I N A D A P T A T I O N | T H I N C I T I E S

LOCATION MAP

I N A D A P T A T I O N | T H I N C I T I E S

Kampung Baru started as a Malay agricultural settlement by British in 1900. Agricultural activities are carried out by

the Malays. They have been living from that time until now. After years of settlement, the place was converted from

agricultural to residential. According to the first census which was done in 1928, there were 544 houses and 2,600

villagers in Kampung Baru. Until now, Kampung Baru is still maintain ing their village living style.

I N A D A P T A T I O N | T H I N C I T I E S

CALVINO’S PERSPECTIVE

Thin cities

Italo Calvino represented the

human’s mental fragility through

physical characteristics of the city

the people inhabits. For instance,

every thin cities shows a certain

form of weakness in mind thinking

where the people are usually getting

used to living with inferno. With tall

thin structures that supports huge

big buildings and small lines or

ropes that are hanging their homes

and houses, they put their lives on

uncertain structures. Through his

perspective, we should be able to

find weakness and issues of the

place by looking into buildings and

surrounding that reflects the

people’s mind.

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DEVELOPMENT

‘One of the half-cities is permanent, the other

is temporary, and when the period of its

sojourn is over, they uproot it, dismantle it……’

Calvino divides Sophronia City into two, half of

the city that made up of functional structure is

constantly changing, and the other half that

resembles fantasy land remains permanent.

He sees the city in two aspects, the reality

(bank, factories, school, etc) and the

imaginary (ferris wheel, trapezes, carousels,

etc). The reality is undergoing the rapid

development hence it keeps on changing, in

the end the only thing that remains constant is

the people’s imagination.

Located next to the busy commercial area of

Kuala Lumpur, the simplicity of Kampung Baru

creates huge contrast in various aspects, the

city skyline, the traffic, the development etc.

Due to its location being next to the city

centre, the rustic village is experiencing

threats from development. In fact, there are

several projects such as the Kampung Baru

City Centre (KBCC) being planned currently

that would bring drastic changes to the village.

In years, there would be towers in the village

as modernity taking over heritage.

I N A D A P T A T I O N | T H I N C I T I E S

CULTURE

‘No one remembers what need or command or

desire drove Zenobia’s founders to give their

city this form, and so there is no telling

whether it was satisfied by the city we see it

today. ‘ - Italo Calvino

“The Kampung baru has seven villages and

each has a distinct character in line with the

ancestral roots of the villagers. Minangkabau,

Javanese, Rawa and Malaccan descendants.

The different villages have their own identities

and unique architecture, way of life, traditions

and beliefs. In the past, the children were told

not to mix with each other and inter-village

marriages were frowned upon as the seniors

wanted to preserve their identity. Now, the

tradition is quite lost.”- Yip Yoke Teng, 2014

The history and culture is the one that gives

the form of the Kampung Baru. Kampung Baru

is considered as a heritage for malay culture.

However, comparing to have vernacular malay

house all around the village, new modern

houses can be seen in the Kampung Baru.

From the surface, the new generations

already living a modern lifestyle and not

maintaining the old culture and tradition of

the place. Although they are still inhabiting

the place, their cultural value is slowly loss

through time. Kampung Baru that is located in Kuala Lumpur, the villagers are slowly adapting a

modern living style. Even if they maintain the malay house, they have already lost their cultural

identity and culture essence.

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LIVING

“Isaura, city of the thousand wells, is said to

rise over a deep, subterranean lake. On all

sides, wherever the inhabitants dig long

vertical holes in the ground, they succeed in

drawing up water, as far as the city extends,

and no father.” - Italo Calvino

Kampung Baru, located in the metropolis

Kuala Lumpur, the cost of living can be

considered as highest in Malaysia. However, in

Kampung Baru, the villagers don’t usually have

occupations with average to high income.

Mostly of the villagers are hawkers that sell

cheap food in front of their home. Some of

the villagers can hardly support for their cost

of living. This problem will worsen at times

where the developments of KL are still going

on. However, the villagers are usually keen to

stay in Kampung Baru. They have no money to

start a new life outside Kampung Baru. They

are also feeling attached to the place because

the other parts of KL are mostly concrete

jungle that is very different from their village

living style. They are not suitable to live

outside Kampung Baru but the surrounded by

it, the villagers are nowhere to go and no ways

to survive.

I N A D A P T A T I O N | T H I N C I T I E S

SAFETY ‘This is the foundation of the city: a net which

serves as passage and as support….Suspended

over the abyss, the life of Octavia's inhabitants

is less uncertain than in other cities. They

know the net will last only so long.’ - Italo

Calvino

Walking through Kampung Baru, different types of houses can be seen. Most of the houses are similar with the first picture shown, which is made of by various material such as zinc and wood. The improper way of construction greatly affects safety of inhabitants. Most of the houses in Kampung Baru do not

have gate which allow people to go into the

compound easily. However, villagers are

insensitive about the danger that can be

caused by this issue.

I N A D A P T A T I O N | T H I N C I T I E S

LIST OF ISSUES

Issue 1 – Lim Chin Yi:

Development of Kampung Baru post threats to

the traditional Malay settlement as they could

be demolished in the future.

Issue 2 – Lau Wei Ling: The people in Kampung Baru are living a fragile life when living in the village is getting harder as time goes. Issue 3 – Lai Chi Mun:

Aware of their unsafe condition, people in kampung baru could not improve the enviroment of the village due to lack of resources.

[ THE END ]