No abstract

This study defines the atmosphere of architecture students studying at home using ergonomic space in the house as a learning space during the covid-19 pandemic. Since the Movement Control Order (MCO) in March 2020, all public universities in Malaysia have made it mandatory for their students to study from home (SFH). The students have different study environments depending on their family economic background. Focussing on architecture students who are involved in designing works, they need a studio-like setting I space to place drafting materials and tools, computer or laptop and study and create furniture. This conducive studio setting is a crucial component in completing good architectural works within the given time frame. In response to SFH, this research explores students’ perceptions and experiences on their home ergonomic environments and their expectations for a better home study environment. The research applied a quantitative method where sample respondents are among new Architecture degree students of UiTM Perak Branch. The Questionnaires were distributed by email to all 400 potential respondents in the first semester, and 112 respondents completed the form within a given time. In general, results have found that respondents have mixed feelings about their perception of challenges SFH.

The homestay programme is a community-based tourism that offers tourists to experience the local lifestyle and heritage culture. Many studies focused on challenges of homestay programme, place attachment of hosts, contribution of homestay programme to rural economy. However, very few studies have focused on youths’ involvement in homestay activities. This paper aims to examine the youth’s involvement in homestay activities. A focus group discussion was conducted among the youth aged 20 - 34 years old. A non-probability sampling, that is, purposive sampling was employed. Multiple case studies in Homestay Kampung Jeruju, Homestay Kampung D’Belimbing and Homestay Kampung were selected to determine the differences between the locality factors. These findings indicate that youth's involvement in paddy field activities is based on social, physical, and economic factors. Thus, to attract youth to be involved in paddy field activities, it is recommended for the tourism players to pay attention to these three factors.

Prioritizing of environmental and socio-cultural factors of the community in housing design will be able to create a home that is natural and flexible with various conditions and lives of its occupants from time to time. Thus, will be able to provide comfort and satisfaction of housing to its occupants. This study aims to review and identify the design and concept of traditional Malay houses that suitable to be applied in modern housing development towards improving the occupant's comfort and satisfaction aspects The literature review has identified several factors in comfort and satisfaction of the housing occupants such as house design, house and space size, space flexibility, space arrangement, space allocation, lighting and ventilation. Traditional Malay houses design are referred as a comparison factor for this study as a basic element of housing comfort and satisfaction. The approach of the study involves a quantitative and a qualitative approach. The analysis led to the discovery of the problems of modern house design from various aspects which including design, size, space arrangement, lighting and ventilation. Therefore, the recommendation is to adapt potential traditional Malay house design elements in modern housing development. The study concludes that the adaptation of potential elements of traditional Malay house design can produce a sustainable housing, offering comfort and satisfaction, improve the quality of life and gives good implications for housing development.