What is BELUM?

‘’Belum, belum, beluuuuuuuuuum! This is the sound
made by a large grasshopper that makes it home in
the jungle. Hence, the name… belum…. ’’

≈
Design Studio 4 Tutorial Group ; Ms. Shahira | 10th Sept 2015
Pulau Banding, Gerik,
Perak, Malaysia

≈
Introduction
What?
Where?
Who?

Location
Location Plan
Belum Rainforest Resort
33200 Pulau Banding,
Gerik, Perak,
Malaysia

ROYAL
BELUM
STATE
PARK
TEMENGOR
FOREST
RESERVE
Location Plan
Location

Existence over 130 million years.
An ecosystem older than Amazon and Congo.
About 290,000 hectares.
The forest divided into three sections:
Royal Belum State Park and
Temenggor Forest Reserve, Gerik
Forest Reserve
ROYAL
BELUM
STATE
PARK
TEMENGOR
FOREST
RESERVE
Location Plan
Location
GERIK
FOREST
RESERVE

Upper Belum (Royal Belum State Park)
Protected Area 117,500 hectares (1/3)
Second largest protected area after Taman Negara
Maintain hydrological circle, provide clean water, act as
carbon sink.
Lower Belum (Temenggor Forest Reserve)
Unprotected Area (2/3)
Temengor, Banding (Lower Belum), Gerik forest reserve
Activities allowed: hunting and logging with permit.
Current situation: Under request for protected park status.
LOWER
BELUM
UPPER
BELUM
Location Plan
Location

TEMENGOR LAKE
Man-made lake | Source of water
Introduction

IRREGULAR
SHAPED
ISLAND
Caused
In
the
late
1960s
and
early
1970s
by
construcMng
Temenggor
Dam
for
power
generaMon
and
flooding
the
valleys
of
the
Upper
Perak
River
and
its
tributaries.
Introduction

GERIK-JELI HIGHWAY
Short journey from Gerik to Jeli | Entry Points that served as patrol guard
Introduction

DEFENCE
MECHANISM
In
1970,
due
the
happening
of
Communist
Insurgency
Malaya,
the
highway
bridge
served
as
defence
mechanism
to
deflate
communist
soldiers
from
escaping
to
Thailand.
It
was
also
the
reason
to
the
forest
flooding
by
government.
Introduction

The Orang Asli
Introduction

≈
Climate & Geography
Geographary
Monsoon
Rainfall

GEOGRAPHY
RAFFLESIA
WATERFALL
BIRD WATCHING
JUNGLE TREKKING
The Royal Belum landscape composed mainly of pristine
forest divided into two sections, Upper Belum and Lower
Belum. Upper is 90% virgin forest, Lower is covered by
secondary forest. Due to the nature of the landscape,
attractions such as rafflesia, hornbill and waterfall are
found in the forest.
Climate & Geography

RAFTING / BAMBOO RAFTING
FISHING
It is a pristine forest with many river systems and in the
heart of the forest lies a manmade lake which is one of
the biggest lake in Malaysia- Tasik Temenggor. Within the
waters, activities such as rafting/bamboo rafting and fishing
are carried out by tourists and locals as well especially
fishing to earn a living.
Climate & Geography
GEOGRAPHY

The weather in Malaysia is characterised by two monsoon regimes,
namely, the Southwest Monsoon from late May to September, and
the Northeast Monsoon from November to March. The Northeast
Monsoon brings heavy rainfall, whereas the Southwest Monsoon
normally signifies relatively drier weather. Heavy rain can be
expected during monsoon season.
Climate & Geography
MONSOON
SOUTH- WEST
MONSOON
(May-Sept)
NORTH- EAST
MONSOON
(Nov- Mac)

SOUTH- WEST
MONSOON
(May-Sept)
NORTH- EAST
MONSOON
(Nov- Mac)
ACTIVITIES AFFECTED
May-Sept and Nov-Mac are not suitable for water activities as the
rise in water level and rainfall season caused by monsoon will
directly affect the activities.
Climate & Geography
MONSOON

0
5
10
15
20
25
January
Februa
March
April
May
June
July
August
Septem
Octobe
Novem
Decem
Number
of
Rainy
Days
in
a
Month
Number
of
Rainy
Days
in
a
Month
Days
Climate & Geography
Rainy season will directly affect activities mainly in the jungle such as
jungle trekking and bird watching. As rainy season contributes to high
water level, it will affect all the water activities as well.
RAINFALL

ACTIVITIES AFFECTED
October- Dec are not suitable for all activities as the number of rainy
days in a month are the highest three.
Climate & Geography
0
5
10
15
20
25
January
Februa
March
April
May
June
July
August
Septem
Octobe
Novem
Decem
Number
of
Rainy
Days
in
a
Month
Number
of
Rainy
Days
in
a
Month
Days
RAINFALL

≈
Culture & Social
The Orang Asli
The Living-styles

Culture & Social
Throughout the historical journey, the area
continued to remain home to 2 of the 18 orang asli
tribes in Malaysia.
2 enthic groups ;
• Temiar
• Jahai
Language – ‘’Jehai’’ & ‘’Batikteh’’
Traditionally animists. Mostly embraced
monotheistic religion such as Islam, Christianity &
Hinduism
Orang Asli

Living in a semi-nomadic lifestyle
Culture & Social
Orang Asli

Culture & Social
Expert in hunting, gathering food & tradings
Orang Asli

The settlement in Sungai Tiang equipped with basic facilities
A Primary school, A kindergarten, A clinic, Community hall, Wooden house,
Solar System for electricity
Culture & Social
Orang Asli

Highly depended on forest-based activities/products for
food and source of income
Thought how to farm kelulut bees, maintain bee hives. Find
sources of food, harvesting honey, manage threats to the
bees
Most orang asli gets to work at the resort, some works as
tour guides in the forest, earn from selling handcrafts &
performing traditional dances and skills
Culture & Social
Orang Asli

In terms of architecturally – clustered arrangement, usage of
local materials, semi-nomadic habit, lightweight construction
Culture & Social
The Living-styles

≈
Politic & Economy
Orang Asli Economic
Central Forest Spine Project

Culture Economic
• Strongly dependant on fishing for income. Due to environment climate issues causes
the product being interrupted and reduces their income.
• This cause them to migrate to search for alternative living.
Politic & Economy
Orang Asli Economic

The Central Forest Spine Project
• Maintaining Or expanding existing Permanent forest reserve areas.
• Rehabilitating / re-greening barren and lost wildlife corridors.
• Building viaducts for wildlife crossings to reconnect fragmented forested areas.
Politic & Economy
Central Forest Spine Project

Biodiversity Community Tourism
Central Forest Spine Project
Politic & Economy
Central Forest Spine Project

Biodiversity
Energy Fuel
saving
Preservation Protection
Politic & Economy
Central Forest Spine Project

Community
Poverty
Reduction
Enchance
unskilled
workers
Preservation
Of heritage
Politic & Economy
Central Forest Spine Project

Tourism
Increase
revenue
Outdoor
activities
Job
oppurnities
Politic & Economy
Central Forest Spine Project

≈
Regulation
Under Control
Preservation Approach

1. UNDER CONTROL
Regulation

Regulation
Under Control

• EMKAY Group (the development of Banding Island) has close cooperation between the Perak State Government,
NGO (WWF- Malaysia) and Malaysia Nature Society.
• Ensure biodiversity of Banding Island and its surrounding are fully protected, appreciated, preserved and propagated.
• The development shall be sustainable.
• Economically viable and ecologically manageable in long term
• Conducted in an ethical manner and equitable for local community.
• Balancing the need for preservation of nature and the in relation to promote eco-tourism.
• Integrate the natural, cultural and human environmental.
• Involvement and consideration the interests of the local community (the Orang Asli community)
Regulation
Under Control

Base
Camp
Green
Ranger
Programme
Regulation
Under Control

Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)
The development practices shall fulfil with the requirements of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Report.
• It has been acknowledged as a useful tool which incorporates environmental factors in making a decision
regarding new development.
• It aids to environmental planning of new projects or the expansion of existing ones.
• It contains information on the EIA process which required proponents of particular projects, classified as
"prescribed activities" to submit to the Director General Of Environmental Quality before the project is approved
by the relevant approval authorities.
Regulation
Under Control

Regulation
2. PRESERVATION APPROACH

Mother Earth
• Mimics nature with open air spaces, integration of
wall into landscape (cliff, terra morphing rooftops)
• No cut and fill excavation, the terrain takes
precedence over design
Regulation
Preservation Approach

Regulation
Preservation Approach

Material
• Locally soured eco-friendly materials
• Avoid long-haul transportation (minimal carbon footprint)
Regulation
Preservation Approach

Regulation
Preservation Approach

Regulation
Preservation Approach

Man
• Traditional building techniques handed down through
generations, affording an exquisite style.
Regulation
Preservation Approach

Regulation
Preservation Approach

Regulation
Preservation Approach

≈
Precedence Study
Nishorgo Oirabot Nature Interpretation Centre
BOH Tea Centre

Nishorgo Oirabot Nature Interpretation Centre
Architects: Vitti Sthapati Brindo Ltd, Ehsan Khan
Location: Teknaf (Chittagong District, South Bangladesh)
Client: Ministry of Environment & Forests Bon Bhaban
Completion Year: 2008
Precedence Study

Materials are Burnt Clay Bricks & Wooden Lattices.
Extended Veranda & Ramp retain the lightness of local architecture.
“Create
awareness
and
promote
biodiversity
&
cherish
sanc6ty
of
nature.”
Precedence Study

BOH Tea Centre
Architect: ZLG Design
Location: Sungai Palas, Cameron Highland, Malaysia
Building completion: July 2006
Precedence Study

Wood made of recycled rubber trees cut from the site during construction and plantation.
“Designed
to
house
exis6ng
tea
shop
and
improve
the
visitor
facili6es.”
Precedence Study

“A systematic process of identifying future consequences
of a current or proposed action.” - EIA