Master Semester 1- Design statement

Urban Community Housing 1
UNIVERSITY TUNKU ABDUL RAHMAN
Department of Architecture and Sustainable Design
MEAP 15208 - Advanced Design Studio 1
(Housing + Community)
May Intake 2017
Name : Ling Teck Ong
Student ID : 1703655

URBAN COMMUNITY HOUSING
IN JALAN DANG WANGI

Abstract
This report present the design process and design development of urban
community housing project. It also included the design statement and design intention
that I apply to this project. Figure and diagram added inside to act as supportive
material to my design idea. This project is interesting & challenging, we have to carry
out a detailed analysis of the site and current urban situation surrounding the site,
including historical, social-cultural and economic aspects, identifying important
characteristics and later identifying strategies which will need to be incorporated into
our building design process.

TABLE OF CONTENTS
1.1 Introduction Of Project.....................................................................................................................5
1.2 Introduction To Site.......................................................................................................................... 6
2.1 Design Statement.......................................................................................................................... 7
2.2 Design Approach........................................................................................................................... 7
A) Affordability...................................................................................................................................7
B) Programme.................................................................................................................................... 8
C) Public Space................................................................................................................................... 9
D) Accessibility................................................................................................................................. 10
E) Zoning...........................................................................................................................................11
F) Iconic Landmark........................................................................................................................... 12
3.1 Design Intention..............................................................................................................................12
4.1 Massing Development.................................................................................................................... 14
5.1 Section.............................................................................................................................................15
5.2 Site Plan...........................................................................................................................................16
6.1 Facade Design................................................................................................................................. 17
6.2 Housing Unit Design Idea................................................................................................................18
7.1 Conclusion.......................................................................................................................................19
8.1 References...................................................................................................................................... 20

1.1 Introduction Of Project
This project is to design Urban Community Housing in the Jalan Dang Wangi area of
Kuala Lumpur. The neighbourhood is defined as the area bounded by Jalan Tuanku
Abdul Rahman to the west, Jalan Sultan Ismaik to the north, Jalan Raja Abdullah to
the east and Jalan Dang Wangi to the south.
Although the neighborhood is very strategically located, being opposite Dang
Wangi Police Headquaters Complex, and close to the post modern Wilayah Complex,
it is also close to the commercial areas of Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman, two of Kuala
Lumpur’s earliest commercial shopping centres Pertama Complex and Campbell
Complex, some of Kuala Lumpur’s more recent shopping centres Sogo, Maju
Junction and Quill City Mall, Medan Tuanku and just a stone’s throw from the lively
Masjid India commercial area.
The purposed Urban Community Housing allows us to develop, with run down
urban area, innovative design solutions for sustainable dwellings of a high density,
complete with community facilities which will enable this development to become a
catalyst to regenerate the place within such a prime location in the city.

1.2 Introduction To Site
The area bounded by Jalan Tuanku Rahman to the west, Jalan Sultan Ismail to the
north, Jalan Raja Abdullah to the east and Jalan Dang Wangi to the south was chosen
as the neighborhood site, as this area is very strategic and yet neglected. Figure 1.1
shown the site of the Urban Community Housing project.
Although the site is an important location in the historical development of Kuala
Lumpur, with Batu Road (now known as Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman) considered the
city’s old Main Street since colonial times, the chosen site is very run down and needs
soome new strong statements to enrich and enliven the decaying fabric. Currently
used in large parts as open car parks, at the south-west corner of the site is a fine Art
Deco cinema (formerly The Odeon) which had a variety of recent uses, but is in a
decaying state. Loke Mansion another significant heritage building is located east of
Medan Tuanku in the north-west of the site. Too the north of the site along Jalan
Sultan Ismail runs the monorail with Medan Tuanku Station midway along, and to the
north-east are some modern commercial developments as well as the Sheraton
Imperial Hotel.
The site proposed Urban Community Housing will be identified within this ‘master
panning’ area.
Figure 1.1 Site Plan of the Urban Community Housing project
Site

2.1 Design Statement
Before I start my project, I had think about few design statement as design guideline
for the urban community housing design project :
1. To create new & vibrant image to act as a landmark to the site.
2. Act as a catalyst to regenerate the site and bring back community at the same time
3. Create path or access to connect surrounding with the site.
4. Create interesting & attractive programme at the run down area to revitalized the
place.
2.2 Design Approach
A ) Affordability
Architecture serves many essential functions in the fabric of the built environment,
but it is the perpetual deficit of housing that some might argue is the field’s ultimate
clarion call. In virtually every global city, growing populations and limited supplies of
affordable dwellings are the major issues of twenty-first century life—and therefore
are indications of the continued relevance of architecture in solving vexing urban
predicaments. The last century offered early promise in addressing such issues with
proposals to house the masses in immense slabs and box buildings, structures almost
as large as their social ambition. But what became an asset of scale overlooked, or
more probably misunderstood, the social degradation that such largeness elicited.
Housing forms one of the basic needs of human. Maslow’s Theory Hierarchy of
Needs sees that housing forms the foremost important needs, in addition to security,
food and others, at the lowest among the five levels. Acknowledging this importance,
the Malaysian government has drawn various policies to facilitate home ownership.
This has resulted in the housing industry to tremendously grow over the last 30 years
through provision of housing to a large section of the population guided by the vision
of “home owning democracy”. The growth of the Malaysian housing sector has been
underpinned by the interface between three forces; growing population, high rates of
urbanization and growing economy. There are policies currently in place that assist to
address housing for needy. However, little is done to attend to the needs of the middle
income group (MIG). This is made worse by non-existence of the authoritative

definition of the term “middle income household” itself. Against this background, the
main objective of this study is to investigate the affordability profiles of middle-income
earners in each major city to derive the levels of house prices they can afford. The
second key objective is to evaluate accessibility to affordable housing amongst the
middle income households.
Over the last decade, housing market have experienced a spiralling of house
prices, especially in major cities and this has caused relative inaccessibility to housing.
The problem of accessibility to housing becomes more critical among the middle
income group earners given that the lower income group housing needs are
addressed by the governments in developed and developing countries. The middle
income households are concerned because affordability affects not only their ability to
become a homeowner, but also the size and type of the home they are able to
purchase. Affordability problems can be viewed as operating at different levels,
ranging from the narrower direct experience of severe problems of poverty and
homelessness, through an intermediate level of risk, to a broader problem of access
to the market. Many authors argued that housing affordability is influenced by the
levels and distributions of home prices, household incomes and the structure of
financing costs. In the specific context of Malaysia, housing policy has evolved over
the years through the number of national development plans. Housing programmes
implementing the policy are subject to much of the same administrative regulations as
applied to land policy. The objective of the policy is to provide affordable and
adequate housing to the low income group. The current housing problem in Malaysia
is, however, revolving more around the issue of inadequate provision of affordable
housing not only for low income people but most importantly, the middle income
households (MIH).
B) Programme
Create variety of attractive & interesting programmes which bring convenient &
enhanced human lifestyle also a very efficient way for urban renewal. Urban renewal,
which is generally called urban regeneration is a program of land redevelopment in
areas of moderate to high density urban land use. Renewal has had both successes
and failures. The process has had a major impact on many urban landscapes, and
has played an important role in the history and demographics of cities around the
world.

Population is important for revitalized a place. Diagram 2.1 show different
programme created within the site. When different kind of programme proposed in a
run down area, it attracted a lot of people involve in those programme and population
increased at the same time. It enrich and enliven the decaying urban fabric.
C) Public Space
In the city dimension, the public space is important in the aspect of the
environment, culture and economy toward the improvement and balancing the city,
Therefore, in the high density development of urban areas, public spaces as
penetration of air and sunlight to the city so that the city have a healthy environment.
Public space is one part of the development of a city; yet public space play an
important roles in the public life and enhance the quality of life. These public spaces
reflect the social life and interaction of a people, examined the relationship between
public spaces and city’s development. Generally, public space can be seen in various
forms, such as streets, open parks, plazas, parks squares and market places, which
is a public space and play a number of physical role.
Diagram 2.1 Create different programme to revitalize a run down area
Diagram 2.2 Public space providing identity, structure and landscape amenity
to the city and connected community at the same time

Parks are complex elements of a city. They can serve scores of different uses,
may be specialized in their function, or can simply provide visual appeal for residents.
However they work, they act to define the shape and feel of a city and its
neighborhoods. They also function as a conscious tool for revitalization.
Parks can stem the downturn of a commercial area, support the stabilization of
faltering neighborhoods, and provide a landmark element and a point of pride for
constituents. For all these things to happen, the city needs to be open and aware of
parks' potential to spur revival, and support the elements that are needed to make that
happen.
D) Accessibility
The lived experience of cities has long been defined by motion. As urban dwellers
travel to work, home, and play they carve random or predictable pathways across
neighborhoods and districts. The first principle of achieving accessibility in cities is
based on the physical concentration of people, services, economic activities and
exchange. In that regard, the most defining characteristics include residential and
workplace densities; the distribution of functions and degree of mixed use; the level of
centralization; and local level urban design.
Diagram 2.3 show the connection of path to the building around the site so that
people can passed through our site. With comprehensive accessibility to our site, our
Diagram 2.3 Create path to connect the building around

site will be regenerated more effectively. Circulation in architecture refers to how the
space or buildings is designed to facilitate the human flow in the building. Good
circulation is essential to successful architecture. Like the flow of blood in a body,
circulation works best when the route is clear and unobstructed. After all, how can you
appreciate beautiful spaces if you don’t know where to go or you’re constantly
bumping into obstacle? When we confront people with an obstacle course, their eyes
are on the obstacles, not the architecture.
E) Zoning
Zoning guidelines are set in place by the local municipality and control the
physical development of land as well as the types of uses allowed on each property.
Generally, residential zoning laws regulate building dimensions and size. They specify
the minimum distance that a structure must be set back from each property line and
the maximum building size and height allowed for each property.
Sometimes zoning will also limit the number of structures or parking spaces
required or whether the owner is allowed to keep certain animals on his property. In a
historic district for example, zoning regulations may be in place to preserve the
character of the architecture and therefore also regulate material use and design.
Zoning restrictions vary for each community.
As shown in Diagram 2.4, our site is majority occupied by a huge open car park
which separate the building around and building to building is not connected.
Diagram 2.4 Zoning of the Site

F) Iconic Landmark
A landmark is a recognizable natural or artificial feature used for navigation, a
feature that stands out from its near environment and is often visible from long
distances.
To regenerate the site, to design a building which can be easily seen and
recognized from a distance is important. When the building become a landmark, it will
be well known as well. People will pay more attention to the building.
3.1 Design Intention
My design intention is to create accessibility to connect the district around and
make the site permeability at the same time. With comprehensive access, the site will
be revitalized. People will access through our site to the monorail and also from
monorail to the Masjid India commercial area and Quill city mall. When people
passing through the site, the population increased. The site become a vibrant site and
it start to become catalyst which to regenerate the place within such a prime location
in the city. Figure 3.1 show the step of design intention of the urban community
housing design.
Diagram 2.5 Iconic Landmark at the Site

Step 1 Step 2 Step 3
Step 4 Step 5
Step 7Step 6
Figure 3.1 Design Intention

4.1 Massing Development
Figure 4.1 show the massing development of my housing. After I got he footprint
of the community housing, I start to extruded the housing to create a better view to the
surrounding. To correspond to the site context, I create hierarchy following the height
of the Anggun Building which is under construction from high to the low. Later, I put in
the community facilities in between the four housing block. Community facilities is an
important element which allow people to interact and social in the community housing.
The resident also can utilized the facilities like massage, swimming pool, sauna, cafe,
tea house, game room, mini theater and others.
Figure 4.1 Massing Development
Step 1 Step 2
Step 3 Step 4

5.1 Section
A section drawing is one that shows a vertical cut transecting, typically along a
primary axis, an object or building The section reveals simultaneously its interior and
exterior profiles, the interior space and the material, membrane or wall that separates
interior from exterior, providing a view of the object that is not usually seen.
Section is the most easy way to show my design idea. Figure 5.1 show the design
idea of how two building blocks interconnected and responded to each other. At the
middle part between two building is the walkway connected to the monorail and
Masjid India commercial area. It will be a public area which very happening and
enliven. The residents who living up-stair can enjoy the happening view down-stair.
Besides that, the section also show the connection between floor to floor from
basement carpark to the roof level.
Figure 5.1 Sections show the connection of space

5.2 Site Plan
Figure 5.2 show the final site for my proposed urban community housing area
which is 7.4 acres. The reason I choose middle part of site to become my housing site
is because middle part will be more quite compared to the proposed commercial area
site. The landscape is created at the north and south part to act as a buffer zone for
the housing. Besides that, I also proposed a boulevard walk within my commercial
area which connected to housing area, then to the monorail.
Figure 5.2 also show the location of 4 residential blocks. Courtyard was designed
as a public area and bicycle lane also provided to interact with the activities which
existed in ‘The Row’, formerly known as Asian Heritage Row, the once popular
nightlife district underwent a massive refurbishment that transformed over 20 1940s
shop houses into stylish cafes, bistros, event spaces, bicycle shop, studio, exhibition
space and restaurants.
Figure 5.2 Site Plan

6.1 Facade Design
Diagram 6.1 show the reason that I rotate the facade to make it to form an oblique
effect. The building’s long facade is faced to the east and west, sunlight will directed
penetrated inside the housing space. To reduced the directed sunlight, I rotate the
facade and recessed the space of the housing to create more shading to the housing.
After that, I explore the facade design, stack floor by floor with different position.
Figure 6.2 show the option of the facade design. I try to harmonized the outlook of
whole housing.
Diagram 6.1 Facade Design Intention
Figure 6.2 Facade Design’s Options

6.2 Housing Unit Design Idea
Figure 6.3 show the housing unit design idea of 4 different type of unit which is
Type A (1 Bedroom + 1 Bath) with 312 square feet , Type B (2 Bedroom + 1 Bath) with
688 square feet , Type C (3 Bedroom + 2 Bath) with 904 square feet and Type D (2
Bedroom + 2 Bath) with 860 square feet. Balcony was provided for each type of
housing unit to let the resident enjoy the view. For Type D, it is a duplex unit. When
entering the housing, the resident will feel more comfortable due to the huge space
created by double volume and also direct view to outside.
To make the housing unit more sustainable, I design an opening to all the toilet to
reduced the use of mechanical equipment. All the opening were open to the void or air
well outside.
Figure 6.3 Housing Unit Design Idea

7.1 Conclusion
In conclusion, I had learn how to develop a design programme for a project,
master plan and design a building project, integrated the programme with all aspects
of the site and construct a personal approach on master planning and architectural
design from this urban community housing project.

8.1 References
Arku, G. (2006). The housing and economic development debate revisited: economic
significance of housing in developing countries. Journal of Housing Built Environment,
21, 377 - 395.
Smith, D. D. (1977). Housing the urban poor in west Malaysia: The role of the private
sector. Habitat International, 2, (5), 571 – 584.
Tan, T. H. 2008. Determinants of homeownership in Malaysia, Habitat International,
32, (3), 318 – 335.
Bratt, R.G, Stone, M.E. and Hartman, C. 2006 .A right to housing, Temple University
Press, USA.
Tan, T. H. (2010b). Determinants of housing satisfaction in Malaysia. School of
Business Occasional Paper Series, Sunway University.

Master Semester 1- Design statement

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