Duduk-duduk is an informal Malay saying which describes a leisurely activity of sitting or relaxing while chatting or eating. This small pavilion is named after this activity to describe its potential use as a place to stop and rest for visitors visiting Kuala Lumpur’s Tasik Titiwangsa Park. It is designed and built for the park in conjunction with the Kuala Lumpur Architecture Festival 2024. It sits at its current location until December 2024, when it will be moved to a new, more permanent one.

The design is a ‘twist’ on traditional wakaf structures: small open pavilions made from local natural materials like timber or bamboo with raised floors and large overhanging roofs. Duduk-duduk is made from timber sections supported off the ground by a steel frame. The structure supports four wooden seats with angled back support. The roof is steeply pitched with a large overhang and is covered with flattened bamboo panels, locally known as pelupuh.

One of the most striking features of Duduk-duduk is its roof. The pelupuh, produced from local bamboo, is cut into uniform sizes with a tapered bottom edge to create individual shingles. These shingles, pigmented in three different vibrant colours, are then arranged on the roof battens in a random array of colours. This creates a lively and energetic roof covering that beautifully reflects the verdant park's greens and yellows, adding a dynamic touch to the pavilion.

The pavilion was built by students from the National University of Malaysia (Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia). Students worked under the supervision of the architect and their campus workshop supervisors to fabricate the pavilion. Most of the work was carried out at the workshop, with a final 3-day assembly at the site. This collaborative process spanned about four weeks, with the students working on days that they did not have lectures to attend. 

As the pavilion will be moved to a new location at the end of the year, the structure’s elements are designed to be easily assembled and taken apart. The steel frame is fabricated in two parts that can be transported using a small lorry. The timber sections are connected using a traditional interlocking jointing system strengthened by nuts and bolts. The roof covering is prefabricated in sections, allowing it to be easily removed when required, with minimal damage to the shingles.   

Completion date: June 2024

Credits:

Eleena Jamil Architect (Eleena Jamil, Adam Aziz Marzuki. Lina Izzati Mohammad, Kirrthana Nanthini Ravindran)

National University of Malaysia (Wardah Fatimah Mohammad Yusoff, Mohd Khairul Azhar Mat Sulaiman, Mohd Iskandar Abd Malek, Zulhairi Yusof, Ikmal Hisham Ismail, Mohd Hijri Bakar, Muhamad Azziad Shamsul, Rabi'atul 'Adawiyah Ahmadul Kamal, Rebecca Sim Lee Sze, Nur Hayani Abdul Jalil. Muhamad Faris Adni Mat Yusof, Ahmad Shukri Ahmad Razali, Muhammad A’rif Noor Azman, Nathaniel Pillay Meyanathan, Muhammad Hazim Syahmi Hakamil)

Photographs courtesy of Eleena Jamil Architect