The Nelayan Fishing Village Edu-Tourism Hub reimagines a traditional fishing village in Kuala Terengganu as a resilient, eco-conscious destination that preserves heritage, supports the local economy, and educates future generations. Rooted along Sungai Merang, it integrates architecture, culture, and community to serve as a living hub for fishermen, tourists, students, and researchers.

This project is a riverfront redevelopment Project located on the banks of Sungai Merang river in Kuala Terengganu. It blends traditional fishing village typologies with sustainable architecture methods to serve as a vibrant hub for education, tourism, and local economic development. Drawing inspiration from the local culture, the project’s design features timber stilt structural buildings with bamboo and glass roofing as well as metal reinforcements, ensuring climate resilience and flood adaptation.

The masterplan includes a diverse mix of programmatic spaces aimed at supporting daily fishing activities while inviting visitors to engage with the local way of life. A central Mini One-Stop Unit welcomes tourists with guidance and amenities. The Floating Market (Pelantar Nelayan) and Fresh Fish Market allow fishermen to sell directly from the water and land, while the Boats Jetty supports their docking and unloading needs. A Tourist Center offers educational displays and orientation, enhancing the site’s role as a cultural learning destination.

Productive zones include the Fishing Net & Tool Workshop, a vertical timber structure for craft production, and a Cubic Storage Tower designed for efficient storage using mechanical lifts. The Ventilation Tower modernizes traditional fish drying methods while maintaining heritage practices. An open Community Area and Training & Workshop Center provide spaces for skills sharing, youth education, and communal gatherings.

Public amenities such as the Restaurant and Café (Fish House), Fish Product Sell Points, and Local Crafts Market integrate tourism with local business, offering authentic culinary and retail experiences. The Pelantar Nelayan One-Stop Market combines multiple local goods under one open-air structure. Administrative functions are centralized in the Management Office, while toilets, parking, and walkways ensure accessibility and comfort for all users.

Interconnected by raised timber walkways, each component contributes to an immersive village environment. The architecture emphasizes openness, vernacular aesthetics, and

Most of the buildings are constructed primarily using timber, bamboo, and metal, selected for their sustainability, availability, and adaptability to the local climate. Timber serves as the core structural framework due to its strength and traditional use in Malay architecture. Bamboo is applied for roofing and secondary shading structures, contributing to natural ventilation and lightweight design, while metal is used for reinforcements, joints, and railings to ensure durability and structural stability.

All buildings are elevated on stilts, inspired by traditional Terengganu coastal architecture, allowing for natural cooling, flood protection, and minimal impact on the ground. This design approach is especially crucial as the site is close to the river and experiences seasonal flooding. The foundation system combines concrete footings with timber piles to balance structural strength and ecological sensitivity in soft and water-logged soil.

A network of elevated walkways connects each building, ensuring clear circulation routes for both locals and visitors. These walkways are crafted from treated timber planks and supported by metal frames, enhancing safety while maintaining a natural aesthetic. The overall layout considers passive cooling strategies, such as cross ventilation, open facades, and slanted bamboo roofs with side openings, reducing dependence on mechanical systems.

The vertical structures, including the Cubic Storage Unit and Fishing Rope Workshop Tower, utilize modular timber framing and pulley systems to ease the lifting and storing of heavy fishing gear. All materials are locally sourced where possible, and the construction techniques reflect a low-impact, modular system, allowing for future adaptability, quick assembly, and minimal environmental disruption.

The project integrates traditional knowledge with modern sustainable practices, ensuring that the village is not only functional and culturally rooted but also resilient to future environmental changes.