PAPER PRESENTED IN SYMPOSIUMS AND CONFERENCES AND PUBLISHED IN JOURNALS 1990-2001
Orchard as communal space in urban clustered housing in Malaysia
Ismail Said
Second International Symposium on Asia Pacific Architecture, Spirit of a Place, University of Hawaii, April 7-9, 1997, Honolulu, Hawaii
Jurnal Alam Bina, Fakulti Alam Bina, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Jilid 1, No.1, Mac 1998.
Urban community in Malaysia lack common amenities for interaction. Open spaces for recreation that are accessible are poorly designed and badly maintained by the municipalities. Thus there is low participation by urban dwellers in communal activities. However, the interaction and bondage between villagers in rural communities are strong due to communal activities. One of the popular activities is the harvesting and collecting of orchard products during the fruit season. Relatives, from near and far, and neighbours gathered in the orchard to enjoy the endemic fruits. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to discuss the concept of establishing orchard as a communal open space in urban clustered housing in Malaysia. This is the space for urban dwellers to interact and develop sense of belonging towards the neighbourhood. It describes the characteristics of a typical orchard and elaborates the significance of orchard in terms of economic and social benefits, physiological functions and perceptual values. A neighbourhood model is recommended to show the application of this concept.
Introduction
Malaysia has been experiencing a high economic growth rate of more than 7.5% per annum since 1988. This has resulted in the improvement of the peoples' lives with job opportunities in manufacturing and service sectors to be abundant particularly in the )an areas. The condition has a direct influence to in-migration process of the rural people to the urban areas. The Ministry of Housing and Local Government (MHLG) has estimated that 61.3% of the population will be living in urban area by the year 2000. The population of the nation is estimated at 22.3 million people which means more than 13 million Malaysians will be residing in the urban centers. Thus there is high demand for dwelling units especially in the low and medium cost types. It is predicted that about 281,000 units of houses are required to be constructed in urban centers per year until the year 2020 (MHLG, 1996).
An insatiable housing demand also resulted with the rapid increase of population, higher rate of urbanization and an increase in per capita income. (Zainuddin, 1994). To meet this ever growing demand, the construction of houses has been carried out without proper planning in large homogeneous housing estate. Most planning layout conformed to the Town and Country Planning Act of 1976 by allocating 10% of the housing area as open space for recreational purposes. However, many of these open spaces are poorly located with low accessibility to the residents (MHLG, 1966). The planning of the housing scheme often results in the recreation ground becoming a residual or leftover space in the housing layout. Thus it is common to see a resident using the road in front of his row-house to erect temporary shelters for festive occasion such as a wedding. Moreover, many open spaces are not properly designed to be used by the residents. The lack of basic facilities such as children play equipment and absence of trees to shade are common features of the urban housing scheme. (Zainuddin, 1994). These facilities are poorly maintained by the municipality and often become dumping grounds for disposal of leftover building materials by the residents. These are among the reasons by the residents. These are among the reasons why urban dwellers have low participation in communal activities in the open spaces of housing areas in Malaysia.
In Malaysia. the tradition of communal gathering and participation is still intact in the rural community. The best and everlasting practice in the village is the gathering of relatives and neighbours during the fruits season. Relatives from distant villages or towns will go back to their families villages to harvest and collect fruits from the orchard. Neighbours are always welcome to share the harvest and often they offer exchange of different tropical fruits for the delight of those who come back to the village. The orchard is always the common ground for the villagers to gather, interact and share the products. It becomes the pulling factors to bond the rural community and develop a sense of belonging towads their community. If orchard can be established in urban community, it might provide the same positive values.
Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to discuss the role of orchard in urban clustered housing in Malaysia. It describes the functions and values of orchard as an open space to bond the dwellers. A descriptive model is discussed to explain how the concept of establishing an orchard in a neighbourhood can be acheived.
2.0 Orchard as Open Space
A neighbourhood open space is defined as a park which is of specific use to the community and located on the front of buildings, where it is accessible to the public ( Duany, 1995). An orchard plays the role as an open space for a neighbourhood.
A villager in Malaysia sees orchard as a piece of land in which his house is sited and where a variety of fruit and foliage trees including palms are planted. Most of the fruit trees are planted at the back whereas foliage trees which are consumed as spice, relish or medicine, are located at the front and side of the house. The fruit trees are considered as subsistence crop in which the products are consumed by the household.
Generally. the size of a village house compound Range from 0.25 to 1.0 acres.' Only the species of seasonal and continous fruiting species are commonly planted in the orchard. The seasonal species may include families of Durio, Lansium, Nephellum, Gan Magifera, Artocarpus, Archas and Diospyros. The favourite species include Durio zebithnus, La domesticum, Nephelium lappaceum, Garcinia mangostana, Mangifera indica, Atocapus intergates Archas zapota. The fruiting period is usually once a year with slight variation from region to region. The period may last to 5 weeks in which one species ripens different times than the others. On the other hand, continous species including Caric papaya, Artocarpus heterophyllus, varieti of Citrus and Musa and palms such as Coco nucifera supply fruits throughout the year.
Neighbours are always welcome to share th space and the tree products. A resident often exhanges fruits with his neighbour particularly the fruits which are not available in his neighbours orchards. The practice o sharing has bond the rural dwellers into cohesive community with a strong sense o belonging to the living environment. This sharing practice can even happen during non-fruiting season in which there are certain species which bear fruits throughout the year.
Introduction of the orchard in urban clustered community cultivates the positive value in integrating the dwellers in a neighbourhood. Many Malaysians who live in urban areas cherish the value of going back to their villages during the fruiting season to harvest the orchard products and meet relatives and friends. Establishment of the orchard in their own living environment enables them to practice the sharing values in their own neighbourhood.
3.0 Functions and Values of Orchard
The functions and values of orchard towards the urban community can be discussed in terms of economic, social, physiological and perceptual point of view. These attributes signify the importance of designing and implementing the orchard in an urban community.
4.0 Economic and Social Benefits
Fruits are the main product of the orchard. The quantity of fruit differ from species to species. Within a species, the quantity and quality of fruit differ from one variety to the other. For example, within three to four years, a hectare of orchard planted with Nephelium lappaceum is able to produce fruits at a maximum, of 1200 kg and increase in production to 4400kg when reaching a maturity age of 10 to 15 years (Wan Dannan, et.al. 1993). About 120 to 160 trees can be planted in a hectare of land. Some trees are grown for their leaves, either use as relish or medicion. Premna cordifolia and Evodia integrilfolto are the common relish species planted in the orchard. Some of the medicinal species include Morrinda elliptical, Tamarindus indica and Averrthoa bilimbii. components of a tree used as medicine include the bark, root, flower and the leaf.
Other utilitarian uses of tree or palm include making of brooms from midribs of coconut leaves. Removing the leaf blades from the midrib is a common past-time activities among women in the village. The leaf of coconut and banana trees are also used as food wrap for ceremonial cuisines. Gathering ,the leaves and weaving them into wraps are another collective works for the residents to tract. These interaction can be practiced the urban neighbourhood with an orchard. Studies have shown that access to nature including orchard plays a pivotal role in neighbourhood's satisfication and contribute general psychological well-being as well as physical health (Kaplan, 1983).
The trees provide shade and ameliorate the microclimate (Bruch, 1976) by reducing temperature 2oC to 4o C during the mid-day. finds still penetrate into the orchard since -ees are planted 5.0 to 9.00m apart. Thus ie orchard becomes a suitable space for iulti-functional activities including itbering, resting and playing. It is the IviLayground for children and meeting place for the adults. Hardy, durable and tall tree species such as Garcinia mangostana and Diospyros discolor can become a support for a tree house. Their low branches, sometimes reaching the ground, can be a play structure for children to hang and swing. A pair of rope with seatboard will become a swing when tied to a durable branch of the tree.
Space under the tree canopies can be utilized for ceremonial activities particularly wedding and religious festive events. Communal activities for such celebration begin by preparing the meals constructing temporary shelters among the tree trunks, gathering and eating, cleaning and clearing the space after the ceremony, and dismantling shelters to open the space back to normal. Making the ceremony a successful events are responsibilities of concerned residents in the neighbourhood. Thus the provision of space for such events to happen directly inculcate the residents' sense of belonging to their neighbourhood.
5.0 Physiological Function
The vegetative characters of tropical trees are composed of variety of form, and colour. Most of the trees have den canopies and are evergreen. Viewing vegetative characteristics significantl reduced feelings of fear, and positive effects such as affection and elation were increase (Smardon, 1988). Thus introduction orchard in urban housing is a positive feature in reducing stress and anxiety to the residents by viewing the natural scenery-
6.0 Perceptual Values
The perceptual functions of trees in th orchard are primarly visual and sensory. As the trees and palms matured they composed landscape with array of form, colour an texture. Tall canopied trees and palms, more than 20m high, towering over the houses c become landmarks of the neighbourhood t the visitor. A cluster of coconut palms al the entrance road signifies as a gateway the neighbourhood.
Some seasonal fruiting trees such as Mangifera adorata and Mangifera foelida bloom profusely once a year. Almost the entire canopy turns to scarlet. This vivid effect breaks the monotony of the green landscape character for which residents can look forward for a change.
Some fruits trees exude scents through their flowers and fruits that are appealing and stimulating (Gibbon, 1986). Fruits of Mangifera adorata and Durio zebrihnus are strong scented and adored by many Malaysians. They can conjure up vivid memories of experience being in the orchard, harvesting fruits and socializing with neighbours. To most people, the amount of fruits obtained is not the prime objective but the opportunity to interact and create bondage with fellow neighbours is the ultimate goal.
7.0 Neighbourhood Planning Layout
The implementation of orchard as open space in an urban neighbourhood in Malaysia is possible for the medium to high cost housing types. The suggested residential density for a neighbourhood ranges from 36 to 40 units per acre accommodating an average of 160 dwellers. The recommended size for the orchard is 1.0 to 1.5 acres for this density.
Houses should be floating the orchard and parking areas designated at the back of' buildings and served by access roads.
The orchard shall composed of' two zones, namely, fruit-tree area and open play area coiisistii-ii4 of a minimum of 5000 sq. it of play field or game courts. The fruit-tree area should be planted with a mixture of' seasonal and continous fruit species. An example of' planting composition is illustrated in Table 1.
Tree Species Frtuiting habit trees per hectare Number of matured Fruit Produc. in kg per year Nephelium lappaceaum Seasonal 20 1060 Archras zapota Continous 20 8130 Lansium domesticum Seasonal 20 2500 Garcinia mangostana Seasonal 20 4558 Annona muricata Continous 20 560 Artocarpus integer Seasonal 20 2300 Musa spp. Continous 25 1980 Artocarpus heteropphyllus Continous 15 1850 Table 1: An example of planting composition for 1.0 hectare orchard
Source; Department of Agriculture, Malaysia, 1993
Walkways are required to link the buildings to the orchard and connecting one play space to another. Facilities such as gazebo or shelter and seatings are essential for the residents to participate in the communal activities. These facilities should be constructed under the cluster of trees in which the canopy ameliorate the microclimate of the site. Any existing water features such as stream or adjacent lake should be incorporated in the design layout. Constructing a well with safety measures for children use can be an interesting water feature in the orchard. The tradition of taking bath under a tree as in the village can be recreated in the urban setting and a large existing tree on site should be retained as a ready meeting spot for the residents. Children play equipment can be placed under the trees. The playfield serves many functions including playspace for family and open space for ceremonial activities particularly wedding and festival events. This playfield should be furred and mowed regularly.
The residents must formulate a management program to maintain the orchard and regulate the harvesting of fruits. All residents should participate in maintaining and guarding the orchard. It is an entity which belongs to every residents in the neighbourhood. It is advisable for the residents to form about four to five groups to maintain the orchard according to specific schedule. The maintenance works include pruning, fertilizing, replacing dead or diseased trees, watering, soil loosening, pest control, collecting and disposing rubbish, and mowing furred areas. As the trees matured, lateral roots sometimes protrude above the ground surface. This is an obstacle for the children play space and can cause injury when tripped whilst running. Thus resurfacing the ground with topsoil is part of the maintenance works. Individual house compound should be upkept by the residents themselves.
The neighbourhood leader should plan and inform the harvesting day so that the orchard products could be gathered and equally distributed, This is the day in which residents can cherish the effort of cooperation towards the cohesiveness of their neighbourhood. If the harvests are abundant it is recommended to sell them to obtain cash for purchasing of fertilizers and gardening tools.
8.0 Conclusion
Establishment of orchard in an urban clustered housing in Malaysia is a design and planning process which should be given priority in the planning and layout stage of housing schemes. The Ministry of Housing and Local Government through local municipalities should encourage housing developers to provide the orchard by giving incentives to develop this scheme. The Ministry could promote this idea by setting some examples that would generate confidence to the developer of the viability of the idea. In addition, local municipalities could produce some guidelines for developer to implement the idea.
Having a common amenity, such as the orchard, in a neighbourhood will provide opportunity for urban dwellers to interact towards the cohesiveness of their community. The amenity will become a platform for them to practice the value a sense of belonging which is lacking in many urban communities in Malaysia.
Endnotes
1. Orchards which are larger than 1.0 acres are considered as farmland for cultivation of fruit trees as cash crop.
Bibliography
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