PERSONAL E-JOURNAL
WEEK 1 // CSI PROJECT BRIEFING
Module & Project Introduction//
The talk about the module introduction was given by Ms Ann and Mr Huat as the representative from PPR briefed us about the DiverseCity Project and the site will be at Sri Tioman 1, Taman Melawati. In a group of 7 students, we are required to work together as a team for architectural, culture and environmental enhancing activities in the communities of different socio-economic status and social groups.
WEEK 1 // SITE ANALYSIS & OBSERVATION
1st Site Visit//31 March 2018
- We walk around and observe the surrounding of the site once we reach there.
- We found out some issue that occur in the site like:
- Water leakage from ceiling
- Vandalism painting on wall
- No signboard to shows the direction and levels
- ETC.
- Even thought its afternoon but still we can see all the children playing around at the playground.
- Photo and videos was took for further project purpose.
For the first time visiting the place, for me the first impression of the place looks old and all the facilities was not well maintained. But then the place is so calm and peaceful, children play around at the open space or at the small lobby located in front of lift, adults chit chatting and at the same time seeing their kids play around, a few teenage sitting in the gazebo resting, its totally different from the life in the kl city.
For me, all this scene can combine into a image that truly explain whats a community is.
Children as the key to bring the community together, with their smile, their joy.
WEEK 2 // GROUP DISCUSSION
Brainstorming ideas for the proposals//
After we went back from the site we need to generate some ideas for the proposals based on our site analysis, observation and analysis the community's need. We also did some research on certain precedent project to get some ideas.
The 3 images above is the site plan and our initial rough idea which is to provide them a 'welcome signage'. One of the reason is because this can give the building an identity as every can know whats the place is.
The 2 images below are the precedent projects we refer to.
As the first time of the meeting we found out that its not really easy to come out with a proposal that fulfill 'whats the community needs'. But throughout this process we can learn more and get to know deeper about the community itself.
WEEK 2 // SITE MEASUREMENT
2nd Site Visit// 7 April 2018
For this time we go back to the site again. We need to measure the site in order to provide a site plan drawing with the help of Autocad software. In this day, a pegboard was installed for the residents. After the pegboard is installed, some of us need to clean and paint it into white. With this pegboard the residents or us can put our ideas on it and discuss with each other. Children also have the opportunity to generate the ideas as we provide them papers to draw anything on it.
For this visit, its also the first time we having activities with the community especially the children over there. Its glad to have this opportunity to interact with the children. Throughout this activities we get to know more about whats the children think about and at the same time this taught us that sometime we shouldn't think too much or complicated, should be like the children think in the other easy way.
Even its the second time we come to this site, they are so friendly to us and not scare of us even thought we are still 'stranger' for them. They talk to us, play with us, draw with us, we are just like a family.
WEEK 2 // COMMUNITY INTERVIEW
3rd Site Visit// 8 April 2018
The day after the installation of pegboard, we went to the site to interview the residents for sharing ideas. We did interview either children or adults to know that their needs and at the same time we did share our ideas to them. After a series of interview we found out that most of the residents's wishes are they just want thing that can make their children happy. We also got the chance visit to the internet center which belong to the site which mostly use by the children or teenage.
''We will be happy and appreciate when we see our children happy.''
-said by most of the residents.
WEEK 3 // IDEAS SHARING
Ideas Sharing Session// 15 April 2018
Some of the team members went to the Tommy Le Baker to have a meeting with the PPR representatives and the sponsors of this project. During this session we discussed about the site and our ideas that we can propose to the community. We did come out some new ideas that can give more impact to the community after the discussion.
An comfortable environment full with joy, good people and food. :P
WEEK 5 // DESIGN PROPOSALS
Initial Proposals// 25 April 2018
We went to the ZLG to propose our ideas to the PPR representatives and also the sponsors of this project and also share our ideas to the others groups. We did get some feedback from them and need to refine some of the proposals. We also did to know the other creative ideas shared by the other groups.
1ST INITIAL IDEAS PROPOSAL
WEEK 6-9 // GROUP DISCUSSION AND TUTORIAL
Weekly discussion at campus//
After a series of site visit, interview/ideas sharing sessions, and also with the helped by the tutor, we came out with the initial idea which is the 'welcome signage' located at the entrance of the site. Actually we did got this ideas few weeks ago and now we make it into detail. But then our proposal was got rejected due to the aesthetic of the signage because we use timber pallet as one of our material. Then we refine our design by changing the material to wire mesh and water bottles and finally this ideas was accepted.
After that we also asked to join Clara's group which their proposal was also the making the signage for floor levels. We need to help them to think about the other ideas for the floor level signage. And finally we come out with 3 options. Among this 3 options we choose to use the stings and wire mesh signage as the final as it encourage more community interaction/engagement and also looks more aesthetic compare to the others.
WELCOME SIGNAGE PROPOSAL
FLOOR LEVEL SIGNAGE PROPOSAL
WEEK 10 // SITE SURVEY
4th Site Visit// 20 May 2018
We went to the site this time to do a final survey with the residents. The aim of this survey is to get the feedback from the residents about our proposals. Some of the residents are quite 'scare' of us maybe we still a 'stranger' for them as they don's want to get interview by us. But some of the residents are still friendly to us which helped us and make this survey goes smooth.
After that there is a basic gardening techniques session with the community. Its glad that we got this opportunity to learn the gardening techniques which get to know how to plant. Its was a new and good experience for us as its not always got the chances to learn about gardening as most of us always stay in a busy city.
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''Some of the residents close the door before we go and interview them. Maybe we still a 'stranger' for them.''
WEEK 10 // PROTOTYPE MAKING
We went to the SS15, Subang Jaya to buy the materials and do the prototype at campus. After a few trials and failure finally we manage to finish it. The making process actually is not that hard and even children can do it themselves with the help of their parents and this is what we should give to the community.
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WEEK 10 // PROTOTYPE SET UP
5th Site Visit// 3 June 2018
On this day every group need to present their proposal to the residents we got a good fee backs from the residents for our signage design. Its feel so good when they like our prototype. After that we set up our prototype at the beam in front of the lift. Its so satisfying when you see your thing is finally done after this few weeks and hope that this can benefit to the residents as this is one of the purpose of this project. The signage is not that hard to make as the residents can do their own one by following the prototype that made by us and also easy to replace it with new materials because the materials we used is also easy to get and low cost.
Its a very tiring day but still its so satisfying to see when everyone shows their proposal design to the residents and all this can benefit to the residents. Even thought we may not going back again but we had left something for them which can help them in the future and our memory will stay forever in the place.
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WEEK 11// VIDEO MAKING
We made a video to summarize everything that we have done in this few months. We discussed in a group about the content and flow of the video and finally we come out with a video which done by Eric Lo and Zhao Yin.
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CONCLUSION
Working in a team is always a difficult task as we need to communicate well with each other or else we can't even finish a single thing on time. But this time we manage to finish on time as we work as a team and the final outcome was very satisfying for us.
During this project, its so fun that we can keep think of new and interesting ideas all the time. At the same time we also can see the creative ideas come out from the other groups. Besides, its so satisfy when you use your knowledge to design something and it come to real life to benefit and solve the problem of the community. Its like what i had learnt from the community and now i giving it back to the community.
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I'm so glad that have the chance to took part in this project which can engage to the community and facing the real life situation which we need to solve it with the knowledge that we had learnt. And now i understand that architecture not only to build a building but also it can help the people the community to solve their problem. Its feel good when you contribute something good to the community as helping others not only can make them happy but also it can bring happiness to us. If i still got the opportunity to take part in this community service projects i will be very appreciate.
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THE END