The main idea for The Commons is to provide a co-location space for artists and artisans that encourages for an entanglement of their differing yet complementary activities. This is so that the dying culture which was found surrounding the neighbourhood of Jalan Market being revived once more.

The rich culture of Old Kuching centres around the river Sungai Sarawak. Domestic culture dominates the materiality on the northern bank; while on the southern bank, consumption culture is most visible and readily seen. However, in most part of Old Kuching, cultural discontinuity is apparent and exists in three interrelated issues: death; disconnected; and redundant. Old Kuching Smart Heritage (OKSHE) - an area of special heritage interest was established by the North Kuching city municipality as an effort to safeguard heritage in Old Kuching. Old Kuching itself was divided into several quarters of specific identity and specialisation. These quarters were interconnected with existing pedestrian circuits. Above all, the river Sungai Sarawak is the most important culturally, because the daily lives in Kuching all revolves around it. The site is located within the proposed cultural industry quarter. This specialisation was due to the industry narrated through the history of the place, specifically Lorong Dock and Jalan Power. However, as the activities shifted from industrial production to a domestic one, the quarter will be re-appropriated as an art quarter to complement the shifted identity.

The Common is an urban regeneration catalyst that occupies the redundant Brooke Dockyard, Jalan Market, Kuching. The dockyard is a dry dock type built in the early 20th century by Charles Vyner Brooke – the last Raj of Sarawak – for the fabrication of the colony’s vessels. During the post-independence period, the dock is being used to build and repair government vessel under a new government trust, Brooke Dockyard Engineering Works Company. Currently, all the operation had been relocated in Sejingkat, an hour drive from Kuching, and the dockyard in Jalan Market is becoming redundant. To stress it simply, Brooke Dockyard is one of the few urban structures that withstood many periods in Sarawak. From being the British Crown Colony, to the Japanese occupation, to the Sarawak independence, and the formation of Malaysia up until now. Structurally, the main dry dock shed is constructed fully in hot stamped riveted steel, which is very common in the early 1900s. Its internal spaces are semi opened with metal sheet cladding.

Apart from other ancillaries the other main materials within the site is the stone block dry-dock complete with its operable water-lock and its pump-house. These two are the two existing materials on site that were conserved as they hold the greatest historical significance that made the site, an important place in Old Kuching.

2020

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Locality: Jalan Market, Kuching, Malaysia
Land size: 2.83 acre
Development size: 11,000 sqm
Development type: commercial

Author: Mohd Iqbal Hashim

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