EKSPRESIREKA ART TRAINING CENTRE

at Taman Tasik Titiwangsa, KL

ARCHITECTURE DESIGN PROJECT REPORT

LIM JOE ONN 0318679AR CHAN MUN INN

LIM JOE ONN 0318679

EKSPRESIREKA ART TRAINING CENTRE

1.1 ABSTRACT1.2 INTRODUCTION1.3 PROJECT AIM AND OBJECTIVE

2.1 SITE INTRODUCTION2.2 SITE HISTORICAL BACKGROUND2.3 SITE SIGNIFICANT ISSUES2.4 URBAN STUDIES2.5 MACRO SITE ANALYSIS

3.1 MICRO SITE ANALYSIS3.2 PRECEDENT STUDIES3.3 DESIGN INTENTION3.4 PROGRAMME BRIEF3.5 SITE RESPONSE3.6 SPATIAL PROGRAMMING3.7 FORM STUDIES

4.1 SITE PLANNING STRATEGIES4.2 ENVIRONMENTAL STRATEGIES4.3 SUSTAINABILITY CONCEPTS4.4 STRUCTURAL CONCEPT

5.0 IMAGE SOURCES

1.1 ABSTRACT

“The concept of lifelong learning is not only aimed atincreasing productivity and job opportunities but also toenrich the soul and mind of our citizens through knowledgeto produce excellent, glorious and distinguished humancapital equipped with skills and contributive to society.” Thiswas mentioned by our former Malaysian Prime Minister TunAbdullah Haji Ahmad Badawi during the launch of the NinthMalaysia Plan.

To the students: What do you like doing? Do you like filmingvideos? Do you like writing? Do you like arts and craft? Doyou want to be an installation artist? Do you want to havethe chance to busk in public? Discover and explore variousskills, Learn from pros and peers, Observe how they do it, Beprepared for real life challenges in the future.

Governmental education is deemed to lack true training of students due to theoutdated focus on facts regurgitation. Graduates behave passively and do notknow how to think critically due to the fact that Malaysian governmentaleducation only teaches students to memorize facts and answer accordingly.Kids are not encouraged to think out of the box and lack exposure to real lifeskills that are required when they step into university life or society, deprivingpreparation.

This initiated the government to fund a building and community program incollaboration with the Malaysian Ministry of Education (MOE) and the Ministryof Tourism and Culture Malaysia (MOTAC) on a site next to Jalan Tembelingnear Titiwangsa Lake. The approach to the design is conceived as a result ofthe need to fit the theme of ‘Sustaining Humanities’, which aids in the nation’seffort to overcome Challenge 9 in achieving Vision 2020: Establishing aprosperous society with an economy that is fully competitive, dynamic, robustand resilient by training holistic individuals contributive to society.

The project will be a social program where students have the opportunity totackle various fields of art in a fun way based on the aspiration of being trainedto perform better in society, facilitating learning as something fun rather thansomething compulsory, advocating creative and critical thinking and developkids as well rounded individuals. It is a form of simulating university life,preparing students for the future.

1.2 INTRODUCTION 1.3 PROJECT AIM AND OBJECTIVE

The main aim of the project is the bridge the gap between people ofvarious skills and experiences in the fields of a variety arts and the studentspresent in the area in response to abundance of education institutes. It hasthe objective of nurturing students and unleash their potential talents viaexposure and educational programs. It aims to function as a venue forvarious extra-curricular activities conducted by the schools nearby.

The building will also be a venue for art exhibitions, mini outdoor eventsand art residency programs, serving as a link between the park extension,the educational facilities and art amenities present on site.

2.1 SITE INTRODUCTION

As of November 2017, the site is currently a vacant governmental land property which is overgrownand yet to be cleared. The office of the Palace of Culture is to the site’s East; Titiwangsa Lake andJalan Tembeling is situated to the site’s North; The Palace of Culture to its South while a carpark islocated at its West. Various schools and institutes such as SK Jalan Kuantan 1 and SMK PuteriTitiwangsa are situated within a 500 meter radius from the site’s vicinity. The site is now completelysealed off from public to avoid any trespassers.

Image of the site with Palace of Culture (Istana Budaya) as its backdrop:

Plan drawing of the site:

2.2 SITE HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

Before the 1970s, TamanTasik Titiwangsa is an inlandlocation covering parts ofthe city centre and itssuburbs, consisting a mix ofurban and rural zones. Thelake was formed by tinmining activities earlier on.

In 1975, Beautification ofTaman Jalan Kuantan(former name) was initiated.Former Malaysian PrimeMinister Dato’ Tun HusseinOnn declared Taman TasikTitiwangsa as the new namefor the park, aspiring tomake Kuala Lumpur a ‘Citywithin a Park’.

As Kuala Lumpur keptexpanding and urbanizing,more high rise buildings arebuilt near the lake gardensto accommodate morepeople, thus creating adenser context.

2.3 SITE SIGNIFICANT ISSUES

Despite the fact that educationalinsitutes (etc SMK Puteri Titiwangsa,SJKC Chiao Nan, Wesley MethodistSchool and SK Jalan Kuantan 1) and theart hubs consisting of the Istana Budayaand National Visual Arts Gallery aresituated at close proximity, there isbarely any connection of usagebetween them, wasting a hugepotential on how our youngergeneration can benefit from the Arthubs.

Image of Istana Budaya (part of Art hubs):

Image of SK Jalan Kuantan 2, an educational institute:

The clear disconnection is furtheramplified due to the presence of a hardedge that segregates Istana Budaya andNational Visual Arts Gallery from thepark’s vicinity, further disencouragingboth pedestrian and vehicularaccessibility between these twoprograms.

2.4 URBAN STUDIES

DISTRICT

The largest districtsurrounding Tasik Titiwangsais mainly residential areawhereby the park mainlyaccommodates the locals.However, these residentialareas are surrounded bydisconnected framework ofstreets.

EDGES

The located site is boundedmainly by the hard edges of theurban typology. The formation ofsoft edges have also created asense of pedestrian barrier anddisconnection between the lakeand the public. In terms ofpedestrian walkability, very fewconnections such as pedestrianwalkways puncture through themain edges, which are highwaysand main streets.

Although countless elements arepresent, the edges form asegregation between segments.This causes inconvenience forthose without vehicles to accessthe park.

PATHS AND PASSAGES

A network of buses areavailable within a 1 km radiusfrom the site. However, it isstill inconvenient for publictransport users to reach thepark as the bus stations onlyrun along major roads.

Crowds are drawn towardsmajor gathering spots. Thesenodes include schools andeateries.

NODES AND LANDMARKS

2.5 MACRO SITE ANALYSIS

USER GROUPS AND CORRELATED TIME

As seen in the diagrams, the potential users of the site mainly consists of residentsaround the area and students from neighbouring schools. The lake garden is apopular spot for people to carry out daily or weekly outdoor recreational activities.

Poor pedestrian walkability towards the park when arriving via public transport dueto pedestrian barriers have isolated and disconnected the street network. Due to astrong hard edge which is a major highway between Hospital Kuala Lumpur and thepark, the amount of workers using the park is significantly lesser than the amount ofstudents present in the park.

Senior citizens tend to use the park very early in the morning while students becamea dominant demographic during weekday afternoons as they use the park for extra-curricular activities.

SWOT ANALYSIS:

STRENGTHS

The site is at a close proximity to art related buildings and educational facilities,justifying its position for a new performance training centre. Greenery is abundant,making it a catalyst for high frequency of human activity, thus providing great futuredevelopment potential. It also has good access to public transportation network (newMRT Station under construction).

WEAKNESSES

Traffic circulation is severely limited due to Jalan Tembeling’s one-way traffic. The siteis also prone to vandalism. Besides, the building to be built on site will have a strongeffect towards the resultant city skyline.

OPPORTUNITIES

It has a potential as a new landmark and tourist destination as well as the potential touncover the talents of young bloods in the field of arts by amplifying the healthyexisting site programmes.

THREATS

Illegal parking by motor vehicles may effect access to the site. Future development ofneighbouring lands are unrestricted.

3.1 MICRO SITE ANALYSIS

View from far:

Prominent nation-building forms arepresent, making it a necessity todesign a building that complementsthe existing skyline instead ofbuilding something that iscontrasting and disruptiveaesthetically.

VISUAL PERMEABILITY

View to North from site:

View towards lake is flanked by talltrees, obstructing the view towardsthe lake. The trees will serve as abuffer between the walkways in thepark and the building to be built onsite.

View to site from North:

Istana Budaya is a vital and eye-catching monument always grabbingthe attention of viewers. For thiscase, this feature should bepreserved as well as possible due tothe fact that Istana Budaya createdan important visual place-makingaspect. Hoarding bounding the sitewill be removed to make way for thenew building.

The green buffer zone of the site creates a sense of tranquil privacy within, disengagingit from active public realm interaction.

The site is very sensitive due to the potential huge impact of the resultant building on urbanmorphology and city skyline. Strong alterations are undesirable. Thus, the design of the buildingmust not be provocative and with minimal influential effect.

3.2 PRECEDENT STUDIES

SCHOOL WITHOUT WALLS IN SWEDEN BY RONAN BOSCH

Rosan Bosch Ltd creates project that question prevailing norms and conceptions, pavingthe way for new ways of thinking and acting.

Their projects take their starting point in issues with an overall societal significance as forexample how to create a well-functioning workplace, how to make exercise a natural partof the everyday or how to create room for individual, pedagogical development in schoolsand educational institutions. For instance, offices with slides and room for play.

Flexible pop-up workstations and hammocks for individual contemplation or schools withcave-like reading tubes and gigantic icebergs for sitting on as well as teaching in.

SHALINI GANENDRA FINE ARTS, PETALING JAYA

This building has an art residency program that accommodates living and workspaces for artists and management who live in and maintain the building.

The interior galleries have Rio LED track lighting which more accurately shows theartwork, creates an elegant atmosphere and is energy efficient. Garden lighting is amixture of LED and Solar, selected and placed to emphasize building design,outdoor installations and landscaping features.

3.4 PROGRAMME BRIEFThe centre’s design intention is to gather and nurture young minds where new ideas canbe sparked and shared with peers. It also provides flexible, versatile spaces for variousevents such as art exhibitions and flea markets to be held and organized. The buildingvibrant with bustling with activity on a site with high potential is able to attract asubstantial crowd.

Ekspresireka is divided into several major programme categories: Video, Art, Literature,Music and Visitor Lodging.

VIDEOStudents are provided with video-making facilities and equipment to explore their talentsin film making. These amenities include a green screen studio, computer studio and stop-motion studio. Small studios function as locations for group discussions, meetings andtutelage by professionals on certain digital and storymaking skills, transferring valuableknowledge to the young.

ARTLarge studios provide ample space for exhibitions, art synthesis and collaboration work. Astationery and printing shop is available for the users. Installation art and fine arts arefocused in the building program with educational events such as vocational workshops.Events such as design competitions and idea pitching are supported by the gallery’sspatial flexibility. Besides, art studios can be categorized into private and collaborativestudios to cater user preferences. An open artist studio with spaces segregated viacubicles and furniture creates a conducive environment for art creation. Masterpiecescreated by students are displayed at a public area for visitors and potential buyers toglance upon.

LITERATUREThe literature section is divided into two: a noisier section closer to the outdoor gardenbusking area and a more quiet, secluded section closer to the visitor lodging area. Thisprovides options for users who prefer creating literature with audio stimulus and userswho prefer to read and write in silence. Archives are provided to store books drawn andwritten by students.

MUSICAn outdoor busking area allows students to showcase their talents. Practice studios, aninstrument storeroom and music recording studio allows the younger generation toexperiment with a variety of sounds and software to be creative and produce music.

VISITOR LODGINGAn art residency program is organized by the building committee, catering a unique formof tourism. This program invites tourists to stay over in the building and engage in variousart activities, educating the local young students about their skills and experiences,benefiting them in their development. The dorms are situated at the top floor and isdivided into two wings: one with a view towards Istana Budaya and the other towards thelake to the North.

3.3 DESIGN INTENTION

According to The Kuala Lumpur City Hall’s legislation, the setback requirements for thebuilding on the site are as follow:

3.5 SITE RESPONSE

Water feature is placed at the Northernside as a poetic response to the existinglake as well as enhancement of builtenvironment pleasance. Valuable vantagepoints to the Palace of Culture to theSouth are to be considered inEkspresireka’s design.

In response to the one-way JalanTembeling and the convenience ofmotorists, a basement parking providing20 parking bays and 2 disabled parkingbays can be accessed.

As a place to nurture young talents andrecreational purposes, the buildingresponses to the park by taking intoconsideration its potential as anextension of the lake garden. Cyclingtracks and ramps are provided within thebuilding itself.

The central walkway acts as a major axisto pedestrian accessibility between thepark to its North and Istana Budaya to itsSouth. It responds to the siterequirement of cutting through the hardedge, which enables interaction betweenthe user groups of both the Art hubs andeducation institutes.

3.6 SPATIAL PROGRAMMINGThe design of the building is derived from bubble diagrams that arrange volumes into spaceswith specific functions, collaborative spaces and public spaces where exhibits created by usersare displayed to pedestrians. Private spaces are placed in higher elevations while public andnoisier spaces are located at a lower elevation near the main walkway.

Visual and physical interactionbetween volumes of spaces areencouraged to catalyze interactionof different types of users as well asengaging the park community to itsfunctions.

As shown in the bubble diagram, thewalkway that penetrates thebuilding, which also is currently ahard edge that segregates the parkfrom Istana Budaya serves as alinear reference for the many typesof spaces to follow.

3.7 FORM STUDIES

Block elevated to create form forwelcoming entrance façade.Depression allows access tobasement parking.

Form lowered and minimized toreduce impact towards existingskyline.

Noise created by music in buskingarea attracts crowd from park,adding vibrant ambience.

Play of prominent voids thattranscend spaces encourage visualand physical interaction betweenlevels.

Stacking of levels definefunctionality of volumes, allowingvigorous human interaction.

Disintegration within structuredlayout allows flexibility by formingversatile spaces that fit variousfunctions according to the users.

4.1 SITE PLANNING STRATEGIES

WIND ANALYSIS

The wind speed diagram shows that a larger amount of wind comesfrom the Northeast heading to the South. The loose floor plan allowswind to pass throughout the building, removing the building interior’stropical heat by allowing natural passive ventilation. The open area inthe middle of the building creates a wind tunnel effect, cooling downthe building vicinity.

The site is greatly affected by the Northeastern monsoon that occursfrom October to March and the Southwestern Monsoon from April toSeptember.

SOLAR ANALYSIS

As a building located in a hot tropical climate,the building will receive plenty of sunshineyear round. Thus, strategies to shade thebuilding has to be implemented especially atthe Eastern and Western facades. The buildingmust be designed to minimize the heatreceived from sunlight arriving from the West.

4.2 ENVIRONMENTAL STRATEGIES

A central courtyard gathers prevailing wind from theNortheast, allowing hot air to be removed from thesite’s interior areas. The design is intended to makemore than 60% of the facades North-South orientedwhile minimizing the amount of East-West facingfacades to less than 30%.

In response to the solar path, the building isdesigned to decrease sunlight gain from the West.The central courtyard is shaded from the strongWestern sun. Certain areas embrace the morningsun.

A water feature is present in the courtyard, coolingdown the building as the evaporation process carriesheat away into the atmosphere.

As seen from the West elevation, the building’s West façade is almost entirely covered with vegetationand louvers, minimizing heat gain from the strong afternoon sun. Evapotranspiration cools the air inMalaysia’s tropical heat. The species of plants selected on this façade are those that grow better ifreceiving afternoon light.

4.3 SUSTAINABILITY CONCEPTS

ENERGY CONSERVATION FEATURE: SOLAR PANELS

Solar panels Solar panels

Solar PV (photovoltaic) refers to an array of cells containing a solar photovoltaicmaterial that converts solar radiation into direct current electricity. Ekspresireka’sroof is covered with solar panels to maximize conversion of solar energy intoelectrical energy for the building’s lighting and ventilation purposes. It serves thedual purpose of allowing the building to pursue a renewable energy agenda, whilesimultaneously making optimum use of its abundant solar energy available in thetropics.

The system is connected to an electricity grid so that electricity generated isexported back to the grid. The utility company TNB then pays the university a fixedpremium rate per kilowatt hour (kWh) of electricity. A system under 4Kw can earnRM 1.3708 per unit of electricity generated. Output is supposedly guaranteed for aperiod of 21 years.

ENERGY CONSERVATION FEATURE: RAINWATER HARVESTING AND GREYWATERREUSING

Sewer piping

Watersupply

Rainwater

Greywater

The harvesting of rainwater simply involves the collection of water from the solar panelcovered roof, and subsequently storing this water for later use, which includes irrigatingthe green facades. It is low cost in maintenance and does not require purifying when usedfor irrigation. To reduce water wastage, greywater in the toilets are directed via poly pipesand are used for irrigation.

Simple diagram showing flow of water within the building:

Industrialized Building System (IBS) is utilized in this project. Compared toconventional construction methods, it requires less construction time, saves cost,saves labour and is environmental friendly by decreasing the usage of timberformwork on construction as components are already prefabricated.

Walls are made of precast concrete while floors are covered with timber parquet ontop of concrete slabs.

Material layering for green roof:

MATERIAL AND RESOURCES

The building is largely open, which allows sound waves to traverse from various places toanother, emitting a lively and happening vibe. Spaces that require seclusion such as dormsare arranged further away from places that produce sound such as busking areas andmusic practice studios.

In some rooms like the enclosed music practice studio and recording studio, the volumesare completely sealed off to prevent interference of foreign noises. This is achieved byenveloping the rooms with diffuser panels. The diffusers consist of two elements whichcomprise of the absorber and reflector layers that made up its sound diffusion effect. Theuneven spacing of dented surface diffuse the sound waves to different directions, reducingsound intensity and preventing undesirable echoes.

ACOUSTIC CONSIDERATION

Asides from the East and West facades, green walls are present at the North façade too.This is because vegetation are natural sound barriers that reduce noise level from traffic byreflecting, refracting as well as absorbing energy.

INNOVATION: GREEN WALLS

Modular green walls are essentially aliving cladding system with its richbiodiversity. Visitors are greeted by agreen lush verticality while savoringthe effects of the abundance offoliage. Evapotranspiration cools theair in Malaysia’s tropical heat. Viaevapotranspiration, the demands foractive mechanical ventilation isdecreased thanks to these walls.

They are also natural air-filters,creating a cleaner, more invigoratingwork environment that will lead tobetter overall production. Air toxinsfound in built environments such asformaldehyde, carbon monoxide,VOCs and benzene will experience adecrease with the implementation ofthese walls as they metabolizeharmful toxins while releasingoxygen into the building.

Living green walls are a surefire wayto enhance a building’s visuals,improve air quality as well as humanenergy levels.

4.4 STRUCTURAL CONCEPT

The building utilizes bubble decking precast concrete floor slabs. These slabs are lighterand stronger by incorporating large, hollow plastic balls in a lattice of steel. They eliminateup to 35% of concrete from suspended slabs, adding further savings from lighterstructures, improved productivity and reduced energy consumption.

This system does not require any formwork and beams, making it easier to construct dueto its simplicity. Off-site prefabricated, fewer vehicular movements and crane lifts togetherwith simple installation all combine to minimize operating risk. It is also environmentallyfriendly as concrete usage is significantly reduced.

Bubble decking allows freedom of architectural design with much lesser frequency ofcolumns. As no beam support is required, it allows longer spans between supports. It alsoenables reduced foundation sizes since the structural dead-weight us reduced by 50%.Downstand beams, cross-bracing and intermediate supports are entirely eradicated.

Tberesford. (2016, February 22) Voided Slab. Retrieved 19 December, 2017 from http://www.nadaaa.com/blog/making-sausage-voided-slab/

Hosmer, K. (2012, February 8) Unconventional School Without Walls. Retrieved 19 December, 2017 from https://mymodernmet.com/rosan-bosch-school-without-walls/

Venuerific. (2015, n.d.) Shalini Ganendra Fine Art @ Gallery Residence. Retrieved 19 December, 2017 from http://www.venuerific.com/my/venues/shalini-ganendra-fine-art-gallery-residence

5.0 IMAGE SOURCES