Mosaic of Tenacity: A Systematic Approach to Create Adaptable & Resilient Urban Form at Sentul, Malaysia | Architecture Thesis

Site Context

Sentul has been chosen as the thesis site because of its unique characteristics that align with the study’s exploration of spontaneity and continuity in urban form. Sentul’s existing layout lacks spontaneity in its design and a coherent urban structure. This offers an ideal context to explore the “Networked Fragmentary Solidarity” strategies that have been proposed.

Sentul is surrounded by a variety of urban zones, including religious, educational, commercial, and medical facilities, which promote the potential of organic social interactions. The site’s rough, contextual environment provides opportunities to integrate the fragmented architectural qualities identified in the thesis, allowing for fewer constraints on architectural experimentation.

The underdeveloped social infrastructure and a blend of informal and structured elements in Sentul accentuate the fragmentation challenges that the thesis seeks to address. The proximity of various facilities offers an ideal setting to test the potential of the proposed prototypes to promote social interactions, increase connectivity, and improve spatial continuity.

Through the development of strategies pertaining to decentralised spatial programs, permeable circulation, and multifunctional boundaries, the site turns into a living laboratory that facilitates the transformation of fragmented urban environments into cohesive, resilient spaces that foster spontaneity and continuity.

Design Process

This thesis explores networked fragmentation in urban spaces and different forms of solidarity. It examines how the values of spontaneity and continuity in social functionality can be drawn from three architectural examples: Tu Lou, for its resilience despite its outdated purpose; Shi Ku Men, noted for fostering interactions along linear streets; and Kampong Ayer, highlighting organic growth and decentralized community dynamics. These case studies aim to uncover key values that support social spontaneity and continuity in communal spaces.

The analysis focuses on the role of voids as multifunctional spaces for active and passive use, the formation of unit clusters through void hierarchies, the influence of common space hierarchy on structure, blending horizontal and vertical boundaries to promote interaction, the effect of entry points and facility placement on communal gathering, and the key traits that enable decentralization and organic growth in master plans.

Upon analyzing the 3 distinctive architectural exemplars (Tu Lou), (Shi Ku Men), and Brunei’s Kampong Ayer, it is notable that there are 6 architectural qualities that contribute to a networked-fragmentary solidarity.

By the end of this extraction process, a key question arises: what types of architectural and urban forms can effectively embody and implement these identified architectural qualities?

Prototyping is a fast-paced, dynamic exercise in creating architectural and urban forms using design systems like twisting, torsion, staggering, interlocking, randomizing, and organism. It aims to explore how these systems shape built forms and assess which architectural qualities each prototype achieves. Due to the experimental nature, not all prototypes will embody every quality; some may align with a few, others with one, while some may fail, offering valuable insights for further study.

The extracted values were then integrated into the prototyping design phase, leading to the development of six distinct master plan prototypes and 29 architectural and urban form prototypes. Each prototype was characterized by varying degrees of spontaneity and continuity, tailored to meet specific site criteria.

Four architectural strategies were identified as embodying deep layers of spontaneity and continuity: (01) shifting of horizontal and vertical alignments (02) decentralized spatial programs (03) permeable, maze-like configurations (04) tiers and terraces with multifunctional or blurred spatial boundaries.

These strategies provide tangible guidelines for the prototyping of architectural and urban forms, applicable across both micro and macro scales.

The final phase includes these prototypes into a master plan specifically designed for Sentul, the selected site, which is known for its organic, diverse layout. The result of this iterative process is a design that blends spatial boundaries to promote social interaction and adaptability within urban forms, with the goal of fostering networked-fragmentary solidarity.

Final Outcome

The final design is composed of two fundamental modules—one small and the other large—both of which are thoughtfully designed to adapt to the unique characteristics of the Sentul site. This location was chosen specifically for its naturally organic and rugged layout, as well as the diversity of adjacent zones that surround it. These factors significantly influenced the masterplan, which integrates decentralized programs, staggered alignments, and intentionally blurred spatial boundaries to cultivate a social atmosphere that feels both fluid and spontaneous.

By utilizing these flexible modules, the design creates a series of interconnected clusters that foster natural interactions among a wide range of social groups. The adaptable nature of these spaces encourages diverse forms of engagement, enhancing the potential for community-building in a way that is responsive to the environment. Additionally, the permeable circulation paths that weave throughout the space are strategically designed to promote free exploration, allowing people to navigate seamlessly from one area to another, enhancing the overall sense of openness and ease of movement within the room.

Conclusion: Ultimately, this design proposes an urban form that is adaptable and resilient, embracing both continuity and spontaneity. This will allow for deeper social interactions and create a cohesive yet fragmented community inside the living complex.

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