THE ROLE OF PHYSICAL AND VISUAL ELEMENTS IN CREATING STREETSCAPES: CASES IN KUALA LUMPUR CITY, MALAYSIA

Abstract

Evaluating the role of physical elements in creating visually pleasing streetscapes has not been deeply addressed in recent research flow, especially for the context of Kuala Lumpur City. The gap is also accentuated by Kuala Lumpur City Hall as disharmony and inconsistency in streetscapes and lacking visual coherence in most streets in Kuala Lumpur. Therefore, the current paper seeks to evaluate the role of physical and visual elements in creating visually pleasing streetscapes of Bukit Bintang and Tuanku Abdul Rahman using a self-administered questionnaire survey. The respondents of the study comprise 330 passers-by aging from 18 to 50 years old, who visit the streets, reside, or work there. The results demonstrate that transparency, the quality that makes the function of a building visually accessible, and seating places play the most and the least important role in creating streetscapes in the study areas respectively. Comparison of the results in two streets highlights that harmony between and consistency in the facades of modern and traditional buildings, simplicity in design elements of facades, inviting building entrances, and covered walkways contribute to creating attractive streetscapes. Overall, the findings build foundations for restoring the visual coherence, which results in resilient streetscapes in cities.