Evaluating the City Image: A Focus on Landmarks of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Ahmed Raad Al Shams,Nurwati Badarulzaman

doi:10.5539/ass.v10n4p241

Abstract

One of the main issues that have been considered about Kuala Lumpur city is its indistinguishable identity and image, partly due to the rapid development and expansion of the city structure over many decades. Inevitably, forming a distinctive city image is not an easy task as it depends primarily on the manner of reciprocal interactions between people and their surrounding built environment. This paper examines the relationship and interaction between people and the city structure, specifically through public evaluation of landmarks as one of the five elements of the city image. The people’s background and their evaluation of the landmarks’ features are examined in this study. To achieve this objective, both quantitative and qualitative data were collected using mixed-techniques involving a questionnaire survey of 120 respondents followed by an unstructured interview. The results show significant differences in the public evaluation of landmarks based on the respondents’ nationality and ethnicity. Differences in the evaluation are related to the landmark factors namely unique; memorable; legible; historic; design; scale; meaningful and color. Much effort by the local authorities is necessary to create a distinguishable image of Kuala Lumpur that reflects the city’s fusion of modern and traditional lifestyles, and diversified cultures and values.

Highlights

In the last decades, there has been a growing awareness of the cities’ role as a center of development, innovation, culture and regional economic growth (Jansson & Power, 2006)
Based on Lynch’s work, this paper identifies landmark as an element of city image to be evaluated by the observers in Kuala Lumpur
The questionnaire used in this study aimed to identify those physical and sensorial features that affect public evaluation of landmarks in Kuala Lumpur

Summary

Introduction

There has been a growing awareness of the cities’ role as a center of development, innovation, culture and regional economic growth (Jansson & Power, 2006). This is further supported by the local authorities’ emphasis on creating and maintaining a distinctive city image as part of the agenda for global competitiveness, and to boost cities as the center of international events to attract more investors and tourists. One of the main goals of the Kuala Lumpur Structure Plan is "To create a distinctive city identity and image through reflecting its multi-cultural society and its rich history" One of the main goals of the Kuala Lumpur Structure Plan is "To create a distinctive city identity and image through reflecting its multi-cultural society and its rich history" (Kuala Lumpur Structure Plan, 2020, p. 33)

Objectives

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Results

Conclusion