Impact of commersial area development on urban residential patterns: a case study of Marpoyan Damai, Pekanbaru City

The development of commercial zones in urban areas has contributed to both social and physical changes in surrounding residential environments. This study explores the impact of commercial activity growth on settlements in Marpoyan Damai District, which is strategically located along Pekanbaru’s primary corridor and characterised by rapid population growth. Using a qualitative descriptive approach and spatial-temporal analysis from its initial formation in 2003 through to 2025, the study draws upon the theories of Doxiadis, Christaller, and Alonso. The findings reveal that commercial expansion drives land-use conversion, rising land values, and increasingly dense residential patterns integrated with economic functions. Geographic and demographic factors further accelerate these dynamics. The study recommends formulating more adaptive and sustainable spatial planning policies.