Jugra: a hybrid inland-littoral legacy of the straits

Baniyamin, Nurhaya and Zain, Mazarina (2026) Jugra: a hybrid inland-littoral legacy of the straits. In: Urban-Architectural Forms of Historic Southeast Asia The Littoral Cities. Routledge, pp. 231-246. ISBN 9781032746036

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Abstract

Jugra, once a prominent administrative and royal town in Selangor, is a consequence of an urban rupture within littoral Selangor due to shifting political and economic forces in the late 19th and early 20th centuries (Andaya, 1993). Originally a hub of Malay royal authority and regional trade, its prominence declined following the colonial reorganization of regional administration under British rule, which favored port cities like Klang and Port Swettenham (Kessler, 2013). The displacement of economic activity and administrative functions led to the erosion of Jugra’s urban core, resulting in a dispersed urban fabric. This rupture was further compounded by infrastructural neglect and the rise of new economic centers, causing Jugra to become a peripheral town rather than a regional hub (Gerritsen, 2010). To revitalize such towns, integrated heritage conservation, adaptive reuse of historic structures, and promotion of cultural tourism are vital strategies to reconnect the community with its urban past and to stimulate sustainable development (Mason et al., 2019). In terms of form, Jugra retains a ceremonial identity in its palatial core, with its colonial and local royal architectural elements; however, its urban core itself is predominantly organic, shaped by natural topography, coastline, and traditional maritime practices. Its grid patterns, settlement layout, and land use have evolved organically over centuries, responding to environmental contours, the riverfront, tidal influences, and topography. Its resilience lies in its organic qualities—its capacity to adapt, reconfigure, and survive amidst environmental and social shifts, underscoring a symbiotic relationship with the topography, embodying a maritime vernacular that is deeply embedded in a littoral core urbanism that is fluid, resilient, and embedded in its maritime landscape.

Item Type:	Book Chapter
Subjects:	H Social Sciences > H Social Sciences (General)
Kulliyyahs/Centres/Divisions/Institutes (Can select more than one option. Press CONTROL button):	Kulliyyah of Architecture and Environmental Design > Department of Applied Arts and Design
Depositing User:	Nurhaya Baniyamin
Date Deposited:	25 Aug 2026 20:15
Last Update:	25 Aug 2026 20:15
Queue Number:	2026-08-Q4906
URI:	http://irep.iium.edu.my/id/eprint/127236

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