CREATING HISTORIC OPEN SPACE IN MELAKA

The preservation of Bukit China, a traditional Chinese cemetery in Mel aka, Malaysia, demonstrates how dynamic geographical concepts of lands cape and place can be used to diffuse knowledge of landscape culture a nd history in efforts to preserve land from urban development. In Buki t China people perceived a historical microcosm of common identity and community that symbolized contemporary nationalism. The quest to pres erve Bukit China successfully combined the significance of a historic landscape and the need for open space.