Place attachment for traditional streets in heritage town

• Main Authors: Syed Mohamad, Sharifah Mariana, Nizarudin, Norhanis Diyana, Md Jani, Haza Hanurhaza
• Format: Proceeding Paper
• Language: English
• Published: Department of Landscape Architecture 2023
• Subjects: GE196 Sustainable living; GV Recreation Leisure; HT51 Human settlements. Communities
• Online Access: http://irep.iium.edu.my/109956/7/109956_Place%20attachment%20for%20traditional%20streets%20in%20heritage%20town.pdf; http://irep.iium.edu.my/109956/

Place attachment is a symbolic engagement with a place produced by emotional meaning and common sense, impacted by personal experience. It is believed that 'place' highlights the environment to which individuals are culturally and psychologically linked, whereas 'attachment' focuses on its effect on people. Traditional streets have significant cultural values and meaning to locals, unlike characterless streets. Southeast Asian cities, notably Malaysian cities, are rapidly urbanizing. Many cities are shifting from traditional to modern, affecting sociocultural activities, economy, and lifestyles. Heritage town shows a masterpiece of human creativity or a significant interchange of human values over a long period of time. Heritage town where humans inhabited and used the land in a way that depicts their culture can also be a cultural heritage site, especially if the area is affected by change that cannot be reversed. This study aims to evaluate factors influencing place attachment in revitalised traditional streets in towards preserving local culture and identity in George Town, Penang. This study is sought to determine which factors influence the character of revitalised traditional streets through systematic observation with behaviour mapping is the primary research method for this study, supported by semi structured interview and questionnaires survey.