Design idea: Conservation & Restoration of Soul
Location: Kota Bahru, Kelantan
Client: N.A.
Material and Construction: Concrete + Steel + glass
Category: Mixed used – Library + Cultural Centre
Site context: Flatland with conservation of two existing trees, usually the site gets flooded once a year.
Area: 1650 sqm @ 17700 sq ft
A brief
Cultural is a very important role of the survival of every ethnic. It’s shown in Malay aphorism, which says “Biar mati anak, jangan mati adat”. The phrase literally means, Let the children die, but not the custom. It’s showing how we need to preserve the culture, and pass it from one generation, to the next generation - in a written and verbal format. Culture needs to be practice in order for us to become familiar with the rules. Its need to be a part of our blood and our soul.
Library is for education. It will record using the verbal and written, which contain valuable information, which will last long. It’s needed to be pass from generation to the next generation, since the human can only live about a hundred years, but the knowledge can be last long up to the century. And Islam has recall to the Muslim, who, “Belajarlah kamu dari buaian hingga ke liang lahad” which means we need to learn from the very beginning in the cradle until where will bury in the grave soon. Learning can be informal and formal, but we need to go through it in every day of our life, every single breath every single ticking of time.
The solution
Combination all of this; library and cultural will contain such a knowledge and practise that will bring from the older generation to the younger one, practise and appreciate remembering who we are and where we belong to. It’s will face the globalisation of western, and give the respective idea of our grand-grandmother custom. It’s showing that we need to have one focal point of reference that contains all information about Malays and Kelantan itself. This point is referring to the complex itself and the idea is to preserve of the Malay local culture; which for the next generation to come and have a complete information such a one stop centre.
The architecture
Culture usually relates back of how we live in the particular ways; how we eat, foods, games, the fabric, languages, etc. It’s an atmosphere that I want to bring inside her. Which this complex will contain all necessary information, and yet a space created inside is teaching visitors everyday’s.
Architecture of this building relates back most activities on both library function and cultural practice. For overall complex, I provide a space for perfect dining; give an ambient of cultural living, a place for them to do a performance, inside and outside, a corner for retails. Some workshop related to local industry. The way of locals gathers in classes, a perfect gallery to display their arts, and a corner for religious.
Library is quite space which I need to bring a new atmosphere of reading environment, which we are no longer reading a book inside box spaces, but creating a new style of reading. Reading is not only restricted inside an air-conditioning area, but now we place it as optional of natural ventilation zones, and associated with the natural surroundings. Some are framing trees, and other is close to internal planter box.
The plan is in the perfect rectangular form, which is a narrow plan idea, with a corridor connecting every individual space. Space in between these two blocks is a special space which a unique architectural element had already recharged inside here.
Facade is really important to me. This scheme shows how I’m creating a fine layering of the facade elements. It's an idea of double-facade, which really relate back on how locals people daily cloth, which usually the most external layers are like a breathing material. Very light material, and the wind can easily be passed through.
02 - The site condition
The site is located at the historical part of Kota Bahru, which is surrounded by historic building, and facing an important open space of Padang Merdeka. The situation is perfect to give an idea of bringing back the golden age of those times with a richness of cultural practice, since Sultanah times. The Sungai Kelantan recalls back those times of travelling method for trading at that place, and the straight line from the Royal Jetty up to the Istana Jahar shows how this Library and Cultural centre need to respect the axis that related to respecting the king.
Since the location of the site is in Kelantan, which the political and development of the city is deferent from another state in Malaysia. It needs to show the sense of belonging at the site, which also need to show the activity contained inside the building itself.
Since the location of the site is in Kelantan, which the political and development of the city is deferent from another state in Malaysia. It needs to show the sense of belonging at the site, which also need to show the activity contained inside the building itself.
The site adjacent building is the shophouses, but unfortunately, it is not fully utilise by people, but change to become a bird house, for industry. This issue is considering to make sure the design will revive the site, and rejuvenate the idea of shophouses which the result is bringing back the golden age of the past. The basic planning and elevation must show clear connectivity of the people movement. The front facade, which facing the Padang Merdeka, need to have a proper treatment which later will be a background of the Padang Merdeka itself, and will be creating a skyline for that particular spot of the town.
02.1 Site Planning
The site was surrounded with three road which are at the north, east and west side. The position of the site is very significant. The site is aligned with the Padang Merdeka, which is in the middle of Jalan Tengku Besar at the north site, for the east and west is the shophouses. The other side of Padang Merdeka, which is along Jalan Sultan, is located the Muzium Perang Dunia Ke-2, Muzium Islam and Masjid Muhammadi. Heavier pedestrian has been notice along the Padang Merdeka, which lead the people to the Kelantan River.
The site planning begins from the entry point. From the observation and idea, the ingress and egress of vehicular are connected to the Jalan Tengku Besar, since it’s facing the front façade, and relating to the Padang Merdeka. After the drop-off point is an option of egress to the main road, of ingress to going down of the basement.
The service area is located at the back side, and the back road is utilized as an access of services. All service requirements; the toilets, riser, lift, loading and unloading are placed at the backside. As a result the servant space is created, which all services are placed as closed for one another.
Since the site is located much closed to the Kelantan River, the problem of flooded is a normal. To cater for this situation, the floor plate for the ground level must be raising uplift. My scheme allowed the building floor plate for the ground floor to be raised about 1200mm from reference level of the roadway. This will help to avoid the small flooded during the daily raining. The heavy raining at the raining season is a normal for every end of the year. During this time, the flood level can rise about four metres, which will fully flood the building for a ground floor only. This problem cannot be avoided, but the design for the ground floor will come with the easily clean finishes.
03 - Zoning
The zoning of the site, especially on the ground floor was responding to the site contexts as well as the other constraints of the site. The site planning of the Library and Cultural Centre can be divided the idea of layering from the front to the back, and from bottom to the top.
03.1 The ground floor level
The spaces planning for the ground floor where design for public due to give back the space for town people in Kota Bahru, Kelantan, for the communal activities to take place. However, as the important floor, it needs to be used up to the maximum activities. The north site is the position of tree 1, and this tree is located at the boundary line which will be used as the point of entrance toward the site. The public participation is shown in the ground floor on how the pedestrian traffic is not interrupted, but providing a five foot way continuously from both adjacent shophouses.
From the layer of five foot way, the people will drive deeper into the site using an idea of layering activities; all retails, cafe and main entrance. All the activities injected to the first layer are to enhance the community and the cultural spaces, which it can be a nod for the people surrounding. This layer will be an effect that will give a sense of direction and welcoming not only for pedestrian, but also for vehicular.
The ground floor is purposely design to give the space for cultural. A lot of activities are injected to this floor level, such as commercial and cultural, to promote the increases of public participation and interaction of activity on the site.
Main entrance is the focal framing of two vertical wall, which not only framing the entrance, but also framing the tree 1 itself. The retails are selling out the cultural final product, such as batik, songket and wood craft. Another idea of commercial is the selling of the books, and stationery, which will serve the community surrounding and reflecting back of activities that happen at the floor above.
Retail area is reflecting back the idea of economic sustainability. It’s also following the Islamic thinking that 9/10 of the economy of this world are come from the trading, while 1/10 of the money gain is just the salary.
The cafe is an open space that located under the tree 02, which carve the massing of the building since it’s located inside the setback line of a buildable area. The cafe got an option either you want to stay inside of outside, which will serve the Kelantan foods. Since local culture love to dine in an open space rather than enclose a room, I’m creating outdoor dining more enhance using that tree 02 as a main focal point. External dining area will be located under the canopy of the tree itself, the idea of tropical life of eating and shading.
03.2 First floor to roof top
The activities are happening from day to night, which show the robustness of the site and will be a solution of the problem of crime and immoral activities. The zoning of verticality is referring to the idea of the people activity. The lower floor will have a heavier activity which creating more noisy and robustness environments. As the layers go up, the activity will become quieter and giving more comfortable atmosphere.
As a result; the first floor and second floor is the perfect space for cultural activities, which less security needed to give a freedom of movement. The cultural office is located at the first floor for easy access of public. The third floor and fourth floor is private zones which the spaces designed is a library; the library will have two security point, one for each floor, and only members are allowed. The office is located at the third level for public registration to become a member.
03.3 General zones
The whole complex is locked after 10pm, which the main entrance is a control point at the ground floor will seal the building. Main lobby got all sided foldable and rotatable door to serve for this function. It’s only small portion on the plan which is accessed to her main core going up; either using a lift or staircase.
The unique of my design scheme is; even after 10pm every day, ground level of my complex still allowed for tenants of all retail and cafe to be open independently referring their working hours. It gives a flexibility of the tenants itself.
Basement parking is provided to give back the community their parking space, especially all visitors of this building. Access from basement and ground floor level will have their own independent staircase, which located at the north site, and give the flexibility usage of basement; which not referring to the working hours, since it has separated access door.
The service's area is located at the roof level and basement level. All the tank area located here. These tanks are; domestic water tank, rain water harvesting tank, host reel tank and sprinkler tank. It’s also including the lift motor room, for both passenger and service lift. On the plan, their area located at this rear side of complex, which is accessible by loading and unloading bays.
03.4 Landscape
All planning and composition of ideas lead to the 5 of human sense – Sight, Hearing, Taste, Smell, and Touch. This entire element is taking care as intangible architecture spirit of creation.
Landscape is a very important element in this building since it can give a sense of relaxation and leisure feeling to the occupant inside the building. The landscape influences are taking place widely at the ground floor level. It’s not only horizontally laid on that ground surface, but also vertically using an idea of vertical green wall. It’s consisting of two tangible nature element of nature has been associated with overall permanent structure – green vegetation and water element. Both will create a different intimation for nature element. Both elements of green and water is combining together in vertical and horizontal. It's clearly shown here on my plan and section.
The landscape idea in between the building massing itself; It is recalled back the idea of old shophouses, which will need the courtyard inside the building. And the shophouses the number of private garden will show the wealth of the occupant inside. It’s reflecting back the richness of information and preservation for both; library and cultural.
Vertical water wall is a creation of reflection, is placing in the heart of my building. In cultural approach, as the water falling down from the top, the speed will be increased due to gravitational. Her main staircase is coming together close to this special wall. It’s really showing that, the top part is quiet zones while bottom part is heavy with activities. The staircase is important to give an idea how the water elements are so reflecting local cultural, not only as a human being. However, those days, water transportation is one of major trading ways that link one world to the others.
The overall package
As one of the special design buildings, which is the main purpose is the Library and Cultural, it’s should be representing Kelantan itself as a whole package. This building should create a centre of preservation and attraction for the targeting radius of people around Kota Bahru. The complex should clearly show the sense of belonging and will be a background for the skyline along Padang Merdeka, but yet bold enough and borrowing local tradition of architecture influence.
The brief also called for revitalizing the area, so that it can achieve its significance as what it possessed during the heydays. The history has recorded that the site was a very significant spot of Kota Bahru. However, throughout the years, it lost the magic of the usage as a town is developing day by day. Therefore, great contribution should be given to the public to take part on the activities and programs of the Library and Cultural centre consciously or unconsciously. Through the participation of the public, the well-known and significant of the site can be regained.
04 – Plan + Section + Elevation
Massing and forming for this centre was appearing to relate the site context of the neighbouring building and the preservation of two existing big trees. The elevation treatments will portray the characteristic of the shophouses, and as a background for Padang Merdeka itself.
The plan is in perfect line, which is following the axis of Padang Merdeka, while the site provided will create a solid form. Both will refer to the growth of town planning surrounding, which come is a regular form. The positioning of the trees is where I’m locking my main grid of the building. It’s ‘carved’ the building to respond to the radius of the tree's brunches.
The perfect line of building created an easy reading plan, so that every user is easily noticed the hierarchy of circulation. The width will respond to the usage of the space that will create a path and nods inside the interior spaces.
The basic idea of layering has been adapted. The internal zoning for the site at ground floor is clear. From the front is vehicular traffic of drop of area. The second layer is five foot way, to recall the pedestrian perfect movement, which also linked back left and right site of shophouses. Third layer is the facade of the building, which is the main focal entrance, the retails, and cafes. The fourth layer is the main lobby and internal courtyard. The fifth layer is the water wall with the cultural workshop, and final layer is the services, which is the idea of serve and servant spaces.
Void of super high volume will be a visual connectivity through the floors which will bind the interior with a package of the water wall. It’s a combination of water elements, stacking green planter boxes, perfect cross ventilation and stacking heat effect. The top part will be a glass roof with photovoltaic panels, which filtering sun light while giving a unique pattern of shadow casting.
The form is later divided the main form as a front block and rear block, which connected with the introducing of bridges, recall the idea of ‘rumah selang’ in old Malay houses. This block structure is the base on concrete element. To give more sense of prefabrication ideas, I’m using a module of hollow slab structure, with precast beam. Its seat at support element of cast in-situ vertical column. Concrete is a cheapest material available in this radius.
This bridge or ‘rumah selang’ is not align with each other. It’s creating a stacking effect, while at one end; allow trees at a particular planter box inside growing very well. On another end will be a sunshading element as layers goes down. It constructed using steel and wood plank, to give a more human sense inside. As an open covered space it doesn’t need any mechanical ventilation, since the design is promoted the wind to come from east and west. The idea of wind catchment is used and defined by the massing, which the front block is smaller while rear block is bigger – to promote the path of wind pattern movement.
Veranda is one of the special spaces created inside. This idea here reflects as a raised floor in some spot, especially at the bridge which allowing every user to feel how to sit in Malay tradition ‘bersila’ for man and ‘bersimpuh’ for a woman. This raised floor also recalls the idea of ‘serambi’ of old Malay houses.
The tree 01 is framed with the perfect two vertical wall at the front facade, and the tree 02 is framed by the two block of north and south, it’s aligned to the grid, which to give an idea of continuous column positioning.
The basic zoning of serve and servant space is to maximise the workable space. The servant space is one basic block of services such lifts core, toilets, risers and staircases. It’s located behind her waterwall. The water wall will be the main wall to divide and ‘hide’ that space. The position on the plan for this servant space is almost in the middle of the site, in order to reduce the length of people movement and the trenching running services.
05 – Special detail & Material
This Library and Cultural centre, the structure proposed is the structure principle that based on the design concept; referring to the wet and dry construction, which reflecting the transcended the history and cultural. The wet construction is referring the idea of using the reinforce concrete, both of precast and cast in-situ. The dry construction is referring to the used of steel construction, both for structure support and timber plank.
The modular grid system is using to make much easier of positioning the column and beams for the building. A grid line represents the horizontal beams and the intersections of the grid line mostly represent the positioning of columns. The column positioning is reflected back to the concept of repetitive of column rhythm.
The precast idea is to respond to idea that to save the time of the construction, and to give a flexibility at the site which the spaces are quite tight. This idea of fast construction is also reflecting the concept of those Malay houses which mostly are prefabrication except for the main column and beam.
The perforated panels are attached to the steel frame structures and formed an external enclosure wall to the building. It’s the outer most skins for this building. They will cover curtain wall or brick wall inside.
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Floor systems are the horizontal planes that must support live loads – people, furnishings and movable equipment and dead loads – the weight of the floor construction itself. Floor system must transfer their loads horizontally across space to their beams and columns. I had applied two basic types of floor construction. It’s defining the idea and requirement of every space. Most of the floor is using a precast concrete hollow core slab structure as a basic floor system. The finishes are depending of the function of specified space referring to the requirement. While at the bridge, I’m using timber plank main support and final finishes, which are supported by steel structure members.
The roof system functions as the primary sheltering element for the interior spaces of a building. The firm and slope of a roof must be compatible with the type of roofing – which is in the site context it’s should be a wide overhang and comes it a pitch format. In the tropical climate, the heavy raining and a very heavy heat and solar radiation is a normal situation throughout the years. And due to this situation, the roof needs to be very fast to discharge the rain water and also need to be good enough to filter the heat and solar radiation.
06 – Conclusion
A lot of considerations have been put into the design of the site. From the attraction of pedestrian flow to vehicular access, that show activities happen inside the centre. Target user is not only the locals and Malaysian, but also the tourist whom they will learn the beauty of local culture and yet, having some information of Kelantan from the library above. The library is focusing on Kelantan and Malaysia information.
The activities are varying from level to level, its start from the noisy activities on five foot way to the quietness activity at the library. The zoning which is, separation by layers of floor is a good strategy of security, but defining the usage of every floor very well.
The articulation of the spaces and the access are provided specially to suit the site context. The main drop off point for the vehicles is directly linked towards the Jalan Tengku Besar, which is the main route towards the proposed Library and Cultural Centre. The entrance is double volume to give a sense of main entrance, which also helps by the framing of the two main walls at the façade.
The centre will face the tropical climate of Malaysia, which the heavy raining and the sun rays are very often all over the year. The design focuses on how the climatic factor will affect the design such as shading device and natural ventilation.
The workability of the proposed design depends on the technical part; therefore, the design for the servicing area should also be design carefully, and integrated to the initial idea and concept. The scheme proposes the services areas are provided in the core system as it is more economical and easy to maintain, which is referring to the idea of serve and servant space.
In designing a good scheme, the designer should not only be sensitive to the surrounding environment, but also have to be well equipped with technical aspects required. Designed within the site context and complies to fire requirement and local authorities. Overall proposed library and cultural centre design scheme can be concluding as a success.
