Placemaking is a multifaceted approach to planning, designing and managing public spaces to promote people’s health, happiness and well-being.

Malaysian Institute of Planners president Noraida Saludin said placemaking not only benefits the local community but has also proven to have increased real estate value.

Placemaking could start from shared spaces in an office building to a back lane, using art and culture to attract people to have a sense of belonging or a place to relate to, she said at the Rehda Institute webinar on placemaking today.

Noraida gave an example of Penang’s Komtar back lane rejuvenation project, which saw a combined 10 acres of green space in 9km of back lanes.

She said Kuala Lumpur’s River of Life project was also another good example of placemaking, and the Publika Mall, as another example.

“Everybody wants to be in Publika and be seen there. This only shows that spending more to create public spaces can be immensely beneficial for you, boosting property value.”

Noraida said it was important that the country has its own set of guidelines on placemaking to be a reference for others on best practices locally.

Placemaking Malaysia deputy chair Imran Clyde said vibrant and creative public spaces have contributed to better demand and higher appreciation of property.

He said shophouse owners or businesses could team up to enhance the vibrancy of their surrounding areas so as to get more footfall. He cited a successful example of one in Tanjong Pagar, Singapore.

“It can be anything from office lobbies, open spaces and car parks. It does not need to be expensive,” he said.

International Society of City and Regional Planners expert advisor Michael Stott said placemaking must be well connected through public transport and pedestrian walkways.

He said the pre-pandemic reliance on private vehicles could be reduced if public spaces were connected to transit lines.

Stott gave an example of King Street in Toronto, Canada, which saw business fortunes jump after conversion into a public street mall that included a platform for a tramline and a bicycle lane in 2017.

He said the move was a big success as footfall grew at the public mall and saw people taking the tram and more people using bicycles.

“People who drive are going to spend less as they are going just to one place, but those who walk or cycle are going to stop at more places,” he said.