Planning and designing affordable housing for a sustainable future township in the greater Kuala Lumpur region, Malaysia

Abstract

Providing affordable housing for the masses in urban areas in Malaysia plays a significant role in the well-being of the population, contributing to the various social issues including physical and mental health, education, employment and their security as a whole. In Malaysia, the tier percentages of the population have been grouped into three income categories; they are the T20 (top), M40 (middle) and B40 (bottom) groups. Although many public and private housings have been built to cater each income group, they are seemingly unable to address many escalating social and living issues. Currently, the Greater Kuala Lumpur region, as the research area in this study, has a population of 8.3 million. It is projected by the year 2050; the population will reach 10.7 million. Through this paper, a new future township is proposed, whereas many shared facilities and amenities have been incorporated as to avoid the growth of potential social problems and to accord its citizens a conducive living area with great amenities, against the reality of existing conditions. By analysing these issues, a future sustainable township has been formulated based on the three pillar elements, which are live, work, play and learn environment, green areas and convenient connectivity. It is foreseeable that the demands of such township are imperative in the nation building towards achieving Malaysia's goal of attaining high-income economy and a modelled developed nation status soon, graduating from being a developing nation for decades.