PKNS Flats - Jln. Kuching. Design Development. Crit1

Comments from Crit 1

Brief of the project: to prepare an affordable housing scheme at PKNS flats – previously army quarters – along jalan Kuching. The surrounding area to the site is low to medium rise. We are required to design high density project with 324 apartments. The site is 3.6 acres.

- First comment is about security. The security of the building should be planned with the consideration to the budget and not only using high priced technology such as card activated doors and elevators.

The comment is valid and future measures to handle the security issue will include two points. Firstly, the use of leveling in planning. Secondly, by using the concept of eyes on the streets which is making the ground floor for public use and active point for gathering which will limit any criminal activities due to the high density of the area.

- Second comment is about the building height. The building would be more economical if the height dose not exceed 8 to 10 floors. at the moment it is 17 floors.

The comment is valid and future measures include compacted design that allow for more interactive community with shared spaces in between.

- Third comment is about managing the price of units and facilities. Bigger apartments mean higher price. The facilities should be designed with consideration to the B40 needs and wants rather than the luxurious areas that could be abandoned.

The comment is valid and future measures for the pricing issue could include combining B40 group with M40 group. Which might cover the extra facilities fees and have higher maintenance fees due to the square footage of their apartments. While for the B40 group will have smaller apartments and less fees to pay. the facilities provided will still include health and wellness and recreational areas at the same time it will also include urban farming areas for the B40 group. The selling of the products could be also a part of the scheme as the building will have a commercial hub at the ground floor to limit the time consumed to get everyday needs and provide extra income for B40 families.

- Fourth comment is about strengthen the sustainable community idea with clarifying the community participation in the scheme.

The comment is valid and will be detailed in the future a complete scheme of how B40 families and individuals can earn extra income through the collaboration with some private businesses to provide diversity in job types. Furthermore, providing the community with opportunities to sell and buy from their own community by creating the spaces to extend their weekly market to the building. Strengthen the community produce and product selling by locating the interactive spaces along the main street to have a dominant and strong impression among the community and people passing by the area.