Legasi Line is a design proposal for the ECRL train that embodies the rich cultural heritage and natural beauty of Malaysia. The name “Legasi” (Malay for “Legacy”) reflects the intention to honor and preserve the diverse traditions, arts, and natural landscapes of Malaysia. The Legasi Line will not only serve as a modern transportation solution but also as a moving tribute to the nation’s heritage, connecting passengers with the cultural and natural landscapes along their journey.

The exterior of the Legasi Line is designed to be both visually striking and culturally meaningful. The use of vibrant colors and linear patterns not only enhances the aesthetic appeal of the train but also tells a story of Malaysia’s journey through its rich past towards a bright and innovative future. The design creates a sense of pride and connection among passengers, making each journey on the Legasi Line a celebration of Malaysia’s legacy and its dynamic progress.

Integrating Gradient Patterns from Natural Landscapes

The Legasi Line incorporates gradient patterns inspired by natural landscapes from each of the four states the ECRL traverses. These gradients represent the transition from dawn to sunrise, mirroring the train’s journey from the west coast to the east coast of Malaysia.

Patterns and Motifs

Linear Forms: The design primarily features linear patterns that celebrate the speed and efficiency of the train. These lines are inspired by traditional Malay woodcraft, incorporating both straight and dynamic forms that create a sense of movement and progress.

• Customization & adaption
  The Lanai is specially crafted for Jamal & Rina to utilize space efficiently by modifying their living space according to their own needs. Besides, a flare of own identity is created for Jamal’s family to participate in personalizing their own home through customized design of local materials like batik, weaved bamboo, etc on their building façade. Through this, a sense of ownership is instilled in them.
• Design statement
  Lanai is a space that is interpreted from the traditional Malay house spatial typology which known as veranda or serambi. The overall design adopt the concept of open-sided patio to create communal space while providing shades to the internal bedrooms.
  The lanai strikes to provide a home rather than a houseby providing opportunity for Jamal & Rina to personalize their home. Eventually, the design will provide the basic yet practical necessities for the family while preserving their cultures and identity. Hence a diversified design in terms of ethnicity and culture with the input from the owner (Orang Asli) is fused and produce.
• SPACE PLANNING
  The Lanai is designed to adapt and suit to various site conditions particularly on the slope and unstable ground through stilt foundation. The brief seeks for a home that can cater for family of 4 (Jamal & Rina with their children) who grew up in Gombak and therefore 2 bedrooms are provided as the basic module. Spacious and high-volume layout are designed to cater future expansion within this tight and narrow site.The basic module of the home provides double volume space and large openings to maximize passive daylighting and welcome cross ventilation into the internal space.Ruang Ibu & Lanai are design as open plan layout to accommodate multi-functional activities such as cooking, reading, living and etc while serving as the communal anchor space to the internal bedrooms. The wet area such as washroom is intended to be detached from the home as independent sheltered structure due to hygiene issues.
• EXPANSION MODULE
  The concept of ‘Less House, More Home’ allows Lanai to grow vertically while maintaining sideways within the boundary by having higher platform and spaces that are able to be expanded in low tech approach. Due to the challenging 4m width of the site, the building is designed in slanted volume in order to allocate more spaces while providing bigger volume for future expansion as the family grows.

廊（Lanai）是马来西亚传统原住民的空间（即阳台）。这个设计采用了开放式空间布局，容纳了多功能活动，例如烹饪，阅读，居住等，为内部空间提供高采光和透风设计。‘廊’不但保留了原住民文化，同时也让每一户人家拥有个性化的机会。 这个设计的基本需求是容纳4口人家。由于的基地狭小，因此该建筑采用倾斜设计，以便空出更多空间，好人用户可以随着家庭的成长而扩展，这个设计也可以为在为来的扩展。

由于卫生问题，潮湿区域（如洗手间）被设计为独立空间，而不被设计在房子内。

的庇护结构从住宅中移出。

Rumah – ‘i’ named after the family of Zamr[i] and Rez[i] who have 2 boys (Jefri, 7 y.o & Jas 10 y.o) and a girl (Rose, 5 y.o)

‘I’ which read in Malay as ‘AIR’ carry the meaning of water, with the entire design notion crafted to allow the family to overcome water shortage issue by collecting dew and rain water.

The letter [ i ] can be interpreted as

1. a) i : me     – a house that reflect own identity
2. b) i ndigenous – usage of local materials & skills
3. c) i nteraction – creation of communal living
4. d) i nnovation – a flexible space that allow low-tech expandable opportunity
   e) i ntelligent – bio-mimicry façade that collects dew water

Traditional weaving skill was incorporated into the façade as a showcase of identity while preserving their culture. On top of that, by garnering the potential of rural site humidity while tackling water resources issue of the family, weaved bio-degradable plastic net was featured through bio-mimicry to collect dew during the dawn. A large mono-pitch roof was also being introduced to provide shelter while further harvest rainwater for grey water usage. Besides that, clean drinking water that was tap from outside is allocated to store underneath of floor deck while connecting the sources to kitchen.

The Glory
Transportation Hub that  Gambier and Pepper Built

Remembering the past, embracing the new is a statement that we hoped to capture into the design of our facade by exploring the rich history of Johor. Linked together with Singapore by a causeway bridge that is slightly over 2 kilometers in length.  A scene of “army of ants” formed by the lines of motorists at the causeway border may seem like a common sight in today’s time.

The causeway was first opened in 192 and it was not built for the commuters, rather it was built for the natural riches of Malaya to be shipped out to the world – and two of the products shipped out were Gambier and Pepper.

Our façade design seeks to pay homage to the forgotten history of Johor by highlighting the past glories that the Gambier and Pepper trades have brought to the state. Johor was, at one point, the world’s largest exporter of Gambier. This industry has put Johor on the world map and brought tremendous growth to the local community – a fitting statement for the new RTS Bukit Chagar Station that will help to elevate the causeway congestion while boosting Johor’s stature and economy in tourism. The Gambier and Pepper inspired façade is also an indication of the strong collaborative effort forged between Johor and Singapore, where both cities have shared a familiar history and glory in the Gambier and Pepper trades in the past.

Welcome to Johor, the Jewel of Malaysia.

Visitors or returning Malaysians coming into Johor will be greeted on arrival by a large overhang roof known as the “Hanging Verandah” (Serambi Gantung). Two Hanging Verandahs on each ends, connected together by series of pitched roofs is inspired by the novelty and the traditional values of a Malay house.

A Hanging Verandah, in the context of a traditional Malay house is the transitional space between the “Outdoor” and “Indoor”. This is the place where guests are being entertained before they are being welcomed into the house. As a host, it is also customary for us to look after the well-being of our guests. This is a symbolic gesture that we want to overlay into the design of our roof, and to welcome the tourist into our Home with the warmest hospitality that a Malaysian can provide.

Sculpting the history on the walls

At the height of Johor’s glory during the Gambier and Pepper trades. Plantations from the 1840s began planting Gambier and Pepper together, whose vines seemed to have a symbiotic relationship with one another. A discovery that led to the increased number of exports, growth and eventually to the formation of Johor Bahru (Formerly known as Iskandar Puteri)

A visually striking, multi-faceted façade is designed as an abstraction to symbolize the symbiotic relationship between Gambier and Pepper. Each panel is consist of two large frames that resembles the shape of a folding Gambier Leaf. Within each modular panel, smaller 3-dimensional shading elements will form the exterior cladding of the façade. These shading elements are an abstract representation of the pepper seeds, they are sculpted, studied and arranged to provide the most optimal sun shade for the MRT Station.

With the intention of making Bukit Chagar Station a new Landmark. The proposed façade design provides a three-dimensional canvas that was strategically applied with accents, colours and details to create a striking and image-able form that is easily and instantly recognisable from afar, yet increasingly fascinating up close.

The changes of colour tones on the façade, from Darker brown to lighter brown and eventually to a full transparent element is to highlight the laborious process behind the production of Gambier. Gambier leaves are extracted and boiled until the leaves turned brown. The leaves will then be pressed repeatedly to extract the juice, this is process that will be repeated many times until the dark brown leaves have decolourized completely (transparent).

All these elements are conveyed together as an architectural language to create an attractive urban element that is holistic, sustainable, and respectful of its past while complementing the ever-growing cityscape of Johor Bahru.

Connecting the past, present and future

Connecting physical and virtual world

Connecting human and digital

E-sports has risen dramatically in their popularity especially when pandemic hits. However, health is a critical issue in e-sports due to the novelty of the field and the way in which it is played. In order to counteract the health concern, the concept of this e-sport centre originates from a ‘path’ — a journey retracing the practice of sports. Benchmark against other surrounding sports facilities, it draws from tradition of the past in the context of the present to create a space for the future.

Visioned as a connection for human and digital (both physical and virtual world), the design was formulated with a focus on the diversity of experiences needed to create a healthy sport environment: one that responds to its context, climate and community, meets the needs of people on a daily basis, as well as for visitors, gatherings and celebrations.

Designed to be accessible and to promote healthy way of living, the proposal centered around a series of elevated, undulating ramps and walkways, inviting users to reflect, learn, and share while contemplating the dynamic skyline or the lush greeneries. All of the site’s paths lead to the rooftop where users can jog, cycle and workout on daily basis. Interspersed between the ramps, the building has incorporated a series of stepped, sunken informal plaza that offer a mix of performance and play spaces in a bid to make the space a day and night destination.

The proposal extends the way of how sports have evolved into the future for generations to come, where a future and traditional sport can be practiced at the same time, same place, healthily. The organic form of the design, creates a welcome counterpoint to the existing landscape, emphasizes Bukit Jalil as a ‘city in a garden’, forming a sustainable, environmentally progressive reflection of the country’s healthy sports environment.

The smooth curves form that adheres to the landscape contour does not only allow accessibility, it also enhances wind to glide through the whole building gently, promoting natural cooling and ventilation in the space. By placing the buildings under a continuous roof, it creates a sense of unity and coherence while also enhancing its energy efficiency and avoiding the duplication of spaces. Luxury greeneries on top also help to mitigate heat island effects, promote social interaction and physical exercise, creating a healthy gaming community.

E-sports arena is envisioned to be adaptable, flexible, programmable, and serve a multitude of events through the use of UCO Superflex panels . It aims to expand outside the confines of their venue by involving the surrounding context to support a range of crowd sizes and event types. The adoption of VR and AR gaming experiences, turns e-sports into physically active activity. Gamers are allowed to explore through the whole building while having the game played in their head.

The e-sports centre embodies the spirit and values of e-sports gamers in respect of traditional sports. Its incorporation of landscape and architecture, brings users on a journey of discovery, merging traditional sports with what lies ahead in future. This project represents an important milestone in the country’s vision to redefine gaming experiences through iconic venues that will feature game-changing technologies and pioneer the next generation of transformative, immersive experiences.

In an era striving for sustainability and cultural resonance, Malaysia is set to redefine its skyline with Rimbunan Sky, the nation’s first mass timber high-rise. This architectural marvel extends beyond conventional building materials, incorporating a cutting-edge façade that melds photovoltaic panels with wind turbines, thus achieving self-generated power. Not just a marvel of green technology, the building also pays homage to the country’s cultural heritage through its intricate Islamic ornament layout. This article introduces Rimbunan Sky, a fusion of sustainable innovation and cultural symbolism, establishing a new architectural lexicon for Malaysia.

At the heart of Rimbunan Sky is a commitment to connecting urban dwellers with nature, creating an oasis amidst concrete and steel. This vision is most poignantly manifested in the building’s central atrium, which runs the full height of the tower from ground level, serving as a “Garden in the Sky.” This vertical garden allows natural light to permeate the interiors while offering breathtaking city views from each floor, infusing a sense of trees and water into the everyday experience of its inhabitants.

However, the vision goes beyond aesthetic appeal and into the realm of self-sustainability. To achieve this, Rimbunan Sky incorporates a photovoltaic façade and wind turbines, enabling the building to generate its own electricity. To further its commitment to sustainability, the tower also features rainwater harvesting systems, rendering it an entirely self-sustainable habitat.

The marriage of these elements—natural aesthetics, cultural heritage, and self-sustainability—make Rimbunan Sky not just a skyscraper, but a manifestation of modern Malaysia’s progressive ethos, seamlessly blending the traditional and the innovative.

of green technology, the building also pays homage to the country’s cultural heritage through its intricate Islamic ornament layout. This article introduces Rimbunan Sky, a fusion of sustainable innovation and cultural symbolism, establishing a new architectural lexicon for Malaysia.

Standing at an imposing height of 415.8 meters with a total footprint of 209,880 sqm, Rimbunan Sky isn’t just a testament to architectural grandeur; it’s a symbol rich in meaning. The tower’s 99 storeys pay homage to the 99 names of God in Islam, resonating deeply with the spiritual fabric of Malaysia. Even the site itself has historical significance—Rimbunan Sky repurposes the long-abandoned Plaza Rakyat, a project halted in 1997 due to the global financial crisis, breathing new life into a dormant landmark.

In terms of spatial attention and inspiration, Rimbunan Sky draws heavily from “Girih,” a complex Islamic geometric design based on overlapping circles and hexagonal grids. This not only brings in the aesthetic qualities but also embodies the Five Pillars of Islam. In a transformational architectural arrangement, the building’s core column—known as ‘tiang seri’—stands as the spiritual epicenter, representing the stability and strength of Islam across Malaysia’s 14 states. The building’s design signifies the development of Islam under the constitutional democracy rules guided by the law and the Agong organization.

The circular path of the building’s transformation encapsulates how Islam has grown and evolved in Malaysia while adhering to the nation’s laws. In doing so, it showcases Malaysia as a role model Islamic nation, where the practice of Islam can serve as an example to other countries.

Lastly, the building’s shape, which is a blend of unique geometric patterns and modern Girih style, embodies Malaysia’s unique position as an Islamic country where multiple races and religions coexist harmoniously. In Rimbunan Sky, every Malaysian has the freedom to celebrate their own religious beliefs, underlining the country’s commitment to multiculturalism.

Link-City applies ideological concepts and ideas from several utopias combined with architectural examples of the XX century in a contemporary way under a programatic scheme that respond to the future demands of the city building.

Departing from the problematic of the increase in population, the design offers a neighborhood in the form of a series of towers which accommodate housing units and share common activities in between them.

The design explores global architecture possibilities, in different programatic demands, and typological relations. Versatility is one of the strengths, where the implantation of one of these structures can arise in the most diverse places. Adaptability with existing buildings makes the solution suitable for any existing city.

Link-Citys, provides the opportunity to explore how rapidly developing areas can thrive with the changing environment. The Growth Mode concept provides an interesting approach to creating a sustainable energy system that allows forever for everyone to thrive from

“A wonderful blend of innovation and solutions to addressing alternative possibilities for growing urban areas.

Link-City is a design concept that combines ideas from various utopias and architectural examples of the 20th century to address the future needs of urban development. It tackles the issue of increasing population by proposing a neighborhood composed of interconnected towers that house residents and offer shared amenities.

The design of Link-City explores architectural possibilities on a global scale, accommodating diverse programmatic demands and establishing typological relationships. The Growth Mode concept emphasizes the creation of a sustainable energy system, ensuring the well-being of all inhabitants.

Link-City offers the opportunity to examine how rapidly developing areas can thrive amidst changing environmental conditions. Its versatility allows it to be implemented in different locations, and its adaptability to existing buildings makes it suitable for any city.

Overall, Link-City presents an innovative solution that addresses the challenges of urban growth while providing alternative possibilities for the development of urban areas.

The vision of Oasis embraces universal design principles ensures accessibility for every visitor, irrespective of their abilities. Within this centre, serene areas provide solace from the fast pace of contemporary life, encouraging relaxation and rejuvenation. Through interactive displays and educational workshops, the aim is to cultivate awareness and understanding, not only of disabilities but of the diverse spectrum of human experiences. Acknowledging the array of disabilities, whether visible or unseen, initiatives prioritize inclusivity and support for every participant. Sustainability forms the bedrock of this vision, guiding practices towards an environmentally conscious approach. Embedded within this journey is a commitment to holistic well-being, evident through recreational wellness activities that nurture physical, cognitive, social, emotional, and spiritual growth. This community centre envison to be a beacon of diversity, fostering inclusion and enriching lives.

For the maximum religious festivals, it observes an open-door policy in which people invite friends and relatives regardless of their faith. The multi-ethnic and multi-religious facets of the country are best seen in thecelebration of various festivals that are observed with whole-hearted festivities.

Tiang Seri as the Root of Building

Traditional houses in Malaysia especially Malay house has a main pillar in the middle of the building called the TIANG SERI on which it is believed inhabited a “spirit house”; Different races & ethnicity has different practices yet similar culture. As with the Chinese bagua and the guardians of Jambudvipa in Indian culture, Malay astrology and geomancy also uses eight points of divination for space planning. In short, the construction of any building would begins with this central post. Therefore, this design proposal reinterpret TIANG SERI as the cultural nodes and starting point for the building. It also served as communal space that can cater different activities for everyone.

‘Tiang Seri’  is flexible and adaptive where it also provide social logic of space. It allow various ways of expansion into different house types in different areas in terms of spatial organization and modular construction method.

“Tiang Seri”  reinvent the construction system by using lightweight steel structure. The structural framework for the house consists of posts braced by floor joists and roof girders. Using prefabricated construction methods where all the components are made and assembled on site allows the house to be dismantled and reassembled elsewhere in different locations. The construction elements are light steel framed structures, forming elevated floors, sloping long roofs with large overhangs, louvered windows, timber cementboard or mansory walls and screenings (on the upper walls).

“Tiang Seri”  is specially crafted for the family of 6 to utilize space efficiently by modifying their living space according to their own needs. Besides, a flare of own identity is created for the family to participate in personalizing their own home through customized design of local materials like weaved bamboo, rattan, raw brick or mansory, etc on their building façade. Through this, a sense of ownership is instilled in them.

The construction starts by placing the first column, known as a “Tiang Seri” (located in the middle of the house). Meanwhile, other structural components such as posts and girts are laid in their respective positions. After all the posts and girts have been erected and braced, top girts and king posts are then set up at both sides. Following that, the roof ridge supported by king post is placed, and subsequently the roof structures such as principal rafters, purlins and common rafters are put up. Finally, the non-structural components that designed in modular form are placed to make the house an enclosed structure. The modular non-structural components are windows and panels for the floors, walls, stairs and roofs fitted between the frames.

The Eco Learning Market Center is designed as a dynamic, sustainable hub that harmonizes with its environmental context to create a productive and inviting space. The building’s form is meticulously crafted to respond to and benefit from the surrounding environmental conditions, thus minimizing site disruption while maximizing ecological integration.

Drawing inspiration from the traditional fishing villages, the Eco Learning Market Center embodies the spirit of communal life, resourcefulness, and harmony with nature. The architecture reflects the simplicity and functionality of these villages, where structures are built to withstand and embrace the natural elements. The design integrates materials and forms that evoke the aesthetics and sustainable practices of these communities, creating a center that resonates with their timeless values and environmental stewardship.

The market plaza serves as the central axis of the Eco Learning Market Center, seamlessly linking the market and learning centers within a covered, vibrant space. Visitors are visually guided towards the riverfront through thoughtfully designed openings in the buildings, creating a compelling journey from the plaza to the water’s edge. The plaza itself is an adaptable space, with multiple entry points that can be rotated to expand the lobby area, thereby blurring the lines between indoor and outdoor spaces and promoting natural ventilation.

The design is rooted in fostering collaboration and innovation. The connected network of pavilions and pathways creates an inviting street plaza, encouraging visitors to explore and engage with the site in unique ways. This approach ensures each visitor experiences the center authentically, while the circular form fosters a sense of community and storytelling. This design philosophy extends to a global stage, facilitating idea sharing and collaboration across diverse communities.

Situated along the Pontian Kechil river, the Eco Learning Market Center integrates seamlessly with its natural surroundings, creating an eco-reserve of small town fragments or “islands” within a landscape of cultivated vegetation. This design leverages advanced sustainability technologies while embracing the poetic nature of the riverfront.

Celebrating the river horizon, the terraces are sculpted from local materials, providing a public observation platform with a panoramic view of the river. The circular geometry of the upper platforms contrasts with the vibrant activity below, where restaurants and social spaces bustle with life. Variations in platform height allow natural, gravity-fed elements to connect each level, and ramps provide accessible pathways to the waterfront and market level. The overall curved construction achieves a syncopated rhythm of platforms, enhancing the site’s visual and functional harmony.

The Seaphera Living Capsule is an innovative project designed to offer a compact living and working environment within a 5m x 5m x 3m dimension. This pioneering structure supports sustainable living and income generation through the harvesting of salt on its membrane. Serving as a catalyst for growth, Seaphera acts as a matrix pocket of water on Earth, with the added capability of desalinating seawater.

The architectural concept of the Seaphera Living Capsule focuses on creating a self-sustaining habitat that harmonizes living and working spaces. By leveraging abundant seawater, the system processes desalinated freshwater, generates energy, and produces income through harvested salt. This dual-purpose approach ensures the capsule supports both individual needs and community living, while preserving existing freshwater resources along the seacoast and estuary.

Design and Functionality:

The interior plan of the Seaphera Living Capsule is thoughtfully organized to maximize efficiency and functionality:

1. Living and Working Areas: Elevated above the rest of the space, the living and working areas provide a comfortable environment for daily activities and productivity. This elevation also helps in maintaining a clear separation from the wet areas and services.
2. Services, Storage, and Wet Areas: These essential components are strategically positioned at a depressed level, optimizing space utilization and ensuring easy access without interfering with the main living and working zones.
3. Desalination and Filtration System: Located beneath the floor, the desalination and filtration systems are designed to efficiently process seawater. This placement allows for effective drainage and management of the seawater intake, ensuring a continuous supply of desalinated freshwater.
4. Salt Cultivation: The capsule’s circular opening features a surface where salt is cultivated through the principle of capillary action. This innovative approach not only produces salt but also enhances the structure’s functionality and income-generating potential.

Sustainable Living and Community Impact:

Seaphera Living Capsule embodies a dualism approach that balances individual living with community benefits. By promoting a communal lifestyle, the project encourages the preservation of freshwater resources, ensuring long-term sustainability for coastal and estuarine communities. The capsule’s design and systems highlight a commitment to environmental stewardship and resource efficiency, making it a model for sustainable living solutions.

‘Un-fold’ is not built with the aim of establishing a “static perfection” but rather an environment that allows natural processes to evolve based on the ever-changing needs of the inhabitants. For some, ‘Un-fold’ is a place to call home, for others, a biophilic sanctuary that reconnects them back with nature. But for most, it is a Marstopia consists of homes, amenities and infrastructure where people can unfold their new story of self-sustaining life in near future.

The fundamental design concept is its external surface that unfold, deploy then harvest thermoelectricity & pyroelectricity from the huge different of temperature during day and night. “Un-fold’ is a fully integrated vernacular organism living off of the unique climate and ways that are not possible on earth.

Malaysia as a melting pot of culture has created a wide range of architecture up-to-date. As time goes on, high-rises have been all over the city while the cultural and sustainable aspect of the country, “Kampung” lifestyle, is diminishing gradually. Hence, eco living cabin, the “VOID” is introduced to bring back these values. Instead of addressing the issue of increasing population in the world, the “VOID” aims to nurture sustainable lifestyle for the younger generation. The design explores living cabin that can be prefabricated and installed easily at anywhere especially at the existing site. The “VOID” revitalizes sustainable and cultural value of “Kampung” lifestyle by having porous planning in order allow passive ventilation and day lighting into each cabin. All the cabins are planned through clustered, centralized or linear organization to create the diversify community. They are inter-connected with one another through garden, community center, open spaces, lake or retention pond. Storm water management and water efficient landscaping is introduced to promote sustainable living among the “Kampung”. The fragmentation of the plan and its multi-directionality gives place to a continuous slightly hierarchized collective space which adapt its shape flowing through the neighborhood. The cabins then dispersed into the natural environment portraying sustainable communal lifestyle.

The concept of “VOID” is inspired by Malay Traditional House. It presents the fundamental nature of sustainability, maintaining the concept of physical space (whole) even after continuous renovation, change and transformation of materials (parts). Using the mode of ‘Prefabrication’, the design attempt to reconstruct the space of living, based on ‘Kampung & Traditional Malay House concept’, an expandable space with multiple functions and diverse social implications. Two base modules (3m by 3m), solid and void are designed to create diverse configurations range from 200 square feet to 400 square feet or even double-storey living cabin and community center. Rather than bigger scale of construction, this design goes small, implying socio-political values in the modularity of architecture. Generally, the design is a void with open framework between public and private space so that it has the continuity to the environment. In the modern multifamily cabin equipped with market driven globalization, the void has been disappeared. Without the void, cabin or houses are the repetition of same plans. The functional space standardized the way of living. The façade becomes thin membrane dividing the public and private. Therefore, the “VOID” suggests to reconstruct diverse function of voids by prefabrication in architecture, giving depth to the façade, providing open framework for the residents to use with various purposes. Each cabin may then make up different composition suggesting a flexible and adaptable layout which eventually can suit to different user and bigger group of people.

The “VOID” reinterpret the key features of the Traditional Malay House such as gable roof and verandah. The verandah is design to be the foyer and patio serving the guest, while providing elevated planter box for planting and farming. Nature infiltrates the inner space through the planter space, while the patio provides a domestic scale and the wall of the houses offers urban values to the network of collective spaces. Hence, there’s a constant interaction between the domestic space, the urban space and nature, terms that interfere one with the other through the whole project. The eco-living cabin design is portable as it fits into a universal standard shipping cabin and no special preparations and precautions are necessary to transport the product worldwide. In fact, it is designed in such a way that it can be shipped, airlifted, towed or even pulled by a pack animal. It is also movable to other locations after the disassembling and reassembling since permanent joint connection is rarely used in the entire system. The material is continuously replaced and reconfigured to strengthen the sense of space, emphasizing the relationship between the solid and void, the nature and architecture.

In term of internal layout, the cabin offers a built-in kitchenette, folding bed with storage space, water efficient toilet and shower — allowing occupants to live in a home-like atmosphere. The “VOID” offer open interior spaces like the module in the Malaysia traditional housing. It maximise cross ventilation by having less partition, fully openable window, elevated platform and clerestory window at high level. Thus, the cabin able to catches winds of higher velocity and allow ventilation at body level most of the time. Additionally, the used of Light weight construction allows low thermal capacity material to keep the houses cool. Regional and sustainable material like recycle timber, timbercrete and ashcrete are used for panel system. Large roof eaves and overhang also act as an effective sun shading device which then improve on the overall Indoor environmental quality. The “VOID” is energy efficiency since the typologies themselves are rethought to reach a minimal thermal dispersion (passive houses) and optimizing the temperature in relation to the needs of the single spaces. Each eco-cabin is powered by a built-in turbine complemented by an array of photovoltaic cells, while a high-capacity battery ensures enough power is retained during periods of reduced solar or wind activity. Besides, the gable form is optimized for the collection of rainwater, dew and hydroponic farm. The entire water recycling system with built-in water filters allows the inhabitant to utilize any water source.

In a nutshell, The “VOID” attempt to nurture a self-sustain community through environmental initiatives and the dedicated flexible building design manual. It is an alternative eco-living cabin design that connect nature while preserving Malaysia’s culture for future generation.

Indulge your Wanderlust

“A man travels the world over in search of what he needs,” – said George Moore, – “and returns home to find it. Like many country, we’ve had to hit pause on outdoor activity especially travel plans due to the global pandemics situation. However, that doesn’t mean we’re not thinking about all the places we’ve been—and all the places we hope to get to sometime soon. Our desire to connect with nature and people shall persist and this is the main inspiration of our design.
‘The Wanderlust’ are introduced to bring the message to everyone that ‘Holiday is everywhere when you are home’. The dream house adopted Zero Lot bungalow typology to cater young couple or small family within the site of 298m². It strikes to shape a new lifestyle for everyone to overcome their travel desire while allowing them to stay at home. As lifestyles shift, the architecture layouts follow suit—a relevant hierarchy of space then take shape within the ‘The Wanderlust’.

Bring the World to your Home

Conceptually, the ‘Wanderlust’ adopted social-distancing method by breaking the house into two rectangular cabins (‘Isolation’ and ‘Living’ cabins). Both cabins can be accessible from different entrance to protect the health and safety of the occupants. On top of these cabins, ‘sleeping’ cabin are stacked at different level. The interiors are designed with various nature- inspired environment to create different travel experience. The occupants can then travel from one cabin to another cabin just like how they travel from one country to another.

The ‘Isolation’ cabin, on the left with separate entrance is a convertible space which houses small pantry, washrooms, living, office and bedroom. It is designed to be like a cocoon recovery room that can be converted into quarantine room while allowing the occupant to ‘reborn’ after they recover from the illness. Hence, the vision are to have all things necessary  as compact as possible without compromising the functionality and comfort.

The ‘Living’ cabin on the right, houses kitchen, dining and yard. Disinfect area is provided at the front end for the occupants to clean themselves before entering the relevant cabins. Living area is sunken down to envision a cave living experience whereas dining area that connecting kitchen and garden provide farm to table dining experience to the occupants. The terrace landscape and open lawn around the house flow into the interior almost unnoticed to create a sense of peace and fulfillment between the inside and outside.

The ‘sleeping cabins’ are clad with aluminium panel externally to provide privacy from the neighbors. They are cantilevered from the ground to frame the prized views over the landscape. The shape of the ‘sleeping cabins’ are long and narrow, which allows for large window surfaces with varying views, as well as possibilities for very different types of functions at the opposite ends of the building; for example, sundowner drinks with partners at one end, while the kids are sleeping in the other. The ‘sleeping cabin’ on the left is known as ‘ forest cabin’ which consists of pivot doors and timber screens that designed to slide seamlessly into the cavities, ensuring cavernous volumes interact directly with the landscape. The other ‘sleeping cabin’ is known as ‘star gazing cabin’ where the occupant can have the sky view. Skylight are provided to maximise daylighting while full height timber louver and pivot door are introduced to maximise passive ventilation.

Like a valley, the play and work area are introduced in between the cabins to act as connection platform while capturing the panoramic view of garden. The path through the house is strung together by the open stairs at the valley. The occupants can then weave in and out, enjoying the excitement of exploring all the various cabin spaces. Besides, play net are hang at the upper level to enable the occupants to have exceptional reading and resting environment. This space, while distinctly cozy and sheltering, maintains a close relationship with the nature outside.

Nurturing Sustainable and Innovative Future  

The ‘Wanderlust’ is constructed with Industrial Building System (IBS) while following sustainable principles approaching autonomous (off the grid) passive house standards. The foundations and the main structure are made of precast concrete panel and block which are also part of the modular system. The precast concrete walls and roofs from the exterior continues in the interior, creating an honest and transparent transition from inside to outside.

The buildings pay a tribute to the Malaysia Traditional House, with gabled roof, full height louvered opening. The bearing outer wall, the steep angle of the roof and the horizontal floor separation, creates a movement that folds. Vertical and horizontal glulam timber strips, precast concrete, slate and aluminium are all materials that will patinate over time, reflecting seasons. At the same time, they withstand the harsh and brutal conditions while limiting the stay of pandemic influenza on its surface.

On the other hand, Smart home systems are introduced to connect various devices including: lighting systems, curtain control, surveillance & security system, audio, computer and communication equipment, etc. Photovoltaic panels are also placed on the southern pitch covering almost about 70% of the building’s energy needs. Rainwater harvesting tank located at the other cabin’s roof top then collect rain water for irrigation purpose. Excessive rainwater will overflow into the valley’s courtyard where the feature tree situated.

‘Satu Keluarga, Dua Item’ that means one family can collect 2 items at the ‘prihatin pondok’ which located at the gate front. Despite the needs of social-distancing, ‘The Wanderlust’ believes that the pandemic situation should not be an excuse or reason for us to stop connection and be resilience. Hence, terrace farming are introduced to promote self-sustain lifestyle, while the extra harvested product will be given out to those who needs at the ‘prihatin pondok’. ‘The Wanderlust’ not only provide travel experience for the occupants around the house but also aspire to connect them with the nature and the people.

“ The Wanderlust”
– Time to be at home –
Indulge yourself in the wanderlust and rediscover interest in your daily life.

LANGIT – LONG HOUSE AS COMMUNITY HEART

BUILDING COMMMUNITY THROUGH COMMUNITY

A one stop community-cum-residential mixed use development, Langit : A Long House In The Sky is a flagship project that brings together a whole fleet of programmes under one roof. Developing a strategy to engage with the community became the focal point of the project, the scheme’s main innovation point anchors upon the traditional concept of a Sarawak Long House. Long House living is all about community. Architecturally speaking, the Long House is a wooden structure built on stilts with one side being sectioned off into a row of family rooms while the other being used as communal space. A Long House is basically a covered communal area where social activities are being performed together and meals are to be shared with each other.

Langit looks into the traditional qualities of a Long House and saw this as an opportunity to activate the site as a new community hub for the people. The proposal relies heavily on creating a vibrant community space that will allow social activities to be carried into the site. The ground floor is comprises of two main zones – Retail and Public (semi commercial). The ground plate is raised 1.2m from the Road level to make room for the sub-basement car park below. The raised ground floor reinforces the idea where traditional Long House is built on stilts to prevent unwanted intrusion from wildlife, flood and providing parking spaces for their residents’ vehicles. This scheme allows Langit to design a feature staircase that will serve as a cascading seating area to greet visitors into the sheltered community spaces of the ground floor.

The ground floor features People’s Plaza that will act as an urban living room that the extended community family comes home to. It also act as an activity space and a gathering point for the visitors. The hawker centre (within the Retail Zone) is located next to the People’s Plaza. Deriving from a similar concept to the urban living room, the hawker centre is designed as a communal dining space for all guests alike. Langit acknowledges the importance of food culture in Sarawak and its ability to bring people of multi-cultural backgrounds together. With a relaxed and casual ambience built for slowly savoured meal and extended conversations. The hawker centre, a familiar dining scene that has been ingrained into every Malaysian lifestyle will be the driving force to celebrate Sarawak delectable local cuisine in Langit.

To ensure that the communal programmes did not stop within the People’s Plaza, a series of floor plates are duplicated and stacked above the Plaza to bring visitors into a more intimate and semi-private community gathering space above. At the upper floors, Langit will introduce Cabin Pods, a commercial venue inspired by the traditional shape of a Sarawak Long House to host different commercial programmes such as Co-working space, Bookstore, Library and Cafes. Scattered throughout the open floor plan to maintain the porosity of the Public Zone, the Cabin Pods will act as a social veranda that overlooks the activity in Jalan Tabuan.

With most of the communal activities located within the Podium levels. The Tower became a private retreat for the residents. Yet, the communal spirit of Long House will continue to be the driving inspiration in the project’s housing design.  A series of private and shared space are devised in the form of Sky Gardens for Langit residents. These outdoor Sky Gardens are designed as an external social space in the sky, decked with seating benches and planter ledges under a shady tree. Residents will be encouraged by the sheer lushness of the Sky Garden, to take shelter and enjoy the unobstructed view of the city of Kuching.

Langit: A long House in the Sky is designed with long term vision to create new commercial venues that are socially inclusive not just for the residents but for the neighbouring communities as well. Through its sheltered decks, sky gardens and large activity area (People’s Plaza), the building will strive to be the “Long House” for the community.

Living above and beyond

Tomorrow, one of the biggest issues that could threaten the earth ecosystem is the pollution whether it is air, water, earth or even light. This is caused by fumes, waste, and degradation of natural ability due to deforestation. Besides, the over population has thrown major cities into chaos, problems regarding infrastructure, sewage, housing, public space are a constant problem with the population does not seem to stop growing.  It gets worsened by the public ignorance, and somehow leads to an expectation for architecture to control this situation without leaving the issue of the impact of contemporary culture and social evolution as well. The earth cannot grow anymore. Therefore, one of the chances we have is to go “up” to live above and beyond. Thus, the project “bubble ring city” is proposed to conserve space while promoting sustainable future living. The proposal are aim to revitalized the future city, forming a balancing civilization to flatten the carbon curve, balance the carbon input and absorption.

“Bubble Ring City” explores the possibilities of innovated technology with combination of artificial intelligence, establishes the general principles for future planning on urban environments and aspects of universal sustainable design from the scale of individual building spaces to district planning. ‘Bubble Ring City’  is designed to provide infrastructure, housing, and commercial and recreational spaces that are free from traffic congestion and air pollution. It is presented as a utopian city that leaves the over-populated, smog-choked city behind and seeks to start from scratch and takes the future of urban development to the sky, offering the residents a chance to escape the crowded city.

SKY IS THE LIMIT, FLYING LIGHTNESS

‘The Bubble Ring’ is a toroidal vortex ring on the ground where the bubble capsules emerges from the core of the vortex. It is a new central component for a city, manipulated by AI technology. The bubble ring will generate bubble capsules to a designated coordinate (3 dimensional axis) to form  spaces with technology that are able to filter carbon emission of the city while providing future living and working spaces for the users. ‘Bubble Ring City’ work with fluid dynamics where its nearby spaces would spins poloidally as it travels through the space. The faster the bubble ring spins, the more stable it becomes, the more bubble capsule will be emerged and stationed as work or living spaces.

‘The Bubble Ring City’ using the ring structure at the base provides additional resistance against lateral forces like earthquake, wind and sea waves. The central core of the ring is designed to be common space filled with park and open spaces to allow social activity. This section also functioned as a vertical circulation and the main hall act that producing bubble capsules which float along the axis in the mid air. To eliminate unnecessary traffic for the residents, the ring is embedded with multifunctional spaces such as commercial, service, and administrative spaces in different levels according to the nearest accessibility for residential parts. Other attractive areas are the floating common spaces like park, retails, restaurants, which stay half inside and half outside, where users can enjoy different perspectives and views towards the city.

‘The Bubble Ring City’ attempts to address the spatial and phenomenological implications when new technology is applied to a city, what new hybrid typologies of programme and landscape are birthed, and the role of citizens living together with artificial intelligent in the production of a relevant social space.  By analogy, it is a new urban forest, recreating a balance between Mother Nature and human communities. It exist among the cities, providing new public space for people as a gigantic observation room. There will be linkages of capsules (modern public transportation) between each rings. Each ring can have its own specific program, so public activities can be organized (art space, small forest, playground, etc.). The idea if taken to a next level can add a new dimension to the city, with a high speed circulation network corresponding to the existing one. Like the habitable bubbles, the transport network and other amenities would be part of the overall new floating system.

NURTURING SUSTAINABLE ENVIRONMENT

Floating in the air about 200-300 meters up, the bubble capsules are located at the best level to filter the pollutants. Hydrogen is used for buoyancy and porous membranes in the air bags take in pollutants and direct them to the core purifier. Nitrogen-fixing microorganisms produce an alkaline substance to neutralize acidic materials into a fertilizer that is released through the base core to help plants grow. Leftover purified water is reclaimed and then used for irrigation and other processes. Over time, a city’s air will gradually improve and the resources created by the skyscraper can be used to create a richer and healthier environment through the development of more vegetation. ‘The Bubble Ring City’ can be transported as necessary to different locations within the city or to other cities in need of fresh air. As a result of industrialization and the burning of fossil fuels, the pH of the earth’s air and soil has been lowered to acidic levels around the world.

In this project, we use algae technique in dealing with pollution. The algae itself is also used as a metaphor for the architectural form. It is an organic-shaped tower that can turn carbon dioxide within the air into oxygen through algae membrane. The system is applied on the bubble capsules at the top and smaller ones that can eventually connect with one another. The design also facilitated with huge fans for sucking air into the building. These capsule have algae skin around them and after an electrical reaction occurs, the fan will absorb CO² and the algae will turn it into O². The process will continue as the air condition improves. In addition to using algae, we use solar panel as the significant additional power which is integrated with the work of algae membrane. After carbon dioxide is processed by the algae skin, it will be transformed into liquid form. Next, the liquid form will be kept in underground tank and will be used later as solar panel biofuel. So, we have two efforts from this system that are running simultaneously: air refinement and sustainable energy.

The orientation and coordination of the bubble capsules are designed at different levels according to the wind and the solar orientation. Green spaces and sky-gardens are accommodated behind the gaps in order to serve as social spaces. By considering intelligent trapdoors in these spaces, ‘The Bubble Ring City’  can achieve proper winds for natural ventilation produced by the chimney effect in central atrium. The great interior space also fills the building with light for giving a liveliness, vitality and freshness to the place. The electrical and mechanical facilities are embedded in pipes running underneath the capsules where it will travel down to the service core to do any other necessary maintenance. Lighting these pipes with attractive colors at night enhances the ‘The Bubble Ring City’  aesthetic appeal.

The exterior shell of bubble capsules was designed based on aesthetic appeal and an aerodynamic damping shape to oppose cross-wind deflection during strong winds, supported by a structural braced core, which also functions as a vertical access. The bubble capsules happens to be a helium balloon that gives the structure enough buoyancy to float given its weight. Translucent solar panels line the top of the vessel allowing for clean self-sustainable energy that will be used in propulsion. The head’s surface also allows water vapour and rain to enter the first layer, where is it then directed towards precipitation filters that in return offer clean water for the residents. Like a giant botanical garden, the space enclosed by the bubbles contains clean air. Temperature and humidity are controlled all year long. A ground source heat exchange system heats and cools the air. Solar cells attached to the surface generate electricity. To achieve self-sufficiency in water supply, a system collects and stores the rainwater. This water is refined using filters and drinkable water is directed to the building water cycle.

FORWARD FUTURE

‘The Bubble Ring City ’not only brings space and comfort, but reduces ground population and is a completely self-sustainable city that does not require any fossil fuels to run, making it a green choice for everyone. The proposal return valuable green space to the public, and also help mitigate the pollution that comes with increased development – with parks and plants floating in the sky above the city, the air is partially cleaned.

In the heart of Bukit Mertajam, we embark on a transformative journey to redefine the essence of a market with “The HUES”. This concept transcends a physical space, serving as a testament to the vibrant tapestry of our community. The design statement unfolds in five theme, celebrating diverse community, vibrant town, social nodes, sustainable markets, and enriched culture.

1. Diverse Community

The soul of Bukit Mertajam lies in its diverse people, and “The HUES” reflects this diversity in its architectural narrative. Traditional and contemporary design elements seamlessly weave together, creating a visually striking landscape that pays homage to the town’s various cultural influences. Market stalls, adorned with vibrant colors and cultural motifs, become microcosms celebrating the diverse identities housed within. Each stall tells a story, inviting residents and visitors to embark on a sensory journey through the kaleidoscope of cultures present in Bukit Mertajam.

2. Vibrant Town

“The HUES” aims to transform Bukit Mertajam into a pulsating heart, resonating with the town’s dynamic energy. Vibrancy is not just visual; it extends to the activities within the market. Public spaces are designed for flexibility, transforming from market stalls during the day to lively performance venues in the evening. The architecture responds to the town’s rhythm, ensuring that “The HUES” becomes a living entity pulsating with the vibrancy of Bukit Mertajam through  open gallery, multipurpose room and other spaces that operate in different time.

3. Social Nodes

“The HUES” seeks to be a network of social nodes—a series of interconnected spaces fostering community convergence. Design interventions create intentional pockets of interaction, such as communal seating areas, cultural exhibition zones, and open gathering spots. The market’s layout encourages exploration and engagement with these social nodes, fostering a vibrant sense of community. Linear market with central courtyard serves as a new focal point nurturing a collective identity.

4. Sustainable Market

The market is designed as a model of eco-conscious architecture aiming for Green Building Index (GBI) Gold. From locally sourced and recycled materials to energy-efficient systems, the market minimizes its ecological footprint. Plazas, courtyards, airwells, open structures, green trellis and jack roofs contribute to sustainability while providing a visual feast of greenery amidst bustling market stalls. Rainwater harvesting systems and renewable energy sources ensure responsible design, contributing to community and environmental well-being.

5. Enriched Culture

At its core, “The HUES” is a cultural sanctuary, transcending commerce to become a stage for local artists, performers, and artisans. Cultural exhibitions, live performances, religious activities and interactive installations infuse the market with a dynamic cultural tapestry. The market evolves into a living canvas where the town’s identity continually unfolds. “The HUES” serves as a platform for cultural exchange, fostering pride and ownership among residents.

In conclusion, “The HUES – Bukit Mertajam Market” is an unity in diversity, celebrating the past, present, and future of Bukit Mertajam in a blend of heritage, creativity, and community spirit. As the market transforms into a living testament of collective identity, “The HUES” becomes a beacon of community, culture, and connection.