Future-proofing an Oceanic Village | FAP 2023 Merit

CHALLENGES

The seaside community of Bajo in Maumere consists of people who have lived their entire lives side by side with the ocean, in simple stilted wooden houses, connected by a network of walkways and jetties. Over generations, the ocean has been a major source of the people’s food and income, with members of the community skilled in a traditional technique of catching fish through free diving.

Due to environmental degradation, the number of fish in the area has dropped drastically and the community finds it increasingly difficult to sustain their livelihood. Children, which make up more than a third of the population, are often forced to drop out of school in order to help their parents hunt for fish and improve their families’ economic situation. Modern methods of fishing that are more destructive have also begun to be applied. Furthermore, there is low access to healthy sanitation and waste management in the area, causing eutrophication or ‘dead zones’ in the ocean.

The community at large has expressed worries of an unclear future in terms of their socioeconomic resilience and education. It is shown that the happiness index of the nearest urban area, for reference, is 34.50 on a scale of 100—way below the national average at 69.51.

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SOLUTION

This proposal aims to improve the community’s resilience in adapting to the new era, complementing their traditional ways of living with future-ready solutions. The design consists of an overarching master plan based on the existing network, imbued with new structures and functions.

Key measures implemented in the proposal include:

1. New houses that replace modern commercial materials with locally sourced materials where possible, with a design guide to ensure good sanitation and ventilation. Houses are designed to accommodate two or three generations living under the same roof. Rainwater harvesting and waste water treatment technologies are integrated into the homes for people’s daily usage.

2. A floating ‘forest’ on raft structures can help foster ecosystems on the ocean.

3. The community’s existing jetty-based spatial structure is adapted into the larger road infrastructure, with primary and secondary walkways. The network is imbued with more pedestrian-friendly spaces and corner playgrounds for children.

4. Macro waste management is implemented through designated processing facilities, equipped with solar panels and bio-waste treatment units. The byproducts of waste processing e.g., cultivation of maggot for decomposing and animal feed, as well as recycling activities of inorganic waste, are hoped to be able to generate new opportunities for employment.

5. Unifying public spaces and leisure parks are envisioned to become a transitional area in between main functions in the community, namely between the residences; mosque; fishing port; and open ocean.

[This is an excerpt. Subscribe to the digital edition or hardcopy to read the complete article.]

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