Rethinking Architecture and Waste The Search for Community-Oriented Recycling Centre
by
Wong Jia Jiunn
Master of Architecture December 2017 School Architecture, Building & Design Taylor’s University
Rethinking Architecture and Waste The Search for Community-Oriented Recycling Centre (CRC)
Abstract: In order to raise the level of awareness of recycle and further develop our recycling culture, local community recycling centre plays a crucial role. The act of designing should more than the generation of another physical place but to make good design which is able to create social impact towards the occupants, the surroundings and the broader community. However, the current model of local community waste recycling centre in Malaysia is found to be lagging behind in term of social aspects and architectural qualities, giving a sense of alienation and no gesture to connect with the public, visually or socially. Communities are rarely on-site to understand and participate the recycling process. These recycling centres offer no amenities beyond having their core function of processing the waste then cultivate up positive values in getting more community to recycle, reduce and reuse their waste. In fact, education and communication is vitally important to achieve awareness and behavioural change (Velasco, 2014). If there are increased community engagement available for waste management, coupled with education and good practice will then alter the Malaysians' social norms of ignorance and towards an effective and sustainable environmental protection. The aim of this paper is to determine various spatial design strategies that could be adopted by local recycling centres in engaging community both visually and socially to convey the message of recycling. This will form a basis for formulating design principles in designing community-oriented recycling centre. Within the context of built environment and having in mind of the environmental issues, there is a visible need to strive for community involvement to foster recycling as a valuable habit in our daily life. Keywords: Architectural Spatial Design, Domestic Waste, Community-Oriented Recycling Centre
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Declaration
This is to certify that: •
The dissertation comprises only my original work towards the Master of Architecture except where indicated in the Preface.
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Due acknowledgement has been made in the text to all other materials used.
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The dissertation is compiled between 10,000 and 15,000 words, exclusive of figures, tables and bibliographies.
______________________ Signed by: Wong Jia Jiunn Date: 04 December 2017
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Preface This is an original dissertation by the author, Wong Jia Jiunn, submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements of the degree of Master of Architecture. It contains work and research done from September 2017 to December 2017.
The aim of this dissertation is to determine various spatial design strategies that could be adopted by local recycling centre in engaging community both visually and socially as well as to convey the message of recycling. It also forms a basis for formulating design principles in designing community-oriented recycling centre that will be beneficial to aspiring designers and architects of the Malaysian built environment. The key to improve local recycling centre as well as to foster local recycling practice lies within effective community engagement and good spatial design. The spatial-physical environment in fact plays an important role in promoting pro-environmental behaviour.
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Acknowledgements I wish to express my deepest gratitude to the individuals who have extended their assistance throughout the course of this dissertation.
First and foremost, my supervisor, Dr. Keith Tan Kay Hin, whose knowledge, understanding, generous guidance and support made it possible for me to work on a topic that is of great interest to me. His patience and constant encouragement has been a great asset to me in this entire dissertation program.
I am also grateful to all my lecturers, family and friends who have been a source of strength, wisdom and encouragement throughout the course of this dissertation.
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Table of Contents Abstract: ................................................................................................................................................ i Declaration ........................................................................................................................................... ii Preface ..................................................................................................................................................iii Acknowledgements ..............................................................................................................................iv List of Figures ........................................................................................................................................vi CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................. 1 1.1 Background ..................................................................................................................................... 1 1.1.1 Malaysia’s Domestic Waste Generation................................................................................... 1 1.1.2 Malaysia’s Solid Waste Disposal System and The Challenges .................................................. 3 1.1.3 Recycling Facilities in Malaysia ................................................................................................. 9 1.2 Problem Statement ....................................................................................................................... 12 1.3 Research Question ........................................................................................................................ 12 1.3 Aim, Objectives and Significance .................................................................................................. 13 1.4 Methodology and Methods .......................................................................................................... 13 1.4.1 Research Methodology .......................................................................................................... 13 1.4.2 Research Methods ................................................................................................................. 14 1.5 Limitations and Delimitations ....................................................................................................... 14 1.6 Chapter’s Summary ....................................................................................................................... 15 CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW ....................................................................................................... 17 2.1 “Empowering” - The Development of pro-Environmental Behaviour through Design .............. 17 2.2 “Enhancing” - The Sustainability & Community-Engaged Design in Francis Kere’s Architecture ........................................................................................................................................................ 20 2.3 Chapter’s Summary ................................................................................................................... 28 CHAPTER 3: CASE STUDY ..................................................................................................................... 31 3.1 Justification of Selected Case Study .......................................................................................... 31 BIBLIOGRAPHY .................................................................................................................................... 35
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List of Figures Figure 1: Malaysia Solid Waste Generation in 2012 (Khalilulnisha, 2015) ............................................ 2 Figure 2: Household Waste Composition in 2012 (Khalilulnisha, 2015) ................................................ 2 Figure 3: Solid Waste Disposal System (Author, 2017) ......................................................................... 3 Figure 4: Waste Hierarchy (Department of Environment, 2011) .......................................................... 4 Figure 5 Smestad Recycling Station in Oslo, Norway ............................................................................ 7 Figure 6: Bridport Household Recycling Centre, Bridport, UK ............................................................... 8 Figure 7:Privately owned recycling centres located in Klang with poor recycling facilities and architectural qualities. Open waste dumping poses safety issues and puts environment at risk. (Author, 2017) ...................................................................................................................................... 9 Figure 8: NGO’s Recycling Centre by Tzu Chi in Meru, Klang (Author,2017) ....................................... 11 Figure 9: Recycling campaign organized by P.A.S.S and the misusing of recycling bin as dumping grounds ............................................................................................................................................... 11 Figure 10: Dissertation's mind map & structure ................................................................................. 16 Figure 11: Primary School for the Village of Gando, by Francis Kere (Ouwerkerk, 2017) ................... 21 Figure 12: A well-crafted building with sustainability in min. (Ouwerkerk, 2017) .............................. 22 Figure 13: Community engagement in construction and school as social infrastructure. (Ouwerkerk, 2017)................................................................................................................................................... 23 Figure 14: LycÊe Schorge Secondary School, by Kere Architecture (Baan, 2017) ................................ 24 Figure 15: Public courtyard as community gathering place (Baan, 2017) ........................................... 25 Figure 16: Sepertine Pavilion 2017 (Zapartan, 2017) .......................................................................... 26 Figure 17 Recycling Centre at Taman Sentosa, Klang (Author, 2017) ................................................. 31 Figure 18 IPC Recycling and Buy-back Centre (Author, 2017) ............................................................. 32 Figure 19 Cyberjaya Community Recycling Collection Centre (Author, 2017) .................................... 33 Figure 20 EkoCenter by PKMN Architectures (PKMN, 2014) ............................................................... 34
CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION 1.1 Background 1.1.1 Malaysia’s Domestic Waste Generation As of the year of 2016, Solid Waste Management and Public Cleansing Corporation (SWCorp Malaysia) reported 38,000 tonnes of waste are produced each day in Malaysia. Despite introducing the waste segregation programme in 2016, 17.5% out 38,000 tonnes of the waste are estimated being recycled yet it is far behind compared with a number of developed countries recycling rate like Austria (63%), Germany (62%), Belgium (58%) etc (Brown, 2017). In urban areas, especially the environment in Klang Valley is being placed under increasing pressure from a growing population, changing lifestyles and living standards. Litter at the roadside, drains clogged up with rubbish and rivers filled with filthy garbage have become the norm in our daily life. Domestic waste ends up in our drains causes blockage often trigger flash floods during monsoon seasons and heavy downpour. In fact, there are over 7.2 million people or more than a fifth of Malaysia's total population living in the Klang Valley. An average of 1.25kg of domestic waste is estimated being produced each day by each person, resulting over 9 million kg of domestic waste produced per day from Klang Valley, and up to 3 million tonnes of waste each year (Ismail, 2014). Besides that, according to the Drainage and Irrigation Department (DID), in terms of the amount of rubbish found, the dirtiest river in our country is the 120km-long Sungai Klang. Each year, an estimated 77,000 tonnes of garbage are dumped into to Klang river which is enough to fill 30 Olympic-sized swimming pools. DID also raised the alarm over the improper handling of food waste. Studies on the water quality under the River of Life project identified food waste as the main pollutant in eight rivers flowing through Kuala Lumpur and Selangor. The cause has been traced to coffeeshops, restaurants, food courts and stalls which discharge food waste and grease into drains. This uncontrolled and enormous amount of waste, ranging from biodegradable to synthetic waste are resulting in tremendous air and water pollution as well as health problems. According to Malaysia Department of Environment, so far, in 2014, pollution has already led to five rivers in Malaysia (Sungai Segget. Sungai Ayer Merah, Sungai Jelutong, Sungai Juru, and Sungai Prai) classified as “dead” as they are unable to sustain any river organisms (P.Aruna, 2014). Furthermore, the pay for the damage we cause to the environment each year is exorbitant. Up to RM 4 billion is estimated to pay over the damage we caused to clean up and beautify the polluted rivers in the Klang Valley under River of Life project launched in 2011 by our government (Chow, 2017).
Figure 1: Malaysia Solid Waste Generation in 2012 (Khalilulnisha, 2015)
Figure 2: Household Waste Composition in 2012 (Khalilulnisha, 2015)
Besides that, according to local government survey report in 2012, figure 1 shows that households are the main solid waste generation in our country, recorded the highest percentage (65%) follow by commercial & institutional (28%) and industry (7%). Approximately 60% of household waste is recyclable based on household waste composition as show in figure 2. There is still a large portion of our domestic waste that capable to be recycled, but due to poor management such as unsustainable disposal method, low collection coverage area, irregular collection services and low public engagement, which leads to the consequences of illegal dumping, open burning and scavenging activities, further complicating the environmental and social problems.
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1.1.2 Malaysia’s Solid Waste Disposal System and The Challenges
Figure 3: Solid Waste Disposal System (Author, 2017)
Generally, solid waste management (SWM) process can be divided into three stages of process from collection/transport, to intermediate treatment and the final stage of waste disposal method as shown in Figure 3 above. Stage 1 and 2 should be given priority because it is preferable and feasible compared to waste treatment like landfill or incineration as less amount of energy is required, environmentally-friendly and low operating cost. It is also important to engage and educate the public on matters related activities in stage 1 and 2 to increase their knowledge, skills and awareness on sustainability. The waste hierarchy’s model as shown in figure 4 was introduced into European waste policy in 1975 by European Union’s Waste Framework Directive and local government bodies were tasked to carry out waste minimisation. Today, Germany has achieved the highest recycling rate in the world. In Sweden, nearly 99 percent of all household waste is recycled, and recycling stations are situated no more than 300 metres from any residential area (Fredén, 2017). In Denmark, the residual waste that cannot be recycled is incinerated to generate electricity. Danish architecture firm Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG) also tested the compatibility between energy plant and recreation as a way to transform public perception of utility infrastructure. The recently completed project, one of the cleanest waste-to-energy plant in the world, Amager Bakke feature a ski slope on its roof as a recreation space for public as well as an architectural landmark in the cityscape of Copenhagen.
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Figure 4: Waste Hierarchy (Department of Environment, 2011)
In Malaysia, however, landfilling is preferable due to its low cost and availability of land. Less attention has been paid to the preventative aspects in waste management in Malaysia. In fact, according to a local news report in 2016, Urban Wellbeing, Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Abdul Rahman Dahlan stated there are 170 waste disposal sites in Malaysia with only 14 of them with the status of sanitary landfill (Jalil, 2016). There are over hundreds of waste disposal sites are without sufficient environmental protection and located near to water catchment areas. It is important to review other sustainable disposal options as constructing new sanitary landfills to accommodate the growing amount of domestic waste may be difficult in future due to the scarcity of land, increase of land price, growing population, high maintenance cost and local environment consideration. Besides that, Solid Waste Management Lab, 2015, a local survey report conducted by the government body, Performance Management & Delivery Unit (PEMANDU), a unit under the Prime Minister’s Department which its function is to oversee the implementation, assess the progress, facilitate the progress of government policies and strategies had identified 6 critical issues encounter in our current solid waste industry in Malaysia (Khalilulnisha, 2015).
1. Gaps in appropriate policies, guidelines, standards and governance 2. Inadequate resources: Technical Expertise & Skilled Manpower 3. Inadequate of fund and mismatch between revenue and cost 4. Inadequate waste facilities 5. Inadequate waste management data 6. Unregulated and unmonitored recyclables market
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The concept of reducing, reusing and recycling has been drummed into us since childhood by television and schoolteachers. In fact, everybody does know the importance of recycling. However, our country’s recycling rate is still far from other developed countries and few people are doing it consistently. Why? This is because the reward for recycling (saving the earth) and the effects for infrequently recycling (damaging the environment) are not immediate. It is hard for people to associate recycling as habit. A research conducted by Dr. Jessica Nolan, a social psychologist, found that the behaviour of others (social norms) can be a powerful driver of environmental behaviour in addition to recycling promotion and education (Nolan & Schultz, 2013). Human beings are known as the “social animals” and therefore naturally seek the companionship of others as part of their wellbeing. Newman (2011), in Sociology: Exploring the Architecture of Everyday Life, explained the everyday social life – our thoughts, actions, feelings, decisions, interactions and so on – is the product of a complex interplay between personal characteristics and societal forces. Humans look to others to help define and interpret particular situations that influence on what we see, feel, think and do. Research also found that the willingness of respondents to accept recycling is influenced by beliefs about the other’s behaviour. Social learning responsibility is statistically significant and positive, indicating that the people’s propensity to assign responsibility increases with common thinking about how to recycle in their social group (Nyborg, 2011).
Another key opportunity for improving recycling rate is through providing well-designed and effective infrastructure. From environmental psychology perspective, attention to the study of spatialphysical dimension of the environment as constituting part of human actions and experience at the intrapersonal, interpersonal, group, intergroup, and societal levels is important for the development of pro-environmental behaviour. Thomas, Christine; Yoxon, Mark; Slater, Rachel and Leaman, John (2004), Changing recycling behaviour: an evaluation of attitudes and behaviour to recycling in the Western Riverside area of London, shows a clear link between improved recycling infrastructure and reported recycling behaviour. The research found that two thirds of respondents agreed with the improved recycling infrastructure in promoting recycling behaviour. Furthermore, several key factors such as accessibility and convenience of recycling opportunities, human perception and participation further affect the recycling rate. Besides that, Graumann. C (2002), environmental psychologist adopted concepts from various phenomenological studies like place making, place attachment, place identity and sense of place, or “topophilia” as an approach to examine people-environment studies.
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Besides that, another local survey report (Aziz, 2013) conducted by National Solid Waste Management Department, Survey on Solid Waste Composition, Characteristics & Existing Practice of Solid Waste Recycling in Malaysia further justify the importance of community engagement and effective infrastructure. The main reasons for households in Malaysia not recycling were attributed to lack of time and not convenient or accessible to recycling services and facilities, resulting the public have to take extra steps to recycle their products. The survey also reported the reason of why some of the households recycled was attributed to monetary benefit, while a significant number of people gave it away as charity. The respondents in urban areas of Peninsular Malaysia stated their primary reason for recycling was to protect the environment (29.8%), followed by charity (29.7%) and monetary incentive (26.1%). The respondents in rural areas of Peninsular Malaysia similarly stated that the main reason was to protect the environment (36.5%). The second most important recycling motivator for the rural respondents was monetary incentive (36.5%), followed by the reason of charity (9.6%). Author also highlighted the current limitation of recycling practice are limited to recyclable items with commercial value. The way of making recycling sustainable has to be community-based and providing more user-friendly recycling facilities in residential areas are crucial in making the 3R as a culture and habit.
So, what is community engagement and why community engagement is pertinent to recycling? According to US Environmental Protection Agency’s report (EPA, 2017), community engagement is defined as below, “Community engagement is the process of building relationships with tribal members, stakeholders, citizens and interest groups to work side-by-side as long-term partners – building a coalition of support on a range of integrated waste management policies, programs and service issues – with the end goal of protecting the environment and making the community a better place to live.”
Community engagement is important as local communities are given the role to contemplate, discuss, decide and implement the waste management policies or programs affecting them. It provides opportunity for community to learn about in-depth waste management issues and increases the likelihood that policies or programs will be widely accepted. Most importantly, it bridges the gap between government (policy makers) and civil society as it draws on local knowledge and feedback from communities to create policy that are both practical and effective. For an example, Foth Infrastructure & Environment, LLC (2014) prepared Community Engagement Report for City of Bloomington, Minnesota, USA to guide the City’s approach in formulating a solid waste management plan. Foth conducted a survey to collect community’s opinions on the potential action to “Organize
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garbage collection for one hauler serving each neighbourhood�. The Bloomington’s community further expressed a desire for fewer trucks in their neighbourhoods as it reduces noise, road-damage and ensures residents’ safety. Local community also expressed their interest in composting the organic waste in addition to current recycling model and requested additional city resources to be dedicated to solid waste related education activities.
What is central to change is the need to make the individual and the community understand and accept their roles and responsibilities in the generation of wastes and the management of materials. An effective community engagement can foster a sense of community, engender trust, enhance creative problem solving, build consensus and increase support for community projects. Obara L. J. (2008), Community Engagement in Sustainable Waste Management: The Case of Recycling in an Urban Context, examines the attempts of local authority in UK in engaging communities in Cardiff to adopt more sustainable waste practices. Author highlighted the potentially significant role of communityled organizations in engaging and motivating local communities to achieve effective waste management. The strategies like providing consultation and involving communities in the decisionmaking process create a sense of ownership over polices as well as meeting the needs that communities themselves have identified.
Figure 5 Smestad Recycling Station in Oslo, Norway
Surprisingly, the provision of recycling infrastructure in some developed countries suggest a positive impact to local recycling practice. Smestad Recycling Station in Oslo, Norway, by Longva Arkitekter, represents a new building type of recycling station in 21st century. Unlike the conventional model, the supply and handling of waste are designed to be take place indoor as the local community concerned the issues of noise and odour affecting the surroundings. The outcome of the architectural solutions and spatial design shows a user-friendly, accessible and positive spatial experience and it also justified the feasibility to integrate this type of building sensitively to an existing living. It is a 7
facility for the public to take part in recycling as well as to provides job opportunities for the locals. Besides that, the architect also considers the design of the workplace to ensure employee’s benefits, well-being and better working environment. The architect also pays close attention to traffic flow and recycling process, to ensure sufficient slots for the waste fractions and adequate manoeuvring area for operations. The hall has space for 34 cars without trailer and 16 waste fractions. The main façade towards the ring road is open, clad with expanded metal sheets mounted between the columns of laminated wood. The building has a saw-tooth roof that gives the large volume a subdivision and rhythm which is spectacular that draws public attention.
Figure 6: Bridport Household Recycling Centre, Bridport, UK
Moreover, the RIBA and RICS 2016 award-winning recycling centre in Bridport is carefully designed to be integrated into the natural landscape as well as to meet the needs of local area. As a public facility, it presents a strong and positive sustainability agenda whilst providing much needed local amenity with excellent work and user environments. A legible and generous entry sequence welcomes visitors through signage and great portal extruded from the canopies that cover the public recycling bays beyond. In fact, particularly in the absence or mismanagement of basic infrastructure, the everyday dimension becomes problematic to those who are affected by it. Jutta Gutberlet, in his article, Urban Recycling Cooperatives: Building Resilient Communities, refers infrastructure as the range of activities, organizations and facilities supporting the formation, development and maintenance of social relationships in a community. Author highlighted that lack of good social infrastructure has a relationship with social problems associated with communities, including physical and mental health problems, fear of violence and crime, poor community building and social cohesion (Gutberlet, 2016). A holistic concept of integrating recycling facilities into local community has become a necessity in planning for the future to provide a platform for Malaysian community to play their role in taking care of our environment. 8
1.1.3 Recycling Facilities in Malaysia The recycling industry in Malaysia is still in infancy stage. The number of recycling facilities available across our country are not known. To date, waste management company Alam Flora Sdn Bhd is the only entity contracted by our government to buy and collect recyclable items from traders. Alam Flora is also in progress in collecting recycling data for government to formulate better waste management policy. As far as it is concerned under the Act 627 (Solid Waste Management and Public Cleansing Act 2007), other players in the recycling industry such as scrap metal mills, recycling companies and nongovernmental organizations are yet to be legalised although they have the licenses to run business (Bavani, 2017). Unfortunately, there is any established guideline for executing and managing neighbourhood recycling facilities. As a result, often, recycling facilities found in our neighbourhood showing signs of neglect, similar to junkyards, and have become an eyesore for those residing in the area. There is no gesture to connect with the public, visually or socially. Communities are rarely onsite to understand and participate the recycling process. For the purpose of reaping profit in selling the reusable items and maintaining low operation cost, facilities are usually poorly managed and maintained. Recyclable materials are openly dumped which provide breeding grounds for dangerous vectors such as rats and mosquitoes. Many of these products may contain a lot of hazardous chemicals that susceptible to fires and adversely affect the environment, including the water, air, soil and humans within and around that yard. It also presents a variety of safety risks from sharp objects which can injure the workers and visitors.
Figure 7:Privately owned recycling centres located in Klang with poor recycling facilities and architectural qualities. Open waste dumping poses safety issues and puts environment at risk. (Author, 2017)
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The cause and effects of indiscriminate waste dumping seems largely unheeded in our day-today practices. Rubbish collectors today have to pick up rubbish from non-designated spots in addition to regular curb side collection service. A worker by the name of Suman Ahmad, Alam Flora’s worker commented on the lack of commitment and participation from the business community in maintaining clean environment. He also highlighted the improper way of waste disposal is causing them difficulty and annoyance (Bavani, 2017). Besides that, Malaysian Environmental NGOs (Mengo) chairman Yasmin Rasyid commented on the importance to set up basic recycling corner for their respective neighbourhoods and send the collected items in bulk to the right locations during an interview of news report. Although local councils have implemented mandatory waste separation, she highlighted that community is not certain on how the recyclables are going to be treated. Due to limited recycling facilities available within the vicinity, she pointed out that residents prefer to send their recyclables to NGOs (Teng, 2017).
Some of the non-profit organisations like Buddhist Tzu Chi Merit Society Malaysia, Community Recycle for Charity (CRC), IPC Recycling & Buy-Back Centre, Pertubuhan Amal Seri Sinar Kuala Lumpur & Selangor (P.A.S.S.) etc are actively engaging and educating the public about recycling. In 2011, Tzu Chi KL & Selangor launched "A Recycling Centre in Every Community" Campaign. To-date 60 recycling centres had been established. Furthermore, items that can be reused such as clothes, furniture and electrical goods are given to charity homes. Funds raised from selling recyclables are also donated to needy community (Chi, 2013). For an example, green activist, Dato' (Dr.) Eadon Ching, the founder of P.A.S.S, had raised over RM 2.6mil for charities and environmental projects from recyclable items since the inception in 2003 (Yoon, 2016). Besides that, Community Recycle for Charity (CRC) initiates community recycling by having a strategy of installing 179 recycling bins around Klang Valley as a medium of providing convenience for people to recycle (Nathan, 2015). In some cases, however, the effort to educate public recycle by adding more locations for recycling bins is laudable. Unfortunately, it is common to find people abusing the recycling facilities provided, particularly recycling bins in residential areas are misused as dumping grounds. In fact, when the recycling bins get contaminated, it causes problems during the sorting of recyclables, as well as affecting the ability of the item to be processed into a new product. In some cases, just a few contaminated items can ruin an entire truckload of recyclables into landfills instead of recycling centre. The public awareness alone is not enough, it is important to improve civic education and manage recycling more effectively.
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Figure 8: NGO’s Recycling Centre by Tzu Chi in Meru, Klang (Author,2017)
Figure 9: Recycling campaign organized by P.A.S.S and the misusing of recycling bin as dumping grounds
As the professional in the built environment, architects have to contribute to mankind with their work. The question is how? With the aspiration to instil recycling culture into local community and to reduce the amount of waste goes to landfill, having a functional and responsive Community Recycling Centre (CRC) in our living area is necessary. A place dedicated to the community with free and convenient way of dropping off unwanted materials for recycle and reuse. Besides that, CRC also serves as social infrastructure that plays important role in instilling the goal of waste minimisation through educating public on recycling. It also addresses the problem of recycle bins being misused and to reduce indiscriminate waste dumping.. It also creates additional jobs for local community to benefit in the process. In fact, findings indicate that recycling able to generate 2 jobs per 1,000 tons which is a merit in improving local community living conditions (Goldstein, 2014). Amenities like second-hand items shops, café and workshops for groups to repair and upcycle goods further improves community’s interaction, participation and engagement. This hybrid building typologies of CRC which not only re-connect and re-engage the community, but also weave social activities with environmental protection in mind in a mutually beneficial way.
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1.2 Problem Statement The current model of local community waste recycling centre in Malaysia is found to be lagging behind in term of social aspects and architectural qualities, giving a sense of alienation and no gesture to connect with the public, visually or socially. Communities are rarely on-site to understand and participate the recycling process. These recycling centres offer no amenities beyond having their core function of processing the waste then cultivate up positive values in getting more community to recycle, reduce and reuse their waste. In fact, education and communication is vitally important to achieve awareness and behavioural change (Velasco, 2014). If there are increased community engagement available for waste management, coupled with education and good practice will then alter the Malaysians' social norms of ignorance and ensure an effective and sustainable environmental protection. Architects, in this case, play a crucial role in finding innovative solutions to transform and infuse these persistent non-user-friendly waste facilities in Malaysia with a sense of community and value. It is important to revamp our local community recycling centre’s image and reshape the perception in our community towards the building of our nation’s recycling culture. It transgresses the boundaries between architecture and waste, and moving forward with a vision of zero waste.
1.3 Research Question The background study as described above examined the current critical situation of Malaysia domestic waste generation and the limitations of Malaysia’s recycling facilities. A holistic concept of integrating solid waste management practice into community as well as reshaping the local recycling centres’ spatial experience have become a necessity in promoting local recycling. As with the problem statement, the research question addressed by this dissertation is:
In what way recycling centre’s spatial design could empower and enhance local community engagement in recycling practice?
1. What is spatial design? In what way has spatial design been valued as an aspect of designing local recycling centre and how does it contribute to community engagement? 2. How can architecture promote effective solid waste management as well as convey the message of sustainability through community-engaged design? 3. In what way spatial design can foster pro-environmental behaviour?
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1.3 Aim, Objectives and Significance The aim of this dissertation is to determine various spatial design strategies that could be adopted by local recycling centre in engaging community both visually and socially to convey the message of recycling. This will form a basis for formulating design principles in designing community-oriented recycling centre. To achieve the aim, the objectives of the dissertation are broken down as follows: I. To determine and analyse various spatial design in facilitating local recycling practice. II. To determine and analyse various spatial design strategies in engaging community, the making of community-oriented recycling centre that offers a sense of belonging for community to interact, learn and practice recycling. III. To formulate basic design principles as a reference in designing community-oriented recycling centre. The significance of this dissertation is the exploration of design strategies in revamping our local recycling centre’s image in order to improve local community recycling practice and towards the building of our nation’s recycling culture. It is crucial in developing an end design that is reflective of community members needs and desires rather than a physical building with an assigned function. This paper offers additional perspective for architects/designers in improving our local infrastructure with a sense of community and belonging.
1.4 Methodology and Methods 1.4.1 Research Methodology The research approach adopted in this paper is qualitative. The purpose of qualitative research is to gain an understanding of underlying reasons, opinions, and motivations in relation to the research problem. There are two approaches to qualitative research adopted in this paper, phenomenology and case study. Phenomenology is concerned with the study of experience from the perspective of the individual. It provides an insight into people’s motivations and actions pertain to recycling. The case study approach is useful as they present data of real-life situations and provide better insights into the detailed information of the subjects of interest. The overall purpose in case study is generally to explain “how”, exploring the spatial design strategies adopted in engaging communities both visually and socially in conveying the message of recycling.
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1.4.2 Research Methods A review of literature provides valid references that can be grouped into common themes, allowing for the research to develop a theoretical framework of the notion of community engagement through spatial design. In this paper, to gain a better understanding, spatial design is broken down to three main components: Spatial Planning, Spatial Requirement, and Spatial Composition based on Ian Higgins’s approach and how these three components can contribute to better community engagement. The case study in this paper selected three local recycling centres and one oversea recycling centres for comparison purposes as well as to analyse their spatial design strategies being adopted in engaging community in recycling practice. Furthermore, data collection through site visit, field observation and interview visitors provide important insights into spatial experience and local recycling practice. The specific features of each case will be described in depth and the analysis of the case study will employ theoretical framework developed from the literature review. In summary, the research methods adopted in this paper is detailed as below Type Library Research
Method (1) Analysis of published records
Field Research
(1) Observation
Techniques Collecting information from local news report and local government bodies. Findings related to local recycling centre’s spatial design and community engagement. Site visit, take photographs and writing fieldnotes
(2) Interview & Opinionnaire
Interview a number of visitors to collect their opinions on local recycling centre.
1.5 Limitations and Delimitations Inadequate data presents a limitation in developing appropriate spatial design strategies in term of formulating building programmes, size and spatial arrangement as the amount of waste recycled is not well-documented and the poor organization structure in local recycling centre. Unlike quantitative analysis uses exact inputs like recycling rate, volume of waste etc., this dissertation explores the qualitative aspects of spatial design as a way to identify appropriate design strategies to improve local recycling centre image and enhance community engagement. Due to limited time of 14 weeks, local survey is not conducted to collect local community’s opinions and needs about community recycling centre. Local community feedbacks/data are limited to published records by local government and newspaper. Furthermore, the recycling in this paper is limited to household waste rather than other waste materials.
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1.6 Chapter’s Summary This chapter laid the foundation of this paper. The background study began with acknowledging the severity of current waste generated each day and the low recycling rate in our country. It is important that our waste recycling practice should adopt European waste hierarchy model in reference to some successful countries like Germany, Sweden and Denmark. The architectural problem is derived based on two key research findings that behaviour of others (social norms) and environmental psychology study of spatial-physical dimension of the environment act as a powerful driver of pro-environmental behaviour. Furthermore, findings revealed that our local recycling centre is in need of a major revamp on its identity and image as evidenced by comparing our local recycling centre and other developed countries recycling centre. Therefore, the research is positioned to study how spatial design strategies could empower and enhance local community engagement in recycling practice.
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Figure 10: Dissertation's mind map & structure
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CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW 2.1 “Empowering� - The Development of pro-Environmental Behaviour through Design The purpose of architecture is to improve human life. This informed that the design solutions ought to permit widest opportunity of human activities and social needs. It is necessary to understand well the relationship between human and environment. Although design may not change human behaviour, but good or bad design do affect human spirits and the performance of activities. In Malaysia, a local research group had conducted an empirical study on recycling behaviour by using mathematical model to analyse 300 respondents on the influence of situational factors on recycling behaviour (Latif, Omar, Bidin, & Awang, 2011). Findings show that situational factors have significant influence on consumers intention to recycle. Authors highlighted that consumers will actively engage in recycling when more facilities are provided, and it is vitally important to let consumers feel convenient to carry out recycling. Similarly, another research conducted to examine the role of social context in the link between individual attitudes about the environment and recycling behaviour by comparing communities that vary in their access to recycling programs. Results show that people with easy access to a structured recycling program have much higher levels of recycling. Authors also highlighted that people who are concerned about environment will recycle if opportunity is given, while the environment unconcerned group develop their recycling behaviour through social context/ influence (Derksen & Gartrell, 1993).
Furthermore, (Dunlap, 1994) have identified three broad types of social fixes: (1) the cognitive (or knowledge) fix, which assumes that information and persuasion will suffice to produce the necessary changes in behaviour, (2) a structural fix which relies on laws and regulations that mandate behavioural change and (3) an intermediary behavioural fix that employs incentives and disincentives to encourage changes in behaviour. In addition, a local research group conducted a survey based on four attributes which is similar to Dunlap, et al., approach in identifying waste separation behaviour among communities in Malaysian universities. These 4 attributes are accessibility to recycle bins, information on the separation of waste, incentive for waste separation and a reminder to separate waste. The result complements the literature. The authors concluded that the most important attribute to encourage waste separation on campus is to ensure that the community has easy access to recycling bins in a distance of 100-500 metres. Incentives to the waste separation efforts by the community, a reminder to remind the community to practise waste separation, and updated information should be included as a package of attributes in designing a programme to foster community’s voluntary behaviour (Sin-Yee & Sheau-Ting, 2016).
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The self-conscious or self-evaluative emotions, such as pride, shame, and guilt, are powerful in promoting pro-environmental behaviour. In respect to either internal or external standards, pride may result from compliance with a standard, and guilt or shame result from defiance of a standard. Vining and Ebreo (2002) stated that the behavioural consequences of the negative self-evaluative emotions are of interest in finding ways to encourage conservation behaviour. There are three self-control procedures associated with the emotion of guilt. The author explained if an individual feels guilty for not recycling, he or she might seek out ways to relieve this negative emotion by increasing recycling behaviour. An individual might also relieve the guilty feelings through denial or rationalization. Finally, a person might try to disguise her or his behaviour like removing materials from neighbour and placed then in his own recycling bucket. Most importantly, authors informed that we should make use of selfevaluative emotions in motivating people to recycle through design interventions to cause cognitive dissonance (Vining & Ebreo, 2002). Wu et al. (2016) argued that a building designed and built to communicate an atmosphere of sustainability can motivate people to recycle more. Findings show that participants in the sustainable building used the garbage receptacle significantly less and compensated by tending to select the containers and organics receptacle more. The implication is that the atmospherics of a building designed with sustainability in mind may influence what one perceives to be the social norm in the building, thus altering behaviour. In addition, another literature shows that the social norm in an office environment that promotes a commitment to recycle has been found to directly influence office recycling behaviour (Yung-Jaan, Young, & Marans, 1995). Moreover, Cole (2014), highlighted the "Teaching Green School Building" as an emergent type of school building that attempts to engage building users with environmental issues within the buildings. Architectural interventions in these buildings range from signage to interactive touch screens to gardens and demonstration kitchens that foster educational programmes about sustainability. Author stated some examples like recycle bins are provided with information to offer both content and process knowledge to students as well as to inform amount of waste recycled each week. The formal and informal education offer a chance for students to embody sustainable living as well as to develop environmentally responsible behaviour.
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Besides that, an early example of research occurred in the late 1950s, Humphry Osmond systematically alter the physical elements of mental hospital buildings in Saskatchewan to monitor the effects of these changes on patient behaviour (Osmond, 1957). By rearranging furniture and redesigning wards, they found they could increase communication among patients. In fact, the attention to the study of spatial-physical dimension of the environment as constituting part of human actions and experience at the intrapersonal, interpersonal, group, intergroup, and societal levels is important for the development of pro-environmental behaviour. Thomas, Christine; Yoxon, Mark; Slater, Rachel and Leaman, John (2004), Changing recycling behaviour: an evaluation of attitudes and behaviour to recycling in the Western Riverside area of London, shows a clear link between improved recycling infrastructure and reported recycling behaviour. The research found that two thirds of respondents agreed with the improved recycling infrastructure in promoting recycling behaviour. Findings also highlighted the importance of effective communications and information in improving the respondents’ perception about ‘local recycling services provided’ and ‘what can and cannot be recycled in the area’.
Moreover, several studies highlighted that design should recognize the significant role of users’ behaviour than the usability aspect of a product/artefact. Berengueres, Alsuwairi, Zaki, & Ng (2013) reinvented the recycle bin with emoticons that rewards users with smiles and sound. This approach of making recycling fun and interesting has increased the recycling rate by a factor of 3. Montazeri, Yoon, Gonzalez, & Papalambros (2012) argued that our behaviours are partly initiated, navigated or changed by the surroundings and therefore, designers should design built environments that create demands, incentives or nudges for people to behave. Their findings show that the green recycling bin has a higher salience compared to the grey recycling bin. This result shows that colour can affect the salience of an object and consequently trigger the associated desired behaviour. Similarly, Bao, Elantary, Shaukat, & Yang, (2016) highlighted the capability of eco-feedback design by making users aware of the resource they consume. Authors argued that the displayed information able to help users to understand the environmental impacts of their actions and evoke feelings such as sympathy or responsibility for the environment. Furthermore, Lee J.-W and Ralston L. S. (2003) examined the influence of the recycling bin locations and signage on the volume of recycling material generated at a hotel. Findings show that a higher volume of recycling materials are collected from in-room recycling bin with signage provided as compared to waste collected from central recycling bin with signage and in-room recycling bin without signage. Authors concluded that the proximity of the recycling bin has the greatest influence on the amount of recycling materials generated.
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2.2 “Enhancing” - The Sustainability & Community-Engaged Design in Francis Kere’s Architecture Researches had justified the importance of community involvement and engagement in promoting the recycling practice especially the behaviour of others (social norms) have powerful effect on human environmental behaviour. With the aspiration to instil recycling culture into local community and toreduce the amount of waste goes to landfill, having a functional and responsive Community Recycling Centre (CRC) in our living area is necessary. Unfortunately, there is any published research articles about recycling centre design. Recycling centre is considered relatively new building typology and recently gained its recognition as a result of current global sustainability movement. Kara H., Villoria A. L., & Georgoulias A. (2017) argued that architects today play a minor role in industrial and infrastructural field. Authors highlighted several key factors undermining the architect role in designing infrastructure and industrial buildings such as the use of prefabricated modular systems to speed up construction, lack of opportunities for creativity input and the growth of other disciplines gave rise to engineers and project managers to undertake the design role. Authors urged that architects in 21st century to devise their creativity to address real-world problems especially the waste industry. It is important to extend beyond functionality and embrace the physical, social and environmental issues. Authors make reference to several projects like Tate Modern, Hamburg Philharmonic, Zollverein Power Station etc. that these buildings are transformed from industrial buildings with specific use to architectural touchstones of cultural icons.
Furthermore, according to Jutta Gutberlet, recycling centre is regarded as social infrastructure. In his article, Urban Recycling Cooperatives: Building Resilient Communities, he refers infrastructure as the range of activities, organizations and facilities supporting the formation, development and maintenance of social relationships in a community. Author highlighted that lack of good social infrastructure has a relationship with social problems associated with communities, including physical and mental health problems, fear of violence and crime, poor community building and social cohesion (Gutberlet, 2016).
Hence, the literature review in this part will review the architectural design of social infrastructure like schools, community housing, library etc. to study their design strategies adopted in engaging community. This will inform and synthesize the designs approaches for the making of local community recycling centre. The architectural works of Diébédo Francis Kéré, 2004 Aga Khan Awardwinning African architect, are selected to review who he is renowned of his innovative sustainable design techniques and context driven architecture.
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He was the first person from the village of Gando, Burkina Faso to have access to higher education abroad and he received his architectural education at the Technical University of Berlin. According to the UN Human Development Index in 2011, Burkina Faso is the 7th least developed country in the world. People in Burkina facing major problems such as low literacy rate, low income and poor living conditions which hold back the country’s development. As a child, Kéré travelled nearly 24 miles to the next village to receive an education — an experience that spurred him to build a school in his home village. He was convinced that education was the cornerstone of his people’s advancement. Not only did he take upon himself the cause of ensuring that his village was not deprived of a school, but he was also determined that the new school would exemplify the building quality that could be achieved by designing in sympathy with local context. His architecture is pragmatic yet quietly playful, driven by a desire to make use of local resources. His architecture places local social and historical needs at the centre of his design concepts. He always keen to include community-oriented spaces that invite people to sit down and engage in thoughtful conversation as well as to empower his people to make a space their own (Lepik, Beygo, & Kere, 2017).
Figure 11: Primary School for the Village of Gando, by Francis Kere (Ouwerkerk, 2017)
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The 2004 Aga Khan Award-wining building, the “Primary School for the Village of Gando� set a precedent for a style of architecture in his village that combines traditional building techniques with modern engineering methods. The overall School Project comprises of a school complex for 360 pupils, housing for six teachers and their families, sanitary facilities (a dry toilette), a vegetable garden with its own irrigation system, and a school kitchen. The whole project is designed to be sustainable and the ability to be implemented in successive stages according to number of students enrol. In order to maximize results with the minimal resources available, a clay/mud hybrid construction was primarily used. Clay is abundantly available in the region, and is traditionally used in the construction of housing. These traditional clay-building techniques were modified and modernized in order to create a more structurally robust construction in the form of bricks.
Figure 12: A well-crafted building with sustainability in min. (Ouwerkerk, 2017)
In term of sustainability building design, the school building has the form of an oblong bar to offer maximum protection from the sun. To keep the school inside cool, clay bricks are used as main building materials because of its high thermal mass. A ceiling of perforated bricks and suspended roof system promotes natural ventilation as well as to reduce the radiant heat from metal during dry seasons. The use of reinforcement bars for the roof truss construction prevents the destruction of the roof by termites and is also highly economical, whilst the filigree form of the roof evokes the shape of a tree and its branches full of shade-giving leaves. Besides that, rainwater is harvested for irrigation of the school garden. Most importantly, all building materials used are recyclable and low carbon footprint.
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Figure 13: Community engagement in construction and school as social infrastructure. (Ouwerkerk, 2017)
The key feature of this project is that its implementation relied solely on the labour of the village community. Traditionally, members of a whole village community work together to build and repair homes in rural Burkina Faso. In keeping with this cultural practice, low-tech and sustainable techniques were developed and improved so that the Gando villagers could participate in the process. Children gathered stones for the school foundation and women brought water for the brick manufacturing. In this way, traditional building techniques were utilized alongside modern engineering methods in order to produce the best quality building solution while simplifying construction and maintenance for the workers. Furthermore, residents are trained to become professionals and thus the constructors of their own future.
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Figure 14: LycĂŠe Schorge Secondary School, by Kere Architecture (Baan, 2017)
Architect Kere stated that the architecture not only functions as a marker in the landscape, it is also a testament to how local materials, in combination with creativity and team-work, can be transformed into something significant with profound lasting effects. Located in Koudougou, the third most populated city in Burkina Faso, the LycĂŠe Schorge Secondary School, designed by Kere Architecture, not only sets a new standard for educational excellence in the region, it also provides a source of inspiration by showcasing locally-sourced building materials in an innovative and modern way. The school was built using locally sourced laterite stone, which can be cut easily and shaped when first extracted, and then left to harden in the Sun. The school also features several key sustainability passive design such as elevated overhanging-roof design, wind-catching towers and an undulating ceiling of offset plaster and concrete. The building is surrounded by a wooden screen to help shield it from dust. Most importantly, the goal of this design is to serve as a catalyst for inspiration for the students, teaching staff, and surrounding community members. 24
Figure 15: Public courtyard as community gathering place (Baan, 2017)
This secondary school stands as a landmark of community pride, a shared labour of love between Kéré and his village, which ultimately relied on their support, dedication and participation to make Kéré’s vision of easy-access education a reality. Creating a sort of autonomous ‘village’ condition, the radial layout of classroom modules wrap around a central public courtyard. This configuration not only creates privacy from the main public domain, it also shelters and protects the inner courtyard from wind and dust. An amphitheatre-like condition at the centre of the courtyard will accommodate informal gatherings as well as formal assemblies and celebrations for the school and community as a whole.
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Figure 16: Sepertine Pavilion 2017 (Zapartan, 2017)
Besides that, Kéré is the 17th and first African architect to take on the annual commission for the pavilion, which is erected each summer outside the Serpentine Gallery in London's Kensington Gardens. Inspired by the tree that serves as a central meeting point for life in his home town of Gando, Francis Kéré designed a responsive Pavilion that sought to connect its visitors to nature – and each other. An expansive roof, supported by a central steel framework, mimicked a tree’s canopy, allowing air to circulate freely while offering shelter against London rain and summer heat. In times of rain, the roof becomes a funnel channelling water into the heart of the structure. This rain collection acts symbolically, highlighting water as a fundamental resource for human survival and prosperity. In the evening, the canopy becomes a source of illumination. Wall perforations will give glimpses of movement and activity inside the pavilion to those outside. In this way the Pavilion becomes a beacon of light, a symbol of storytelling and togetherness. An inspiring visual content in engaging the users.
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As an addition to the Making Africa exhibition at the Vitra Design Museum, Kéré Architecture’s design for a Camper Pop-up store pioneers a new form of retail shopping. This pop-up shop for Camper, in Weil am Rhein, Germany, combines the characteristics of in-store and online shopping for a best-of-both-worlds, multisensory experience that represents the Spanish shoe company through a spectrum of textures, colors, graphics and prints. The spacing and structure of the wall elements allow for a visual and acoustic permeability, promoting a sense of discovery, exploration and chance encounters between visitors. The design also seamlessly integrates individual and shared digital formats such as personal mobile devices, iPads, interactive signage, product information terminals, and 3D foot scanning. Kere highlighted that circles and round shapes play an integral role in architecture. “A circle is, in our community, something so important. It’s where everyone has the same voice, the same visibility,” he said. “There’s no hierarchy; it’s a space with equality wherever you sit.”
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2.3 Chapter’s Summary Literature review in this chapter is to identify the gap in research. Research gap is a research question or problem which has not been answered appropriately or at all in a given field of study. The first part of the literature review introduced various studies on the development of pro-environmental behaviour through design. Subsequently, several key design factors that promotes recycling practice are identified. However, these researches only limited into discrete design components rather than a holistic analysis. The impact of contextual factors in built environment design in promoting proenvironmental behaviour are not well-studied. Furthermore, researches also justified the importance of community involvement and engagement in promoting the recycling practice especially the behaviour of others (social norms) have powerful effect on human environmental behaviour. With the aspiration to instil recycling culture into local community and to reduce the amount of waste goes to landfill, having a functional and responsive Community Recycling Centre (CRC) in our living area is necessary. Unfortunately, there is any published research articles about recycling centre design. Recycling centre is considered relatively new building typology and recently gained its recognition as a result of current global sustainability movement. Therefore, the second part of literature review decided to select Diébédo Francis Kéré architectural works who he is renowned of his innovative sustainable design techniques and context driven architecture in order to inform and synthesize relevant designs strategies for the making of local community recycling centre.
To summarize the literature review into a matrix table, the notion of spatial design is broken down into three major components (spatial planning, spatial requirements and spatial compositions) according to Ian Higgins’s interpretation (Higgins, 2015). The identified design strategies/ considerations from literature review are grouped into these three categories. This will form a basis for formulating design principles in designing community-oriented recycling centre.
1. Spatial Requirements – a list of required spaces and the area of accommodation schedule that defines the function of a space 2. Spatial Planning – spatial organization and circulation. How spaces might relate to one another in terms of their proximity and the paths people may choose or be forced to take through a building to access the facilities it provides. 3. Spatial Compositions – the design making that bring space to life. Creating spaces that meet emotional needs as well as to engage and delight the users.
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The Development of pro-Environmental Behaviour through Design SPATIAL REQUIREMENT Provide more recycling facilities
SPATIAL PLANNING Convenient to user
SPATIAL COMPOSITIONS -
Structured recycling program
Easy access
-
Sin-Yee, T., & Sheau-Ting, L. (2016)
Provide incentives, reminder and updated information
-
Vining, J., & Ebreo, A. (2002).
-
Easy access to recycling bins in a distance of 100-500 metres -
Wu et al. (2016)
-
-
Cole, L. B. (2014).
1) Signage and interactive information. 2) Formal & informal education Effective communications and information Recycle bin with emoticons that rewards users with smiles and sound. Green colour recycle bin
-
Green buildings
-
-
-
-
-
-
Eco-feedback design. Interactive display.
-
-
-
Recycle bin locations with signage
-
STUDY Latif, S. A., Omar, M. S., Bidin, Y. H., & Awang, Z. (2011) Derksen, L., & Gartrell, J. (1993)
Thomas, C., Yoxon, M., & Slater, R. a. (2004) Berengueres, J., Alsuwairi, F., Zaki, N., & Ng, T. (2013) Montazeri, S., Yoon, C., Gonzalez, R., & Papalambros, P. (2012) Bao, Q., Elantary, A., Shaukat, M. M., & Yang, M. C. (2016) Lee J.-W and Ralston L. S. (2003)
Design interventions to cause cognitive dissonance. Atmosphere of sustainability
•
Limited to discrete design components.
•
The impact of contextual factors in built environment design in promoting proenvironmental behaviour are not well-studied.
•
Literature review about recycling centre is limited.
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The Sustainability & Community-Engaged Design in Francis Kere’s Architecture KERE ARCHITECTURE Primary School for the Village of Gando
SPATIAL REQUIREMENT 1) Suspended roof and perforated wall for natural ventilation 2) Clay brick wall with high thermal mass 3) Support local needs
SPATIAL PLANNING 1) The form of an oblong bar to offer maximum protection from the sun as well as for future expansion
SPATIAL COMPOSITIONS 1) Showcasing locallysourced building materials 2) Reflects local culture 3) A landmark of community pride 4) Local community creativity and efforts
LycĂŠe Schorge Secondary School
1) Sustainability passive design such as elevated overhanging-roof design, wind-catching towers. 2) The building is surrounded by a wooden screen to help shield it from dust. 1) Lightweight structure 2) Recyclable materials
1) Radial layout of classroom modules wraps around a central public courtyard
1) A catalyst for inspiration for students 2) Showcasing locallysourced building materials 3) Reflects local culture 4) A landmark of community pride 5) Local community creativity and efforts 1) Inspiration from nature and local culture 2) Symbolic features and storytelling
Serpentine Pavillion 2017
Camper Popup Store
1) Interactive information and display 2) Exhibition
1) Radial layout to enhance user interactions and captures surrounding views 1) Radial layout to enhance user interactions
1) Multisensory experience 2) Branding & image
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CHAPTER 3: CASE STUDY 3.1 Justification of Selected Case Study The case study in this paper selected three local recycling centres and one oversea recycling centres for comparison purposes as well as to analyse their spatial design strategies being adopted in engaging community in recycling practice. The analysis will base on two literature review matrixes developed in Chapter 2. Typical Local Recycling Centre
Figure 17: Recycling Centre at Taman Sentosa, Klang (Author, 2017)
The typical recycling centre that can be easily found in every residential area in Malaysia. There is no gesture to connect with the public, visually or socially. Local community rarely on-site to understand and participate the recycling process. For the purpose of reaping profit in selling the reusable items and maintaining low operation cost, facilities are usually poorly managed and maintained. Recyclable materials are openly dumped which provide breeding grounds for dangerous vectors such as rats and mosquitoes. Many of these products may contain a lot of hazardous chemicals that susceptible to fires and adversely affect the environment, including the water, air, soil and humans within and around that yard. It also presents a variety of safety risks from sharp objects which can injure the workers and visitors.
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IPC Recycling & Buy Back Centre
Figure 18: IPC Recycling and Buy-back Centre (Author, 2017)
IPC Shopping Centre in Damansara has been diligently carrying out its own recycling efforts since June 2009, involving all 180 of its tenants in the process and encouraging visitors to do the same through the Recycling and Buy-Back Centre. The manager stated that the buy-back centre operates at its own cost with any revenue received is reinvested into centre to improve recycling services and other sustainability effort. The centre acts as a collection and waste segregation point, offering buy-back prices at a minimum of 1kg for six commonly found household and retail business recyclable items. These include cardboards, newspapers, magazines, plastic, aluminium as well as metal, and at the same time providing proper handling in the disposal of used batteries, light bulbs and compact fluorescent lights. The top three buy-back items sent in by the public are magazines, with an average monthly volume of 1,800kg, newspapers (1,500kg) and plastics (250kg).
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Cyberjaya Community Recycling Collection Centre
Figure 19: Cyberjaya Community Recycling Collection Centre (Author, 2017)
Italy-based A’ International Design Award and Competition has awarded Cyberjaya Community Recycling Collection Centre the Silver A’ Design Award for Sustainable Products, Projects and Green Design. The facility is a community recycling project commissioned by Cyberview Sdn Bhd as part of its continued development of Cyberjaya into a Smart City and Living Lab for innovations. This building is operated by Alam Flora who reimburses Cyberjaya inhabitants for their separated domestic waste, most of which will be diverted to recycling centres instead of landfills. The centre also organises recycling scheme initiatives directly engaging businesses based in Cyberjaya. It was designed to be a Green Certified Building and used various materials that are considered green or recyclable. It is a pilot project or a prototype concept that can be replicated elsewhere. The design calls for an area of approximately 1,200 sq ft (111 sq m) to include main entrance, foyer and lobby, seating area, receiving centre, prayer room, restroom, and waste segregation and storage area. A playground area was also included within the built-up area. A mezzanine floor is added to accommodate an area for used clothes to be sold.
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EkoCenter, Arrasate, Spain
Figure 20: EkoCenter by PKMN Architectures (PKMN, 2014)
As we learnt from Robert Venturi, a building could be a manifesto. This is true for the multi-activity space designed by PKMN for Grupo Emaús Bidasoa that operates in various social fields. A recycling icon drawn on the renovated building façade declares the reuse and recycling activities accommodated inside. PKMN preserved the identity of the original reinforced concrete structure as well as its industrial character, and considered the existing condition as the realm to which new signs could be added. The refurbishment was achieved by adopting two principles. The first, the "Upgrade Kits”, consists in adding everything is necessary to upgrade the building to accommodate new functions and comply to current regulations. The second, the "Supergraphics", aims at introducing the identity of Grupo Emaús, green color being chosen for its reference to sustainability and recycling. Currently, this 2.568 square meters industrial building sector constructed in 1928 is refurbished into a community recycling centre, reuse workshop and second-hand products sale
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