As part of the residential area in an urban area located in Kuching Sarawak, Kampung Sinjan are far behind modernization as refer to its surrounding context. Like all kampungs, they have, over the ages, sprung up organically without proper planning for infrastructure and in some areas where new development proposals by the government are underway to shift these kampungs out of haphazard and disorganised scheme. However, to enter the developing stage towards the modernization, there are few elements that needs to be respected and cannot be left out which is the local Malay traditions and culture which has been already practiced ever since the village was introduced. It was during colonial times, during this time, waterways are particularly important for the trading, transportation and the settlement location. With the vernacular and indigenous settlements of the shophouses (south bank of the river) and Malay ‘kampungs’ along the river (north bank) displayed throughout the area. Until today, the Sarawak River condition are gloomy and less lively due to less of activity shown by the local people. The site is adjacent to the Sarawak River providing some challenges, such as foul odour from unsystematic drainage and sewer at Sungai Sinjan Besar, the houses are clustered too closely without fire safety consideration, roads are narrow and houses are cramped, risk of flooding, and lack of attraction which results from less activity conducted on the site area. Thus, new proposals need organisation and well planning. There is a need to assist the villagers by revitalising the economics of the Sarawak River such as by enhancing more employment opportunities and the ability to grab economic opportunities through tourism by introducing the local Malay culture and traditions. The old Malay villages should not be replaced but to be revitalized to help the villagers and this will also include strong connections to the river as an iconic asset for those living, recreating, and working in the Kampung Sinjan area. This will be the objective as to help the old Malay village to become an urban village which link together with the Sarawak River towards successful development.

The T.A.G residents is an urban village project located in Kampung Sinjan, at the north part of Kuching. Upon the local urban fabrics which surrounded by several major landmarks in Kuching, lies down the 4-storey apartment building with its features of community engaging masterplan programme which stands towards the vision to revitalize the village. Conceptualized as symbiosis which focus on the mutualism relationship between human and nature, each element benefits from the interaction, as human provides culture, tradition, beliefs, and history, while nature provides energy and resources. Thus, a strong relationship between these elements is needed to integrate the ideas into whole design process to create a successful urban village which benefits both residents and the visitors to help develop the village in terms of social, physical, and economical aspects.

Based on the study and analysis done on the selected building of precedent studies, it helps to strengthen the approach of T.A.G. Residents apartment design towards permeable, open & porous design. The main reason is to maximize the use of natural elements present on the site area and helps to reduce the amount of energy used to cool down the building also to provide enough light to the building during the day. Relate the main concept of the design which is based on the strong mutualism relationship between human and nature, this shows that the building can use the resources provided by the nature to support the resident’s needs and to keep the building alive. This building looked to the architectural typology of “private house with a garden,” surrounding each housing unit with a spacious balcony containing a ribbon of lawn and a modular planter system. By giving each housing unit a spacious greenspace, even when the units are stacked, the complex retains a sense of lightness and openness. Each planter can be filled by the owner with plants of different sizes and species to create a natural backdrop, or to serve as a garden for vegetables and herbs. Besides, the garden helps to reduce the amount of organic waste produced by the residents, where the residents can make their own organic fertilizer by bury their organic waste into the planter box and used as organic fertilizers. This will also increase the awareness of the residents and teach the youngsters from their young ages on how to separate their wastes properly and reduce energy waste. The gardens also work as an effective passive cooling system for the building, providing natural ventilation throughout the complex and shielding residents from the hot and humid Malaysia climate. This in return will help to save up the energy consumed by a typical apartment building, reducing the project’s overall carbon footprint and also amount of energy waste to the respected site area thus leads to sustainable design.