The visual pattern of integrated spaces for Chow Kit AIDS/HIV community

Abstract

In Malaysia, AIDS is still being seen as a taboo. For the individuals whom are affected by it, they are being seen as ‘freak’ and stigmatization and isolation happened. The chosen site, Chow Kit, is located at the heart of Kuala Lumpur, portrays a strong sense of belongings and community attachment. However, this ‘AIDS/HIV carriers’ are being left out. Thus, a methodology in redesigning and reforming the conventional layout of the facilities is seen as a solution in engaging these AIDS/HIV carriers with the ‘normal’ communities. This contributes to the dissertation aim which is to bridge the gaps between AIDS/HIV carriers with the Chow Kit community through visibility of connected spaces. First, the perceptions and social behavioral needs of the AIDS/HIV carriers and public were understood through literature review, questionnaires and interviews in order to identify the relevant social activities for the community. Then, Space Syntax axial analysis was adopted for two purposes which are; firstly, to test the degree of visibility on the layouts of selected precedent study studies and secondly, to experiment new proposed layout and then further correlate between the visual integration and connectivity. The finding discovered that social activities provided in Malaysia cause disconnectivity and break of interaction between people. Different spaces and programmes required different degrees of visibility and accessibility (experimented with Space Syntax technique), and shall be arranged according to the social behaviour of the users within. This dissertation suggested a methodology that could contribute to break the binary and societal norm through architecture. It is believed that a clearer space arrangement and environments could allow better social engagement in responding to community attachments on both social and urban aspects.