When the architect doesn’t check the engineer’s drawings this is what happens: The truss is supposed to sit comfortably on the post on the left. Lesson learned: Don’t trust other people to do their job properly. Luckily we were able to rescue the situation with some on-site welding and a minor adjustment to the ceiling detailing. No one will ever know!
Construction of a new visitor centre for the Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre (BSBCC) has started. The project is funded by Yayasan Sime Darby and is due for completion in January 2014. This is the final piece of the BSBCC project which we started working on in 2006. The first bear house was completed in 2009 and a public observation deck in 2012. The centre will open to the public in 2014.
We started by demolishing part of an existing building. The foundations will be re-used and all that hardcore will be re-cycled as hardcore for new concrete slabs.
This reinforced concrete frame all comes down. A new steel frame will be built on the existing foundations. All steel and hardcore will be recycled
We’re retaining most of an existing brick and RC structure, just replacing the termite eaten roof and re-configuring some door and window openings.
Demolition sequence and SketchUp of the design proposal. Watch this angle of view as the construction progresses! You’re seeing the view that visitors will see when arriving at the centre.
July-August 2012. Raleigh volunteers design and build enrichment areas at the Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre (BSBCC). The structures will be in the rainforest enclosures to allow the bears to climb off the often flooded ground, while providing shelter from the hot sun and enrichment games for training and play.
The project was funded and built by Raleigh International volunteers
Design facilitation and construction supervision by Arkitrek intern, Adam Leigh-Brown (left). Ng Wai Pak (right) manager of BSBCC perches at the apex of a climbing structure.
The climbing structure is built from reclaimed belian (ironwood).
Ironwood is kinda heavy. This one was reclaimed from the undergrowth at the site where previous Raleigh volunteers had built a bridge and boardwalk.
Tyres are a perennial enrichment favourite. This wall is wobbly and tough. Should keep the destructive bears occupied for a while, unless that is, they prefer to play in the mud.
The enrichment structures are designed with awkward angles and surfaces to make things difficult for the bears. Or is it just to give the arkitrekkers some outlet for willful forms?
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by Maryam Gomary
After working in the office for the past two years I finally got a chance to get some hands on experience. When Arkitrek asked me to facilitate volunteers from Camps International I could not wait to get on the site and get my hands dirty. I was based in Sepilok working by the forest edge at Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre (BSBCC). I had 35 Volunteers and 2 local Sabahans in total to help me to build a composting area for the Sun Bears’ daily wastage plus a board walk for the new forest enclosure. I had four weeks and a limited budget, gapper volunteers with no construction background and some basic tools to start this project. It was all back to basics.
Before we were introduced to sun bears by BSBCC staff not many of us knew what a sun bear was or the danger they are facing due to us humans. During work it was so easy to get lost in my own world at times and forget where I was, until I would realise there was a sun bear next to me in their enclosure, I could just watch them for hours. Some of the volunteers were really engaged with the cause of what we were doing and worked really hard. We were working 7 days a week at times on the site under the Malaysian heat.
We started with clearing the site which everyone got really involved with cutting all the undergrowth and moving all the rubbish off the site then we moved on to making the ground ready for our concrete slab. It sounded easy but without proper tools it seemed impossible at times. To begin with we put 10 tonnes of aggregate on to the muddy looking site which disappeared soon after. We tried different techniques for compacting, at the end we got a huge piece of Ironwood tree trunk which is extremely heavy and made a few handles suitable for 4 people to pick up and drop on the ground. By the end the group was calling compacting the ‘C word’, we all had enough of compacting. After 20 tonnes of aggregate and days of compacting we managed to get the base ready for the concrete slab.
After we had our slab ready it was time to put the posts up. We were using reclaimed Ironwood which made it very difficult to find the right length or thickness of material. We had to put a few pieces together to make the posts into the right size. Cutting these timbers took hours and every time we put a piece together there was a problem with another one. They were either cut incorrectly or rotten from inside which meant more searching and more cutting. This was a really long process finally they were all ready to go up. Watching the first structure going up in the air was a great moment and very rewarding. The team were great…they were willing to stay behind and work hard some even came on the site to help me out on their day off. We even had BSBCC staff helping out mixing concrete; don’t get me wrong it has been really challenging working with some of the volunteers as not everyone had the same attitude and enthusiasm.
Next we moved on to making our six composting bins 1.5meter by 1.2meter rectangles made out of bricks. During the brick laying we had a visit from one of the Orang-utans. He decided to help the group with brick lying. He must have watched the group from far and decided to get involved however he managed to destroy some of the work the group done that day. This was not the only visit we had from the orang-utans. Watching the orang-utans trying to copy us humans, is really amusing, sometimes it`s hard to believe how cleaver they are and how similar they are to us. They can open your water bottle, drink from it, put the lid back on and put it back where it was.
Not only working in Sepilok was completely different and exciting but also was living in a local house. I was waking up every morning to the sound of our cock and trying to run away from our 2 dogs and a cat while eating my dinner in the veranda… Sometimes I had to sit on the railing where the cat could not reach my plate to have my dinner. The Veranda was my favourite place in the house, a great view towards the forest also a great spot for bird watching.
Working on this project was really challenging at times, I had to make decisions on the site and come up with solutions right away. This has been a great challenge as I have become more independent and more confident in designing and making decisions. I was working really closely with the clients as an architect, site manager, contractor, QS, engineer and a builder at times. Not only have I developed my technical skills but also working in a group and managing the volunteers has also been a great experience. I have been stretched mentally and physically at times. However without the challenges it would have not been the same experience. After a hard day it was really rewarding to see every part or pieces being put together. The experience I achieved is unforgettable and very enjoyable. I will miss all the people that I met in Sabah for the past 4 months and special thanks to Ian and the Arkitrek team to give me this opportunity.
Ed: Now that Maryam and her teams have done all the hard work, this project will be easily finished off by BSBCC staff and individual volunteers
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22 contractors attended a site visit to BSBCC on 3rd June to decide whether to tender for phase II works. Phase I was completed in March 2010 giving us a new bear house and 1ha of electric fenced forest enclosure with capacity for 20 bears. The second phase due to start in September 2011 will give us an observation platform and allow the centre to open to the public in March 2012.
Contractors were briefed in the Sepilok Orang-utan Rehabilitation Centre (SOURC). In the foreground is BSBCC Manager Ng Wai Pak.
The briefing was given by Thomas Chong of Arkitek Summaz. Arkitek Summaz is the architect of record and are responsbile for securing Building Plan approval from Sandakan Town Council for the BSBCC development.
After the air-conditioned comfort of the SOURC we dragged the contractors into the forest to see the project site.
“how to carry materials in, ah?” they complained.
“can build road, ah?” they pleaded.
“cannot, oh!” they were told firmly by Puan Jum Rafiah, the Sabah Wildlife Dept. officer in charge of the BSBCC construction
“angkat tangan, lah” (carry by hand) we suggested helfpully.
The grumbling continued, while some were quite and one lauded our decision to use a steel structure. Easier to carry steel than concrete he observed. A bear made an appearance on cue and we ajourned to the sepilok cafeteria for teh tarik.
Subsequently a healthy number of contractors tendered and the tender report is due in two weeks’ time. We’ll annouce the winner at the end of July.