Multisensory design elements in stimulating learning environment for Dyslexic children

This research aims to investigate multisensory design for stimulating learning environment for children with learning disabilities. Nowadays, there are many learning facilities like Dyslexia centres and schools exist in Malaysia due to increasing pattern of children with the symptoms. Regardless of the situation and arising numbers of existing Dyslexia centres, no standard guidelines to follow for classroom setting of the facilities in establishing the multisensory learning environment for the dyslexic children. Providing the correct support through a proper learning environment setting is very important as the condition is curable. However, an inappropriate corrective method would cause to delay of improvement or worse, affecting their social development which is important for their future. Therefore, understanding multisensory design elements are essential to all Dyslexia centres and schools in creating a stimulating environment for the children. The objectives of this research are to identify and determine the multisensory design elements for the interior spaces of Dyslexia centres and schools. Also, to assess the condition of the existing Dyslexia centres and schools in relation to the multisensory elements in stimulating learning environment for the dyslexic children. Direct non-participant observation was adopted for data collection method while analysis was done based on the availability of multisensory elements in the selected Dyslexia centres and schools. The research found that there are four (4) multisensory design elements that are important for stimulating and engaging learning environment for dyslexic children, which are; visual elements, auditory elements, tactile elements and kinesthetic elements. These integrated learning elements are essential and practical, particularly for dyslexic children. The research also found that most of the visited facilities are not providing sufficient learning standards that stimulate the learning environment for dyslexic students. Most of the facilities did not provide the principle elements of psychology in design which is the most crucial elements of the learning process. Upon the identified multisensory design elements, further and broader scale of research is recommended to establish a design guideline or standard requirements in designing Dyslexia centres and schools in Malaysia

Portability and flexibility of physiotherapy tools for rehabilitation of people with obesity

The obesity rate in Malaysia is kept on increasing year by year. The causes for this issue are including unhealthy food intake and unhealthy lifestyle. As the obesity issues in Malaysia worsen, it leads to other problem such as diabetes, heart attack, stroke and also others physical problem. One of it is concerning on physical condition of the ankle. The ankle is the most important parts of a human structure that will affect human body posture. This means that activities were done are heavily influence by ankle condition leads to inefficiency of job performance. Physiotherapy tools are important for the rehabilitation process. The rehabilitation process is known as a healing process, which is essential in ensuring the improvement of health and physical condition of a patient, especially with obesity. Physiotherapist treatment is essential to ensure the effectiveness of rehabilitation process. However, there is a lack of physiotherapy tools offers in the market for people with disability (PwD) such as obesity. Therefore, this research aims to understand the portability and flexibility of physiotherapy tools for people with obesity especially in dealing with their job performance. The objective of this study is to identify the physiotherapy tools in the rehabilitation process and to determine the portability and flexibility of the physiotherapy tools for the rehabilitation. Research methods were employed during the process of this study, which includes literature review, product line-up and interviews. From this research, 2 kinds of variables that needs to be consider in the physiotherapy tools which are portability; lightweight, foldable and small in size, and flexibility; easy to be used at any time and offer several kinds of exercises. By considering more on portability and flexibility of the physiotherapy tools for the rehabilitation can help the patient with obesity to conduct selfrehab at their preferred places; working place and homes thus boosting their healthy lifestyle. Based on the findings of this study, a new physiotherapy tools is recommended to provide an excellent portability and flexibility of the physiotherapy tools for obese patients

Composition of Malay woodcarving : case studies on two traditional timber houses

Woodcarving is considered as an integral component to the vernacular Malay houses in the east coast of Peninsular Malaysia. The traditional timber houses are adorned with carving motifs of flora, calligraphy, geometry, fauna and cosmic features which are depicted according to the specified shape, size and dimension of wooden panel. This study presents an analysis of woodcarving in two prominent Malay houses, Mohamad Dobah and Hassan Mohd. Amin, both located in Kota Bahru, Kelantan. The methods of investigation include review of measured drawing reports of timber houses from the Centre for the Study of Built Environment in the Malay World (KALAM) at the Department of Architecture in the Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) and personal communication with two woodcarvers on art and crafts of woodcarving. The analysis revealed that Malay craftsmen applied several design qualities in making and fabricating their carvings into distinctive compositions. The qualities include visual attributes, ordering principles and craftsmen’s knowledge and skills on woodcarving. Besides these qualities, the meanings and significance of carved components are apparent with respect to its placement and configuration in interior as well as exterior fabrics of the timber houses. The ordering principles and visual attributes are considered as regulating factor that determines the beauty and meaning of the carved components and its relation to the house form and architectural elements. This is a suggestive indication of Malay craftsman’s mastery of skillfulness, intuition, ingenuity and creativity, logical thinking and wisdom in portraying visual composition and identity of woodcarving which emanate from crafts tradition

Carving motifs in timber houses of Kelantan and Terengganu

Prominent timber houses of Kelantan and Terengganu are adorned with decorative carved components depicted in motifs of flora, geometry and Arabic calligraphy. Consistency in patterns of motif, particularly flora, results to establishment of identity to the vernacular architecture of northeastern region of Peninsular Malaysia. This paper presents an analytical study of the visual forms of motifs of carved components in the houses of Kelantan and Terengganu which denotes its significant attributes and uses. Carvings of nine houses in Kelantan and four houses in Terengganu were analyzed by interpreting 13 sets of carving measured drawings of the houses. The drawings were obtained from Centre for the Study of Built Environment in the Malay World (KALAM) at the Department of Architecture in the Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM). Interpretation of motifs is based on meanings described in the texts accompanied the drawings and literatures of Malay woodcarving, and triangulated with narrations from the two woodcarvers. The analysis of the documents revealed that several types of carved components with distinctive motifs in two and three dimensional compositions were placed in certain orders within the fabrics of the houses. Wall, door and window ventilation panels, railings, gate panel and stringers are types of components characterized by the shape of perforation and incision with relief or non-relief carvings. These components were crafted in relation to the house form and architectural elements such as wall, door, window, stair and gate. The significant aspect of the placement of the carvings in the houses is that it enhances beautiful ambiance and signifies regional identity to the vernacular architecture of these two states

Visual forms of carved components in traditional timber houses of Kelantan and Terengganu.

Malay traditional timber houses of Kelantan and Terengganu are normally adorned with decorative carved components which represent excellent carvings in its specified design motif, shape, size and layout. Various carved components with specific features are fabricated according to its placement and configuration in the interior as well as exterior setting of the houses. Woodcarving as an embellishment is a significant unifying architectural element between the house forms and its building components. This paper presents an explorative study of the visual forms and placement of carved components in the vernacular houses of Kelantan and Terengganu which denotes its significant attributes and uses. A set of 13 case studies, nine houses in Kelantan and four houses in Terengganu were referred to as the research base. The methods of investigation include analytical review of measured drawings and reports of the Kelantan and Terengganu timber houses from the Centre for the Study of Built Environment in the Malay World (KALAM) at the Department of Architecture in the Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) and narrations from the prominent woodcarvers on art and crafts of woodcarving. Apart from these methods, interviews with the allied professionals for scholastic information on art and architecture of the Malay world were also conducted. The analysis of the documents revealed that several types of carved components with distinctive visual forms in two and three dimensional composition were placed in certain orders within the fabrics of the houses. Wall, door and window ventilation panels, railings, gate panel and stringers are types of components characterized by the shape of perforation and incision with relief and/or non-relief carvings. These components were crafted in relation to the house form and architectural elements such as wall, door, window, stair and gate. The significant aspect of the placement of the carvings in the houses is that it enhances beautiful ambiance and signifies regional identity to the vernacular architecture of these two states

Vernacular beauty of woodcarving and its placement in Malay timber houses

Wood carving is a form of woodworking by means of a cutting tool (knife) in one hand or a chisel by two hands or with one hand on a chisel and one hand on a mallet, resulting in a wooden figure or figurine, or in the sculptural ornamentation of a wooden object

Configuration of carved components and its layout patterns in Malay timber houses

This paper aims to highlight the carving composition within a specific configuration of pattern formed according to the shape, size and layout of the carved components and its placement in the different forms of traditional houses of Kelantan and Terengganu, Malaysia. Archival research was used as the principal method of data collection, which includes an analytical review of measured drawings of the Kelantan and Terengganu timber houses from the Centre for the Study of Built Environment in the Malay World at the Universiti Teknologi Malaysia. Interviews with two prominent woodcarvers for insightful information on the art and craft of woodcarving were also conducted to augment the principal method. The study found that architectural components of the houses like walls, doors and windows, railings, roofs and gable ends were equipped with carvings in different layout of patterns with distinctive features and visual orders including horizontal, vertical and mixed arrangement. Inasmuch the patterns of layouts were in parallel with the functional aspects of various carved components fabricated as perforated ventilation panels of walls, doors and windows, railing panels, decorative wall panels and panels at gable ends. The patterns were in agreement with the nomenclature of their placements within the house fabric

SUSTAINING THE CULTURAL VITALITY OF URBAN PUBLIC MARKETS: A Case Study of Pasar Payang, Malaysia

The development of a public market in the city planning is pivotal in supporting the growth of the local economy. The market is also a place where the culture of the locals evolves daily. However, the unique qualities of the market are vulnerable to the redevelopment process. This study examines the cultural aspects of Pasar Payang in Terengganu, Malaysia, as one of the well-known markets among the locals and the tourists, which will soon be redeveloped. The aim of this paper is to identify the tangible and intangible qualities of the market, so that it can sustain its cultural qualities in the future. The methods adopted for this study comprise of conducting a survey among 497 visitors, and semi-structured interviews among 19 market vendors. The findings reveal that the cultural vitality of the market can be sustained by strengthening its local identity through its products and culture, providing spaces that can facilitate tourist activities and cultural participation, and enhancing the development of the local businesses