Session1
" Living Spaces and Environment of Water Settlements―Spatial
Composition and Living Environment of Houses in Sandakan and Kota Kinabalu"
Program:
Presentation: Nagase Laboratory, Hosei University
1. Origin and Background of Water Settlements
Aya FUKUDA （M2 Student, Civil Engineering and Architecture, Hosei
University）
2. Location and Layout of Water Settlements
Shusuke OGAWA （M2 Student, Civil Engineering and Architecture, Hosei
University）
3. Spatial Composition and Its Characteristics Seen in Room Layout.
Shinpei MIYASAKA （4th Grade Student major in Faculty of Architecture,
Hosei University）
4. Merits and Demerits of Water Settlements
Takeshi OKAZAWA （4th Grade Student major in Faculty of Architecture,
Hosei University）
5. Perspectives of Traditional Communities
Katsumi NAGASE, Architect, Professor of Hosei University
Discussion:
(Adding to the speakers above) Shinobu INO（Architect, Lecturer of Hosei
University）, Katsuya YAMAZAKI （Urban Designer）, Minoru OKOBA（M1 Student,
Civil Engineering and Architecture, Hosei University）
(Outline)
1. Origin and Background of Water Communities
A recent theory focusing on the submersion of Sundaland under water
(lost land which is said to have existed in SE Asia of the glacial age) as
the important factor of origin of floating people, was introduced. The following
water settlements can be found in Malaysia: 1) Houses on rafts, 2) Houses
on piles, and 3) Boat houses of floating people. We focused on the types
2) and 3), and extracted similarities in planer composition. Furthermore,
we drew a hypothesis that houses on piles were made up by floating people
on boats being settled, from the viewpoint of similar family structure, political
elements such as governmental settlement policy, and economy and religion.
(Fig.1 Settlement of Simsim)
2. Location and Layout of Water Settlements
We conducted pre-research based on satellite photos of Google earth,
and clarified the distribution and shapes of settlements. We made tracing
of settlements, checked number of houses in each settlement, shape of landing
bridges, compositional elements of settlements, existence of facilities located
lateral to settlements, etc. Though this pre-research served to field study,
many differences were found between actual layout of settlements and data
of Google which was several years ago. (Fig.2 Layout of Kota Kinabalu)
3. Spatial Composition and Its Characteristics Seen in Room Layout
Based on actual measurement conducted on ten houses in Sandakan and
Kota Kinabalu, we reported analysis results. We clarified characteristics
of bridges (piers) between houses, way of use and layout of rooms, especially
living rooms as important space (multi-functionality and concept of front
and back), difference of two balconies in a house. By comparing water houses
and land houses, we considered transformation of way of use.
4. Merits and Demerits of Water Settlements
We reported merits and demerits of water settlements.
The merits are: being comfort on water, provided by breezes from all
around the water house, and ease of maintenance or rebuilding. A water settlement
was of wooden construction, and built only by inhabitants. Therefore they
can maintain by themselves. Because enlargement and reduction are also easy,
they often changed the forms of houses according to the changes of family
composition. Furthermore, ease of obtaining marine products.
On the other hand, demerits include trash, fire disaster and high
tide which are serious problems. Piles of trashes are disposed at the edge
of settlements, and in border areas between water and land. Inhabitants dispose
unnecessary things into the sea by habit; though trashes had been processed
through natural cycle in past days, recently increasing plastic trashes cannot
be decomposed and are floating on water and pile up along coastal lines.
The plans of reclamation and construction of resort are being examined to
restore beautiful landscapes.
Because whole settlements including houses and bridges are made of
wood, and are well ventilated, fire often spreads to tens of houses. The
countermeasures such as banning of the use of charcoal fire, were conducted,
though the effective measure is not found yet. Reinforced concrete houses
are also proposed. Their demerits are difficulties in reconstruction because
a heavy machine cannot enter into the settlements.
By the influence of tidal flow, flood disasters frequently threaten
Kota Kinabalu located along the outer sea. Because the fragile structure
of houses, high tide often take away whole houses including bases. Inhabitants
repaired their houses as described above, but they have been more and more
interested in reinforced concrete construction, as their furniture are increasing.
5. Perspective of Traditional Settlements
Based on the results of researches as above, we reported perspectives
of future water settlements.
Water settlement in Borneo, exist along rivers and ocean exuding
powerful atmosphere. The process of made up of settlements is not clear
because of
lack of documents. Globalization and urbanization are gradually developing
in these settlements. We will propose the development of future settlement
from the viewpoint of relationship between settlements and land.
We considered the following points in the theme, "Will common elements of traditional
settlements remain as gene?".
1. Landing bridge as infrastructure (Fig.3 Case of Simsim)
2. Living on water
3. Planer shape of houses (basic style: from boat to house)
4. Life style based on small cycle and relation with land in water
living environment
On the above four points, we discussed the possibility of future continuation.
As a planning case of relocation of inhabitants on water settlement,
a project conducted by Sandakan urban development department was
also introduced (Tinosa I and II). "Tinosa I" was planned for slam clearance aiming
for public peace and improvement of sanitary condition and for land areas,
and "Tinosa II" is for water settlements. In Kata Kinabalu, reconstruction
project of wooden piers into precast concrete piles is also promoted.
(Fig.4 Engineering Works of PC Pile Bridge in Kota Kinabalu) |
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[Fig.1
Settlement of Simsim] |
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[Fig. 2 Layout
of Kota Kinabalu] |
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[Fig.3
Case of Simsim] |
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[Fig.4
Engineering Works of PC Pile Bridge in Kota Kinabalu] |
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