COMMUNITY
SERVICE INITIATIVE
2017
Community Service Initiative module (CSI) is a compulsory MPU4 subject. We are required to incorporate the theory we have learned at school into real life environment and problems. We are to reveal to the real community and work together as a team for architectural, culture and environmental enhancing activities in the communities of different social economic status and social groups.
e-journal
For the week 1, we were briefed the project firstly is to select a site, then conduct need analysis to identify and evaluate the needs in a community. After that, propose a potential to tackle the site issue. In this project we have to come out with a proposal, a presentation board, a video, a journal and a optional prototype to propose our idea. As it is a project for community so satisfaction survey from the beneficiary for future or further improvement is important to include in the video and board. All activities, i.e. survey, site visit, interview, prototype construction and etc shall be recorded and compiled. The design should be sustainable for a long period and easy for maintenance.
We are allowed to choose the beneficial organization that we would like to execute the project In the best possible manner. There are 4 categories: Charitable Homes or Organization (Orphanage Home, Orang Asli Settlement, Old folks home, Animal Shelter, Center for Disabled), Community Center (Local Community Center, Orang Asli Community Center, Surau / Mosque), Street Community (Dormant Space in a community, Street/Space with high criminal rate), Environment Enhancing, E2 Project (Tentatively Metro Prima, Kepong).
In week 2, we were having a workshop that held by our lecturers, JCI and OCBC bank. They introduced us of the special part of this project is the E2 project is collaborative community service project run by JCI and OCBC bank. This collaboration intends to materialize our proposal that will benefit the local community. We are to propose any architectural related proposal at the area proposed by OCBC Bank.
At first, the JCI’s volunteers gave us a talk about their organization and how’s it works. Basically, Junior Chamber International (JCI) is a non-profit international non-governmental organization of young active citizen to create positive impact. They have a long history in Malaysia and also give a lot impact in Malaysia. Then, the representative from OCBC bank gave us the briefing on the project and their expectation from us, also introduced the site location to us. Our proposal will competitive in the public then select the final best work, the proposal that win the competition will be given a small amount of prize rewards and then the project will be built up in the community as well. It was a big collaborative project with all them and gave a spiritual and energetic talk in the Saturday morning.
On top of collaboration with OCBC and JCI, SABD is pleased to continue collaboration with VERITAS Architects. VERITAS will support SABD in term of cash prize and internship opportunities for the best ideas among all of us. At the end of the semester, an exhibition will be held to show case ours’ proposal as well as prize giving ceremony. But aside from that, I think the best new that cheers everyone up is that everyone will be given RM80 budget on this project. Finally, we can claim for once time on our expenses.
After forming the group in 8, we had a short discussion on our site location. We wouldn’t want the project to be so harsh and stress so we decided to choose something more cheerful like an animal shelter. PAWS in SS15 is the first choice that comes into our mind as we know they are a non-profit organization and have a very low budget to running the shelter. They didn’t have nice facilities and even a proper office so we would like to do something for them and also for the community.
In week 3, another surprise was the representatives from VERITAS Architects came and gave us a short briefing as well. Firstly and traditionally, they introduced us the VERITAS Architects and some of their works in Malaysia. Definitely is a well-known architect firm around the world. They came for the talk is to clearly explain their expectation from our and hope we can did a better job than the last year’s students. They were kind and helpful as they were free for us to question about our proposals and gave us some ideas in an architectural response. They were keen in helping the young architects to fulfill their dreams and gave the chance for young architects to intern with them.
The representative from VERITAS Architects gave comments on student's work
In the same week, we had visited to our selected site for site analysis. That was the first time for all of us went to PAWS. Although, we already had a mental preparation and imagination before we went to site but the site was really worse than our expectation. The site is just located besides a heavy highway, actually many people will just pass through without notice the shelter. Luckily, there was still a mural painting at the outer wall which drawn by Taylor’s University that made the building more catchy. The capacity of this shelter can accommodate around 200 dogs and cats but actually the whole area of the shelter was quite packed and small. More than 20 dogs were kept in the same cage, sleep, eat, and defecate in the same cage. They were aggressive and hyper when they saw people passed in front of them, looking and jumping just to catch attention. I was really sad when I saw their condition and their expression were trying to let you know they want to get out of there. There was a construction just right behind the site, I think that was really a bad influence to animals because the air was filled of dust and the noise pollution will maybe damage their hearing. Besides that, the smell in the shelter was kind of heavy and stuffy although the workers there clean the cages 3 times in a day to prevent virus. Although the space in the shelter is very limited but we can also see they had separated the newly come animals and sick animals with those ready for adoption. Those newly come will send to vaccinate, deworm, neuter/spay, before put up for adoption. We were only allowed to touch and contact with those ready for adoption, in case they hurt us and infected the virus. After that, those dogs for adoption will divide in terms of the duration of they stayed in the shelter. The more senior dogs will locate at the back sides of the shelter. The numbers of cats was lesser than dogs. There were about five workers in the shelter and they just sat around the table together with some dogs were not caged when they were free. There was also a small office for the chairman or supervisors. From the information, they provided to us weekends usually will have a lot volunteers come to help to clean the dogs and take the dogs for strolling, then also people who come for adoption or take the unwanted animals to surrender. We knew that they actually very encourage volunteers to come and take the dogs for strolling, whenever you come with a plastic bag to pick up their feces. I think this activity was truly meaningful and it really helps to set up the relationship between people and animals.
Conditions of the PAWS
In week 4, we were come to have a discussion on the ideas of the proposal. Initially, all of us were quite stuck at what to do with the community and the animals. Then, we had some different voices about the ideas. Raymond and I were having the similar idea in mind which was to enhance and encourage the dog strolling activity. It might be a seating along the trail together with rubbish bin and plastic bag to easy the volunteer to pick up the feces and at the same time can have some rest. The seating can also provide food and water for dogs and become an interactive spot with volunteer and dogs. However, the idea was killed as majority of the group members preferred to make use of the space inside the shelter and upgrade the condition of the workers there. Similar idea as it was a modular resting area that flexible in position, shapes, and storage that dog can play with and volunteers or the visitor comes for adoption can interact with the dogs before adoption. The workers can also rest at the area when no one is using. Therefore, we divided the task and everyone gave some ideas for the proposal. I had done some sketches for it and the final design was Jia Hui’s idea.
Proposal for the design
In week 6, we were supposed to get our feedback from our respective tutor. The comments that we got from Ms Ann were our shape too rigid and it was hard to maintenance and clean as it was modular. We were lost because the comments were too general and it sounded like the proposal was not satisfied enough. Then, after a long discussion and brainstorm, we all agreed to discard the original idea and changed to the seating that locates along the trail but this time we suggested to propose a new trail. The reason why we want to change the trail was because the old trail actually was very short and bumpy; especially the cars can pass through. Due to the animal’s safety purpose, we proposed a new and wide pedestrian walkway that just besides PAWS, in front of one residential building and Citta Mall. We planned set a few of seating along the trail and there can have some set up tents for charity fund raising event at the same trail. For the design of the seat, the idea is from a furniture photo; curve shaped is a consideration for avoid edges that might hurt the dog. It was a two people seat and we designed 2 storages for water and plastic bag. The hook designed was for people the put down the chain and rest together with their dog. It was constructed by using concrete and wood pallets that coated with shellac. It was self-sustain as it did not require any maintenance similar to the benches in the park.
In week 7, it was the time to finalize the board, so we divided the tasks again. I was doing some diagrams and information for introduction, benefit and function. Jit Ying was incharged of the 3D model and Sonia and Min Junn were incharged the final compilation of the board.
First draft for board
In week 8, we received the feedbacks from Ms Ann and she was quite satisfied with our proposal this time and to refine it was better to add in some construction details and the feedback or survey from the community. She was mentioned that the prototype was not compulsory and we might also did a smaller scale but was better to use the original material to present. After that, we had a short meeting on deciding the scale of prototype and set a date to have another visit again back to PAWS.
In week 9, we decided to use wood board and concrete to make a scale 1:20 prototype model and another scale 1:100 site model. The reason why we did a smaller scale was because the real model was constructed with concrete; if we did it scale 1:1 it should be really heavy for us to carry to site. Then the additional site model was mainly for our video purpose, as we could show how the community used the prototype in the site so we chose an alternative way to represent it. Everybody works together to finish up the model in two days plus the video shooting of site model. The concrete was really a big issue as it was really troublesome to have to make the mold first and let the concrete mixture to be dried. We were grateful that we only did it in the scale of 1:20. Then, for the site model, we used the human figure to represent the community there and using stop motion to actually show up the relationship between the prototype and the community. It showed its function and expectation that we proposed for the future of the site condition.
After all, we brought our outcome and came to PAWS again in the weekend. This time we explained our ideas with the admins there, she was totally agreed that it was great if the environment is good and encourage more of the volunteers come. We met a lot of volunteers this time, and we knew that some volunteers were there every week. They will prepare food for the dogs and take them for strolling. I was touched of their passion and care about the animals. We talked to them and asked them about the feedbacks of our proposal. Most of the comments were positive and they really hope to have these seating provided. We also saw some of the volunteers will just squat beside the road or straight away sit on the hot road surface when they were tired or playing with dogs. They were very pleased to have the seating like that to enhance the environment. We did meet the cased of surrender and adoption one that day. After the whole days survey, we were encouraged because of their comments and their satisfaction.
Photos of prototype model and interview
I think as an architect student, the biggest accomplishment was when people like your design and you actually use your knowledge to improve state of living of the occupants or the community. This subject is most meaningful module throughout my study, as I really give back to the community and society. Besides that, I really hope that more and more people care about the lives of animals and really think before they raise a pet. “Adopt, don’t abandon” !
Final board for our proposal- (Bi)arch
Video for the project