ENERGY, ENVIRONMENT, ECOSYSTEMS, DEVELOPMENT and LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE

Dynamic Changes of Urban Village Settlement of Kuala Terengganu

I.M. S. Usman, S.S.Low,M.M.Thahir, M.F.Irfan , N.M.Tawil, Architecture Department, Faculty of Engineering, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia ismar @vlsi.eng.ukm.my
Abstract: - Cities, especially those in the third world countries, were previously villages that were upgraded and expanded their boundaries to comply with the urban needs. More and more people are moving into the city and the existing settlement areas within the urban center do not sufficiently able to accommodate them. As most of the third world countries have their limitations in providing adequate housing facilities for the immigrants, these newcomers started out to build their own dwellings as one of their basic survival needs. These slums actually pose as a challenge for the local authority as well as the stake-holders. The anti-slums policy imposed by the local authority maybe one of the way of solving the problem by relocating these immigrants to new strata-type or low cost housing schemes. As for the stake-holders and developers, these illegal squatters which inhibit in their privately owned land may act as a gain for their future plans in developing their properties. Or perhaps these slums may also act as an opportunity for them? Key-Words: settlements,anty-slum policy,strata type, illegal squatters

1 Dynamic Morphology

Changes

of

Urban

Isomorphic forms that reflect institutional regime in the built fabric, these occur at Kampung Cina & Kampung Tanjung. Those kampongs are isomorphic form since pre-war. Looking closely into one of the earliest settlements in Kuala Terengganu, Kampung Cina is in the declining mode in terms of land value and financial character of the place. During its formation in pre-war periods, Kampung Cina is well known for its character as the main and financial street for Kuala Terengganu, with the erections of on stilts residential along the waterfront which leads the economic growth of the city. Besides, it also serves as the transportation hub which links between city for migrating and business purposes. From land to water transports, it boasts the city growth in the later days. As the city grows bigger, the main character of the Kampung Cina as the financial street and transportation hub gradually disappear. This is cause by the growing of human population and demands for the city. The financial street shifted to Jalan Sultan Ismail with better facilities and space for the city growth. The centralize land transportation system at Jalan Masjid also serves as the main transportation hub for the city nowadays. As the functions of Kampung Cina nowadays gradually changing, so most of the young generations has migrate out of Kampung Cina asking for better job opportunities and facilities in the city. Kampung Tanjung, also among the earliest settlement in Kuala Terengganu is the settlement area gazette for royal

family. With the growing of the city, older generation still living inside while young generations having moving out for better life. Kampung Ladang has existing malay settlement with not much changes during its early days and now. It is mainly traditionally activities oriented village where some works as fisherman and producing traditional handicrafts for living. With the city grow larger, limited of residential for the migrants into the city, so the existing phenomena is tenement blocks and individual dwellings are divided up again and again with informal settlements built without proper planning. Kampung Tiong which is located just beside Kampung Cina, whose earlier development very much influence by the functions of Kampung Cina. It serves as the supporting residential for the earlier financial street in Kampung Cina. With the growth of the city, causing the shifting of earlier function of Kampung Cina, and introduction of Jalan Banggol separating the urban settlements in Kampung Tiong into two separated part worsen the conditions of urban settlements in Kampung Tiong. The pollution and sanitation problem in Kampung Tiong since it is erected on wetlands with minimum maintenance of the existing building making it unhealthy for living purpose. This ends up with most of the wealthy residents moving out from Kampung Tiong opting for better life quality.

ISSN: 1790-5095

274

ISBN: 978-960-474-125-0

ENERGY, ENVIRONMENT, ECOSYSTEMS, DEVELOPMENT and LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE

Fig. 1, Morphology studies of Kuala Terengganu Pre-war; Post-war 1980s

Fig.3, Morphology studies of Kuala Terengganu (1980s 2000s)

Fig. 2, Morphology studies of Kuala Terengganu ; Post-war 1980s

Fig. 4, Morphology studies of Kuala Terengganu (2000s Now)

ISSN: 1790-5095

275

ISBN: 978-960-474-125-0

ENERGY, ENVIRONMENT, ECOSYSTEMS, DEVELOPMENT and LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE

unhealthy. They are often built on areas unfit for human habitation such as close to rubbish dumps, steep hillsides, area prone to subsidence of flooding, or on polluted land.

2.3 The Hidden Problem

The history of urban village settlements is a story of confrontations; between illegal and legal residents and governments and urban authorities and private landlords. Authorities tend to consider illegal settlements to be unsightly and challenges to the authority since there are often built on land earmarked for development. It is important for continual communication among various party, because of the intrinsically architecture urban factor and those residents are the permanent dwelling for the settlement. So it is reasonable to all citizens without exception given the opportunity to give a opinion, aspiration, and expectation. And their vote if really heard and considered to represent inspiration source which will never run dry to concept formulation, policy, plan, and the exact program.

Fig. 5; Morphology studies of activities of Kuala Terengganu

2 The Negative Aspects Of Urban Village Settlement

City seems do offer a better life. But for many new comer dwellers with low income, unemployed, squalor of a squatter camp is uncertain start for them. Lack of sanitation, unclean water, air pollution, and poor job prospects are the reality for millions of people.

2.4 Expropriation Development

It is the mission for the governments of the city to eradicate the poor by increase the quality of their live. Sequence of governmental program to poor society for example: Creating comfortable sentiment to live in their house. Service of clean water and electricity Realizing of good life environment It maybe a problem posed to local authorities, but they do represent a self-help solution to housing that can benefit city authorities. Urban village residents have displayed a great deal of resourcefulness, and by housing them, provide a low-cost housing option for illegal resident and upgrading the existence of traditional urban village. It is now widely accepted that upgrading settlements is the only way of solving urban housing and urban settlements problems.

2.1 Over Density Problem

Over Density is a vital future problem of most major world cities today. This problem often becomes more significant in inner cities, for example Kampung Ladang in Kuala Terengganu, largely because it is vital for the urban poor to live as near as possible to source of work. So migrants gravitate to world city centers and put pressure on any available accommodation there. Tenement blocks and individual dwellings are divided up again and again. Informal settlements built on the urban periphery far away from any employment are often the poorest places. Ironically, these crowded conditions also create close-knit mutual support networks between villagers.

3 Conclusion
Urban housing settlement in Kuala Terengganu area is a good example as a model of urban living settlement, because basically it implemented a good influence of traditional concept of settlement that preserve the identity within the urban and modern context, community and environment, and a balance between natural and human made. The upgrading within its context is necessary in order to maintain the whole concept of Heritage city for Kuala

2.2 Improper Planning of Settlement

Most of the residents are lack of adequate services; with no clean water, sanitation, drainage, or electricity. This causing the quality of life inside urban village settlements is in poor condition and

ISSN: 1790-5095

276

ISBN: 978-960-474-125-0

ENERGY, ENVIRONMENT, ECOSYSTEMS, DEVELOPMENT and LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE

Terengganu, of course within comfortable living environment, to be more sustainable and its own social-cultural context.

References: [1] Roy, P and Gupta, S.D Ed, Urbanisation and Slums, International Development Research Centre and Norwegian Agency for Develoment Cooperation New Delhi, Har-Anand Publications,Chirag Delhi,New Delhi,1995. [2] Gugler,J, The urbanization of The Third World,Oxford University Press,Walton Street,Oxford, 1988. [3] Girardet,H, The Gaia Atlas of Cities-New Direction for Sustainable uraban living, Chapter 3: The expanding city,sick Cities,sick World,Gaia Books Ltd,20 High Street,Strout,1992. [4] Glos. Wood, L..derline New York, New York: Wien,1999. [5] Hall,P and Pfeifer, U, Urban Future 21; Global Agenda for Twenty-First Century Cities, New York, NY;E &FN Spoon.,2000

ISSN: 1790-5095

277

ISBN: 978-960-474-125-0