Community Service Initiative (DiverseCity)
E - JOURNAL INDIVIDUAL
1st APRIL 2018 ;
Our first site visit to Sri Tioman I PPR flats made me aware of a few things that some of our community lacks. The flats have 4 blocks of 14 floors containing the PPR residents. While walking around the compound, it was hard to determine our location due to lack of wayfinding signages. The similarity of each block in colour and architecture style further confuses us on our first site visit.
We took plenty of photos and wrote down potential solutions to the problems we faced before leaving the site. (Not forgetting a group picture!)
7th & 8th APRIL 2018 ;
Pegboards were installed by contractors on one of the walls of the open hallway.
Then, they were painted white by all group members who attended that day. We painted it white to provide a blank canvas for us and the PPR community to put up our ideas and aspirations to improve the current facilities in Sri Tioman I.
While site measuring to produce proper site plans and floor plans, the other group members tried to engage with the kids of the community to fill up a big piece of mahjong paper with their suggestions and ideas.
A big floor plan of the flats was printed on the mahjong paper. Colour pencils and crayons were given to the kids to draw their suggestions to improve any particular spaces. It was truly fun to be able to talk to the kids. Their suggestions were filled with fun and imagination, which somewhat inspires us to be more creative with our idea proposals.
The final masterpiece from the kids of PPR community!
From my observation, I realised that there were many stray cats found around the flats. While walking around the compound, we had to be careful with the cat poop scattered all over the ground.
but how can you resist their cuteness!!!!!
15th & 25th APRIL 2018 ;
The leaders of each group attended a meeting with ZLG Architects and Kebun-Kebun. Our leader were to represent us and summarized our aspiring ideas for the PPR flats to them. The meeting was conducted at Tommy le Baker, Kampung Attap.
While our leaders presented our ideas, we worked together as group members to discuss and further improve our design proposal which was a green floor signage.
The idea proposal was to create a floor signage with its floor number formed with potted plants. The potted plants would be supported by a timber frame.
The floor signage was proposed to be located at the elevator lobbies so that when the PPR resident leaves from the lift (or goes up through the staircases), they would be able to identify which floor they are on.
After much discussion with other parties and among our group members, we decided to have a main timber framing with a wire mesh in the core to simplify our construction process and reduce cost.
28th APRIL 2018 ;
We visited the PPR flats in hopes of communicating with more of the residents to obtain their feedback about their wants and needs of their residential area. A bunch of magazines were given to the kids and they were to cut out what they wanted the PPR flats to have in the future. With the pictures, they will be connected to piece out a whole story.
A simple survey was given to the kids to fill up before heading back to campus.
6th MAY 2018 ;
Our leader represented our group to the meeting in TLB once again. After listening and looking at our progress, they confirmed our next course of action which was the realisation of our idea proposals.
20th MAY 2018 ;
On this day, a whole stack of survey forms were printed for us to give out to the residents. A door to door survey was done to ensure full engagement of the students and the community.
Collecting the printed forms to be distributed out door by door.
While giving out the surveys, we briefed the residents of our idea proposal to ask of their feedback. The majority of the PPR residents had positive feedback about our idea proposal.
As some residents were not at home or unavailable, we slotted the survey forms in between their gates.
28th MAY 2018 ;
A tutorial session with Ar Sze Ee was arranged. After looking at our final proposal and an estimated budget, she gave the green light for us to proceed with our project. She also suggested for a variation of our floor signages to give the PPR residents a variety of choices. So, we were to make another 2 variations of the number on the floor signages. One with potted plants, another made out of wire mesh and another from plywood.
The group was split into 2 to obtain the materials needed for our project. After collection of materials, we had a meeting in the studio about the next day's plan on constructing the floor signage.
29th MAY 2018 ;
All members came in the morning to start constructing the floor signage. Tasks were distributed according to the type of job such as construction of timber frame and painting and potting of money plants.
Painting the pots blue with double coats.
Construction of the timber frame using a drill in a very safe manner.
Our happy faces after taking forever to complete ONE timber frame!
Method of attaching wire mesh to timber frame; by nailing the wire mesh to the timber frame and forming a 'kiap' to hold the wire mesh in place.
Progress so far with 8th and 12th floor signages.
The process of completion took us two days to complete because we needed to wait for the shellac and paint to dry before applying another coat. After the drying of shellac and paint, we proceeded with nailing the wire mesh to the timber frame. The plants were transferred to the newly painted pots. Using wire, we secured the potted plants to the wire mesh.
3rd JUNE 2018
We arrived at PPR flats with their new floor signages. As our group presented our floor signages, we received good feedback from the residents.
The floor signages were then placed at their respective floors (G floor, 8th floor and 12th floor).
AND THAT'S A WRAP!
REFLECTION
The process of completing this project was long and excruciating, but worth it. Compared to the previous modules of CSI, their process was only a few days long with little engagement and impact to the students. With this DiverseCity project, we were able to form stronger connections with the PPR residents and engage much closely with them. I learned that producing a real life solution has much more setbacks than solutions in theory.
By producing architectural solutions to the problems faced by the PPR residents, we are able to see the effects and importance of architecture's core values that can significantly improve human lives.
ORAL PRESENTATION (VIDEO)