Site planning and architecture of resort in mangrove forests

Ismail Said, Muhammad Ali Abdul Rahman

International Seminar SENVAR 2000, Institute of Technology Sepuluh Nopember, 23-24 Oct. 2000, Surabaya, Indonesia
International Conference, Commonwealth Association of Surveying and Land, Expanding Relevance & Enhancing Economy Possibilities in a Knowledge-based Economy, 21-24 June 2000, Kuala Lumpur

 

Mangrove forest is a coastal wetland ecosystem dominated by halophytic vegetation growing in brackish or saline waters. This complex ecosystem is formed by integration of variety of plant and animal communities living either as aquatic or terrestrial life. It is among the highest biodiversity ecosystem on the planet with net primary productivity of 2000 gC/m2/yr. The survival of living organisms (plants and animals) is directly influenced by physical and climatic factors that become the limiting factors for their growth. The forest also supports human community whom depends on the plants and animals for sustenance. Modification of the limiting factors would result to detrimental effects to the mangrove forest ecosystem. The forest is a resourceful landscape for ecotourism. It could accommodate resort development when proper site planning and appropriate architecture are applied into the ecosystem. Proper site planning means the layout of buildings is in relation to the intensity of human activity and building development. The architecture should be of low-rise building inserted among the tree stands and spread throughout the site rather than concentrate in small areas. All architecture should be raised on stilt and possibly natural ventilated so that visitors could experience and feel the real ambience of the mangrove forest setting.