Urban identity and planning: a conceptual study on identity of urban, identity in urban, and identity for urban

Urban identity is gaining increasing attention across different research

disciplines. However, there is no consensus as to how this concept can be

integrated into planning theory, because every discipline has diverse

concepts of urban identity, which are often included in planning theory

without clarity. For example, environmental psychology literature and the

social sciences have defined urban identity as human or social identity,

while architecture and urban design characterize it as the urban/city or

architectural identity. Therefore, this paper provides a conceptual

framework for applying urban identity in planning theory and practice. This

paper used the literature review method by synthesizing several relevant and

reliable sources, particularly in planning, architecture, environmental

psychology, social science, and geography. The result is an explanation of

three concepts of urban identity, which are the ?identity of urban,?

?identity in urban,? and ?identity for urban?. The identity of urban helps

planners to design functional and characteristic cities. Meanwhile, identity

in urban helps planners to achieve the humanist aspect of a city and social

justice; and identity for urban helps planners to advance a city?s economy

and attract investors and tourists. These concepts are interrelated and can

be integrated to support the sustainability of cities and their citizens, by

achieving harmony between the population's need for orientation and

identification, the function and aesthetics of the city, and the city?s

attractiveness to visitors.