Introduction

1.0 Introduction

1.1 Definition & Examples of social welfare architecture

Social welfare architecture is defined as buildings that are built with various social services provided for the benefits and pensions for the citizens mainly the elderly, the sick, the underprivileged, the poor, the orphans etc[1]. These buildings reflect the attitudes and values of the society through its space planning and living condition.Among all the different types of social welfare buildings, I would only focus on the orphanages and old folks home in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

The ageing population has increased in Asia due to increasing longevity and declining fertility. According to the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESACAP), the number of older people who aged 60 and above in Asia will approximately double from 322 million in 2000 to 705 million in 2025[2]. Sadly, in this 21st century, the young people had put family values behind closed chapters and are neglecting it more so than ever. It is a very common phenomenon that progressively more old parents are being sent to the old folk’s home. With the development of technology of the time, their children, namely the young adults, have to work from day to night in order to make months’ ends in this new era. This has become the main reason why they have no time to take care of their own parents and have no choice but to turn in to their last resort, entrusting their parents to capable hands.

In the heart of the nation, Kuala Lumpur itself particularly, the number of old folks home is increasing to suit the demand. Inevitably, some are indeed with good condition but some homes are run down and the living condition is miserable. Moreover, the space provided is not enough and is not suitable for them to carry out variety of activities. It is not only the government and educators' responsibility to educate the public on moral values but it is important for all of us to empathize and try our best to help them. As a designer or architect, instead of just an accommodation and a place to sleep during their already lonely nights, we can provide them an ideal space to live happily just like a home with proper space planning in order to improve their quality of life.

Unbeknownst to lot more people, children too are being abandoned by their parents in this day and age, especially those family with way too many children to feed and care for. The main reason is self-centeredness. Some of them are drug-addicts which barely have enough money to raise their own children while some of them are busy with their careers, resulting in a situation where they have money but no time to attend to their children.However, most of them who end up in an orphanage are from poor or broken families. The parents have no support and no financial ability to give their children proper healthcare, shelter, food and education. Anyhow, those in the orphanage are just like other children who needs shelter, education, food and all kinds of attention and love for them to grow into a holistic adult.

1.2 Issue - Problem faced by these buildings in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

There are many different categories of architecture that exist in the world but sadly to mention that the social welfare architectures are the one who are always being neglected. In Kuala Lumpur, this issue is getting increasingly serious recently due to many factors, namely, receiving little to no funds from the government.Thus, problems in existing old folks home and orphanages will be looked upon in hopes to come out with a proper and executable solution to lend a hand in need to these infrastructures.

1.3 Funding Solution

Until today, there are undeniably many problems faced by existing old folks home and orphanages such as improper space planning and circulation, insufficient facilities et cetera. Nonetheless, all these problems mostly arise fromthe problematic part of getting funds. Private social welfare centers have difficulties in raising funds all the time because they are not funded by the government. Therefore the donation from the public society is very important but this solution is not the best to maintain the operation of these facilities in the long term. Thus, government's support is very vital to run the whole system of social welfare architecture in Malaysia.

1.4 Topic, Aim and Objectives

The aim and objectives of this dissertation is to find out the problems faced by the orphanages and old folks homes in Kuala Lumpur in terms of its space planning, exterior and interior design, location, facilities and the maintenance factors; to observe the living in these centers; to find out why are these buildings being neglected;to study the lifestyle and the economy status of the people in Kuala Lumpur; to study the social welfare architecture in other countries in order to learn from them; to find out the architecturalsolutions; to understand how important is the role of architects, designers, educators and government in working together to work out this issue and last but not least, to create a society with good ethics and moral values.

1.5 Hypothesis

The main reason why social welfare architecture is being neglected in Malaysia is due to the self-centeredness of the people. Second, the living condition of these buildings can be improved via architectural solution. Once the government work together with the educators, architects and designers to come out with an architectural solution, all the problems can be solved andin such, a society with good ethics and moral values can be formed.Since people who live and work in Kuala Lumpur are too busy to take care of their old parents and children, a center withintegration of old folk’s home and day care is suitable for them to drop their family there for short term or long term.

1.6 Outline of the Essay

The following topics will be discussed throughout the dissertation to have a clearer understanding about the issue and its solutions. The background of Malaysia living lifestyle andsocial welfare architecture will be discussed in Chapter 2. Besides, the problems faced by existing social welfare architecture in Malaysiawill be further elaborated in Chapter 3; reasons of these buildings being neglected in Chapter 4; studies on overseas social welfare architecture as references in order to improve the quality of these buildings in Malaysia in Chapter 5; the architectural solution in Chapter 6; solution in terms of thespace planning in Chapter 7; the different roles of architects, designers, government and the community in handling this issue in Chapter 8 and lastly the conclusion in Chapter 9.