28

DESIGN STATEMENT

AN EDIBLE BACKYARD

Salak South New Village is located at the heart of Kuala Lumpur, a town just outside of Kuala Lumpur with old village houses, wet-market, friendly people, and panoramic view of city skyline. This little village is actually quite secluded from the busy part of the city and is surrounded by highways and train tracks, yet the only road to access it seems to be Jalan 1 and Jalan 1/108 (Road 1 and Road 1/108).

“Living Off - The Grid”

Back in the olden days, planting their own food has been part of their daily activities but due to the increase of family members, the land has been used up for other purposes. Thus, farming is re-introduced to the site. Permaculture is a system that is being introduced and will encourage the locals to be resourceful and self-reliant. It is an ecological design system which helps us find solutions to the many problems facing us - both locally and globally and at the same time bringing back the history, cultural and memories to the communities.

Design Ideas: The overall design comes into 2 parts which is the community hub and extension of rooms on existing one-storey houses.

Community Hub: The main purposes of the building serve the farm especially on the ground floor where it houses, barns, storages, courtyard, workshop & production area. Common spaces are inserted at each floor to allow people to gather and participate in community programming (shared kitchen, living, laundry). These spaces can help reduce social isolation, while still reducing degree of exposure and allowing for easy contact tracing where necessary. The open building plan & materials are made of rough texture such as wire mesh, bricks & steel. The material used are basically materials that can be found on site which makes the building itself blends into the existing environment.

Extension of Rooms: The extension of rooms is to create better, quieter, more privacy environment while working from home. Besides, it helps to cater the increase of family members from time to time, reduce family violence and wider space to walk around during the movement control order (MCO) for future pandemic which will also help to reduce stress, depression, anxiety and increase physical distant too.

Sustainable Features:

Shading Devices: The lightweight & perforated façade act as shading devices which helps to block direct sunlight while the users walk through the corridors.

Green Area: Green spaces not only on the proposed farm but there is rooftop farming for small plants as well.

Cross Ventilation: The used of perforated wire mesh as façade and open building plan helps to maximize cross ventilation and reduces solar heat gains.

Perforated Wire Mesh as Facade: The lightweight & perforated façade allows natural sunlight to penetrate into the building. While on the lower ground it serves to protect the farm animals from predators during the night.

Rainwater Harvesting from Rooftop: Rainwater collected helps to water the crops, washing laundry, flushing toilets and to clean animal barns.