Urban Street Micro-Architecture in Malaysia: Sustainable Design Elements

Mobile micro-architecture type T6, at Taiping, Perak, Malaysia

This is an International Journal paper on my writing and research about micro-architecture. Published on Alam Cipta: International Journal on Sustainable Tropical Design Research & Practice, vol. 3, Decembar 2008, Issn1823-7231, pg.35-44. (accessible via Scopus through partnership with CSA Illumina)

*Also available on: //psasir.upm.edu.my/2500/1/4-Azimin_PDF.pdf

The snippets:

SUSTAINABLE DESIGN ELEMENTS FOR URBAN STREET MICRO-ARCHITECTURE IN MALAYSIA

Azimin Samsul M Tazilan¹⁺²,

Hood Salleh¹, Ibrahim Komoo¹ and Abdul Halim Ismail²

¹Insitute of Environment & Development (LESTARI)

² Department of Architecture, Faculty of Engineering & Built Environment,

Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (National University of Malaysia)

Tel: 00603 8921 6595/ 6299 Fax: 00603 8921 6841

azimintazilan@gmail.com

Abstract

Streets micro-architecture constructs are compact structures such as stalls, kiosks, phone booths, and toilets that one finds as one walks on the streets, alleys, walkways, pedestrian malls and such. Because of its smallness, they are usually seen to be unimportant in the development of townships and cities. In this paper a series of street investigation of human behavior within the retail built environment projected a unique results on how formal and informal street space is cultured. As Jacob (1993) stated a great street should have characters, therefore this event can bond a specific street identity within and would become a tourism product besides the daily retail activity. Micro-architecture, however, actually gives the first real impression of a town, city or country to visitors to a particular place or locale. Its impact is immediate and opinions are formed of the place and its people quite instantaneously. A lot of street micro-architecture are public amenities such as toilets and squares. Base on current phenomenology research studied, it gives a better justification on sustainable elements approach on street microahitecture in Malaysia. Thus, in this research and practise base paper, it is imperative to study and understand its functions, aesthetics and design elements so that a sustainable architectural plan and street identity can be developed for the comfort of locals and visitors alike.

Key words: Urban, Street Micro-architecture, Design Elements, Sustainable

Micro-architecture type T2, at Jalan TAR, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia