This semester, our module focused on designing a community hub within an urban block, which required a deeper understanding of site history, context, and urban character. In line with the studio brief, the project emphasised place-making, social integration, and responding to real urban issues. Our site in Brickfields, Kuala Lumpur, is culturally rich, yet its identity feels somewhat overlooked and rebranded. The ornamental arches of “Little India,” for example, create a superficial, top-down image that commercialises culture for tourism, while the area’s authentic multicultural identity becomes less visible. Responding to the brief’s aim of empowering local communities, my personal goal in this project is to promote genuine cultural expression and design spaces that reconnect people with their community and everyday urban life.

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We conducted a site visit and carried out data collection as part of the Townscape Appraisal in Phase 1, which aligns with the brief’s requirement to analyse the townscape at both macro and micro scales. Although there was an unexpected change in site location the experience remained enjoyable and insightful. At first, my friend and I were quite confused about what the Townscape Appraisal actually required us to study. However, through the lectures, especially the session by invited guest Ms. Suhana, my understanding became much clearer. Her explanation helped me realise how analysing the character, identity, and qualities of a place directly informs architectural decisions, which supported me greatly in developing a design that responds to context rather than ignoring it.