INTERLOCK

Redefining the Maritime Edge from Boardwalk Line to Civic Maritime Interface in Kukup Water Village

As Kukup Water Village continues to shift between local livelihood, tourism, and changing coastal conditions, its maritime edge is increasingly read through the boardwalk line, while its everyday life operates through a wider field of boats, mudflat access, storage, fishery work, repair, exchange and informal encounter. This project explores INTERLOCK as a condiion-based framework for redefining the boardwalk from a linear access spine into a civic maritime field, activating the under addressed spatial potential of Kukup maritime edge. Using Ayer Masin as a testing ground, the proposal adopts adaptive reuse as a key strategy by retaining existing maritime storage as working edge anchors, while inserting new platforms, tidal access and reconfigurable facade systems around them. Through interface, interweave, interspace and interchange, the project framework transforms the dichotomy of misread between the line and field into a duality condition where maritime work, local life, tourism, exchange and future adaptation can coexist within the existing stilt settlement fabric.

DESIGNER PROFILE

AUGUSTINE TEO KAI JIE

Head of Panel

| Assoc. Prof. Ts. Dr. Khairul Anwar bin Mohamed Khaidzir

Matric No

| MBE241119

Official Email

| augustineteokai@graduate.utm.my

Personal Email

| augustineteo223@gmail.com

Contact No

| 012 8521750

Kukup is a coastal stilt settlement in Pontian, Johor, where dwelling, tourism, storage, boardwalk movement and fishing related activities coexist along the water edge. While the village is commonly experienced through its boardwalk line, its everyday life extends into a wider maritime field of boats, mudflat access, fishery work, repair, storage and informal exchange. The issue is not the boardwalk itself, but the weak spatial mediation between this linear civic spine and the water based field behind it.

Kukup, Pontian, Johor

Conceptual Framework: INTERLOCK

INTERLOCK is developed from the idea of old fabric and new intervention. Instead of replacing the existing village structure, the proposal treats the old maritime storage and boardwalk condition as anchors for new spatial layers. Through interface, interweave, interspace and interchange, the framework connects existing structures, new platforms, movement routes and adaptive spaces into one civic maritime edge, unlocking the full potential of the space.

Condition-Based INTERLOCK Framework

INTERLOCK operates as a condition-based framework rather than a fixed object. It responds to current use, king tide activation, and future expansion by allowing the edge to insert, adjust, and extend over time. Through this, the boardwalk line becomes a flexible civic maritime field that can support both present activity and future adaptation.

Condition Based Framework

Floor Plan

INTERCHANGE

Indeterminate Space Through Adaptive Facade

INTERCHANGE part of the framework explores the adaptability within the maritime edge. Through reconfigurable facade systems, the spaces can shift in between short stay, storage, kiosk, gathering and support use. The facade becomes a flexible threshold that allows the old structures and new interventions to support changing activities over time.