Manoeuvering orang seletar’s adaptation to modern lifestyle with housing as catalyst

Abstract

Orang Seletar (the People of Seletar) has played a major role in the historical development of Johor Bahru. The resettlement of this community from the sea to the land due to various development policies during the last few decades has had an impact on their culture and way of life. They are being forced into urbanized dwellings which may lead to a cultural fatality if the appropriate steps are not taken. The current housing scheme allocated to them by the Government in Kampung Bakar Batu is creating further damage to their identity and culture which were not taken into consideration when building those houses. The environment is not conducive for this community to flourish and enhance their identity in the face of development. The aim of this study was to suggest strategies to manoeuvre the Orang Seletars adaptation towards a modern lifestyle without compromising their significant cultural traits; and an effective housing scheme has been identified as a catalyst for that. The research objectives were to identify the significant sociocultural traits of the Seletar community in relation to their settlement, to identify their physical housing needs in a modernized society, and to suggest design strategies that can help them to adapt their lifestyle that can make their life economically more sustainable without compromising their socio-cultural base. Data was collected through literature, observation, interviews, and case studies. The data was then analysed qualitatively, and further discussed in order to propose design strategies as probable solutions. The findings of this research suggested that the Seletar community prefers to live in a rather informal setting, where they are free from boundaries to limit their activities. Furthermore, water plays a major role in their daily activities and holds a level of sacredness in their perception. Hence, introducing water bodies strategically in their housing scheme will make them more comfortable, and give them a sense of belonging within their dwellings. There is also a need to create a level of permeability in the units to blur the boundary between the indoor and outdoor since they prefer to spend most of their time outdoors so that they can feel closer to nature. This will also be an advantage in responding to the tropical climate of the site. This study may provide Iskandar Regional Development Authority (IRDA) a second thought towards mass scale development in that area, and give a lifeline to the very existence of this nearly extinct Orang Seletar community.