1. E-JOURNAL – INDIVIDUAL
This module has a lot to do with charity and also enhancing the need for the community. During the first
day of lecture, we were given briefing regarding the module, hence we were given choice to choose our
own groups of 7-8 members. After coming up with a group, my group and I have decided to take on the
𝐸2
project - one of the choices given to choose in the given proposal document above. But before even
choosing a specific choice, we were given talks by OCBC of what the project is all about and how we can
execute the project according to the requirements that they have provide us. It is an interesting approach
for the community which the community will benefit a lot and definitely it will help them. But before even
choosing the right choice, as a group we had some discussions over about choosing the right choice for
CSI as its important to make sure we do a great service/charity for the community or the environment.
So, after grouping up, during week 1 and 2, we had discussions on what type of furniture to be done as
there were requirements given for this project specifically on what to do and what not to do. So we as a
group came up with a few options of furniture that is made up from recycled wooden pallets. In addition
to that, we started planning on the types of furniture, a bit of research about the site, the community over
there and also, deciding on what type of furniture to do for the community there. The site that we chose
is a field in Kepong. The official chosen location was given by the sponsors because this 𝐸2
project has
been chosen to do for the community in Kepong and actually is a competition, so if our group project is
selected at the end of the day, we can actually physically build this structure for the community there.
The following week, we started planning our first proposal on what is our project going to be about, so by
creating presentation slides, we just got to present the initial idea that we have come up with and so by
adding in information of what we are planning to do, from the types of material, precedent studies which
are very suitable for the furnitecture for the community. For the slides part, each of us took each part to
do based on the given list, so some did, sketches, some did the introduction of the site, as for me, I did
the precedents for the first proposal as we wanted to a glowing boxes type of a furnitecture which has
multifunction usage. During the site visit, pictures of the chosen location of the site was taken in order to
show our tutor during the next tutorial and talk about the chosen furnitecture that is going to be proposed
for to be placed at site.
With that, we started of with the second proposal which is to come up with a presentation board in A0
size to be submitted on the 10th of May 2017. This time the proposal has to be very clear of what we are
planning to confirm do for the community there so that we don deviate from the main aim. After having
tutorial with our tutor, Mr.Adib, he told us to proceed with the idea that we are doing – which is to create
a podium like seating space with a children play area at a football field which is guarded with barrier walls.
2. So we started of proceeding in doing the presentation board, the board has to have information of what
is the furnitecture all about, drawings and measurements, site response, table of costing for the entire
structure and also a rendering image to be placed in it so that it can be understandable when referring to
the board. I was given to the precedent studies for the boards which had to be relatable to what my group
was doing, so I searched up to see if there is any projects done with wooden pallets by creating a structure
or a pavilion for architectural exhibitions, it was fun to find out these other projects done by other at the
other sides of the world. My experience in finding precedents was fascinating because I did not know
there is a lot of projects in the world done by these type of materials which results in conserving nature
and helping the community to come together and engage with the environment and so with the things
provided to them for them.
Once the A0 presentation board was done, we submitted it through a google sheet link and waited for
our tutor’s comment. But then submission was postponed to 15th May 2017 (mid-sem week). So during
the tutorial (week 8), our tutor gave some comments regarding the submitted presentation board, where
the comments were, Mr Adib mentioned that our design is good enough but then he ask whether are we
going to shield the sitting area for maintenance purpose or not, because he's worries that the podium will
not sustain for more than a month. Also, he said, try to break out the podium to units in order to be able
to place on other sides of the field (site) .The table of costing, he said to do calculate for the entire podium
and as well as show tabulation for one unit of the sittings. Hence, the following week, we had to go back
to site (31st May 2016) again to do a satisfactory survey with the community, like showing them what
we're doing for them and ask their opinion for that we recorded videos on their opinions. Before we went
to the site, we did more research on what can be done differently for the structure that we are going to
propose to the community because we did not want them to be confused of what we are trying to ask
them when we go to site to do interviews.
Once we reached the site at 11am, we set to go around asking the community there about the project
that we are doing. I must say that the community there majority there a mixed up with the immigrants and
locals there. Moreover, there was a refugee school for refugee kids, which I find it very interesting that,
there is a help centre to help the people who are not from here in education background. So, coming to
the interviews, we interviewed a number of people ; whoever were passing-by, eating there, waiting there,
while we were explaining about the project to them, some agreed on the approach we are doing and
some did not agree and some did not give any certain reaction at all, which left us speechless. The people
that we interviewed had mostly to say about how well we can develop our design and also they gave us
a lot of encouragement to proceed in what we were doing for them, because they did say if our project is
successful, they will tend to use the place because of the convenience there. But what was interesting
3. is that, a lot of them don’t tend to know of how well can the site be used but then just pass by like normal
passer-by. We were there quite long to see the types of people come to field to use the place, but instead
there were kids only playing football and badminton at the site.
Hence, after the visit, the next day we sat together and discussed on the final design layout of the board,
discussing whether to keep the design of the furniture as it is, or to change it a bit as to what tutor
commented. Even for the table of costing, we had to go and enquire on the pricing and also whether the
type of paint coating that we choose, it is available in the market here or not. After surveying those
important things, we have come up with a new table of costing for the change we have done in order to
make sure our cost does not exceed the given amount. The furniture structure also has changed a bit in
order to cater to the comments that our tutor gave to know whether the change could work or not. The
next we planned to do was the editing the video, this video is a prove to show that we had a community
survey feedback session about the project, so some of the group members who was in-charge for taking
video during the site visit, has to edit them, insert the project introduction of what we as a group are
planning to do, with that, explaining about the project to the people, editing the video clips of the interviews
done during the site visit so that when we submit the video, lecturers can know about how the community
respond to our questions. With that, the video will also be played for the sponsors to see which group
has the capability to actually grab the chance to make their project come true because there is prize to
be won at the end of the day.