a wishing tree

1. SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE BUILDING AND DESIGN
FOUNDATION IN NATURAL AND BUILT ENVIRONMENT
Final Assignment: Space Design to Improve/ReducePsychological Concepts
Group Members: Joyce Wee
Mok Po Yi
Tan Wing Hoe
Tey Thien Hee
Lecturer: Ms. Norul Hidayah
Submission Date: 31st January 2014

2. INTRODUCTION
Pro social behavior is characterized by a concern about rights, feelings and welfare of
others. It also includes feeling empathy and concern for others as well as behaving in
ways to help or benefit people.
However, society nowadays is getting ignorant to the help needed by people
moving around them. Majority of people in the city are reluctant to even help someone
that fell down on the streets, let alone walking into an orphanage to help the children.
To them, helping is somewhat troublesome or might cause themselvesunexpected
trouble. They would rather turn a blind eye towards what happened and move on in
their lives.
This negative culture, we will be focusing on increasing pro social behavior out of
empathic joy.. Empathic joy is defined as “experiencing pleasure due to the
accomplishments or success of other people”. In other words, the individual feels happy
because somebody else is doing well. Maya Angelou once said, “When we give
cheerfully and accept gratefully, everyone is blessed”. They are not likely to benefit
directly fromthis success, but they just feel happy because the other person is feeling
happy.
Based on researches, thereare ways to make helping more likely which includes
reducing ambiguity by making the need for help clearer. Besides, we can also
encourage helping activitiesby activating pro social norms which will lead to more

3. helping behaviors. In our opinion, one of the other waysis to fill the helping behavior
with happiness so that people can enjoy helping others instead treating it as a burden.
Through this assignment, we are going to design a space or to develop
emphatic joy and loving kindness in society. We hope to create happiness and at the
same time provide help to those in need. Besides, we wish to unconsciously plant the
thought that helping can be simple tasks that can brighten their day. Our idea is to
bring the needs of the children froma children’s home to the people. This is because it
is hard to get the people to visit the children’s home as it requires time.

4. A WISHING TREE
A Wishing Tree is a space designed to improve pro social behavior in our society.
Conceptually, A Wishing Tree aims to shorten the distance between children in need
and the society by bringing their simple wishes to the crowd. By bringing both parties
closer, it will make helping strangers feel more at ease.
This space will be set up on streets with steady flow of pedestrians. Preferably not those
filled with pedestrian rushing around doing their own business as they will not havetime
to stop by to check around. Additionally, the exterior of the space will be bright and
appealing in order to grab the attention and spark the curiosity of passersby.
Children fromsupported children’s home will send in their simple wishes to A Wishing
Tree. Their wishes are as simple as a request for a new school bag or even a meal with
the family. Passersby are encouraged to volunteer by fulfilling the requests according to
their ability. They can choose to either to reveal or not to reveal their identity. In return,
the children will send a card, a recorded video, or a handmade craft as a token of
gratitude. Upon receiving the small gifts, the helpers will feel happy and satisfied with
their own actions.
A Wishing Tree will be open for service every day from8am to 8pm. Serviceswill be run
by volunteers on shift.
“Never get tired of doing little things for others;
sometimes those little things occupy the biggest part of their hearts.”
“The best feeling of happiness is
when you’re happy because you’ve made somebody else happy”

5. DETAILS
1. Double Ceiling Height With Natural Lighting
Tall Ceilings And Sufficient Sunlight Gives The Space A Wide Feeling. People Are More
Likely To Help As They Won’t Feel Pressured By The Surrounding Atmosphere.
2. Soothing Music
Soothing Music Is Played To Relax The Mind And Broaden Their Thoughts.
3. Wishing Tree
The Wishing Tree Is The Main Element Of The Space. It Is An Artificial Tree With Branches
Spreading Out All Over The Ceiling Is Set In The Middle Of The Space. Wishing Cards
From The Children Will Be Hanged From The Branches To Be Read And Picked By Those
Who Are Willing To Help.
4. Gift Counter
After Picking The Suitable Child To Help, The Helper Will Proceed To Prepare The Gift In
Terms Of Goods Or Money. A Gift Counter Will Be Set To ReceiveThe Gifts And Provide
The Helper With The Necessary Forms To Fill In. The Gift Counter Will Be Responsible In
Sending The Gifts To The Respective Children.

6. 5. Joy Giving Counter
After Receiving The Gifts, The Children Will Send Something Back To The Helper As A
Token Of Gratitude. These Small Gifts Or Mails Will Be Kept In This Counter Waiting To Be
Redeemed.
6. Hand Printed Wall
A Wall Featuring Children’s Hand Prints. Children Will Have Their Hand Prints Printed On
Tiles Before Hand And Are Fixed On The Wall. They Are Free To Decorate The Tiles In Their
Own Style And Preferably, Their Dreams Or Things That Make Them Happy.
7. Donation Box
For Those Who Want To Help But Are Not Financially Well To Get A Gift, They Can
Donate An Amount That They Are Comfortable With. Helping People Is Not A Burden But
Is An Act Of Kindness That Is Measured Through Sincerity Instead Of The Amount.