.

Personally, I do think that 400meter is a compulsory walkable environment from any traffic generators or residential area in hot humid climate of Johor. Furthermore, we could increase the walkability distance to 1 km with pleasurable environment. I am still generating various spatial analysis with regards of pedestrian behaviour here in Johor Bahru.