A Case Study of Johor Bahru, Malaysia
The different usage of public places and spaces in urban areas is the focus of this study. It concentrates on the use of public places and spaces in Wong Ah Fook located in Johor Bahro city centre. The study is going to examine the way that different people utilize public places and spaces to examine how social interactions vary by age, gender or place. Moreover, this study investigates on the physical qualities of public places and spaces in the case study. The consideration of findings is on their relation of policies due contested and shared places, safety and security, interactional relationships, and the managing of public places and spaces. Regarding the aim of this study, two methods approaches which consist of questionnaire and observation approaches is undertaken. Therefore, nine types of existing public places and spaces that considered representative of the public places and spaces of the case study as whole are carried out. In addition, due data analysis, this study investigates on SPSS software and snapshots about public activities on study area for analyzing the data of questionnaire and observation respectively. As result, most well-known and active public places and spaces from the most to least are identified. Moreover, lack of facilities and elements due decreasing interactional tasks and factors which encourage people visiting each chosen public places and spaces are revealed. In addition, the duration of visiting public places and spaces for users and their favorable times to visit there are investigated.
4.3.1. Public Bank Building
Respondents clarified that spending time (0%), meeting friends (6%), shopping (0%) and eating food (0%) are not appropriate activities in public bank building and its surrounding area. On the other hand, 50% of interviewed respondents mentioned that banking is the main activity for them in public building bank and its surrounding area.
4.3.2.
City Square
Shopping is the favorite activity in city square. On the other hand, banking registered as the less favorite activity. Regarding the information from this part of analysis,
shopping (88%), eating food (72%), spending time and meeting friends (52%) and banking (20%) are respectively registered as favorite activities from the most to least.
4.3.3.
Sungai Segget River
Spending time is the favorite activity in Sungai Segget River. On the other hand, shopping registered as the less favorite activity. Regarding the information from this part of analysis,
spending time (24%), eating food (20%), shopping (10%), meeting friends (12%) and banking (0%) are respectively registered as favorite activities from the most to least.
4.3.4. Shop houses areas
Eating food is the favorite activity in Shop houses areas. On the other hand, shopping registered as the less favorite activity. Regarding the information from this part of analysis, eating food (16%), spending time and meeting friends (8%) and shopping (6%) are respectively registered as favorite activities from the most to least.
4.3.5. Masjid India
Respondents clarified that except meeting friends (10%), spending time (2%) and shopping (0%) and eating food (0%) are not appropriate activities in Masjid India and its surrounding area. On the other hand, 30% of interviewed respondents mentioned that praying is the main activity for them in Masjid India and its surrounding area.
4.3.6. Hindu Temple
Respondents specified that except meeting friends (6%), spending time (2%) and shopping (0%) and eating food(0%) are not appropriate activities in Hindu Temple and its surrounding area. On the other hand, 10% of interviewed respondents mentioned that praying is the main activity for them in Hindu Temple and its surrounding area.
4.3.7. ChineseTemple
According to respondents’ idea, meeting friends (4%), spending time (0%), shopping (0%) and eating food (0%) are not appropriate activities in Chinese Temple and its surrounding area. On the other hand, 20% of interviewed respondents mentioned that praying is the main activity for them in Chinese Temple and its surrounding area.
4.3.8. Sultan Ibrahim Building
Meeting friends is the favorite activity in Sultan Ibrahim Building and its surrounding area. On the other hand, eating food and shopping are registered as the less favorite activity. Regarding the information from this part of analysis, meeting friends (12%), spending time (6%) and shopping and eating food (0%) are respectively registered as favorite activities from the most to least.
4.3.9. Sidewalk between buildings and street curb
Spending time is the favorite activity in sidewalk between buildings and street curb. On the other hand, shopping is registered as the less favorite activity. Regarding the information from this part of analysis, spending time (18%), meeting friends (16%), eating food (12%) and shopping (2%) are respectively registered as favorite activities from the most to least.
Conclusion and recommendation
As result, respondents were mentioned safety as their main concern when they move to public places and most of them were interested to have interaction to others. They agreed to encouraging interactional tasks by designing public places and even informal street’s activities in the study area. Besides, City Square, Hindu Temple, Public Bank Building, Chinese Temple, The Sungai Segget River, Masjid India, Shop houses areas, Sultan Ibrahim Building and sidewalk between buildings to street curb were respectively registered from the most well-known places to least. In addition, City Sqauer, The Sungai Segget River, the sidewalk between buildings and street curb, Public Bank Building, Shop houses areas, Chinese Temple, Masjid India, Sultan Ibrahim Building and Hindu Temple are respectively registered as active places and spaces from the most to least. As clarified in aforementioned results, although some public places and spaces are well-known by users, they are not as active as other public places and spaces with less popularity. For instance, Hindu Temple is registered as the second well- known place by users but it recorded as less active place in the study area or the sidewalk between buildings to street curb is registered as less well-known public place but it is recorded as third active public place for users. Thus, it can be concluded that the sidewalk between buildings to street curb can be more active by increasing its distinctiveness or people’ awareness about it. As consequence, this study is going to provide a profile for each chosen public places in study area with resulting their strength and weakness due improving interactional tasks. The results of each nine chosen public places and spaces are represented as follow:
5.1. Public Bank Building
Public bank building was recorded as the third notable and active public place by respondents. In addition, banking was the main reason and morning was favorable time for people to visit public bank building. Besides, facilities in public bank building are mentioned as motivation for users to visit there. On the other hand, lack of natural elements and safety is the social and physical factors that made people feel uncomfortable there.
5.2.
City Square
City square was registered as the first well-known and active public place by respondents. In addition, shoppingwas the main reason and noon (lunch time) was favorable time for people to visit city square. In addition, public interaction in city square is specified as motivation for users to visit there. On the other hand, lack of natural elements and multiple activities is the social and physical factors that made people feel uncomfortable there.
5.3.
Sungai Segget River
Sungai Segget River was chosen as the fifth well-known and second active public place by respondents. Therefore, users’ unfamiliarity to this public place concerns as one reason to reduce the amount of activity there. In addition, spending time was the main reason and noon (lunch time) was favorable time for people to visit Sungai Segget River. Thus, this place is considering as recreational place for users in study area. Besides, beauty of Sungai Segget River is mentioned as motivation for users to visit there. On the other hand, lack of shades and safety is the social and physical factors that made people feel uncomfortable there.
5.4. Shop Houses Areas
Shop houses areas were recorded as the seventh well- known and fourth active public place by respondents. Therefore, users’ unfamiliarity to this public place concerns as one reason to reduce the amount of activity there. In addition, eating food was the main reason and evening was favorable time for people to visit shop houses areas. Thus, this place is considering as eating place for users in study area. Moreover, public interaction in shop houses areas is mentioned as motivation for users to visit there. On the other hand, lack of shades and safety is the social and physical factors that made people feel uncomfortable there.
5.5. Masjid India
Masjid India was specified as the sixth well-known and sixth active public place by respondents. In addition, praying was the main reason and early afternoon was favorable time for people to visit Masjid India. Besides, public interaction in Masjid India is mentioned as motivation for users to visit there. On the other hand, lack of pedestrian walkway and multiple activities is the social and physical factors that made people feel uncomfortable.
5.6. Hindu Temple
Hindu Temple was specified as the second well-known and eighth active public place by respondents. It manes although Hindu Temple is known by many people, the amount of mentioned activity is not considerable. In addition, praying was the main reason and evening was favorable time for people to visit Hindu Temple. Besides, public interaction in Hindu Temple is mentioned as motivation for users to visit there. On the other hand, lack of safety is the social and physical factors that madepeople feel uncomfortable there. It means this place have serious problem due making people feel safe and secure.
5.7. Chinese Temple
Chinese Temple was specified as the fourth well-known and fifth active public place by respondents. In addition, praying was the main reason and evening was favorable time for people to visit Chinese Temple. Besides, public interaction in Chinese Temple is mentioned as motivation for users to visit there. On the other hand, lack of pedestrian walkway and sense of belonging is the social and physical factors that made people feel uncomfortable there.
5.8. Sultan Ibrahim Building
Sultan Ibrahim Building was chosen as the eighth well- known and seventh active public place by respondents. In addition, meeting friends was the main reason and morning was favorable time for people to visit city square. Thus, this place is considering as a landmark for users in study area. Besides, public interaction in Sultan Ibrahim Building is mentioned as motivation for users to visit there. On the other hand, lack of pedestrian walkway and multiple activities is the social and physical factors that made people feel uncomfortable.
5.9. Sidewalk between Buildings to Street Curb
Sidewalk between Buildings to Street Curb was chosen as the ninth well-known and third active public place by respondents. Therefore, users’ unfamiliarity to this public place concerns as one reason to reduce the amount of activity there. In addition, spending time was the main reason and morning was favorable time for people to visit Sidewalk between Buildings to Street Curb. Thus, this place is considering as recreational place for users in study area. Besides, beauty of Sidewalk between Buildings to Street Curb is mentioned as motivation for users to visit there. On the other hand, lack of pedestrian walkway and safety is the social and physical factors that made people feel uncomfortable.
It can be concluded that a better public places is one that gives great opportunities for optional and social activities. Furthermore, the liveliness in public places relies very much on the quality of spaces as public domain, and whether they are welcoming the users, to stay, sit and enjoy the place and its activities. There is a necessity for serious attempt to create livelier environment in the public space which in turn increase the attractiveness and the importance of an imaginable city. Moreover, analysis section revealed that lack of safety is registered as one of the serious issues for people in study area. Therefore, there is a necessity of serious effort for urban developer to concern about safety issues in study area. In addition, respondents mentioned the lack of natural elements and shades several times for public places as factors which make them uncomfortable in the study area. Thus, there is a need of more concern due providinggreenery and shades in mentioned public places. After all, the main effective factors of interactional tasks for public places in study area can potentially resolve to achieve the objectives. Accordingly, the analysis chapter has totally considered each chosen public places in Jalan Wang Ah Fook based on the demographic analysis.
According to the finding of analysis section, the following recommendations are prepared due improving the quality
of public places in study area:
1) Regarding the analysis section,
Sungai Segget River, shop houses areas and Sidewalk between Buildings to Street Curb are public spaces that were not well known for users. Therefore, there is a need of plane and actions to improve people awareness about mentioned public places. In addition, respondents mentioned safety as serious problem that make them uncomfortable in Hindu temple and all three mentioned places. Thus, there is a necessity of plans and actions due providing secure feeling for residents and visitors there.
2) Providing shadows in
Sungai Segget River and shop houses area to protect the residents and the pedestrian from sun and rain should be necessary to ensure more convenience and comfort will be achieved that will attract more people to come and stay longer in this places.
3) In terms of appropriate pedestrian walkways for Masjid India, Chinese Temple, Sultan Ibrahim Building and Sidewalk between Buildings to Street Curb, consideration should be given to provide a specific line with shades and appropriate facilities for pedestrians (for those places without pedestrian walkway) or improving the quality of pavement and all related facilities to pedestrian walkways (for those places with pedestrian walkway).
4) Providing multiple activities for
city square, Masjid India and Sultan Ibrahim Building could increase the attractiveness, activity and liveliness of them. Therefore, multiple activities should be provided such as shopping stalls inside or around them, a place for wheelchairs and disable people and places for people to seat and enjoy watching around with appropriate shades and so on.
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