Project 1 : Community service initiative
The community-based services in the CSI module for SABD are to expose students to the real-community living in real-life situation. The students are to work together as a team of 8 for architectural, culture, and environmental enhancing activities in the communities of different socio-economic status and social groups. The series of community services are offered as student empowerment projects, students are given the freedom to choose and to execute the project in the best possible manner, within the budget and time constraint given.
Site chosen
Pusat pemulihan dalam komuniti (PDK) Taman Ehsan, Kepong Selangor
Site visit and discussion with the people incharge
Issue on site
Exterior wall facing the main road is blank and old with some parts of the paint are coming off . No indication or information about the recovery center leading to the confusion of people not knowing such place exists.
The back signage is also blank without any information and indication about the place.
There's a pile of burnt garbage in the compound that
creates an obstruction and unpleasant smell to the
environment
The burnt garbage has lead to the growth of mosquito larvae on the water.
Open area is unused by the community , the people of the PDK are lack of outdoor activities to explore with.
Proposal submission
Reflection and personal experience during the work process
Work day 1 : Scraping old paint and apply foundation paint
Scraping off old paint is harder than i expected , some of the old paints are hard to take off,standing outside the scorching sun is also unbearable.
However , after clearing off the old paint and dirt and also apply a new coating of foundation white paints makes the place looks much more cleaner and more environmental friendly.
Work day 2 : Apply blue paint and working on flowerbed
We cover the wall with a coat of light blue paint, the color of light blue giving visual aesthetic and tranquility feeling to the place. Besides that, by measuring and working on the open area, we encounter some problem with the existing site. In conclusion we change the initial design and provide more open space for the pdk people. We measure the boundary and start mixing conrete for its foundation.
Work day 3 Lacking experience
Mixing cement and sand are something new for us, we lack of experience on doing brickwork and concrete mixing however we try our best in sticking it on brick to brick.
Work day 4 : Mistakes and revival
After sometime, we invited a few experienced workers to give advise for our progress. Unfortunately, we made some major mistakes in putting concrete onto the soil as foundation, by right we only allow to lay concrete on the boundaries of the brick line. We have to undo our mistakes and rebuild a new layer of brickwork. The process of redoing it is tiring but at least we have learn the correct way on doing a proper brick laying and flowerbed.
Work day 5 : Mural painting
Although we dont have experience in bricklaying however we are able to paint the interior mural wall with ease. As the person in charged of the mural, i am pleased to see that people from inside are able to understand the message that was giving to them. The mural motivates and giving them a sense of calmness.
Work day 6 : Brickwork and exterior mural
We paint the remaining exterior wall fence to convey the message to the public people. We are pleased to see that the public
people are able to identify and understand the purpose of the place. In addition, we now have a better understanding in how we layer the bricks in a proper way.
Work day 7 : Plastering and signage
We were lucky enough to have another experienced worker to guide and teach us on how to plaster the brickwork. We are able to learn the mixture of concrete and plaster in order to hold the structure properly. With the informative signage on the back entrance, residential people from the back are able to know the function of the building.
Final day : Clear up and final touch up
Clearing up the waste on the final day was tiring as we collects the waste we encounter some of insects species lurking beneath it.
Having a clean up area free from rubbish and waste provide a welcoming place to the site.
On the final day we were given a badge from the people in charged as a token of appreciation. Looking at their smiling faces and energetic expression gave me a sense of joy for helping them.
Final presentation A0 board
Final video submission
My New Channel
Overall reflection throughout the whole project
In conclusion , this project gave me a valuable opportunity to implement architectural design skills learnt in campus on solving social issue. Overall i felt happy with the outcome of the project however as a team leader, i had to face a lot of difficulties in managing my group mates. The work on site can be much more efficient if my group mates are able to function well as a team. Unfortunately, we were not together as a whole in the final presentation. However, through this experience i am able to manage my time well and work with various kind of people that prepares myself to face the difficulties in the future. Thanks to this project, i am able to experience a blissful of joy coming from the people in the PDK. It was all worth it spending the time, money and effort in helping them develop into a more uplifting centre.
This module inspired me to be a person with more compassion and more responsibility. This helps me getting stronger in terms of construction knowledge and also ways on helping the community. In terms of team effort, i believe that my team work well and hard although there is some that contribute and care less. Overall, for myself it helps me to improve as a team leader and enhanced my social learning and also practical skills with the community.
Discipline specific knowledge
Lifelong learning
Thinking and problem solving skills
Interpersonal skills
Communication skills
Digital literacy
Intrapersonal skills