Wooi Seng Yew Kang Shon Ong Lu Sun Law
MALAYSIA
We derive Vernacular architecture as a system that built at this particular time of technology and knowledge in term of materials and construction methodology. It should be a system that can support the current lifestyle and need. It is also a system that can detect and respond to environmental changes. However, this system must preserve our heritage and culture value through time. We selected a fisherman village, Pontian in Johor, Malaysia that went through a glory time in 1800s and slowly obsolete by society. The village is unable to cater the new generation needs, leaving the elderly guarding the village to withhold its value and legacy. The challenge of this proposal is to revitalize the village through revamping the master planning and re-programming the space that able to adapt to the environment changes and attract the younger generation. Finally, attract external investment to strengthen the village economy. We re-engineer the overall master planning, turning it into an administrable system. This system allows the building to have a flexible configuration, cater for a different function in the village and the needs of the individual family. The new system acts as a safety plan to the village as well where it is convenient for monitoring and responding action. The decks' levels are adjustable according to water level and building can be detached for self-rescue forming a communication centre during the disaster. We upgraded the building but maintaining its vernacular elements by introducing durable materials and new construction methodology. We equipped them with solar panels to generate power for the village. The amplification of the village improves the lifestyle and provides better safety to the villagers thus allow the character and culture in the village to be continued for generations.