DESA SANG BERIDA

University of Science, Malaysia (USM), School Of Housing, Building And Planning (HBP), Architecture Department. Minden, Penang

Project idea

The Sang Berida which brought the meaning of “old” or “someone full of life experiences” in Malay is a retirement village designed to provide comfort and an active lifestyle while intending to enhance both the physical and psychological wellness of the resident by encouraging a self-development, which obviously contradict of the common conception associated with existing retirement village or elderly home in our country. The main purpose is to provide independent and assisted living for seniors with dedicated healthcare services from professionals located within reach, personalized senior living facilities, and an ecological environment setting- a place the elderly can proudly call home.

Project description

The theme is “Convergence”, and for that purpose, the implementation of architectural planning and landscape planning methods such as “southern bank” and “west wing” is required in order to minimize the land development. The design is constructed to complement the surrounding ecosystem rather than demolish and create new man-made surroundings. The layout of the project is overall designed to be valley villagers that provide privacy in zoning arrangements. Plantations around the site are mainly food plants such as fruits and vegetables in an effort to meet the purpose of encouraging a healthy lifestyle.

Technical information

The overall approach of this design is to implement the spirit of vernacular architecture that has been modernized through identity, functionality, and a passive approach. Traditional Malay houses experts with its passive design in corresponding to Malaysia’s tropical rainforest climate. For instance, the differences in height and floor leveling define the differences in functionality and rules of each space in the building, the same characteristics injected into the design project.