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Acknowlegement
I would like to take this opportunity to express my gratitude and appreciation to my supervisor, Assoc. Prof Ar. IDr. Ts . Haris Fadzilah Abdul Rahman guidance, patience, and invaluable advice throughout this project.
I also would like to express my appreciation to my family and friends for their endless support whenever I face problems. Without the mentioned parties, it is impossible for me to complete this project report successfully.
THANK YOU.
WONG LIN SZE 20 June 2022
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Content The Returning of Promised Land Preservation Progress Place Making Cultural Heritage Sibu Bukit Assek Architecture Problematization Tangible Solution Proposed Typology Archtiecture Terminology Tales of the People The Future of the Past Atmosphere
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Site Selection
Design Idealogy
Scenario Revitalise the memorable place Reconnect the Disconnect Framingg Importa Festa
Preservation Preservation of Roof Preservation of Ornament Preservation of Staircase Preservation of Genious Loci Preservation of History & Event
Appendix
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6
RETURNING OF THE PROMISED LAND
How can an innovative architecture evoke the layers of cultural memories associated with urbanization to revitalize a place for the future?
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Preservation Memory Catchment Preserving the valuable tangible memories continually pass down the culture and spirit in lifestyles and activities. Let the youngers to explore the area and understand the process of past, present, and future. As everyone is differentfrom each other, there will be two-sided contention in arguing the preservation of the old. For seniors, they would like to say it is full of memories since a child, they will prefer upgrading the condition of living space rather than
Catchment
demolishing all. On the other side, the juniors will respond that it would be great to be consistent with the technology and development we have today, and we should leave the past and move on. And thus, this is unveiling the scenario of the cycle of yesterday will be the tomorrow, the today will be yesterday, and then tomorrow will be the today.
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Memories
Progress Progressive evolution
Likewise, evolution is a gradual adaptation of the past carrying necessary infromation froward to fit itself into current situation. In the process of evolution, there is no denial of its traits for its continuous growth.
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Placemaking People shape the cities Placemaking
inspires
reimagine
and
heart
every
of
people
reinvent
to
public
community
collectively
spaces
as
the
Strengthening
the
connection between people and the places they share,
placemaking
refers
to
a
collaborative
process by which we can shape our public realm in order
to
Placemaking paying
maximize facilitates
particular
shared
creative
attention
patterns to
the
value. of
use,
physical,
cultural, and social identities that define a place and
support
its
ongoing
evolution.
Likewise, place making is a progress of gradual adaptation of the past carrying necesary information forward
10
to
fit
itself
into
current
situation.
Cultural Heritage Living in the time of Culture
Cultural for urban development
Stressed upon the importance of the cultural heritage in present cities. As a result, planning is being required to preserve and promote cultural heritage, tangible and intangible, of the communities living in cities, since heritage has been recognized to have a role in shaping the city’s identity. The statement brings about the role of regenerating cultural heritage to reinforce a city’s uniqueness and distinctiveness.
Cultural in urban development Scheffler et al., 2009, argued that cultural heritage could be seen as a “soft” value, which provides cities with a unique identity, while competing with other cities to attract global markets.
Cultural as urban development
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Image 1: High Ariel Drone Shot Over Sibu Rejang Town. Edited: Author.
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Sibu, Sarawak A Promised Land to Chinese Settlers Sibu is a small town located in Central Sarawak.
Sibu
underwent
a
series
of
development processes since the 1850s when the first batch of Chinese settlers arrived, mainly
the
Hokkiens
(1880s)
and
Teochews
(1885s)
(Borneo
Post,
2016
&
Heritage
Center).
They
were
Sibu
initially settled at the Sibu Old Town, along Rejang River, the Tua Pek Kong location. The Rejang River was mainly used for transportation
to
facilitate
trading
of
agriculture activities. In the 1820s, Sibu was known as Maling because the Melanau, the first indigenous people of Sibu, settled along the Tanjung Maling. They were residing in a longhouse which is now known as Kampung Nangka. Then, the town name changed to Sibau in 1873 (Borneo Post, 2016). Sibau in the Iban language means rambutan, a local fruit widely available in this region.
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Image 2: Urbanization Progress in Sibu. Edited: Author.
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Urbanization Development from Agriculture
Sibu
has
developed
under
colonization of Rajah Government. Rajah Government promised the residents for the development
by
reclamation reticulation
land
for and
agriculture
logging
industry.
In the past years, Sibu experienced urbanization mainly
process, focusing
on
upgrading
transportation
reclaimation
waterfront
lands,
but the access, and
transformation of communal space into commercial activities.
Urbanization process is slowed down after saturation of the town area. Urban sprawl happens and people start to move out from the residential area nearby the town area for better quality living environment.
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Promised Land Bukit Assek
In history of urbanization, there was an inland of Sibu experienced the full process of urbanization starts from the Rajah Government called Bukit Assek. In the past, it was an empty land and cultivated for rubber plantation.
This caused most of the Chinese settlers migrated to there for survival. The drastic increase in population urged the government to build dwellings to meet the housing needs of the growing population. Residences at Bukit Assek was the earliest dwellings developed around 1960.
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Loop Movement Primary Road System
Secondary Road System
Bukit Assek is furnished with completed road system to connect the town central and the outskirt of town center. The primary road consists of Kampong Nyabor Road as a separator between the town and Bukit Asssek. Instead, Wong Soon Kai Road is a main road entrance into Bukit Assek from town area.
It consists of Persiaran Brooke Road, Hua Kiew Road, Tiong Hua Road and etc as the interconnector within Bukit Assek. Bukit Assek is developed with grid system to ensure the road system is all connected to minimise the cul-de-sac.
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Modernism Architecture Dwellings in Bukit Assek The dwellings developed at Bukit Assek are categorised under “Modern Type”, which is similar to the changes that happen with the Malay dwellings and of the same period of construction in Sibu.
Modernism marks the starting of standardised and mass production of building materials and elements without considering socio-culture and history. Bukit Assek exemplifies concrete as the main building construction for all typologies.
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Bukit Assek Early Dwellings The distinctive characteristics of the dwellings’ design
Majority typologies have an external staircase. Stair-
in Bukit Assek will be lost if the redevelopment plan is
case style is another distinctive element in dwellings
implemented. Houses in the Bukit Assek area were built
appearance. It is at the external of the dwelling and
around the 1960s to 1980s. The buildings scomprise only
connected to the verandah, which functions as a
three main typologies: detached house, semi-detached
waiting area. It is indication of welcoming features to
house, and linked house.
the friends, and partilineal members.
These dwellings applied rectilinear forms for all
The dwellings is an urban building form that
typologies. The linked houses joint the rectilinear units to
dominates the built of cultural values of Sibu. There
form U-shaped with a void in between. The plot’s size and
is no other residential area able to find in Sibu. The
shape also influenced the attached house form. The linked
early dwellings architecture was an amalgation of cross
house with 4 units, and 6 units forms the U-shaped void
cultral values, ideas, traditions of immigrantss and
between units whereas the linked house with 8 units and
indigenous buildrs, and the adaptation to the of
10 units are arranged in rectangular form.
building materials and skills.
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Outstanding Historical Value Existing early dwellings are remarkabble examples of The integrity of history timeline dwellings nominated historic colonial towns on the land cultivation and the presence of all the elements necessary to express urbanization.
It
demostrates
a
succession
of the Outstanding Historical Value. The properties
historical and cultural influences arsing from their former have to retain the autheticity; listed ornaments, and function as agriculture at first then becomes a identity.
The dwelliings need to restored with
connectror to link town and new development. The appropriate treatments regarding design, materials, dwellings are the surviving historic area in Sibu with methodologies, techniques in accordance with a multi-cultural living originating from Chinese preservation guidelines and principles. setltlers to variety races. They reflect the coming together of cultural elements from the Chinese The protective measures for the properties are Archipelago, Iban, Melanau and Maly to create a unique adequate. Early dwellings exhibit a generally architecture, culture and identiy.
acceptable
state
creates
attention
of
preservation. among
It the
This multi-cultural living tradition expressed all the construction industry professionals, academicians, tangible and intangible historic in a great variety of local authorities, and policymakers. A new religious buildings of different faiths, ethnic quaters, the developmentplan that revitalises the area should multi-languages, worship and festival celebratio, cos- not take away and forget the historical and original tumes, dances, art and music, food and daily life.
area’s sense of place. The current built form represents the historical values to appreciate the beauty of
A mixture of influences resulting in created a original design elements and principles (Holm, 2006). unique architecture, culture and town living. They demonstrate an exceptional range of dwellings which reflecting on the historical timeline. These dwellings show many different types and stages of development of the building type. 22
Image 2: Progressive dwellings evolution in Bukit Assek. Sourcce: Author. 1st row, Left: Wooden Dwelling Right: Stilt Concrete Dwelling 2nd row, Left: Linked dwelling with U-void in between Right, Left: 3 storey of dwelling
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Peat Soil Issue
Most dwellings in the mentioned areas are owned by the Chinese during the Sibu economic booming era. The residential area had declined when most house owners moved out to other countries or other cities in Sarawak for better economic opportunities. Since then, the dwellings are neglected and further worsened by the peat soil condition at the site.
The lack of maintenance of the drainage system has turned the place into an Aedes mosquito breeding area; subsequently, the area becomes a black spot for dengue, affecting the residents’ health. Poor hygiene is also a problem due to lack of public awareness, as most of the houses or rooms are rented by the low-income group. In short, the old dwellings are now in dilapidating condition, collapsing and sinking.
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Connector Bukit Assek is a connector between the old, Heritage Trail and the North part of new development. They seeen to be diconnected after the neglection of Bukit Assek. However, there is still a potential opportunity to discover and reconnect back the old and the new.
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Dilapidation Poor Living Condition Poor Drainage System Poor Hygiene
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Opportunity of Bukit Assek Though that the living condition is bad at Bukit Assek, but the site is potential to be revitalised as it rich with culture and historical memory in the past. Bukit Assek is the central piece for Heritage Trail and Administration Centre at Town. It also surrounded with the landmarks for instance Tua Pek Kong Temple, Central Market.
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Architecture Problematization As a result, Bukit Assek is fading out from the memory when the urban sprawl take place. Nature peat soil condition causes residents suffer from the flooding. This worsen the living condition, infrastructure sinking
maintenance,
and
and
dilapidation.
buildings
People
are
moving out from there and neglect the site.
Furthermore, nomic
Due
growth
and
to
the the
drive need
for to
eco-
present
itself as a new & hip city to remain relevant, Sibu is adapting to the rapid growth of demands and economics.t Under the press of policies and poor healthy environment, business-oriented designers who work together with local authority decided to demolish the dwellings representing the local Sibu community.
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Tangible Solution The physical aspect of a city’s history and culture
defines
its
identity,
of
which
information and stories about its people and ancestors (Dematio,
are 2012).
As
Sibu
stored continues
to
progress growth and development economically, the need to preserve heritage buildings also becomes evident as they create a unique sense of belonging and location, holding individual/ community memories for a person (Sharoocks, 2014). The bringing back Bukit Assek ambience is necessary to emphasis and it shall reconnect the disconnect the old and the new.
It would be a pity if a place full of traditional town’s life and palpability architecture values for mental cultivation neglected. Something needs to be done to salvage the situation (Kwan 2011).
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Proposed Typology Failure to remember roots and origins will then lead to a loss of cultural identity. The need to preserve the valuable buildings are becoming evident as they create a unique sense of belonging and location, holding individualism
memory
of
past
and
present. It can conclude that the successful juxtaposition between a city’s history, present and future makes it genuinely distinctive. This can be achieve through exploring, experiencing and extantive of the past, current and future.
Cultural Center could be a media for an architecture solution to remembrance and retain the identity of the place and people. After all, the new development is a quaint shophouse and vibrance of Sibu town that reminds the rich and diverse people in culture and co-existing harmoniously.
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Exploration of Architecture Terminology; For Enrichment of Proposed Development Tales of the People Exploration of idea for the preservation approach to experiment the intimacy, privacy, memory. It uses of storytelling that can be found in the indigenous community as an important part of their culture, and storytelling is a central focus of indigenous epistemologies.The building program contains space to study, space to learn, space to make, and space to celebrate. These spaces are used to create an exchange of knowledge, cultural and stories.
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“Humans are creatured of stories. Narrative storytelling is a tradition used in many countries around the world to pass down knowledge, norms and cultures. THe significance of storytelling can be found not only in the way it shapes social values, but also in how it creates identity of a place.” Andria Langi, Master of Architecture Design Thesis University of Manitoba .
37
The Future of the Past Architecture uses the palimpsest as a metaphor for the layering of old and new of buildings. The architecture constantly rebuilt
of being
again,
the built
leaving
and traces
city eased behind.
is and These
traces can be read and reused in further designs. However,
today
new
designs
disregard
these
traces of the past. The preservation and renewal of historic buildings is seen as presenting an obstacles to the future of the place. By finding ways to preserve existing buildings, not as time capsules but as palimsets, new layers of meaning can be added to architecture. With that, culture center as a tangible architecture platform to portrait the story of Bukit Assek by experiencing the different spaces.
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“I believe that our lives and experiences do not conssists of a single moment alone, but rather are layered as a natural palimpsest. Our lives are connected to the past; therefore we should use our history, not necessarily in a nostalgic way, but as an inspiration to help us design architecture in a meaningful way.” Ryan Lee, Master of Architecture Thesis Ryerson University 2016
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Atmosphere Conversing with Beauty. It is an exchange, a give and take between designed buildings and the surroundings. An attentiveness, and enrichment like atmoshpere and mood inevitably come to mind when the building perfectly tempered feel of his built spaces is immediately communicate to viewers, residents, visitors and the immediate neighnourhood. It adds an insight into architectural quality. The designed appreciating the history of the place and the spaces offers people a heaven, a good place to explore and unobtrusive support.
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“I enter a bulding, see a room, and - in the fraction of a second- have this feeling about it. We perceive athmosphere through our emotional sensibility to a form of perception that works incredibly quickly, and which we humans evidently need to help us survive.” Peter Zumthor, Architectural Environments.
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Site Selection A land with strategic location surrounded by the historical buildings such as Cathedral Catholic Church and Chinese Temple. Heritage Trail is an attraction point to juxtapose the proposed typology as an entrance to the cultural streetwalk bridging from the Tua Pek Kong Temple passing through Sibu Central Market, comes to Sibu Gateway and lastly, stop at the Cultural Center. The tour extant the knowledge and curiousity fulfilment towards the historical narration.
Intentionally,
the
residential
buildings
evolution
is
reflecting on the chosen site with the three existing dwellings from 1950 to 1990. Integration between the old buildings and the new one deliver the progressive growth with the current movement as well as remembrance the past.
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43
44
45
The
designed
phenomenology
typology theory
focusing and
on
the
adaptative
implcation resuse
on
of the
existing dwellings by repurposing the function of the buildings without amending and demolishing their originality.
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To achieve a connection between the past and the new world, three scenarios were exercised to open up the possibilities of looking at preservation and progress differently.
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Scenarios #1 Revitalise the present #2 Reconnect the disconnect #3 Importa Festa Framing
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Scenarios 1 Revitalise the present Juxtapose begins
Bukit with
Assek the
that
existing
dwellings and has kept its tradition of practicing architectural style buildings by repurposing the function of existing dwellings through adaptive reuse. A new typology constrasting the existing through retaining significant of architectural
style.
Injecting
cultural events into the land to promote lively ambience without neglecting the promised land.
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Images: Author edited
Art & Cultural Center is mainly serves the 3Es’ which are explore, experience, and extant of the local context and lifestyle. Cross-cultures is a fruitful memory for visitors either from locally or outsiders.
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Before Repurposing function
After Repurposing function
Repurposing the function from existing dwelliong to public function.
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Scenarios 2 Reconnect the disconnect Reconecting
the
town
center
with urban sprawl impact as an impact of economic growth. Extending Heritage Trail by including potential historical value building. Structuring the cultural streetwalk linked from Cultural Center to Tua Pek Kong Temple and spreading the visit into town area.
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View Framing
Capturing the site view and generating the people movement to achieve the exploration and experience
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People Movement
Scenarios 3 Importa Festa Framing Frame the surrounding view to narrate the promised land history.
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Capturing framing view survey. Image 3 Source: Author
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Live View Capturing
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Preservation Preservation of Roof Preservation of Ornament Preservation of Staircase Preservation of Genius Loci Preservation of History and Events
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Preservation of Roof
Early dwellings accomodate several units under one shared big roof as an indication of patrilineal members.
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Gable Roofing for existing 3-storey dwellings
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Imitating the gable roof pattern as spaces are shared under one roof. Gable Roofing for 2-storey dwellings
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Preservation of Ornaments
Facade Design Vertical Element Simple Geometry
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The cultural center mimicks the simple gemeotry ornaments to enhance the natural ventilation as originally designed in early dwellings.
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Preservation of Staircase
External The exposure of staircase creates a sense of welcoming.
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The external staircase is proposed at the building to inherit the sense of welcoming.
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Preservation of Genius Loci Spirit of the Place Genius Loci is translating the life and spirits of the place, especially about the culture of the people. Progressive preservation becomes the main idea to make the new spaces that with new activities will eventually become part of the culture.
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Eating is a local culture where people called “Kopitiam.” It is the term used to derive a place for people to stop, rest and gather with friends and family. The “kopitiam” can be found in existing dwelling which adapted and the ground floor of cultural heritage center the local to accomodate eating culture.
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The “kopitiam” found at the ground floor of cultural heritage center the local to accomodate eating culture.
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Preservation of History and Event A Loop A loop circulation is created for people to explore, experience and extant the history of promised land. People start the journey from the ground floor after the culture streetwalk by ramp up to the first floor. While walking up to the first floor, the surrounding ambience embarking the sight and smell sensory by the excisting architecture style while the good smell from kopitiam. The ramp is connected up to the third floor’s lobby passing through the second floor which is for touch and sound sensory from the cultural workshop. The journey ends if the people completed the musuem exhibition and ramp down back to the ground floor, which connected to “Kopitiam.” The journey starts and ends at the same point.
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Ground Floor Plan 1:100 in A0
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Local essence is reflected at the surrounding when the historical exploration journey starts with ramp.
The culture events is connected to the cultural streetwalk from Heritage Trail. 85
First Floor Plan 1:100 in A0
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Cultural Workshop is embrance the essence of sight, touch, and hear sensory at the first floor.
Ramp landed view at the lift lobby, first floor. 87
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A loop ramp down back to the ground floor while enjoying the surrounding ambience of preservation.
Illustrating the future city capturing at the another end at the East Wing to bridging up the past, the present, and the future.
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THE FUTURE IS ABOUT THE PAST “It is responsible of designer for designing for the people in meeting the intangible needs, shall architecture be presenting a series of structures, buildings to bridging up the past, present, and future which we are moving to 5th Revolution about the personalism and individualism.”
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Without architecture, we cannot remember -John Ruskin-
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Appendix
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100
101
102
103
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105
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108
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Biliography Andria Langi. (2021). Tales of the people: Folklores and Heritage Preservation in a Multicultural City. Retrieved from https://issuu.com/andrialangi/docs/a_ tales_of_the_people_2_folklores_and_heritage_pr Kwan, J.Y. (2011, July 3). Re: Chinatown – A Lost Treasure Trove of Chinese culture and identity. Retrieved from: //changes-of-chinatown.blogspot.sg/ Larry, T., Lim. P. (2014, Jun 27). The Price of Modernism. Retrieved from: https:// issuu.com/larrytwh/docs/whitepaper2. Marilena Vecco. (2019). Genious Loci as A Meta Concept. Retrieved from: https:// www.elsevier.com/open-access/userlicense/1.0/ Project for Public Spaces. (2018). Place Making. What if We Built Our Cities Around The Palces? Retrieved from: https://issuu.com/projectforpublicspaces/ docs/oct_2016_placemaking_booklet. Rem Koolhas. (1979). The Future’s Past. Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars. Saeid Soltani, Nazan Kirci. (2019, June). Phenomenology and Space in Architecture: Experience, Sensation and Meaning. Retrieved from: https://www.researcgate. net/publication/350146641_Phenomenology_and_Space_in_Architecture_Ex perience_Sensation_and_Meaning. Sharrocks. M. (2014, April 9). Retain more heritage buildings, key spaces. The Straits Times. Retrieved from http://blog.preservationnation.wordpress. com/2011/09/06/prominent-singapore-landmarks-that-should-be-conserved. TianJing Lim. (2018). Penang 2095: Duality of Preservation and Progress. Retrieved from https://issuu.com/tj4arc/docs/re_issuu United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (2016). Culture Urban Future. Retrieved from: https://en.unesco.org/creativity/publication/ culture-urban-future
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Preliminary Cost Estimate for 4 storey of Bukit Assek Culture Center Land sq.m acres Site Area 8255.59 2.04
per acre RM2,000,000
Est Land Cost RM4,080,000
2.55
Building Plot Ratio 1.0 Piling Works 1.1 Piling (Circular pile40ft)
hectare 0.83
Piling spot
pile per point
pc of piling per spot
total
Cost per pile
Est Cost (RM)
132
5
4
2640.00
RM1,109.82
RM2,929,933.20
Level Basement 1
Wing NA
Function Space Car Park
Unit 134
Total GIFA sq.m. 14576.02
Floor Height (m)
Cost/sq.m (RM)
Ground Floor
East
Retails Toilet Lobby Eatery Information Kiosk
2.0 Building Cost
Total
West
1
3000
RM700.00
Est Cost (RM)
RM10,203,214.95
14576.02
1870.65
4500
RM1,350.00
RM2,525,377.50
4500
RM1,350.00
RM2,525,372.64
4500
RM1,500.00
RM2,805,975.00
4500
RM1,500.00
RM1,356,405.00
Open Stage Total First Floor
East
West
Second Floor
East
West
Restoration Conservation Workshop Painting Gravity Workshop Carpenter Workshop Sculpture Worshop Toilet Gallery Souvenir Open Display Workshop
1
Auditorium Archive Toilet Exhibition
1
1870.65
Total
East
Conference Room Administrative Office
1 Total
Mechanical & Eletrical (M&E) Works HT/LT & ELV System Plumbing Lift & Escalator Airconditioning Hose Reel & Sprinkle Soil & Sewerage System
50.0% 20.0% 10.0% 2.5% 5.0% 10.0% 2.5% Total
4.0 External Works 8% 4.1 Soft Landscapes 2% 4.2 Hard Landscapes 0.50% 4.3 Road & Clearing 4% 4.4 Drainage 1.50% **includees clearing Total 5.0 Allowances for predevelopment Cost 10% 6.0 Allowances for Contigencies 5% Grand Total Estimation Preliminary Development Cost (GDC) (Land Cost + Piling Cost + Building Cost + M&E Cost + External Works
112
1870.65 904.27
Total Gross Bild up Total Gross Bild up exclude Basement 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6
1870.65 1870.65
Total Third Floor
1870.65
904.27
21092.24 6516.22
Total Building Cost
RM9,708,172.55 RM3,883,269.02 RM1,941,634.51 RM485,408.63 RM970,817.25 RM1,941,634.51 RM485,408.63 RM9,708,172.55 RM1,553,307.61 RM388,326.90 RM97,081.73 RM776,653.80 RM291,245.18 RM1,553,307.61 RM1,941,634.51 RM970,817.25 RM40,600,210.21
RM19,416,345.09
113