The provision of open spaces within a residential development is often seen as unimportant. The Malaysian Government targeted to provide 2 hectares of open space per 1000 population to be achieved as a developed nation status by the year 2020. This vision can be seen as the Government attempt to ensure the sustainability of open spaces in Malaysia. The Federal Department of Town and Country Planning, Peninsular Malaysia (FDTCP) has produced a planning standard guideline to supervise the implementation of the open space policy in Malaysia. According to FDTCP; until December 2009, Malaysia has achieved a percentage of 1.19 hectares of open space per 1000 population. Achieving the standard requires commitment of local authorities to implement the open space policy. However, the adoption of open spaces policy differs among local authorities, from a simplistic general approach of land ratio techniques to an ergonomics method. The paper examines  the  local allocation practices using 5 different approaches and it  argues that implementation of open space by local planning practices requires the knowledge of and understanding by planning profession towards a long term sustainable  green objectives.

The landscape character of a rural area is the distinct patterns that are shaped by the natural, built and cultural elements found in a particular setting. The rural landscape character is an important component of the rural landscape corridor, particularly in shaping a scenic driving route. Due to urbanisation, the improvements of road infrastructure and conversion of agricultural lands into commercial land use, the rural landscape may gradually lose its unique characters if they are not integrated into the development planning strategies. There have been a growing number of researchers that examine the landscape character assessment framework and studies on the rural areas. However, a framework that is tailormade to examine the rural landscape is needed to assist landscape architects and planners to identify and map the landscape values prior to planning any development in the rural areas, as these values are also vital in attracting rural tourism. The aim of this article is to formulate a conceptual framework on landscape character assessment for the rural landscape corridor. The framework proposes the addition of intangible components that relate to the tangible components of the rural landscape character. The framework can guide the planning of rural areas and the rural corridor.

No abstract

Open space in University offers multiple ecosystem services, providing a variety of benefits to human life.Ecosystem services are defined as the advantages that people receive from the ecosystems. It is the conditions and processes through which natural ecosystems and the species are to sustain and fulfill human life. In current research stated, the ecosystem contribute to human well-being has been emphasized with less attention to the important of cultural services as there is a significant changes in people interaction with environmental settings. Cultural services are recognized, but it is not yet defined clearly within the ecosystem services framework how important it is to human wellbeing. Thus, this paper is aim to explore the understanding of the relationship of cultural services and open space in University . Hence, the objectives of this research are to study the cultural services functions and to identify the values of cultural services provided. It is to understand how knowledge of cultural services related to the sociocultural value of human wellbeing. The research methods used consisted of a document analysis of cultural services with socio-cultural value through open space in University . The finding of this study is to demonstrate the proposed framework which shows the link between cultural services and socio-cultural value to human wellbeing. Above all, this approach is to understand the comprehensive approach to demonstrate the important of cultural services and open space within the campus to human wellbeing.

Recent studies suggested cemetery to be a dual function to accommodate the needs of open spaces that are gradually diminishing. In Malaysia, the Planning Guidelines for Muslim and Non-Muslim Cemetery need to be referred in developing a burial site because a cemetery is an important social infrastructure in the same way to a recreational park. The focus of this research is to analyze the identification of cemetery as an alternative space for social activities that are compatible with the sanctity of Muslim cemetery. This study attempts to reveal how Muslim cemeteries that are often considered as a dead space can be integrated as part of the city's recreational park without marginalizing the spiritual values of the space. The methodology employed comprises of (i) comparative analysis on the contents of the cemetery and recreational planning guidelines, and (ii) site observation of the selected case studies as a mean of data collection. The finding exhibits summative points extracted from both the planning guidelines and the physical elements observed that could transform and revolutionized Muslim cemeteries beyond its norm. This article concludes by providing some recommendations that will help to align the planning and design practice of Muslim cemeteries for future development.