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Final Assignment B: Model
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This is the group component of our last assignment for the ENBE module (Elements of Nature and Built Environment), and we have to build our own model of selected site in groups of five or six.
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Our tutor will choose one from the five or six pamphlets in the previous individual part of our final assignment in our group. Amongst all, my pamphlet had the honour of being chosen to be the blueprint of our model. Still, I want to think that my pamphlet, compared to others in my group, wasn't good enough and had a lot of space for improvement, and that should be the reason why it is chosen.
Because of the area I selected for my study is relatively very small, our group decided to increase the range to cover the Masjid Jamek as well. So our district is actually quite slim, starting from the LRT station of Pasar Seni, and ending at the LRT stationos Masjid Jamek, with Merdeka Square and Jalan Tun H.S. Lee as borders.
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In this part of the final assignment, we need to propose a better city -- that means we had to make improvements to our area. Find out the problems, and figure out solutions for it. The area around Pasar Seni attracts a lot of tourists from other countries, as they especially like to shop around the Central Market and the Petaling Street. So our aim is to improve the walking experience of our site, so that tourists will be more comfortable and enjoy their trip here.
For our model, after discussion, we decided to use modelling board as material, and mke our buildings by the stacking method. It was very tiring to cut all those layers and stack it as buildings (using all-purpose adhesive glue), but we were glad to find the texture we are looking for.
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The stacking method is a precise job. We need to measure every layer accurately, with the deviation not more than 1mm, so it took us a long long time to finish all the buildings, though it didn't seemed much. Once, we finished all the buildings, but after some checking we are not satisfied by all the uneven buildings. Then half of the buildings were required to remake to achieve the best aesthetic. So we used at least two more days to remake all the uneven buildings.
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Though being through all those sleepless nights, in the end we are very satisfied with our buildings, and I'm very happy to see that it looks good on our board.
Improvements
Problem: No shelters and take direct sunlight
Improvement: Shelter
Location: Leboh Pudu
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Overall, the whole area is quite sunny, but its even serious around leboh pudu. There is no shelters at all, so we proposed to build shelters there. It does not cost much, and is very practical.
Problem: No shelters and no trees
Improvement: Vines shelter
Location: Jalan Tun Tan Siew Sin
There are no greeneries around here, and also no shelters at all. I remember my experience walking here, sweating all over and tired, I feel reluctant to ever move again. So we proposed vine shelters here, to solve both problems of no shelters and no greeneries.
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Also, we decided to add some shrubs here, and from the sketch on the left, you could see that we placed a signage here as well.
Problem: Dirty river that unleashes an unpleasant smell
Improvement: Water treatment and vertical tree plantings
Location: Klang river
Surely, walking by the Klang river is not a good experience. In fact, nobody walks there. But we found an empty space between the river and the Pacific Express Hotel, so we decided to do something there. First, about the river, we propose to do water treatments, as well as planting a row of Buchida Bucheras along both sides of the river, And for the empty space, we decided to propose to place food trucks there, and built some benches, as well as placing tables and chairs there. Sculptues would also be placed between the benches to attract more tourists and also act s a node.
Problem: No shelter
Improvement: Place lanterns above head that could also act as shelters
Location: Jalan Tun H.S. Lee
There are less shelters in this area, and since this is near petalign street and in front of the Guan Di temple, we decided to place chinese lanterns as shelters above head along the road. Other than functioning as shelters, it could also improve the scenery and could attract more tourists.
Problem: Too far to reach
Improvement: Build a bridge that connects 3 pieces of land
Location: Nearby Masjid Jamek
From this piece of land to another piece, one have to travel a far distance (a whole round) in order to get across, and actually it isnot necessary if we build a bridge in the middle that connects all three pieces of land. This way, it would be much convenient to travel to places and it may save a lot of energy.
Finished Model
Red top buildings are all the buildings that make up our visual connectivity within the site, and red pins represent the signages we decided to place on our site.
Presentation Board
Reflection
This is the assignment I enjoyed most up till now. It was very fun making the model, though very tiring, but the sense of accomplishment is the strongest I ever felt in this semester after completing the model. I know our model is not the best, but I loved it, more than any other stuff I did in this semester. Too bad I can't take it home.
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We were concentrated on doing the model, until...Pokemon Go came out. Nobody can resist the temptation to go and have a little walk around our campus, as our campus have A LOT of pokestops, gyms and all types of pokemons wandering around -- waiting for us to bring them back home. And that's the main reason (or so I think) our progress began to slow after the game came out, but luckily we still manage to finish it on time -- a few hours before the presentation. Me and most of my fellow groupmates did not slept at all on the previous night, but that is quite common for all the other groups too. It is very lively here on Block E in the campus even around midnight. Unfortunately nobody seen any ghost around (it is currently the time of Ghost Festival for the Chinese).
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In proccess of doing this assignment, I had developed the TGC 3.1 and 3.2, to think critically and creatively, and to analyse problems and come out with effective solutions. I, along with my groupmates had a hard time thinking of logical improvements that were actually practical to be carried out in our area. There are actually a lot of problems here, but there are reasons why it is untouched and unfixed on up till now -- firstly, the lackof parking lots. We originally thought of making a multiple storey parkign lot, but it would block the view of our iconic Central Market, then we thought, what about an underground parking lot? But there are a lot of pipes underground andit would be a massive work to start,not to mention that this area floods a lot. Similarly, there are alot of problems to think about, and a lot of ideas to come up with and later cancel out, so it involves a lot of critical and creative thinking, as well as problem solving skills.
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It also involves TGC 5.1 in this assignment, which is to work with others in a team and understand team dynamics. Teamwork is especially important in this assignment. If the team members do not work together, they would not had produced their work efficiently and effectively. Like if one people wants to do A, another wants to do B, and again another wants to do C, then they could not work effectively as a group and could not even produce something great. It is important to communicate and exchange ideas, and to merge them into a better masterplan rather than doing everything alone.
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