Reviews of past literature indicate lack of visual privacy in the design of terrace housing in Malaysia, especially for urban Malay occupants with regulations and principles governing the privacy and modesty of self, family and house. However, previous studies did not specifically elaborate about the characteristics of visual privacy from Islamic perspective found lacking in the designs. The aim of this study is to examine how the current terrace housing design affects behavioural and daily life of urban Malay family, with regards to visual privacy and visual access satisfaction. The study, utilizes method in-depth interview and space syntax analyses. Findings indicates specific design aspect which effects the visual privacy satisfaction of Malay family. In addition, data highlight discrepancy of urf’ (customs) and design, resulting in lack of use of certain spaces and elements provided in the design.

Individuals’ mental health and well-being are significantly influenced by being in a natural setting and viewing nature. Hospital courtyard gardens (HCG) is a common feature found in public hospitals in Malaysia. Nevertheless, the factors influencing the visitation and non-visitation to the HCG are less understood. This study attempts to investigate factors influencing the visit and non-visitation of patients, staff and visitors to the HCGs in three Malaysian public hospitals. The research findings are instrumental to the architects and landscape architects to make necessary improvements for future HCG design and the hospital managers to enhance and retrofit the existing HCG.

A house is one of the necessities in the life of every human being. It is more than simply a shelter or structure but also significant in providing privacy to its occupants. This study aims to investigate the visual privacy regulated in different types of Negeri Sembilan Traditional Malay House (TMH). Different types of house layouts based on the number of pillars were selected in order to investigate the visual privacy. The research methodology utilizes case studies which include observations and interviews. Both case study portrays that visual privacy is regulated in Negeri Sembilan TMH despite the size of the house. The houses provide the need for visual privacy while maintaining and preserving community intimacy, social interaction and hospitality. This study is expected to be an eye-opener on the visual privacy regulated by occupants in Negeri Sembilan TMH.

There is lingering misconception about Islamic architecture that it is rarely used, or only used to portray Islamic aesthethics. Most buildings in USIM campus are lacking the elements of Islamic building principles, despite its statement that the development of the campus in USIM are driven by the philosophy of “Hablu Min Allah wa hablu Min al-Nās” which is portrayed through physical aspect of Islamic architecture. Thus, it is the focus of this study to address this misconception and vagueness. The aim of this study is; a) to identify the Islamic building principles (IBP) that shape the built environment, and b) to analyze how a student-centred campus building (SCCB) can be integrated with Islamic building principles. The main method of this study, which is quantitative method is used through a questionnaire survey distributed to frequent users of academic buildings in USIM including undergraduate students, postgraduate students and staffs regarding their spatial experience there and selected variables. The first objective of the study discovered that the definition of Islamic architecture for respondents are built environment that facilitates, fosters and stimulates Muslims’ ibadah (worship) activities and portrays actual realization of Islamic message, as well as integrates Islamic values into the built environment which represents Islamic culture and civilization. The second objective of the study highlights the importance of IBP, specifically the integration of; a) Fina, b) Interdependence, c) Privacy and d) Avoid harm in the design of a student centred campus building. Keywords: Islamic building principles, Islamic architecture, student-centred, campus building.

Past literature has indicated a lack of visual privacy in the design of terrace housing in Malaysia, especially for Malay Muslim families, owing to specific Islamic regulations and principles governing the modesty of self, family, and house. The main objectives of this paper are to analyse the definition of visual privacy from Islamic perspective or Muslim visual privacy (MVP), and to determine the factors that influence its perception among Malay Muslim communities who are living in terrace housing development in the Klang Valley, Malaysia. The study involved a survey interview of 441 respondents and 10 case studies. Findings indicate that in adapting to the contemporary urban environment of today’s terraced housing, Malay Muslim families are shifting away from the traditional Malay as well as previous Islamic concept of visual privacy. Analysis indicated that the Malay Muslim families required a balance between visual exposure and visual access in order to achieve an optimum level of visual privacy to enhance daily comforts, while still being informed by Malay culture and Islam. It is the balance between visual exposure and visual access which influences the four identified factors influencing Muslim visual privacy which are protection of aurat, security, community interaction and hospitality to guest.

Malaysia is ranked at the 56th place in the Climate Change Performance Index (CCPI) after gradually falling from the 39th place in 2016. The CCPI is useful in assessing the climate change performance of 57 countries including the European Union. With the intention of mitigating negative impacts on the environment due to the emission of harmful substances, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) have been developed by the United Nations General Assembly back in 2015. Thus, green development that fulfils the Green Building Index (GBI) criteria is important as guidelines in designing and developing buildings which are suitable to Malaysia’s tropical climate, environmental & developmental context, and cultural & social needs. In addition, it helpsin tacklingthe issue of climate change in Malaysia. The objective of this paper is to investigate the façade performance of green office buildings in Malaysia based on GBI criteria. Besides, this paper was conducted to explore the matrix assessment on GBI criteria along with Maqasid Syariah principles.Through this study, it is verified that the façade designs that satisfied the GBI criteria in Malaysia are in-lined with Maqasid Syariah principles. Keywords: building facades, material, maqasid syari’I, daylight.

Past literature had shown a lack of visual privacy in the design of terrace housing in Malaysia, especially for Malay Muslim families, due to the unique Islamic regulations regarding self-modesty, family, & house modesty. This study aimed to investigate the types of visual privacy regulation mechanisms utilised by Malay Muslim families living in terrace housing in Selangor to achieve an optimum Muslim Visual Privacy (MVP) level. Moreover, this study used a survey method with 441 respondents and 10 case studies. The findings indicated that due to the inadequacy of terrace housing design in providing visual privacy, the dependency on these visual privacy regulation mechanisms becomes more important to protect the modesty of Malay families in conducting their daily activities. In addition, the insensitivity of the original design in providing adequate MVP resulted in accepted norms contrasting with Islamic teachings. These norms include constant closing of doors and windows, which inhibit visual connection to nature and obstruct natural ventilation, hindering social interactions between neighbours, which was once an essential aspect of the Malay culture. Past literature had shown a lack of visual privacy in the design of terrace housing in Malaysia, especially for Malay Muslim families, due to the unique Islamic regulations regarding self-modesty, family, and house modesty. This study aimed to investigate the types of visual privacy regulation mechanisms utilised by Malay Muslim families living in terrace housing in Selangor to achieve an optimum Muslim visual privacy (MVP) level. The findings indicated that due to the inadequacy of terrace housing design in providing visual privacy, the dependency on these visual privacy regulation mechanisms becomes more important to protect the modesty of Malay families in conducting their daily activities. In addition, the insensitivity of the original design in providing adequate MVP resulted in accepted norms contrasting with Islamic teachings.