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If I were an Architect, how would I help the society?
Transforming thinking into reality
"loss of community, increased anonymity, and widespread isolation” —Allison, 1978
Architecturally, segregation of Flat Sri Labuan with adjacent neighbourhood is strongly visible. There are multiple residential neighbourhoods in this local town, Bandar Tun Razak within Kuala Lumpur, and each neighbourhood has their own residential parks. Therefore, residents do not even have reason to socialize with one another among different residential neighbourhoods. We do not see mixed communities here. ‘The social’ is now disembedded from ‘the local’, neighbourhood as a source of social relations has not been appreciated due to rapid urbanization.
"Social Capital - Only relying on high-quality environment, undistinguishable façade design, and strict management rules are not enough to produce an adequate social mix in public housing. A socially mixed community will not form naturally and then solve problems of jobs, education, and behavior automatically. It requires tenants’ recognition of identifying themselves as parts of the community through understanding and demand for a stable life." - Mu, Szumien, 2016
A stable life: Economically community should be able to afford a unit at Bandar Tun Razak. Looking into the problem of couldn't afford to move even when their family grows, they need a home which is affordable and spacious. However, KPKT requires min 900 sqft house layout for a single family, the question arise here that whether can they afford to own a 900 sqft? If they couldnt, DBKL would need to subsidize to help the low income community. Therefore, here I proposed a mixed income housing scheme where this scheme will be affordable and could fits financial capability of the residents as their family size increases. Mixed income refers to both B40 and M40 residents who will be able to afford to own a unit here. This scheme will be a combination of rent-to-own and build-to-rent. Looking at type A, these studio units will be open for sale at pre-launch stage. While type B and C will be designed with dual key concept, eg. existing or new single family owners could own a Type B unit with rent-to-own scheme for the first 17 years, when their financial capability starts to grow after 17 years, they could apply to expand units which have been reserved for the occupied owners. Meaning to say, reserved units will be rented out after being built, so that owners could expand when they can afford. By the end of the day, this scheme will encourage the community especially those with low income to budget and manage the risk of owning a house.
Socially mixed community: In order to increase social capital of this neighbourhood, it requires active participation of community from time to time. However, existing community mostly are participating in occasional event held every 6 months or annually which are not enough to let the community to give consistent social support to one another. Therefore, the design is focused more on hobby, daily patterns of the community. Looking at how they spend free time, making them do something they like together which will help them to build friendships faster.
From 9-12pm, it will be the time where adults going to work. Housewives or retired persons could open up their kitchen and sell nasi lemak or teh tarik to working adults like a warong. The reason I proposed this is because I spotted that current hawker stalls are not open even during weekday. Perhaps, that is their second income or they have to take care of some family members at home. So proposing a warong housing layout could help them open and sell right at their units. Other than that, at this time moms will need to send kids to schools. Few moms could suggest sending kids to wait at nearest open terraces and mom could take turns to send kids to school bus pick up point on ground floor. So, they could help to look after kids whenever someone has emergency situations.
From 12-2pm, kids coming back from school, they can learn or play at the nearest open terraces and moms can do household chores without having to accompany them somewhere far.
Around 3 or 4pm, kids could play around at well-shaded community courtyard located on ground floor.
Towards 4-6pm, grandparents, moms or kids could enjoy chit chatting or playing board games with neighbors without the need of travelling 14-20 storeys to ground floor. The intention of creating hierarchy of common spaces into mini open terraces for every cluster is to give the community sense of belonging. They will get to know each other better and do not need to fight for common spaces. For example, parents can invite friends to celebrate birthday for their kids at the open terrace, hosting community dinner every months or simply share their personal problem with neighbours instead of staying home all the time.
From 6-9pm, Existing flat’s parents used to bring kids to nearest city park during evening time, therefore, existing road acts as strong edges which is dangerous for residents to cross over to city park. In my proposal, I have restricted car access partially, only allowing pedestrian access connecting to new entrance of city park in the middle part of Flat Sri Labuan site. City park is extended to existing community playground as well as community courtyard with convenience store, saloon , community kitchen and AJK meeting room. Proposing vibrant and robust open terraces for community to hang out even after sunsets. They could still hang out instead of walk home right after they get back from work.
Overall design is to mix income groups in a cluster to enhance social experience according to their daily pattern which could slowly turn into social support among residents. After gaining tenants recognition as part of community, they will actively participate to manage or help social events proposed at community-managed plaza. Reconnecting neighbourhoods to reduced stigma of mono-tenure estates. This will slowly mix community of Bandar Tun Razak to be a stronger and stable community. Fair for everyone, no more anti-social behavior and well-served. Local economic activity will increase & involvement of public & private services will be better. The networks of relationships among people who live and work there will be the capital to avoid repeated housing regeneration in the future.