Discontinuity of urban morphology in Banda Hilir Melaka

The city's complexity surpasses even that of the most intricate buildings, as it encompasses substantial social, financial, and cultural aspects. Urban development results from ongoing decision-making processes, evolving through three primary periods: the Enlightenment, Modernist, and Neo-Rationalist eras. The contemporary theory of urbanism has now progressed to the Smart City Concept, which integrates digital technologies to enhance urban efficacy, inclusivity, and sustainability. This paper emphasizes the dynamic morphology of Banda Hilir, which has undergone significant evolution over nearly 600 years, influenced by various city theories from the feudal system to colonial powers and the current constitutional monarchy. Existing literature typically focuses on traditional typology, but this paper examines the continuous morphological changes that reshape urban areas. It discusses the concept of "city-time," highlighting the intensity of urban transformations and the dynamic nature of the urban fabric. Despite a perceived orthogonal grid, the evolving arrangement of roads, building entrances, commercial activities, building heights, and street sizes reflects the hierarchical processes underlying these transformations. The paper presents evidence of discontinuity in urban morphology while detailing intermediate findings from ongoing research into Banda Hilir's urban form, dating back to its establishment in the 15th century.