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George Town has many heritage buildings as a UNESCO World Heritage Site that need to be preserved due to their status. Adaptive reuse of heritage buildings is a common method of building conservation and should be done in maximum retention with minimal intervention by applying the right materials with the appropriate approach. This paper focuses on the four approaches of adaptive reuse that were applied to Shophouses at Cannon Street in George Town, Penang. The data was collected from a survey on ten Shophouses in Cannon Street, Penang. The findings of this research point to the common approach of adaptive reuse in Shophouses that has been used as the Preservation approach.

Pre-war shophouses are among the national heritage buildings that require conservation efforts, among others through adaptive reuse. Adaptive reuse of building assets is considered to be a sustainable way of bypassing the wasteful processes of demolition and reconstruction. However, adaptive reuse is not an easy decision because there are many factors affecting it. Therefore, the criteria for adaptive reuse need to be considered before choosing the potential adaptive reuse. There are six broad aspects to the criteria of adaptive reuse, which are economic, environment, social, architecture, technology, and legislative. A questionnaire survey among five (5) different backgrounds of respondents, also known as stakeholder, consists of a town planner from local authorities, a valuer from the valuation and property service department (JPPH), architects, researchers, and building owners to achieve the objectives. From the analysis, three (3) potential new uses, which are new shophouses, restaurants and hotels are identified as very suitable alternatives and represent an independent variable. This paper aims to identify the relationship between the decision made by stakeholders and the potential alternative adaptive reuse.

An Intelligent Shophouse System has been developed and built which can applied in most of the small-scale stores such as convenient store and retail pharmacy. By implementing IoT, efficient customer monitoring systems enables to limit the customers from enter to the store and practice hygiene environment within the store. Compromising of different sensors which capable to detect the customers that come into the stores and track for the number of customers inside the store. The information from sensor help to count on for the customers and display the available spaces at outside the premise. An ESP32 is used to allow bidirectional communication between sensors and MIT application. The data from sensors will always updated into the IoT Cloud and users able to view the number of customers inside the premise in real time, while the users able to adjust the limitation of customers at anytime. Contactless hand sanitizer implemented to ensure hygienic of the customers and reduce spreading of virus. This is beneficial for users especially for shop owners which would like to limit and monitor number of the customer inside the store without being in contact with them and help to reduce the virus in their surroundings.

PurposeThe traditional courtyard shophouses modifications, alterations and deterioration over the years have become a source of concern to major stakeholders. In George Town World Heritage Site Malaysia, studies have shown that the worst hit among its various shophouses are the Straits Chinese traditional courtyard eclectic style shophouses. This paper investigates the traditional courtyard shophouses concerning the role of architectural formation design components, and how this can sustain the place identity of the Straits Chinese typology.Design/methodology/approachThe methodological approach regards the collection of data and analysis of 30 face-to-face interviews and the observation of Lots number 3, 5 and 7, located along Lorong Ikan, George Town World Heritage Site.FindingsIt was found that these Lots express the place identity of the Straits Chinese, and its major exterior architecture components to be observed are the column head (Chi Tou) capital, parapet wall, bressummer beam and ionic column, and gable and gable ends.Research limitations/implicationsThis paper is limited to the role of architectural formation design components. Future research is needed to expand the scope of participant elements via a quantitative approach. This will enhance the validation of findings from this paper.Practical implicationsIt is recommended the use of the proposed checklist to enhance the sustainability of the architectural components regarding the place identity of these styles of shophouses, which provides salutary lessons on how to preserve the heritage buildings. Also, major stakeholders with leading evidence from relevant government agencies should ensure the preservation of these cultural and heritage buildings for the next generation.Social implicationsThis paper found that the family beliefs and social impact were the components that express the place identity of the Straits Chinese.Originality/valueThis paper demonstrates that the role of architectural formation design components regarding place identity of Straits Chinese traditional courtyard eclectic style shophouses cannot be over-emphasised.

Banda Aceh which is located at the northern tip of Sumatra Island, Indonesia, two corridors within the conservation area of the historic Peunayong district, A. Yani and R.A. Kartini, are notable for their unique 19th Century shophouses. However, these shophouses have suffered from physical degradation due to aging, the impact of the 2004 tsunami, ongoing urban development, and inadequate policy enforcement by local authorities. As a result, many heritage buildings have lost key facade elements, some of which have gone unnoticed, while others have been renovated with incompatible styles that diverge from their original architectural forms. This research aims to document and categorize the architectural features of the shophouses and identify their original designs. The study employs interviews and observational methods, including documenting and re-drawing the building facades to analyze their architectural elements. The results of the research identified five different types of 19th Century shophouse facades in the Peunayong area, consisting of 28 units of 19th Century building types and 30 units of renovated buildings, from 28 units of 19th Century buildings are divided into 4 units of fasade type 1, 4 units of fasade type 2, 7 units of fasade type 3, 5 units of fasade type 4 and 8 units of fasade type 5. These building facades are indicated to be included in the characteristics of early shope houses and Shouthern Chinese Style in 1840-1900. This classification provides valuable information that can inform standard operating procedures for future conservation efforts.

Conservation of cultural heritage involves beyond repairing and maintaining the structures. Prelude to any conservation should be a comprehensive documentation, recording, historical study and condition assessment. Then only should the repair and restoration be considered. Damages and deterioration of cultural heritage are unpredictable in disasters. Wear and tear may some time lead to sudden catastrophic failures. As such documentation and recording of cultural heritage should be ongoing exercises. The information is also useful for in-depth understanding and research purposes.Documentation methods have developed over time with the progress in information technology and computing. Analog documentation methods have given way to digital documentation which is faster and more comprehensive. In this study, four digital documentation methods have been evaluated to explore their capabilities for documentation of a heritage shophouse; a range of unique architecture constructed from 1800s to 1900s found commonly in cities around Southeast Asia. The data was produced into 3D models and comparisons between the different methods were made. The strengths and weaknesses of each method as well as the quality of the outputs were evaluated. The digital 3D model will be useful for subsequent conservation process. This information can also be developed into repository of architectural features and also for use in HBIM system or parametric architectural components database system. There are, however, obstacles and challenges to development and implementation of such as system.

PurposeThis research presents a comparative perception study towards rejuvenated, community-driven shophouses in George Town, Penang.Design/methodology/approachIt captures the opinions of two distinct age groups by utilizing a mixed-methods approach encompassing quantitative (main) and qualitative (supporting) research to obtain a dynamic understanding of perceptions between younger and older residents in the city and how these impact the long-term sustainability of heritage conservation efforts. The distribution of questionnaires to residents of Penang was the primary data collection method, with the structure of the questionnaires supported by recent academic literature and past perceptional research studies about built heritage.FindingsThe four main findings from the study are therefore as follows: 1. Both age groups have a similar, positive perception towards the tangible, physical elements of rejuvenated shophouses. 2. Intangible, functional factors play an equal or stronger role in influencing people and their attitude towards public participation and overall “Sense of Place”. 3. The pessimistic “Sense of Place” responses from the “Older” group reflect an equally pessimistic attitude towards intangible, functional factors surrounding rejuvenated shophouses. 4. Youth-led changes to George Town's heritage shophouses are degrading the “sense of place” connecting the older generation to the city.Originality/valueThe study can serve as a guide for the development of more inclusive and socially sustainable conservation and adaptive re-use policies for safeguarding the heritage identity and value of shophouses for current and future generations to experience in a post-COVID world.

The existence of public open space is essential for a city, not only to beautify the visual area but also as a space for community interaction, a place for play, recreation, and greening the city. Tirto Agung Park is one of the public open spaces built by the Semarang City Government, which serves the urban community, mainly people of Tembalang and Banyumanik Districts. The park surrounding area is livelier, so the government claims this park is a thriving public space. However, the park leads to the emergence of cafes, shophouses, apartments, and street vendors, making some areas crowded. Most park visitors are people from outside, which raises the question of how attached the people who live around are to the park’s existence. Therefore, this research aims to identify the green-placemaking of Tirto Agung Park by determining the park’s ability to accommodate the community. Placemaking is an effort to strengthen the relationship between public space and visitors determined from several variables, such as access and linkages, sociability, uses and activities, comfort, and image. The research method used is quantitative, and data collection methods through field observation and questionnaires. The analytical methods are descriptive quantitative and spatial analysis methods to determine the activity and space use around the park, the relationship between public open spaces and the community (behavioral mapping), and mapping the components of placemaking. The results showed that placemaking has occurred in Tirto Agung Park, but some aspects still need improvement to enhance the placemaking further.

The underestimation of population growth has resulted in the disruptive and uncontrolled expansion of settlements in Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC). The outcome is a complicated mix of new spontaneous dwelling areas featuring a number of distinct urban morphologies. Previous studies have shown the impacts of urban morphologies on comfort levels in outdoor environments. The paper examines the correlation of microclimatic conditions and constituents that create the urban spatial form of residential neighbourhoods, particularly around ‘shophouse’ buildings. Understanding that relationship is significant for improving the future planning and design of residential zones and the creation of a pleasant external environment. Seven urban dwelling patterns were studied. Thermal variables were measured on-site over a summer season, while meteorological data were recorded. Additionally, numerical studies of the microclimate around two sample sites showed variations owing to different urban contexts. During summer, the outdoor conditions for the types surveyed ranged from 29.5 to 38.0 °C air temperature, 41% to 79% humidity, and 0.1 to 0.9 m/s airspeed at the occupied level. Environmental variations averaged 1.5 °C, 7% relative humidity, and 0.3 m/s between the urban geometries. Occupant thermal satisfaction was found around formally planned dwelling blocks, while compact neighbourhoods were characterised by cooler temperatures, but poor airflow and daylight. The outcomes are significant for optimising urban and building design.

A courtyard is a main architectural component commonly found in the Chinese traditional shop houses, which was introduced by the Chinese traders. Although many studies have been done previously regarding the courtyard design, not many types of research have been done on the community buildings on the east coast of Peninsular Malaysia, especially in Kota Bharu, Kelantan. Moreover, not much information to be found towards suitable methods on the courtyards’ elements modification and its impacts. Hence the purpose of this study was to examine and discuss new added values towards these heritage shop houses courtyards components alteration within the city of Kota Bharu, Kelantan, Malaysia, without changing its purpose and benefits. The research employed a qualitative method through visual observation and in-depth interviews within its building occupants as well as experts to seek their perceptions. The early findings demonstrated the courtyards had their own uniqueness in cultural aesthetics and functions. By adding certain new values such as glass roof windows, planting, water elements, and modern materials, it can provide better internal environment satisfaction to its building and occupants. However, these added values must be well planned and controlled so that they do not harm the heritage values.