River Purification Living Gallery ( The Potential of Injecting Public Spaces into a Mono-funtional River Purification Domain)

Universiti Teknologi Malaysia

Project idea

This project is located in Sungai Skudai, Johor and it is derived from few issues as follows :-
1) Badly polluted river
2) Decreasing river value
3) The potential of injecting public spaces into a monofunctional river purification domain

The issue 1 explains that Skudai River is badly polluted due to human activities and lack of awareness.

Next is issue 2, the decreasing of river value happened because there is no public spaces nearby. In a way, the polluted river also contribute to this issue.

Lastly is issue 3, the potential of injecting public spaces into a monofucntional river purification domain were derived from issue 1 and issue 2 where this project can kill two birds with one stone. Cleaning the river and providing public spaces for the communtiy.

To solve all the issues, some objectives have been made as follows :-

1 ) To purify the river
2) To restore the value of the river
3) To inject public spaces into a monofunctional river purification domain

In a nutshell, the main idea is to propose river purification living gallery that will cater as a public spaces with various programs for the community. Other than that, it will showcase a real life river purification process that the community can contribute in cleaning their local river. The result will lead to clean river, active river frontage with a lot of happy community.

Project description

Skudai River is located in Johor, Skudai. Historically, people utilized the rivers as a transportation, leisure and etc. It used to be as a place of leisure. It was full of people and community. People went there to meet, interact and do their activity. I used to serve as an active river frontage very well.

But now, the current condition of Skudai River is badly polluted. It is caused by human activities itself such as from farming waster, household, industrial waste and etc. Another issue is decreasing river value. People feel disconnected from the river. One of the reason that contributes to this issue is no public spaces nearby the river. The impact is, skudai river is now isolated from public and to make it worse, it is a badly polluted river that no one feel like visiting.

The design objective is to purify and clean the river so that the Skudai River will be pleasing to the eyes and public can utilize the river. Another objective is to restore the value of the river just like the old times where Skudai River used to be a place of leisure and interaction. Finally , to inject public spaces into a river purification domain so that, people can witness and gaining direct or indirect knowledge when they visited the river purification living gallery.

According to the issues and objectives, this project takes the opportunity to make and integrated solutions for solving all the issues (badly polluted river & decreasing river value) by proposing a river purification living gallery provided with public spaces for the community. The river purification living gallery will showcase a real life river purification that actually can clean and purify the river and give awareness to the public by providing few learning and awareness programs. The main programs provided in this building are

1. River purification
2. Learning and awareness
3. Public realm leisure

In order to inject public spaces into a monofunctional river purification domain, it need few careful considerations such as :-
1. Permeability and connectivity
2. Structure facelift
3. Various of programs
4. Safety consideration
5. Expressive and expose the system
6. Public participation

As a narrative of journey throughout the river purification steps, 7 nodes of water were created to act as an attraction for public to get there. Those 7 nodes of water are :-
1. Water stream
2. Walk on the water
3. Water cascading
4. Animated water screen
5. Watergate
6. Water spiral
7. Waterfall

As a conclusion, this project will act as a tool that will clean and purify the river, at the same time, it will create an awareness for the public by restoring the value of the river provided with public spaces into the building and last but not least, this project will lead to a better nation that care for the nature and environment.

Technical information

The form and structure ideas were derived from river purification structure. The main structures were made of steel, concrete and glass. The plan has a lot of open space to cater as a public spaces for the community. Some of the design are integrated with water and technology to give a other different experience for the user in discovering the journey towards river purification process.