Beacon of Life - Volunteer Park: Disaster Risk Management Awareness, Training, Research & Development Center

Project idea

The center’s primary objective is to create a robust sense of place where fragmented urban elements are reconciled, and the community is drawn back into a shared public space. The design achieves this by:

Restoring Social Gathering Spaces: Addressing the lack of communal areas on Jalan Sultan Yahya Petra, the Volunteer Park reintegrates public gathering spaces into the urban fabric. It offers flexible, multifunctional spaces for people to meet, interact, and collaborate in both formal and informal settings.

Promoting Volunteerism as the Third Place: The design uses volunteerism as a tool to connect the community. Through disaster awareness, training, and engagement, the center becomes a place where people voluntarily participate in activities that strengthen community bonds and preparedness.

Fostering Altruism and Civic Responsibility: By appreciating the Spirit of the Frontliner, the design encourages a culture of service and readiness. The center provides spaces for volunteers to train, collaborate, and prepare, reinforcing the value of serving the community in times of need.

Project description

The Volunteer Park: Disaster Risk Management Awareness, Training, Research & Development Center, located along Jalan Sultan Yahya Petra in Kuala Lumpur, responds to the challenges posed by rapid urbanization and the rise of gated communities. These developments have transformed the area into a 'non-place,' devoid of social cohesion and meaningful gathering spaces. This design seeks to restore a sense of place by utilizing Ray Oldenburg’s Third Place theory, positioning volunteerism as a unifying community force. By acknowledging the Spirit of the Frontliner, the project fosters an altruistic society focused on disaster preparedness, community engagement, and resilience.

Jalan Sultan Yahya Petra is nestled between institutional and recreational enclaves, areas that currently lack meaningful interaction and cohesion. Fenced-off developments and rapid urban growth have led to the erosion of public spaces, contributing to social fragmentation and isolation. This design reimagines the site as a civic hub, reconnecting these disconnected enclaves through volunteerism and transforming the area into a Third Place—a neutral space where people gather outside of home and work. In this community-centric environment, individuals can come together to participate in disaster awareness programs, engage in training, and contribute to research initiatives, all while building relationships and fostering social capital.

Inspired by Oldenburg’s Third Place theory, the center emphasizes the importance of informal gathering spaces where individuals can bond through voluntary social interactions. Volunteerism becomes the mechanism for uniting people around a shared purpose, creating a space where social ties are strengthened through collective action. The center also celebrates the Spirit of the Frontliner, honoring those who selflessly serve during times of crisis. It aims to empower everyday citizens to embody this spirit, using the center as a platform for civic responsibility, preparedness, and altruism.

Technical information

The Volunteer Park Center at Jalan Sultan Yahya Petra responds to urban fragmentation with a resilient, expressive architectural form. Its design emphasizes community engagement and preparedness through a combination of robust materials and adaptable spatial strategies.

The standout element is the curved perforated aluminum screen façade, supported by a steel I-beam exoskeleton. This structure defines the building’s strong identity, enabling large spans and open interior layouts for diverse functions such as training, simulation, and public awareness. The steel frame expresses structural clarity and modularity, aligning with the project’s theme of resilience.

The aluminum screens serve both environmental and symbolic roles. Their perforated surface diffuses sunlight, reduces heat gain, and casts dynamic shadows throughout the day. The offset from the main wall creates a ventilated cavity, enhancing passive cooling via the stack effect. The curvature improves shading performance and allows rainwater collection through concealed channels.

Behind the screens, the reinforced concrete core houses vertical circulation and service shafts, providing thermal mass, fire resistance, and durability. Concrete finishes are kept raw and honest to reinforce the center’s robust and civic character.

Passive strategies include natural ventilation, high-level glazing, and daylight penetration—minimizing energy use while maintaining indoor comfort. These features support the building’s function as both a public space and a safe haven during emergencies.

The surrounding public plaza uses permeable pavers and textured stone finishes to manage stormwater and encourage gathering. Vegetation, shaded seating, and open paths reinforce the site as a “Third Place” where social interaction and volunteerism thrive.

The building system is designed for prefabrication and modular assembly. Steel and aluminum components are fabricated off-site for efficiency and ease of construction. This also ensures the building can adapt or expand in response to future needs.

Lastly, the roof design accommodates rainwater harvesting and solar integration, adding environmental value to the project. These systems reflect a broader ethos of sustainability and self-reliance in disaster response architecture.

In summary, the use of steel exoskeletons, curved aluminum screens, and concrete cores creates a structurally expressive and climate-responsive design. Together with a socially activated ground plane, the center becomes a landmark for preparedness, learning, and inclusive civic engagement.