Unity in diversity : a design projection for a participatory housing in Kuala Lumpur

Abstract

This thesis is an exploration towards an alternative design approach for a public housing in Malaysia. It stems from a conviction that the design of public housing should be based on the lifestyles and ways of living of the people it is intended for. Since the Malaysian people are composed of three diverse cultures: Malay, Chinese, and Indian, this thesis proposes a participatory approach which allows each group to accommodate their cultural needs in the design of their dwelling places. Recognizing that public and communal activities are very much a part of the living environment, the thesis attempts to accommodate these activities into the design process. Because each of the three cultures has different ways and needs, the design of both private dwellings and public/communal spaces is based on the supports concept, which is organized around a system of frameworks. This thesis is the second part of a two part work: Part I is a research of the various types of dwellings: traditional, squatter, and public housing; to discover the important principles and elements that persist in all the dwelling types shared by Malays, Chinese and Indians. Part II is a design projection of those principles for a participatory housing project in Kuala Lumpur, involving four of the thirty families surveyed in Part I research. The design exercise includes exploring various transformation possibilities to produce a whole range of variations that satisfy the needs of the diverse Malaysian cultures. Note: Part I and Part II are documented separately into a S.M.Arch.S and M.Arch theses respectively. Each document is a complete, independent thesis, but very much interrelated. Therefore, it is recommended that they be read in sequence.