Journal of Architecture, Planning and Construction Management

EDITORIAL

Abdul Razak Sapian — 2025-07-01

Dear All,

Assalamu'alaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh.

Journal of Architecture, Planning and Construction Management (JAPCM), Kulliyyah of Architecture and Environmental Design is one the official journals of International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM), under IIUM Press. It embarked in 2011 and is dedicated to the publication of original articles on the specialized fields of Architecture, Planning, Landscape Architecture, Quantity Surveying, Building Technology and Engineering, Applied Arts and Design, Construction Management and those related to the Built Environment. JAPCM is also the ardent forum for the reports of research that bridged the Built Environment and the Islamic worldview.

Prof. Ar. Dr. Abdul Razak Sapian Editor-in-Chief

THE HIJAB IN THE ISLAMIC HOUSE

Faredah Al-Murahhem — 2025-06-30

This study examines the history of the Islamic house in relation to the ?ij?b. It discusses the application and forms of the ?ij?b across major cities in the Islamic world. The concept of the ?ij?b is traced from its origins in the Muslim community during the Prophet’s time to the end of the twenty-first century. Accordingly, this study demonstrates how the Islamic doctrine and the ?ij?b as a phenomenon are being applied across Islamic regions. The evidence reveals the adaptation of Islamic rules within the house and solidarity in obeying these rules to maintain the well-being of the inhabitants. The discussion illustrates how the ?ij?b governs daily Muslim life and shapes the house from within. Conversely, segregation from the same concept, shapes zones, and layouts of the interiors. The study is based on a descriptive historical literature, alongside the analytical methods of the case studies. It illustrates the narrative through some real examples of Muslim societies where the ?ij?b has been fully practiced. Confronting the rapid movement of global change, this analysis of the ?ij?b and its forms in the Islamic house is timely. Finally, this analytical reading aims to demonstrate the application of the ?ij?b and its impact on Islamic architecture in general. The main objective is to learn from past and current examples to secure the concept of the ?ij?b within the house, as the study shows that the need for such a concept is still significant.

BUILDING CONTROL AND ENFORCEMENT OF LAND-USE REGULATIONS: PREVALENCE AND CHARACTERISTICS OF VIOLENT CRIME EXPERIENCED BY DEVELOPMENT CONTROL OFFICERS

Adewumi BADIORA — 2025-07-01

Violence against Development Control Officers (DCOs) and injuries sustained from assaults is not only a frequent occurrence but also often hidden from official and empirical research view. Other than the police, there is a dearth of studies on violence against regulation enforcement officers. This study analyses the results of a survey carried out to examine the occurrence and characteristics of assaults experienced by DCOs in Nigeria. Using Ogun state a case study, the 20 zonal development control areas represent clusters from which at least a respondent was randomly selected. A mixed-method approach was used to analyse the data. Findings show that assault is a common occurrence against DCOs. Results link the frequency of direct personal contact with people to the increasing vulnerability of DCOs to assaults. Results of the logistic regression show that assaults are more common to female than male officers, and may be frequent for DCOs with less experience on the job. In conclusion, there is prevalence of violence against DCOs in Nigeria. A co-production efforts by state and non-state stakeholders are therefore needed to ensure the safety of the DCOs and to improve the quality of land-use and that of the built environment.

AVOIDING VS. ACCEPTING RISK: EVALUATING THE RISK MANAGEMENT OF A MOSQUE CONSTRUCTION IN KUALA LUMPUR

Naida Rosli — 2025-07-01

Risk management is a critical component in ensuring the successful delivery of construction projects, especially in the public sector, where resources, regulations, and stakeholder interests must be carefully balanced. This study examines the practical application of the Garis Panduan Pengurusan Risiko Bagi Projek Kerajaan (Guidelines on Risk Management for Government Projects) through a case study of a mosque construction project in Kuala Lumpur, focusing on two fundamental risk response strategies: avoidance and acceptance of risk. This study examines how risk can be identified, classified, and treated effectively during the construction phase. Data was collected through stakeholder workshops and document analysis, leading to the identification of project-specific risks, including design changes, late approvals, and religious considerations such as qibla direction alignment. The findings demonstrate that by applying the JKR guideline, certain risks can be proactively avoided through early planning, while lower-impact risks can be strategically accepted with monitoring. The study also highlights how unique characteristics of public religious buildings require tailored risk mitigation approaches. Ultimately, this research affirms the relevance and adaptability of the JKR (2017) guideline in guiding systematic risk management in government-funded construction projects and provides practical insights into future implementation.

THEMATIC ANALYSIS ON FURNITURE DESIGN FOR WORKING SPACE IN TINY HOUSE

Izyan Syamimi Zainol — 2025-07-01

There are two future predictions based on current trends: the style of working remotely and the growth of demand for tiny houses. However, the trends are cross-conflict due to the limited space in tiny houses for working activities. One of the most significant influences on working productivity is the suitability of furniture design for working activity. One of the observation results in the furniture design market shows that the available furniture design for working activities is usually not designed for home space. This paper studies the possible types of furniture design for working space in tiny houses. Thematic Analysis extracted from design discussions with 15 Key Informant Interviews (KII) specializes in design (Industrial Design, Entrepreneur, Interior Designer, and Architect) from Malaysia. Results show the attributes of workspace furniture design for tiny houses, such as the consideration ratio of working surface, the longevity time usage for working remotely from the tiny house, etc. These attributes are helpful for future research and development of the furniture design process, specifically in designing furniture design for workspaces in tiny houses. The consistency statement by KII leads to ordering the evaluation of furniture design criteria for workspace in tiny houses. Most of KII is concerned about the technical part, followed by functionality, concept aesthetics, and cost. The perceptual positioning map of workspace furniture shows the working furniture for remote working and their positioning, indicating a space function relationship. The presentation of furniture mapping patterning the estimation for designing some furniture for workspace in tiny houses in the future.

MAXIMISING THE ECONOMIC BENEFITS OF GREEN RETROFITTING OF EXISTING BUILDINGS IN MALAYSIA

Aini Najwa Mohd Zahari — 2025-07-01

There are two future predictions based on current trends: the style of working remotely and the growth of demand for tiny houses. However, the trends are cross-conflict due to the limited space in tiny houses for working activities. One of the most significant influences on working productivity is the suitability of furniture design for working activity. One of the observation results in the furniture design market shows that the available furniture design for working activities is usually not designed for home space. This paper studies the possible types of furniture design for working space in tiny houses. Thematic Analysis extracted from design discussions with 15 Key Informant Interviews (KII) specialises in design (Industrial Design, Entrepreneur, Interior Designer, and Architect) from Malaysia. Results show the attributes of workspace furniture design for tiny houses, such as the consideration ratio of working surface and the longevity time usage for working remotely from the tiny house. These attributes are helpful for future research and development of the furniture design process, specifically in designing furniture design for workspaces in tiny houses. The consistency statement by KII leads to ordering the evaluation of furniture design criteria for workspace in tiny houses. Most of KII is concerned about the technical part, followed by functionality, concept aesthetics, and cost. The perceptual positioning map of workspace furniture shows the working furniture for remote working and their positioning, indicating a space function relationship. The presentation of furniture mapping relates to the estimation for designing furniture for workspaces in tiny houses in the future.

FAÇADE AESTHETIC OF NATION BUILDINGS IN MALAYSIA: A VISUAL ANALYSIS

Amir Sheriff — 2025-07-01

Following Malaysia's Declaration of Independence, the architecture of the era adopted an international modern style for many government buildings and mosques, heavily influenced by British architecture. However, Malaysia’s diverse population, including Malays, Chinese, Indian, and other ethnic groups, significantly shaped its architectural landscape. This paper examines how the facades of key national buildings—Stadium Merdeka, the Parliament Building, and the National Mosque—convey the idea of national unity. Using a mixed-methods approach, the research analyses the visual aspects of these facades through nine Visual Design Principles (VDP): harmony, unity, balance, rhythm, emphasis, proportion, contrast, repetition, and movement. A scoring system is employed to evaluate each facade's visibility and significance based on these principles. The study reveals that architectural style and colour are critical visual elements that influence perceptions of historical building facades. The findings enhance our understanding of how people evaluate images of these facades, offering guidance for architects and designers in future projects. It is noted that harmony and unity are interconnected concepts, with the Parliament Building scoring highest in both. In contrast, the other buildings face challenges in demonstrating visual rhythm and emphasis. Ultimately, the study underscores the complex relationship between architectural design and cultural identity, concluding that these iconic structures contribute to Malaysia's evolving architectural identity, reflecting the nation’s aspirations for unity in diversity.

UNDERSTANDING THE MALAYSIAN NATIONAL ARCHITECTURAL IDENTITY: CASE STUDIES ANALYSIS

Muhamad Hanafi Rahmat — 2025-07-01

The crisis of Malaysian architectural identity is often the subject of discussion among local scholars in their writings and discourses. The highlighted architectural identities usually lack local authenticity and fail to represent Malaysia architecturally. Therefore, it is important to understand the ideology of the national identity of architecture and how to implement it in the local architectural scenario. This study compiles the ideologies and perspectives of scholars by conducting a literature review and direct observation of the roles, typologies, and themes associated with national architectural identity. It is then discussed further using a case study of local Malaysian architecture to see its clear relationship from the context of the national identity of architecture. An interpretive approach was employed to analyze various architectural elements linked to national identity, with a narrative method applied to convey the findings. Using local case studies enriches the understanding of Malaysia's architectural identity, further exploring the country's architectural heritage. This paper investigates national architectural identity from community and governmental viewpoints, focusing on project identity, sub-national, supra-national, and personal identities. It also explores typologies such as natural, artificial (manufactured), and forced identity, as well as themes like typology, memory (memorial), and geopolitics. The analysis reveals that the roles of architecture clarify its purpose, typologies categorise its forms, and the themes help uncover the deeper meanings embedded in architectural designs. The Malaysian architectural scenario is full of amazing ideas, and this paper helps develop some guidelines for understanding the national identity of Malaysia for reference not only for architects but also for all Malaysians.

UTILISATION OF AUGMENTED REALITY FOR GENERATING ACTIVE LEARNING IN ARCHITECTURAL EDUCATION

Fadzidah Abdullah — 2025-07-01

The advancement of Augmented Reality (AR) has impacted the world of architecture and has facilitated the construction industry to leap ahead, giving practitioners the ability to virtually visualize and spatialize design works with integration into the physical environment. Nevertheless, the utilization of the available visualization techniques in AR has not been widely used in the teaching and learning of architecture. Hence, this article aims to describe the exploration of utilizing AR in architectural education, as a method for generating active learning among students. This article also depicts case studies of the integration of AR visualization with architectural education by experimenting with techniques of AR application in the teaching and learning of building construction courses. Two (2) experimental projects were conducted with the substance of exploratory action research. The projects were carried out to experiment with the integration techniques and to assess the integration as attributes for successful learning. The two projects used a qualitative approach to have the exploratory inquiry of the experimentation, focusing on exploration of AR utilizations in two (2) building construction courses using steel and timber materials. This research shows that AR had been successfully utilized as the medium to disseminate architectural construction knowledge of both steel and timber construction materials. The experimentations also have inspired students to participate in the learning process actively and improved their cognitive learning capability.

ADAPTABILITY OF SHOPHOUSES CONFIGURATIONS IN MALAYSIA: A FRAMEWORK FOR ENHANCING SOCIAL COHESION THROUGH END-USER PERCEPTION

Nur Amalina binti — 2025-07-01

This research paper explores the adaptability of shophouses in Malaysia, focusing on how end-user perceptions influence social cohesion in urban environments. Shophouses, a quintessential part of Malaysia's architectural heritage, have evolved to meet contemporary needs while preserving their historical and cultural significance. However, the rapid pace of urbanization and modernization has led to challenges in maintaining the social fabric of communities centered around these structures. This study employs a mixed-methods approach, combining site observations, surveys, and focus group discussions to evaluate the functionality, adaptability, and social impact of shophouse readaptation. The findings highlight the importance of inclusive design, cultural preservation, and community engagement in fostering social cohesion. The paper proposes a framework for architects, urban planners, and policymakers to balance modernization with heritage conservation, ensuring that shophouses remain vibrant hubs of social interaction and economic activity.

A METHODOLOGY TO INVESTIGATE UNIVERSITY BUILDING CONDITION FOR LIFE CYCLE COST OF MAINTENANCE

Mohd Fairullazi Ayob — 2025-07-01

Education buildings are important assets in the universities that are purposely built to provide a conducive and secure environment to the staff and students in facilitating them to execute teaching, learning and academic programmes, research, consultancies, and administrative activities for the development of knowledge, skills, culture, and personality. Nonetheless, in the face of multiple effects of inflation on the economy, the maintenance work for the facilities in university education buildings has become very complex and a thorny issue. There has been a demand to re-examine and improve the practice of university building maintenance methodology by emphasising the optimisation of maintenance life cycle cost to facilitate the university agencies in measuring their long-term financial capability to pay maintenance costs based on the efficient use of capital and resources throughout the service life. This paper is prepared to present the methodology to investigate the university building maintenance condition and operational performance as inputs for developing a life cycle cost of maintenance database prototype. The methods designed for the study are a qualitative research strategy incorporating three fieldwork approaches, i.e., the semi-structured interview, building condition assessment (BCA), and quick response codes (QR) approaches. The methodology is proposed to investigate the operational performance and maintenance condition of teaching and learning facilities in the chosen university building case study to produce outputs for the development of prototype of life cycle cost database requirements of university building, which would add value to the core services of the university and in line with the key drivers of Malaysian Science, Technology, Innovation, and Economy (MySTIE) framework.

LEARNING ACROSS BORDERS: STUDENTS’ EXPERIENCES IN OUTBOUND MOBILITY PROGRAMME

Nurul Alia Ahamad — 2025-07-01

This study explores the use of a focus group approach to evaluate students' experiences in an outbound mobility programme in Chiang Mai and Bangkok, Thailand. It intends to reveal the various dimensions of their learning encounters, such as their understanding of local culture and architecture, academic and professional growth transformation, application of the experience, and improvement for future outbound mobility programmes. A qualitative method was employed, utilising an asynchronous online focus group with ten (n=10) final-year Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Architecture students who participated in this programme. Through data analysis and coding, four key themes emerged: understanding the impact of local architecture and culture, effective collaboration with industry professionals and peers, motivation to pursue architectural projects in the future, and reflections on the post-mobility experience. This study offers a relatively good overview of students' experiences in outbound mobility programmes and shall contribute to the broader discourse on architectural education, especially for graduating cohorts. However, to assess students’ experiences more comprehensively, further evaluation needs to be conducted before, during, and after the outbound mobility programme.