Plants are a valuable indicator for aesthetic-visual probity in order to manifest the type and degree of the human-nature relationship over time. The study aims to identify the distinctiveness of plant characteristics in order to reinforce townscape elements in establishing the place identity for the case study of the Royal Town of Kuala Kangsar, Perak. The study methodology involved a semi-structured interview, with purposive sampling in three categories, which is professionals, policymaker, and skilled practitioner. The results show that there is a significance between the royal plants and the distinctiveness of traditional plants which are intended to be the townscape element’s identity of the royal town of Kuala Kangsar, Perak. The findings of the study are expected to assist the city council in their town planning by proposing the plants’ character images or the identity of the royal town of Kuala Kangsar. Besides, the findings could apply a guideline for future developments in the Royal Town of Kuala Kangsar, Perak.

In Malay art, a flower or Bunga expressed about the beauties and aesthetics. At the same time, the fragrant plant belief to be a representative of paradise, which have a pleasant fragrance. It is observed that the used of aromatic plants has been a practices in Perak's royal ceremonies. This paper aims to identify the qualitative response on the recognition of the fragrant plant to support the reinforcement of place image of Kuala Kangsar as Royal Town of Perak. The results reveal that Lotus (Nelumbo), Melur (Jasminum), and Tanjong (Mimusops elengi) are mostly associated with Royal Town Kuala Kangsar, Perak. (100 words max.)Keywords: Fragrant plant; Place Image, Royal TowneISSN: 2398-4287 © 2019. The Authors. Published for AMER ABRA cE-Bs by e-International Publishing House, Ltd., UK. This is an open-access article under the CC BYNC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/). Peer–review under responsibility of AMER (Association of Malaysian Environment-Behaviour Researchers), ABRA (Association of Behavioural Researchers on Asians) and cE-Bs (Centre for Environment-Behaviour Studies), Faculty of Architecture, Planning & Surveying, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Malaysia.DOI: https://doi.org/10.21834/e-bpj.v4i12.1874

The fast-changing growth of new developments in a Malay Royal Town to create new attractions with various forms of architectural expressions has given a direct impression on the street level, affecting the survival of the buildings along a heritage area. As a result, it will tarnish the original character of the place and disappear the image. A deficit of visual representation for injecting place attachment through the traditional plant motif symbolizes cultural value. This paper aims to identify the qualitative responses to the visual representation of plant motifs in enhancing the royal Town of Kuala Kangsar, conducted semi-structured interview participants based on purposive sampling, including professionals, policymakers, and skilled practitioners categories. The data was analyzed through qualitative coding using Atlas Ti 8.0. The significant findings reveal that the Kalumpang Flower motif, the Melur Flower Motif, and the Motif of Asam Batu leaf is the plant's motif element categorized under the royal image motif, which has a specific meaning related to the historical and cultural background. Most importantly, this finding contributes to assessing the details of the plants' motif representation to assist the city council in preserving the unique and valuable historical heritage of the place image of the Royal Town Kuala Kangsar, Perak.

Due to a lack of secure identity following the new developments in a Muslim Royal Town of high-tech modernization in the twentieth century, the craft maker created any motif with an unknown purpose. As a result, the original character of the location will be tarnished, and the image will vanish. This paper aims to identify the qualitative responses of the plant elements reinforcing the Muslim Royal Town of Kuala Kangsar, conducted semi-structured interview participants based on purposive sampling, including professionals, policymakers, and skilled practitioner's categories. The data was analyzed through qualitative coding using Atlas ti 8.0. The significant findings reveal that the flower, the color related to the flag, leaf, and types of plant, tendril/ meandering cloud, the shape of the plant, and an element of the plant on a Perak Coat of Arm reflected the royal Muslim town. This finding contributes to assessing the details of the plants' motif representation to assist the city council in preserving the unique and valuable historical heritage for the place image of the Muslim Royal Town of Kuala Kangsar, Perak.