JELAGA - COAL HERITAGE CENTRE

City University Malaysia

Amir Shah

Project idea

Background and Personal Motivation.
Batu Arang is not merely a geographic location on the outskirts of Selangor; it is a landscape deeply
etched with the toil and "black gold" that once fueled the nation’s industrial awakening. This report
originates from an architectural fascination with Jelaga, the soot and residue that remains long after the
flame has been extinguished. To me, Jelaga represents the tangible residue of memory, a dark but vital
layer that still clings to the crumbling industrial walls of this town.
My personal motivation stems from the urgent need to transition the narrative of Batu Arang from a
"forgotten relic" to a "living laboratory of innovation." As a designer, I feel a profound responsibility to
prevent this heritage from fading into obscurity. I am driven to demonstrate that industrial waste
specifically coal ash can be reclaimed as a high-performance, sustainable structural element. This report
seeks to prove that architecture can act as a vessel for healing, turning the remnants of an extractive past
into the foundations of a resilient future.

Project description

Objectives of the Project.
The primary goal of this report is to propose an integrated complex comprising an Exhibition Gallery and
Industrial Workshops, centered on three core objectives:
Reclamation of Collective Memory: To design a spatial experience that evokes the nostalgic grit of the
coal mining era, ensuring that the historical significance of the site is felt through immersive,
industrial-tectonic volumes.
Materiality and Innovation: To establish the complex as a local hub for research, exploring the
untapped potential of coal by-products (such as coal-ash concrete and raw steel) as the primary
architectural language.
Socio-Economic Resilience: To provide a dedicated platform for the local community to share
industrial skills and showcase artisanal craftsmanship, ensuring the town’s legacy evolves into a
sustainable modern economy.

Key Components of the Hybrid Program
To fulfill the project’s objectives, the program is divided into three symbiotic zones that reflect the coalmaking
cycle:
The Archive (Gallery): A space for the "Light of Memory," where the history of Batu Arang is
curated through immersive media and industrial artifacts.
The Laboratory (Workshop): A functional zone for "Material Innovation," focusing on the research
and production of coal-ash-based construction materials.
The Forum (Public Space): A communal area designed for "Social Re-ignition," acting as a bridge
between the local residents and the visitors.

Technical information

The Technical Manifesto: Constructing Jelaga
The technical resolution of the JELAGA project is conceived as a rigorous exploration of industrial
tectonics, where construction is not merely a functional requirement, but a fundamental expression of the
architectural narrative. At this stage, the project translates its conceptual foundation into a buildable
system that is both structurally efficient and materially expressive. The building is envisioned as a robust
and high performance envelope that responds directly to the harsh and raw character of Batu Arang’s
mining landscape.
Rather than concealing its construction, the project embraces a language of material honesty, where each
component is clearly articulated and contributes to the overall identity of the architecture. The structural
system is deliberately exposed, allowing users to understand how the building stands, spans, and
performs. This approach reinforces the industrial heritage of the site, where structure and function were
always visibly intertwined.
The structural logic prioritizes modularity and adaptability, ensuring that the building can accommodate
large scale industrial activities while maintaining spatial flexibility. A primary steel exoskeleton is
introduced as the main structural framework, allowing for wide, uninterrupted spans that are essential for
both the workshop and gallery spaces. This system not only supports functional requirements, but also
creates a strong visual rhythm that reflects the repetitive and mechanical nature of industrial construction.

Documentation

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