Urban Public Space in Kuala Lumpur

Editor: Mazlina Mansor, Khalilah Zakariya, Nor Zalina Harun
Publisher: IIUM Press
ISBN: 9789674183738
Weight: 0.25kg
Pages: 101pp
Year: 2015
Price: RM40

This book explains the characteristics and the importance of public places in a city. The contents consist of a collection of writings on urban public spaces in Malaysia, as well as taking examples of Kuala Lumpur as a specific city to present the stories. The book tells stories of urban places in Kuala Lumpur and users’ experiences that shape the public places as they are today. The objectives are to explain ideas about the characteristics of the public places and the ways users utilize the spaces and obtain meaningful experiences. The stories are weaved from the experience, interaction and transaction that city residents and visitors exchange in public places. The interrelationship between users and spaces, therefore, shapes many characteristics of the places in the city. The chapters in the book capture the essence and experience of public places in Malaysia in general, and the city of Kuala Lumpur, in specific. They explain the attributes associated with the experience of the urban public space. The contents are intended to highlight different types of public space in Kuala Lumpur and in the Malaysian urban environment.

The book focuses on several public spaces, namely green open spaces, recreational parks, Padang, street markets, and sidewalks, which become essential places in city residents' life and give a memorable experience for visitors. In addition, the book also identifies pertinent issues that must be looked into for future planning, design, and management of urban public places. All in all, this book will bring benefits to many individuals, and that it will add to the knowledge pool on the built environment, particularly in the fields of landscape architecture, urban design, and environmental studies.