The ‘Sama Instruments’ are a series of architectural interventions that provide alternative facility to improve their infrastructure, and provide instruments to educate and celebrate their culture. In the hopes of creating an understanding and acceptance towards the Bajau Laut tribe.
The issues for the Bajau Laut (they call themselves 'Sama') begins with them being Nomadic and Stateless. The Sama are a community that thrive in the waters of the Coral Triangle, between the coastal region of Malaysia, Phillipines and Indonesia. As they do not formally belong to any country they are unable to get any of the benefits of citizenship such as education, healthcare and economic support. They preserve a nomadic lifestyle that has existed since 800AD but now suffer many difficulties and deprivations since the freedom to cross borders in this day and age is seen as a subversive act, preventing states from exercising power and control over them.
Within this large region, this investigation is focussed towards Kg Bangau-Bangau, which is a water village in Semporna, Sabah. The population are a mix of marginalised Bajaus, and other ethnics; migrants and locals. What makes the village unique is its proximity to the city of Semporna that had been developed since the 1950s. The village is legalised by the local Government, however basic infrastructure are barely there and representation on these issues and statelessness are often overlooked. This project uses ethnographic research to reconstruct and record digital models of their settlements, lifestyles and experiences and uses architectural research as a tool to explore ways of developing which could support the gaining the benefits of settlement without loosing their liminal heritage.
Aifa Binti Muthuraman