Since the last decades, ghost town is town which is rich in history, used to be populated and economic viable. Ghost towns has been created due to abandonment of the local community who are no longer capable to sustain themselves. The depopulations of younger generations, aging, urban migration and decreasing in local businesses profitability contributed large amount in the creation of rural ghost town in Malaysia especially ex-mining town. Therefore, this research paper aim to investigate possible strategies of new architecture that able to contribute to rural ghost town Sungai Lambing revitalization and at the same time allowing community sustainability. To achieve the research aim, literature review on effort and attempt of revitalization to preserve, enhance and treat the historical sites and in the rural context to form a framework of study. Case study as research method to investigate on effort and strategies of ghost town revitalization that has been done internationally supported by interviewing both locals and visitors at Sungai Lembing as primary data will be conducted as quantitative research. A research conclusion could be formed with goal in contributing to designers, planners and academic researchers on approach to rural ghost town revitalization through new architecture. At the same time providing guide for the developers who are interested in this field and benefiting the local communities, visitors and local historical value.

1. A Strategy study on sustainable rural ghost town
revitalization via new architecture in Sungai
Lembing
Keywords:-
rural ghost town revitalization, historical site, ex-mining town, contribution of new architecture, architectural
strategies, Sungai Lembing
Teo Kean Hui 0310165

2. Background
• Ghost town is normally an abandon village or city. (In rural or countryside)
• Was once well-developed and rich until economic failure or events that causing the people no longer capable to
sustain themselves.
• Abandonment due to
• Economic shifting
• Human intervention
• Massacres
• Disasters
• Disease
• Many significance architectural gems, historical heritage, culture and memories in these ghost towns has being
forgotten and cast aside, as the urbanization, time and technology past them through very quickly.
J. Lorraine Ghost Town in Manor, Austin

3. Issue
54% of the world’s population lives in urban areas, a proportion that is expected to increase to 66% by 2050.
Projections show that urbanization combined with the overall growth of the world’s population could add another 2.5
billion people to urban populations by 2050, with close to 90% of the increase concentrated in Asia and Africa,
according to a new United Nations report launched 2014 May.

4. Kementerian Kemajuan Luar Bandar dan Wilayah

5. Problem statement
The local economy could not generate the jobs needed to persuade young people to stay behind, offering only
occupations in forestry and farming and manual labor such as construction work. (Knight, 1994)
In Europe, ghost towns are geographical differences have always brought irreplaceable creative variation to art
and architecture; a source of inspiration for current and future generations. As cultures and society
homogenise, retaining, and not just conserving, Europe’s diverse industrial and agricultural heritage becomes
ever increasingly important.
Rural areas that have strong place identities, formed through the reproduction of traditional cultural practices
alongside contemporary influences. These identities are performed and constructed through a varied repertoire
of knowledge, histories, and customs.
(Beel, D. E., Wallace, C. D., Webster, G., Nguyen, H., Tait, E., Macleod, M., & Mellish, C. (2017).
Like outlaws and cowboys and wagon trains, ghost towns can seem too old-fashioned and unusual to be the
subject of serious thought and inquiry. They seem instead, a more appropriate target for the passions of
amateurish, unsophisticated historians. This dismissal of ghost towns is of some consequence because
conventional approaches – popular or academic – to western American history have not taken failure seriously.
(Limerick and Klett 1992: 22)
Documentation poses difficulties in any historic preservation task, but the problem is especially severe when
dealing with company and resource-based communities. Not only were these communities usually small,
isolated, and short-lived, but they have seldom proved to be of interest to historians and other scholars.
(Alanen 1979: 50)

6. Fraser’s Hill Cameron Highland
Malaysia typical kampungSungai Lembing
?

7. Pekan Papan, Perak Kampung Kepayang, Perak
Bukit Besi, TerengganuSungai Lembing
?

8. Aim:
To investigate on potential contribution of architects/ new buildings to
rural ghost town revitalization to ensure sustainability of the cultural identity
and historical identity. A study on possible ways of rural ghost town
revitalization for Sungai Lembing.
Objectives:-
 To explore the role of new architecture in assisting rural ghost town
revitalization. (lit review & case study)
 To explore on authoritative implication in preserving rural historical
heritage. (lit review)
 To explore on local identity of Sungai Lembing as an architectural input for
rural ghost town revitalization. (precedent study)

9. Chapter1Chapter2Chapter3Chapter4
Background information
Problem statement
Literature Review
Case studies & examples of rural ghost
town revitalization
Conservation Adaptive Reuse New Development Rural Tourism
Sungai
Lembing
(Primary data)
Findings
of suitable approaches for
Sungai Lembing revitalization
Materials and
construction
methods
Social and
community
Geographical
and site
Local culture
and activities
Tangible Intangible
Building
physical
appearance
and aesthetic
Discussion and conclusion
Chapter5
Dissertation2Dissertation1

10. Roles of architecture in reviving rural ghost town
Conservation is a process through which the material, historical and design
integrity of mankind’s built heritage are prolonged through planned interventions

11. 2.1 Authenticity in conservation
The idea of authenticity of historical heritage conservation from different point of view in conservation.
To evaluate on how should a historical heritage consider legitimate?
Understanding on historical heritage evaluation to examine on the historical value on a selected site worth
studying.

12. All judgements about values attributed to
cultural properties as well as the credibility
of related information sources may differ
from culture to culture, and even within the
same culture. It is thus not possible to base
judgements of values and authenticity
within fixed criteria.
In relation to authenticity, reconstruction of
archaeological remains or historic buildings
or districts is justifiable only in exceptional
circumstances. Reconstruction is
acceptable only on the basis of complete
and detailed documentation and to no
extent of conjecture.

13. Stage 1
The building’s architectural design and construction, probably over a period of time, and possibly on the site of an
earlier building.
Stage 2
Its useful life as a group of working buildings with all the alterations and additions that become necessary with
changes in taste and use.
Stage 3
The abandonment of the building for occupation or other functions. On monastic sites there is often an immediate
period of demolition and robbing; in the case of a domestic or defensive building this event might take the form of
fire, siege or obsolescence, and a deliberate slighting.
Stage 4
The building is now a ‘ruin’. A period follows during which the ruins are derelict and the processes of decay
advance dilapidation, possible accompanied by further salvage of building materials and casual use for agriculture
or other purpose.
Stage 5
A period when the visual or ‘picturesque’ value of the ruins is recognised. Some tampering may take place to
enhance the visual effect. This period in the eighteenth or nineteenth centuries includes the deliberate creation of
ruins for historic fabric.
Stage 6
A period when the historical, as well as the visual, value of the ruin as a monument is recognised and attempts are
made to arrest the process of decay and to protect the remains. Records, historical research and accurate
drawings are undertaken.
Stage 7
Finally preservation: a period when attempts are made to stabilise the structure, to reinstate the ruin following
investigation, possibly including the reassembly of fallen masonry, or even reconstruction with new materials.
Chitty G. (1987). A prospect of ruins. ASCHB (Association for Studies in the Conservation
of Historic Buildings.

14. 2.2 Adaptive re-use as an approach
• Seek to bring new life rather than freezing a structure at a particular
moment in time.
• Offers an option that lies between demolition and a museum conversion.
• Temporary uses offer prevention from deterioration.
Conversion of a balding site or precinct from one use to another. Where the site
being reused has heritage value the new use should support the ongoing
interpretation and understanding of that heritage while also accommodating new
functions.
(Brand,S. (1994) How buildings learn. New York, NY, Penguin Group.)

15. Connection by association where in its simplest form, new piece of architecture
can de designed to remind the observer of the other building.
Detailed to reflect the industrial nature of the original building. Wapping’s Tobacco
Dock, London
Sculptural intervention recalls idea of castle basement and strength of the Basque
people. ‘basement ruins’ & ‘historic fortification’. Eduardo Chillida’s Vitoria Square,
Spain
Response to the location where the location and
setting of a historic building can influence the
design of a new piece of architecture on site.
Traditional materials for a modern design to
enhance route to the monument. Fountains
Abbey Visitor Centre.

16. Through monumental meaning the integration of new
architecture into the fabric of historical building.
Street enclosed with glazed canopy. Victoria Quarter, Leeds
Space between building enclosed with modern tent roof, new staircase and
bridges linked the accommodation. The Imagination Building, London.
Connection between new architecture and
historical site through assimilation. Link the old
and new through designing new architecture
generated by assimilation of the existing
element of the site.
Steal frame to delineate the site
and profile of the demolished
house. Benjamin Franklin Ghost
House

17. 2.3 New Development
Bukit Gambang Water Park development
• Injection of new element, new
infrastructure, new facilities and programs.
• New architecture style
• New materials
• Large scale
• New identity & new community

18. 2.4 Rural Tourism
“Improvement and promotion of rural tourism
is a tool that will contribute to protection not
only the architecture, but also the lifestyle,
and keeping the economy vibrant by
suggesting alternative income sources apart
from agriculture, such as rural tourism, are
prominent issues in the maintenance and
sustainability of rural cultural landscapes and
vernacular architecture.”
Danaci, H. M., & ATİK, M. (2014). Rural Tourism and Vernacular Architecture: An Example from
Elmalı, Antalya. American International Journal of Contemporary Research, 4(9). doi:10.30845/aijcr

19. “As far as contemporary rural Japan. If older
rural industries were in decline, there were
examples of other, newer industries being
established. For many areas, the 1980s were a
decade of tourist growth, with Japanese drawn
to the countryside to visit hot- spring and
seaside resorts, shrines, and temple.
Knight, J. (1994). Rural Revitalization in Japan: Spirit of the Village and Taste of the
Country
Oldest onsen in Japan – Yunomine Onsen

20. Roles of architecture in reviving rural ghost town
Narrative
Historical narrative as connection
between the local history, local lifestyle
and architecture.
Responsive
Newly constructed spaces needed to
be digested and included in the
collective narratives of the new life
after an incident. Suggests a strong link
between architectural changes and the
cultural shifts; both simultaneously
influence each other. (Ibid, p. 155)
Framing
Framing the edge of time, active
memory of the history and culture.

21. “Industrial tourism gives us a window into the
daily lives of citizens, a look at how people
spend their time and the way they make a
living, as well as the things that they use every
day to make life run more smoothly. How are
these livelihoods tied to a place’s history,
natural resources, skills and strengths? How
does the community lean on the industry and
what do they give in return? By learning about
local industry, we can put a product or
company in a greater context. And with that
context, we can more fully appreciate the
product and the world around us.”

22. Cornwall and West Devon Mining landscape, England

23. Hashima Island, Japan

24. Making Use of ghost settlements in various purpose. Distillery District industrial settlement with extraordinary
architecture, located in Toronto was established in 1832, it was the largest liquor brewery center of the world and
steered establishment and development of Toronto City. This place transformed into a ghost settlement after
termination of production in 1990. Then, it was revived in 2003 and became the prominent cultural-tourism center
of Canada (Torlak, 2013).
Opening for Tourist Visitors. Italy - Balestrino – This town is located in Toscana territory and has the same
appearance for centuries. As the town was established by San Pietro Prince around 1100s, its historical fortress and
buildings exhibit medieval view. It is open for tourist visitors (Gençalp, Sabah, 2015).
Film Studio. Namibia – Kolmanskop – Upon discovery of diamond in 1900s, the town was rushed by people; and
casinos, hospital, luxury mansions were established in the middle of the dessert. As the demand for diamond
reduced in 1950s, this brought end of the city. Abandoned city was raided by dust of dessert; houses and streets
were covered by sand. "The King is Alive" (2000) and "Dust Devil" (1993) films were shot in this city because of its
interesting scenery. It is open to visitor (Gençalp, Sabah, 2015).
Museum-City. France- Oradour-sur-Glane – During the World War II, Germany brutally invaded by mistake; killed all
residents and burned the whole town. Their real target was Oradour-sur-Vayres territory. After the war period, the
city built on another location. The old town was preserved in the memory of this tragic event. Burnt buildings and
goods witnessing the invasion are currently exhibited in this museum-city (Gençalp, Sabah, 2015).
Opening for Tourism Settlement. Russia - Kizhi Island – The island was developed around the church built in the
16th century. Since there is tough winder season (-40), the residents who were mainly farmers left the island. Then
in 1960, the island became an open archeological museum exhibiting Russian wooden architecture. It was
acknowledged as world heritage by the UNESCO. Main income resource is tourism. All residents of the island have
business in tourism (wikipedia, Kiji,2015)

25. Xihe village, China Pingtian village, China
Corippo, SwitzerlandSanto Stefano di Sessanio, Italy

26. Xihe village, China Pingtian village, China
Corippo, SwitzerlandSanto Stefano di Sessanio, Italy
• Redesign and conversion of barn into community
centre.
• Private to public use.
• Remove walls allowing visual permeability.
• Designed corridor connecting buildings.
• Facilities such as café and museum to support
promoting local cultural characteristic.
• Restoration works searching out original materials,
furniture and textiles.
• Convert medieval villages into almost invisible scattered
hotel.
• Visitors took part in daily life guided by the local.
Learning local baking skills, weaving and craft.
• Conversion of houses into hospitality.
• Program teaching visitors about local culture such as
tea plantation, colouring technique and etc.
• Integrating modernity and traditional in both culture and
architecture.
• Only 12 population.
• Saved by visitors who wanting to see the old heritages.
• Award winning preservation village, preserved originality
and identity of the place.

27. Significance of taking Sungai Lembing as a study.
 It’s a rural town where its geographical location in valley
surrounded by mountains.
 Unique Achievement as deepest underground tin mining in
the world. ensemble is an outstanding technological
ensemble of industrial sites that reflected the rapid and
distinctive industrialisation.
 The identity of Sungai Lembing as the only underground
tin mining in Malaysia.
 Rich in historical value with over 100 years of mining
history since 1888 till today.
 Asia first cinema was located in Sungai Lembing.
 The first hospital in Pahang state.
 The town was a ghost town.

28. 200 meters 200 meters

29. Stage 1: Timber construction, shopstyle style & vernacular architecture
Stage 2: Timber and bricks hybrid construction, colonial style
Stage 3: Contemporary style

30. Local community
1. Satisfaction of living in Sungai Lembing?
2. What Sungai Lembing meant to you? Memory? Culture?
Architecture?
3. Do you like about the new architecture that currently have on
site?
4. Prefer to have protection or conservation towards old buildings?
OR
5. Having a new building that actually reflect to the site history, OR
6. Having new building with contemporary style?
7. Do you support new programs injecting into the existing old
buildings?
8. How about renovating them to for the new programs? Having
partially old/ new?
9. Do Sungai Lembing need of further revitalization or remain as it
is? Why?
10. What do you think Sungai Lembing can actually attract more
visitor/ bringing people back to this place through architecture?
What kind of architecture?
Visitors/ tourist
1. Purpose of travel? (Food? Nature? History? Architecture?
Family?)
2. How do you find here?
3. How long are you staying here?
4. Does the buildings on site reflect the characteristic of the place as
a historical ex-mining town?
5. What kind of building are you expecting to see before traveling to
Sungai Lembing (Expectation)?
6. And what you actually see? (Reality)
7. Should new architecture more dominant in Sungai Lembing or the
old to be more dominant? Why? (you like old or new? Why?)
8. Would you rather accommodate in the old building or new
building?
9. The chance of coming back to SL if everything pretty much
remain as it is now?
10. The chance of coming back to SL if new architecture reign over
the old once?
3.0 Data collection- interviews

31. Satisfaction of living in Sungai Lembing? Agreed due to rural lifestyle, nature, historical enrich their lifestyle and business.
What Sungai Lembing meant to you? Memory? Culture?
Architecture?
Memory of history from older generation along with old buildings.
Retired lifestyle, away from modern technology.
Do you like about the new architecture that currently have
on site?
Locals are ok because they doesn’t interrupt the existing much in terms of location
and building scale.
Prefer to have protection or conservation towards old
buildings? OR
Agree
Having a new building that actually reflect to the site
history, OR
Agree
Do you support new programs injecting into the existing old
buildings?
Agree
Having new building with contemporary style? Disagree
How about renovating them to for the new programs?
Having partially old/ new?
Support on minor renovation, remaining the essence of the originality.
Do Sungai Lembing need of further revitalization or remain
as it is? Why?
Yes, Sungai Lembing is well celebrate on weekends especially in the morning but it
turns quiet towards the afternoon.
What do you think Sungai Lembing can actually attract
more visitor/ bringing people back to this place through
architecture? What kind of architecture?
Community center, tourism hub.
Instead having artefact display in museum, infusing museum into shophouses would
be interesting so that visitors are well aware of what the town really is about.
Tin mining industrial themed design to promote local history.
Local community

32. Purpose of traveling? (Food? Nature? History?
Architecture? Family?)
Attracted by the nature activities supported by food, rural environment as a getaway
and wanting to see historical mining town.
How do you find here? Through friends and family from Kuantan.
Social media for those who are from other cities besides Kuantan.
How long are you staying here? 1 day trip for those who travelled here from Kuantan.
2 days 1 night for those who travelled here from other cities.
Does the buildings on site reflect the characteristic of the
place as a historical ex-mining town?
Yes, the use of material shows the age of the buildings as they’re constructed at
that period of time.
But the design and theme not emphasizing on the industrialize of tin mining.
What kind of building are you expecting to see before
traveling to Sungai Lembing (Expectation)?
Bad condition of old buildings, some newly built buildings serve tourism in Sungai
Lembing.
And what you actually see? (Reality) The shop are still in operating although there’re still a lot of them underutilized.
Would you rather accommodate in the old building or new
building?
New buildings provide cleaner environment to stay.
The chance of coming back to SL if everything pretty much
remain as it is now?
Yes and most likely.
The chance of coming back to SL if new architecture reign
over the old once?
Yes, as long as the nature and programs remain.
Visitors

33. Findings conclusion
Local community
Old buildings meant a lot to them, should be conserve and protect as
they are the architectural gem left behind by the mining history.
To revitalize the town, new buildings such as community hall and
facilities that promote local culture should be implemented reinforced
using local traditional materials, construction methods and tin mining
industrial themed.
Besides, the artefact left in the museum should be integrated into the
town so that visitors can see it and appreciate the astonishing mining
history and method as world longest and deepest tin mine.
Visitors
The activities started to reign over then local historical background as
an ex mining town. Much effort should do integrating the celebrated
activities with local history.
Museum visitors only contributing to minority who travelled here from
other cities as educational trip to their children and buses of
secondary school students who travelled here through school trip just
for the purpose of visiting museum.
By injecting program such as learning local delicacy, lifestyle, things
relating to tin mining and etc would make visitor stay longer.