Connecting citizens through participatory design activities: Lessons from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Abstract Construction of affordable housing in Malaysia has been one of the national objectives set by its government, ensuring low-income families have access to adequate housing. This paper discusses the perceptions and the needs of residents for the development of single-family housing units for low-income families in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia based on the outcomes from participatory design activities in the city. As part of these activities, a series of six focus groups and participatory design workshops were conducted in Kuala Lumpur. The findings from these interactive sessions are to be used in the development of proposals for new housing in the city built for low-income families, advocating for consideration of the views of the residents in the design process.