Project 2 : The Gelugor Youth and Community Development Centre

Architectural statement

This youth and community development centre is designed to create an open and welcoming place that is relevant for the local community, while also appealing to residents from across Gelugor area and the world. The idea is to enhance communication and interaction between the youth and the elderly by breaking up the rigid grid of the district with an open layout of shifting and rotating structures, articulated to strengthen communi ty connections and a sense of democracy. The building overlap in intuitive ways to create spaces for casual meeting and interaction which bridges the gap between generation.

This youth and community development center is designed to accommodate at least 200 people with a height of 3 storey building with maximum of 4.5 metres floor to floor height. The proposed site is located at a vacant site of Kampung Kastam, 11700, Gelugor, Penang with total built-up area of 1500m2.

Technologies can be used to adopt a human-centric approach that promote health and wellness. To improve human comfort and health at its core, sensor-based technologies across the outdoor and indoor environments can be used to relieve stress, enhance safety, and optimize the surrounding environment through lighting and ventilation.

Design concept

The design concept is inspired by the concept of holding hands between the youth and the elderly like interlocking volume and in-between/transition space can be configured to symbolize this empowerment of community. In-between space could connect interaction between space and people to create more intimacy within communities. It can be achieved through designs that offer a balance between indoor and outdoor and also transition between nature to buildings. Spaces are laid out in a continuous loop to engage the community, while the traditional street experience allows for indoor and outdoor engagement.

Overview board

History and background

Kampung Kastam is a neighbourhood of government quarters in Gelugor, Penang. It was established to house employees of the customs department in the early 1960's. The original government quarters still exist, though they appear to be in a rather forlorn state. Many of these early quarters are now vacant. Later low-cost housing developments such as those at neighbouring Taman Tun Sardon provide a contrast as to the amount of space given to each unit.

Kampung Kastam is served by Rapid Penang Bus No. 302 which pass through Hilir Pemancar. Visitors and residents may have to walk a bit to reach the nearest bus stop. The nearest school from Kampung Kastam is Sekolah Rendah Kebangsaan Bukit Gelugor and Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Datuk Haji Mohd Nor Ahmad. The nearest market from Kampung Kastam is the one at Lorong Delima 6 in Island Glades. This is just a sidewalk market. The bigger markets are the Batu Lanchang Market and the Jelutong Market. The nearest hypermarket is Lotus's Penang. The nearest petrol station is Shell Gelugor. The nearest hospital is Lam Wah Ee Hospital in Batu Lanchang.

First board(1/6)

Second board(2/6)

Third board(3/6)

Fourth board(4/6)

Fifth board(5/6)

Final board(5/6)