Jenga Tower: Reimagining Student Housing Through Intergenerational Living | Masters Design Project

Site Context

Subang Jaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, is an education and youth hub with more than 30 universities and colleges, and it has a rich urban farming culture within the local community. However, urban farming faces various issues, such as the spread of dengue due to improper farming practices. The site is developed under one masterplan with the design theme EDEN. The key concept of EDEN focuses on intergenerational communities and self-sustaining hubs. The master plan consists of two projects: the mixed-use development (Semester 1 project) and the service apartment (Semester 2 project), which are divided by bioswale rivers.

The mixed-use development consists of agriculture colleges that focus on educating the local community on proper urban farming practices, as well as community workshops and plant-related retail. The service apartment is designed to support the agriculture college and focuses on students (young adults), mid-age professionals, and seniors. Therefore, several dual-key and student-shared units are proposed, allowing agriculture students to stay in the service apartment, integrate with the local community, and develop soft skills through interactions with seniors and fellow students, as many students are new to Subang Jaya and have relocated there to pursue their studies.

Design Process

The design idea began with initial section sketches and a Jenga tower. Based on these sketches, the concept was translated into building and space planning. The design process started with macro zoning, defining public, semi-public, and private zones from the podium to the tower levels, ensuring that the building functions efficiently while responding to the site context, masterplan concept, and mixed-use development project.

Following this, bubble diagrams were developed for both the podium and tower levels. Compliance with local authority requirements, such as car park provisions and fire safety, was crucial in designing the high-rise building. The massing was explored through multiple iterations to achieve the final Jenga Tower form with balanced proportions.

Final Outcome

The project is designed around the concept of exchanging skills and knowledge among students, middle-aged professionals, and seniors. The form is inspired by a Jenga Tower. Retail spaces and flea markets are proposed on the ground floor for rental purposes, providing daily necessities and hands-on crafts from the workshops, such as sewing and cooking.

Several unit types are proposed, including senior and mid-age dual-key units, student (young adult) shared units, and student studio units, allowing residents to exchange skills and knowledge according to their preferred level of interaction and privacy. Students can rent more affordable units with seniors, while dual-key units encourage interaction through shared experiences and mutual care.  Senior units are located near the podium car park for convenient access after parking.

Residents can choose private studio units while exchanging skills in the public workshop spaces, or students can share units with same-age groups to learn from one another and solve problems together. This concept is also expressed through five courtyards located every five floors within the tower. Residents can see one another engaging in activities and using shared facilities as public spaces while maintaining privacy within their own units.

Conclusion: Ultimately, this project aims to create an intergenerational living environment where students, professionals, and seniors exchange skills, knowledge, and experiences. Through shared spaces, diverse unit types, and community facilities, the project promotes social interaction while maintaining individual privacy.

[This Academic Project has been published with text and images submitted by the student]