architecture design project report

The Architecture Design Project Report: Food Discovery Centre in Taman Tasik Titiwangsa

[ARC 60108] Architecture Design Project | Joyce Wee Yi Qin | 0319602 1

School of Architecture Building and Design

Bachelor in Science (Hons) in Architecture

Architectural Design Project (Report)

Project Title: Food Discovery Centre @ Titiwangsa

Name: Joyce Wee Yi Qin

Student ID: 0319602

Tutor: Ms. Teh



Contents 1 Introduction ............................................................................................................................................................................... 3

1.1 Project Title: Food Discovery Centre .............................................................................................................................. 3

1.2 Abstract ............................................................................................................................................................................. 3

1.3 Project Introduction .......................................................................................................................................................4

1.4 Project Aims and Objectives ........................................................................................................................................4

2 Site Investigation and Contextual Studies ......................................................................................................................... 5

2.1 Site Introduction .............................................................................................................................................................. 5

2.2 Historical Background.................................................................................................................................................... 5

2.3 Site Significance and Issues .......................................................................................................................................... 6

2.4 Urban Studies and Macro Analysis ............................................................................................................................ 7

3 Project Background and Design Intention Strategies .................................................................................................... 8

3.1 Micro Site Analysis .......................................................................................................................................................... 8

3.2 Precedent Studies ........................................................................................................................................................... 9

3.3 Design Intention ............................................................................................................................................................ 10

3.4 Programme and Project Brief .................................................................................................................................... 10

3.5 Site Response .................................................................................................................................................................. 11

3.6 Spatial Programming ................................................................................................................................................... 12

3.7 Morphological/ Form Studies.................................................................................................................................... 14

4 Environmental and Technology Strategies ..................................................................................................................... 15

4.1 Site Planning Strategies............................................................................................................................................... 15

4.2 Orientation: Wind and Solar Analysis ..................................................................................................................... 15

4.3 Sustainability Concepts ............................................................................................................................................... 16

4.4 Energy Conservation Features .................................................................................................................................. 17



1 Introduction

1.1 Project Title: Food Discovery Centre

Food Discovery Centre of Taman Tasik Titiwangsa, Kuala Lumpur

1.2 Abstract

In the architectural world, there is never an end in design and it only gets more developed and refined

as time gets by. A great piece of architecture causes great impact to a place and sets the mood and

brings out the sense of a space as well. It creates a series of interconnected spaces with feelings and

emotions, allowing users to further explore and experience.

In my design, I tend to tell the story of the place through spaces and to allow people to rediscover the

history of the place. I believe that staying true to the origin and history of the place is what make a building

timeless. A well narrated space stays connected to the user as it speaks and connects with them in a

spiritual way. Another plus point in designing is to always see yourself as the one of the users of your

design. To really feel the space and to think about what is needed in the space to provide to its functions.

In this project, we are required to consider the elements in sustaining humanity with the architectural

expression at which it should always tie back the relationship of the architecture with its context and users.

Besides, a well-planned contextual design is also important to make the architecture work at its best to

keep up with the pace of the forever developing and evolving urban context. The sustainable factor

applied in design is extremely important as it makes sure that the building grows with the environment.

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1.3 Project Introduction

Taman Tasik Titiwangsa is a green lung situated at the buffer between Kuala Lumpur City Centre and

Sentul. Off Jalan Tun Razak, the lake garden is a known urban park for the locals. Unlike KLCC Park, Taman

Tasik Titiwangsa is less commercial and is a recreational park for the local community to unwind from the

hectic life in the city.

The Food Discovery Centre, as proposed, is an extension of the park that features the discovery of the

food process, as a platform for the local community to slow down their pace and walk away from the city.

1.4 Project Aims and Objectives

The community is the heart of a developing city. But the rapid development of the city comes with a price.

With everything going at a fast pace, the community tends to lose a lot of things including quality time

with their families and most importantly, themselves.

As a result, there is a shown trend that households are shifting towards purchased food to keep up with

the fast-moving society. Hence, the project of introducing a food discovery centre that features slow food

aims to slow down the community to consider the details and appreciate the process.

The project targets to provide a platform for the community to showcase and discover the different food

cultures that are fading away in the urban context. It is also a place for social interaction and

communication as the intention of a park was always to provide an open space for the community to

mingle and have activities held in a communal scale. Hence, the program would consider the social aspect

of the context to sustain the community relationship and to provide a place that caters to their needs.

Besides the social aspect, the program would also cover the historical aspect of the lake which is slowly

fading away in the urban context.

Besides, the main objective of the project is to revive and sustain the humanity of the place by providing

a civic space of gathering and a platform to showcase local cultures. Additionally, the program of the

project is to be designed to relate to their adjacent building/spaces to have a coherent flow from the

surrounding context to the core of the building.



2 Site Investigation and Contextual Studies

2.1 Site Introduction

The site is located at the junction of Jalan Kuantan and Jalan Tembeling. Currently a carpark catering to

the visitors to Taman Tasik Titiwangsa, its position is sandwiched between the infamous Titiwangsa Lake,

Istana Budaya and a couple of national schools. Its position is strategically positioned at the junction

leading to the lake and is one of the first buildings to be seen upon arriving the lake gardens. With the

neighbouring schools and the bus stops along the streets, it is one of the busiest streets around the park

area after Jalan Tun Razak.

Additionally, Tasik Titiwangsa is part of the River of Life project to repurpose the riverfronts in the Klang

Valley, which works will be done in phases starting from treating the polluted lake water. Upon completion

of the project, the lakefront is expected to be a more walkable with properly paved paths and commercial

stalls along the paths.

A good balance and properly planned connections between the proposed building and the surrounding

context should consider all mentioned to establish a harmonized and effective design, leaving minimal

negative impacts to the site.

2.2 Historical Background



2.3 Site Significance and Issues



2.4 Urban Studies and Macro Analysis

vStrength:

1. The site offers picturesque view of the lake on the north side.

2.

3. It is located at ‘kawasan warisan’ hence is also a high-density tourist spot services are available to

cater to the different user groups on site.

4. Easy access from the main roads. The development of infrastructures and public transportation

promotes public flow.

Weakness:

1. Views towards lake may be obstructed if surrounding lands are developed as the site is located

diagonally from the lake.

2. Busy traffic (especially buses) before and after schools causing vehicular pollution due to site location

at the junction next to bus stops and schools.

3. Lack of proper pedestrian connection between site and the lake may cause safety issues.

Opportunity:

1. Creating nodes that enhance the landmarks around and a mutual relationship among the community

can occur.

2. Providing an ideal platform for food business by complimenting with the existing food businesses

around.

3. Borrowing the view from the lake to enhance visually and the continuity of the sense of the place.

Threats:

1. Site location at the intersection and the lack of pedestrian crossings increase possibilities of road

accidents.

2. Site location next to an unattended piece of land. Ungroomed landscape nests hazardous pests that

may cause danger to the visitors.

3. Existing facilities lacks proper maintenance, affecting the recreational experiences on site. Thus,

affects the number of visitors to the site.

Districts and Edges

Users and Paths



3 Project Background and Design Intention Strategies

3.1 Micro Site Analysis



3.2 Precedent Studies

Programme Studies- OMA Food Park

The design of an F&B Park was conceived as a celebration

of Los Angeles’ diversity through the themes of food, art

and land. A split-level restaurant designed by OMA opens

to the park via a sweeping staircase, and will serve as a new

lunch spot for employees of the nearby government

building and locals alike. To provide respite from the hot

Californian sun. The park will feature native oak and

sycamore trees alongside an array of OMA-designed

sculptural shade canopies. Beneath the canopies, shaded

outdoor rooms will give park-goers a space for small group

gatherings, food fairs, art installations, and other

community events.

“The F&B Park will be a meeting point for civil servants,

journalists, arts patrons and DTLA residents. Our design for

the restaurant for the restaurant is a dynamic building that

fascilitates two distinct levels of service:quick and casual on

the ground, refined and elegant above. Each level activates

diverse experiences ranging from café to test kitchen to

amphitheatre seating”

The concept of the F&B Park is to have an integrated space

of a park with food and other dynamic programmes. At

night, it also serves as the vibrant civics platform to

encourage communal activities of various genres.

Form Studies- The Third Place

The Third Place is a landscape building designed by PENDA Architects. Located in Seoul, it’s a modern library

with the concept of creating a co-existing landscape-library in an urban context in response to the urban context.

The building is designed to let the landscape become the building and to let the building be acceptant to the

changing landscape.

The message behind the design is that a building has to co-exist in reality and the virtual world to be able to

adapt to what is coming in the future.



3.3 Design Intention

As the city continues to grow and strive, humanly relationships tend to get thrown to the back of the mind and

eventually buried into the depths of the ground.

Taking food as instance, with the booming food industry, food is fast. Studies shown a trend that households

are shifting towards purchases of prepared food, to cope with the busy schedule at work. Have anyone ever

stop and wonder what is behind all this speed?

Modern people seek efficiency

but are we being efficient? Or are we just being fast?

We achieve time and success but often those that we lost are invaluable

- quality time with family and ourselves.

Hence the programme of the Food Discovery Centre aims to improve health and create social change with a

visionary program mix that has food as its core. The centre is a platform for the community to rediscover the

joy of slow food throughout the process in a communal context.

Besides food, the thought of resurfacing the deeply buried tin mining history of Titiwangsa Lake is also put into

context, where a series of spaces to reintroduce the known recreational lake, as one of the active tin mining

spot during his younger years. It is evident that the society has no knowledge of its past as it is completely

undocumented, rendering ‘those days’ an empty page.

3.4 Programme and Project Brief

A. Slow Food Programme The slow food programme is the main programme of the food rediscovery experience that aims to

build relationships (familial and communal) and encourage the people to enjoy the process rather than

being results-driven.

The programme features a hands-on experience on food preparation from scratch. The programme

involves the community, especially families, to gather and to play different roles in the slow food process,

from growing vegetables and spices to having meals properly served and dined together as a

community.

Spaces to support the programme includes:

- Community Kitchen

- Spice Garden + Vegetable Patch

- Community Dining Area

- Food Storage + Freezer

- Gardening Shed

B. Food Discovery Pavilion The food discovery pavilion is a celebration of our multicultural nation rich in food culture. With an

everchanging list of events featuring food fests involving the different community and cultures, the

pavilion plays an active role in attracting people into the building.

C. Tin Mining History Uncovered The history programme involves uncovering the unknown past of the lake as a member of the tin mining

industry in Malaysia. As important as knowing what the future holds, history is what grounds us. Hence,

the history is taken into importance.

The history programme features a main gallery that hosts timed exhibitions on tin mining and other

historical features in the Malaysian context. Likewise, there will also be a permanent gallery dedicated

to the History of Taman Tasik Titiwangsa from its rise as a tin mining lake to its current state as a

recreational park.



3.5 Site Response



3.6 Spatial Programming

Majority of the main community activity spaces are located on the ground floor

for easy access and are open to the surrounding landscape.



Private spaces such as cafés, cook book libraries and accommodations are located on the upper floors for

extra privacy. These spaces overlook the lake and the community spaces below.

The Tin Mining History Experiential Gallery is located underground to portray the important history of Taman

Tasik Titiwangsa to be unearthed and rediscovered by the community.



3.7 Morphological/ Form Studies



4 Environmental and Technology Strategies

4.1 Site Planning Strategies

4.2 Orientation: Wind and Solar Analysis

Drop off and vehicular entrance is located along

Jalan Kuantan to minimize vehicular flow on Jalan

Tembeling, freeing the road for a safer pedestrian

path between the lake and the site.

Arrangement of spaces are according to the

approximate user group and activities to have a

coherent flow of space into the building, maintaining

a friendly relationship with the surrounding.



4.3 Sustainability Concepts

A. Orientation The building is oriented to the east-west direction to have maximum sunlight directed into the interior

spaces during light hours to reduce electric consumption spent on artificial lightings. Besides, the

differences of the shadows casted upon the spaces due to the changes in sunlight creates unique

spatial experiences and ambience throughout the day.

B. Sun Shading

Due to the building being east-west facing, sun shading plays an important role to control the amount

of sunlight entering the building, reducing glare from the excessive light for the comfort of the users.

Hence, a façade of trees will be planted at the west façade, as a natural barrier for sun and as a barrier

filtering of the contaminated air from the streets. Additionally, automated sun shading louvres are

installed to control the amount of sun penetrating the building with maximum flexibility.

C. Wind (Natural Ventilation)

Natural ventilation is an important aspect in the building as its main programme surround’s food and

the preparation process. The ventilation system of the building must be elaborate to eliminate foul

smell from the food preparations process.

Hence, the building spaces are oriented to the north-eastern direction to open to the wind and views

coming from the lake. Likewise, the main building plays with volume to promote ventilation between

floors.

D. Rainwater Harvesting

With all the surrounding landscape and gardening programmes to maintain, water is another resource

to consider. Hence, rain water harvesting systems will be implemented to reduce cost on water bills.

The rainwater harvesting system is designed to mimic the tin mining movement with a mechanical

harvesting dish elevated above ground to double as a sun shading element for the open pavilion.



4.4 Energy Conservation Features

Natural Ventilation

Minimal interior walls and tall ceilings allow

better ventilation within interior spaces.

Perforated façade with huge openings allow

wind to enter the building with decreased

obstruction.

Rain Water Harvesting

Rain Water Harvesting system reduces cost on

water bills and are designed aesthetically to fit

into the building. The water harvested is

treated, when necessary, and contained in the

water tank room.

The building makes full use of the natural elements on site to create a

low carbon, minimal foot print building that is partially self-sustainable.