Lina Ballita

advisor

"Holy Spirit University of Kaslik | Home" https://www.usek.edu.lb/en/home

Lebanese

creation of living space in the midst of lived misery, creates hope, peace through spaces of… more

Ganang Jelemu offers a sensitive and meaningful response to the ongoing deforestation of Kalimantan and the underutilization of the existing cultural park. The project is anchored in a strong metaphor — that of the forest reinterpreted through architecture where cultural functions are dispersed across the landscape, echoing the spatial logic of traditional settlements. This poetic and politically conscious narrative provides a compelling conceptual foundation for the entire proposal.
The circulation strategy, composed of elevated walkways, treehouse-like structures, and curved paths, invites users into an immersive experience that continuously engages with nature. The renderings effectively communicate this atmosphere, integrating the forest canopy as a central design element. There is a clear alignment between the architectural forms, the forest identity, and material suggestions that reference vernacular traditions.
The masterplan shows a well-thought-out distribution of functions: a public gathering area (amphitheater and plaza), exhibition and learning spaces (galleries, library), and community-based components. This fragmentation across the site allows for organic occupation and promotes informal use. Vegetation is treated not just as a backdrop, but as an active spatial and symbolic agent.
That said, several areas could benefit from further development:

Materiality and construction feasibility: While the renderings suggest a warm and inviting environment, specific material choices and construction methods are not clearly explained. A stronger connection to local resources and craftsmanship would enhance the project's cultural and ecological coherence.
Environmental strategies: Despite the project's forest-inspired narrative, concrete sustainability measures are underrepresented. Passive cooling techniques, rainwater collection, natural ventilation, and the use of bio-based materials could be explicitly integrated into the design.
Program density and efficiency: The dispersed layout gives the project a sense of lightness and openness, but it may challenge daily functionality and user flow. Exploring opportunities for shared spaces without compromising the decentralized concept would strengthen operational efficiency.
Graphic clarity: While visually rich, the final presentation board could benefit from clearer visual hierarchy. The use of color coding, typographic variation, or spatial sequencing would guide the viewer more intuitively through the design process and spatial logic.

A poetic and grounded proposal that successfully weaves together cultural memory, landscape, and architecture into a strong spatial narrative. With more precise articulation of technical, ecological, and programmatic aspects, the project has great potential to become both visionary and buildable.

Clarify Material Choices and Construction Techniques: While the architectural language and atmosphere are well-conveyed in the renderings, the project would benefit from a deeper articulation of materials and construction systems. Integrating locally sourced, sustainable materials and vernacular techniques would strengthen the cultural authenticity and ecological responsibility of the proposal.

Enhance Environmental Strategies: Given the project's strong connection to the forest metaphor, it is essential to reflect this not only spatially, but also technically. Introduce and illustrate passive design solutions—such as cross-ventilation, shading strategies, rainwater harvesting, and natural cooling—to support environmental performance and long-term resilience.

Optimize Functional Distribution: The dispersed layout of the program creates a peaceful and open atmosphere, but could be challenging in terms of usability and connectivity. Consider how program elements could be grouped or strategically connected to increase efficiency, especially for accessibility, maintenance, and visitor flow.

Strengthen the Relationship Between Built and Natural Elements: The narrative of the “forest as architecture” is strong conceptually, but could be reinforced through the design of transitional thresholds, rooftop planting, or integration of tree canopies into architectural volumes. This would help blur the boundary between architecture and landscape more convincingly.

Improve Graphic Communication: The visual richness of the board is appreciated, but the storytelling could benefit from clearer diagrams, simplified icons, and more structured layout. A defined hierarchy of information (color coding, title sizing, zone grouping) would make the design logic and sequencing easier to grasp, especially in an academic or competition context.

Include User Scenarios and Program Activation: To enhance the functional narrative, consider illustrating daily life in the park—how different users (children, elders, tourists, artists) interact with spaces at various times of day or during events. This would demonstrate how the park adapts to real-world use and community needs.