STREET NETWORK DESIGN, PATTERN AND

CHARACTERISTICS FOR MALAYSIAN LOCAL TOWN

Summary Writing

Name: Manahal Fatima, Minahil Nasir

Resource Person: Ma’am Rumanah
Table of Contents
Introduction 1
Zoning Characteristics 2
Street Network 3
Street Network Design 4
Methodology5
Type chapter title (level 3) 6
Results and Discussion……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………7
Zoning Characteristics of Malaysian Local Towns…………………………………………………………………………………….8
Street Network Design of Malaysian Local Town……………………………………………………………………………………..9
Street Network Patterns of Malaysian Local Town…………………………………………………………………………………10
Conclusion…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….11
 STREET NETWORK DESIGN, PATTERN AND
CHARACTERISTICS FOR MALAYSIAN LOCAL
TOWN
Introduction:
Malaysian towns have undergone significant evolution influenced by both colonization and
modernization. Initially established by colonial leaders to serve daily life and economic
activities, these towns retained their layout largely unchanged post-independence until the 1990s,
when urban planning became more structured. With over 200 local towns in Malaysia, they
represent the most common urban type, necessitating detailed examination. Understanding the
street networks within these local towns is crucial for grasping their unique characteristics and
functionality. Therefore, this study aims to delve into zoning, street designs, and patterns specific
to Malaysian local towns, enhancing our comprehension of their distinctiveness and how they
function within the broader urban landscape.

Zoning Characteristics:
 Malaysian towns saw rapid growth from the 1970s onwards.
 Development has shaped the physical aspects of local towns, notably their street
networks.
 Urban morphology studies highlight how town formation reflects the ideologies of
local rulers.
 Zoning in local towns is based on their unique characteristics.
 Three main development stages have been identified: the Malay Sultanate era,
colonialism, and the Malaysian state.
 Street network zoning incorporates old zone identities and new areas developed by
the Malaysian government.

Street Network Design:

 Street network design classification into the ABCD typology provides a nuanced
understanding of various aspects such as patterns, design features, and historical
context.
 The B-type, for instance, characterized by bilateral layout, signifies a time when
walking, carrying, and multiple forms of transportation were common.
 Previous research, like Hermawan & Ismiyati's study in Semarang City, has
successfully applied the ABCD typology to analyze street network development.
  In Malaysian local towns, the study applies this typology to define four primary
street network types: A-type, B-type, C-type, and D-type.
 Through this classification, the study aims to delve deeper into the complexities of
street network structures in Malaysia, shedding light on their evolution and impact
over time.

Street Network Design:

 Street connections in towns form different patterns of street networks, influencing
street connectivity.
 32 studies conducted between 1920 and 2001 offer various definitions of these
street network patterns.
 Trends like gridiron, fragmented parallel, warped parallel, loops, and lollipops have
been associated with transportation usage frequency, death rates, and healthcare
experiences.
 This research incorporates these trends to define the typology of street network
patterns in local towns.

Methodology:
The study examines street network dynamics in 223 Malaysian local towns, selecting four
representative towns for analysis. Using land use data, it maps town characteristics and street
formations to unravel distinctive street network identities through comparative analysis.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION:
Zoning Characteristics of Malaysian Local Towns:

 The old areas, established before Independence, exhibit physical characteristics influenced
by European street network styles, such as grid and radial patterns.
 Preservation efforts under the National Urbanization Policy II maintain the old zones'
environment, including historical buildings, architecture, and unique heritage.
 Examples include Pasir Puteh, Kelantan, Baling, Kedah, Rembau, Negeri Sembilan, and
Pontian, Johor, where colonial buildings and natural elements like trees contribute to the old
zone's distinct character.

Street Network Design, Pattern, and Characteristics:

 New zones, established post-1957, focus on socioeconomic growth and development themes
like industrialization, education, and leisure.
 Street network layouts and patterns in new zones are designed to support these themes, often
featuring a mixture of parallel patterns and loops to accommodate pedestrian and
transportation needs.
 Examples include Pontian, Johor, designated as an eco-tourism town, where street networks
blend modern designs with natural elements like colourful shrubs to attract tourists.
 Shophouse in new zones often feature modern styles without elaborate decorations,
contrasting with the historic facades found in old area.

Street Network Design of Malaysian Local Town

The study identifies three types of street network designs in Malaysian local towns: bilateral (B-
type), spousal (C-type), and distributor (D-type). These designs are observed in four selected
towns: Pasir Puteh, Baling, Rembau, and Pontian.

Bilateral or B-type: Found in Pasir Puteh, this design facilitates walking and carriage riding in a
grid shape, offering four-way directions for pedestrians. This design is characteristic of older
towns established during the colonization period.
Conjoint or C-type: Commonly found in new urban areas like Pontian and Rembau, this design
is utilized to smoothen traffic flow and accommodate transportation modes such as cars or buses.
Distributory or D-type: Implemented with a hierarchical process, this design collaborates with
different types of streets to differentiate traffic flow, commonly observed in modern street
networks.
Among the four towns, Pasir Puteh stands out as the only one with a B-type street network
design, reflecting its historical background and influences from the colonial era. The presence of
B-type design indicates the distinctiveness of older towns and their influence on pedestrian
preferences in navigating the streets.
Overall, the study suggests that while newer towns predominantly adopt C-type and D-type
designs to meet modern transportation needs, the presence of B-type design in some local towns
highlights the historical legacy and unique characteristics of Malaysian street networks.

Street Network Patterns of Malaysian Local Town

The study identifies two types of street network patterns in Malaysian local towns: fragmented
parallel patterns and loops and lollipops. These patterns are observed in four selected towns:
Pasir Puteh, Baling, Rembau, and Pontian.
Fragmented Parallel Patterns: Found in all four towns, this pattern indicates streets arranged
with hierarchy to accommodate vehicles, pedestrians, and mixed-use areas. It reflects the rapid
development of Malaysian local towns post-1957, with streets designed to cater to different
modes of transportation.
Loops and Lollipops: Also present in all four towns, this pattern suggests a layout where streets
curve and intersect, providing connectivity while preserving green spaces. In Pontian, for
example, Medan Koop Road features warped parallel patterns to protect green areas.
Among the towns, Baling and Pontian exhibit warped parallel patterns, reflecting the towns'
planning to accommodate existing landforms and main roads. In Pasir Puteh, a gridiron pattern is
observed, indicative of its development during the colonial era, focusing on pedestrian and
carriage transportation.
However, Pasir Puteh's gridiron pattern is not well-preserved due to its exclusion from the
National Urbanization Policy II as a historic town. This underscores the importance of
preservation efforts in maintaining the unique character of historic towns.

Conclusion:
The criteria for evaluating the street network identity of Malaysian local towns encompass
population size, urban center type, zoning characteristics (old and new areas), street network
designs (B-type, C-type, D-type), and street network patterns (gridiron, fragmented parallel,
warped parallel, loops and lollipops). These criteria reflect the evolution of local towns post-
Malaysian Independence, with preservation efforts for historic areas alongside rapid
development in newer zones. The diversity in street network layouts and patterns underscores the
importance of considering street network parameters in urban planning, urban landscape design,
architecture, social behavior, and environmental psychology research for Malaysian local towns.