Wetline

University of Malaya (UM), Faculty of the Built Environment (FBE), Kuala Lumpur

Project idea

Site Origin

Klang River as the main water body cutting across Kuala Lumpur City Centre and Klang Valley, eventually flows to Straits of Malacca, is originated from the Klang Gates Quartz Ridge and Titiwangsa Mountain Range. Consists of 11 major tributaries, Klang River stretches approximately 120 km in length and drains a basin of about 1,288 km2. It is certainly a prominent natural entity since the civilization in Peninsular Malaya, as tin mining centre, transportation path, food resources, religious rituals, farming and trading hub- which is once a key source of Malaya’s wealth.

Even until today, the river plays a significant role in rapid urbanism of Kuala Lumpur and Klang Valley area- being an alternative water supply source and flood mitigation basin. However, the river is much neglected in our currrent city planning, due to lack of awareness and devastating growth of population that leads to urban sprawl. Flowing through Klang Valley which is a heavily populated area of more than 4 million people, current Klang river is considered too polluted for practical and recreational use that its appearance looks like a vast drainage rather a natural river. Heavy development has narrowed certain stretches of the river to the point that it resembles a large storm drain in some places, contributes to flash floods in Kuala Lumpur, especially during heavy rain season.

Still, few projects launched for the river preservation measures, where the most recent one is ROL (River of Life). This river rehabilitation and revitalization program aims to improve the water quality up to the level for safety contact; to enact a master plan for various districts along both rivers for beautification and an increase in economic viability; and to promote an increase of private sector investment in Greater Kuala Lumpur/ Klang Valley. The maintenence is privitased under 30 years of concessions, managed by few firms. However, the project was unsuccessful in transforming the river as what are expected to achieve, mostly due to systematic failures.

Hence, we choose to begin the WETLINE project at this particualr section of Klang River, is a responsive action corresponds to the ROL project- to extend its feasibility and reposition its holistic mission to ‘Bringing Nature Back into City’. This site is an appropriate spot to kickstart a long-term city planning which prioritzes integration of natural elements in urban areas. Most of all, Klang River is the backbone of how our cities and civilizations started.

The Irony

There is certain irony lies within the story of Klang River- where the river had created our city but as the city developed, it outgrew the river. The urban areas and towns developed along the river had became the major reason of river pollution and flash floods. Moreover, the furious but careless development and overpopulation leads to further urban dilemmas such as scarcity of clean water resources and disconnection from natural system. Dominated by concrete jungles motorized traffic, the city has lost its essence and space for nature to grow, where our city planning is drawing a line that segragates our built environment and inhabitants from the natural environment.

In this scheme, we hope the past is ‘present’-ing our future of urban development, the precious value of nature should well-reflected as our city grows. The river is considered maybe the only historical natural entity left in city centre, which is potentially transformed into the bridge reconnecting urban residents and nature- restore the dying natural qualities in Kuala Lumpur City Centre.

Project description

[1] NATURE & PEOPLE

Since the rapid urbanization during 80s, Kuala Lumpur as national capital had replaced its skyline with high rises and skyscrappers. The significant qualities of nature entities and people are being diminished and dislodged from time to time. This proposal aims to rejuvenate the prominence of people and nature within the background of a metropolis.

Started off by the forgotten backbone of Klang Valley- the Klang River which constitued the early civilization is indeed a meaningful natural entities to begin with. It is also an attempt to respond in continuance of the River of Life Project. The relevance of choice shall resonates with the voice of people, thus making the project touch to the ground.

The proposal considers not only superimposing natural elements with the pre-existed one, but more importantly, to embodies solutions to certain urban dilemmas. In this case, the river pollution, flash floods, water crisis and disintegrated natural system in urban background. Resolcing these issues will eventually leads back to the communities, to realize a total betterment of people.

Fundamentally, the design remain subtle touch on present urban fabric, but more or less suggesting detailed landscape designs and green infrastructure to innovate current building services rather than a one-size-fits-all solution. Most importantly, this project prior the wellness and health of people by introducing natural system.

People are part of nature, just like nature lies within as part of people.

[2] NATURE & BUILDING

Luckily, quite an amount of new buildings in Kuala Lumpur got their green-rated entitlements. However, in a big picture of a city, they poorly perceive the qualities to make the city greener. Making the city itself fell short to become a sustainable capital. Apart from the issues of urban planning and design, the basic infrastructure of building design does not respond and integrate much with our pre-existed natural condition.

Hence, rather than merely paste greens on buildings, we study the possible intervention on existing building typology that may incorporate the river system. Based on our research, the water infrastructure (supply, sanitary, sewerage and drainage) is the most potential and workable system to integrate with the existing water body.

The proposed water recycling system improves the water efficiency, which portrays a resilient idea that prepared our city to endure for the coming future. The sustainable water cycle it creates offered mutual benefits for both the nature and the building- an interchangeable network to refresh by its own.

In short, the attempt is based on more scientific and pragmatic approach to establish symbiotic relationship between nature and buildings. The small yet impactful innovation is critical to uphold the significance of Klang River, and certainly making the building ‘perform greener’ instead of ‘look greener’.

Works green, not looks green.

Technical information

[1] OVERALL WETLINE FOOTPRINT

With an overall intervention area of 260 arce, the wetlane area will sum up approximately 20 acre of the overall development. Water catchment are one of the prominant area inside of this proposal where the catchement area consists of 8 arce of Hardscape Drainage, 32 arce of Green Roof, 34 arce of Porous Landscape, 20 arce of Landscape & Park, 40 arce of Surface Drainage and 20 arce of River Basin. All of this area will contribute to solve the flooding issues along Klang River, but at the same time, reducing the overall water consumption of the nearby building through an overall rainwater harvesting system that integrated building and green infrastructure.

Rather than just focusing on the landscaping area on the ground, the idea of the wetline is also brought up vertically, to retrofit the rooftop and terraces of the existing building envelope, capture water within more dimensions. The total water catchment area is approximately 154 arce, where the rainwater harvesting efficiency is 51.3% assuming that more than 50% of water consumption by user is covered.

In short, the overall natural system consists of 20 arce of wetland, 34 arce of porous landscape, 32 arce of green roof, 8 arce of hardscape design. There is a total of 44% landscape elements on the proposed site surrounding the Klang River area. More in-depth breakdown of the tabulation and distribution of natural system is shown from the graphic representative below.

To conclude, instead of solely solving river pollution, flash floods or water crisis, this proposal is suggesting a total betterment of urban environment by incorporates existing river system and integration of new green infrastructure.

Bring nature back into the city.

[2] PHASING OF THE INTERVENTION

The WETLINE is seperated into 4 main phases where most of these phases is heavily dependent on the local governement, investors and community. The 1st phase of this master plan start off with the initiative of the local government. As a continuity of the River of Life project, the river rehabitalitation project begins with the river cleansing activities and immediately follow up with the deepen of river bank for larger basin to mitigate floods. Introducing nature back into the city through a series of wetland system.

Phase 2 begins with the support from interested developers. Investors may take the initiative to retrofit building with sponge infrastructure that engage water recycling system with the river, fundamentaly improve water efficiency of building and reduce long term usage. 3rd phase is continued as the master plan is backed by both the governement and investors. At this stage, the protective measure of landscape is integrated with landscape design. These landscape innovations form a threshold between the landscape and building compunds where abundant of greens are bring back into the city.

The final phase of this master plan is summarized with the collective effort by local community and investors where vibrant human activities is then injected into the ready made communal spaces. A series of programatic network is then injected to this wetline master plan as the fundamental of place-making, where it maintain the statement for Klang River as the River of Life, the river which brings lives that made the city.

Klang River as the River of Life.

[3] MUTUAL RECIPROCITY

There is certain irony lies within the story of Klang River- where the river had created our city but as the city developed, it outgrew the river. The urban areas and towns developed along the river had became the major reason of river pollution and flash floods. Moreover, the furious but careless development and overpopulation leads to further urban dilemmas such as scarcity of clean water resources and disconnection from natural system. Dominated by concrete jungles motorized traffic, the city has lost its essence and space for nature to grow, where our city planning is drawing a line that segragates our built environment and inhabitants from the natural environment.

In this scheme, we hope the past is ‘present’-ing our future of urban development, the precious value of nature should well-reflected as our city grows. The river is considered maybe the only historical natural entity left in city centre, which is potentially transformed into the bridge reconnecting urban residents and nature- restore the dying natural qualities in Kuala Lumpur City Centre.

By extending the system of preventing flood and river pollution proposed inside the central district of Klang River, what can be formulated will be a WETLINE which connect both the beginning and the end of the Klang River. The overall master plan proposal seperate the entire Klang River into 5 different zones which are :- (1) Costline & Villages, (2) Suburban & Industrial Zone, (3) Residential Area, (4) City Centre & (5) Forest & Hills Range. There will be a series of intevention such as prevention of coastline flooding, revitalization of polluted river, merging of pond and reiver, capitalizing the urban waste space and creating communal park. Each interventions at those different zone targets a site specific issue which can help to achieve a balance ecosystem between nature and man made elements. Bring those area to a state of communal well being and harmony.

An urban wetline of reintegration.

[4] NATURE AS BRIDGE OF RECONNECTION

“ We built too many walls, but not enough bridges ” - Issac Newton

The intervention and development in this modern era is more concern on the arrogant of how the tall architecture could symbolized the economic states of a country rather than concerning about the relationship between human and nature. Nature has always been a sacrifice of our own arrogant, becoming the victim as the overall blue-scape elements is getting thinner and thinner as there are surrounded with concrete jungle.

Initiated from the intend of flood prevention and reducing of pollutant, this urban wetline will also act as a bridge which connect the communities in it’s surrounding. Changing the mindset of the community from insensitivity towards landscape to closer access to landsacpe. This intervention allow the celebrate the warm and harmony nature inside of this modern concrete jungle. Imagine a break from our daily routine full of formality inside the expressionless pedestrian walkway, into a space full of excitement and communal spaces, celebrating an escape from the hustle and bustle of the city.

In short, what could be achieved from this proposal is to reduce the ignorance of human being towards urban wildlife, creating a community which can coexist with it’s surrounding landscape. In addition to that, the whole ecosystem of the surrounding will convert from disconnection to total reconnection where nature is then bring back into the city.

Nature as gateway to reconnect city and us.

Co-authors

- Chai Yi Yang
- Ng Yi Ming
- Sharon Cho Hui Yi
- Abee Wong Sen Gee