Muar

a site analysis

Group : Ms. Teh

Chow Su Ling
Lim Peidi
Joy Ann Lim
Lee Shi Yin
Sarah Esa
Ting Xiao Yao
Yuen Xuan Hui
 14th History and Development
Century 14th century : Muar as riverine settlement

1880s

Fort

Muar Muar river Muar

1960s Muar was found by Parameswara during his escape from Temasik and
settled in Muar before he found Malacca. Muar then functioned as a
defense base due to its strategic location at the estuary.
1398
Majapahit colonization

1511
2000s-Present Portugal colonization

1641
Dutch colonization

1819
British colonization and the Temenggongs
(Source: Muar: Tributaries and transitions, pg8, 2011.)
 14th
Century
History and Development
1880s : Establishment of Bandar Maharani

1880s

MSR

Industry Shoplots

Tanjung
Muar river Bandar Maharani ( Town of empress)
Agas

1960s Muar was developed as an administration center then a trading

hub leading Muar as the 2nd largest town in Johor.

1881
Introduction of Kangchu 港主 system
- contribute to Muar economic development
- establishment of shoplots
2000s-Present
1990
Rapid development along riverfront
Kangchu system - a socio-economic
Muar
system developed by Chinese
agricultural settlers in Johor
(Source: Muar: Tributaries and transitions, pg8, 2011.)
 14th
Century
History and Development
1960s : Development of road system

1880s

Sultan Ismail bridge

Industry Shoplots

Tanjung
Agas
Muar river Bandar Maharani

1960s Sultan Ismail bridge was built leading to termination of ferry and
railway service while rapid development of road and
specifying color coding of district.
(Source: muarsecondbr-idge, revolvy, 2019)

1942
Second World War (the battle of Muar)
(Source: amw, the battle of Muar,2019)

2000s-Present
1970s
Beginning of Muar furniture industrialization due to increasing
participation in the industry
(Source: chapter 6, studentsepo.um,2019)

(Source: Muar: Tributaries and transitions, pg8, 2011.)

 14th
Century
History and Development
2000s – Present : Entitlement to Royal town of Johor

1880s

Industries

Tanjung Agas Muar river Bandar Maharani (Royal town of Johor)

1960s Muar has entitled as Royal town of Johor because it is rich in

history and tradition, besides being peaceful, beautiful and
progressive.
(Source: Sultsan ibrahim, ( new sultan of Johor)Modern Muar, welcome.historia,2018)

2000
Establishment of Muar second bridge to ease traffic congestion
(Source:Muar by-pass,evolvy.com 2019)
2000s-present
2018
Entitled as Furniture Capital of Malaysia 2018 and awarded as
Cleanest Tourist City in ASEAN region 2018 by ASEAN tourism
forum
(Source: muarfurniture.org, 2018, atfthailand, 2018)

(Source: Muar: Tributaries and transitions, pg8, 2011.)

 Demographics
Age groups

50.2% 49.8%
“ … Muar is known today as a town for retirees… local born youths ...
left work in Singapore, Melaka, Kuala Lumpur … job opportunities were
few and wages were stagnant…"
Syed Saddiq, Minister of Youth and Sports
(Source: PPBM: Why is Muar so backward? FMT news, 9.march, 2018.)

Age distribution of Bandar Maharani, Muar

 Demographics
Ethnic groups

Chinese Clans and Associations in Bandar Maharani

Ethnic group of Bandar

Maharani (2010)

45.3%
51.5%

Malays
Chinese
Indians
Other ethnics

Inactive clans due to

the absence of new
prospective leaders

Gradual lost
in cultural identity
(Source: Muar: Tributaries and transitions, pg136, 2011.)
 Demographics
influx of foreign workers

Workforce in Muar
Furniture manufacture industry

60%
Foreign 40%
Migrant Local
Worker

Tanjung
Agas
"…Muar needed to be repopulated by
Site locals to prevent it from turning into a
town for foreign workers happening
in Tanjung Emas …"
(Source: PPBM: Syed Saddiq,Why is Muar so
Muar backward? FMT news, 9.march, 2018.)
River

Bandar
Maharani

Cultural identity evolve Limited job

Furniture manufacture due to influence opportunity for
Other manufacture of foreign culture locals
Site Plan
 Site Requirements

Site Area:
1280sqm Site
Perimeter: 208200
Lot Area: 2220sqm

Site Perimeter Setback Fire Fighting Access

(Source: Manual Garis Panduan dan Piawaian Negeri Johor, pg. 2-4)
(Source: rehdainstitue.com; The UBBL Applications of Fire Safety Provisions)
 Jalan Maharani

Jalan Abdullah

Muar Bus Terminal Jalan Maharani Jalan Abdullah SJKC Chung Hwa
 Building Height
New Building
maximum height: 50ft
Roof profile: 30 degree slope

Conservation Shophouses
maximum height: 2 storeys

50ft (15240)

25ft (7620)

(Source: Laporan RKK Bandar Maharani Bandar Diraja, pg. 4.1-27

 District

Industrial

Town
(Inactive)
S

Muar River
Town
(Active)

Royal

Residential

Town (Active)
Town (Inactive)
Royal
Industrial
Residential
 Landuse

Muar
River

Commercial
Administrative
Education
Residential
Industrial
Religious
 Landuse

Muar River

Site

Residential
Food and Beverages
Religious
Services
Retail
Education
Vacant
 Landmark
Muar Bus Terminal

Sultan Ismail Bridge Café

434

Muar Clock Nan Hai Fei

S
Tower Lai Temple
Masjid Jamek Sultan
Ibrahim Muar Muar
Laman Maharani
Kastam

Bentayan Food Court

Great Mural

Dataran Tanjung
Cultural Walk
Emas Provide visual
4th Avenue Food Street cues to direct
users to site

Structural
Semantic
Muar River

Site

Edge
Path
Node
Landmark
 Sun Orientation

Sun orientation at 08.00 AM Shadow casting at 08.00 AM Sun exposure at five-foot walkway at
08.00 AM

Sun orientation at 12.00 PM Shadow casting at 12.00 PM Sun exposure at five-foot walkway at
12.00 PM

Sun orientation at 4.00 PM Shadow casting at 4.00 PM Sun exposure at five-foot walkway at
4.00 PM
Sun Orientation
Prevailing Wind
 Prevailing Wind

Muddy smell from Sungai Bentayan

may be brought into site by the wind
 Vegetation
Limited green open space

To implement green spaces in CIC

planned landscaping

To add green buffer

surrounding the site
Building Height
Dispersed Skyline

5-10 storeys
4 storeys
1–3 storeys
 Façade Study

Skyline
Jalan Maharani

Solid &
Void

Rhythm

Façade
Colours

Skyline
Jalan Abdullah

Solid &
Void
Rhythm

Façade
Colours

Skyline Solid & Void Rhythm Colours

Dynamic skyline with Decreasing permeability Consistent and Harmonized
prominent landmarks from ground floor to repetitive vertical colours
upper floors rhythm
 Façade Study
personalization

Jalan Maharani

Skyline

Solid &
Void

Rhythm

Façade
Colours

Provides emphasis Provides variety Breaks continuity Exaggerated scale

 Façade Study
personalization

Jalan Abdullah

Skyline

Solid &
Void

Rhythm

Façade
Colours

Breaks continuity Provides variety Exaggerated scale

 Scale & Proportion
along streets

Fisheries Department Bus Terminal Food Court

Jalan Maharani Large scale but consistent height

(fronting river)

Site Temple

Jalan Maharani
Intimate and modest scale
(fronting site)

Temple Site

Jalan Abdullah
(fronting site)
Increasing scale adjacent to site

Muara 99 Hotel

SJKC Chung Hwa

Rasa Sayang Restaurant
Jalan Abdullah
(fronting school)
Dramatic increase of scale
 Scale & Proportion
across streets

Intimacy Intimidating
human scale building height tall and large buildings

Bus Terminal Jalan Electronic Shop Back Jalan SJKC Chung Hwa
Bridal Shop
Alley 2B
Maharani Abdullah

Respectful Balance
low height despite large span low height on one side allow
space to be less claustrophobic
 Over-personalization
issue

How can the Cultural & Innovation Centre respect its

context by using the visual cues and building
language on site?
 Typology
by style

Jalan Maharani

Utalitarian (1920s) Chinese

- minimal Architecture
ornamentation - Religious
ornamentation

Art Deco (1930-1960)

Modern - Strong geometrical
Early Modern lines
(1950-1970) (1970-present)
- 5ft walkway without - Curtain wall
pillars facade

Jalan Abdullah

A Chaotic or Harmonized Assortment?

Variety of architecture styles indicates the development of the street and function of building. Despite
rich variety, some modern buildings contrast the traditional shophouse context.
Jalan Maharani

The materiality on site reflects the street’s character of rustic, old, traditional buildings with newer materials emerging
showing how the site has progressed over time.
Jalan Abdullah
Typology
by materiality & texture
 Typology
shophouse

Five-Foot Walkway On-Site Observation

Positive
Outdoor Space
Function as social
space

Privatization
of Outdoor Space
Obstruction on
pedestrian pathway

Negative
Outdoor Space
Presence of beggars
discourage pedestrian
Sheltered pedestrian Safety barrier for to passby
walkway pedestrian
 Typology
shophouse

Airwell On-Site Observation

Most airwell spaces are covered up using zinc

roofing or polycarbonate sheet due to
maintenance and weather issue.

A few remaining
shophouses have
retained the
airwell element.
provide light and servant space and
ventilation resting area for
male workers
 Displacement of Shophouse Elements
potential + issue

How can the Cultural & Innovation Centre adapt the shophouse
elements to preserve the architectural heritage of the site?
possible strategies

Shaded five-foot
walkway as a positive Shaded open
outdoor space to ground floor for
encourage interaction public space

Undervalued heritage
Adapt airwell
elements of pre-war element as
shophouses courtyards spaces
 Visual Clutter & Visual Barrier
issues
How can the Cultural & Innovation Centre have a visible and
active frontage to attract people into the building?
possible strategies

Obstruct view of facade

underground
car park

Creates unpleasant
view at back alley

permeable and
Blocks view of transparent openings
building entrance at frontage
 culture

" Shared attitudes, values, goals and social behavior of a

particular people or society "

"skills or charactetistic feature in lifestyle"

 Culture of Muar

Art

Architecture

Food
How Does The Culture & Innovation Centre
Contribute In Achieving A Coherent Culture
Among Communities?
 New
Lifestyle

Innovation
History Tradition Culture Art

Bringing
Back
Golden Days
 "Culture is no longer
fixed, it is essentially
fluid and constantly in
motion."

- Giovanni Antonio de Rossi -

 Precedent Study
( Context, Cultural & Spatial )
Regional

Singkawang Cultural Center

Indonesia
 Location
Located at Jalan Yos Sudarso, Singkawang, west Borneo, Indonesia.
Surrounded by commercial shops, known for food. Thus, the center act as a
connecting landmark and node along the street.

Singkawang
Cultural Center
 Singkawang's Culture

Pasar Hong Kong

Singkawang Multiculturalism of
Singkawang Pottery.

Traditional Art
Spatial Arrangement Shared Common Space
View toward Singkawang
Traditional Food Market
Singkawang Traditional
Food Market

View
Workshop and Gallery of fromWorkshop and
Gallery of
Singkawang pottery Singkawang pottery

View toward Art

Shop and Library

Art Shop
and
Library
 Innovation
Singkawang Red Brick

Innovation of traditional art into architecture

Bricks made by left-over of clay from ceramic and pottery workshop.

 Materiality
Singkawang Red Brick

Buffer from direct sunlight

Brick as a skin
to preserve the
authenticity of
the old cinema Allow ventilation
 Precedent Study
(Architecture Response)
International

Sant Sadurní d’Anoia Cultural Center and Archive Library

Spain
 Location
The historic building is located on a rectangular plot bounded by four street.
Original building had a U-shaped floor plan.

Original building

New building
Flamenco Music Dance Bullfights Fantastic Beaches Sunshine

Spanish Culture

Extraordinary Artistic Heritage

 Respectful Approach
main entrance

Main entrance of building is maintained at the entrance of the existing historic building to take
advantage of the main access road and to acknowledge the transition of the old to the new.
 Respectful Approach
setback

The new volume is placed in its back without touching the modernist building, which remains
as the main piece, free and singular.
 Respectful Approach
common courtyard space

Setback introduced creates internal courtyard space shared between the existing building and the new
building. Creating connection of spaces without direct contact to existing building.
 Respectful Approach
fenestrations

A precise rhythm of windows and doors surrounds the entire complex the rhythm of the windows
extending from the main façade. The scale of openings are maintained
 Respectful Approach
unified levels
Skyline

Land slope

Land slopes from the square on the western side to east. A stone base is built below the new
building which unifies skyline and ground level of both old and new buildings.
 Respectful Approach
unified levels
Skyline

Basement

Basement level is added to accommodate the function of the space while maintaining the
skyline of the existing building.
 References
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