SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE BUILDING AND DESIGN

FOUNDATION IN NATURAL AND BUILT ENVIRONMENT

Final Assignment: Space Design to Improve/Reduce Psychological Concepts

Group Members: Joyce Wee

Mok Po Yi

Tan Wing Hoe

Tey Thien Hee

Lecturer: Ms. Norul Hidayah

Submission Date: 31st January 2014

INTRODUCTION

Pro social behavior is characterized by a concern about rights, feelings and welfare

of others. It also includes feeling empathy and concern for others as well as

behaving in ways to help or benefit people.

However, society nowadays is getting ignorant to the help needed by people

moving around them. Majority of people in the city are reluctant to even help

someone that fell down on the streets, let alone walking into an orphanage to help

the children. To them, helping is somewhat troublesome or might cause themselves

unexpected trouble. They would rather turn a blind eye towards what happened and

move on in their lives.

This negative culture, we will be focusing on increasing pro social behavior

out of empathic joy.. Empathic joy is defined as “experiencing pleasure due to the

accomplishments or success of other people”. In other words, the individual feels

happy because somebody else is doing well. Maya Angelou once said, “When we

give cheerfully and accept gratefully, everyone is blessed”. They are not likely to

benefit directly from this success, but they just feel happy because the other person

is feeling happy.

Based on researches, there are ways to make helping more likely which

includes reducing ambiguity by making the need for help clearer. Besides, we can

also encourage helping activities by activating pro social norms which will lead to

more helping behaviors. In our opinion, one of the other ways is to fill the helping

behavior with happiness so that people can enjoy helping others instead treating it

as a burden.

Through this assignment, we are going to design a space or to develop

emphatic joy and loving kindness in society. We hope to create happiness and at

the same time provide help to those in need. Besides, we wish to unconsciously

plant the thought that helping can be simple tasks that can brighten their day. Our

idea is to bring the needs of the children from a children’s home to the people. This

is because it is hard to get the people to visit the children’s home as it requires

time.

A WISHING TREE

A Wishing Tree is a space designed to improve pro social behavior in our society.

Conceptually, A Wishing Tree aims to shorten the distance between children in need

and the society by bringing their simple wishes to the crowd. By bringing both

parties closer, it will make helping strangers feel more at ease.

This space will be set up on streets with steady flow of pedestrians. Preferably not

those filled with pedestrian rushing around doing their own business as they will not

have time to stop by to check around. Additionally, the exterior of the space will be

bright and appealing in order to grab the attention and spark the curiosity of

passersby.

Children from supported children’s home will send in their simple wishes to A

Wishing Tree. Their wishes are as simple as a request for a new school bag or even

a meal with the family. Passersby are encouraged to volunteer by fulfilling the

requests according to their ability. They can choose to either to reveal or not to

reveal their identity. In return, the children will send a card, a recorded video, or a

handmade craft as a token of gratitude. Upon receiving the small gifts, the helpers

will feel happy and satisfied with their own actions.

A Wishing Tree will be open for service every day from 8am to 8pm. Services will be

run by volunteers on shift.

“Never get tired of doing little things for others; sometimes those little things occupy the biggest part of their hearts.”

“The best feeling of happiness is when you’re happy because you’ve made somebody else happy”

DETAILS

1. Double Ceiling Height With Natural Lighting

Tall Ceilings And Sufficient Sunlight Gives The Space A Wide Feeling. People Are

More Likely To Help As They Won’t Feel Pressured By The Surrounding Atmosphere.

2. Soothing Music

Soothing Music Is Played To Relax The Mind And Broaden Their Thoughts.

3. Wishing Tree

The Wishing Tree Is The Main Element Of The Space. It Is An Artificial Tree With

Branches Spreading Out All Over The Ceiling Is Set In The Middle Of The Space.

Wishing Cards From The Children Will Be Hanged From The Branches To Be Read

And Picked By Those Who Are Willing To Help.

4. Gift Counter

After Picking The Suitable Child To Help, The Helper Will Proceed To Prepare The

Gift In Terms Of Goods Or Money. A Gift Counter Will Be Set To Receive The Gifts

And Provide The Helper With The Necessary Forms To Fill In. The Gift Counter Will

Be Responsible In Sending The Gifts To The Respective Children.

5. Joy Giving Counter

After Receiving The Gifts, The Children Will Send Something Back To The Helper As

A Token Of Gratitude. These Small Gifts Or Mails Will Be Kept In This Counter

Waiting To Be Redeemed.

6. Hand Printed Wall

A Wall Featuring Children’s Hand Prints. Children Will Have Their Hand Prints Printed

On Tiles Before Hand And Are Fixed On The Wall. They Are Free To Decorate The

Tiles In Their Own Style And Preferably, Their Dreams Or Things That Make Them

Happy.

7. Donation Box

For Those Who Want To Help But Are Not Financially Well To Get A Gift, They Can

Donate An Amount That They Are Comfortable With. Helping People Is Not A Burden

But Is An Act Of Kindness That Is Measured Through Sincerity Instead Of The

Amount.