Heritage is most frequently used as a catalyst in urban regeneration and has been overtly mobilised over the past decades. In economic development, the ‘regeneration ’terminology is often applied hand in hand for its sheer similarity. The understanding of heritage meaning and its interconnecting factors is further illustrated in Figure 2, Figure 3, and Figure 4. Contemporarily, the use of imagined pasts, heritage further mobilised for various present purposes and public policy goals [(Pendlebury & Porfyriou, 2017); (Šćitaroci & Šćitaroci, 2019)]. "Heritage urbanism" refers to the revival and improvement of cultural heritage in spatial, urban, and landscape contexts and models. In the context of heritage urbanism, heritage means the "enrichment of heritage place and as an activation space instead of perceiving it as a stagnant and still space.” In this context, heritage will now be reviewed holistically as part of the cultural and built environment. While formulating the heritage, new uses and repurposing will affect the environment and its development. The context between the environment and the space function’s connection is to enhance heritage space more sustainably. Urban and spatial planning measures the survival of heritage values where the integrity of space and its cultural heritage are fully considered. Collaborative action from various sectors, such as regional development, economy, tourism, transportation, and infrastructure, is necessary to establish a vital view of cultural heritage from a broader perspective within its significant values.

Cultural heritage enriches cultural diversity, fosters social cohesion at a regional level, and depicts tourist potential, as stated (Knippschild & Zöllter, 2021). It plays a significant role in delivering sustainable development based on its high potential for economic, social, and environmental development. (Jeleński, 2018) Stressed on the challenges in this present life to create a livable city from the perspective of healthy, inclusive, functional, meaningful, and productive, but natural and cultural heritage are the two effective tools of values to guarantee a consistent context for place-based strategy to stimulate specific communities or neighbourhoods with an open culture perspective.

(Brâncoveanu, 2018) mentioned the definition of Cultural heritage as classified by UNESCO as being tangible and intangible. Further descriptions are interpreted in the following ;

"Cultural Heritage" is the legacy of physical artefacts and intangible attributes of a group or society inherited from past generations, maintained in the present, and bestowed for the benefit of future generations.

"Tangible Cultural Heritage" includes buildings and historic places, monuments, artefacts, etc., that are considered worthy of preservation for the future. These include objects significant to archaeology, communities, groups, and individuals, as well as to sustainable development. (Text of the Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage - intangible heritage - Culture Sector - UNESCO, n.d.)

"Intangible Cultural Heritage" is manifested inter alia in the following domains:

“Safeguarding” means measures aimed at ensuring the viability of the intangible cultural heritage, including the identification, documentation, research, preservation, protection, promotion, enhancement, and transmission, particularly through formal and non-formal education, as well as the revitalisation of the various aspects of such heritage.” (Why safeguard intangible cultural heritage? Answers by States... - intangible heritage - Culture Sector - UNESCO, n.d.). (See Figure 4)

A list of the tangible characteristics of the heritage in question is typically included in statements of heritage significance, along with an explanation of why each is valuable, as illustrated in Figure 5. (Havinga et al., 2020) highlighted a predefined list of attributes method proposed in The Energy Efficiency for Eu Historic Districts Sustainability (Effesus) where the experts will be asked to assign quantitative heritage significance levels to a predefined ’checklist’ of individual building components which found to be undesirable as it may lead to the missing of opportunity to enhance richness of the attributes assessment. As tangible attributes remained the focus aspect in the EFFESUS method, the intangible attributes (e.g., the social value of the ritual, tradition, or the urban interconnection within a society) are not considered attributes. The predetermined checklist limits the expert’s holistic views in determining all levels and scales of heritage attributes. Instead, they are to freely determine what tangible or intangible attributes they feel need revitalisation or preservation. (Havinga et al., 2020)

(Ujang, 2012) constructs the three components of sense of place in the context of place attachment attribute by explaining (1) physical setting (such as: accessibility, legibility-physical); (2) Activity (such as: vitality, diversity, transaction); and (3) Image (such as: legibility, comfort, distinctiveness, security and safety) as result of cognition, perception, and information. The study focused on identifying the significant role of functional form in creating a distinctive environment, how users perceive in using the space, and validating the emotional impact on psychological contribution to creating a successful place identity. (Samadi & Mohd Yunus, 2018) conducted research based on content analysis and pilot study methodology, pursuing various past research conducted, which concluded with research findings on 2 significant attributes: Physical Attributes and Spiritual Attributes. There were nine attributes found in the Physical Attributes: Façade, Transport, Streetscape, Landscape, Safety, Accessibility, Activity, Advertisement, and Density, whilst the Spiritual Attributes were Sensory, Vitality, Vibrancy, Livability, Aura, Magneticity, User-Friendly, and Volubility attributes found in the research. The findings discussed the highly dependent aura of physical space, spiritual and psychological attachment, and visual experience attributes as the catalyst contributing factors and magnets to the studied streets in end-users' participation in assessing the authenticity of the heritage-built environment.

(Havinga et al., 2020) used the enhanced “Attribute significance assessment” of the EFFESUS project, in which steps were taken to develop the assessment through an interview. The interview is structured by the cases, and consequently, discussed randomly. The attribute significance assessment is structured around four key elements: the “1- scale levels, 2- attributes, 3- heritage significance levels, and 4- aspects”. The interviewer refers to the various scale levels offered for each case, beginning at a higher, more general scale level and progressively advancing to the lower, more specific scale levels. In their most recent study, (Yang et al., 2022) developed an Affective System for Researching Emotions in Public Spaces for Urban Planning (ASP System) proven as a helpful supplement to urban planning and public participation practice by gathering and analysing emotional, affective and physiological states, arousal and valence (MAPS) of passersby, weather conditions, pollution and other data. This special combination of MAPS data can help city stakeholders start implementing practical planning solutions centred around the residents' needs. Further dependable integrated data analysis and interpretation, such as the Affective Method for Analyzing Emotions in Public Spaces for Urban Planning, mentions rationally performed, quantitative, and qualitative data analysis and interpretation in supporting worldwide research.

Users' experience in a place's physical, social, and psychological dimensions shall be well incorporated to ensure continuity of place identity. Evaluation of physical elements and characters of its three-dimensional (3d) space in heritage buildings as physical form attributes shall be studied, whilst the inhabitants' perceptions and experiences are assessed in perceiving the emotional context of the existing physical setting. Multi-sourced references ranging from architectural heritage and urban design to city authorities' guidelines were mainly referred to in search of developing attributing variables for Kuala Lumpur urban heritage space. In terms of methodology, the study used the unobtrusive method along with document, content analysis, and literature review activities. Attributes and characteristics of heritage places can be identified and influenced by the three (3) significant factors:

1-Quality of the physical elements.

2-Intensity in socio-economic activities through the timeline dimension.

3-The users' experience (psychological, spiritual, emotional, and sensory) of the places in association with place attachment.

Culture is an underlying factor that will successfully drive the placemaking and enhance the significance value of historical cultural elements and emotions. The urban elements' meanings and identities were partly maintained by a sense of place, self-identity, and community. Within the city's traditional setting, place meanings and attachment embedded in the existing social and cultural setting are seen as being transformed by the new development. Uniform planning, adding to place modifications, has led to the loss of the city’s original identity (Ujang, 2012). Experience and the perception of people who use and inhabit places are factors in curating memorable and meaningful heritage places. Psychological sense of place goes hand in hand with the physical components of a place in securing the place identity of the cities. (Ujang, 2012) concluded that place attachment contributes to creating city identity, which can then become a memorable space for the users who inhabit the space. The quality of the built environment has a psychological, well-being, and spiritual impact on the users. Functional and emotional attachment have been established as the two significant attributes in shaping space and place. Psychological needs are fulfilled as the emotions evoked show the ability of places to fuel emotional attachment. It is further discussed that a stronger sense of place and continuity of place identity both significantly contribute to a successful functional and emotional attachment. Places positive identification and recognition, satisfactory feeling, amusement, and safety generate a sense of place identity.

Space functions are another factor contributing to a sense of place and its identity, linked to functional attachment. Space functions in the context of its enriching activities, assists in cultivating the vibrancy and aura of the space, which can then spark emotional and spiritual attachment. (Szpakowska-Loranc, 2021) suggested how important it is to create cultural spaces in the city and linked the surrounding public realm with a range of revitalised and new activities related to the revitalisation of heritage buildings or heritage places. This is further supported by seeing that the existing town centre of Krakow, Poland, has been redeveloped and revitalized, and that those neglected spaces of cultural facilities inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List and in its buffer zone that were built on degraded, disused plots of land are now being revitalized by introducing new functions. As an example, the MOCAK (the Museum of Contemporary Art in Krakow) building turned out to be one of the focal points of the now trendy district of Krakow, and the space around the ICE Congress Centre is gradually changing from neglected wasteland to new and renewed plots. Socio-economic patterns have increased the population density through transforming existing neighborhoods into the nucleus of new enterprising towns and cultural and entertainment spaces, and raised the city's capability to be self-sustained. (Yang et al., 2022) mentioned a positive emotional charge able to make city spaces attractive to all stakeholders: "developers, community leaders, architects, business people, contractors, environmentalists, consultants, and landowners" and residents. Whilst positively charged locations will then develop into well-visited recreational sites and attractive business segments. The rise of business competition can be seen in the area with high visitor numbers, especially in the opening of the economic centre.

The following methodology was applied in order to obtain the research findings. A literature review of pertinent, current, and reliable English-language publications was the first stage. The content analysis in Table 1 was rigorously conducted on multiple literature sources to compare the attributing factors comprehensively and extensively. The secondary data were sourced from global and local research publications. The following Figure 6 is a summary of the research literature review in each segmentation. The findings were extracted from an unobtrusive research typology to examine comparatively the unstructured material in light of its expressive contents, symbolic properties, and meanings. As a result, the content analysis (CA) method's consequential conduct of non-intrusive or unobtrusive research was established to form the cultural heritage attributes framework's which includes physical, functional, and emotional attributes, and other supporting and additional dimensions were expanded to examine further, as compiled in Figure 6 to Figure 8.

Table 1 shows the matrix of the employed methods for this research activity. In identifying the pluralist attributes of the heritage place in Kuala Lumpur, a continuation of the research methods in analysing multiple sources of secondary data, i.e., data search engine and content analysis, was employed to identify all possible revitalising attributes.

The creation of the conceptual framework was the last phase, concluded at the end of the paper. The variables identified in the earlier steps were used to construct this attributes framework. The first challenge this framework must overcome is the absence of a well-accepted definition and a set of Sense of Place measurement indicators.

Numerous sense of place evaluation methods are well-established, but none have been comprehensively connected between place and people measures (Gokce & Chen, 2013). The performance rating models, which numerous scholars had purposefully created or altered in accordance with the needs, environment, and research situation they encountered, were reviewed to outline the evaluation strategy in this paper. The next stage was to identify the performance-critical factor. Besides investigating the dimensions of physical attributes, space function attributes, and psychological sensory attributes, the dimension performance's rating indexes were explored to evaluate its strengths and advantages, which can be concluded in the following main index:

Based on the previously determined dimensions, a thorough knowledge base for the sense of place's attributes evaluation techniques was developed. Every dimension in the model has elements intended to enhance its performance in relation to the other dimensions. The physical built and environmental design, social economy, and cultural characteristics were explained by a set of potential values contained in this framework. Each set of indicators has a result that is linked to one of the components, which in turn leads to the specific dimensions. The list is used to assess the heritage place revitalization efforts since it is believed that the more revitalization attributes steps used in assessing the heritage place, the greater the impact of positive sense of place impact will be. Further, detail three-level Likert scale was used to characterize each importance and satisfactory "Rating and Ranking" value for the Framework to be reliable in assessment. (Shehata et al., 2015)

The Delphi approach has gained popularity as a means of determining and ranking challenges for administrative decision-making and as a structured communication approach (Grande & Kaczorowski, 2023). But a lot of earlier research hasn't used a methodical approach to a Delphi investigation. (Okoli & Pawlowski, 2022) have studied the rigorous guidelines for choosing the right experts in any research study and provide comprehensive rules for making design decisions that guarantee a legitimate study. It has illustrated the various ways in which a Delphi survey may be used as a research instrument to support the theorizing process.

Delphi researchers fundamentally utilize a series of surveys interspersed with controlled opinion feedback, and they use this approach mostly when judging that information is essential. Applying the Delphi method to a wide range of scenarios as a tool for expert problem solving has several benefits, one of which is that it avoids direct confrontation of the experts. Additionally, they have created variants of the approach that are suited to particular issue categories and desired results. In Delphi polls, two distinct methods are frequently employed to measure respondents' opinions: rating and ranking. In a Delphi survey designed to determine priorities for the arrangement of primary data, the impact of employing a rating or ranking strategy on item prioritization (principal outcome), questionnaire completion time, and assessment of issues complexity was investigated (Proshansky et al., 1983).

The "ranking-type" Delphi is one variation that has been used extensively to foster group consensus over the relative importance of topics. Thorough explanation of how to carry out this kind of Delphi survey, including instructions for gathering data, analyzing it using non-parametric statistical techniques, and reporting the results. Applying the Delphi method to a wide range of scenarios as a tool for expert problem solving has several benefits, one of which is that it avoids direct confrontation of the experts. Additionally, they have created variants of the approach that are suited to particular issue categories and desired results. (Okoli & Pawlowski, 2022)

The part of the paper presents the findings on Attributes within the Physical, Functional, and Sense dimensions as illustrated in Table 3 and Table 4 that have a holistic direct impact on place attachment, place identity, and place memory, and their categorization of rating. Figure 11 conceptualizing the combined theory in examining the Sense of Place in the context of heritage entails examining how interactions with the environment shape people's perceptions of cultural sites.

Figure 12 illustrates the Cohesion of the Sense of Place elements and how they relate to the authenticity qualities. This shows the characteristics that could be brought up in a conversation about these elements of a sense of place and its cultural material values. Each dimension of place quality is associated with "attributes" relevant to the case's historical significance. More in-depth attribute classification can be covered, depending on the heritage asset to be studied in the future. The comprehensive assessment was considered because this study aims to define the input for decisions about heritage buildings and place revitalisation.

Following this review, the paper introduces a conceptual model illustrated in Figure 13 that outlines and clarifies the various potential components and connections within the Sense of Place concept while highlighting existing relational interchange. Central to this Sense of Place model are the two significant notions of 'place' and “people” that strongly determine the meaning of sense of place, which serves as the foundational core of the composition. It begins with the idea that place serves as a location where activities, events, and social interactions occur, shaping both individual and collective experiences and the people or community that are being affected by the evolution of a place.

The extracted revitalising attributes and their impact on the Sense of Place Dimension result are further coded into various elements: Built environment & building component, space function, and sensory, as shown in Figure 14. There shall be a further breakdown classification of dimension components, attributes, and their detailed elements, respectively, established in the research. The next phase of research on sense of place in a heritage environment, which involves developing hypotheses and operational definitions for quantitative studies or directing semi-structured interviews for qualitative investigations, could benefit from this conceptual framework. Additionally, conceptual frameworks may be utilized to inspire the next research development to identify the comprehensive evaluation, rating, and ranking factors.

These dimensions are chosen with the consideration that the nature of each dimension is able to explain the relationship of people with aspects of tangible-intangible heritage and the physical and social environment, which tend to be influenced by the element of the scale of time value. It is an advantage to compile the complex but structured dimension from the results of subsequent studies that could further enrich the concept of sense of place impact in the context of urban heritage revitalization initiatives. Sense of place as an attitude element provides an illustration of significant place identity with cognitive potential and potentially a strong predictor of the formation of heritage sense of place, given that this dimension is antecedent to the rest of the identified dimensions. In the context of heritage, the uniqueness of heritage places, including the influence of the element of history through time, contributes as the main cognitive component in identifying ‘solid’ place identity. One strength of place identity is based on people’s length of association with the location and their significant attachment, memories, and personal experience, as mentioned previously. (A Sense of Place: Significance of Emotional Connections and Identity in Heritage Conservation, XXXX)

According to the EU standard EN 16883:2017 "Conservation of Cultural Heritage" and the ICOMOS guidelines, there is no agreement on how to restore heritage value that has been lost. The "Opportunity or potential to reinstate lost or hidden character-defining elements" is one of the guidelines in "Guidelines for Improving the Energy Performance of Historic Buildings (Havinga et al., 2020). A three-step scale based on whether the attribute is heritage significant from its apparent, evident and resulting needs to be preserved or enhanced further to retain its identity, to enhance its value proposition from the aspect of real-estate valuation, and extend the lease of life of the heritage building indirectly creating a lively space and place (see Table 5).

Evaluation of the spatial-functional potential and physical identical values of historical and cultural buildings in Kuala Lumpur's urban fabric intensifies the sustainable development priority agenda by demonstrating the relationship between revitalisation attributes and the revival of recognition and attractiveness, lifting end user esteem, positive perception, and the dynamism influence in using the adjacent space around the heritage buildings. Heritage owns its’ holistic dimension strengths. The history of the past will be a story of the future. It will be communicated or cascaded down from one generation to another. In contrast, from the built-environment perspective, the architectural characteristic shall be able to determine the originality of its design and to whom it originally belonged (See Figure 15)

Examining a Sense of Place in the context of heritage place entails examining how interactions with the built environment, social, economic, and cultural dimensions shape people's perceptions of the cultural sites. Context has an impact on the Sense of Place that is created as place-people bonding is a social construction that is shaped by the physical, economic, and cultural-social surroundings. It is crucial to consider the setting's character since the location itself is arguably the most significant aspect of Sense of Place. A legacy location is an environment whose distinctiveness is implied in both tangible and intangible elements and heritage-related activities, all of which are impacted by time. When examining the three aspects of the sense of self, its uniqueness needs to be taken into account and analysed. (Dameria et al., 2020)

A thorough or methodical assessment of the cultural heritage importance is absent from the majority of studies on the revitalisation of heritage districts, places, and assets (Havinga et al., 2020). The created attribute significance evaluation offers a systematic way to determine an asset's heritage importance in enough depth to guide revitalization choices. As a result, it seeks to further scholarly discussions on heritage importance evaluations and heritage renovation choices. The goal is to make heritage importance assessments more open and methodical so that the results may be shared and perhaps examined. The study indicates the significance of the heritage attributes enhancement and revitalisation to nurture place attachment in sustaining historical places and heritage building identity. As illustrated in Figure 15, the success of a place is compounded by its lively ambience that binds society and community back to its dominant, glamorous era. Heritage places are capable of fulfilling the user’s psychological needs and stimulating their emotion. This emotional attachment developed because of the meaningfulness and significance of places, values translated and interpreted to the users. A stronger place identity and continuity are facilitated by both functional and emotional attachment. Positive user identifications with the locations, as well as a sense of contentment, enjoyment, and security, all contribute to establishing the place's identity. Immediate users will be able to holistically identify the significance of place value through these merged place, emotional, and functional attachment values. Edward Relph's "Place and Placelessness" (Relph et al., 2014) provides a foundational exploration of place as a core aspect of human life. Through examining the depth of place experiences and the threats of placelessness, Relph underscores the need for a nuanced understanding of place in shaping identity, culture, and human interaction with environments. The work encourages further discourse which can be adopted on how heritage places can be preserved and revitalized in the modern world.

The distinctive atmosphere is largely shaped by the functional form of attachment. Therefore, improvement programs should consider the dominant function of the place perceived by the users, which is translated into the way they are involved in the activities. In sustaining the sense of identity, further improvement is suggested in this research on the legibility, comfort, and safety of traditional heritage buildings and places. Attachment to the place shall be improved by enhancing the physical attributes to support heritage spaces activities. Heritage assets and values are then reflected from the perspective and response from the users, depending on the emotional attachment and literally an indicator of their identity. Therefore, the emotional connection with place attributes and characteristics is no longer isolated, and heritage places value assessment should be reviewed from a holistic perspective rather than just a physical attribute contributor.

A proper revitalisation strategy, as illustrated in Figure 15, significant factors can only be programmed when the attributor factors and characteristics are well identified to retain the qualities and values of heritage buildings and places. We face a major risk of building deterioration if no major aspect of revitalization through conservation or a place activation approach is taken to magnetize the heritage enclave again and reminisce about its memory. In conclusion, physical elements, activities, and emotional attachment play a significant role in influencing the attributes and features of the place identification process.

The work described in this paper is part of a larger study on the Kuala Lumpur Heritage Revitalization and its impact on Heritage Place Sense of Place, even though its primary goal is the establishment of the proper framework of the Cultural Heritage Attribute and its significance evaluation. The Cultural Heritage Attribute significance evaluation is aimed to be used in future expert interviews per the Delphi methods as part of this larger study. In order to evaluate the heritage effect of Kuala Lumpur Heritage Urban Revitalization, the purpose of these future interviews was to determine the cultural heritage importance to the selected heritage site and its impact on the Sense of Place.

It is also envisioned that the work presented in this paper to strictly focus on the development of the attribute significance identification and indicator assessment. This research aimed to identify the heritage significance attributes in such a way that the results could be used as an input to assess the heritage impact of revitalization strategies. The overall outcomes of the assessment are presented in relation to a review of literature on the heritage significance that building, spaces that are the attributes with the highest heritage rating indicator should be preserved and continue to be enhanced to become the best heritage place contributing to socio, economic and environmental beneficial values to the city of Kuala Lumpur.

Following this paper, the Authors are aiming to carry out further field observations to observe the attributes identified in this research paper on the selected site of the heritage place for Kuala Lumpur and develop a survey to identify the rating and ranking.

This research did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors/individuals under this section, if your manuscript didn't receive any external funding.

Not applicable.

The author(s) declare that there is no competing interest.