New Agape Centre

New Agape Centre, Sibu - A Sheltered Workshop, Respite Care and Independent Training Home for Adults with Special Needs in Sibu , Sarawak

Introduction

The new purpose-built centre is to cater to the various training, support and services for special needs young adults, which was meant as an “extension” and upgraded amenities of the existing Agape Centre that was started in 2004. Since then, more than 20,000 children with special needs have been registered under ACSNS.

The new building situated next to the existing centre, would continue providing early intervention, rehabilitation, education and vocational training for individuals with special needs to assist them to be independent and equipped with living skills, so that they will also be able to earn an income to be self-sustainable. The centre aims to create employment opportunities for the people with special need as an avenue to secure employment for them, including in-house industries and preparing them for independency and sustainable employment for them as well as aid in the sustenance of the centre.

The Agape Centre is run and operated by Association for Children with Special Needs Sibu (ACSNS), Methodist Care Centre (MCC), Sibu Autistic Association and also partnership with other no-governmental organisations and government agencies.

The three major components of the facilities are :

1. - Sheltered Workshop and ancillary amenities,
   -  Bakery/kitchen, Laundry, Car wash, and Craft shop

2. - Respite Care and Adult Independent Training Home, to function as a training site for independent living training. (to be implemented in the future)
   - Hostel type accommodation for visiting volunteers, temporary respite care accommodation and duty warden accommodation.

3. - Shared/ common facilities would be administrative offices, meeting room,  recreational facilities.
   - outdoor recreational and training facilities, agricultural gardens, Recycling centre and recreational gardens

Schematic concepts

Practicality is the priority of concepts when deriving the design which focus on the following:

• Zoning of the work/ training zone from the quieter living accommodation areas, as well as clear identification between the public frontage, the internal restrictive activities areas and the common / shared facilities

• Organisation of access, circulation and monitoring between zones for efficient connectivity and supervision of the whole centre and gardens.

• effective use and composition of built amenities and spaces to address the site context, environmental and climatic response and statutory requirements.

• Translating and relaying the core mission of empowering individuals with special needs to be independent and self sustainable in the architecture

• Meet the special needs of accessibility, such as the provision of guide rails at circulation areas and washroom facilities.

Architectural  language and Design

Practicality is foremost at the priority of concepts when deriving the design, thus the form follows function. A varied architectural language is utilised as the various scales of spaces are integrated and sequenced as well as multi-functional for efficiency, interaction and ease of supervision.  The spaces are crafted to induced dynamic welcoming and non-intimidating environment. These are intertwined with open landscaped spaces to facilitated optimal natural ventilation and daylighting and create an enriching environment.

To be low energy and energy efficient, the climatic response in architectural treatment is highlighted and transposed into identifiable feature, such as utilizing layered dual shaded large roof overhangs and alluring them as petals and/ or wings which reminds of the centre’s aim to bloom/ flourish each individual and develop them to ‘fly’ on their own independent ‘wings’.

Other energy efficient measures adopted are solar radiation shading devices at the western side walls of the hall and rainwater harvesting was also employed for the washrooms and car wash supply.