CULTURE AND INNOVATION CENTRE, MUAR
ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN PROJECT REPORT
NAME: KHOO YUNG KEAT ID: 0324688 TUTOR: AR. ERIC CHANG
CONTENT 01 PROJECT BACKGROUND & BRIEF (THE BRIEF)
02 SITE INVESTIGATION & CONTEXTUAL STUDIES
03 DESIGN INTENTIONS STRATEGIES
04 FINAL DESIGN
01 INTRODUCTION ABSTRACT
The final architectural design project is to propose a Culture and Innovation Centre. The CIC should be a place for celebration of culture, tradition and way of life. The theme is ‘Sustaining Humanities’, where architecture of people, place and time, a role in making a place civilized by making a community more livable. The chosen sites for this project are magnet areas for local and visitors in Muar. The unique quality and condition of the sites will give a good reference for students in making the ‘Culturel and Innovation Centre’ a more interesting architectural space and design. Site investigation, both macro and micro scale have been thoroughly carried out in order to understand the site more. The targeted users of the site are also drawn out, so that the CIC is designed based on the needs of the community and responding to the site. The final design report is documenting the entire design process, step by step from the preliminary stage to the final stage of designing, including the insight of my own interpretations to the site, as well as my own perception of the design.
01 INTRODUCTION PROJECT INTRODUCTION
The Culture and Innovation Centre will promote, showcase and celebrate the rich culture and art of Muar and its people. The project calls designing a place wherein it extends the unique identity and likewise serve as a platform to encourage cultural exchange between people. With the four given site in Muar, each sites are given with its own function and building typology as well. The Culture and Innovation Centre, in order to adhere with the site, both tangible and intangible factors of the site are to be explored. From there, the programme and function of the centre can be defined. In conjunction to that, the building’s performance, feasibility, sustainability, buildability are to be taken care of as well, to produce a legible design scheme. Based on the current feel of the place, Muar is need for a place to live, work learn and play to act as the heart and engine of the city. Public spaces, encourage human interactions and architectural intervention makes the place more meaningful. Currently the city has the Maharani Royal Town to attract tourist and visitors but requires the needed boosts to generate interest and appeal.
01 INTRODUCTION PROJECT AIMS AND OBJECTIVE
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Project answers the lack of prominent public and activity centre, which will keep people to stay instead of driving to Malacca and nearby cities for nightlife. The new node establishes sustainability to the place as possible income boost to the city of Muar. Establish a place as possible venue, avenue or centre to showcase the culture, tradition and creative work of the people of Muar. Specially now as it is now recognized as Malaysia’s Furniture Capital. Possibly create an iconic image (through its architecture) a Culture and Innovation Centre that as a new landmark and ‘image’ for the city. A place that can promote Muar to the world in terms of it food culture, herbs and spices, Street Art (Murals), furniture making and as the cleanest city in Asean Region.
02 SITE INVESTIGATION & CONTEXTUAL STUDIES SITE INTRODUCTION
The site sits between the 2 main road which are Jalan Maharani and Jalan Abdullah. The site is surrounded by a row of heritage shophouses, a bus terminal just opposite to the site which situated at Jalan Maharani and a primary school (Sekolah Jenis Kebangsaan Chung Hwa 2A & 2B) at Jalan Abdullah. Hence, the site also sits within the common area whereby the two districts, residential and commercial meet.
02 SITE INVESTIGATION & CONTEXTUAL STUDIES SITE HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
1850s The Sultan and Temenggong introduced Kangchu system and actively encouraged the Chinese leaders to set up new gambier and pepper plantations along Muar river. Large sum of Chinese immigrants was brought into these plantations to work as agricultural settlers and labourers. As a result, spice trade grows in popularity and attracts traders from India.
1880s Influx of Chinese settlers results in the demand of basic amenities which eventually forms the development of Bandar Maharani as administrative and trading hub to serve the growing population. The establishment of ferry services across the river and the railway links the suburbs to town brings in the Malaymajority community in search of better opportunities.
1967 Sultan Ismail Bridge was built to allow access from the North, bringing people across the river to town which eventually formulates a balanced ratio of Malay and Chinese populations, with a small percentage of Indian population. Despite their differences, they are proud to be collectively identified as Muarians.
02 SITE INVESTIGATION & CONTEXTUAL STUDIES MACRO STUDIES (DISTRICT)
PAST Formery, Muarian’s lifestyle depicts each street with a distinctive character annotating the first and second street, Jalan Maharani and Jalan Abdullah as a commercial street, due to its strategic location facing the waterfront and near to the bridge directing the traffic into these two streets. The third and fourth street, Jalan Meriam and Jalan Ali, are more towards the leisure setting whereby most cinemas and food make up the street. The last couple street, Jalan Daud and Jalan Arab was a residential street.
PRESENT Following the economic trend and rise in machinery production, Muarian’s life has turned into a reformed commercial business district. A large portion of traditional business and leisure has adapted with the people needs in services and products. This as a result formulates the unified commercial district. With this in mind, locations of businesses are mixed, with certain traditional businesses thriving in a scattered manner throughout the town of Muar.
02 SITE INVESTIGATION & CONTEXTUAL STUDIES MACRO STUDIES (LANDUSE & CULTURAL NODES)
TRADITIONAL TRADES (22.8%) Despite the shift in lifestyle, there are prevailing inherited businesses which thrive within today’s modern commercial market. COMMERCIAL TRADES (59.5%) The shift in economy during the 21st century has pushed many family businesses to an end, thus making their lots open for lease. Modern offices and commercial businesses gradually replace the traditional trades. VACANT (17.7%) It was observed that some of the traditional trades could not cope with the impending economy trend which results into them either being abandoned or open for lease.
CULTURAL FRAGMENTS As a result of the change in land-use and district, the cultural activities are scattered within the confines of Muar. Despite the decline of cultures and traditions, the government persists into establishing these separated nodes due to its cultural significance as an effort to revitalize the town.
02 SITE INVESTIGATION & CONTEXTUAL STUDIES MACRO STUDIES (MUAR’S CULTURE & BUILDING TYPOLOGY)
FOOD Besides its historical value, Muar is also known for its delicious local food. Tourists travelling from Johor Bahru up North will usually stop by at Muar to enjoy coffee and satay as breakfast before continuing their journey. CULTURE Muar’s internationally known KSK Lion Dance Troupe is Muarian’s pride due to their impressive records. In performing arts, Chinese opera still thrives within the Chinese clans during festivals. Ghazal and Zapin Dance are traditional artistic heritage of the Malays and are mostly performed in competitions or ceremonies in town.
BUILDING FACADE More than a century old shophouses reflect the Muarians and their way of life, forming a collective image of the city over time. Despite the variation of architectural styles depicted on the heritage buildings, it produces a harmonic and unified rhythm.
02 SITE INVESTIGATION & CONTEXTUAL STUDIES MACRO STUDIES (MUAR’S DEMOGRAPHIC)
AGED LOCAL (>60 y/o) The aged locals make up the majority of regular customers visiting the traditional businesses due to the sentimental value they have to the site. LOCAL (STUDENT, YOUNG & WORKING ADULTS) The younger generation are constantly fixated on their final destination with no interest in the context along the journey. This reduces the opportunity of young generation to inherit the traditional businesses to the lack of interest. TOURIST Tourists are in favour of mostly significant cultural nodes which are tourist-targeted and not frequently by locals. Consequently, there will be little to no interaction between tourists and locals.
FOOD Besides its historical value, Muar is also known for its delicious local food. Tourists travelling from Johor Bahru up North will usually stop by at Muar to enjoy coffee and satay as breakfast before continuing their journey. CULTURE Muar’s internationally known KSK Lion Dance Troupe is Muarian’s pride due to their impressive records. In performing arts, Chinese opera still thrives within the Chinese clans during festivals. Ghazal and Zapin Dance are traditional artistic heritage of the Malays and are mostly performed in competitions or ceremonies in town.
ARTISANS Most of the artisans are old, but they are still continuing their traditional family inherited business. The lack of interest among younger generation sparks an uncertainty for the future of these businesses. STREET VENDORS The food stalls dominating the food street have existed and built an essence on the place over time. However, they face the risk of being repositioned and driven out due to its temporal condition, which may result in the loss of food culture.
02 SITE INVESTIGATION & CONTEXTUAL STUDIES MICRO STUDIES (EDGES)
CIRCULATION The edges are determined by two main circulation routes directing into town, with both in one-way direction: From other cities through Sultan Ismail Bridge; From residential district through roundabout; All roads intersect and converge into Jalan Maharani. This results in two loops which circulates the site and defines the area of study.
PERMANENT BARRIER The retaining wall along Muar River directly stops people from accessing it, emphasizing the disconnection between land and river
DEFINED BOUNDARY FOR MICRO STUDIES
02 SITE INVESTIGATION & CONTEXTUAL STUDIES MICRO STUDIES (DISTRICT’S EDGES)
FROM BARRIER TO PERMEABLE BOUNDARY Aside from the edges we define as the area of study, the site also sits within the common area whereby the two districts, residential and commercial meet.
ISSUE: LACK OF INTERCONNECTEDNESS Despite the intersection, the social groups from these two districts – the residents / locals and artisans, have seemingly isolated from each other. Thus, diminishing the social connection among themselves
A COMMON GROUND We see this as an opportunity for the cultural and innovation centre to bridge connection among both districts by formulating a meeting and sharing point which is derived from the common characteristics between these two social groups
02 SITE INVESTIGATION & CONTEXTUAL STUDIES MICRO STUDIES (SITE REQUIREMENTS)
SITE AREA 2365 sq.mts.
SETBACKS Front: 8.096 m (26.561’) Side: 6.096 m (20’)
BUILT-UP AREA 60% or less of site area (free standing building)
02 SITE INVESTIGATION & CONTEXTUAL STUDIES MICRO STUDIES (PATH)
FIVE-FOOT WALKWAY / PEDESTRIAN PAVEMENT (FROM SHOPHOUSES) The level of walkability of both the five-foot walkway and pedestrian pavement differs although they are next to each other. In the five-foot walkway, the extended function from the shophouses and different levels cause disruption to the public circulatory route, thus breaking the linear walking experience. Meanwhile the pedestrian pavement offers a continuous unshaded route.
PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE (FROM BENTAYAN BUS TERMINAL) The pedestrian bridge establishes a complete comfortable walking experience by bringing the exteriority of the street back to interior. However, it can be seen that people do not fully utilize the bridge because they prefer to travel shorter distance which is directly crossing the road.
SIDE & BACK ALLEY (FROM GUAN YIN TEMPLE) It is observed that the alleyways are less frequent in movement as proper connecting path is already established along the perimeter of the shophouses. Usually workers or shop owners will use it as it provides faster route with adequate shaded experience during the day.
02 SITE INVESTIGATION & CONTEXTUAL STUDIES MICRO STUDIES (FORMULATING SOCIAL MAGNET)
8AM - 12PM - The two eateries along the site, Cafe 434 and Chai Kee Kopitiam are observed to have increased intensity of people dining in these renowned places for breakfast. - Vehicles queue by the side of the Jalan Abdullah outside Chung Hwa Primary School during weekdays to drop-off their children. - The Chinese temples, Nan Hai Fei Lai and Guan Yin Hall, are observed to have high intensity of prayer activities among the locals. - Intensity increases along time as people head towards Bentayan Bus Terminal to depart away from Muar to other cities.
12PM - 5PM - Bentayan Bus Terminal remains busy at intervals in time. - A temporal spontaneous node is created along Jalan Maharani in front of the Bentayan Bus Terminal as passengers are occasionally dropped off and picked up. - Jalan Abdullah becomes active as students of Chung Hwa Primary School are picked up along this street. - Restoran Renney’s Satay is a well-known eatery among the locals for its satay and Mi Bandung during meal time.
5PM - 10PM - Intensity gradually decreases for Bentayan bus terminal as the bus schedule is less frequented towards the night. - High Intensity of contact point at the hall of Chung Hwa Primary School during weekends where meditation is practiced among the aged locals. - Car park space turns into Pasar Medan Selera food bazaar as a night hotspot for eatery.
02 SITE INVESTIGATION & CONTEXTUAL STUDIES MICRO STUDIES (TARGETED USER GROUP) STUDENT Mostly primary school students nearby coming from tuition centre and Chung Hwa Primary School. Students are limited to cultural education in their classroom, but could be expanded by providing a platform for real life cultural experience. TRANSIT PASSENGERS People waiting for transit across the bus terminal could be targeted to spend their waiting time at the site with informal self-learning programme, eg: cultural gallery to raise cultural awareness among the public. AGED ARTISANS The segregation of traditional trades around the site decreases the chances of people noticing their presence. The cultural centre could complement their businesses by raising their exposure through collaborative programme like the marketplace LOCAL RESIDENTS Locals which compose the largest percentage of immediate consumers on site - they only run errands with little concern on its neighbouring context. The cultural centre can act as a buffer space that complements their routine, eg: a platform for cultural exchange that could potentially reach out the content of the site to the locals.
REGENERATION THROUGH INNOVATION The direction of the cultural and innovation centre should be a holistic sustainable approach of innovation - both programme and social, in harmony with the current cultural values on site.
03 DESIGN INTENTION STRATEGIES PRECEDENT STUDIES
IMPOSING A COMMON NODE SINGKAWANG CULTURAL CENTRE WEST KALIMANTAN, INDONESIA BY PHL ARCHITECTS
COMPLEMENTING CULTURAL NODE Chap Goh Mei is an annual festival that attracts tourists. The cultural centre is one of the stopping points in the parade which provides exposure of the festival to the tourists visiting the cultural centre. The traditional food market complements the food vendor along the street by providing them a sheltered space to carry on their business as Pasar Hong Kong and many other eatery nodes are mostly makeshift stalls.
Previously an old cinema with little to no business, PHL Architects took up the challenge to refurbish through adaptive reuse and reprogram it into the cultural centre today which serves as a platform to officially showcase the diversified cultures of Singkawang. ISSUE: DECLINE IN CULTURES & TRADITIONS As more and more younger generation leave the town for better opportunities and lifestyle, the future of these inherited cultures and traditions is uncertain.
STRENGTHENING SINGKAWANG THROUGH CULTURAL PROGRAMMING The temporary exhibition area serves as a buffer space showing history and culture of Singkawang through displays and galleries for the locals and tourists. The pottery gallery and workshop serves to instill the traditional ways of pottery making - one of Singkawang’s pride. .
03 DESIGN INTENTION STRATEGIES PRECEDENT STUDIES
ACTIVATING THE DISTRICT’S EDGE BALLET MEMPHIS: A DANCE CENTRE MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE, USA BY ARCHIMANIA
Ballet Memphis had outgrown its current space and wished to move to a thriving performance arts district in the heart of the city with a unique facility. The building opens up to the programme for Ballet Memphis’ professional company and classrooms for youth and community dance instruction. Ballet Memphis Cultural Dance Centre intention was to engage the public with its appealing programme: dance.
Site’s Background The site occupies a previous iteration of a runned-down hotel. This encourages negative influence of activities to take place in the hotel which threatens the public quality of the public realm; interaction among the immediate vicinity sees a little to none. Although, Memphis as a whole was sees culture in art, and music.
ISSUE: A NEGLECTED JUNCTION The prevailing issue of a dilapidated hotel which interferes with the positive urban atmosphere where the hotel occasionally inhabits negative influences around the vicinity. Thus, this formulates restrictions of a safe realm for urban happenings, walking along the junction of the street HOW DOES IT .RELATES TO MUAR? This precedents depicts how an opportunity for a common ground could encourage the interrelation between people of Muar
HARMONIZING ART CULTURES Forming a meaningful cultural node which compliments the relationship of the commercial and residential district by forming an inclusive space for civic-oriented facility in which engages the public and encourages them to gather, meet, and dance along the junction of the street of Madison Av. and N.Cooper Street.
03 DESIGN INTENTION STRATEGIES DESIGN INTENTION
A CAPTIVATING NODE
URBAN ISSUE Young generation leave Muar to bigger city or well developed states for better living and job opportunity. CAUSES
CULTURAL ISSUE Discontinued of inheritance in traditional cultures
FROM ISSUE I INTENT TO CREATE
MUAR’S CULTURE
A COMMON GROUND As the site sits between two districts which are the commercial and residential that act as a transition zone which can create an opportunity to attract people to the CIC.
03 DESIGN INTENTION STRATEGIES PROGRAMME AND PROJECT BRIEF
PROPOSED PROGRAMME
傳承 （INHERITANCE) Lion Dance
MUAR’S OPPORTUNITY LION DANCE WORLD CHAMPION
Moral Values
Success
Hardships
Landmark?
PROGRAMME INTENTION & CONCEPT Muar is rich in art and craft culture. Lion dance is one of the famous art culture and it was renowned by the Muarians. So, what makes them so well renowned? With the hardships and spirit of the lion dance troupe (Kun Seng Keng Lion Dance Troupe), they able to maintain the world champion title since the association was formed in 1988. A world champion statue for the lion dance troupe were craved and placed at Jalan Bentayan as a symbol of Muar is the city of lion king. But, did anyone ever notice about the landmark? Hence, the Cultural and Innovation Centre intent to promote lion dance and inherit the culture as it is Muarian’s pride. The planning and design concept starts from a Chinese quote “台上一分鐘，台下十年工” (1 minute on stage takes 10 years of honing) to showcase the scenes of hardships.
03 DESIGN INTENTION STRATEGIES SITE RESPONSE (MASSING STRATEGIES)
MAIN ENTRANCE Placed at Jalan Abdullah to reduce traffic congestion at Jalan Maharani. Also gives an opportunity to rejuvenate the activeness of the quiet main street.
THOROUGHFARE The sidewalk of the proposed CIC provide an opportunity for the centre to have an extending function along the sidewalk to attract local and tourists through the proposed programme.
ACTIVE FRONTAGE Both frontage of the CIC which facing Jalan Maharani and Jalan Abdullah creates a visual engagement to the street and bus terminal with the proposed programme.
CENTRAL VOID The building massing is punctured by a central void to increase interlacing ventilation creating more breathable space and provide vertical interaction.
03 DESIGN INTENTION STRATEGIES SPATIAL PROGRAMMING
04 FINAL DESIGN
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