INGENIEUR
INGENIEUR
Photo 2 : “ Factory pre-cut for site assembly modular system ” house assembled on the seashore near Tanjong Aru , Kota Kinabalu , Sabah . Notice that waste materials are discharged from the water closet onto a cone built from sea corals that function by allowing the micro-creatures within it to do the work .
The Sabah State Housing Commission wanted to provide low-cost housing that replicated rural settings so owners could enjoy relatively unrestricted space where they could carry out backyard industries and farming and at the same time enjoy employment in , and the facilities of , urban centres .
For this purpose , ‘ Factory pre-cut for site assembly modular system ’ was introduced . The first model was built in Likas Bay on the northern outskirts of Kota Kinabalu and another near Tanjong Aru .
In view of the lack of most building materials and skilled or semi-skilled construction workers in Sabah , these houses were designed to keep packaging and shipment space to a minimum . All components were factory pre-cut and shaped either in Singapore or Malaysia . The construction design utilised stud framing of 3.75 by 1.75in of finished timber . All floor beams and stilts were 6 by 4in while floor joists were 5 by 2in timber . All stilts sit on precast concrete blocks . The floors were made of tongue and groove boarding except the verandah which was constructed with timber slats with space in-between to help reduce moisture retention .
The cost of construction varied from RM5,000 to RM8,000 depending on the size of the building . Considering that all the building materials had to be imported , the cost was considered appropriate for the Sabah scenario .
The timber construction methods of the 1970s in Sabah reflected a practical and resourceful approach to addressing housing needs , combining traditional techniques with available resources to create functional and affordable homes .
The 1970s public housing policy in Sabah was a crucial step towards improving the living conditions of its lower-income population . The policy focused on providing affordable housing through major land schemes and systematic implementation . Despite facing significant challenges such as geographical constraints , limited resources , and logistical issues , the Government made substantial progress in housing development . These efforts not only provided better homes for many families but also contributed to the overall well-being and development of the state . The achievements of this era laid a foundation for future housing policies and developments in Sabah .
80 VOL 99 JULY - SEPTEMBER 2024