Intuitive Making

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From the site walk, the team gained a comprehensive understanding of the locality, spanning from the mangrove forests and charcoal production to the fishing village and its resources. The elements that is available define the unique character and resources of the site.

The hands-on session emphasized tactile and sensory engagement with materials found on site—charcoal, bark, soil, shells, and natural dyes. Free from the pressure of achieving specific results, this session encouraged spontaneous intuitive experimentation. It opened up unexpected processes and new relationships between material, form, and thought, creating a space for playful discovery and fresh inspiration. Our approach prioritized aesthetic intuition and exploratory creativity over purely functional experiments. Charcoal, in particular, holds great potential due to its natural properties of air purification, humidity absorption, and more.

Discourse

Manifestation

Spatial Adaptation

the resources : Locality

The locality is defined by a close interdependent relationship between the mangrove forests, the charcoal factory, and the fishing village. Each element relies on and supports the others in a dynamic ecosystem of natural and human activity.

The mangroves provide essential raw materials—bark, roots, and branches—that feed into the charcoal production process. In turn, the charcoal factory generates by-products like biochar and ashes that can impact the surrounding environment and community. Meanwhile, the fishing village depends on the coastal ecosystem, utilizing materials such as cockle shells and fishing nets, which reflect the health of the marine environment connected to the mangroves.

Together, these organic and inorganic resources form a complex web of interdependency that sustains both livelihoods and ecological balance. Our collective effort to document these resources aims to deepen understanding of this locality’s unique interconnected system and its potential for further exploration and preservation.

site walk areas

matang mangrove forests reserve

charcoal factories

fishing village

resources found in the matang mangrove forests

MANGROVES

BARK

properties : Organic . Solid . Fibers

Fishing nets and cotton materials were prone to damage after prolonged exposure to seawater. Locals discovered that soaking them in mangrove bark extract could increase the thickness and durability of the fabric and ropes. As a result, they began treating cloth, pants, and fishing nets with this natural dye to enhance their strength, UV protection, water resistance, and warmth. This traditional practice is known as Ni Siap.

因为渔网和棉质衣物长期接触海水容易损坏，当地人发现用红树皮汁浸泡可以增加布料和绳索的厚度与耐用性。因此，他们用红树皮水浸泡衣物、水裤和渔网，以提升其强度、防紫外线、防水性及保暖性。这种传统做法被称为 Ni Siap。

红树树皮

hóng shù shù pí

MANGROVES

PROPAGULE

properties : Organic . Solid . Fibers

The elongated, seed-like shoots of the mangrove tree—are often collected by local communities for various uses. Traditionally, they are used as natural planting material to restore degraded coastal areas and stabilize shorelines due to their strong rooting capacity. In some communities, propagules are also used for educational purposes or natural dye experiments, where their tannin-rich content offers a mild earthy tone.

红树的细长种苗，常被当地社区采集，用于多种用途。在传统上，它们作为天然种植材料，用于恢复受损的海岸地区和稳固海岸线，因为其扎根能力强。在一些社区中，红树苗也被应用在教育或天然染色实验之中，它所富含的单宁成分能带来淡雅的泥土色调。

红树繁殖体

hóng shù fán zhí tǐ

resources found in the fishing village

COCKLES

SHELL

properties : Organic . Solid . Calcium Carbonate

Locals traditionally ground cockle shells into a fine powder and applied it to the skin, believing it had natural whitening properties. Beyond personal use, crushed cockle shells were also used in practical ways—spread over roads and muddy paths to fill potholes, level uneven ground, and improve traction. They were commonly used in landscaping, serving both functional and aesthetic purposes as a local, natural material in the fishing village.

当地人过去将血蚶壳研磨成粉，涂抹在皮肤上，认为具有天然美白的功效。除了个人用途，碎血蚶壳也被广泛用于渔村地面，例如填补道路坑洞、铺设泥泞地面以增加摩擦力、平整不平整的地面。在园艺与景观设计中，它们也常被使用，是一种具有功能性与美感的在地天然材料。

血蚶

xuè hān

DRIED SHRIMP SHELLS

properties : Organic . Solid . Chitin Based Fibers

Kuala Sepetang produces a significant amount of dried shrimp. In the production process, shrimp shells become a low-value by-product, often repurposed as fertilizer or used as feed for chickens and ducks.

瓜拉十八丁盛产虾米。在加工过程中，虾壳成为附加的低价值副产品，常被用作肥料，或作为鸡鸭的饲料使用。

虾米

xiā mi

resources found in the charcoal factory

CHARCOAL

properties : Organic . Solid . Carbon

Kuala Sepetang is renowned for its traditional charcoal production, using sustainably harvested mangrove wood—mainly Rhizophora species. The process involves slow carbonization in brick kilns over several weeks, producing dense, high-quality charcoal known for its long burn time, clean smoke, and natural aroma. Charcoal here is used not only as fuel, but also in health, beauty, agriculture, and air purification.

瓜拉十八丁以传统制炭工艺闻名，使用可持续采伐的红树林木材，主要为红树属（Rhizophora）树种。制炭过程在砖窑中缓慢碳化，持续数周，最终产出质地紧密、燃烧时间长、烟气清洁、带有天然香气的优质木炭。当地木炭不仅用于燃料，也广泛应用于健康、美容、农业和空气净化等领域。

木炭

xuè hān

BURNT

BARKS

properties : Organic . Solid . Carbon

During charcoal production, some of the mangrove bark is removed to save space in the kiln. However, this process is time-consuming, so not all bark skins are removed. When mangrove bark with its skin intact is placed into the kiln, the burnt bark skin tends to flake off like chips during the packing process.

在木炭生产过程中，为了节省窑内空间，会去除部分红树林的树皮。然而，这个过程较为耗时，因此并非所有树皮都会被去除。若将带有完整树皮的红树林树皮放入窑中炭化，烧焦后的树皮在包装过程中往往会像碎片一样脱落。

焦树皮

jiāo shù pí

resources found in the charcoal factory

RED
BRICK

properties : Inorganic . Solid . Clay Minerals

Bricks are commonly used to construct kilns in charcoal factories. They are arranged in a circular pattern, forming a solid mass approximately 6000 mm in diameter and 6000 mm in height. Clay is then applied to the exterior of the brick structure, leaving the inner brick surface exposed. The bricks are capable of withstanding the prolonged high temperatures during charcoal production.

在木炭厂中，砖块通常用于建造炭窑。砖块以圆形排列，形成直径约6000毫米、高度约6000毫米的实体结构。随后，在砖体外部覆盖一层粘土，内部砖面保持裸露状态。这些砖块能够承受木炭生产过程中长时间的高温。

红砖

hóng zhuān

BURNT

BRICK

properties : Inorganic . Solid . Clay Minerals

Because the kiln is covered with clay only on the outer surface, its internal brick surface is exposed to long hours of heat and charring during charcoal production. As a result, over time, the bricks become charred on the inside, showing burnt marks, while the outer surfaces retain their original red color. Eventually, when the kiln develops cracks and can no longer be used for production, the removed bricks will bear these burnt marks.

由于炭窑仅在外表面覆盖一层粘土，内部的砖面在长时间的高温炭化过程中直接暴露，导致砖块内部逐渐烧焦，留下烧痕，而外表面则仍保持原有的红色。随着时间推移，炭窑出现裂缝，无法继续使用时，拆下的砖块上会保留这些烧焦的痕迹。

烧砖

shāo zhuān

resources found in the charcoal factory

DRY

CLAY

properties : Inorganic . Solid . Minerals

Piles of dry yellow clay can often be found at charcoal factories. This material is essential—when cracks appear in the kiln walls, the clay is mixed with water and used to seal them. This not only extends the kiln’s lifespan but also helps to retain heat within the kiln, ensuring efficient charcoal production.

在木炭厂里，常常可以看到堆放着干燥的黄黏土。这是一种非常重要的材料，当炭窑墙体出现裂缝时，工人会将黄黏土与水混合，用来修补裂缝。这样不仅能延长炭窑的使用寿命，也能更好地锁住热能，确保木炭的高效炭化过程。

干粘土

gān nián tǔ

SAND

沙子

shā zǐ

properties : Inorganic . Solid . Minerals

The charcoal factory is built on a sandy floor, without any concrete slab or other coverings. Sand is effective in dispersing heat during charcoal production and may also serve as insulation, aid in fire control, and help stabilize the kiln structure.

木炭厂建在沙地上，没有铺设混凝土地面或其他覆盖材料。沙地有助于在木炭生产过程中散热，同时也可能起到保温、防火和稳定炭窑结构的作用。

resources found in the charcoal factory

BIO-CHAR

properties : Organic . Solid . Carbon

生物炭

shēng wù tàn

MANGROVE

VINEGAR

properties : Organic . Liquid . Natural Acid

A by-product of charcoal production using mangrove wood, this liquid is derived during the pyrolysis process—where wood is slowly burned in a low-oxygen environment. The smoke produced is condensed into a liquid known as wood vinegar or pyroligneous acid, with a pH value of around 2.5 to 3.5. It possesses antibacterial properties, making it useful for treating foot fungus, and also serves as a natural insect repellent.

这是以红树林木材生产木炭过程中产生的副产品。在低氧环境中缓慢炭化木材时，释放的烟气经过冷凝后形成液体，称为木醋液或热解木酸，pH值约为2.5至3.5。它具有抗菌特性，可用于治疗脚部真菌感染，也是一种天然的驱虫剂。

木醋液

mù cù yè

resources found in the charcoal factory

SAW

DUST

properties : Organic . Solid . Fiber

Cutting often takes place outside the charcoal factories, leaving large amounts of sawdust scattered and accumulated on the ground during the log preparation before the baking process. Over time, this sawdust becomes part of the floor, sometimes taking on a warm reddish hue due to varying moisture absorption compared to the surrounding ground.

切割工作通常在炭厂外进行，准备原木进行炭化烘烤时，地面上会散落并堆积大量木屑。随着时间推移，这些木屑会成为地面的一部分，有时由于吸收水分的差异，会呈现出温暖的红褐色。

木屑

mù xiè

FIRE

WOOD

柴火

chái huǒ

properties : Organic . Solid . Fiber

During mangrove tree harvesting, the roots and branches are carefully collected to be used as firewood in charcoal production. These materials are then stacked and stored along the walls inside the charcoal factories, where they are sun-dried and used periodically throughout the production process.

在采伐红树林时，会将树根和树枝收集起来，作为烧炭的柴火。这些材料会堆放并储存在炭厂的墙边，利用阳光晾干，生产过程中会根据需要不时取用。

the first try out : Aesthetics

If charcoal is the main ingredient we’re working with, it’s essential to first understand its potential as a material in its pure form. By observing its cuts, surfaces, and varying sizes, we begin by intuitively exploring how these basic properties can guide the initial stages of making—through arrangement, composition, and tactile interaction.

The group focusing on aesthetic arrangement started by closely examining the natural patterns found in charcoal, such as crack lines and textures. They sorted the material into a spectrum of forms: from full log-sized segments, to elongated cut pieces, to loose chips, finer chips, gravel-sized fragments, and finally, powder.

With larger pieces, we experimented with methods of physically connecting them.

Tying them together using a net-weaving technique
Using tubes to hold charcoal pieces together
Drilling holes to link them with wire

For loose chips, we used mud as a binding agent to create compositions, exploring how arrangement and cohesion could emerge from softer connections.

Finer chips and gravel-sized pieces were kneaded into a malleable mass and flattened to form tile-like materials, revealing potential for surface applications.

When working with powdered charcoal, we further refined it by mixing with sawdust and binder, experimenting with its use as a pigment—exploring variations in tone, density, and application across plywood surfaces.

1 : 0

Deep black

100g charcoal powder,
0g sawdust

4 : 1

Greyish Black

100g charcoal powder,

25g sawdust

2 : 1

Solid Grey

100g charcoal powder,

50g sawdust

4 : 3

Light Grey

100g charcoal powder,

75g sawdust

1 : 1

Lightest Grey

100g charcoal powder,

100g sawdust

the mixtures : Utility

Charcoal is widely recognized for its natural properties—purification, moisture absorption, antibacterial qualities, and more. To further explore its potential as a material, we conducted a series of experiments by combining charcoal with various organic and natural binders to cast different types of blocks, aiming to better understand the behavior, texture, and structural possibilities of these mixtures.

A total of 15 different trials and mixtures were experimented with, each varying in composition and binder type.

In the first set of mixtures, charcoal was blended with locally sourced materials such as crushed cockle shells, dried shrimp shells, mangrove bark, wood ash, and sawdust. These additive materials, found around the site, introduced distinct textures, densities, and even subtle color variations to the mixes.

Materials were collected from the site, then carefully identified, categorized, and organized. Various ratios of these materials were tested in different mixtures for casting. Observations were recorded throughout the process—from mixing and handling, to application and final outcomes—focusing on texture, consistency, and outcome after drying.

The second set of trials focused on creating more complex combinations by mixing multiple materials in a single blend. These layered mixtures allowed us to explore the interplay between different textures, densities, and binding reactions, pushing the boundaries of material behavior and aesthetic expression.

To test binding and cohesion, we explored a variety of binders including natural clay, hydrated lime, starch, agar powder, and cement. Each binder influenced the drying process, surface finish, and structural integrity differently—allowing us to assess both the functional and aesthetic outcomes of each mixture. This exploratory process provided valuable insight into how charcoal, in its raw form, can be transformed into new composite materials with unique environmental and spatial potentials.