The paradigm shift: The Penan people

Abstract

Due to large deforestation for the benefit of Malaysia’s economy and advancement, the Penans, a forest-nomadic indigenous tribe from Borneo scrambles through paradigm shifts in their attempt of transition and transformation to a resettlement as they watch their homes cleared away. This phenomenon has resulted in the loss of culture and identity; causing a cultural collision between architectural traditional technology and modern technology. Forced to abandon their traditional temporary nomadic huts, the Penans now live in wooden houses and are subjected to help and support from architects due to limited knowledge and skills in building and maintaining houses. As a minority tribe, the Penans face cultural, social and political discrimination. The Malaysian government and NGOs have provided the Penans shelter; spaces devoid of their indigenous cultural and traditional values. This thesis aims to construct the notion of respect in the form of architecture through anthropological studies, appreciation of the depth of poverty as well as understanding the true meaning of nomadic architecture. Furthermore, it attempts to represent and translate nomadic architecture in permanent design principles. The project harnesses the importance of building ‘process’ and understanding of the methodology and building technique replicated by the nomads each time they move. My visit to one of the Penan resettlements in Borneo has given me great insight into the accessibility of local materials, modern technologies and jointing systems. Drawing on this research, a new series of hybrid jointing technology modular system was formed, inspired from old traditional lashing and new mortise and tenon junctions to regenerate a new methodology that could be replicated and represented as a model in other Penan Villages. To demonstrate and test the potential of the jointing systems, prototypes were made, developed through four different architectural typologies to investigate the potential and functions it can accommodate. This new modular jointing technology is a suggestion towards a new paradigm, an investment for the future and of political help.