Designing a Biophilic Cocoa Hub for Integrated Processing, Education and Tourism in Humid-Tropical Indonesia
Keywords:
biophilic architecture, cocoa processing, educational tourism, humid-tropical design, rural value additionAbstract
This study develops an architectural framework for a biophilic cocoa processing, education, and tourism hub in Masamba, Luwu Utara, Indonesia. A research-by-design method combined site observation, rainfall and population data, precedent analysis, user–activity mapping, space programming, and iterative design synthesis. Quantitative evidence was used descriptively to test the consistency of site and program decisions. The available monthly rainfall series totals 3,064 mm over 154 rainy days; rainfall depth and rainy-day frequency show a strong descriptive association (r=0.947). The selected 2.5-ha site accommodates a 3,482.1-m² gross program for education–processing, greenhouse and drying, dining–retail, prayer, storage, and waste-management functions. The visitor route follows a farm–process–product sequence, while production and service flows remain separate for safety and hygiene. Biophilic strategies include cocoa-landscape views, controlled cross-ventilation, filtered daylight, shaded transitions, natural materials, rainwater harvesting, and composting. The result is a testable architectural hypothesis linking rural value addition, experiential learning, and humid-tropical design. Hydrological, thermal, daylight, operational, economic, and post-occupancy validation remain necessary before implementation.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Nova Ibrahim, Sahabuddin Latif, Citra Amalia Amal2 , A. Syahriyunita Syahruddin, Rohana, Muh. Syarif
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