SILA Build-with-Heart 2019

This year, for the very first time, Singapore Institute of Landscape Architects (SILA) organised an ambitious community activity where 30 Building Professionals from Singapore came together to build a home in Malaysia, for low-income indigenous families.

Why Build?
1. Contribute and improve the quality of life for needy community of Orang Asli families:
– Remove unsafe housing conditions through new basic housing for basic needs
– Improve poor housing conditions such as living under leaking roofs
2. Cross-disciplinary skills transfer and building partnerships between the Built- Environment Professionals (Architects, Landscape Architects, Engineers, Builders & Suppliers)
3. To gain hands-on experience which will enhance professional (invaluable local building technique) and personal development (networking)

BUILD DATE: 5-7 July 2019
HOUSE RECEIPIENT: Herlan & Aishah

The existing house is structurally dangerous and non-conducive (as there are dark internal spaces).

In 3 days, with buckets of sweat as a result of toiling under the hot sun with lots of enthusiasm and determination, 30 volunteers under the guidance of the EPIC Homes core team managed to complete building and hand-over the house to its new owner at 4pm on the last day of Build.

SILA President, Mr. Ronnie Tan handing over the main key to the house recipient, Herlan and his wife, Aishah . The couple also participated in the 3 days Build together with the 30 volunteers, and in his words upon receiving the house keys with teary eyes, ‘The house is not just given to me, it is built together for me with my friends whom we’ve spent 3 days together building, laughing and learning from each other.'

SILA would like to thank all our sponsors who made this Build a reality. Herlan’s wife now has a safe house to be made their home but also filled 30 volunteers’ hearts with love at the end of the Build.

“30 total strangers came together with open hearts and minds with a common goal to sacrifice 3 days of our time and muscle to build a house. However, at the end of the day, did not only managed to complete the house in time despite our lack of experience, we also built great rapport with like-minded individuals. We came to build a house, but in fact, we built a home, not just for Herlan and for ourselves in our hearts.” - Yurong