Beach as Potential Youth’s Third Place to Improve Youth Social Sustainability in Kelantan

¹ Sustainability, Urban Design and Wellbeing, Faculty of Architecture and Ekistics, Universiti Malaysia Kelantan, Kampus Bachok, 16300 Bachok, Kelantan, Malaysia.
² Architectural Heritage and Cultural Studies Research Group, Universiti Malaysia Kelantan, Kampus Bachok, 16300 Bachok, Kelantan, Malaysia.
³ Solar Energy Research Institute (SERI), Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600 UKM Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia

^* Corresponding author: liyana.r@umk.edu.my

Abstract

There are lack of green spaces and parks in Kelantan for youth to interact with their peers in a relaxed and informal setting. Transforming a beach into a vibrant youth third place involves creating a space where young people feel welcomed, engaged, and empowered to socialize, learn, and express themselves. Hence, the research aims to study favourite third place of youth and the potential of beach in Bachok, Kelantan as youth-oriented third place to improve youth social sustainability. The study employs online survey to collect data from 150 respondents aged 15-30 during the Malaysian Movement Control Order in 2020 and analysed by using SPSS 28.0. The main findings revealed that beach, mall and friends’ houses are the most favoured third place. The result suggested that the beach has the potentials to cater the needs of youth in Kelantan as a third place. The findings proposed that creating an environment that fosters social connections, inclusion, and community engagement at the beach as youth’s third place includes accessible amenities, cultural celebrations, environmental education, and digital connectivity. Developing a beach as a youth third place is a multifaceted initiative that can significantly enhance the well-being of young people and the community.