DECODING SPATIAL PATTERNS IN LOW INCOME URBAN HOUSING THROUGH VERNACULAR REFERENCES
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.21837/pm.v24i41.2001Keywords:
Low-income group, Urban housing, Space syntax, Vernacular architecture, Justified permeability graphAbstract
Rapid urbanization has increased the challenges of providing adequate housing for low-income communities, particularly in Malaysia, where 85% of the population is expected to live in urban areas by 2040. Modern housing development often prioritizes on efficiency and cost, overlooking the cultural and social dimensions embedded in vernacular practices. This study aims to examine whether the spatial patterns in low-income urban housing in the Klang Valley demonstrate any interaction with vernacular knowledge, or whether they have been entirely shaped by modern ideas. Using diagrammatic analysis through the space syntax method, the study compares the floor plans of low-income urban housing and traditional vernacular houses in remote areas of Peninsular Malaysia. Justified Permeability Graph are used to identify patterns of integration and segregation concerning access, movement, and spatial hierarchy. The findings reveal that although modern housing responds to urban living needs, elements of vernacular spatial logic do remain. However, there are significant differences, particularly in the relationship between domestic spaces and external areas. Urban housing tends to exhibit a more individualistic character, as regulated by government policies. Conversely, vernacular houses show a stronger integration between interior and exterior spaces to foster closer community ties. This study highlights the importance of integrating local cultural values into urban housing design in order to create more inclusive, meaningful, and socially connected living environments.
Downloads
References
Bellal, T. (2004). Understanding home cultures through syntactic analysis: The case of Berber housing. Housing, Theory and Society, 111–127.
Carsten, J., & Hugh-Jones, S. (Eds.). (1995). About the house: Lévi-Strauss and beyond. Cambridge University Press.
Dasar Perumahan Negara. (2018). Kementerian Perumahan dan Kerajaan Tempatan. https://www.pmo.gov.my/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/Dasar_Perumahan_Negara_2018-2025__.pdf
Grozdanović, N. P., Stoiljković, B., Jovanović, G., & Keković, P. M. A. (2017). The spatial comfort of social housing units in the post-socialist period in Serbia in relation to the applicable architectural norms. Cities, 62, 88–95.
Hassan, A. A. G. (2022). Kemiskinan sifar = 0.00&. BebasNews. https://bebasnews.my/2022/03/12/
Haniza, I. N., Ati Rosemary, M. A., Raha, S., & Muhammad Najib, M. Z. (2016). Rethinking space design standards toward quality affordable housing in Malaysia. MATEC Web of Conferences.
Hanson, J. (1998). Decoding homes and houses. Cambridge University Press.
Husna, S., & Nurizan, Y. (1987). Housing provision and satisfaction of low income households in Kuala Lumpur. Habitat International, 27–38.
Idrus, Y. (1996). Rumah tradisional Negeri Sembilan: suatu analisa seni bina Melayu. Fajar Bakti.
Idrus, R. (2003). Isu dan masalah rumah kos rendah di Pulau Pinang: Kajian kes pembinaan rumah kos rendah di Lot 1241, Mukim 12, Daerah Barat Daya, Pulau Pinang. Tesis sarjana sains yang tidak diterbitkan. Universiti Sains Malaysia.
Ishak, S., & Hassan, A. A. G. (1997). Pembangunan, migrasi penduduk dan kualiti hidup masyarakat bandar dan luar bandar. Seminar Kebangsaan Pertumbuhan Ekonomi dan Kualiti Hidup. Universiti Utara Malaysia, Sintok, Kedah Darul Aman: Universiti Utara Malaysia.
Ismail, S. (2019). Agenda perumahan: Peranan kerajaan, pasaran dan masyarakat. Kuala Lumpur: Institut Penyelidikan Khazanah.
Juliana, A. N., Mariney, M. Y., & Fauza, A. G. (2014). Penempatan semula setinggan di bandar dan implikasinya terhadap komuniti. Jabil Mapjabil, Mazdi Marzuki dan Zikri Muhammad (eds). Isu-isu petempatan di Malaysia. Hlm, 55–71.
Kamarul, A. K. A., Alshawi, M., Zuhairi, A. H., Mohd, R. A., Mohd, N. N., & Ahmad, T. H. (2009). Industrialised Building Systems (IBS): A review of experience in UK and Malaysia construction industry. Paper proceedings in 2nd Construction Industry Research Achievement International Conference (CIRAIC), 3rd – 4th November, 2009, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Kuchiba, M., Tsoubouchi, Y., & Maeda, N. (1979). Three Malay villages: A sociology of paddy growers in West Malaysia. Honolulu: University of Hawaii Press.
Maina, J. J. (2014). Discovering hidden patterns: An overview of space syntax method in architecture and housing research. Department of Architecture Seminar Series, 18–33.
Masturi, I., Malik, S., & Abidun, Z. (2001). Ibnu Khaldun: Mukaddimah (edisi terjemahan). Pustaka Al-Kautsar.
Norsazalina, H. S. (2001). Tinjauan ke atas rekabentuk rumah pangsa dari aspek sosiobudaya orang Melayu. Tesis sarjana sains yang tidak diterbitkan. Universiti Sains Malaysia.
Ostwald, M. J. (2011). The mathematics of spatial configuration: Revisiting, revising and critiquing justified plan graph theory. Nexus Network Journal, 445–470.
Park, J. (2017). One hundred years of housing space standards: What's now? London. Housing spacestandards.co.uk.
Rahman, N. A. S. A., & Manaf, A. A. (2020). Pandangan penduduk terhadap program penempatan semula penduduk di perumahan awam Seri Melaka, Kuala Lumpur. Malaysian Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities, 5(11), 272–287. https://doi.org/10.47405/mjssh.v5i11.619
Rapoport, A. (1999). A framework for studying vernacular design. Journal of Architectural and Planning Research, 16(1).
Sadanand, A., Nagarajan, R. V., & Devadoss, M. (2021). Social role of the wall: The domestic vernacular architecture of South India. Structural Studies, Repairs and Maintenance of Heritage Architecture XVII PI-311.
Saleh Faghirzadeh. (2008). Sosiologi. Institu Terjemahan Negara Berhad. Kuala Lumpur.
Sani, N., & Ghani, S. N. F. C. (2021). Kepuasan kediaman perumahan kos rendah di Kota Bharu, Kelantan. Malaysian Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities.
Seo et al. (2022). Relocating home activities: Spatial experiments in Malaysian apartment houses to accommodate the vernacular lifestyle. Journal of Asian Architecture and Building Engineering. Taylor and Francis Group.
Sukimin, S. (2008). Persepsi terhadap kualiti dan kepuasan perumahan dalam kalangan pemilik rumah kos rendah di Kota Kinabalu Sabah Malaysia. Tesis sarjana muda yang tidak diterbitkan. Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, 6(11), 88–98. https://doi.org/10.47405/mjssh.v6i11.1170
Susanto, D., Nuraeny, E., & Widyarta, M. N. (2020). Rethinking the minimum space standard in Indonesia: Tracing the social, culture and political view through public housing policies. Journal of Housing and the Built Environment, 35, 983–1000. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10901-020-09770-4
Tagle, A. (2016). The social re-significant of housing. Unpublished thesis. Architectural Association School of Architecture.
Tosics, I. (1998). European integration and the east-central European ‘outsiders’. In M. Kleinman, W. Matznetter, & M. Stephens (Eds.), European integration and housing policy (pp. 276). London and New York: Routledge.
Trigueiro, E. (2015). Is there a Brazilian home? An overview of domestic space and modes of life. Proceedings of the 10th International Space Syntax Symposium. University College London.
UNICEF. (2021). Defining social norms and related concept. Retrieved from https://www.unicef.org/media/111061/file/Social-norms-definitions-2021.pdf
UN-Habitat. (2016). Urbanization and development. World Cities Report. https://unhabitat.org/sites/default/files/download-manager-files/WCR-2016WEB.pdf
United Nations. (2019). World urbanization prospects 2018: Highlights. Department of Economic and Social Affairs. Western Folklore Society, 37(2), 134–137. http://www.jstor.org/stable/1499320.
World Bank. (2016). Poverty and shared prosperity. Washington: World Bank.
Yahaya, M. H., Badaruddin, R. F. R., & Singh, P. S. J. (2017). Kesejahteraan sosial dan perumahan. SOSIOHUMANIKA, 10(2), 245–256.
Yahya, A. S., Hassan, A. A. G., & Ahmad, M. H. (2021). Stigma desakan ekonomi menenggelamkan kepentingan piawaian ruang perumahan (housing space standards) dalam menyediakan perumahan berkualiti untuk kumpulan B40 di Malaysia. Proceedings of the Malaysian National Economy. Online. Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia.
Yahya, A. S., & Ahmad, M. H. (2023). Pentafsiran sosial reka bentuk ruang domestik di Lembah Kelang, Malaysia. Pertanika Journal of Social Sciences & Humanities, 31(3).
Yahya, A. S. (2023). Pencirian ruang sosial antara perumahan B40 perbandaran dan rumah vernakular. Tesis doktor falsafah. Universiti Teknologi Malaysia.
Yusuf, M. (2012). Kepuasan penduduk program perumahan rakyat terhadap kualiti perumahan. Tesis sarjana yang tidak diterbitkan. Universiti Teknologi Malaysia.
Zainal, N. R., Kaur, G., Ahmad, A., & Khalili, J. M. (2012). Housing conditions and quality of life of the urban poor in Malaysia. ASEAN Conference on Environment-Behaviour Studies, Bangkok, Thailand, 16–18 July 2012.
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 Unported License.
Copyright & Creative Commons Licence
eISSN: 0128-0945 © Year. The Authors. Published for Malaysian Institute of Planners. This is an open-access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license.
The authors hold the copyright without restrictions and also retain publishing rights without restrictions.
