A 1000-word essay on my idea.

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In my opinion, Kampung Attap is a place that is hidden, almost eerily quiet. But it secretly has a very rich food culture, whether it is a roadside stall, restaurant, Indian, Western, pastries and even Mexican. Almost everywhere you go in Kampung Attap, you will find traces and constant smells of food. But sometimes, its heritage aspects are overshadowed by modern cafes, bakeries, and arts. And it is very evident when you realize there is a rarity of heritage food compared to “hipster” or trendy modern food.

Following that, Kampung Attap’s identity is rooted in the fact that there is a very silently strong presence of Chinese heritage in the area despite being named Kampung Attap. This can be seen with the various Chinese associations found throughout the place, a mooncake bakery, Chinese named buildings and even a Chinese library behind Sam Mansion that closed in 2019. But ironically, there is very little Chinese cuisine found in the area. 

 

So, my proposed community learning center in Kampung Attap aims to bridge the gap between the area's rich Chinese heritage and the noticeable lack of Chinese culinary representation within the local food landscape. Not only will this learning center be a way to reintroduce Chinese food into Kampung Attap, but it will also be a public place where people can learn about the history of Kampung Attap - more specifically about the history of Chinese association and Chinese people of Kampung Attap through the art of making dumplings, process and eventually enjoying it - which I’ve chosen dumplings as a main food focus as it is enjoyed by all Malaysians these days.

 

With Kampung Attap undergoing transformation due to new developments such as the Merdeka 118 and other residential projects, this learning center will serve both current and future residents of the place and the locals of KL, creating a unique food-centered hub that links Kampung Attap back to its identity – Chinese heritage and associations. Not only will it be purely a museum-like place, but it will also include spaces and a urban plaza that local communities can use and enjoy throughout the day whenever they want to

 

This project is based on my belief that architecture should serve to enhance the lives of residents and giving public places back to the public. The center aims to create a third place for the local community of Kampung Attap, blending educational functions with cultural and culinary experiences.

 

Following Kevin Lynch’s concept of imageability and Gordon Cullen’s “Townscape” theory, the learning center should become an identifiable, memorable landmark that resonates with Kampung Attap’s cultural context. My idea is to make the learning center a node of community interaction, with design elements and materials that reflect the area’s shophouses and incorporating some of the Chinese elements that were brought over to Malaysia during the art-deco era, while standing out to be a landmark.

In my design, I’ve decided to preserve the five-foot walkways of the existing shophouses adjacent to site as I believe that it is not just a way for pedestrians to walk safely, but also an important part of Kampung Attap, as seen by individual shops decorating and ornamenting their shopfronts as a way of personalization.

 

My top floor is also cantilevered with a triangular protrusion. Users coming from the Jalan Rotan staircase will not be able to see the site and the learning center due to the bigger shophouses in front. However, the cantilevering protrusion will stick out and catch users’ eyes. Relating back to Lynch’s imageability concept, having the protrusion stand out will create sort of a waypoint or a landmark for users to remember and use a location marker.

 

 

 

Another function of the cantilevering of the top floor is that it creates a shadow for the plaza on the Eastern side during the evening when the Sun is towards the West. This will allow users to hang around the plaza comfortably under the shade, away from the harsh evening sunlight and heat. Additionally, a tunnel was made through the center of the building to allow wind to pass through, cooling the building and makes users gather here when seeking a cooler place in the Malaysian heat, creating a new social node. The central atrium also allows for stack ventilation and releases any trapped hot air.

 

 

People walking along the sidewalks across Jalan Kampung Attap will see a large opening that discontinues the continuous flat facades of the shophouses, intriguing the people. Similarly, the same people and the people coming from across Jalan Rotan will notice a slightly shaded plaza with seatings. This will naturally gather people as they seek a place to sit and cool down under some shading.

 

In a way, with the central part of the learning center being open will allow for outdoor spaces on the upper floors, creating spaces for residents to participate in cooking demonstrations, attend workshops, and share meals in a communal setting.

 

To emphasize on the learning of Chinese heritage of Kampung Attap, there will also be interactive exhibits and galleries. This strategy aligns with Lynch's imageability theory, as memorable exhibits and displays will help reinforce Kampung Attap’s identity as a Chinese heritage-rich district. The exhibits can be periodically updated, providing ongoing relevance and educational value.

 

The design strategies discussed — drawing from Lynch’s and Cullen’s theories — will hopefully create a space that resonates with both the current residents of Kampung Attap and the future generations to come. The center will play a role in preserving Kampung Attap’s unique heritage and providing the public a place, amidst its surroundings’ rapid urban growth.