Welcome to
LIMBANG TRADING GATEWAY
This thesis is an exploration of my interest in the possibilities of riverfront town in rural part of Borneo.
Topic
Limbang Trading Gateway
To Regenerate a town by empowering the community within architectural aspects that promote both socio-economy and cultural activities.
NABC
NEEDS
To revitalise the declining town with surrounding opportunities
APPROACHES
Revive the old river lifestyle, river trading and Limbang status as trading town
BENEFITS
Benefits the local community, socio economic and elevate their sense of culture
COMPETITIONS
Visitor who see Limbang as a bypass town, need to attract more visitors to stay
Issue
Population Displacement
68% of world population projected to live in urban areas by 2050, says UN
What will happen to the 32% of the population that live in rural areas?
More and more Malaysians started to move into cities and urban areas
Urbanisation
Low urbanisation level by states
Demographic department identified states with low urbanisation level
States such as Kelantan, Pahang, Perlis, Sabah and Sarawak
Study Area
Borneo, Sarawak
This is Sarawak and Sabah of Borneo, it is some of the states that suffer badly from population displacement. As more and more Sarawakian and Sabahan move out towards Peninsular Malaysia
WHAT will happen to the rural towns?
URBAN DECLINE OF RIVERFRONT TOWNS IN BORNEO
HOW to overcome the declining issue?
What can possibly be done to mitigate its effects?
Based on my study and analysis on most of the cities and towns within Borneo, I discover that most of its cities and towns are situated within the proximity of a water sources such as river and sea.
How to overcome the declining issue?
Urban Regeneration? Placemaking? Waterfront Regeneration?
River, Water as opportunity?
To further study the issue, a site is selected
Limbang, Sarawak
Limbang is traditionally a home to Malay, Lun Bawang, Kedayan, Kelabit, Iban, Murut/Lun Bawang, Chinese and Orang Ulu people. Other Sarawakian ethnic groups do exist, especially Bidayuh and Melanau, who migrate from various parts of Sarawak. It has one of the highest concentration of Orang Ulu and Kedayan people.
Due to being so close to Brunei, the Malay dialect in Limbang Division is somehow distinct to other parts of Sarawak. It has more Kedayan, Brunei Malay and Sabah regional dialect influences to it. Currently, Limbang town has about 48,000 population.
This is where Limbang is
A small riverfront town in northern Sarawak
It is a unique place as compared to the other waterfront towns/ cities in Sarawak
It is located in between Brunei
Somehow make Limbang physically detached from other parts of Sarawak
Affected by Brunei's development
2020 Immigration fees and COVID 19's lockdown
"There is no rose without a thorn"
Due to Limbang unique geographical location it somehow close within the proximity of Sabah, Brunei, Labuan and even North Kalimantan of Indonesia
Limbang physically detached from other parts of Sarawak
Opportunity to become an exporter of its local food products
Since Limbang agriculture is strong and known as the rice bowl for the Brunei back in the old days
but HOW do we do it
its RIVER
By utilising what makes Limbang of what it is today
By using Limbang’s river and its blue link, it could become a GATEWAY to enter or exit a place
WHY export?
By utilising Limbang's river and its blue link, it opens a channel and connect to the other places more efficiently in terms of logistic and exports
Food products and business rely on just locals and Brunei’s customers is not sufficient
and most importantly is to further increase its demand rate by connecting to other places. (Centrepoint, Limbang)
HOW do we do it?
3Ws + 1H
WHAT happen?
Opportunities are surrounded Limbang but currently there’s lack of facilities to accommodate them. Not only that, poor connection such as logistic also dealt a serious blow to Limbang since it is located in between Brunei and require passport to enter or exit.
HOW to solve?
Rediscover, redevelopment these opportunities and turn it into some better. Utilize the current resources that Limbang is able to offer, that one that Limbang folks are familiar. Once achieved, it is then slowly moving forward, increase the demand. Once the demand level is achieved, other undeveloped area can now be develop.
First, further analyse the situation and issue by interview, site visit and questionnaire
SITE selection
Community engagement and involvement is key, thus Site 1 is suited for the criteria
Objective, Approach and Space Programming are formed
Design Generator | Osmosis
A process by which molecules of a solvent tend to pass through a semipermeable membrane from a less concentrated solution into a more concentrated one.
Design Generator | Osmosis
Translated into Architecture:
The semi permeable membrane represent architecture such as lift staircase, walkway or any medium that foster connection, link and connectivity.
Design Generator | Osmosis
Site Context input:
The architecture/ semi permeable becomes the water edge, a barrier for river and land.
Massing Development
Default Massing
Axis is formed
Massing formed with surrounding site analysis and traverse in between water and land
Default Massing
Design Approach | Indigenous Architecture
Indigenous architecture/ bioclimatic, local characters of Limbang and Sarawak.
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High roof profile
On stilts
Transparent roof covering with roof opening (some parts of the roof)
Humble
Local character
Use of local Limbang’s materials:
i)Timber
ii)Bamboo
iii)Bricks
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Design Outcome| Plan Elevation Section
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