Vessel of Memory: Spatializing Everyday Resilience through Cultural Architecture | Architecture Thesis

Site Context

Kampung Sembulan, once a thriving stilt-house settlement along the coast of Kota Kinabalu, now faces ongoing challenges of displacement and transformation. Over the years, the area has undergone significant changes due to urban redevelopment projects, with many traditional wooden houses being demolished to make way for modern infrastructure. Residents, many of whom belong to long-standing communities with deep cultural roots, have been relocated, often losing not only their homes but also their connection to the sea and their way of life. While some parts of Sembulan have been redeveloped into commercial and residential complexes, other pockets remain in a state of transition, reflecting a tension between preserving heritage and pursuing urban growth.

In recent years, development pressures in Sembulan Tengah have intensified, with discussions of redevelopment moving from planning stages to active implementation. While the area has long been identified for urban renewal due to its coastal location and proximity to the city center, these plans have increasingly translated into concrete actions. Over the past year, residents have received official notices of demolition and relocation, signaling the imminent removal of remaining stilt houses and informal structures. This ongoing process has disrupted established community networks, severed residents’ connection to their historic environment, and accelerated the loss of everyday spaces that support informal learning, social interaction, and collective memory. The urgency of these changes underscores the need for architectural interventions that can both respond to displacement and provide a framework for preserving the social and cultural memory of the community.

Design Process

Massing exploration began with identifying the most suitable location for the vertical element within the site. Based on site conditions, the south-eastern corner was determined to be the most appropriate placement for the tower. This position maximizes visual connections toward the water village while avoiding obstruction of the main site entrance and primary circulation routes. As a result, the tower functions as a spatial marker without compromising accessibility or permeability across the site.

The initial stage of schematic massing development was derived from the massing study shown on the left (refer to image above). From this base form, the blocks were progressively refined, broken down, and articulated in response to the programmatic requirement and spatial planning considerations.

Final Outcome

The schematic proposal was then further developed in the final half of the thesis year. The blocks were shifted, tilted, and broken down to be refined to site conditions, human scale, optimized views, and enhanced social and spatial interactions within the community. The final massing was refined to articulate programmatic hierarchy, frame key sightlines, and create flexible communal spaces. 

Materiality was introduced at this stage, with exposed concrete, timber, brick cladding, and corrugated roofs carefully selected to reflect kampung elements, evoke memory, and reinforce the character of the architecture.

The programs were reoriented to focus on grounding, life-skill-based activities. For example, the tuition spaces were transformed into pottery and stitching areas, targeting skills and creative practices not typically offered in schools.

Similarly, the adult block shifted from generic community spaces to more purposeful functions, such as repair workshops and a second-hand store, providing practical skills and access to essential resources for the residents.

Conclusion: Ultimately, The Vessel of Memory frames architecture as continuity rather than preservation. Responding to displacement in Kampung Sembulan, it transforms everyday gestures into shared spaces of learning, care, and resilience.

[This Academic Project has been published with text and images submitted by the student]