Accessibility for wheelchair users in public parks : a comparison between Adelaide and Kuantan

TITLE	Accessibility for wheelchair users in public parks : a comparison between Adelaide and Kuantan
AUTHOR	Liyana Mohamed Yusof
YEAR	2010
TYPE OF THESIS	Master  Thesis
DISCIPLINE	Architecture & design
URL	http://umpir.ump.edu.my/2724/ or http://umpir.ump.edu.my/2724/1/LIYANA_MOHAMED_YUSOF.PDF
ACCESS DATE	14 Dec 2012
FULL PAPER	FOUND, but no access to full paper
INSTITUTION	University of Adelaide, Australia
KEYWORDS	Universal Design, Housing, Malaysia, Design, Case studies
ABSTRACT	This study investigated the accessibility of wheelchairs users in public parks in Kuantan, Malaysia and Adelaide, South Australia. Anthropology of wheelchairs users locally is identified comprehensively. The investigation takes into consideration the needs and difficulties of wheelchairs users to access public parks as well as fundamental facilities required by wheelchair user in public parks. An inclusive study on Malaysian legislation, The Persons with Disabilities Act 2008,  Australian legislation, Disability Discrimination Act 1992, Malaysian Standard MS 1184:2002, Australia Standard AS 1428.1-2001 and policies and guidelines used by Majlis Perbandaran Kuantan (MPK) and Adelaide City Council (ACC) when planning for people with disabilities specifically wheelchair users is undertaken. The effectiveness of these governments documents is analysed and compared by conducting observation and documentation on accessibility in selected public parks in Kuantan and Adelaide. Esplanade Park, Kerang Park, Karrawirra-Park 12 Parade Grounds Park and Elder Park are chose to serve as case studies. Comparison on the observations and documentations conducted between these four parks found that the Australian government document is more effective when compared to Malaysian government documents. The study also found, in providing accessibility for wheelchair users in public parks, common issues such as budgets, conflicts with infrastructure, conflicts with other disabilities, natural factors, effectiveness of government documents, and lack of awareness arise in both states. However the issues in Kuantan are more critical.

Museum and monument : A study on the architectural features of heritage building for museum (with reference to preventive conservation)

TITLE	Museum and monument : A study on the architectural features of heritage building for museum (with reference to preventive conservation)
AUTHOR	Muhammad Ilmam Tharazi
YEAR	2011
TYPE OF THESIS	MSc Thesis
DISCIPLINE	Architecture, Planning and Surveying
URL	http://perpun.upm.edu.my/myTO/myto/1/paparthesis/167328.html
ACCESS DATE	12 Dec 2012
FULL PAPER	Not found
INSTITUTION	UiTM
KEYWORDS	Heritage Building, Adaptive Reuse, Conservation, Climate control
ABSTRACT	This research is about a study on the architectural features of heritage buildings that have been converted into museums. These buildings are known to be climate responsive, and its building materials were properly selected to attenuate exterior conditions. Museum, on the other hand need to have a stable indoor climate in order to safeguard collections it housed. This practice is part of preventive conservation, an approach to prevent objects from deterioration. The characteristics of heritage buildings which were built to response with the climatic conditions may help to contribute a better indoor environment for the collections. The aim of this research is to undertake an investigative study exploring the heritage buildings which currently have been converted into museums to find its architectural features that able to control indoor climate passively which in turn can used in preventive conservation. A proper methodology was adopted in this dissertation to fulfill the objectives. The methodology includes reviewing related books, journals, working papers, and articles from internet. Case studies were also applied in this dissertation and were analyzed through physical observation. Two museums were chosen; the Army museum in Port Dickson and the National Textile Museum in Kuala Lumpur. This study showed that the buildings, occupied by those museums were designed to deal with climate passively and have features that able to regulate the temperature and relative humidity, which in turn can be utilized by the museums. It showed that converting the heritage building into a museum requires only minimum changes and alterations to the building. This in turn helps to preserve and maintain the authenticity and characteristics the building has. The result of this study can provide answers and examples of architectural features of heritage buildings that can be incorporated into the decision-making process for museum projects. The process also can be used to promote building design that able to control climate passively, without relying heavily on the HVAC mechanical system which in turn highlight energy efficiency and sustainability in museum design. Apart from that, this research could also act as a catalyst for future research on the standards and practice of museum and also on the adaptive re-use activities in Malaysia.