The Living Water Education and Research Centre

Universiti Teknologi Malaysia

Project idea

The Living Water Education and Research Centre is a "Living Building" that is heavily rooted in the indigenous characteristics of a building’s eco-region in order to sustainably generate their own energy; capture, treat and use their own water; and operate by embracing the essence of what the site can provide. In this way, the Living Water Education and Research Centre not only strives to have a net zero impact by integrating water management strategy as a teaching tool to educate and create awareness to the public but also improve the local hydrological cycle through the ecological approach. Through the integration of water management approach at various scales, the impacts can be minimized and ensure a more sustainable urban environment, while adding value to the social and ecological aspects of areas in accordance with community needs and water issues. Lastly, it is never enough to create a sustainable architecture, but Living Water Education and Research Centre hopes to bring the ecological closer to people's daily experience.

Project description

Macro Site Issues:
Danga Bay was once a place covered with greeneries along its lively river. Since the land reclamation project started in 2000, the development has caused a severe degradation in water quality and environmental degradation. When the local hydrology cycle has been severely altered, this will lead to more environmental impacts, not only to human and habitat but the entire ecosystem in Danga Bay.

Design & Innovation:
The design proposes a water research and education center dedicated to ecological water treatment system. With the concept of "Living Building", the design is inspired by the sustainable processes found in natural wetlands to conserve water and foster animal, plant, and human life. In doing so, the Living Water Education and Research Centre which also serves as a public space intended to engage the community closer to the natural processes as part of their daily life which are typically absent in most of the city life. The building's design mimics the natural contour of the terrace where the water filtration process works best in the natural form. The building filters grey water and harvested rainwater through its contour profile while visualizes the process for visitors both internally and externally of the building. With the natural contour profile as the core design, it somehow bridges the visitors closer to the natural process where the contour platform itself is a multi-functional space for the visitors to experience and learn. This fulfills the ultimate goal of the center's educational purpose. When the visitors understand how the process works they can better appreciate the importance of sustainable water design inspired by nature.

Urban Waterscape Intervention:
The site is an interface between the developed urban area and the edge of the riverfront which acts as microenvironments that foster varying plant, animal, and human ecologies. Besides, the injections of recreational and water remediation programs are wrapped along the edge of Danga Bay to promote diversity along the length of the river. Through stormwater cycling tour around the perimeter of Danga Bay, the program engages public to explore all stormwater facilities, including eco-roofs, green streets, naturescaping, trees, planters, swales, and rain gardens. By doing so, the urban site not only becomes a vibrant gathering space for the citizen but also a playful educational spot for the public to better understand the mechanism of stormwater management.

Integrated Water Learning Environment:
The building is completely open to its environment, the balcony and stormwater catchment terrace is also an educational feature for the public to learn about water ecosystem and stormwater management; while the terrace creating an informal learning/ working outdoor space depending on the programs. Indeed the balcony featuring the water treatment process, but what is most important is that how water as part of the ecosystem in architecture space. The balconies serve as an extension of the spaces or spaces for informal meetings. This encourages occupants to always work and experience the environment both inside-out while getting closer to the cool, calm and natural environment.

Bioclimatic Design Through Water Element:
A water square is located in the middle of the center to enhance the evaporative cooling effect. With its open plan design, this porousness effect allows wind flow through the spaces naturally.
The building is also surrounded by perimeter water terrace not only to collect rainwater but for effective shading through most of the day, providing comfortable working spaces for the galleries, research labs, and classrooms. With water wall located on the east intentionally to prevent excessive solar gain and create a cooling atmosphere to the both inside and outside of the building. Education programs and galleries are located at the east to capitalize on a range of natural lighting conditions. With the aids of water reflection on the gallery, the casted dancing shadow transformed wave patterns into ripples and blobs culminating in fascinating viewer experiences of water and light.

Water Infiltration & Human Infiltration:
Water brings people together. The water square in the building serves as a vibrant public space for the public while the water system is made visible through it. Therefore a healthy neighborhood with interactive water is formed. During the dry season, the water square is a feast for active children to learn, play and linger. The engineered landform serves as an open amphitheater for the public. On each entrance, the cascading contour profile serves as intimate places to sit and linger. The aquatic plants and wildflowers framed by a concrete border at seating height to offer many informal places to relax here. During the rain, the rain garden will capture and treat the surface runoff. It is then conveyed to the water square to slow down the runoff of the surroundings. All the captured storm water that has been buffered does not flow into the mixed sewage system. By separating stormwater gradually from the black water system with each intervention, the entire system step by step moves towards an improvement of the overall quality of the open water in the urban area.

Technical information

Site Location : Danga Bay, Johore Bahru, Johor, Malaysia
Site Area (hectare / sqft2) : 97,138 ft2
Gross Floor Area (sqft2) : 172,000 ft2
Building Height (storeys) : 4 Storeys (left) / 5 Storeys (right)
Build Porgram: Visitor Centre (left) + Public Space Water Square (middle) + Research & Educational Centre (right)

Site Plan: The proposed site as an extension of the ecosystem into architecture. (integration between sponge park and building)

Master Plan: The proposed master plan covers the entire reclamation project boundaries.

Co-authors

NA