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This paper aims to analyse the perceived safety in existing urban public spaces (UPS) in a war-torn city of Baghdad. One of the detrimental impacts of war is the destruction of the urban environment where it usually involved maximum physical damages which ultimately impacting the quality of life of its residents. Therefore, this study analyses the user’s perceived safety of three major UPS in Bab Al-Sharqi, Baghdad city (Tahrir Square, Alumma Park and Tayeran Square) in order to investigate the impact of war on UPS. The method used in this study is a mix method of qualitative and quantitative approaches that include a questionnaire survey, where the quantitative data explored using means ranking, ratios, and correlation tests. While qualitative data, of primary and secondary data collection, descriptively analysed. The study focuses on the three paradigms of the physical urban environment; legibility, permeability and the visual image, and their impact on the sense of safety. The findings reveal that the sense of safety at UPS in Baghdad is strongly determined by elements of the physical environment which were identified by the people, significant in the linear regression test, as being rickety (-2.584), visually dull (0.043) and physically incompatible (0.033). The perception of safety is also perceived differently by women than men. The sense of fear and apprehensiveness is larger among women respondents. This study contributes to identify set of strategies for UPS in terms of safety which can mitigate the impact of conflict and civil unrest in an urban setting.

Purpose: This study aims to examine the trajectory of the urban growth of Borneo by portraying its resilient settlements in the pre-colonial times, tropical sensitive colonial architecture, the built environment of the post–independence period and finally the contemporary city image. This is followed by a comparative study of its major urban centres and determining how globalisation and neoliberalism impact the traditional urban settlements of this island and poses a threat to its rich biodiversity. Design/methodology/approach: This study uses case study research methodology involving selected cities on the Island of Borneo including Kota Kinabalu, Sandakan, Miri and Kuching (Sabah and Sarawak, Malaysia), Bandar Seri Begawan (Brunei), and major cities of the state of Kalimantan, Indonesia. Data collection includes a literature review, content analysis, field assessment and observations. The major research objectives would address past and current issues in the selected urban environment of Borneo. They address the historical evolution of major cities of Borneo, current urban development trends, the deterioration of the traditional urban fabric as a result of post–independence development and later globalisation. Findings: This study found that the rich cultural tradition and climate-responsive architecture from the past have been discontinued to pave way for fast track and often speculative development. The results contribute in the convergence of existing shortcomings of cities from three nations on Borneo Island in guiding future sustainable urban planning agenda for achieving a resilient city status while reinstating the character and the sense of place. The study expects the recommendations to become prerequisites for future urban planning in sensitive tropical regions. Originality/value: This research identified a new “Borneo approach” to urban development. The study strongly recommends top priorities for the central, state and local governments of Malaysia, Br

The entertainment industry has always contributed to the regeneration and economic development of cities. The purpose of this research is to ascertain the need of entertainment facilities in Limbang for tourists and residents and to determine their impact on the local economy. The methodology for this research includes field observations and collecting primary data through interviews involving the local and state authorities, residents and tourists in Limbang. A considerable amount of information supporting this study is based on literature review and secondary data sources. This research indicated that the entertainment facilities are essential in developing the tourism industry and improving the lifestyle of the locals. Besides, the study also helps decision-makers and town planners to understand how entertainment activities can regenerate decaying parts of cities and improve the socio-economic environment. One of the objectives of the Sarawak government is to transform Limbang into a tourist destination. Therefore, it is imperative to understand the process of allocating, planning, designing and developing entertainment facilities. The outcomes of this study revealed that Limbang could serve as a tourism destination, mainly targeting the citizens and foreign ex-pats of neighbouring Brunei.

Kuala Lumpur is a diverse city representing many different religions and nationalities. Recent government policy has actively promoted unity and cohesion throughout the city; and the country of Malaysia, with the implementation of a programme called 1Malaysia. In this book, the authors investigate the aims of this programme – predominantly to unify the Malaysian society – and how these objectives resonate in the daily spatial practices of the city’s residents. This book argues that elements of urban infrastructure could work as an essential mediator ‘beyond community’, allowing inclusive social structures to be built, despite cultural and religious tensions existing within the city. It builds on the premise of an empirical study which explores the ways in which different communities use the same spaces, supported through the implementation of a theoretical framework which looks at both Western and Islamic conceptualisations of the notion of community. Through the analysis of Kuala Lumpur, this book contributes towards the creation of more inclusive places in multi-ethnic, multi-cultural and multi-religious communities across the world.

Policymakers and recreation site managers use changes in fee structure, either introducing park entrance fees or increasing existing ones, to generate revenues, improve services, and reduce damages associated with visitor’s overuse. The sudden increase in park usage fee, however, can make the park inaccessible to certain segments of visitors. Understanding park users' response to changes in fees and its implication on park use equity is, thus, important to achieving a park's full potential in a socially and environmentally responsible way. This information is crucial especially for developing countries, where the issue has received relatively less attention and underfunded. This paper contributes to the literature on park access fees by empirically assessing park use equity between and among international and local visitors visiting Putrajaya Botanical Garden, Malaysia and developing an approach for determining predictors and mean willingness to pay values for park entrance. Results of our survey-based approach show a positive willingness to pay values for park entrance and fee increases. Our results also show that it is possible to raise revenue without exacerbating existing park use differences.

The physical destruction of the urban environment during a war can occur as a result of damage through air and missile raids, a nuclear explosion, devastation through civil uprisings, attacks on the urban infrastructure and, more recently terrorist attacks. There are also non-physical damages; such as biological warfare and cyber-attacks that can cause significant chaos within an urban conurbation. This study focuses on the consequences of the Second World War in the urban environments of cities in Western and Central Europe and Southeast Asia, and illustrates the different approaches and paths individual nations have followed in rebuilding their damaged urban fabric. The Second World War resulted in the considerable destruction of the urban fabric throughout Western and Central Europe. Many German cities were partially or almost destroyed as a result of air bombing. Other cities in Central Europe became living battlefields, and suffered significant devastation because of air raids and the passing front. After the Second World War, state and local authorities in Europe placed a strong emphasis on rebuilding the cities, and as a result, urban planning became one of the leading professions. In Southeast Asia, the situation was different as the urban population percentage was significantly lower than in Europe, and therefore the majority of the fighting and war activities took place in the rural areas. Consequently, the destruction of urban areas had a lesser impact on the local economies, and rebuilding cities was not a decisive post-war economic driver as in the case of...

This paper presents and reviews various literature and scholarly studies regarding the effect of globalisation and developments in urban areas which causes mental health issues. It is aimed to provide a comprehensive understanding on the current knowledge in the field of mental health problems particularly at the early stages of stress. This study utilises qualitative content analysis method which focuses on reviewing and summarizing literatures such as papers, journals, articles and books related to urbanization and mental health. The further analysis shall then conclude the relationship between urban setting and stress in Malaysia, as well as the stigma that is attached to it which may resulted in mental deterioration where a new design intervention is required. Hence the proposal for a therapeutic environment particularly in relieving early stages of stress is essential.