angkasalab.
[competition]
in collaboration with SM Ooi Architects
“A park to provide a learning journey in nature as a tourist, local, and researcher regardless of age and ethnics.”
During durian season, As the durian fever hits the nations, Penang will always be flooded by tourists from all over Malaysia. Our Penang Agro-Edu-Tourism Park with its 42 germplasm and more than 40 years old durian trees, will be the place where tourists can have a complete durian tasting experience, from understanding the natural aspects, germination of durian trees, high technology and organic farming, until fruit crops, then ends with durian tasting.
Penang Agro-Edu-Tourism Park
Existing condition
Design solution
The First “Durian Live Museum” in the World
Documenting the whole life cycle of the durian tree, the entire park will be the live museum which showcases the durian from seed - tree - fruit - fertilizer - seed closed loop.
The existing farms in the park such as dairy farm, kelulut bee farm, freshwater fish farm etc., will also be linked in one ecosystem to showcase how the crossover of different species could help each other in a commensalism or mutualism relationship.
The park will be sustained with several ways:
I.) Entrance ticket (RM2-5 per person) for Durian Live Museum
II.) Renting of audio tour guide
III.) Durian fine dining restaurant
IV.) Camping site
V.)Production and Sales of Durian Side Products (such as pastry, ice cream, freeze-dry durian) and other farming products (dairy, honey, fish etc.)
The theme of this park would be aligned to education tourism and development of agricultural products in Penang, mainly durian. This business positioning is to break away from the existing vigorous competition of durian farms, stand firm as an institutional park, at the same time act as the first stop of tourists who come for durian tasting.
Research & Development Centre for High Technology Farming
Other than tourism, the park will also be a R&D center for high technology farming. As an institutional park, it should house the research and experimental activities from public and private universities, for instance allowing the subsidized rental of farm areas and laboratories in order to support Penang agriculture from an academic level.
The park itself will also have its own R&D department to develop agricultural side products for profit and sustaining itself. Rich resources in the park such as kelulut bee farm, dairy farm, aquaculture farm, sunflower farm, champaca flower farm, rambutan orchard etc., could be the raw materials to be combined and developed into new agricultural products that could be mass-produced, such as honey milk, rambutan ice cream etc.
Masterplan Design Concept
We intend to rejuvenate the Relau Agricultural Centre into The Penang Agro-Edu-Tourism Park, the “Durian Live Museum” which not only maintains 42 durian germplasm, but also educates the Penangites and tourists about durian farming technology.
In terms of spatial design, the existing farmhouses which are scattered around the site are removed, and replaced with a main building which houses most of the functions. The durian germplasm and orchard are reserved with addition of canopy walk and jungle trekking facilities for tourists to walk into the durian world. Planting lots are reorganized for organic farming and research farming, and to be rented to institutional organization and in-house agricultural research.
Architecture Design Concept
The architecture form that we want to deliver is a streamlined form where the flow of user groups are smooth and natural, blending in nature. The Penang Agro-Edu-Tourism Park which act as the weekend gateway and also the ambassador of Penang Durian tourism, is shielded from the urban noise, is inputted with recreational functions, is functioning as an agricultural research centre, and is a perfect place for family trips for all Malaysians and international tourists.
The flow of the park is also organic and one directional, which allows the tourists to follow the designated route to experience the journey planned for them. The journey will start with the nature experience - understanding the lifecycle of durians and the basic necessities to grow and fruit - proceeding to fresh drop durian tasting activities - visiting the production factory - and ending with purchasement of durian and other agricultural products.
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Farming Technology
All farming lots will adapt the 5G IoT technology with multiple sensors to detect and monitor the condition of soil, moisture, nutrient, sunlight exposure, and also the drop of durian fruits. The data collected will be synchronised to the data analysis lab for further interpretation. Sensors in the orchard will be powered by solar energy installed on the sensor.
Other than that, other farming technologies such as robotic systems, nano-technology, drone systems, GPS technology, bio-plastics, genetic modification, could also be incubated and experimented in the laboratories and farms. The Penang Agro-Edu-Tourism Park as the agricultural brain of the country should be the incubator for new farming technology to grow and develop for farms to be more profitable, efficient, safe, and environmentally friendly.
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