URBAN DESIGN STUDIO
// REINSTITUTE // RIVER BIODIVERSITY : URBANIZATION : CONNECTIVITY
Reconnecting Urban Park and Public Transportation
Site : Klang Town, Malaysia
Being one of the oldest township in Malaysia, was strategically located along the river of Klang. Klang was inhabited 2000 years ago. History were written during the Majapahit kingdom around 600 years ago until civil wars broke in the late 1800’s. The river of Klang was once the source of food and agriculture purposes, but mainly used for transportation. During British colonization, railways were built to transport goods such as tin ores and people from Port Swettenaham (existing Port Klang). The railway track penetrates through in between the river bank and Klang town and disconnect its activities. Soon after, Klang river are inevitably transitioned into a “rear elevation”, and slowly neglected by the town. Over the years, Klang Municipal Council has been undertaking various efforts to attract more visitors into Klang. Public park with proper public amenities such as Pengkalan Batu Park were created. Several residents and cultural associations has been utilizing Pengkalan Batu Park for various activities. Unfortunately, partial of the park has suffered some neglect in recent years. To improve the existing condition, a design scheme is set out to integrate the wildlife sanctuary and to promote a green river corridor to rehabilitate the biodiversity and enliven the riverscape activities. Our primary design motivation is looking into a way to resculpt the abandoned park layout and being able to retain the site’s historical values, pre-war shophouses and heritage buildings. Overhead landscape bridge with provides magnificent view and regular human activities.
Public Vs Private
Almost 50% of the masterplan is engaged by public sector. Due to the increase of land values triggered by private investment, the idea of relocating the public buildings within the masterplan to ensure that the government’s concept of central administration is not compromised. The integration between public and private sector are stabilized, hence creating a strong social and economic support to each other.
Green Vs Urbanism
The initiative of LRT line into the western corridor of Klang Valley, integrating with existing KTM line enable the economic in Klang town rises within short period. The LRT line will become key to promote Klang town’s urbanization in year 2020. Despite heavy human traffic flow and building density in the future, the greenscape along the river remain unchanged to balance up the flaw of urbanization.
