Ismawi Zen

Landscape Design as an Added Value to Real Estate Development in Klang Valley

The aim of the paper is to investigate the importance of landscape design in the planning and designing of a residential property in Klang Valley. It has been proven that proper landscape planning and design with the sustainable concept and approach help to create conducive and responsive environment of residential properties. The paper employed quantitative approaches which includes i) a questionnaire survey; and ii) an observation. This empirical study is based on the findings of case studies conducted on several residential areas in Klang Valley. The findings show that the residents have very clear ideas both on how much green space is really important in residential areas in order to create a sustainable residential environment. Despite the absence of public actions in terms of providing information, encouraging participations in the survey and promoting awareness by those interviewed have shown considerable interest in promoting landscape design to be applied in real estate development. The perceptions of the quality and quantity of landscape designs in residential areas and how landscape design can influence the values of real estate developments especially in Klang Valley can be further researched for future study.

INCLUSIVE DISASTER RISK MANAGEMENT (DRM) FOR BERTAM VALLEY COMMUNITY

This paper focuses on the inclusiveness of Disaster Risk Management. The study assesses proactive adaptation of Early Warning System (EWS) for Disaster Risk Reduction Program in Bertam Valley. The study aims to identify community preferences as an initiative to improve the effectiveness of the EWS system. In order to sustain the awareness and preparedness of EWS, continuous involvement by the community is necessary to make them resilient. Specific focus is given to Person with Disabilities (PwDs), elderly and children. Therefore, it is vital to understand the efficient methods to alarm PwDs, elderly and children during emergencies occurrence, which will focus on the implementation of types of alarm in EWS with regards to the early warning alarm and emergency notification. The finding from this paper is useful to assist local authorities and emergency responder in the formulation of warning and evacuation procedures to save the PwDs if dam failure is imminent. Keyword: disaster risk management (DRM), inclusive, early warning system (EWS), person with disabilities (PwDs), vulnerable community Rahsidi Sabri Muda, Izawati Tukiman, Mohd Ramzi Mohd Hussain, & Ismawi Zen Inclusive Disaster Risk Management (DRM) for Bertam Valley Community

A Review on the Values of the Islamic Garden in Response to a Garden Design in Malaysia

This chapter aims to investigate the physical characteristics of the Islamic garden and discover the values which can be adapted to a garden design in Malaysia. The chapter reviews several significant aspects for developing an understanding of the Islamic garden and its characteristics. There are two methods embedded in the chapter, namely, document analysis and semi-structured interviews. The outcome of the chapter highlights the importance of strengthening an understanding of the Islamic garden as a key to protecting and perpetuating the legacy of the Muslim civilisation.

Landscape design for residential area

Landscape design for residential area should be favorable for the ambience of ecological environment and for the enhancement of both the local climate of a residential and the environmental quality of life. The paper provides information that will enable people toward a better understanding of landscape design for residential. A good-quality residential area can be highlighted as an important issue in creating a sustainable living environment. It begins by describing landscape focuses on landscape design in residential development. It also reviews the issues related to the residential landscape design and residential landscape for green neighborhood in order to obtain a clearer and better picture of the basic needs of landscape for residential developments.

A REVIEW ON SUSTAINABLE WELLBEING INDICATORS FOR HUMAN INTERRELATIONSHIPS WITH THE ENVIRONMENT

The environment should appear not only as a commodity to humans but as an inspiring source that appeals to humans’ ethical ability. In Malaysia, studies concerning factors influencing pro-environmental behaviours are vast. However, studies on interrelationships between humans and the contextual surroundings are scarce. Towards achieving sustainable well-being, it is undoubtedly important for humans to have conforming emotions, behaviours, cognitions and motivations towards the environment. This study intends to identify the determinants of human values and ethical behaviour concerning the environment towards developing a theoretical framework of interrelationship between human and environment. Keyword: sustainable well-being, human interrelationships with the environment Date Received: 30 April 2016 Date of Acceptance: 30 October 2016 Aisyah Abu Bakar, Mariana Mohamed Osman, Syahriah, Ismawi Zen, Alias Abdullah, & Muhammad Faris An Assessment of Sustainable Wellbeing Indicators for Human Interrelationships with the Environment

The Characteristics of the Islamic Garden: Lessons for an Islamic Garden Concept in Malaysia

A garden is an outdoor space designed for the purpose of relaxation and recreation. Meanwhile, an Islamic garden is known as a garden that arise during the peak of Muslim civilisation. The main purpose of this garden is to solely remember the oneness of God as He is the creator of the universe. However, throughout the centuries, the values of the Islamic garden has started to be overlooked. This is due to the recent movement as a modern and contemporary garden design are started to be embedded into a garden design. Thus, this has led to the decreasing number of an Islamic garden design being adapted into a garden design. Hence, to bring back the values of the Islamic garden, this research is conducted as to investigate the physical characteristics of the Islamic garden, in order to discover the appropriate elements to be adapted in a garden design, especially in Malaysia. Two objectives are outlined for this research, which are to identify the physical characteristic of the Islamic garden based on three prominent gardens, the Persian garden, Andalusian garden and Mughal garden. The second objective is to evaluate the relevance of adopting the Islamic garden concept for a garden design in Malaysia. Two types of methods are employed in this research, namely the document analysis and site studies that are conducted at three gardens in Andalusia, Spain. The finding of this research covers on the reviews of the Islamic garden, the identification of the physical characteristic of the Islamic garden and finally, the relevance of adopting the Islamic garden concept in Malaysia. This study highlights the importance to understand and strengthen the knowledge on the values of the Islamic garden as it is the key to protecting and continuing the legacy of the Muslim civilisation. Keywords: Garden; Islamic garden; garden design; physical characteristics.

“Al-Jamaal” as a concept of Islamic aesthetics: from the perspectives of religion and art

The concept of aesthetics has received a growing attention from Western scholars since the nineteenth century. Over the past centuries until today, there has been substantial research by Western scholars on various arts produced by the Muslims. However, the concept of aesthetics has captured the special attention of researchers from different fields during the past three decades. The meanings of aesthetics in Islam has long been exposed to the approach that integrates to the understanding of the opposed Islamic worldviews. In fact, many scholars attempt to incapacitate the meaning of Islamic aesthetic merely form tangible forms rather than its contents. Thus, this paper aims to explore and discuss “Al-Jamaal” an Arabic term that means “beauty” as an Islamic aesthetic concept that offers preliminary guidelines in defining Islamic aesthetics, particularly in built environment context. The two objectives of this paper are (1) To explore the meanings of aesthetics in accordance Al- Jamaal concept based on literature review, and (2) To discuss the meanings of “Al-Jamaal” concept from the perspectives of religion and art. The study is conducted through a systematic literature review on Al-Jamaal based on the Quranic perspectives and prophetic traditions, and conducting in-depth interviews with 15 key informants with religious and arts background. Based on the findings, this study establishes nine parameters of the Al-Jamaal concept of Islamic aesthetics, which are spiritual, application, the manner of execution, sense of belonging, ethics, linguistic, self-experience, knowledge and personal expression. This study concludes that “Al-Jamaal” represents a broader meanings of aesthetics in Islam