In adapt p2 report
Transcript of In adapt p2 report
I N A D A P T A T I O N | T H I N C I T I E S
Kampung Baru started as a Malay agricultural settlement by British in 1900. Agricultural activities are carried out by
the Malays. They have been living from that time until now. After years of settlement, the place was converted from
agricultural to residential. According to the first census which was done in 1928, there were 544 houses and 2,600
villagers in Kampung Baru. Until now, Kampung Baru is still maintain ing their village living style.
I N A D A P T A T I O N | T H I N C I T I E S
CALVINO’S PERSPECTIVE
Thin cities
Italo Calvino represented the
human’s mental fragility through
physical characteristics of the city
the people inhabits. For instance,
every thin cities shows a certain
form of weakness in mind thinking
where the people are usually getting
used to living with inferno. With tall
thin structures that supports huge
big buildings and small lines or
ropes that are hanging their homes
and houses, they put their lives on
uncertain structures. Through his
perspective, we should be able to
find weakness and issues of the
place by looking into buildings and
surrounding that reflects the
people’s mind.
I N A D A P T A T I O N | T H I N C I T I E S
DEVELOPMENT
‘One of the half-cities is permanent, the other
is temporary, and when the period of its
sojourn is over, they uproot it, dismantle it……’
Calvino divides Sophronia City into two, half of
the city that made up of functional structure is
constantly changing, and the other half that
resembles fantasy land remains permanent.
He sees the city in two aspects, the reality
(bank, factories, school, etc) and the
imaginary (ferris wheel, trapezes, carousels,
etc). The reality is undergoing the rapid
development hence it keeps on changing, in
the end the only thing that remains constant is
the people’s imagination.
Located next to the busy commercial area of
Kuala Lumpur, the simplicity of Kampung Baru
creates huge contrast in various aspects, the
city skyline, the traffic, the development etc.
Due to its location being next to the city
centre, the rustic village is experiencing
threats from development. In fact, there are
several projects such as the Kampung Baru
City Centre (KBCC) being planned currently
that would bring drastic changes to the village.
In years, there would be towers in the village
as modernity taking over heritage.
I N A D A P T A T I O N | T H I N C I T I E S
CULTURE
‘No one remembers what need or command or
desire drove Zenobia’s founders to give their
city this form, and so there is no telling
whether it was satisfied by the city we see it
today. ‘ - Italo Calvino
“The Kampung baru has seven villages and
each has a distinct character in line with the
ancestral roots of the villagers. Minangkabau,
Javanese, Rawa and Malaccan descendants.
The different villages have their own identities
and unique architecture, way of life, traditions
and beliefs. In the past, the children were told
not to mix with each other and inter-village
marriages were frowned upon as the seniors
wanted to preserve their identity. Now, the
tradition is quite lost.”- Yip Yoke Teng, 2014
The history and culture is the one that gives
the form of the Kampung Baru. Kampung Baru
is considered as a heritage for malay culture.
However, comparing to have vernacular malay
house all around the village, new modern
houses can be seen in the Kampung Baru.
From the surface, the new generations
already living a modern lifestyle and not
maintaining the old culture and tradition of
the place. Although they are still inhabiting
the place, their cultural value is slowly loss
through time. Kampung Baru that is located in Kuala Lumpur, the villagers are slowly adapting a
modern living style. Even if they maintain the malay house, they have already lost their cultural
identity and culture essence.
I N A D A P T A T I O N | T H I N C I T I E S
LIVING
“Isaura, city of the thousand wells, is said to
rise over a deep, subterranean lake. On all
sides, wherever the inhabitants dig long
vertical holes in the ground, they succeed in
drawing up water, as far as the city extends,
and no father.” - Italo Calvino
Kampung Baru, located in the metropolis
Kuala Lumpur, the cost of living can be
considered as highest in Malaysia. However, in
Kampung Baru, the villagers don’t usually have
occupations with average to high income.
Mostly of the villagers are hawkers that sell
cheap food in front of their home. Some of
the villagers can hardly support for their cost
of living. This problem will worsen at times
where the developments of KL are still going
on. However, the villagers are usually keen to
stay in Kampung Baru. They have no money to
start a new life outside Kampung Baru. They
are also feeling attached to the place because
the other parts of KL are mostly concrete
jungle that is very different from their village
living style. They are not suitable to live
outside Kampung Baru but the surrounded by
it, the villagers are nowhere to go and no ways
to survive.
I N A D A P T A T I O N | T H I N C I T I E S
SAFETY ‘This is the foundation of the city: a net which
serves as passage and as support….Suspended
over the abyss, the life of Octavia's inhabitants
is less uncertain than in other cities. They
know the net will last only so long.’ - Italo
Calvino
Walking through Kampung Baru, different types of houses can be seen. Most of the houses are similar with the first picture shown, which is made of by various material such as zinc and wood. The improper way of construction greatly affects safety of inhabitants. Most of the houses in Kampung Baru do not
have gate which allow people to go into the
compound easily. However, villagers are
insensitive about the danger that can be
caused by this issue.
I N A D A P T A T I O N | T H I N C I T I E S
LIST OF ISSUES
Issue 1 – Lim Chin Yi:
Development of Kampung Baru post threats to
the traditional Malay settlement as they could
be demolished in the future.
Issue 2 – Lau Wei Ling: The people in Kampung Baru are living a fragile life when living in the village is getting harder as time goes. Issue 3 – Lai Chi Mun:
Aware of their unsafe condition, people in kampung baru could not improve the enviroment of the village due to lack of resources.
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