ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN PROJECT

Environmental and Technology Report

Name: Firasat Mamun Mohammad

ID: 0306623
Tutor: Emmanuel Canlas
Site: Portuguese Settlement, Malacca

Table of Content
1.0 OUTLINE
1.1 Abstract/Introduction/Aim & objective

2.0 CONTEXTUAL STUDY

2.1
2.2
2.3
2.4

Site Introduction
Site History
Site issues
Urban Study

3.0 CONTEXTUAL STUDY

3.1 Micro Site Analysis
3.2 Site History
3.3 Precedents
3.4 Design Intention
3.5 Project Proposal
3.6 Site Response

4.0 BUILDING SCIENCE

4.1 Orientation
4.2 Sun
4.3 Ventilation

1.0 OUTLINE
1.1 Abstract/Introduction/Aim & objective
KRISTANG CENTRE OF ARTS AND CULTURE
The design proposal challenges to create an architectural position, arising from the political and residential environment. The development
of architectural position proposing a strategy in resolving the main social and cultural issues present in a possible UNESCO world heritage
site. The neglected community allows the scope of finding a solution to connecting a major user groups to outsiders (tourists) adjacent to
the residential area and seafront.
The project aims to explore the idea of sustaining humanitiesarchitecture for people, place and time, one key aspect of the design
project is to develop holistic and integrated aspects of technology, environment and cultural context in architectural design. To combine a
comprehension of the all encompassing nature of the architectural configuration procedure, to a given level of point of interest, with
accentuation on outline as an integrative procedure, drawing as proper on past subjects of the program.
The arts and cultural centre go hand in hand expressing the significance of the Kristang people. The integration of target user group to that
of the neighboring issues allow an extensive design process , the latter, encompasses a variety of programs within the design for users to
experience the rich culture of the Malaysian Portuguese.
From attending a cultural event at the multipurpose hall connected to an open amphitheater to having integrated class/art rooms to learn
the Kristang way or just join the music and dance studio to learn new ways for enthusiasts. Attending an exhibition (gallery space display)
to increase their knowledge and awareness for and accommodation for staff. The integration of permeable green vertical walls and water
body creates buffer zones for people to experience.

2.0 CONTEXTUAL STUDY

2.1 Introduction
Ujong Pasir, is well known by people as it houses the largest
Portuguese settlement in Malaysia. The site is located next to
the sea whereby it also houses a food court authenticating in
traditional Portuguese delicacy. The food is found here is like
no other place as the staff usually will do their own fishing into
the sea and cook them to serve the customers/guests. The
place is also well known for the Portuguese square whereby a
lot of major traditional events take place. Uniting the entire
residential community, tourists and locals. The seafront
location of the site gives a great advantage to views and sea
breeze. There is quite a lot of movement of people through
the site during peak hours and events. On the contrary, it is
very nullified by the time is midnight as the location is quite
inside after the residential area.

2.2 Site History

The Portuguese Settlement is a Kristang community located
in Ujong Pasir, about five km from the central hub of
Malacca.
The Kristang are a Malaysian ethnic group with mixed usually
mixed between Portuguese and Malay and sometimes with
Chinese or Indians respectively. The area was bought off in
1933 to house the scattered Portuguese people living in
Malacca and turned into a small self sustained fishing village.
The swampy land was cleared and 10 wooden houses with
earth floors and attap roofs were built. It was called Saint
John's village, as that simple fishing village was originally
known, soon attracted additional Kristang from all over
Malaysia, and grew to become one of Malacca's main tourist
attractions, improving the standard of living of its villagers.
In the same way as other Portuguese-talking groups the world
over, the Portuguese Settlement holds an annual "June
celebration" that opens with Senjuang Festival and San
Pedro Festival. The celebration draws in around 100,000 guests
from Malaysia and abroad . At the celebration one can hear
Kristang people melodies and watch dancers in bright
traditional costumes perform to the beat of Branyu music. A
vital occasion in the celebration is the blessing of the
neighborhood fishermen boats, extraordinarily beautified for
the event to hope for a good catch for the upcoming year.

Key plan

2.0 CONTEXTUAL STUDY

2.3 Site issues
Issue 1 : The site considered to be under reclaimed land,
hence it has been zoned as a commercial district with 1:6
plot ratio. There is future development proposal set in 2007
which consists of huge structures extending into the sea. This
development is already in motion and has affected the
fishing community to great extents.

SITE

BEFORE

PRESENTLY

FUTURE
DEVELOPMENT

Issue 2 : The site is completely barren and is currently used as

a parking lot for Portuguese seafood and Limkokwing
students. Therefore it is very prone to sunlight and heat.
There is also the fact that this parking lot will be lost when a
structure is built in this location.

Issue 3 : There a lack of sign age to the Portuguese

settlement which makes it very hard to access.
Issue 4 : The presence of narrow roads makes it hard of
pedestrian to walk around freely as there are no proper
pedestrian walkways.

2.0 CONTEXTUAL STUDY

2.4 Urban Studies

District zoning &

landmarks

Landmarks
Landmarks play a crucial role in the Portuguese settlement.
The peripherals of the site are surrounded by landmarks and
the negative space created in between forms the site.

Limkokwing University

Convent school

Districts
Landmarks play a crucial role in the Portuguese settlement.
The peripherals of the site are surrounded by landmarks and
the negative space created in between forms the site.

Soft and Hardscapes

The nearby locations of the site hardly have any extensive
vegetation. Most of the vegetation planted are for
landscaping purposes

Temasek Hotel

Portuguese square

Food court

3.0 DESIGN & SOCIAL IMPACT

3.1 Micro Site Analysis
Accessibility

There one major road that connects straight into the site
while the others run perpendicularly both ways from the
spine into the residential houses.
Major pedestrian movements mostly are highlighted in red
while the minor movements in blue

Sun analysis

Throughout the year the site is mostly exposed to the sunlight

3.0 DESIGN & SOCIAL IMPACT

3.1 Micro Site Analysis
Wind flow

Throughout the year the site is mostly exposed to the sunlight

Human density

The darkest colour denotes the highest density and the

lightest colour, the vice versa at any given time

3.0 DESIGN & SOCIAL IMPACT

3.2 Precedent Study
SEKEPING SERENDAH
ARCHITECT: SEKSAN DESIGN
LOCATION: SERENDAH, MALAYSIA
Sekeping Serendah, is a retreat away from the bustling city
incorporates typical vernacular designs and strategies.
Some of which is in a hybrid manner further enhancing the
traditional methods of ventilation with the help modern
materials and design. The complexities and incorporation of
stills and an abundance of openings to the surroundings.
Since it is located in Malaysia, the building caters for hot and
tropical weather of this place. The extra long roof overhangs
help in sun shading and rain.

PLASSEN CULTURAL CENTRE

ARCHITECT: 3XN ARCHITECTS
LOCATION: MOLDE, NORWAY
The building hosts a cultural centre whereby people are
able to enjoy the cultural events happening at different
times of the year. The building boasts a lot of open spaces
and the design approach incorporates of pedestrian
accessibility going hand in and with visual connectivity.

3.0 DESIGN & SOCIAL IMPACT

3.3 Design Intention
The intention of design is to create a UNESCO building that preserves the Kristang culture and provides a source of learning and
practicing traditional Kristang ways of art/music. The major user group targeted are the local community and tourists that could be
integrated together in a mixed environment.

3.0 DESIGN & SOCIAL IMPACT

3.4 Project Proposal
The project incites the preservation of a deteriorating culture
significant to the Malaysian history. It was the Portuguese
colonization that promoted the trade between other countries and
Malaysia, hence the Kristang minority is almost losing the tradition
as most youth are getting scattered to other outstations and
forgetting the unique culture that they have. The government do
not help promote the culture as much as required and hence the
neglecting fact has become an issue that could be solved by
designing a Cultural and Art Centre.

Building Lot Area

1574m2
Building Type
Centre for Art and Culture
Target User Group
Local community
Tourists
Public (Artists, Organization)
Client
UNESCO

3.0 DESIGN & SOCIAL IMPACT

3.5 Site Response
Using visual axis and permeability based on human movement

Climatic

Visual Axis

Union of spaces

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4.0 Building Science/Environmental strategies

4.1 Orientation

Decembe
r

7 am

1 pm

7pm

7 am

1 pm

7pm

March

July

7 am

1 pm

7pm

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4.0 Building Science/Environmental strategies

4.2 Sun and Ventilation

Sectional perspective showing sunlight and wind

flow.

Section showing sunlight entry points.

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4.0 Building Science/Environmental strategies

4.2 Sun and Ventilation

Ground Floor Plan

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4.0 Building Science/Environmental strategies

4.3 Environmental Strategies
1) The incorporation of permeable green vertical walls on
half of the fire staircase acts as a passive strategy to cool
the big structures and allow ventilation to happen
naturally through the fire escapes.
They also act as buffers as both the walls are facing
towards the east and west side of the building reducing
the thermal heat of the structure.
The additional cleaner air to the design helps in a
healthier environment for the users to feel comfortable
within the vicinity

2) There is a usage of recycled rustic bricks in different

spaces for walls that increases the aesthetic value of the
building, These bricks are cheaper to buy the traditional
masonry bricks.
The carbon emission levels is greatly minimized due to the
usage of recycled materials in places like wall. This usually
lowers the overall embodied energy carried out in a
process.

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