E-Journal:

 

Week 0: Topic Selection

 

On the first day of class, module outline and briefing were given and we have to discuss on topic selection for this assignment. In a group of 8, we have chosen the topic: Enhancing Street Community. We basically brainstormed first for the ideas to enhance the environment and communities of different socio-economic, status and social group. We also discussed about the issues and conditions based on the ideas that we had come up with. At the end, we come to an agreement that by enhancing the street community, it would allow us to think more critically on solving and learning through the task.

 

Week 1: First proposal

 

On the first group meeting, we basically gathered together as a group and bring up the ideas that we have think of, then discuss about the potential of each ideas to have a serial vision on which idea is gonna work best on enhancing the community. Every of our group members had different opinions on every ideas, so we decided to vote on a few selected ideas to finalize the proposal that is best presented to achieve our objective which is to enhance the existing environment by using recyclable materials while creating impact and influencing the users of that community. Hence, we decided to create a recyclable installation of green playground to influence community in school which targets students to learn and enhance the environment for them. After the ideas have been finalized, we began to select on some good sites(school) based on the school’s needs to carry on our project.

 

Week 2: Site visit 1

 

The first site that we have selected on was SK SS19 which is a primary school that lacks of interactional playground that we found appropriate to implement our idea on it. We went to visit the school and interviewed the principal, while proposing our ideas. However, we got rejected by the school as there’s no good and appropriate locations for building our concepts.

 

Week 3: Site selection

After we got rejected by the first school, we continue to search and browse for school through online and friend’s recommendation. Atlas we found a school which is located very near to our campus – SK Bandar Sunway. It is a primary school that consists of different social group and races of primary students. We found that it is a good opportunity to expose the students with our installation as it allows them to interact and learn more about the knowledge of green plantation.

 

Week 4: Site visit 2

 

We held a site visit to SK Bandar Sunway and start to study on certain sites that have potential to carry out our project. The school was actually quite large than what we have imagined. There are a few deserted site that allow us to do the project but we decided to only choose one. In the school, the security guards were pretty friendly as they lead us to the principal of the school so that we can interview her to understand more about the school. We were very welcomed by the principal when she knows that we are university students that aim to help enhance their school community. We proposed her our ideas and explained about the benefits of our concept. Expectedly, she is very supportive and agreed to help us with the project by providing us some funds and directing us to a few potential sites to carry out our project. As a result, we had a few sites selection and funds to buy the materials needed for building this project. After interviewing the principal, we went to visit the whole school campus and surroundings to study the context and micro site. We also took time to interview the students to see their reaction on our proposal.

 

Week 5: Site study and analysis

 

We already had a few sites of choice. Then the next step is to select one site out of the choices. We basically studied every site and had some analysis about the site. Every site have came up with different ideas of installation compatible with different surroundings that they have. For example, we planned to do a grid plantation installation at a clock tower site which is site 1 and providing furniture plus grid plantation and bottle plantation at canteen site which is site 2. We think thoroughly about all these ideas and the appropriateness of them, by study on the pros and cons of having these ideas on the site, the effect of these ideas on different sites, and how each of them would help to enhance the community and environment of the school community. These are all the conditions that we must look at.

 

Week 6: Site confirmation

 

We finally decided to do on the canteen site which we found is having the most flowing rate of student in the school, and the site have larger space to carry out our concept. After that, we went back to the school and had another proposal presentation to the principal. Everything went smooth and principal agreed with our ideas and concept on selected site. So, she gave us the permission to start our project on site aftersince. Then we started collecting data and information from the site. We split works within our group to measure and take photos of the site in order to produce an installation plan for the project.

 

Week 7: Presentation board

 

After we have the site and idea proposal confirmed, we started coming out with an information board that gathers all the information and concept of our project. The information board consists of the main concept for our project, the intention of our concept, how it works and along with the site, and how it influence the school community to achieve our objective of enhancing the community and environment. The information are basically supported with diagrams and images so that people can easily understand about what we were doing. We distributed the works into few parts: introduction, materiality, SWOT of site, methodology, design response and finally compilation. We held a group meeting so that we can all work together to complete the works.

 

Week 8: Collection and preparation of materials

 

Using the measurements collected on site, we calculate the metals, bottles, plants, ropes, bricks and PVC pipes needed for the whole installation. We first gathered the bottles and cut them into our desired shape and size, then we started arranging the ropes and distributed them into few sections and purposes, some are used to tie up the bottles and some are used for bottle placement. After that, we distributed the plants and arranged their placement. We also found wood cutting specialist to help us prepare wooden pavements that are used to cover the drains located at the site.

 

Week 9: Construction of project

 

After gathering and preparing all the materials needed, we moved all the materials to the site and start constructing the project. We started the project in the morning so that the weather will be more promising while we are constructing project. After moving materials to the site, we started planning the steps for the installation and its method. Along the process, we made it smoothly and we distributed the work nicely to group members according to their pros and ability. Some tough guys help to do the drilling work and carrying heavy loads stuff. While girls help to do gardening stuff such as placing the plants and adding soils to the bottles. We basically helped each other while constructing the project. After we done the drilling work, we started setting up the ropes onto the metals. Then we proceeded by attaching the bottles with plants to the ropes, neatly in vertical placement. After we balanced the bottle placement, we attached the end of the ropes towards the PVC pipes which are connected to the bricks at below. After tightening the ropes to the pipes, we proceed to stabilize the bricks at the base of the installation so that it won’t be moving and the whole installation will be stable and nice. The last step was to cover the drain with wooden pavements so that they could protect students from stepping into the drain while using the installation. Finally, the installations are completed at the evening and we went back home tired.

 

Week 10: Observation of final outcome

 

We went back to SK Bandar Sunway to observe on how our installation interact with the students out there. At first, the student were afraid to use the installation probably because we were there to watch them and also probably because they don’t know how to use it. Then we slowly approached towards them and explained to them about the installation. We even demonstrated on how we waters the plants in the bottle and showed them how the plantation would grow together to enhance the environment and community. After that, we invited a few students to try out the activities and tell them the benefits of doing so. We were happy to see the installation engages towards the student and school community. We hope that it would act as a social engagement between student themselves and also the surroundings, while learning the importance of recycling and growing plantation.