Improving social sustainability through context-specific mixed-use high-rise apartments in Tiong Nam

Abstract

Generation gap is a very significant component of social sustainability. The traits of this gap depend heavily on the context. Tiong Nam settlement is one of the oldest Chinese residential and commercial areas in Kuala Lumpur. Over the years, the younger generations had moved out, leaving behind the older generations. The lack of public spaces and parks also causes the social interaction as well as communal living to be little to non-existent. Social sustainability plays an important role in forming a vibrant and culturally strong social place. It can be achieved by the connectivity between places and people, making the place as a bonding medium for the people. Despite being one of the oldest Chinese residential areas in Kuala Lumpur, the area is not socially sustainable. The aim of this research was to explore the possibilities of context-specific mixed-use high rise apartments that can improve the social sustainability of Tiong Nam by proposing certain architectural design strategies. The main objectives were first to identify the socio-cultural activities of the existing communities in Tiong Nam, Kuala Lumpur, then, to identify the typologies of communal spaces that can accommodate these socio-cultural activities, and finally to determine design strategies to improve social sustainability through mixed use building on the basis of seven parameters determined through field survey. To achieve the objectives, data were through site observation, interview, questionnaire as well as case studies. The collected data was then analysed through site synthesis, statistical analysis and content analysis. The study found that eating and recreational activities are the major activities of the existing community. It also found that lack of public spaces that can accommodate these context specific activities are the major lacking in this area. Finally, based on the seven parameters, certain design strategies were proposed. It also proposed that a highrise accommodation suitable for the new generation combined with the referred public space could be the best urban solution for this community. The significance of this research lies on the fact that a single mixed use high-rise apartment could be the best architectural solution to bridge the generation gap between the young and old generations of Tiong Nam.