Student Work
The design studio ran for 13 weeks during which students were given the liberty to identify a particular topic and/or site they were interested to work with. This resulted in an extremely diverse mix of design proposals which ranged from traditional park design projects looking at the space below the new eleveated railway line, to agricultural projects looking at improving the producitivity and ecological sensitivity of oil palm plantations, to improving the public transportation and walkability within Kluang, to introducing new industries of leveraging off existing ones to leveraging off the inherent art, culture and heritage of the town in order to revitalise it.
Two interim reviews were held which helped to guide the students along and the work shown here in this booklet represent the final outputs produced by the students at the end of the 13 weeks during the final review (seen in the photos on the left).
Of the 48 student works, 28 have been selected to be presented in this booklet based on their design merit as well as their relevance to the Kluang itself. Please be reminded that these are purely academic in nature and should be seen as such.
The student proposals are roughly grouped into 5 different categories:
Open Space and Park Design Pages 12 - 19
Urban Revitalisation Pages 18 - 25
Agriculture, Eco or Agri-tourism Pages 24 - 29
Improving Existing or Introducing New Industries Pages 28 - 37
Art, Culture and Heritage Pages 36 - 39
11
Akar Berjuang / Qiyanah Azmi
Akar Berjuang, which translates to “thriving roots,” is a visionary project that aims to promote the coexistence of humans and birds by establishing interconnecting routes between linear and pocket parks. This initiative not only enables easy access to green spaces on a macro level but also creates beneficial micro-level habitats that foster bird migration and movement. By fostering a connected city, Akar Berjuang encourages individuals who rely heavily on vehicles to adopt green mobility, ultimately promoting sustainability for birds. However, the rapid pace of urbanization in Malaysia poses a significant challenge to biodiversity, particularly for birds. According to the Malaysia Nature Society (MNS), 45 bird species, including five critically endangered, five endangered, and 35 vulnerable, face the risk of extinction in the next five to ten years without adequate measures to protect their habitats. The negative effects of urbanization on the ecosystem have led to constant species extinction and community structure changes, making it imperative to initiate protected areas and breeding programs for endangered species. Birds play a crucial role in the ecosystem as seed dispersers, contributing to the growth and maintenance of plants that provide food, medicine, timber, and recreation. Through their droppings, they disperse seeds and bring back plants to ecosystems that have been destroyed. Therefore, promoting bird migration and movement has far-reaching benefits for a healthy ecosystem, making our cities more liveable. In line with BirdsLife International’s objective of
“keeping common birds common,” Akar Berjuang aims to prevent further extinction as Malaysia urbanizes. The Kluang region provides an opportunity to study dysconnectivity challenges and fragmented vegetation. Despite these challenges, there are dense vegetation areas that can connect with each other, providing habitat for birds to forage and nest.
The project is divided into three sections: the core area, which remains undisturbed, the passive area, which allows partial interaction, and the active area, which encourages the most interaction. The project aims to create spaces that cater to the needs of birds while allowing humans to enjoy nature. Water-sensitive urban design strategies are also adopted in Akar Berjuang to create a cleaner water supply and a more natural-looking environment. This approach benefits other wildlife, such as dragonflies and amphibians, and increases the number of attractions for park visitors. It also diversifies habitats and food supplies for birds.
In conclusion, Akar Berjuang is an innovative project that fosters coexistence between humans and birds by creating interconnecting routes between linear and pocket parks. It aims to promote sustainability by encouraging green mobility while protecting endangered species and their habitats. Through this project, we can preserve biodiversity and promote the growth of a healthy ecosystem
Revive By River / Wu Yueyang
As an evolving urban centre, Kluang is endowed with abundant natural resources, a rich cultural heritage, and diverse industries. However, to achieve enhanced liveability and reach its full potential, it is crucial to address the challenges posed by frequent flooding and rapid urbanization. Tackling these issues is no easy feat and requires a well-thought-out, phased approach. In my project design, have outlined three distinct stages to address these challenges: flood management, fostering connections between people and water, and promoting sustainable development for the future of Kluang. The chosen site for this transformative project is situated in the northern part of Kluang town, neighbouring Kluang Mall and Kluang Pasar. While this area is a popular destination for residents, it is also highly susceptible to severe flooding, which poses a significant threat to its long-term viability. Through the implementation of a three-phase design strategy, the goal is to mitigate flood impacts, ensure the safety and usability of the site for residents, and pave the way for Kluang’s prosperous and sustainable future.
The first phase, flood management, focuses on guiding floodwaters to appropriate locations rather than attempting to reduce or control floods directly. The latter would require substantial investment with uncertain long-term results. To achieve effective flood management, the project entails assessing the nature
and value of surrounding buildings, minimizing demolition, and strategically modifying the terrain based on contour lines. This approach creates three distinct height differences within the flood-prone area, each accommodating different water levels. In doing so, floods can be transformed from a threat into an intriguing spectacle, integrated into the landscape itself. In the second phase, fostering connections between people and water, the aim is to invigorate Kluang by counteracting its “empty city” reputation. By encouraging residents and visitors to engage with water and the revitalized site, the area’s vitality can be significantly enhanced. Capitalizing on Kluang’s multicultural background and residents’ enthusiasm for various activities, such as cultural festivals, art events, and mural streets, the project envisions the construction of waterfront facilities and the adaptive reuse of existing structures.
The third and final phase, sustainable development, is essential to Kluang’s future success. The project design creates a closed-loop, virtuous cycle in which effective flood management leads to urban development, generating economic revenue that, in turn, funds further flood management and urban growth initiatives. This self-reinforcing cycle allows for the continuous improvement of Kluang’s infrastructure, environmental resilience, and overall liveability. Imperative to this sustainable vision is fostering biodiversity, embracing green energy, and employing innovative technologies.
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Open Space and Park Design Open Space and Park Design
Livable Community Landscape in Kluang / Liu Siwen
I am researching open spaces in Kluang because I am interested in how people in the area create their own spaces within the urban fabric. I first analyzed the location and size of public spaces in Kluang, which are mostly located in the town centre and comprise of district-level green space, with many neighbourhood spaces distributed throughout the community. However, these spaces are not well-connected base, and the occupancy rate of these public spaces appears to be lower than that of what one might deem a liveable city.
By observing site photos on Google Maps, I classified the spaces into four functions: sports fields, children’s playgrounds, parks, and vacant spaces. Urban parks are generally large and mixed-use, small neighbourhood parks are usually mono-functional with simple landscapes dominated by playgrounds and sports areas while the value of vacant land is wasted.
I further categorized public spaces by user age as well as potential user types such as workers and tourists. Young people prefer places where their peers gather, often near schools and workplaces. Older visitors tend to prioritize proximity to their residential areas. Some visitors embark on dynamic activities in the park, while others seek quieter activities such as sitting on the grass or looking at the lake. Any one site should be able to accommodate both dynamic and static activities for the different user types.
Lastly, analysed the rhythm of human activity throughout the day and found two peaks in the morning and at dusk, with the least activity around 2 pm. Climate factors such as low temperature and humidity in the early afternoon contribute to this lull while poor maintenance, inadequate seating, and insufficient resting areas are other problems that can lower human activity in open spaces. In my proposal, infrastructure such as street trees and shelters can improve the situation and I address these issues by evaluating the current spatial layout for public space based on utilization rate, satisfaction degree, safety, and accessibility.
Railway Commons / Magan Lam Wan Kay
Downtown Kluang is frequented by the retired population. The elderly population lives a leisurely lifestyle, spending most of their time at coffee shops and hiking at Gunung Lambak. However, most leisure hotspots create a static experience. There is an opportunity to introduce a catalyst for improving the quality of the leisure lifestyle in Downtown Kluang. The elderly is a vulnerable demographic as they are more prone to experiencing isolation and lack a sense of belonging. There are three main cores of leisure and improving the quality of leisure lifestyle can significantly benefit the target user group psychologically, physiologically, socially, and emotionally. The underlying design goal is to activate spaces, diversify programs, improve connectivity, and reinspire the retired. To create a conducive leisure hub for the elderly leisure lifestyle, it is important to consider other members of the social fabric. Bringing the retirees closer to the youth and the general community will reduce isolation and establish a stronger safety net. Designing spaces for integrated experiences that cater to both daily and eventbased activities will increase the frequency of intermingling between groups of different generations.
A program-driven design approach ensures that the leisure demands are met while implementing necessary circulation routes. The leisure hub aims to provide
a variety of experiences for the community and benefitting the retired community. Travelers will eventually integrate with the social fabric to immerse themselves in the unique culture of Kluang.
Site activation with programs attracts residents and tourists entering the city via the KTM. The elevated linkway provides direct accessibility from the KTM station to the 2nd storey of shophouses, providing an alternative route across vehicular roads. Integration of programs, circulation, and greenery creates a community space that will be frequently visited. It is the ideal location for intergenerational mingling in Downtown Kluang. The Railway Commons is an intergenerational space, supporting the different residents in Kluang as they interact through daily leisure activities and participate in events. Entry points are designed to cater to different demographics. The main entrance nearest to Old Street has many points of access with seating areas that allow the transitional space to cater to the different paces of movement. The main entrance nearest to Chong Hwa Primary School invites a playful atmosphere, welcoming students after school. Railway Commons extends and overlaps active hours of different demographics in Downtown Kluang, from morning to night, improving the leisure infrastructure and liveability.
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Open Space and Park Design Open Space and Park Design
Reinventing Flood-resilient River & Bustiling River Market / Lin Cancan
Mengkibol river is a historically important river for Kluang, and this project aims to reinvent it into a flood-resilient river with a bustling river market. Firstly, a series of wetlands, swales and levees will be introduced into the riverbank to solve several environment issues. Secondly, the old market that was demolished because it was too old will have a new bazaar, designed as an elevated overhead structure to accommodate changing water levels. At the same time, the lower space formed by the elevation of the building allows people to rest, drink coffee and enjoy local food. The workshop building is also a raised structure and is combined with the waterfront platform to give visitors a different spatial experience. The activities of the workshop include understanding and making traditional crafts, as well as experiencing local traditional culture. More access to the river and available waterfront open space will be created. The third step is trying to improve the livelihood of residents and local businesses. In addition, a permanent market will allow and encourage residents to run small businesses, therefore more people can participate in the market and increase the income of residents. Also, the side of the riverbank near the residential area will house sports and outdoor recreation venues to meet the needs of nearby residents.
The fourth step focuses on culture and art activation. In addition to some workshops for traditional handicraft making experience, the market will also hold cultural festivals. These art & culture festivals are open to both tourists and residents. Kluang’s food culture is an important part of the local culture. Visitors can enjoy the local lifestyle while enjoying the food. In addition to the restaurants in the market, there is shelters for tourists outside where they can enjoy the scenery of the river while enjoying the food. These will create an innovative experience for visitors. Lastly, in the future, the venue will develop more uses, including daily activities as well as seasonal events. The structures of the site are movable, and people can flexibly arrange the site according to the water level at that time and how large the venue needs are for the event.
In the wetland, a boardwalk system connects the town and the river, and it goes through the wetland while providing various opportunities for immersive experiences. The activity changes with the water level. At normal water level, it is a good place for nature appreciation, and it will invite people to put flexible shelters to relax and linger. Furthermore, this wetland provides opportunities for hands-on learning, observation, and scientific inquiry for the students in the nearby school. At high water levels, the footpath within the wetland will be flooded but people can still take a stroll in the boardwalk to enjoy the views of wetland.
Blurred Riverside of Kluang / Shi Yi
The first prominent cultural features of Kluang is the local coffee culture which has created its own industry, logo and cafes celebrating this fact. The second is Kluang’s heritage buildings which have a decorative style which reflects its past cultural roots. The third is simply the residents themselves, their hospitality and seemingly desire to lead a healthy lifestyle. In my design proposal, I wish to maintain these cultural and heritage aspects while emphasising on a leisurely and relaxed lifestyle.
For my site, I chose the area along the Mongkibol river which is an important ecological green corridor of the city and a connection between the urban centre and the surrounding residential and rural areas. However, due to the upstream soil erosion from farms and urban developments, the riverbed has become shallow, and the river has experienced multiple floods in the recent years. Neither the commercial, residential, or agricultural lands are spared from these floods and have resulted in areas being abandoned due to the continual risk of flooding.
For my design intervention, I use patterns from the existing urban road network, agricultural land segmentations and green space distributions to redefine the shape of the river corridor. One which is designed to work with the dynamics of water flow, natural vegetation, and human activity to softern the boundary between the city and the riparian corridor. Sediment traps are also included to trap sediment, reduce erosion and thus slowly reshaping the river corridor and create new spaces for both human and wildlife to thrive.
The downstream site will include an outdoor café and coffee related industries as part of the new urban waterfront. While the hawker center and markets are also redesigned to blend into this new riverine environment. Lastly, an agricultural area is also planned where farmers can engage in maintaining the building a positive relationship with the river. Each of these areas enhances human interaction and commerce through the idea of “blurred boundaries”, where both locals and visitors can live, create and celebrate with each other while enjoying the newly designed riverfront landscape
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Open Space and Park Design Open Space and Park Design
Momentum Linear Park / Li Xinyi
The project aims to establish a green railway park as a recreational area to promote connectivity and entertainment for the old town and surrounding residential areas. This park will offer a new style of recreation for all generations. After analysing the map of Kluang, it was observed that the city centre was surrounded by densely populated urban residential areas and kampungs, with a concentrated commercial area. However, there were very few green open spaces available for recreation within a 2km radius. The existing green parks were scattered throughout Kluang, which made it difficult for residents to access them due to the urban exodus and sprawling development of commercial and residential areas. Based on interviews with locals, it was found that the existing recreation spaces were not child, elderly, and young generation-friendly, especially for those without cars. In addition, urban development had resulted in problems such as loss of biodiversity and poor traffic conditions. The railway had also split the connection between the western and eastern halves of the city.
Starting with an analysis of existing recreational facilities on a macro level, local entertainment can be classified into three types, nature recreation parks around Gunung Lambak and along the riverside, community parks and sports complexes scattered throughout local neighbourhoods and new developments, as well
as a few urban farms that are located far from the city centre. Additionally, indoor recreation such as shopping malls and heritage cafés remain predominantly in the central area. Hence, it is important to consider the users of the recreation space, as recreation preferences may change during the generational succession process. For instance, the younger generation may be more attracted to mobile phones rather than outdoor activities, while the elderly may prefer traditional recreation and cultural activities, creating a generation gap in recreation styles. The question then becomes: what will be the future of recreation, and what kind of recreation will be suitable for an aging society?
The design concept of a linear park was inspired by the continual questioning of what the future of recreation might look like, serving as a catalyst for cultural promenades and helping to bridge the generation gap and liveability issues in Kluang. The design solution for liveable recreation combines ideas for recreational activities with changes in landform and sustainable greenery by utilizing the space under the highway and linking to the urban context. Looking towards the future, the design can be integrated with green infrastructure. This infrastructure would not only serve the purpose of providing recreation, which may become saturated in the future and dependent on demographic changes, but also support the development of a purely natural ecosystem for local palm oil plantations and future tourism.
Entwined Frontier / Yeoh E Ming
Entwined Frontier focuses on creating a liveable city for residents of Kluang and the native wildlife. Mengkibol River is the living vein of the city, having great potential for urban development to thrive, allowing the project to create an urban ecosystem spine along the river, connecting the different properties of people’s daily activities and enhancing their experience. On a larger scale, the spine acts as an ecological corridor for wildlife, allowing safe passage through the busy city. By understanding wildlife’s habits in the adjacent oil palm plantation, the project creates corridors using the natural resource flows between the plantation and the adjacent forest, allowing safe connections and minimising human-wildlife conflict.
On the city scale, the river acts as one of the spines for the city and as part of the larger wildlife corridor. The three main elements, people, wildlife, and hydrology interact in the site, forming the city core. The new river corridor serves to provide a separate route for daily movement. The implementation of tracks and waterfront activities connect people to the river to better appreciate its value while creating better access to schools and daily activities such as grocery shopping. By incorporating fauna and water-sensitive designs into the urban metabolism process, the spine will achieve a harmonious balance to act as an ever-changing
liveable blue corridor for residents and wildlife.
The focus site, Mengkibol River Hawker Centre, reconfigures underutilised spaces to accommodate changes for people, wildlife, and the river. The main corridor for people runs through the new hawker centre space, allowing better access and minimise the need for car park spaces. The constructed wetland serves to cleanse used water from the hawker before releasing it into the river. In addition, the wetland is designed to incorporate the annual monsoon flooding, capturing sediments that could be used for agricultural purposes while retaining some to allow a natural succession of riverine vegetation species. The exposure of the water treatment system to the public allows better exposure and awareness for residents and visitors. The succession island and Dipterocarp Viewing Pod act as the central wildlife space along the river. The island provides a rest point for moving wildlife with additional space for foraging opportunities.
The main targeted species include arboreals such as the dusky leaf langur and long-tailed macaque. Providing a haven by mimicking forest succession ecology better promotes genetic material flows through the city, the oil palm plantations, and the forest patches. Lastly, daily experience and observation of the island’s growth create a sense of awareness of our arboreal neighbours, making the site a true common hawker space for all.
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Open Space and Park Design Urban Revitalisation
Healthy Kluang / Tang Yanqi
Health is one of the most important factors of liveability with walkability being one aspect of a city which can have health promoting benefits. In this aspect, Kluang is currently not a walkable city due to fragmented walkways and a lack of availability of walking infrastructure, leading people to feel unsafe on the streets. As a result, private cars and motorcycles have become the first choice for residents to travel, causing many health problems. The question then is, what is the path to a walkable and ultimately liveable city? The answer is slow traffic. For this project, the aim is to create safe and accessible transportation options for people daily trips, encouraging them to spend more time outdoors.
At the same time, people should be encouraged to develop good travel habits from the young age. In the school zone, heavy traffic with no proper crossings, makes it dangerous for students commuting to school. There is an urgent need to make safer routes to and around school. Both for the students and parents to linger before and after sending their grandkids to school and for the students’ safety. The design encourages a slow traffic system, where sideways and cycle paths are two factors needed to be designed. The school zone planning proposes a shared street network integrated with residences, schools, shops, junction
and market, making a safer journey to school and offering students and their parents an opportunity to linger within the outdoor spaces created.
The first example of this is demonstrated in Sekolah Kebangsaan Lelaki dan Perempuan Bandar Kluang waiting area where at present there is only a road in front of two primary schools, making it unsafe and undesirable for students to use. Children at school age have different characteristics and needs, and through traffic calming interventions and facilities, a variety of child-friendly spaces can be generated. The second example is along a six-lane road near schools. As this road is not busy, the aim is to close four lanes to create a pedestrian-friendly commercial street, to create new experiences, and introducing a new urban nature typology. On the one hand, the design based on nature is used to construct a resilient and sustainable city through rainwater management, as well as integrating the city and nature creating an organic entity in the residential area and establishing accessibility from communities to parks. The design also aims to turn the originally closed wasteland into an urban park that revitalizes the surrounding communities. Child-friendly paving materials are used throughout the main body of the design. In the future, design should be applied in other school zones, connected to slow traffic systems network. The spaces, structures, and surfaces that shape our streets will be rethought, reimagined, and redesigned to function more efficiently and effectively for the needs of more people. By taking bold action, Kluang can build a stronger foundation to support their future growth.
Mobility as Opportunity / Chen Yuxin
In response to the Malaysian government’s 12th Malaysia Plan (RMK-12), which encourages people to shift their behaviour from private cars to public transportation, and the Kluang government’s strategy to develop urban transportation by upgrading facilities and increasing and integrating bus routes, this project aims to suggest options for increasing the number of public transportation nodes distributed at different scales within a 5-minute walking range. Private hire cars or taxis are incorporated into the design function to provide a variety of public transportation options and a common and comfortable public leisure waiting space for both passengers and private hire drivers.
The geometry of the project is based on an elementary form, the triangle, which is the abstraction from the wings of a bat tessellated modularly in plan, echoing Kluang’s alias “The Bat City”. The proposed triangular modules are sized at 2.5 and 5 metres in length, making the geometry easy to assemble and allowing the transportation nodes to expand or contract according to context. The facade of the module has a variety of configurations, creating different functions. Instead of specifying a fixed list of functions, the design is defining different spaces capable of satisfying multiple needs. As the plans expand to a larger size, the possibilities vary. This modular method allows for different plans at different scales to accommodate all the possible activities within the node. It is also a flexible
module that can respond to changes in urban planning. By being unitized, the composition of module can be rearranged according to different site and program needs when being reused in the future, reducing waste.
In the long term, these public transportation nodes will be catalysts for urban transformation. The addition of bus stops will improve the public transportation system in the future by working with transportation planning experts to improve ridership and convenience of public transportation in Kluang, reducing private vehicle use and air pollution, and reducing travel costs for low-income residents. A convenient public transportation system will also attract more tourists and bring greater economic benefits to Kluang in conjunction with Kluang’s tourism planning.
As the number of people using public transportation increases, parking spaces close to stations will be gradually reclaimed, and more space will be available for retail and green landscape spaces integrated with public transportation nodes. As these nodes spread throughout the city, they will become a driving force for the surrounding industries and economic development, enhancing the overall urban landscape and promoting balanced urban development.
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Urban Revitalisation Urban Revitalisation
Turning Invisible Visible in Kluang, Malaysia / Yap Sit Kee
Kluang is a town that offers its residents a high quality of life, with three factors being particularly important to ensure its liveability: retirement security and inclusivity, resilient and progressive economy, and a commitment to greener and more sustainable Kluang. To achieve these goals, a strong economy is necessary to support these conditions, and this often involves sustainable practices and tourism development. Despite having plethora of landmarks and place of interests, locals have noted a decline in tourism over the years.
In tourism economy development, two critical components are needed: Town Branding and Place-making. Town branding helps to redefine and curate visitors’ perception of the town, while place-making create spaces for locals and visitors to connect and build relationship. Town branding is especially important as it can attract desirable visitors, set the first impression of Kluang, and increase consumer spending, thereby boosting the tourism economy
In the town of Kluang, the scope of its branding efforts to be located at its two primary public transportation infrastructure sites, which serve as the first impression
for visitors upon their arrival and departure. Although these existing sites have a certain level of entrance, the design process lacks the essence of Kluang’s local culture, which is needed to attract and captivate visitors. Therefore, the project seeks to redesign these two sites – the railway station and the bus terminal - as they are the most suitable locations for arrivals and departures. Moreover, visitors often seek out their next mode of transportation upon arrival, which makes redesigning the corridor between these two infrastructure options crucial to create a seamless and pleasant visitor experience during transit.
The vision of this project is to revive tourism vitality in Kluang by rebranding its reputation through town branding. The aim is to encapsulate the entirety of Kluang’s identity and story in the visitors’ line of vision, with the goal of attracting new and returning visitors to Kluang and boosting the local economy. By amplifying Kluang’s cultures and characteristics, the project will create an immersive experience for visitors that responds to the unique features of each existing space. The design is specifically curated to preserve and escalate Kluang’s hidden or subtle identity, which the tourism media management has limited capacity to demonstrate in a way that resonates with the locals. In this way, the project will create a cohesive and authentic representation of Kluang that both visitors and locals can appreciate and identify with.
Re-awakening Kluang: Biography Journey of the Mengkibol River Hawker Center / Chester Lee Y.L.
Urban sprawl in Kluang drives new developments in the periphery, prompting people to relocate to new areas with which in turn begin lead to the building of new amenities, diverting attention from the central district. As a result, places of significant social and cultural values are vanishing and left abandoned due to underutilisation and economic stagnation, casting a shadow over the once vibrant local community life. In the heart of Kluang, nestled between the bustling town area and surrounding villages, lies a humble hawker centre that has been a significant gathering place for locals from all walks of life to eat, chat, shop, and connect. With a lively, noisy, and an energetic atmosphere, it was the vibrant and bustling heart of Kluang. The liveliness and energy permeated the surrounding area through the sights, smells, and sounds. Aside from dining and socialising, it also showcased local craftsmanship, including the making of traditional bamboo furniture and clothing. Unfortunately, neglect and decreasing crowds due to urban sprawl and the relocation of the former bus terminal, as well as limited funding from local municipality has resulted in the deterioration of the old hawker centre and its surrounding areas.
The aim of this transformation is to re-awaken the lower central district of Kluang by revitalising places of significance and bringing back communities, to revive
the lost sense of community bonds, belonging, and liveliness. It also seeks to restore pride in the social and cultural values that were lost and create socially and economically viable spaces to attract crowds once again. The concept embodies the biography of the site where the old hawker centre sits and its surrounding areas. It incorporates the lingering essence of the site by preserving the hawker centre’s characteristics, which seek to induce a sense of belonging and nostalgia, while transforming it into a social hub that reflects the warmth, familiarity, community vibrancy, and conviviality of Kluang. The revitalised space will serve as a place of significance, welcoming not only the older generation but also attracting new crowds, such as the younger generation and visitors.
The Masterplan comprises of three zones respectively: Community, Livelihood and Celebration, reflecting the essence of the old hawker centre. Zone 1 is positioned as the centrepiece of the master plan, where a multifaceted community space will be created to build upon the legacy of the old hawker centre, fostering a deep sense of belonging and bringing people together in meaningful ways. Zone 2 will provide a thriving environment for local businesses to flourish, while also welcoming new entrepreneurs and craftspeople to contribute to the economy of the town. Lastly, zone 3 will serve as a place for both community gatherings and festive celebrations, providing a dynamic space where people can come together to commemorate special events and revel in the joy of life.
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Urban Revitalisation
Urban Revitalisation
Parking Revolution / Zou Xiaoqian
Due to the rapid development and promotion of Malaysia’s local automobile industry, more vehicles have been introduced and which have thus led to the provision of more open-air parking spaces. In Kluang, the occupation of these parking spaces constitutes 40-50000sqm of space, equivalent to approximately 6 football fields. Not only do these take up a lot of space, but they also hinder the walkability of the town, a key factor in liveability. Walkable cities benefit the health of residents, the urban economy, and the urban environment.
To make Kluang more liveable, the design proposal seeks to remove a portion of the surface parking spaces on both sides of selected streets and replace them with carparks situated on the perimeter of the town thereby creating a network of walkable streets no more than a 5min walk from each of these carparks.
The design is focused on two parts, the first uses a technical means (such as Grasshopper) to assist in determining the roads and nodes to be designed so that the service range can cover the entire Kluang town. The second is through the design of “car parks”, combining the functional requirement of car parking spaces
with designed activity spaces of a traditional park. The cumulation of a redesigned streetsdcape alongside these “car parks” is seen to improve the vitality of Kluang by making it into a more walkable town.
Specific to the design intervention, after determining the location of the new “car parks”, I proposed three different forms for each of the three sites. A multi-story parking lot connected to the new railway station, an earth covered building parking lot that provides a dual function of car parking and outdoor recreation as well as surface carpark which blends a plaza event space into the riverside landscape. Along the streets themselves, bioswales are added alongside urban furniture, vegetation and re-paving which are then connected to other small pocket parks integrated into the walking network to serve both residents and tourists.
The design proposal will see more than 40,000sqm converted back into usable urban public space to contribute to the walkability and liveability of Kluang. At the same time, the new multi-functional “car parks” seek to attract more users, and make drivers willing to park their cars on the periphery of the town instead of driving into the town itself. In this process, users can not only enjoy the comfort brought by the outdoor areas of the “car park” but also get exercise indirectly during short-distance walking and contribute to the low-carbon environment of the city.
Regenerative Oil Palm Farming: Balancing Economy and Ecology / Zhang Ziyuan
Oil palm is a crucial crop for Malaysia’s economy, contributing 2.5% to the country’s GDP in 2021. However, its cultivation has led to the destruction of tropical forests, causing irreparable damage to the ecosystem. Additionally, monoculture oil palm plantations have also accelerated soil erosion and caused other environmental problems. Therefore, it is essential to implement sustainable solutions to mitigate these issues.
To address these challenges, I propose incorporating food forests into existing oil palm plantations. Food forests are multi-layered planting spaces that mimic natural forests and include multiple cash crops. They help prevent surface runoff, fertilize fields, attract pollinators, and function as a natural forest, generating economic benefits.
Studies have shown that incorporating food forests into oil palm plantations can significantly increase the main cash crop yield. Based on the results of a study on the relationship between species, income, and the ratio of the total area in the food forest, I found that converting a portion of the original oil palm plots to
food forests could increase farmers’ income.
To achieve this, I used a computational program to simulate and study the relationship between the ratio of food forest to the total area and farmers’ income. I then used the program’s results to realign the site plan based on the planting pattern generated automatically for the selected site. This hybrid pattern not only increases overall biodiversity, but also improves the environment, reduces soil erosion, and mitigates flooding problems caused by elevated riverbeds.
Mixed cropping in food forests also reduces the risk of disease outbreaks in monoculture oil palm plantations. With increased pollinators and green manure, farmers can harvest other crops, such as tropical vegetables and fruits, as an additional source of income.
In conclusion, incorporating food forests into existing oil palm plantations is a win-win situation for both ecology and the economy. By diversifying crops and improving soil quality, we can mitigate the negative impact of oil palm cultivation and ensure a sustainable future for Malaysia’s agriculture sector.
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Urban Revitalisation
Agriculture, Eco or Agri-tourism
Embrace Slow Living in Kluang / Hia Siew Yi
Upon my return from visiting Kluang, I could not help but notice the stark contrast between the local lifestyle and my own. It became clear to me that Kluang is defined by a relatively laid-back and slow-paced lifestyle, which seems to reflect their definition of quality of life, in contrast to the fast-paced lifestyle found in Singapore. Reminiscent of the Slow Movement Trend, which is a cultural shift towards a slower, simpler, and more mindful approach to daily life, as a counterresponse to the fast-paced, consumer-driven culture of modern society, and instead encourages people to focus on what truly matters. The movement is applied to various aspects of life, including food, travel, and leisure. It is about living in a more intentional and conscious way.
Applying this trend to the chosen site ZENXIN Organic, an existing agriculture land, situated in the countryside of Kluang. The site posts several opportunities for the design intervention as it is conveniently located along the federal road, and its proximity to healthcare facilities and transportation services, reachable within a 10-minute drive. Additionally, the site is only a 2-hour drive away from major cities such as Kuala Lumpur and Singapore.
Therefore, the project will embrace and promote the concept of slow living within an agricultural environment, through leisure activities and attractions. Encouraging individuals to fully immerse themselves in the moment and appreciate the unique experiences offered by the agricultural land.
Organic agriculture is often associated with authenticity and transparency of crop production. Hence, the project will look at how to superimpose service layers onto an agriculture land without compromising large productive area. A curated track infrastructure system that aligns with the agriculture form will be proposed and overlayed onto the site, acting as an agent to enhance the experience for people while ensuring the concerns of security and maintenance of the production land. Utilizing the three basic elements of a Platform, Shelf, and Roof, that is configurated to provide for the proposed programs and assist with agriculture process through an integrated smart technology underneath the platform. This enables precision farming, minimize waste, and benefiting the environment.
All in all, the project aims to create a unique and immersive farm stay experience for city dwellers, integrating both farm and leisure activities. This is an opportunity to learn about slow living and appreciate the present moment while surrounded by the beauty of the agriculture land, away from the hustle and bustle of city life.
Revitalising Kluang - A Model for Sustainable Living / Amber Yong Ling
Agri-Eco tourism is a burgeoning sector in Kluang. With 12% of Malaysia’s economy deriving from the agriculture sector, the expansion into Agri-Eco tourism proves a viable and crucial industry to potentially improve the livelihoods and indeed liveability of Kluang. Historically, Kluang has been synonymous with the agriculture industry, with rubber, palm oil, and organic farming dominating its market until today. With its large land area and mineral-rich soils, Kluang could indeed integrate agriculture into attracting and driving its tourism sector. However, despite its historical prominence, present-day environmental degradation and economic fluctuations has threatened Kluang’s plantations, limiting its potential growth in the Agri-eco tourism sector. This perpetuates economic downturns due to declining labour productivity. In the last 20-30 years, Kluang’s urban development has given rise to issues such as landscape fragmentation, leading to increased flooding occurrence due to a lack of vegetation cover. Gunung Lambak serves as one of the last remaining green patches in Kluang, as well as one of the more prominent recreational and tourist places and would be the focus of this project.
Current development of the mountain by profit-maximizing private companies has caused frequent floods in the nearby residential areas. Moreover, the nature
reserve has been segmented between the private and public areas, exacerbating the ambiguity for development, and clearing of land caused by political boundaries. The project would focus on the overlooked private areas of Gunung Lambak which would be developed in three consecutive phases. Firstly, would the focusing on the natural value of the site with the sustenance of the green plots. Subsequently, a focus towards the cultural would be enhanced through the promotion of environmental awareness within the community in and around the site, before increasing the social activities within the site as a final phase. An adherence to a guideline that aims to conserve and sustain the forest ensure that experiential elements for users are incorporated sensitively into the context of the site. The introduction of socio-economic elements alongside other interventions promotes a circular economy that combats the occurrence of timber felling that is prominent in Malaysia.
The project aims to be a model for surrounding nature reserves by effectively integrating natural processes with productivity and environmental preservation, while proposing community-driven efforts which can facilitate understanding, consciousness, and the exchange of expertise, ultimately benefitting the greater community and environment of Kluang.
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Agriculture, Eco or Agri-tourism
Agriculture, Eco or Agri-tourism
Revitalizing Gunung Lambak / Teo Yulin
Senior tourism has become a crucial market segment as the world’s population ages. With this in mind, the project seeks to cater to the needs of elderly visitors by prioritizing accessibility and sustainability in the development of the foothill of the mountain.
To achieve this goal, I have identified several critical improvements that will enhance the visitor experience while minimizing the impact on the environment. These include redesigning the resort to provide a more welcoming and inclusive atmosphere, creating socializing spaces where visitors can connect with one another and the local community, and hosting cultural events that showcase Kluang’s unique art and culture.
In addition, a proposed new gradual trail connects existing trails with various programs and activities. The trail will feature new spaces and amenities that allow visitors to experience and enjoy the mountain’s natural beauty. These spaces may include seating areas, scenic lookouts, and areas for reflection and contemplation.
Overall, the project seeks to create a more inclusive, sustainable, and enjoyable experience for visitors on the foothill of the mountain while preserving the area’s unique character and natural beauty.
Surge-Binder / Tan Sok Vin
Holistic liveability involves the well-being and sustainability of living things without jeopardizing the livelihood of any other living communities in the environment. These includes the presence people and the natural environment that intertwines and interacts daily. Despite efforts to rejuvenate the town for a better local well-being, the economics and livelihood of the locals depend heavily on the presence of tourist through local identities and the promotion of eco-tourism and farm stays. However, the floods during the monsoon seasons often brings destruction and loss of belongings, resulting in prolonged post-flood effects which compromises the liveability of the residents.
Surge-Binder is a proposed transect that span across the town, linking the newly introduced Kluang Linear Park to Gunung Lambak to establish a multi-functional hydrological system which is infused with recreation and well-being, bridging differences between regions, eco-tourism, local safety, and accessibility throughout the town. Between the spawning point of tourists through the presence of public transportation such as the KTM at the Kluang Linear Park and the Gunung Lambak, a macro-scaled treatment system is proposed to link some of the vast areas of agricultural lands and open fields. As most of the agricultural lands
are used to cultivate oil palm, the intensive use of fertilisers and limestones would cause leeching of nutrients as water flow through the medium, regardless of season. Although the oil palm possesses high denitrifying capabilities, the areas of these plantations would result in immense release of greenhouse gases such as nitrous oxide into the atmosphere, justifying the agricultural sites as an ideal spot to be integrated as a part of the hydrological-recreational transect. Domestic contaminants such as heavy metals and food waste would also contribute to the water pollution in the river.
Due to certain unplanned developments in the mountains as well, sediments which accumulate at the beds of the Mengkibol River and canals are found to be one of the potential major factors of flash flood encounters in the town, often spilling into the urban spaces that are on lower ground. Curated to hold and cleanse water, a series of retention and detention systems implemented to capture particles and a constructed wetland are proposed into these spaces, linked by conveyance systems such as vegetated swales into the nearest drainage systems and to the Mengkibol River. Apart from performing hydrological functions, the systems create opportunities for safe user interaction and biodiversity habitats. Sustainable implementations such as including contaminated fill as a part of the landscape construction as well as harvesting of sediments in the basins would form the basis for a sustainable and liveable lifestyle in Kluang.
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Agriculture, Eco or Agri-tourism Improving Existing or Introducing New Industries
Food Park: Experiencing the Food System in Kluang / Alyssa Julianne Tee Xin Yun
A prominent occurrence across Kluang is the presence of eateries such as cafes, restaurants, and coffee shops. It is obvious that food forms a core component of locals’ lives and is an aspect that brings the community together. Yet, the lack of insight into the origins of their food and the labour that is invested in them causes a disregard within the community that is masked by the abundance of food establishments. As such, the appreciation for food production within the community is lost, along with their connection to its processes.
Kluang Market serves a vital role in the distribution of food within Kluang. However, its importance is lost by its dilapidated state. Revamping this popular site would present an opportunity to both enhance the lives of locals, as well as catalyze food tourism within the area. This concept aims to increase the number of visitors to Kluang Market and Kluang as a whole, boosting the economy and creating jobs for locals. The introduction of spaces that facilitate the interaction between locals and visitors, as well as amongst the community members, would foster exchanges in cultural practices in food preparation, and form connections over stories and experiences.
By bringing together the different stages of the food system (Production, Distribution, Consumption), visitors gain insight into the duration spent and labour invested in obtaining ingredients, cooking, and preparing dishes for consumption. The participation in such processes encourages visitors to empathize with and appreciate the farmers and cooks, and in turn reduce food wastage through their insight. Programmable spaces such as Al Fresco Dining, Events Spaces, and Pop-up Programme Zones present visitors with a platform to explore different user-initiated activities, enjoy the landscape spaces around them, such as the adjacent Mengkibol River.
The activities of the market could extend into the under-utilized Mengkibol river, radiating the journey of food and food tourism around the city. A unique “river boat ride experience” provides visitors with an amazing journey across the city, patronizing eateries which line the riverbanks. Concurrently, bringing more business to smaller restaurants, supporting the local economy. The river also provides an alternate circulation for the transportation of food materials to the eateries, reducing the dependence and congestion of the roads. Visitors thus get to observe how food travels across the city as they enjoy locally prepared meals on their river journey, once again displaying the different stages of the food system.
Kluang’s Table / Chen Hui Lin Tammy
It is irrefutable that tourism is vital to Kluang, as it is one of the largest potential proponents to boost its economy. However, high demand in tourism could lead to a lack of appreciation and dilution of its local and traditional culture. Due to its small and often overlooked position, tourism as a primary economic driver in Kluang may prove undesirable when compared to other destinations in Malaysia, hence proposing a more effective intervention in attracting travellers could be a viable alternative. Despite the advantage of farm production, especially organic products, Kluang currently faces intangible problems, such as unable to fully reach the potential of Brand Image Identification, and the imbalance of considerations to tourists as compared to travellers. The objectives are to redistribute the uptown and downtown parts of Kluang, expose the processes of Organic Production for further exploitation to amplify Organic Authenticity and ultimately shift from tourism economy to travel economy. The former represents a more superficial industry while the latter seeks a deeper connection with the destination in question. These objectives are achieved by centralising and concentrating the existing market, decentralising the ‘Attractions’ allowing true appreciation towards Food Culture, and utilising both (Tourist) Farm at Table and (Traveller) Table to Farm, before turning the market into new ‘Table’.
The spatial experience consists of the focus of bringing out the strengths of Kluang, while highlighting the hidden strengths (intangible factors that cannot be seen) to tourists. In collaboration with locals, as well as repurposing of old structures, the tourists have potential to pride themselves a traveller instead. The space consists of a Farm Table, meaning to bring markets into a farm simulation to rely on the visual stimuli and strengthen the brand of being organic. Other spaces include an Art Scene where the Kluang market building is repurposed into an entertainment area with a stage and amphitheatre. The convenience of travellers is also kept in mind with the proposal of a locker service on the 3rd storey of the market. The 2nd storey of the market will serve as a storage area with freezers and refrigerators for vendors to store their produce. A space that culminates the spirit of the community would be where locals are able to cook together, known as the Chef’s Table. This gives the opportunity for travellers to taste and recreate local dishes and forming a connection between locals and travellers using food. Design units are proposed to facilitate effective lessons and pleasant interactions. Lastly, the Thrifting Haven is an approach to intangibly support the idea of organic farming. Shoppers can fully support locals in their sustainable efforts, while also learning and experiencing a more sustainable approach to either eating or materials. The introduction of large and small textured space affords travellers of different group sizes to interact with the market within their comfort zone while encouraging connections.
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Improving Existing or Introducing New Industries
Improving Existing or Introducing New Industries
Rewilding Hill Resort / Chen Yanxin
The beautiful and pristine ecological forest around the Gunung Lambak has been subjected to ecologically inappropriate land development, leading to land fragmentation and deforestation. This unfortunate reality however does provide a hope for restoration and revitalization. The Talula Hill Farm Resort, located behind Gunung Lambak, proved ideal for intervention location. During our site visit, it was apparent that the resort sits on the edge of two vastly different landscapes. The site sits between a large area of ecological woodland which has been felled on one side and an undeveloped oil palm plantation awaiting restoration and rewilding on the other side, creating a fragmented and disjointed landscape.
Through the process of reforestation, balance and ecological health can be restored to this beautiful area. Reforestation provides numerous benefits, including climate regulation, biodiversity conservation, soil conservation, water conservation, and other indirect economic benefits. By restoring the ecology of the area, the foundations of a forest wellness rewilding resort that will serve as an intermediate zone, a safe, semi-tamed, and predictable buffer zone that promotes wellness and health can begin.
At the heart of the project is the proposed rewilding hill resort, designed to promote wellness and health through ecotourism and sustainable development. The multi-phase plan begins with the ecological restoration of the forest, which will involve transferring part of the oil palm forest to create a new forest and connecting existing forest patches to form a green corridor. This initial phase aims to restore ecological balance and enhance the biodiversity of the area.
The second phase of the project involves leveraging the reforested site to develop forest recreational tourism and attract more visitors to the area. The resort will be transformed and expanded based on the reforested site, offering a range of activities and facilities that promote wellness, relaxation, and adventure. Guests can explore hiking trails, participate in meditation classes and yoga sessions, as well as enjoy eco-friendly accommodations.
Ultimately, the rewilding hill resort will serve as a model for sustainable development that balances economic growth with ecological conservation. By promoting wellness and health through ecotourism and sustainable development, through the creation a forest wellness retreat that provides numerous benefits to individuals, communities, and the environment, including physical and mental health benefits, social and economic benefits, and environmental benefits.
Kluang University Town / Liu Wenjia
The University Town of Kluang is a landscape-driven project that integrates a series newly proposed sustainable university campuses leveraging off existing natural and social resources that facilitates the growth of Kluang. “Bringing back the missing generation” is the guiding mission as there is a particular demographic which leaves Kluang for further studies or work. If this missing generation were encouraged to stay, it is anticipated that it would bring back energy to the social fabric while establishing a better long-term economic future. This is done by introducing a local university with a main campus and two satellite campuses.
The three campuses are connected by rivers, so staff and students can take boat, cycling or walking between the three locations. The sites utilizes existing vacant shophouses, open land, and farmland, which are spread across Kluang and inject much required life into each of these locations.
The main campus, the River Campus, houses the Department of Hydrology and sits in the city centre between the old street and the hawker centre. Adjacent to the Mengkibol River, a landscape that is resilient to climate change can be designed to study the sustainable ways to live with water in the light of global warming.
The watercourse is braided and runs through the campus. The whole campus can be a large-scale outdoor experiment field for flood simulation as series of urban drainage systems including a roof garden and rain gardens to collect ran-off, basins, and swales that hold and convey stormwater will also be designed in the water management system. Part of the building is going to be removed to give more space for water to be more visible to people and provide engagement with water. Through cutting and filling of the landform, grass mounds will be made as the new landform to divert water. Gabion walls and ripraps will be added to prevent water erosion, and more riverside habitats can be created with the wider flooding plain.
The Farm Campus is located on the farmland between Kampung Tap Tau Sah and the railway. The farmland with being divided into areas of 1 ha, 1/2 ha, and 1/4 ha which easier for quantified research. The lush high-tech crisscross farmland becomes the first impression for visitors when they arrive by train. A series of flood walls made of gabion will be built along the river to protect the experiment field, and a new teaching building will be built on them. Lastly, the Forest Campus sits at the city fringe and provides a good view of Gunung Lambak. Native woody, herbaceous, and epiphyte plant communities will be planted on the new building as an experiment field and a display of studying results.
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Improving Existing or Introducing New Industries Improving Existing or Introducing New Industries
Days in the Sun / Ho Jing Jing
Kluang’s economy is mainly driven by its agricultural and industrial sectors, which also serve as its strongest cultural capital. However, the city is facing the challenge of retaining its youth, who are seeking better opportunities elsewhere due to a stagnating work environment that has not kept pace with their evolving ambitions. To revitalise its urban conditions and retain its youth in a post-industrial economy, Kluang needs to catapult itself into the forefront of a competitive economic market.
To boost the economy, it is important to actively promote sales and income for local businesses, which requires Kluang’s industries to meet current consumer demands. The ‘Days In the Sun’ project aims to revitalise Kluang’s public realm by expanding the industrial sector into a creative economy. Kluang’s strong cultural capital presents potential for several trades to rebrand the town and turn around its production image to one of attraction for tourism. This can be achieved through value adding and cross germinating several trades, including the ceramics, food, and textile industries. The proposed project’s strategies involve the cross-germination of traditional and modern trades, the use of local materials and construction techniques, and a two-pronged approach that involves
bringing the products and experiences of the industries out for people to engage in a more tangible manner and bringing people into the factory to open the facilities outside the site for industrial tours.
Establishing a pedestrianised business corridor will make it easier for people to engage with the programs onsite safely. The proposed spaces, Business Plaza, Makers Space, and Collab Street, aim to inspire creation with the fusion of new and traditional techniques and materials for business. The project aims to propel and include traditional trades and industries in Kluang’s future for the preservation of culture and its main economy. As the reinstatement of Kluang’s cultural and historical industries starts to propel the city’s economy further after the development of the project, the physical and programmatic fusion of traditions and the contemporary might begin a paradigmatic shift, updating a new set of architecture and cultural traditions that all generations can engage with.
Overall, redesigning the space under the Kluang elevated railway aims to create a unified space for the community by connecting separated blocks. The design will cater to different groups, including tourists, retired seniors, commuters, and students. By creating a pedestrian-friendly environment and providing convenient facilities and services, the space under the railway bridge will become a vibrant and enticing space for the community to enjoy.
Kluang Tech Town – Building the Next Tech Space for Digital Nomads / Cheong Shao Yin
Tech Cities are one of the most liveable cities globally as the city planning is conducted with the wellbeing of the people in mind. While big cities have been a popular destination as a well-developed technological melting pot, digital nomads tend to visit tropical cities that are readily accessible to nature and leisure activities. Within Southeast Asia, Malaysia is one such country which supports the digital nomad visa, thus providing an opportunity to explore the potentials of developing Kluang as a tech city built to welcome digital nomads.
Kluang’s slow-paced lifestyle, proximity to nature, availability of organic food and amenities within walking distances are ideal pull factor to attract digital nomads who are seeking to escape the big cities. The city centre has the potential to be transformed into a vibrant hub for new industries. However, the urban sprawl has left the centre deserted during the day, while the nightlife is lively with events. Moreover, the lack of public outdoor spaces and the deteriorating appearance of the buildings make the city centre uninviting to both locals and visitors.
To counter this, the project aims to infill the city centre and revitalize the area, making it attractive to new talents and businesses. The focus of optimizing the flow of spaces in relation to the surrounding context, creating diverse spaces to facilitate different scales of interaction, through a design that is informed by the pixel patterns of the digital world and the geometric forms of nature and agriculture plots, to create a juxtaposition between these elements, with the landscape as the middle ground between the two.
The project consists of three elements, starting with the transformation of existing buildings to create new landscape voids and connections between green spaces within the urban fabric. An integrated water management system will also be developed to counter flooding issues and create new urban spaces for cultural and social activities to improve the city’s appeal. Overall, this project will rejuvenate Kluang and create a vibrant hub for digital nomads and new industries.
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Improving Existing or Introducing New Industries Improving Existing or Introducing New Industries
Food Journey of Kluang, Riverfront Food Park / Brina Choo Si Min
Kluang is renowned for its food culture, which has driven the town’s economic growth through its agriculture and horticulture industries. Alongside the many historically significant food eateries, these industries remain significant contributors to the local economy today. Despite its significance, many food establishments in Kluang remain unexplored due to a lack of accessibility, fragmented mix of modern and traditional stalls, and unfavourable site conditions. Furthermore, this issue is exacerbated by the younger generation’s lack of interest in local food. Therefore, the proposal aims to rebrand Kluang’s food heritage and culture in promotion of food tourism. A food journey could be implemented across popular food and iconic places, culminating at the river hawker centre, to position food culture as the driving force for livability.
With the deteriorating conditions, poor location, and flooding of the river hawker centre, the site faces future demolishment despite its historical and cultural value for the locals. Hence, the project aims to utilize the river and the Hawker Centre’s culture as a medium to transform the existing site into a catalyst for attracting tourists to the central town of Kluang. Considering the significance of history and culture, a focus on food tourism as a solution will make the site a strong
attraction for locals and visitors to experience the hidden gems of Kluang. Therefore, enhancing the local heritage and culture of the Hawker Centre through the proposed riverfront food park forms a connection between food and the river.
The first design intervention aims to address the flood issue within residential areas and redirect the flow of water towards the commercial areas (hawker centre) by implementing a berm adjacent to the hawker centre. Additionally, various flood barriers are implemented to address flooding by reforming and elevating the landform of impacted areas by 0.5 meters. These flood barriers come in the form of berms, retaining walls, terraces, and levelled spaces. With these implementations, it will reduce the impacts of flooding, creating opportunities for various areas of experiential value for locals and tourists. The second design intervention of the hawker centre aims to retain the tangible traces of the hawker through its structure and types of existing activities. The wall dividers of the food stall are retained for their historical significance and value to the locals, which can be repurposed into functional structures, and landmark features, integrating the history into the proposed site. With the intervention of both river and former traces of the Hawker Centre, the Riverfront Food Park design aims to recreate, revitalise, and enhance past and current food scenes with the additional experiential element of the river, resulting in a unique experience of its food culture and co-living with floods.
Living Museum, Livable Kluang / Jin Xin
As a small town primarily focused on agriculture and manufacturing, Kluang is currently confronting a serious societal issue of the outflow of young laborers. While the emerging tertiary industries such as ecotourism have attracted some young entrepreneurs back to their hometown, the majority of them are compelled to shift their focus towards farm management or catering industry due to practical constraints such as the lack of customer base. Located adjacent to the railway tracks, the old town center was once the most bustling and prosperous multi-functional area of Kluang, where people from all walks of life and different types of associations converged to live and work. With the shift of urban development priorities, the area gradually became desolated, and the population continuously migrated to surrounding residential and commercial districts, leaving behind a well-preserved collection of classic five-feet base architecture and pleasant smallscale streets. These antiquated buildings and street spaces not only encapsulate the splendid history of Kluang’s contemporary commerce and cultural industry, but also serve as a spatial container that preserves the life stories of its residents.
The aim of this project is to construct a Living Museum by reusing landscape spaces and substituting certain building functions. Through creating a more
liveable environment and incorporating mixed-use functional spaces, the project seeks to attract people to return to this area to live, work, and continue this Living Museum by themselves. The exhibits of Living Museum are not specific old objects, but rather the lives of the people who reside here, their relationships with each other, their connection with nature, and the strong human touch. It is not simply a replication of the past way of life, but rather a fresh approach to introducing the hustle and bustle of the past into modern context. Together with the residents, the Living Museum will explore and create a liveable future for Kluang, making intangible ideas tangibles and will be spread across three phases:
Phase 1: Establish a landscape framework that links the block spaces, linear parks, and waterfront spaces, creating outdoor public activity spaces to attract target groups.
Phase 2: Repurpose certain building functions, introduce new programs, and establish guidelines for screening users.
Phase 3: A Living Museum built by the users: People who are tired of the fast-paced lifestyle of big cities can enjoy a slow-paced life rich in cultural atmosphere here. Creative professionals can exchange ideas and find inspiration, local students can engage in cultural exchange, and artists or entrepreneurs can showcase their work.
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Improving Existing or Introducing New Industries Art, Culture
Heritage
and
Embracing New River Beginnings / Zhang Wen
Kluang, being a small laid-back town, is an underrated gem waiting to be discovered. Tourists often give the town a miss albeit being situated at the centre of Johor. Its town centre riverfront region, which is the main backbone servicing the entire city, is currently treading water and facing the possibility of being displaced, losing its authenticity and essence. The project seeks to propose a gesture to embrace the river spine and its historical abundance and nostalgic attachment, by tapping on its latent potential & opportunities that the city centre, particularly the river hawkers and markets, offers. It is also an expression to celebrate Kluang’s community energy, bringing into the dialogue and contributing to the uniqueness of Kluang.
The river spine would have manifold programs primarily driven by its community energy as the co-creators and a headway in creating the new strength of Kluang that is hoped to imprint in visitor’s memory. The injection of various programs designed for the communities would help boost the value of the river sites, improve the livelihood of the locals, and enhance the human-river relationship to create a stronger sense of belonging. All of which contributing to the liveability factor of Kluang. The end intention is also to stimulate economic development and create a new face of Kluang to which the river owes its existence.
Creating different moments of access to the river spine is the crucial strategy in this project that brings people together to occupy the spaces while also allowing spontaneous interactions to occur. These spaces are designed for four designated nodes, namely Jelutong market, Mengkibol River Hawker, Ngepot Kabin and Kluang Wet Market, and are sculptured through the formation of levee berms, as one of the flood adaption strategies, creating different opportunities for organic community interactions. The network of accessible spaces choreographed will be designed to support the proposed programs happening on a regular and seasonal basis, emphasizing on creating one-of-a-kind food culture and experience through leveraging on the key “ingredients” that Kluang could offer, which are the well-favoured river hawker food, successful Zenxin Organic produce, and its own branded fragrant Kluang coffee. New seasonal festivals are proposed to bring different communities together and showcasing the new character of Kluang.
Such unique programs would help to boost overall site values that would positively impact the local business owners/vendors, allowing them new chances for business operations, boost in income which can improve their livelihoods, and building a stronger a sense of belonging which overall strengthens the liveability factors. Visitors on the other hand would now remember Kluang for its unique food culture experience and leave an imprint in their memories.
Foodtown: Environmental Redesign Based on Food Psychology / Ouyang Luoman
Kluang is a city famous for its food, and its food culture is also very diverse. First, its food is rich in herbs and spices, secondly, the social aspect of Kluang food culture is also a very important part, people like to gather to eat, in addition, the street food culture in Kluang is also very popular. All these characteristics provide opportunities for the design of the project. When it comes to liveability, a review of the literature reveals that liveability is closely linked to food, as local food can contribute significantly to people’s sense of belonging and research has shown that food can boost dopamine production, which can bring a sense of well-being, and thus to the liveability of a place.
Therefore, in response to the above analysis and theories, I proposed the concept of FOODTOWN, a systematic planning of Kluang food from the perspective of food psychology, to enhance the dining environment, increase the popularity of Kluang food, attract more visitors, improve the economy and at the same time bring a sense of well-being and belonging to the residents, thus enhancing an important aspect of liveability.
Based on the theory that people’s food choices and eating behaviours are to some extent related to location and surroundings, I have proposed a specific design
strategy for FOODTOWN, which is based on the four phases including food production, food distribution, social gathering and eating. For production, theories suggest that involving people in the environment where food is produced can strengthen one’s sense of place, so introduced spice and local vegetation gardens to the site to celebrate locally produced food to enhance people’s sense of place. In terms of sales, increasing the variety of food can boost consumption, so I chose three locations to sell the different types of food, providing a variety of consumption for different groups of people. For collection, eating together with others can increase eating time and appetite, so a social eating place where residents can gather is also quite important, so in the centre of the three food sales locations, I created a social place to gather people.
The last and most important part is the act of eating itself. The eating environment influences food consumption to a large extent, so enhancing the eating environment is the most effective way to make people have a good dining experience. In the design, have adopted different design strategies based on the different characteristics of the three food sales locations, with the basic requirement of enhancing the eating environment and psychologically allowing people to associate local food with the three locations, thus enhancing the sense of place of the site.
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Art, Culture and Heritage Art, Culture and Heritage
A compilation of student work from the Liveable Kluang design studio carried out in AY2023/24 Semester 2 for the Bachelor and Master of Landscape Architecture Programmes at the National University of Singapore.
LAD4002 Design 8 / LA4702 MLA Studio: City - AY2022/23 Semester 2 Bachelor and Master of Landscape Architecture Programmes Compiled Student Work
