Rapid urbanization has increased the challenges of providing adequate housing for low-income communities, particularly in Malaysia, where 85% of the population is expected to live in urban areas by 2040. While modern housing development often prioritizes on efficiency and cost, it tends to overlook the cultural and social dimensions embedded in vernacular practices. This study aims to examine whether the spatial patterns in low-income urban housing in the Klang Valley demonstrate any interaction with vernacular knowledge, or whether they have been entirely shaped by modern ideas. Using diagrammatic analysis through the space syntax method, the study compares the floor plans of low-income urban housing and traditional vernacular houses in remote areas of Peninsular Malaysia. Justified Permeability Graph are used to identify patterns of integration and segregation concerning access, movement, and spatial hierarchy. The findings reveal that although modern housing responds to urban living needs, it still retains elements of vernacular spatial logic. However, there are significant differences, particularly in the relationship between domestic spaces and external areas, where urban housing tends to exhibit a more individualistic character regulated by government policies, in contrast to vernacular houses which show a stronger integration between interior and exterior spaces to foster closer community ties. This study highlights the importance of integrating local cultural values into urban housing design to create more inclusive, meaningful, and socially connected living environments.

Low-Income Group, Urban Housing, Space Syntax, Vernacular Architecture, Justified Permeability Graph