Happy Ending: Holy Men in Sin City
PROGRAMME
STUDENT
Nicholas Tai Han Vern
YEAR
2
ADVISOR/TUTOR
Erik G. L'HEUREUX
![](https://cde.nus.edu.sg/arch/wp-content/uploads/sites/32/2020/06/01-1.jpg)
Final Physical Model
Happy Ending: Holy Men in Sin City
Border, as shared between two separate nations, can exist in various forms depending on the geographical conditions in which it sits. It is an agreed representation of land ownership by both the government and the mass. However, the border plays many roles where it controls geopolitical issues from not only the national scale but also internal problems at the regional level for those who live within borderlands; closely linked to culture and history. This is especially relevant in the regions of Southeast Asia (SEA) that has undergone waves of colonization and oppression for centuries. This thesis sits on the borderlands of Thailand-Malaysia, specifically between Rantau Panjang in Kelantan (Malaysia) and the infamous seedy town of Sungai Golok (Thailand).
With only a river separating between Rantau Panjang and Golok without any forms of physical barrier and active monitoring, the border is practically open to citizens from both sides who not only hold different citizenship and identity but were also brought up under opposite political and cultural backgrounds. This thesis hence challenges the roles and limitations of architecture within chaos, order, religion, culture, security and sovereignty in a familiar yet foreign context to the natives within this borderland; expressed by infusing contradicting elements into one single architecture. Canceling contradictions. Happy ending.
Composite key drawing
Scenography set 01
Scenography set 02
Architectural moments
Physical model details