Tales of Three Cities

Project 1 Ideas and Theories in Urbanism

Kuching Waterfront
Development Project

Andrew Law Zi Hang

Benjamin Cheng
Bridget Victoria Tan
Chan Jia Xin
Chok Jia Jun
Evelyn Lai Kah Ying
Lee Hui Qin
Saw Hwei Ying
Sharon Lim Yu Jung
Visagan Arudselvan

0322690
0323336
0318370
0319565
0323117
0322732
0322991
0318093
0313377
0313710

MORPHOLOGICAL STUDIES

1890

River act as a stronghold for political

administration, a symbol of power due to its
advantages
for transportation and military affairs, mostly
occupied by the British Colony.

Astana

Fort Margherita

Sg. Gartak

It act as a natural edge. The riverfront

undergone primary urban planning as
compared to other area, with nodes forming at
the junction that framed views towards the
Astana and Fort Margherita.

1917

Sg. Gartak

Chinese
Community
Zone with
Chinese
temple &
museum
Sg. Gartak shrunk as a result of accumulated
sand banks for commercial purposes, suggesting
growing supplies industry.
Development started to reach inland for the
people with civic buildings built, suggesting the
rulers intention of putting the people at the latter.
The Chinese merchants got a slice of the
waterfront due to their affluence.

1930

Waterfront undergone extensions, with

docks and wharf built, showing the growing
seafaring activities.
With the introduction of the first railway at
the once Sg Gartak, it boosted the
development of road inland.

Commercial

Civic

Colonial Administrative
Road

Open air markets from the locals started to

pepper at the Eastern front along the main
road after the Western front had reached
saturation.

1960s -2000s

When saturation is met and dependence of river shrinks

due to the invention of automobile, city expands towards
inland.
Pedestrian walkability improved to boost riverfronts
past significance by constructing promenades.

Commercial

Civic

Colonial Administrative
Road

1890

1917

1930

1960-2000s

River as a natural edge that separated the two banks, resulting differed development pace and genre.

Major Urban Planning Improvement

1989
United Consultant (Kuching) & Conybeare Morrison & Partners

1. Open corridors to the river

1.

Once get rid of the dirt and truck traffic that deteriorated the
waterfront, the agenda starts with the idea of linking Main Bazaar to
the water and views across it. The waterfront had been dominated by
the colonial
occupants for centuries, thus it is now to be accessible for the people
after independence.

2. Vibrant Shopping Street and Shop Houses

2.

Next is to provide a mix of facilities along the waterfront that would

appeal to both local and international visitors, and establish a specific
local sense of place, whereby all races come together as united.
Mainly around Little India and Carpenter Street.

3. Preserve Historical Landmarks

Connecting the Banks

3.

To preserve the historic elements in the area to be 'Kuching

in character'. In order to make user to appreciate the
historical value witnessed by the city, promenades that flow
along
the front is constructed, so that strollers can enjoy the
entire stretch of Historical Kuching.

Summary
To conclude, the first development project induced good impacts by fulfilling the agendas of opening the
water corridor, creating vibrant shopping street and preserving historical landmarks.

2013
New Kuching Waterfront Extension Project
IBRACO Berhad

RETAILS

FESTIVAL &
CULTURAL HUB

OFFICES

RESIDENTIAL
CONDOMINIUMS

CIVIC SPACES
CIVIC SPACES

NEW STREET AND PROMENADES

The new master plan aims to revitalize the activeness of Kuching waterfront in terms of economy,
entertainment, tourism, cultural & social activity in a mix-used planning. The agenda includes:
- To capture heart of young people for them to live and work within the vicinity
- New growth while historical sites and buildings remain intact
- Open-air civic square for general public leisure, gathering and events
- Office park that houses both local & expatriate firms
- Exclusive waterfront residential development with jetty, riverfront pedestrian mall, high-rise
serviced apartments, Open-air promenade, Semi-enclosed public walk, Festive tourist &
entertainment hub built to promote cultural state performance

Connectivity to the citys structure and within the neighborhood is improved by means of :
- Improvement of public access and traffic linkage to waterfront area
- New Esplanade road of 600m dual carriageway
- Additional car parks
- Upgrading and landscaping the current roads

Golden Bridge

1.
Connecting the Banks
Increased permeability of the region, whereby it is
more accessible and less hierarchical division

Function

Mixed function
It acts as a connection
between two banks and
recreation area
simultaneously.
To encourage the
integration between
communities in the North
and South of the city
where the North is more
engaged in recreational
activities and Malay
Kampung settlements
while South of the city is
more of bustling
commercial aspect, the
bridge acts as a linkage,
to retain a more balanced
environment that offers
choices to the locals and
visitors.

Since south bank is facing traffic congestion issue, the bridge encourages the people to traverse across
the banks by walking with improved walkability. By providing an alternative route towards the south bank
other than solely depending on Tun Salehuddin Bridge that is located at far eastern end, the hierarchy
is reduced. Since the development of both banks are imbalance, Golden Bridge acts as a medium to
harmonize the urban density.

Public Realm is provided at the two nodes of the

extended piazza, offering 360 degree of the
waterfront vista. People can define the function
of the open spaces themselves which
encouraged
personalization of space.

Form

Linear.
Intimate pedestrian experience. The S-shaped pedestrian Golden Gate Bridge claims to
explore new experience along the journey of waterfront by takes form in a sinuous ribbon,
forming two
observation decks that offer a 360 degree views of the site, taking full advantages of its elevated
height. Instead of a straight linear typology, the curvature offers richness in both visual and
physical experience for a pedestrian.

Movement Pattern

The Golden Gate Bridge

provide linear pedestrian
movement. This will ease the
traffic
flow of the congested Tun
Sambathan Bridge and also
Jalan Gambier when
connectivity and
permeability is increased.

Connectivity to the citys structure and neighbourhood.

Main Street System

In relation to the main street, Jalan Gambir, the New walkway increases the permeability towards the North
bank, well linked to the existing street typology.

Connectivity to the citys structure and neighbourhood.

Immediate Local Surrounding

The bridge offers new linkages to the north banks neighbourhood, welcomed by the DUN building, along with
increased visual connectivity between the river and the local surrounding.

Sub-Conclusion
By connecting the banks, the gaps between both sides can be narrowed and
further provide an optimal platform for the next idea which we are going to discuss
later, which is Revitalizing the Waterfront to begin. With improved interaction
between, both sides of the lands are rejuvenated.

2.
Revitalizing Sarawaks Waterfront
Revives the vicinity with a new gush of pulsating active
lifestyle, by increasing the variety, which means the wide
range of choices to accommodate different people,
purpose, activities within different time.

Function

Mixed function
Programs in the Live, Work, Play
idea can be fulfilled within this stretch
of
land, due to its high variety. Thus,
human flow can be attained at this
area, constantly thrusting the vicinity
with active human interaction from
morning till night, leaving no space for
dead
zones when the nights fall in a heavily
zoned city, further increasing its
robustness.

With the pedestrian walkway built in between the towers, it offers a gradient between public
and private, which also act as a buffer zone whereby urban voids can be introduced.

private

semi-
public

public

semi-
public

private

Form

RETAILS

OFFICES

RESIDENTIAL
CONDOMINIUMS

Isolated objects, less interactive with surrounding context due to its confined private and public
activities within its volume. Further enhanced by its high density and height, the connectivity of point
form
typology can easily get disconnected.

CIVIC SPACES

FESTIVAL &
CULTURAL HUB

CIVIC SPACES

Court perimeter. Embrace the site context according to building mass, encouraging communal
activities that can be opens to the public.

Movement Pattern

Pedestrian movement
Mixed pedestrian and vehicular pattern

Vehicular movement
Mixed pedestrian and vehicular pattern

Pedestrian

Vehicles

Pedestrian

In Mixed movement pattern, the authority claims to increase the perforation of urban void into the
project, whereby pedestrian walkways become a buffer zone between public and private, aiding in
the gradation of the scheme. But in our opinion, this scheme is yet to be localized to our Malaysian
context.

Connectivity to the citys structure and neighbourhood.

Main Street System

Secondary by-pass

Primary Jalan Tuanku

Abdul Rahman

Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman

The connection with the main street system (Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman) is well connected and provided
a by-pass path which can divert the main traffic congestion well.

Connectivity to the citys structure and neighbourhood.

Immediate Local Surrounding

The new road system introduced new linkages which the main street do not reach as far as before. The nodes
helps in linking the site to its immediate surrounding fabrics, besides opening up the permeability towards the
shore.

Sub-Conclusion
By having mix-used development, revitalization of the waterfront is greatly enhanced
through variations that address the demands of different people, purpose, activities
throughout the day and night. Due to the short distance between all destinations, ranging
from retail, commercial, cultural, residential and etc., human flow can be constantly
retained.

3.
Weaving the Past and Present
Respecting the legibility of trails left by the ancestors while retaining
robustness to meet todays needs

Function

Mixed function hub (macro scale)

As the eastern waterfront is carefully preserved, untouched and the new hub is speaking of a new language to
regenerate a new era at the eastern part.

The old shop houses at the surrounding are preserved, the inland streetscape is kept at its origin. Modernization set
against
pastoral colonial taste of Brooke era without disrupting the concord of the ensemble, a swish transformation to bring a
spectacle of the 21st century urban up-to-the-minute living whilst retaining Sarawak's most leading sites of historical relics
and its rich cultural heritage.

Mixed function hub (micro scale)

The Mixed function is carried smoothly as a gradation from the old shop houses, whereby all kinds
of
mixed programs are integrated into a single built form.

Form

Enclosure typology

Old landmark: Courthouse

New landmark: Cultural Hub

Landmarks significance are relevantly used as focal nodes, with street alignments well position towards and make the most positive use of
them, both in the old, which is well preserved and the new, which is well oriented.

Linear typology

The past horizontal linear typology is preserved, whereas contemporary linear typology is extended vertically at the new hub,
suggesting an adaptation of the new towards the old. Conventionally, linear typology create a public font and private rear, but in this
new planning, the limitations are overcame by extruding the linearity and inserting interstitial spaces which pulls patrons to come
from
all direction.

Movement Pattern

Mixed Pedestrian & Vehicular

Without changing the existing road, the new development phase infused new road system that dissolved the cul-de-sacs
which abruptly ended, opening more permeability to the riverfront for the traffic.

Sub-Conclusion
With the respect towards the current fabric laid by the ancestors and adaptation towards
presence demand, the masterplan answered the latter more proficiently rather than the
prior statement. Although all of the buildings are preserved, but due to certain high-rise
project, some of the view towards the river is greatly obstructed, reserving the vista only
for the residences or patrons.

Criticism

Gentrification
The buying and renovation of homes and stores in deteriorated urban neighbourhoods or individuals,
thus improving property values but often displacing low income families and small businesses.
As the term gentrification is explained above, we can conclude that IBRACO BERHADs development
proposal is blatantly a privatization of the Sarawak river.
Despite having claimed to have plans to revitalize the city, the development only yearns to get profit
by attracting new communities into the area rather than to provide a public space for the local
community to use.
With its linear arrangement in the plan proposal, we can also observe that the developer intends to
keep the stretch of Sarawak river to themselves, rather than creating a space the entire community
could share. Its bold proposal of development obviously did not take the local community into much
consideration.

The project involves massive land reclamation along the Sarawak River disrupt natural resources.
Reduced visual permeability - views towards Sarawak river are restricted new high-rise development
becomes a barrier to visual richness.

The rejuvenation and regenerated new Kuching Waterfront will inevitably transform the City of Kuching
to become a world-class tourist attraction with its riverbank transformation into a vibrant and modern
development and ultimately a business district -yet the cultural and historical importance of the area
are forsaken
The heritage region is disconnected from the river with the development becoming the dividing factor

Demolition of cultural sphere the state governments move to evict the 27-year old Petanak Market
(only market in the Kuching City) to facilitate the waterfront extension project, forcing hawkers to budge
Unrestrained approach to gentrification of the development might lead to issues like:
1. Increase in land value
2. Increase in crime rate
3. Unemployment

Solution

The design could be broken down into smaller typologies or fractions. This would create permeability in
that space so that the entire Kuching waterfront could be enjoyed by all. Permeability of space grants
access to everybody, physically or visually.

Depth

Access

Height

- Design according to the needs of the community robustness: building depth, access and height
that does not affect the existing community, views and functions
- Controlled gentrification
- Design with consideration of the cultural and historical context
- Development of the country should not only benefit the people with connection, but also the people
on the streets, including the hawkers. The existing Petanak market can co-exist with the project just
like in big cities like in Singapore to serve the surrounding population. What is important is that it
must not disrupt the livelihood of the hawkers.

Conclusion
To conclude the criticism, although the development enhances the social
and economic status of all communities in Sarawak, it inevitably brings
about an increase in land value as well as neglect to the historical and
heritage context.
However, these aspects can be solved by prioritising the placemaking
approach. Placemaking facilitates creative patterns of use by paying
particular attention to the physical, cultural, and social identities that define
a place and support its ongoing evolution. It capitalises on a local
communitys assets, inspiration, and potential, with the intention of creating
public spaces that contributes to peoples health, happiness, and well being.
The development should also be more focused into localisation instead of
globalisation, as its intention is to ultimately give back to the people.

References
Ibraco. (2015). New Kuching Waterfront. Retrieved Sept 18, from
http://www.ibraco.com.my/wp/?page_id=337
Johnson K Saai (2013, August 21). Golden Bridge catalyst to closer interaction between both parts of city.
Retrieved Sept 18, from http://www.theborneopost.com/2013/08/21/golden-bridge-catalyst-to-closer-interactionbetween-both-parts-of-city-says-taib/
Nigel Edgar (2013, August 13). The Golden Bridge Kuching: next icon of harmony. Retrieved Sept 18, from
http://www.thestar.com.my/news/community/2013/08/21/the-golden-bridge-hopes-to-further-unify-communitiesof-citys-north-and-south/
Northen Architecture. (2016, May 15). Kuching Waterfront Sarawak Malaysia A Waterfront Park As A Catalyst
for Urban Redevelopment 1989 from
http://www.northernarchitecture.us/urban-design-3/kuching-waterfront-sarawak-malaysia-a-waterfront-park-asa-catalyst-for-urban-redevelopment-198993.html
Tuah, Yvonne. (2014, June 26). Revitalising Sarawaks Waterfront. Retrieved Sept 18, from
http://www.theborneopost.com/2014/07/26/revitalising-sarawaks-waterfronts/