Identifying place distinctiveness through cultural resource mapping

• Main Authors: Azmi, Nur Farhana, Ahmad, Faizah, Ali, Azlan Shah
• Format: Article
• Published: iITB Journal Publ 2021
• Subjects: GE Environmental Sciences; TH Building construction
• Online Access: http://eprints.um.edu.my/35646/; https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85115794825&doi=10.5614%2fJPWK.2021.32.2.6&partnerID=40&md5=bbce2c64fbaf335b7d1d75057e5a88c0

Regardless of their size, every town, city, or more generally each place, has its own beautiful, unique and distinct characteristics. However, only few studies have provided valuable information on exceptional and unique features that can contribute to the distinctiveness and identity of small-scale towns. It is important to identify these cultural resources, especially now that the identity of small towns is rapidly weakening. This study explored the significance of cultural resource mapping as an important technique for identifying the unique characteristics of a place. A questionnaire survey was conducted amongst a random sample of 119 local community members in Sungai Lembing, a small town in the state of Pahang, Malaysia, to investigate respondents’ mental representations of familiar features that they experience in the town, through cultural mapping. It was revealed that natural features, buildings, and non-building structures were seen by the respondents as the most dominant elements that constitute the individuality of their town. While deepening the community’s understanding and awareness of their cultural assets, this paper also highlights the significance of cultural mapping as a tool for identifying unique characteristics of a place, especially those that may have been previously overlooked. © 2020 ITB Institute for Research and Community Services.