By Prof. Dr. Nor Zalina Harun, Principal Fellow at The Institute for Environment and Development (LESTARI), Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia
The way we design new high-rise residential developments is quietly reshaping how people live together. Social interaction is increasingly confined to lifestyle-oriented facilities that often reflect status rather than community.
The swimming pool becomes a place to display branded swimwear, the gym showcases the latest sportswear, and the jogging track becomes another stage for lifestyle and consumption. These spaces are designed for specific activities, but not necessarily for meaningful conversations or spontaneous encounters.
This shift has changed the way neighbours connect with one another. People may share the same building, use the same facilities and pass each other every day, yet remain strangers. The physical density of modern housing does not always translate into social connection.
In contrast, traditional spaces such as the warung kopi have always served a deeper purpose than their basic function suggests. A warung kopi is not merely a place to drink coffee; it is a place where neighbours exchange stories, discuss local issues, celebrate achievements and support one another during difficult times.
These spaces are naturally inclusive. They welcome people regardless of age, income or social status. No one cares what brand of shoes you wear or what car you drive. What matters is the conversation, the laughter and the shared experience of being part of a community.
Beyond the warung kopi, similar forms of everyday gathering spaces have existed across different cultures. Community plazas in Spain, neighbourhood squares in Italy, hawker centres in Singapore and local markets in Japan all provide places where people from different generations and backgrounds naturally interact.
These spaces support local economies, strengthen neighbourhood identity and encourage repeated face-to-face encounters that gradually build trust among residents. They are not merely commercial or recreational spaces, they are social infrastructure.
MAKING INFORMAL SPACES WORK
One of the common reasons given for excluding informal public spaces from modern developments might be the concern over cleanliness, congestion, noise and maintenance. These concerns are understandable, especially in high-density urban environments where poor management can create genuine problems.
However, these challenges should not become an excuse to remove the very spaces that help communities grow. The issue is not the existence of informal activities, but rather how they are planned, regulated and integrated into the urban environment.
Many cities have demonstrated that vibrant informal public life can coexist with cleanliness, order and high-quality urban management. In Taiwan, for example, cities such as Taichung host neighbourhood night markets almost every evening. Yet by the following morning, the streets are clean, organised and ready for everyday activities.
This is achieved through effective local governance, proper waste management, clear operating regulations and shared responsibility between vendors, local authorities and the community.
BUILDING BETTER URBAN COMMUNITIES
Informal public spaces encourage spontaneous encounters, strengthen social networks, create a sense of ownership and increase residents’ attachment to place. These spaces provide opportunities for older people to remain socially active, children to observe community life, young people to build relationships and families to participate in neighbourhood activities.
Through repeated everyday interactions, residents gradually develop familiarity, trust and a willingness to support one another. These connections form the foundation of social cohesion and collective resilience. A neighbourhood where people know and care about one another is better able to respond to challenges, from small community issues to larger crises.
Unfortunately, many contemporary residential developments increasingly prioritise market value and exclusive amenities over every day social life. The result is neighbourhoods that are physically dense but socially disconnected. Residents may live only a few metres apart yet remain strangers for years.
As informal gathering spaces disappear, so too does the social capital that strengthens communities, builds trust and encourages collective responsibility. A development may offer impressive facilities, but without spaces for casual interaction, it risks becoming a collection of private units rather than a true neighbourhood.
A truly liveable city is not defined by the number of swimming pools, gyms or premium lifestyle facilities it offers. It is measured by whether people have places to meet naturally, interact casually and feel that they belong.
As planners, architects and policymakers rethink the future of high-density housing, the question should no longer be whether informal public spaces should be included, but how they can be designed and managed so that they remain clean, inclusive and vibrant.
The most successful neighbourhoods are not those with the most luxurious facilities, but those where people know one another, care for one another and feel proud to call the place home.