URBAN HEAT ISLAND MITIGATION STRATEGY THROUGH CHILDREN PARTICIPATION DESIGN WORKSHOP

Children are very special and unique creatures as their emotional, intellectual and their physical developments are closely intertwined with their environment. With certainty, the children participatory design workshop was viewed as an appropriate platform in providing them an early appreciation on the values of their actions in order to enhance their sensitivity and concern regarding environmental issues. This paper intends to describe the significance of children participation in the design workshop on mitigating the effects of urban heat island. Selected students from one elementary school in Johor Bahru were invited to participate in this study that started October 2010 to September 2011. The strategy in mitigating the effect of UHIs through increased vegetation cover is set into motion by this study. Results of the series of children’s workshops were analyzed using the GIS application and consequently translated as inputs in the development of a landscape design. The workshops have achieved UHI mitigating strategies such as the landscape design evaluation and tree planting activity. This study has revealed that children, given the chance to express freely and gain opportunities from grown-ups, have the capability to express their concerns as well as responsibilities on their surrounding environment. Succinctly, children’s participation is considerably significant in sourcing out ideas and actions to mitigate UHIs effect. However, their involvement is rarely given due recognition in the planning process and design environment in Malaysia. Finally, a categorical support from local authorities and private sector would be an assurance that could facilitate successful implementation of this strategy.