1) The document describes a community service project carried out by a group of students in the Jinjang area of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. They were tasked with designing and proposing an architectural enhancement for a local park. 2) After initial site analysis and user interviews, the students realized that residents simply wanted more seating areas to socialize. The students then designed a three-level "playscape" structure with integrated seating and gathering areas. 3) A physical model was brought to the park for additional user feedback. Residents responded positively and were excited to see the design implemented to foster more community interaction.

1. Community Service Initiative (UCM60102U) Tan Jo Lynn 0318518
In the commence of the Community Service Initiate module, we were briefed by the
lecturers on the details, objectives and methods to achieve the completion of the assignment
before we start the discussions and planning stage of the assigned tasks. It is expressed that the
intention of the module is to provide us circumstances to showcase our theories of design practice
as well as gain understanding on how the techniques could benefits charity activities in real
community service works.
The overall project call for a group of maximum nine members. Then, we were given
choices to four beneficiaries with each of them targeting different socio-economic status and social
groups, which are the Charitable Homes, Community Centre, Street Community and lastly the
Environment Enhancing Project, which is a collaborative project with the JCI and OCBC bank.
Each of these categories of project has different suggested activities, tasks and schemes to
achieve environmental enhancing effects and benefits in the chosen community.
Through several discussions among the team members, we have chose to carry out the
Environment Enhancing project that was intended to target the Jinjang community in Kepong,
Kuala Lumpur. As stated above, this project is a collaborative community service with the JCI and
OCBC bank with the idea of materialise students’ proposal and ideas that will truly benefit the
community by either enhancing urban community experiences or improve and revitalise condition
of a space. The proposal of the project were to be architectural as relating to our course.
The reason behind the selection of this category is because of the slight possibility and
opportunity of witnessing the design and proposal to be materialised. Throughout the years of
studio designing coursework, ideas and designs were completed with drawings, digital 3D models
and renderings. But with this opportunity, the effort made might come true and this really excites us
as a design student. It is also because of the realistic targeted community with their very own
culture and history. The sense of community around the town made us question the method of we
will able to augment the identity of them. The large range of are group around the area also really
challenges us on how we can bring them together without awkwardness between two different age
group.
Jinjang is a town located in Kepong, Kuala Lumpur with mostly settlements of the Chinese
community. It was established as part of the British strategy during Malayan Emergency to forcibly
relocate all races thus isolating them from the communist influences. According to research, it is by
far the largest relocation communities, which cause the formation of 445 hectares residential area
today.
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2. Community Service Initiative (UCM60102U) Tan Jo Lynn 0318518
The site we have chosen is placed in Jinjang Utara, Padang Jinjang Utara, a communal
park with spaces like, basketball court, jogging or cycling trail, children playground, football field,
Chinese food hawker centre and a well managed public toilet. (Figure 1.1) Jinjnag Utara is an
easily accessed housing area. Due to the age of the area, facilities around are at its least and the
roads are generally narrow as they were not designed for the vehicles. But the site we have
chosen were located close to the houses that acts like a central gathering spot of the community
as I believe was because it is a communal space developed since the early stage of this new
village. Therefore, this became one of our main reason to elect this specific space as the project
site as we interpret it as a vital community space that convivial the societies around through
observations and collection of every group members’ perceptions.
As stated in the brief, we were suggested to start off with conduction of site analysis (Figure
1.2) that consists of identification and evaluation of needs and issues in the community. We were
to determine the issue of a target population and discuss the possible solution of the issue.
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6/8/2017 Google Maps
https://www.google.com/maps/@3.2129035,101.6591082,783m/data=!3m1!1e3 1/1
Imagery ©2017 DigitalGlobe, Map data ©2017 Google 100 m
Figure 1.1 Map of Jinjang Utara.
Figure 1.2 Site analysis.

3. Community Service Initiative (UCM60102U) Tan Jo Lynn 0318518
During the early stage of site visits and discussions, we have observed and concluded that
the issue to be tackled around the site chosen is the lack of bicycle rack, which caused the
unplanned placing of bicycles around the park, around a lamp post, under the gazebo or beneath
the trees. The bicycles are mainly owned by the teenagers who live in the Jinjnag residential
housing area and it is believed that their main transportation around is their bicycle as several
education institutions were located nearby as well as the condition of the narrowness of the roads.
The casual parking of these bicycles has caused obstruction is circulation and it seems to have
cause several surface damages to them.
Thus, through further meeting and discussions, we have decided to perform design
development on a norm bicycle rack. (Figure 1.5) As we thought that maybe we could include
certain feature and facility for conveniency of the users. After brainstorming and research, decision
was made to integrate the idea of seatings and communal table with a bicycle rack. It would be a
furniture where one side will be bicycle rack and on the other side it would be normal seating with a
table at the centre, separating both function. The purpose is to allow user to have a choice on
deciding whether to carry out their activity on the bicycle as the table is provided at the mechanism
height, or one could park the bicycle at the rack and have a seat on the other side.
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Figure 1.4 Diagrams of bicycle rack proposal.
Figure 1.3 Photos of casual bicycle placement.

4. Community Service Initiative (UCM60102U) Tan Jo Lynn 0318518
As the proposal was submitted, our tutor, Ms. Ann See Peng, commented that it is less
appropriate for an architectural enhancement and the target issue was not solidified. It is
suggested that maybe we could identify issue around the site like the lack of bicycle trails on the
narrow road and probably we could map out a creative trails from the schools to the park as this
could be the community resting point after the day. As for the designated bicycle rack, it could act
as ‘stations’ around the trail for resting purposes or as a pinpoint structure.
Based on the comments given, we realised probability of the negative judgement is
because of the lack of consideration and understanding of real needs of the park user and the
context of the site. Hence, we went back to the site to conduct the second site analysis where we
decided to interview the park users and residents around, especially the teenagers who seems to
play basketball in the evening on daily basis and the adults that sits around the playground area
with the intention of people watching or guarding over their children. Through several effort by the
team members as the residents were self-conscious around us, the result was unexpected as their
desire for further improvement of the park was as simple as proper seats for more people in the
neighbourhood to come around, to gather or linger in the park.
I became aware of the simple necessity of a community. I realised the purpose of this
project is not to build and design something lavish and complicated but as simple as to bring more
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Figure 1.5 Renderings of bicycle rack proposal.
Figure 1.6 Photos of user sitting on informal seating spots.

5. Community Service Initiative (UCM60102U) Tan Jo Lynn 0318518
people together in a neighbourhood. To create a space that enable the gathering of family, siblings
and friends. It could be a space that enable usage of different age group at close proximity.
The team came up with an agreement on designing a playscape. A designed seatings in
hammock form, consisting of three levels, allowing different usage for different age group at variety
of time. The structure will be locate alongside with the jogging trail, beneath the trees where the
shades could be enjoy by the user. It will be complemented with stacks of pallets on both side of
the structure, which will act as normal seatings with low tables for older adults with back problems,
as well as steps leading upwards to the hammock like playscape. The proposal of bicycle rack will
be a complimentary feature of the playscape in the park.
To verify the affirmation of the user towards the playscape, we have made a physical model
out of grey board, steel hollow tube, white synthetic net and cotton thread. Later, we brought the
completed model to the site and had another section of interview with the user. We inquired them
based on their thoughts and idea of the playscape, its location, function, size as well as aesthetic
and conveniency. As the result, the residents visited the park on that day were satisfy and happy
with the outcome and they were excited to see how it would be use by the community and how it
will affect the society for a better and convivial environment.
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Figure 1.7 Rendering of the playscape.
Figure 1.8 Diagrams for the application of
playscape.

6. Community Service Initiative (UCM60102U) Tan Jo Lynn 0318518
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Figure 1.9 Final proposal board.
Figure 1.9 Playscape physical model.

7. Community Service Initiative (UCM60102U) Tan Jo Lynn 0318518
Link to full video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VeMSHGRfj74&feature=youtu.be
Throughout the process of the project, I have realise the importance of contribution to
society by using skills and techniques gained during the previous learning stages. It is also about
the satisfaction of being able to help the community and enhance the urban environment base on a
student’s passion and dedication towards architecture and creation. I have also gain knowledge on
holistic awareness of the contextual issue and methods of critical analysis on issue observes, thus
determine solutions and designs to solve them with efficiency. It is definitely a great opportunity
and platform for us to apply management skills and project planning techniques as well as
responsive design production ability. I have also definitely able to work better in team work
production after this extent of work progress where we have corporate well and enjoy every debate
and discussion to produce satisfying work.
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Figure 2.0 Final proposal video.