community service initiative

Community Service Initiative module (CSI) is a compulsory MPU4 subject, in which students are required to pass in order to graduate. In School of Architecture, Building and Design, CSI will continue the traditional teaching and learning method in Architectures, that is learning by integrating theories with design practice. Students are required to incorporate the theory they have learned at school into real life environment and problems. The intention is to reveal the students 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.

Assessment components

1. INDIVIDUAL E-JOURNAL (30%)

- Each student will be required to keep a personal journal that records their journey throughout this module. (their observation / individual contribution / reflection)
- Students are free to use images, videos or even charts to enhance their journal.
2. ACTIVITY/PROJECT (50%)
- Projects will involve at least 30 hours of social engagement activities and other related work.
- All activities, i.e. survey, site visit, interview, prototype construction and etc shall be recorded and
compiled
3. GROUP ORAL PRESENTATION (20%)
- Students will be required to form groups and each group will present their experiences collectively.
- Final presentation shall be in form of video.

Group members: Amos Tan, Foo Shi-Ko, Lee Yih, Loh Wei Shuen, Nor Syarianna (Anna), Lynette Law, Philia Chua, Yeow Jinn Sheng (Gary)

WEEK 02 - SITE VISIT

In a group of 8, our group pay our first site visit to SMK Methodist, Banting. SMK Methodist is one of the preferred secondary school in this small town and it is also our leader, Gary's alma mater. He wanted to do something that can improved on the study environment of the school and thus he approached his teacher, Ms Liew to help him with the task. Beforehand, Gary had already proposed the ideas to Ms Liew and we finally visit the school on 7th of April 2017 (Thursday), a day before CSI workshop conducted by JCI Active Citizen Framework and OCBC Bank.

The purpose of the site visit is to choose the site that we are going to place our design and also to collect the opinions from students regards the design. After been to different sites, we finally decided to choose the herb garden which next to the lab. Split into small teams, me, Lynette and Lee Yih went around to interview the students whereas Philia, Amos and Shi-Ko will be doing the site analysis, Gary and Anna will be surveying around. As a collaboration project with SMK Methodist, Ms Liew assigned The Green Ranger to work with us side by side to finish this tasks. To make sure a smooth progress along the journey, we come out with a grantt chart to keep on tracking on our progress.

Compared to my secondary school, the learning environment in SMK Methodist is much poor which I finally understand Gary's intention in launching this project to give back his school. After the studies and interviews, lacking a proper study space and hangout space will be the main issue that we will be tackle on.

Site plan

WEEK 03 - SITE ANALYSIS (PRODUCTION)

After come back from the site, we delegated the task among ourselves to work on the site analysis as well as the having our meeting to discuss on our design. The preliminary concept is to design an interactive spaces for the students where it also serves as a study and hangout spot.

Preliminary 3D model done by Amos.

WEEK 04 - INITIAL PROPOSAL SUBMISSION

We submitted our initial proposal in powerpoint format for first review, including site analysis, site issues, values that will gain throughout the journey and etc. A conceptual 3D model is submitted to represent our ideas - to create an interactive spaces, a learning and hangout spaces for students and teachers. Few precedent studies have been attached in the slides to support our ideas.

WEEK 09 - MODEL

Task delegation:

Amos - Video editing

Lee Yih & Amos - Quotation survey

Philia - 1:20 Model

Gary - Documentation

Lynette & Anna & Shi-Ko & Lee Yih & Wei Shuen - Orthographic Drawings

WEEK 05 - DESIGN DEVELOPMENT

After submitted the initial design proposal, every group was called up to have individual tutorial. Ms. Ann is fine with our design and she advised us to incorporate the existing function of the space into our design scheme, which is a herb garden. Perhaps we can also integrate the planter box inside our installation.

WEEK 06 - DESIGN FINALISED

We had our meeting to discuss on the feedback from Ms. Liew, mainly targeting on the functionality and durability of the installation. Her main concern is regards the roof structure as there is no covering in our previous design, also the vandalism of the students on the solid timber surfaces.

Thinking and Problem Solving Skills

Communication skills

Discipline Specific Knowledge

Learning Outcome

Through this module, the most precious things is the sense of compassion that gain throughout the journey. Despite all the experiences in planning and getting the whole project up, it is a great intention to zoom in and care about the surrounded community and to solve the issue as an architecture student. It is our responsibilities to pay back from where we take. I couldn't be more grateful that I have met a bunch of good teammates in completing the project with such meaningful approach. Comparing to what we have now, a complete study environment is what extremely necessary to the students there. I am looking forward to meet the students from SMK Methodist to take the project further and I believe it will be a wonderful one.

Lifelong Learning

Citizenship and Global Perspectives

WEEK 10 - VIDEO SUBMISSION

Although CSI module is done in Week 10, but there is still a series of jobs waiting us to realize the actual project. A workshop will be conducted next week to support the students to understand design as such anthropometry, site analysis and design strategies to help them build up their own small installation. Perhaps it also serves as a launcher to bring us much closer to the students. Video that record our process along the journey is attached below: -

Photos of our site - herb garden

Footage of preliminary interview

WEEK 07 - FINALISED E-POSTER

WEEK 08 - EVALUATION

We visited SMK Methodist for the second time on 26th May 2017 to collect the feedback on our final design for the video record. We are lucky enough to interview a numbers of students and teachers compared to the first visit due to the school is celebrating Teachers' Day. Not only students and teachers, we also get to meet Mr Woon, the principle of SMK Methodist to propose the final design. It was pleased that we get to receive mostly positive feedback from them and the concern of the students and teachers will be the durability of the installation. They are looking forward to see the actual installation being set up. The placement of the installation is ideal that it added value to the original site - herb garden where SMK Methodist got recognition from competition in beautify the garden.

The idea of putting different function together. Our preliminary design includes 3 boxes that offer learning and hang out space with a piece of movable fabric curtain to separate based on usage, planter shelves that offers a proper spot for the greens and individual cuboid that provides more sitting spots.

We will be more focus on the 3 main boxes as well as the planter shelves. The individual cuboid will be designed by the students and we will be assisting along the process.

Two of our group members, Gary and Lynette then went back to SMK Methodist for the second discussion with Ms. Liew and the Green Ranger. We showed them our first design and they were impressed by the pretty renderings and have a positive attitude towards the proposed design.

Preliminary design proposed to Ms. Liew

Briefing session with The Green Ranger by Gary and Ms. Liew

In respond to Ms. Ann and Ms. Liew feedback, we further improvised our design into the scheme below: -

- Main materials will be changed to wire mesh to reduce the surface area being vandalized, table and bench top will remain timber to create a comfort seating

- Timber brise soleil is added to act as the roof, gives the installation a more simplistic and light design

- Planter box is being modified into a more user oriented position.

- Movable fabric curtain is being removed to reduce maintenance and ease construction

- Individual cuboids are remained but we are not putting into the consideration for this stage

Works for the eposter submission are being delegated among ourselves. Each of us in charged to do findings and digitalised our own parts of the poster.

Task delegation:

3D model & renderings - Amos

Design development - Anna

Site Issues - Wei Shuen

User's timeline - Lynette

Details drawings - Gary, Lee Yih

Site analysis & write up- Philia

Compilation - Shi-Ko