By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, Aug 9: The Chung Yuan Christian University (CYCU) Taiwan and University of Technology Sarawak (UTS) Cross-National Architecture Workshop will not only enrich Kenyalang Park but also ignite a citywide movement, transforming Kuching’s public spaces into vibrant, shared resources for all.
By blending community insight with climate-responsive design, the initiative envisions inclusive, adaptable urban environments that strengthen social bonds and resilience.
Building on the foundation of the 2024 curatorial initiative Collective Memories of Kenyalang, six architecture students from CYCU have returned to Kenyalang Park. This year, they are joined by two peers from the UTS for a month-long architectural and community engagement workshop running from Aug 1 to Sept 5, 2025.
The workshop, supported by the Kuching South City Council (MBKS) in close collaboration with the Kenyalang community, focuses on observation, design, and hands-on installation.
Its goals include deepening interactions across diverse social groups in public spaces and explore innovative responses to climate change and urban resilience.
MBKS Mayor Dato Wee Hong Seng visited the site on Friday (Aug 8) to meet students and residents, underscoring the city’s commitment to inclusive, youth-led, and participatory urban regeneration.
“The Kenyalang community has long stood out as a vibrant model of cultural identity and grassroots participation.
“The return of CYCU is more than an academic initiative, it’s part of a shared vision for a more sustainable and inclusive Kuching.
“By welcoming fresh perspectives and listening closely to community voices, we are laying the groundwork for practical, people-centred solutions,” he said in a media release today.
MBKS expressed its intention to continue working closely with local and international institutions, as well as professional collaborators, to expand opportunities for innovation, empower youth leadership, and co-create urban spaces that are sustainable, resilient, and deeply rooted in community life.
Sponsored by Daitti Hardware Sdn Bhd and facilitated by local architectural firm Arkitek JFN Sdn Bhd, the programme is structured into three interconnected modules.
Module One focused on observation and documentation. The team conducted in-depth observations in Kenyalang’s Traffic Garden and surrounding neighbourhoods, recording how elders, youth, children, and families use public spaces. Their study examined behavioural patterns, daily rhythms, environmental conditions, and social dynamics to understand how everyday life is tied to cultural identity and spatial memory.
Module Two zoomed into design development. Drawing from the findings, the students developed a design for a mobile, climate-responsive public installation to encourage interaction among diverse community groups and foster a stronger connection with nature. The design features local materials and modular systems suited to the tropical climate and adaptable to community needs.
Module Three elaborated on prototyping and interaction with the team set to construct the installation and hold participatory engagement sessions with local residents. These sessions will test the design in real-life conditions, activate public space, and serve as a potential model for similar projects in other neighbourhoods. — DayakDaily
