Melayu Living
Waqaf
WAQAF â A Space for Contemporary Coexistence
WAQAF is a spatial experiment that reinterprets the concept of waqaf within a contemporary context. Grounded in Malay philosophy, the pavilion brings together people, interactions, and minimal architecture as a living expression of generosity, coexistence, and shared trust. It is more than a physical structureâit is a symbol of care, openness, and inclusivity for all.
The pavilion is built using reclaimed and discarded materials from the local community, transforming fragments of inequality into shared space. Every componentâbe it a seat, an open field, or a shade structureâcarries meaning. WAQAF becomes an invitation not only to observe, but to participate, connect, and reflect.
At the heart of the pavilion lies the âleaky roofââa powerful installation by the collective Talay Jorn. It is formed from colorful recycled tiles, arranged like a roof that appears beautiful and functional. But when you look up, you realize: it offers no real protection from sun or rain. The roof is a metaphorâfor solutions that appear complete but fall short. For the systems that design waste into our everyday lives.
These tiles were made from real waste gathered along the shores of Pattani:
Flip-flops washed ashore
Bottle caps from roadside stalls
Lighters buried in sand
Abandoned wheels
Secondhand clothing no one claimed
This is not simply âupcycled materialââit is evidence. A record of systemic neglect. WAQAF does not attempt to hide these realities, but instead places them in full viewâasking:
âCan recycling really solve the problem?â
âIs upcycling enough?â
âIf circularity only happens at the end, is it truly circular?â
WAQAF is more than a showcase.
It is a record of effort, a reflection of lived inequality, and a call to reimagine how we coexistâstarting not from a perfect shelter, but from a broken shade that makes us look up and begin to question.
Alongside the pavilion, visitors are invited to participate in workshops and open conversations hosted by the Melayu Living Collective, where waqaf is explored as a form of soft infrastructureânot made of concrete or steel, but of relationships, values, and the cultural scaffolding that sustains inclusive urban life.
ð Experience âWAQAF â A Space for Contemporary Coexistenceâ at the Pattani Provincial Showcase
Part of Pakk Taii Design Week 2025
ðïļ 28 August â 7 September 2025
ð at the courtyard of Songkhla Wittayamulnithi School, Nang Ngam Road, Songkhla Old Town