Cultural and creative products (CCPs) translate cultural heritage into contemporary design and play an important role in cultural communication and market development. However, existing research on CCPs design remains fragmented, with limited systematic understanding of which cultural elements most effectively influence consumer acceptance. This study conducts a comprehensive integrated review of research published between 2019 and 2026 to examine how cultural elements shape consumer responses to CCPs design. Relevant studies were retrieved from Scopus, Web of Science, and ScienceDirect and screened using predefined criteria, and finally included 35 articles for comprehensive thematic analysis. The analysis identifies three categories of cultural elements that significantly influence consumer acceptance: (1) meaningful and narrative cultural elements, (2) recognizable and understandable cultural elements, and (3) authentic and unique regional cultural elements. The analysis results indicate that the effectiveness of these elements depends on reinterpretation and design translation through contemporary visual language and innovative design strategies. Based on a unique ‘literature review synthesis process’, the study proposes a conceptual framework explaining how cultural meaning, design expression, and consumer perception interact to influence purchase intention and acceptance. The study contributes to a clearer understanding of culturally embedded design strategies and provides implications for design practice. Keywords: consumer acceptance; cultural and creative products; cultural elements; innovative design; purchase intention
The neighbourhood-built environment plays an important role in shaping social interaction and the development of a sense of community, particularly in rapidly urbanising tropical cities. While previous Malaysian studies have primarily used perception-based surveys, limited empirical attention has been given to the actual observation of physical neighbourhood features and their influence on social interaction and community cohesion. This study uses an observational analysis of two master-planned townships in Shah Alam, Selangor: Setia Alam and Bukit Jelutong, to evaluate the link between neighbourhood-built environment characteristics and a sense of community. A structured observation protocol was employed to assess eleven neighbourhoodbuilt environment attributes, including residential density, green infrastructure, architectural style, and recreational facilities, using a three point assessment scale. The findings indicate that although both neighbourhoods possess physical characteristics that support community development, they achieve these outcomes through different spatial planning approaches. Setia Alam scores in architectural, housing design excellence, and strong urban integration, promoting community identity and social interactions. Bukit Jelutong, on the other hand, benefits from lowered density, greater block sizes, and large green networks, which enhance spatial comfort and spontaneous social connections. The study contributes to the growing discourse on sustainable neighbourhood planning by providing observational evidence on how physical design characteristics influence community cohesion in Malaysian urban settings. Keywords: neighbourhood-built environment; sense of community; social sustainability; observation analysis; Malaysia
Adherence to environmental health standards is imperative to safeguard the well-being of students, educators, and administrative personnel within private tuition centres. Urban tuition centres operating in renovated shop-office premises may encounter environmental health challenges because their original commercial layouts are not necessarily suited to sustained educational occupancy. This study identifies the environmental health parameters relevant to tuition-centre licensing in Kajang, Selangor, and proposes practical, evidence informed improvement measures. A qualitative research design combined documentary analysis of the Ministry of Health Malaysia’s premises-inspection checklist and 28 regulatory, technical and scholarly sources with one semistructured key-informant interview involving an authorised environmental health inspector from the Hulu Langat District Health Office. Kajang, defined as the geographical context without selected case study and field observations or premises inspections were conducted. Directed qualitative content analysis and a six-phase thematic procedure were undertaken manually using a structured coding matrix. Five document informed themes were identified: lighting; indoor air quality and ventilation; sanitation, cleanliness and waste management; noise control; and building safety and maintenance. Documentary frequencies indicate the extent to which the selected sources address each theme but do not represent centre level of noncompliance rates. The inspector’s account provides contextual interpretation of inspection requirements rather than statistically representative evidence. Appropriate responses include verifying classroom illuminance, ensuring adequate outdoor-air ventilation, maintaining hygienic facilities, controlling intrusive noise, and keeping escape routes and safety equipment serviceable. The findings provide a substantially contextualised framework for interpreting environmental health requirements in repurposed shop-office tuition centres, subject to the limitations of a single key informant and the absence of primary premises level observations. Keywords: Compliance, Environmental Health Standard, Parameters, Shop Office, Tuition Centre
Concerns regarding the survival of regional architectural identity and vernacular spatial principles have been raised by the substantial changes in Oman’s residential architecture brought about by the country’s fast urbanization and globalization. Although there are many obvious allusions to ancient architectural features in modern villas, it is uncertain if these allusions are supported by similar spatial consistency. Through a systematic comparative morphological evaluation of 26 purposefully chosen residential projects from various Omani locations, this study investigated this relationship. The Façade Continuity Score (FCS), which evaluated façade-level vernacular expression; the Spatial Continuity Score (SCS), which evaluated specific vernacular spatial principles; and the Vernacular Integration Gap (VIG), which was computed as FCS − SCS, comprised the proposed exploratory framework. The use of VIG as a relative diagnostic indicator of the discrepancy between spatial continuity and symbolic façade manifestation inside each evaluated scenario is what makes it novel. The indicators were not considered direct measures of architectural authenticity or environmental performance; rather, they were developed as theory-informed ordinal ratings for comparative analysis. Ten professional interviews were subjected to frequency-based content analysis in addition to descriptive and exploratory association analyses. 54% of the chosen projects were categorized as façade-dominant historicism, and façade continuity scores were generally higher than spatial continuity scores (mean FCS = 3.78; mean SCS = 1.94). FCS and SCS had a weak and statistically insignificant relationship (r = 0.376, p = 0.058). Additionally, in the projects and circumstances they were familiar with, participating experts often reported that façade treatment received more attention than plan-level reinterpretation. The results offer preliminary proof of façade-spatial mismatch in the chosen examples. As a preliminary diagnostic tool for comparative design evaluation, the FCS–SCS– VIG framework has to be validated using bigger samples, independent assessors, resident-based research, environmental evaluation, and policy analysis. Keywords: Vernacular architecture; spatial continuity; façade historicism; residential architecture; Oman
Tanjung Chali, a historic waterfront in Alor Setar, Malaysia, embodies a significant cultural landscape reflecting the community-river nexus. However, as an unlisted site under the National Heritage Act 2005, it lacks statutory protection, leaving its landscape highly vulnerable to physical degradation. This study addresses the lack of empirical research on ungazetted heritage waterfronts by applying the Visual Impact Assessment (VIA) framework to evaluate 12 landscape elements, comprising seven hardscape and five softscape components. Evaluated across six expert-validated visual indicators, the quantitative findings reveal severe degradation, yielding a poor overall landscape condition score of 1.47. Specifically, 100% of hardscape elements fell into the ‘Poor’ category (µ = 1.33), driven by structural defects and acute subsidence. Conversely, softscape components demonstrated higher resilience with a moderate mean score of 1.67, though 60% of elements exhibited maintenance neglect. These results establish that waterfront deterioration is driven by built infrastructure decay rather than complete ecological decline. Methodologically, this research provides a replicable, evidence-based visual matrix for unprotected cultural landscapes, offering local authorities a practical toolkit to prioritize rehabilitation and secure targeted funding for unlisted heritage waterfronts. Keywords: Visual Impact Assessment, Cultural Landscape Deterioration, Heritage Waterfront Management, Hardscape and Softscape Evaluation, Urban Heritage Conservation
