Joanna Othman [BES090007]

Date: 06 October 2010

BAES 5275 Architectural Design Thesis I
Semester 01, session 2010-2011

Kelong
Abstract
Kelong is a platform structure build by fishermen on sea for fishing purpose. It
is one of traditional methods in catching fish that should be practice in today life
style. The concept of Kelong in catching fish is very natural compared to today
fisheries technique where people prefer to use trawl system that actually destroying
our marine life and their habitat. However, Kelong is a trap which is more to
attracting fish to come and play at the structure of the Kelong it self before they
catch it. Nowadays, there are many transformations happen on the originality of
Kelong design. This is due to facilities provided to cater the number of people
especially anglers who choose Kelong as a transit platform for them to do fishing
and at the same time experience the life on the sea. The issues why the building of
Kelong is not really being practice today are: firstly is the strength of the material
for the structure of Kelong which did not allow it to stand longer; secondly, is
pollution to seawater due to improper sewerage system; thirdly, lack of safety and
facilities provided on Kelong. The concept idea is to design a Kelong which function
as a working platform to fishermen and at the same time expose its concept to
public by allowing them to take part in this fishing life style. The client of this project
is LKIM which propose to design a Kelong for fishermen at Pulau Sayak, Kedah
Darulaman. I choose this topic because I interested in the concept of Kelong as a
fishing tool and I believe Kelong has potential to be as a new method of fishing that
should be practice today in our country. The main design objectives for this project
are:

To improve the design of Kelong in term of strength, service and facilities

provided.
To help fishermen by providing a proper working platform for fishery
activities.
To generate income for fishermen by expanding the function of Kelong for
angling sport activity and promoting it as tourism spot vacation.
To design a new sustainable Kelong which may protects seawater and habitat
of marine life.

The special study that I could address is the structural aspect and material that
suitable and durable for seawater and how the structure used increase the number
of fish in the sea and sustain the marine habitat.