THE ROLE OF IMAGEABILITY IN STRENGTHENING PLACE ATTACHMENT IN UPGRADED ALLEYS: A SURVEY-BASED STUDY IN THE COMMERCIAL DISTRICT OF KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA.

Abstract

This quantitative study investigates the correlation between imageability and place attachment, specifically in the context of urban alley regeneration in Kuala Lumpur. Although the alleys of Southeast Asian cities are increasingly being transformed into livable public spaces, few studies have investigated the visual and spatial characteristics that shape users’ attachments to place.  A quantitative survey approach was utilized to evaluate user perceptions of five upgraded alleys in Bukit Bintang.  A total of 695 participants were assessed with a structured questionnaire. Both descriptive and inferential analyses were performed to examine the impact of perceived imageability on place attachment. Findings indicate that place imageability attributes, including distinctiveness, visual clarity, and legibility, significantly predict place attachment levels. Specifically, legibility significantly influences both emotional and functional user attachment to a space, while perceived distinctiveness strongly correlates with emotional attachment. Using empirical methods to validate how imageability shapes place attachment in reimagined micro-public spaces, this study advances the theoretical debate in urban planning and design related to the quality of public spaces from physical and emotional perspectives. Additionally, the findings support policymakers in developing urban regeneration policies that transcend the physical aspect of place within the dense urban context of the Global South.