Breaking Walls, Building Bridges

University of Malaya (UM), Faculty of the Built Environment (FBE), Kuala Lumpur

Project idea

WHY? Background Introductory & Greater Context

“WE BUILD TOO MANY WALLS AND NOT ENOUGH BRIDGES” by Isaac Newton is an impactful quote implying the disconnections within people, generations, physical environment and holistic systems we established. This phenomenon is resulting in a societal vacuum that segregates humanity upon the contemporary age. In the belief to cherish a better connectivity, we may moves forward collectively to a sustainable future that embraces diversity and integrity.

Located at the junction between Lebuhraya Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu and Gat Lebuh Macallum, the site is surrounded by dense residential buildings and a future development of LRT station right next to the site itself. As the massive baby boomer population during 60s is anticipated to age into retirement, the demand of a destination to cater their societal needs may foreseen. The site itself existed as a strategic place since it are easily accessible by highway or future LRT from city centre, whilst the main potential users may stand from the low cost apartments which are next to our proposed site or the other residences within 1km radius.

Project description

HOW? Conceptualization & Design Strategies

In response towards the generations gap or cultural chasm that grows rapidly, the proposal is set to contemplate a vision to rejuvenate connectivity in terms of societal, physical and contextual -upon the belief of integrity and receptivity among communities are major elements to shape a collectively sustainable neighbourhood. Inclusiveness also plays an important role as the site is surrounded by mid-low income groups, thus the clubhouse should be a platform encourages involvements from mixed parties rather than providing exclusive and expensive services.


Strategies are envisaged to realize the ideal community and environment include vitalizing attitude of openness, cultivating lifelong learning culture and enliven positive interaction within people from various backgrounds. The existing archetype of architecture emphasizes on clear defined spatial configuration whereby the inhabitants are well-contained and programmed. In this scheme, the project explores the threshold of conversion in order to subconsciously bring people to gather and anticipate diverse engagement, innovating the dialogue within generations and cherish the process of aging. The derivation of conception is reinterpreted into form as a manifesto- “BREAKING WALLS, BUILDING BRIDGES”.


WHAT? Architecture Interpretation & Implementation

In order to live up the ambition to establish a new dimension of connectivity on top of the existing context, the project suggest to incorporate an urban footbridge that spreads along the key axis to connect the future LRT station, low cost apartment beside the site, across the highway and further extend to other zones and nodes in Georgetown like KOMTOR. As the key features that drives the design process, the footbridge is more than just a physical infrastructure, but a pedestrian spine in urban scale with levitated greens. It encourages walkable communities as sustainable society too.

The main building components reflect itself as a bridge form too, aligned to different axis while creating linear circulations that ease the movement and wayfinding of senior citizens. The self-braced truss structured bridge form envelope spaces with partially enclosed spaces for defined programmes whereas some spaces are opened up as more public and communal driven programmes. The use of louvres and glazing remains certain interactions ongoing in between enclosed and opened spaces, whilst the courtyard creates a breathable core for passive design. These architecture elements complement to each other to potray IN-AND-OUT- OVERLAPPING SPATIAL QUALITIES CREATE COLLECTIVE SYNERGY.


YES! Vision & Mission

Above all, this proposal is about innovating a retired living, embodies connectivity and engagement to the contexts, and envision a sophisticated neighbourhood. The scheme is making a leap forward into an better environment- sustainable, sociable, and healthy living, by all means of the term ‘active’.

Technical information

Extensive Masterplanning & Urban Interventions

Instead of making an exclusive clubhouse within the boundaries, the project carry through the concept of connectedness and openness by the approach of re-imagining the existing neighbourhood as a masterplanning extend. This project could be treated as an integrated project corresponding to the future LRT station development just beside the site.

The extensive intent is a movement t revitalize the neighbourhood and form an healthy urban environment with complete amenities and infrastructures. The place-making can further transform the dull and monotonous situation, into a lively neighbourhood where people is comfort to communicate and interact. On the other hand, it means to innovate the lifestyle of communities into a more vibrant and active one, in a vision to create a walkable community, a strong foundation to support sustainable urban development.

In short, the introduced architecture is not a sole building but a linkage that connects different communities from nearby zones, as a gateway of transform into a better well-being as individuals. Also, a compatible urban infrastructure which the idea of social acceptance and tolerance are translated, supporting the daily movement and connectivity of the people.

Planning as the Experience of Circulation

The planning follows a simple principle, where the enclosed spaces arrange in a linear form / bridge structure. The linear circulation design helps the elderly to identify their path easier while also shortens the distance. Though the space planning may seems straight forward, but the experience of the journey is crafted by using different sections of transparency and void- making a sense of inside out. It creates a closer relation towards nature, and more importantly catalyst better social interactions. All the spaces are finally tied to a central courtyard which become a gathering place of all, while also provide a breathable atrium for natural ventilation.

Construction and Buildability Design

When the building form become stacking bridge-like structure, the strutural design itself is meant to be innovate and challenging. The space is self-braced in steel truss system to allow column free spaces, where some cantilever is supported with typical RC column. then the footbridge itself act as a tie to receive tension force from the corresponding spaces. The steel beam structure is connected by pin joint joinery. The steel frame system plays a crucial role to construct the stacking bridge form of the architecture despite its non-regular grid orientation in planning from floor to floor. This system allows the space to stack on each other regardless its grid in general and makes them become self-supported.