BUJANG VALLEY

Bujang Valley is located near Merbok, Kedah between Mount Jerai in the north and Muda River in the South, approximately 224 km2 , it contains sprawling historical complex and also one of the richest archaeological site in Malaysia.

Merbok, Bujang Valley, Kedah

Group Members:Cheong Siew Ying

0314618Chia Wee Min 0315186

Tan Zi Cin 0314079Teoh Hui Yu 0313701

Wong Voon Yin 031151

Human & CulturalMerbok, Bujang Valley,

Kedah

Bujang Valley stretched from Mount Jerai in the north to the Muda River in the south and the Straits of

Melaka in the west. In old time, Bujang Valley was the centre for

international trade and shipping passing through the Straits of Melaka.

Before...

Mount Jerai is the highest peak in Kedah and north Malaysia. It was the imposing peak of Mount Jerai that first captivated the

traders travel from the Far East to anchor at Bujang Valley. It was the landmark for the sailors at sea.

Before...

Strategic location between the sailing journey of China and India, it was a perfect spot for the traders to shelter themselves as they

wait for the monsoon season to pass.

Before...

During the monsoon seasons, traders from China and India stayed in Bujang Valley and created a trading centre in Bujang Valley, trading goods from their country such as textiles and ceramics from China, spices from India. In return,

they will get the local forest harvest, shelter and other resources. In 3rd century, locals have been sailing long distance across the Bay of Bengal

for trading rainforest product. In return with metal and textiles.

Before...

Before...The discovery of the furnace, tuyere, iron ores, iron slags, charcoal and ash showed that Bujang valley was an iron smelting site which actively used from 3rd – 5th Century AD. Bujang Valley was widely

known as “Kadaram”(Sanskrit: Iron)

By 7th century, trade with the Chinese, Indians and Arabs merchants in the Straits of Melaka had increased tremendously and the Bujang Valley

evolved into an enterpot. Bujang Valley was believed to be the first enterport in Southeast Aisa- via its sea route- to link an alternative route to East and West Asia. This road

known as Spice Route.The 3 main rivers that involved in trade route are: Muda River, Merbok

River and Bujang River.The prosperity of Lembah Bujang end when the emergence of Sultanate of

Malacca in the early 15th Century.

Before...

Present...Now, what remains of their once magnificent empire can be found in the candi or temple ruins that dot this sprawling historical complex.

For now, some candi are displayed and reserved at the archeological museum area and open for public to visit. Local people come to the site for yoga, meditation and

jogging.

Present...

Site SurveyMerbok, Bujang Valley,

Kedah

KEY PLAN

KEY PLAN Wess Malaysia

KEY PLANPOSITION : 5°44’ 15.60’’ N 100°25’14.94’’ E

CONTEXT PLAN

LEGENDS

CONTOUR LINE

BOUDARY LINE

TREES

WATERFALL

MASTER PLAN

Topography

SECTION B-B

SECTION D-D

EXISTING GALLERY 1

ROUNDABOUT

ROADROADSURAU

ROADROAD

WATERFALL 2

WATERFALL 1

ROADROAD

Existing StructuresMerbok, Bujang Valley,

Kedah

Wakaf

Function: The purpose of wakaf being built in Bujang Valley site was to clarify that the property of land had been endowed for public use and it provide the visitors a place to rest by sitting and laying.

Architecture Style: Malay vernacular style

There are total of 5 wakaf that can be found in Lembah Bujang archeological site:

- Wakaf Queda- Wakaf Chleh-Cha- Wakaf Kalah- Wakaf Kadaram - Wakaf Kalangan

-Open air pavilion made of wood-Four columns -Low platform-Hipped gable roof

Archeological museum

Function: To carry out research work and archaeological excavations as well as to exhibit protohistoric or pre-Islamic artifacts from Bujang Valey historic sites.

Purpose of this museum is to preserve, conserve and disseminating knowledge about the history of this ancient settlement and kingdom in Bujang Valley known as Ancient Wonder of Kedah. Besides, it act to create the awareness of the Kedah’s rich heritage, multi racial cultures and natural environment to assist the government in promoting and developing the tourism.

Architecture Style: ---------

-Symmetrically balance-Different sizes and geometry-

Vegetations & HydrologyMerbok, Bujang Valley,

Kedah

Hydrology on Site

Moisture on Site

Denser

Dense

Less dense

Density of Vegetations

LEGEND

MolaveScientific name: Vitex parviflora

Origin: Native to Malaysia

Appearance: medium sized deciduous tree with an open wide-spreading

crown

Growth: up to 30 metres tall, the bole is up to

125cm in diameter and sometimes buttressed

Location: Behind of museum

Flamboyant

Scientific name: Delonix regia

Origin: origin in Madagascar, introduced

to South East Asia

Appearance:  Short trunk; root-like

buttresses; wide spreading umbrella

shaped crown; about 25 pairs of leaflets per

pinnae; abundant, showy red flowers

Growth: 15 m tall with short trunk

Location: entrance and in front of museum

Red Lip Scientific name:

Syzygium campanulatum

Origin: Native to Malaysia

Appearance: evergreen tree , shrub-like, young leaves bright reddish-

orange

Growth: growing up to 2 m to 30 m tall, 20 - 70cm in diameter

Location: Behind of museum

Ruffled

Fan

Palm Scientific name: Licuala grandis

Origin: originates in South East Asia

Appearance:  a single trunk and

glossy, dark green whole leaves 

Growth: height of approx.. 2 m

Location: beside the river stream and surrounding of

museum

Lipstick Palm Tree

Scientific name: Cyrtostachys

renda

Origin: Native to Malaysia

Appearance: Pinnate, or feather

like, dark green leaves 

Growth: 10 – 20 ft tall and 1-5 ft wide

Location: Surrounding of

museum

Water Jasmin

eScientific name:

Wrightia religiosa

Origin: Native to Thailand

Appearance: Evergreen shrub, white flower with

fragrance 

Growth: grows 20 ft tall and up to one and a half ft

in diameter

Location: Surrounding of

museum

Primary

Secondary

Minor

Human Scale

Major Vegetation Species and Locations

LEGENDMolave

Flamboyant

Red Lip

Ruffled Fan Palm

25%

25%

20%

20%

Others 10%

Major Vegetation Species and Locations

Circulation & AccessMerbok, Bujang Valley,

Kedah

Accessibility to Bujang Valley

From Kuala Lumpur

Bujang Valley

Kuala Lumpur

Transportation:

Route via North-South Expy/E1 Time taken: 5 hourDistance: 434 km

BUS CAR TAXI

MACRO SITE

MICRO SITE

Route from Sungai Petani 20.9 km. Route from Alor Star 70km.

Accessibility to Bujang Valley

70KM

20KM

MERBOK TOWN > ARCHEOLOGICAL MUSEUM2.5KM

20 minutes drives from nearest town

Sg. Petani

CAR TAXI

NO PUBLIC TRANSPORTATIO

N

Density of VehiclesTypes of Vehicles and Users

CAR

BIKES

BUS

27%29%

44%

Tourist / FamilyLocalsWorkers

WorkersLocals

Tourist (Group)

Density of VehiclesAccording to Seasons

LOW HIGH

Normal Days

Weekends

Public Holiday

s

Light Transportation

Heavy Transportation

Bicycles & Motocycles

Pedestrian Walkway

NoiseMerbok, Bujang Valley,

Kedah

Human ActivitiesNature

ClimateMerbok, Bujang Valley,

Kedah

Sun PathThroughout a year

TemperatureMonthly

Highest Day Time Temperature: 34 °CLowest Day Time Temperature: 22°C

Wind Speed and Wind RoseMonthly

Morning 7am – 9am

Afternoon12pm – 03pm

Evening06pm – 08pm

Number of RainMonthly

Views and VistasMerbok, Bujang Valley,

Kedah

View to Site

View to Site

View from Site

Views of site surrounding

Stream beside the museum

Car park opposite museum

Entrance to candi

S.W.O.T. AnalysisMerbok, Bujang Valley,

Kedah

Strength• Quiet, peaceful, no pollution

• Surrounded by nature

• Mostly not disturbed by vehicles (medium and heavy vehicles are only allowed till the car park)

• Rich Historical Value • High altitude of contour at

mountain giving bird eye view of site.

High Altitude

Weaknesses• Museum not open with

nature

• The museum architecture does not suit the site along with the wakaf architecture

• The surrounding of the waterfall is not well maintained

• Not suitable for visitors like senior citizens and disability people to visit candi due to the uneven contour of site and only stairs provided.

Opportunities• Valuable nature areas, by

connecting the site context with the building, framing views and connecting with nature just like Candis.

• Educating site- Circulate users by improving the arrangement of artefacts- telling story of the civilization

• Tourism- Site has high historical value may act as main attraction to outsiders

Threats• Vandalize of the candies as some

candies are not restricted from touching - outsider comes and vandalizes on heritage.

• Candi is not fenced might causing erosion due to human touch and nature climate.

• Non functional wakaf

• Safety signs not provided causing visitors not conscious with the dangerous of site.

THE END.