A conceptual study of connectivity elements towards successful green network / Nor Hamizah Abdul Hamid, Muhamad Ezran Zainal Abdullah and Nik Hanita Nik Mohamad

Rapid urbanization has resulted in the loss of natural setting of urban spaces. Fusing the gap between nature andthe city development can generate both common cause and conflict. Green network is a significant shift in linking urban green spaces that will lay out over the coming decades. At present, this green network is not successfully applied due to many open spaces that are not well connected. Hence, connectivity elements provided by the green network plays an important role in helping to conserve urban sustainability. Furthermore, green network is recognized as an effective urban conservation strategy to mitigate the effects of urbanization while maintaining healthy living and sustainability for urban area. However, the opportunity for green network to function as a linkage has not been optimized. Therefore, this research investigates on visitors‟ responses to different dimension of their needs for natural connectivity in the context of sustainable living. Data were collected using interviews and surveys on the scope of connectivity elements towards successful green network. This research offers input on green network by addressing visitors strong preferences towards natural connectivity elements compared to man-made landscape elements

FLUX 2.0: Sustainable Furniture Production with Modular 3D Printed Joinery System

The Malaysian furniture industry confronts a complex landscape defined by conventional wood joinery practices, resulting in rising material wastage, labour-intensive procedures, and intricate logistical challenges. This research explores designers' perceptions regarding sustainable furniture production and the feasibility of integrating modular 3D-printed joinery within an ergo-aesthetic framework. Data was collected through a survey (n = 424) in Malaysia. The analysis revealed significant correlations for senses and external influence (r = 0.325, p < 0.05), strong external influence with design attributes (r = 0.549, p < 0.05), and substantive design attributes with external influence connection (r = 0.580, p < 0.05). Ergonomic components highlight the correlations between physical with cognitive (r = 0.525, p < 0.05), cognitive with organisational (r = 0.547, p < 0.05), and organisational with physical (r = 0.546, p < 0.05). Incorporating physical ergonomics, comfort, usability, and user interaction, alongside cultural considerations, provides opportunities to improve functionality and user satisfaction in prototypes. By understanding designers' perspectives on sustainable furniture production and assessing modular 3D printed joinery, the study explains the relationship between design elements, sensory factors, aesthetics, and sustainable practices

Identification of Tropical Planting Selection for Sustainable Campus Design

Tropical planting plays a crucial role in sustainable campus design in Malaysia. Incorporating tropical planting into campus design not only enhances the aesthetic appeal but also offers numerous environmental benefits. This research aims to identify suitable tropical plant species for sustainable campus design. The selection of appropriate plant species plays a crucial role in creating environmentally friendly and aesthetically pleasing campus landscapes. The study employs an observational research approach to gather data on plant characteristics, growth patterns, ecological requirements, and overall sustainability. Data was collected at Universiti Malaysia Kelantan Bachok Campus. The results revealed that selection criteria for plants were based on their adaptability to tropical climates, aesthetic appeal, low maintenance requirements, and positive ecological impact. This paper outlines the strength of tropical plantings selection for sustainable campus design based on native trees, shade trees, climbing plants and vines, ground covers, ornamental shrubs, and medicinal and aromatic plants. Some of the tropical plants such as mahogany, kapok tree, frangipani offer numerous benefits in sustainable campus design, contributing to climate resilience, water efficiency, biodiversity conservation, and a vibrant and healthy campus environment. Thus, this research will provide valuable insights for landscape architects, campus planners, and any related built environment professionals in developing sustainable campus designs in tropical regions

Patterns of streets connection for sustainable urban development in Kota Bharu, Kelantan, Malaysia

Street network attributes, including street connectivity, street integration, and pedestrian accessibility, are closely interrelated concepts that play an important role in achieving the sustainable approach challenges facing all large cities throughout the world. However, the lack of awareness of sustainable development in both the city center and villages in the suburban area results in a low value of street connectivity, less direct route to the destination, and discouraging pedestrians from moving. This research aims to examine street connectivity and street integration patterns that form from street connections at existing streets in Kota Bharu Kelantan. DepthmapX software was used to analyze street connectivity and integrations to identify and compare the existing street influencing people to move from one destination to another in Kota Bharu, Kelantan. The streets in the Kota Bharu, Kelantan city center area are chosen as the study site to investigate the street connectivity and integration values. Data analysis using DepthmapX software was performed after digitizing the map in AutoCAD software. Findings show that street connectivity and integration are of higher value when the streets are well connected to other streets in the main area and attraction area. The conclusions of this paper can help landscape architects and urban planners optimize the achievement of well-connected street networks that produce directness routes in short-distance destinations to develop a sustainable urban environment

Exploring the impact of environmental factors on soundscape perception for sustainable and resilient urban environments

The impacts of global climate change are becoming increasingly alarming, highlighting the need for sustainable urbanism practices. The soundscape has been identified as crucial for achieving sustainable development goals. Using an ergo-aesthetic framework, this research aims to investigate the impact of weather conditions and sound levels on soundscape perception in urban shopping streets. Data was collected through a soundscape survey (n = 411) in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, based on the ISO12913-2 technical specification standards. The result from multivariate analysis of variance revealed that weather and sound level significantly influenced soundscape perception. Based on analysis of variance, a significant difference in perception was found between low and high levels of loudness, with high levels of loudness having a significantly higher perception. It is observed that users tend to have a stronger preference for an "appropriateness" soundscape in urban shopping streets during cloudy weather conditions based on multiple comparison analysis. The participants generally reported feeling acoustically comfortable with lower temperatures in cloudy weather, possibly due to the increased cloud coverage acting as a form of background noise absorber, thereby enhancing the perceived appropriateness of the soundscape. These findings contribute to understanding soundscapes in creating sustainable and resilient urban environments

Sensory Integration - Incorporate nature into child’s sensory integration therapy for sensory processing input: A case study in SRK Bukit Payung, Terengganu

This study investigates the number of special needs students and how a sensory garden can Incorporate nature into a child’s sensory integration therapy for sensory processing input. The case study was conducted at Sekolah Rendah Kebangsaan Bukit Payong which offers specialized classes for students with special needs. The objectives of this study are to identify types of special needs students in this school and to provide or design an environment that incorporates natural elements as a therapeutic approach by engaging students in physical activities that facilitate the management of sensory input. Method used in this study are content analysis to understand sensory integration and sensory garden, semi structured interview identified the numbers of special needs students in this school. The outcomes of this study entail the identification of distinct types of special needs students present at Sekolah Rendah Kebangsaan Bukit Payong This information serves as a foundation for developing learning spaces that are tailored to the specific needs of these students, thereby improving their focus and concentration in the classroom by providing a sensory garden. Additionally, the study introduces a sensory integration design that incorporates activities aimed at assisting children in mastering the more challenging learning tasks. Such activities contribute to the development of cognitive abilities, language skills, gross motor skills, and social interaction that is facilitated through the transfer of expert knowledge

Establishing soundscape preference criteria for urban shopping street design in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Many of the attempts in Malaysia to address environmental noise pollution issues focus on lowering the sound level using the environmental noise management approach and environmental impact assessment. Nevertheless, the country’s noise pollution problems persist. The soundscape approach, a more constructive way to deal with the problem of noise pollution, applies in the early stage of the design process. However, in the absence of proper soundscape preference criteria in Malaysia, thus, the main aim of this study is to establish soundscape preference criteria for urban shopping street design in Kuala Lumpur. The methodological design used was quantitative research involving descriptive analysis, most and least preferred soundscape analysis, preference dimension analysis, analysis of differences and analysis of relationships. Based on field survey and observation data, which includes 411 respondents throughout three urban shopping streets in Kuala Lumpur, the statistical analyses suggest that various factors influence the subjective evaluations of soundscape perception, noise sensitivity, sound sources and context. This study is divided into three objectives: to identify the user’s preference for soundscape in urban shopping streets, to identify the key factors that influence the user’s preference of soundscape in urban shopping streets and to determine the relationships that exist among the soundscape, noise sensitivity, context, and sound source. The first objective highlighted three soundscape preference criteria: eventfulness, appropriateness, and calmness. The most preferred soundscape is varied, changing and lively. The second objective confirms that the subjective evaluations of site environmental patterns are also relevant to the soundscape evaluations with significant results on the day, weather, and sound level. In contrast, background, and behavioural factors, except for the visiting frequency, are insignificant. The third objective has discovered that visual perception and the visual quality of the environment are strong predictors of the user’s soundscape perception. The soundscape preference criteria devised at the end of this thesis come with 40 validated factors: the 22 soundscape perceptions, six visual perceptions, three visual quality, four perceived sound sources, and five urban sound environments. The present study results are essential for urban designers and planners by providing soundscape criteria to improve design solutions for noise pollution in urban shopping streets soundscapes

FLUX 2.0: Sustainable Furniture Production with Modular 3D Printed Joinery System

The Malaysian furniture industry confronts a complex landscape defined by conventional wood joinery practices, resulting in rising material wastage, labour-intensive procedures, and intricate logistical challenges. This research explores designers' perceptions regarding sustainable furniture production and the feasibility of integrating modular 3D-printed joinery within an ergo-aesthetic framework. Data was collected through a survey (n = 424) in Malaysia. The analysis revealed significant correlations for senses and external influence (r = 0.325, p < 0.05), strong external influence with design attributes (r = 0.549, p < 0.05), and substantive design attributes with external influence connection (r = 0.580, p < 0.05). Ergonomic components highlight the correlations between physical with cognitive (r = 0.525, p < 0.05), cognitive with organisational (r = 0.547, p < 0.05), and organisational with physical (r = 0.546, p < 0.05). Incorporating physical ergonomics, comfort, usability, and user interaction, alongside cultural considerations, provides opportunities to improve functionality and user satisfaction in prototypes. By understanding designers' perspectives on sustainable furniture production and assessing modular 3D printed joinery, the study explains the relationship between design elements, sensory factors, aesthetics, and sustainable practices

Biomimicry levels as design inspiration in design

The relationship between design and nature has been intertwined for the past 400 years. Throughout history, designers have adopted nature to build shapes, forms, and ornamentation without understanding nature's behavior biomimicry. Nature's behavior biomimicry is a method that applies solutions to human problems by analyzing natural designs, processes, and systems. This innovative method refers to nature as an inspiration to solve design challenges. The method is the new science that studies nature as a model and inspiration to imitate the design and process of solving human problems. However, there is a lack of widespread and practical application of biomimicry as a design method; architecture commonly uses biology as a library of shapes, which is not biomimicry. Among the levels of biomimicry, the organism level is widely applied as a design tool to achieve a design solution. This paper reviews published research on the applications of biomimicry level, including its formative elements. Organism, behavior, and ecosystem level are mostly inspired or applied in the biomimicry concept. The content analysis was carried out to examine the published research articles on different perspectives of biomimicry and its application in design. The findings produce three levels of biomimicry that can serve as a regenerative design. There is a growing need for designs that work with nature to create a regenerative built environment, and designers can no longer ignore the relevance of bio-inspired theories and approaches to achieve a more sustainable future

Reviewing biomimicry design case studies as a solution to sustainable design

There have been many studies on bio-inspired research, where biomimicry capabilities facilitating sustainable designs are in dearth. For a sustainable design, it is necessary to consider water efficiency, zero waste, thermal environment, and energy supply. This paper investigates how biomimicry is adopted in the sustainable design of buildings. A thorough content analysis of eight case studies focused on the built environment and how biomimicry integrated with the design of a building was executed. The selection of cases study was based on the concept of biomimicry by taking inspiration from nature and applying them in the everyday built environment. Thus, the building designs are more ecologically sustainable than conventional ones, where biomimicry approaches and principles are adopted. The findings suggest that the design of a building can inspire society with new ecological morals, where understanding of biological morphogenesis can inspire design to resolve challenges and essentially help create a healthy environment. Biomimicry harnesses and replicates the principles found in nature to create a built environment that benefits people and other living creatures and safeguards biodiversity. Thus, adopting biomimicry in designing a building will help to develop a culture of active environmental design