The document is a case study on contextual architecture that examines the Belum Rainforest Resort in Pulau Banding, Malaysia. It discusses how the contemporary design of the resort approaches the local nature and culture through its building elements and materials. The resort uses clustered designs, staircases, and open roofs to harmonize with the surrounding natural landscape. Materials like bamboo, timber, and rammed earth are used to achieve sustainability and blend the resort into the environment. The document analyzes how the resort's design applies contextual theories of place, poetry, and picturesque to respect the site context.

1. Asian Architecture [ARC 2213/2234]
PROJECT 1: CASE STUDY
Comtemporary with Contextualism
NAME: Ho Leon
STUDENT ID: 0310402
LECTURER: Ms. Shahrianne
SUBMISSION DATE: 11/ 11/ 2014

2. Comtemporary with Contextualism
Table Content
Abstract
1.0. Introduction
2.0. What is Contextualism or contextual architecture?
2.1. Why is context important?
3.0. The approach of comtemporary architecture,Belum Rainforest Resortto the nature and culture
of Pulau Banding.
3.1. Building elements
3.2. Building materials
3.2.1. Bamboo
3.2.2. Timber
3.2.3. Rammed Earth
4.0. Relationship between Contextualism and sustainability
4.1. The other building elements and building materials of Belum Rainforest Resort Phase
1 and Phase 2 that achieve sustainability.
4.1.1. Building elements
4.1.1.1. Corridors
4.1.1.2. Paneled walls
4.1.1.3. Pitched roofs
5.0. Contextual theories applied in Belum Rainforest Resort with the nature of Pulau Banding
5.1. Place Theory
5.1.1. Implementation of Place Theory in Belum Rainforest Resort
5.2. Poetry and Pictureque

3. 5.2.1. Implementation of Poetry and Pictureque in Belum Rainforest Resort
6.0. Challenges faced by the other architecture in Pulau Banding
6.1. Luxury Villa Aerial
6.2. Tanjung Satu Orang Asli Village
7.0. Conclusion
8.0. Reference

4. 1.0. Introduction
Why there is Belum Rainforest Resort because it is because of the passion, love and
appreciation towards the nature by the director of EMKAY, Tan Sri Datuk (Dr) Haji
Mustapha Kamal bin Haji Abu Bakar.
This is my research questions:
1. What is contextual architecture?
2. How is the comtemporary architecture (Belum Rainforest Resort) actually
approach the nature (Belum Rainforest)?
3. What are the contextual theories applied on Belum Rainforest Resort with the
natural surrounding?
4. What are the challenges faced by the Belum Rainforest Resort in Pulau Banding?
5. How did the materials, facades and the planning of Belum Rainforest achieve a
unity and harmonious relationship with the nature fo Pulau Banding?

5. Abstract
What is contextual architecture? According to Curl (2000), contextual architecture is also
called Contextualism. The term suggests an architecture that responds to its surrounding
by respecting to its surrounding by respecting what is already there, unlike Contructivism
or Decontructivism which deliberately work against established geometries and fabric. The
purpose if conducting this research paper is to study the Comtemporary (modern
architecture) with Contextualism (contextual architecture)e and identify the approach of
Belum Rainforest Resort (comtemporary architecture) to the nature of Pulau Banding .
After the approach is discovered, the relationship between the Belum Rainforest Resort to
Pulau Banding will be further research, and will lead to in depth studies.
There is a statement stated that Contextualism actually destroyed the identity of the
building (Cizgen, 2012). But according to the lecture given by Ar. Khoo, who is
responsible to design the Belum Resort Rainforest Phase 2, he is not really mad about
complying with nature, but very appreciate it. Contextualism of Belum Rainforest seems
very naturally applied and very feeling-touched, but it requires certain theories to design
too. According to Cizgen (2000), he discovered the two concepts regarding Place Theory
in regards of Capon (1999):
1. Movement concept: Activities in the steps, alleyways and streets leading to one
another.
2. Enclosure concept: Definition of space.

6. The purpose of this paper also gave the opportunity to find out more about the challenges
faced by the Belum Rainforest Resort when the materials, facades and the building
planning were involved in the design and building of the resort. Furthermore, to learn the
mutual understanding between them to achieve a unity and harmonious relationship.
Contextualism is not about preserving the historical value of the land, but also a practice
that can actually enhance and extend the value. According to the architect that designed the
Belum Rainforest Phase 2, he actually foreseen the look of his building in the future.
Nature is the host, the master, we are building on it, mutual respect is needed. Is not up to
us to decide how our building should be, is a language spoke between nature and the
building that make the building construct itself a shape. Louis Kahn once said: “What does
the building want to be?

7. 2.0. What is Contextualism or context architecture?
In this modern days, contextual architecture is widely practiced in the urban city areas.
“Context” is an English word borrowed from the Latin word “contexere” which means to
merge together (El-Shorbagy, 2013). Contextualism also defined as the aesthetic position
that a building or the like should be designed for harmony or a meaningful relationship
with other such elements already existing in its vicinity (“Contextualism”, 2014).
According to Curl (2000), it is also a term that suggests an architecture that responds to its
surrounding by respecting what is already there, unlike Constructivism or Decontructivism
which deliberately work against established geometries and fabric.
According to the etymological manner statement made by Johnson (as cited in Cizgen,
2012) about Contextualism that expresses the relationship and the architecture context, he
said that:
“Derived from the Latin word “contexere”, which means weaving together, the word
“context” can be described as “the setting of an event, composition, or text, in the sense of
describing the spatio-temporal parts immediately preceding or following that determine its
meaning." The word “contexture” which is no longer in use, can be considered to be more
specific for the field of architecture as it has the following meaning: "the weaving together
of words and sentences, or the structure of a composition." Although the adjective
“contextual” is being used instead of the adjective “contextural”, bearing in mind the
architecture textural, this words evokes the essentials of architecture such as the mix of the
elements, the tactility of surface, the perceptibility of material property, the cue to scale as
well as sign of handiwork. When modern architectural usage is considered the word context

8. may have more than one meaning. It may refer to the physical built fabric in which a project
is situated, it may refer to the ground, or it may refer to the environment in which the
architects work taking into consideration the culture, history and other aspects.”
2.1. Why is context important?
Context is a defined as the set of circumstances or facts that surround a particular event,
situation etc. (“Context”, 2014). Every site context has a story that communicates visually.
The story of the context will share why and what is the individual happenings or business
behind it (Bradley, 2014). According to Cizgen (2012), we are able to identify a solution
to every problem we had faced with the completeness or unity of context. Nesbitt (as cited
in Cizgen, 2012) stated that the foremost belief behind Contextualism is every knowledge
is context related and it is important to understand every knowledge which has the
relationship with context itself.
Besides, under the help of contextual thinking, with the meaning of a method of diagnosis
in which the practitioner evaluates a patient's symptoms as an individual segment in a
complex continuum rather than an effect of a specific cause or influence (“Contextual
thinking”, 2014) will enable us to think critically without making assumptions or being
stereotype on certain situations, we are able to come out with a long term solution instead
of temporary.

9. According to Cizgen (2012), just like in the modern school days, when we answer the
subjective questions of the essay question, it is impossible to understand the whole essay
with just reading one opening paragraph. Essays were made up of paragraphs, paragraphs
were made up of sentences, sentences were made up of words, and words were made up of
letter. The accumulation of all these elements, details and relationships actually made up
the totality, just like context is made up of one whole unity and it can’t be separated or
divided.
3.0. The approach of comtemporary architecture, Belum
Rainforest Resort to the nature and culture of Pulau Banding
Figure 2: A screenshot the site of Belum Rainforest Resort. Source: http://www.panomatics.com/nextgen/my/belumrainforestresort/
Phase 1
Phase 2
Reception
Sidai Restaurant

10. According to Capon (as cited in Cizgen, 2012):
“Buildings… like so many people all talking at once,” said Le Corbusier. Louis Kahn also
noted that: “Society of spaces talking to each other in a plan.”
Belum Rainforest Resort Phase 1 and 2 (contemporary architecture) approach Pulau
Banding (nature) by building elements and building materials to achieve a unity and
harmonious relationship.
“Always design a thing by considering it in its larger context: a chair in a room, a room
in a house, a house in an environment, an environment in a city plan,” quoted by Johnson
(as cited in Cizgen, 2012). The Belum Rainforest Resort building plan is designed like the
topography of the Pulau Banding’s nature.
3.1. Building elements
Clustered design is applied in the building planning of Belum Rainforest Resort Phase 2.
One of the definition for the word “cluster” is a group of buildings and especially houses
built close together on a sizable tract in order to preserve open spaces larger than the
individual yard for common recreation (“Cluster”, 2014). Clustered Phase 2 is actually a
suitable design that best describe the randomness and disordered pattern of the nature. Just
like the pattern of the growing trees, they grew naturally with no order.

11. Figure 3: Staircase of Phase 2.
The staircase of the Phase 2 is
designed to let the visitors to
experience the height of the
landscape.
Figure 4: Open roof of Phase 2.
The open roof that maximize the
usage of space on the top which
will let the visitors to get near to
the sky and it resembles the top
hill of the landscape.
The ramp that will let visitors to
feel the slope as in to feel the
hardship and difficulties of the
nature of Pulau Banding.
Figure 5: Ramp connected to the Phase 2.

12. Capon also defined the idea of buildings “talking to each other” as a relationship or
buildings communicating between each other with the site around them and stated that it
is a concept of context. This statement applies on urban context, but it also spoke the same
on the communication of Belum Rainforest Resort Phase 1 and 2 between the nature of
Pulau Banding which result the nature became the design concept of the building.
Figure 6: Cylindrical pilotis in the Phase 2.
The cylindrically pilotis which
resembled more like a tree trunk
which defined the complexity of the
nature. According to Khoo Boo
Siew, the project architect Juteras
Sdn. Bhd., the loosely arrangement
of the pilotis is to optimize the view
to make it more visual transparent.
Cylindrical pilotis
When the visitors actually stepped
on the fibre steps on the stairs, there
will be a sound reaction respond
back to the visitors. To let the
visitors to fee they are surrounded
by the buzz of nature. Besides, the
sound reaction on the fibre steps will
actually make the people feel safe
when they are in the darkness.
Figure 7: Fibre steps that wood patterned.

13. The result of the cripples plant
covered one of the building of Phase
1 will create a forest like
resemblance. It will create a man-
made natural context.
Figure 8: Cripples plant crawled over the surface of the building.

14. 3.2. Building materials
Using the materials which are obtainable from the site is important because it will made
the building unique in the sense of it belonged to the particular site only but not elsewhere.
In both phases of Belum Rainforest Resort, there are some materials that can be found from
the site.
3.2.1. Bamboo
The application of yellow bamboo as building material borrowed the culture and building
traditions from the orang asli in Pulau Banding in Figure 9. Besides it also applied on the
deconstruction wall design in the reception area in Figure 10.
Figure 9: Bamboo design on the safari roof at the reception area. Figure 10: Yellow bamboo as wall design in the
reception area.

15. Figure 11: Phase 1. Figure 12: Phase 2, Traditional Chalet. Source:
http://www.belumresort.com/media_gallery.html
Figure 13: Rammed Earth Wall in Phase 2, Deluxe
Suite.
Figure 14: Rammed Earth Wall in Phase 2, Traditional
Chalet.
3.2.2. Timber
Timber is used as a building materials for the construction of wall panels in Phase 1 and
Phase 2, Traditional Chalet, shown in Figure 11 and Figure 12.
3.2.3. Rammed Earth
Rammed Earth can be obtain from the site (Pulau Banding) which is contextual related and
it is applied as the building material of the wall of Phase 2, Deluxe Suite and the Traditional
Chalet.

16. 4.0. Relationship between Contextualism and sustainability
El-Shorbagy (2013) stated that Contextualism can be valued into three different unique
aspects which is vernacular architecture (Vernacularism), regional architecture
(Regionalism) and Critical Regionalism. In Pulau Banding, vernacular architecture is
practiced in the building of two phases of the Belum Rainforest Resort.
Vernacular is an English word borrowed from the Latin word “vernaculus” which means
domestic, native and indigenous. Besides, the word “verna” also defined as native slave or
home-born slave. The building materials source used to build the architecture or the
buildings in the village by the villagers (local inhabitants) can be found from the site itself.
Even the building construction styles also can be found from the local area. The shapes and
forms of the architecture will be affected by the surroundings climate, culture of the locals
and the restriction of building materials from the site.
The definition of the word “sustainability” means the ability to be sustained, supported.
Besides, it is an Environmental Science which the quality of not being harmful to the
environment or depleting natural resources, and thereby supporting long-term ecological
balance (“Sustainability”, 2014).
Whereas in Pulau Banding, the orang asli there actually practiced their tradition and culture
vernacular architecture. Just like what Johnson (as cited in Cizgen, 2012) had stated,
architects should take consideration on the aspects like: culture and history etc. The
architects here also refer to the orang asli builders that able to comply with the context
(restricted building materials, climate and their culture) to build a sustainable building
design which no harm to the surrounding.

17. 4.1. The other building elements and building materials of Belum
RainforestResortPhase 1 and Phase 2 that achieve sustainability
4.1.1. Building Elements
Figure 16: Modern chalet in Phase 2.
Corridor
Paneled walls
Pitch roof
Figure 15: Traditional orang asli house at Tanjung Satu.
Corridor
Paneled walls
Pitch roof
There are some building elements
resemblance that can be found from
the traditional orang asli house and
the modern chalet building design
which are the corridors, paneled
walls, and pitch roof.
Figure 17: Traditional orang asli house at lower Belum.
Photo by Deidre Zhang.

18. 4.1.1.1. Corridors
People no need to squeeze around to get to the next space which increase the comfort and
free circulation decrease the heat accumulation in the sapce. Besides, corridors which also
provide natural lighting.
4.1.1.2. Paneled wall
Louvered paneled walls in the modern chalet actually helped to prevent rain water from
entering the house.
4.1.1.3. Pitch roof
It is very good in draining of rainwater. In order to obtain thermal comfort, the roof will be
added with insulations.

19. Figure 18: Sun shading by bamboo planting in Phase 1.
4.1.2. Building Materials
4.1.2.1. Bamboo
According to Figure 9, the safari roof consist of an air ventilating gap which act as a natural
heat recovery and insulating system for the hot water from air-conditioning system (Ooi,
1998).
In Figure 10, the decontructive wall design actually act as sun shading device and protect
the visitors from the rain.
Bamboo is a sustainable material because it grows very fast and easy to maintain once we
used it. And it also provide sun shading.
4.1.2.2. Timber
Timber is a good heat insulator because small air traps actually resist the heat transfer.
Besides is easier for timber to keep the building in thermal comfort zone because it requires
a small external energy.

20. 4.1.2.3. Rammed Earth
Rammed earth can absorb heat in daytime but release heat at nighttime, which will cool
down the space. It has low maintenance cost which did not require much human energy to
work on it too much. It is organic and fresh because there is no need of termites or any
insects repellent to prevent it from erosion.
5.0. Contextual theories applied in Belum Rainforest Resort
with the nature of Pulau Banding
5.1. Place Theory
According to Capon (as cited in Cizgen, 2012), he stated that there are two concepts in the
place theory:
1. Movement concept: Activities in the steps, alleyways and streets leading to one
another.
2. Enclosure concept: The definition of space.
5.1.1. Implementation of Place Theoryin Belum RainforestResort
In the recent days, place theory actually successfully assist the approach of context and
influenced the carrying out actions (Cizgen, 2012). Nesbitt (as cited in Cizgen, 2012)
actually state that Schumacher made a statement about modern architecture actually

21. Figure 19: The pathway that connected theprivate spaces and the public spaces in Belum
Rainforest Resort Phase 1.
distanced itself from the outer world and cause an imbalance space arrangement of
common or public living areas.
Cizgen (2012) also noted that this theory also created a structure or a bridge that join the
historical and the contemporary contextually. Furthermore, it also create a sense of
belonging for the elements which explained and highlighted the importance of space or
venues.
Beaver (as cited in Cizgen, 2012) gave attentions to “Contextual intervention: a sense of
place” that narrates the buildings’ facades are the city’s street and public spaces. The
clarification between public space and private space is very clear which the exterior walls
are supposed to mediate both spaces, and draw an edge to define.
Refer to what Beaver said, there are some similarities that can find in Belum Rainforest
Resort Phase 1. The pathways are the facades, the saplings screen walls actually act as an
element that creates an enclosure, create an edge to define two spaces, which mediate or
separate the private space (visitors’ rooms) with the public space.

22. 5.2. Poetryand Pictureque
In the year 1996, Nesbitt (as cited in Cizgen, 2012) highlighted the exterior of the buildings
including the visible and touchable façade, texture and shape and even the building
materials will finally got an abstract meanings when they are included together. The sense
of space of certain place is not built up by the visible and touchable details (quantitative)
of the space itself but also the combination of abstract (which is the qualitative) aspects
and those poetic feelings. In order to live up the space, “atmosphere” and “character” must
be included in it. The theory of Poetry and Pictureque is a new theory formed from the
overlapping of Place Theory and Contextualism (Cizgen, 2012).
5.2.1. Implementation of Poetry and Pictureque in Belum Rainforest
Resort
Poetry and Pictureque is important to discuss the unity of tradition, history or vernacular
design with some supporting nostalgic pictures of Belum Rainforest Resort and the nature
of Pulau Banding. According to Cizgen (2011), the form of Contextualism can be
expressed like wildfire from the stories from the past and some nostalgic memories. Capon
(as cited as Cizgen, 2012) stated that Frank Floyd Wright stressed the importance of this
theory by writing “Poetry of form is as necessary to great architecture as foliage to a tree.”
Le Corbusier also notes that the existence of architecture depends on the poetic emotions…
Poetry can be defined as art, senses’ emotions, it appreciates the joy. “Poetry!” said Le
Corbusier that this word must be stated publicly.

23. Figure 20: The context of Tanjung Satu. An interaction between people, culture, tradition, history and nature.Photo by Lim Fou
Sing.
Figure 21: A contextual design that allows the nature to be the façade of the building, Phase 1, hotel building.
From Figure 20, the context as unity is shown. The landscape of Tanjung Satu is telling a
story by letting the visitors to experience the high, low and slopes of the landscape. Sit
inside the traditional building, imagined what happened in the space.

24. Figure 23: Luxury Villa Aerial.
Whereas Figure 21, the warm sunlight give an image of the building is willing to give up
its appearance to let the plants to cover it up to become its new face.
6.0. Challenges facedby the other architecture in Pulau Banding
6.1. Luxury Villa Aerial
Luxury Villa Aerial
Tanjung Satu Orang
Village
Figure 22: Location of the other architecture in Pulau Banding. Source:
http://www.panomatics.com/nextgen/my/belumrainforestresort/
Phase 1 and 2

25. Figure 24: Tanjung Satu orang asli village. Photo by Lim Fou Sing.
It is a VIP hotel which consist of eight rooms which only one room is restricted from
staying. The challenges faced by the villa were the disturbance of the monkeys. And for
the bigger animals like elephants and white boars, the electric shock circuit that placed in
from the villa 1 Kilometer away in the forest will prevent them from getting near to the
villa.
The architecture challenges faced by the villa itself is how to build to sit on the non-uniform
slopes. And how to create a contextual architecture despite the frame of the villa already
so high profile. The exterior of the villa looks contextual with low profile look which did
not overpower the site context, but culture and economy wise it is high class and maybe
middle class people can’t afford to stay on such high cost accommodation. According to
the keeper of the house, the house sometimes will be empty for a long time.
An architecture which cannot serve its function to the community is just a waste.
6.2. Tanjung Satu Orang Asli Village
In 2011, there was a flood happened there that caused the villagers shift their place of living
to somewhere else. According to the forest ranger from Belum Rainforest Resort, the water
level actually rose to Land 2.

26. The soil condition at Tanjung Satu is not consistent, therefore when buildings need to be
built there, deciding of using which foundation is a very important decision.
Land 1
Land 2
Land 3
Land 4
Section A-A’
Land 1
Land 2
Land 3
Land 4
Section A-A’

27. 7.0. Conclusion
There will be arguments made between “our designed building need to reject context” and
“we should design our building according to our site”. There are pro and con even if we
stand on one of the statement. If the building design actually reject the context, it will stand
out as an individual, and the identity of the design is preserved. But if we designed our
building according to the site context, although there is no identity of itself, but it actually
reflect the site story, the poetic feeling of the site and convey a nostalgic memories to us.
Contemporary (modern) buildings nowadays focus more on unique identity which appear
to express more art value than architecture value (Hillman, 2014).
He also stated, “Art is a form of self-expression with absolutely no responsibility to anyone
or anything. Architecture can be a piece of art, but it must be responsible to people and its
context.” (Hillman, 2014)
Lastly, as stated by Cizgen (2012), Louis Kahn actually said, “What does the building want
to be here?”
I thought we should really consider about the value of contextual architecture. Actually is
not about that selfishness that wanting to develop our own design only, design is for the
community, design is for the people.

28. 8.0. Reference
1. Curl, J.S. (2000) contextual architecture. A Dictionary of Architecture and
Landscape Architecture. 2000. Retrieved October 27, 2014 from
Encyclopedia.com: <http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O1-
contextualarchitecture.html>
2. “Sustainability”. Retrieved October 27, 2014 from Dictionary.com: <
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/sustainability?s=t>
3. “Vernacular”. Retrieved October 27, 2014 from Dictionary.com: <
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/vernucular?s=t>