UFUK KITA (OUR HORIZON)

University of Science, Malaysia (USM), School Of Housing, Building And Planning (HBP), Architecture Department. Minden, Penang

Project idea

When the covid-19 outbreak started hitting the whole globe in 2020, working people is one of the groups that were heavily affected by its consequences. Illness, job loss, mental stress, all of these effects are still leading to traumatised thinking especially within our working people including the Penang residents. Slowly begins to bounce back after the dark period, the pandemic then changes the paradigm of architecture, dictating the designer to evaluate the new design of an office and commercial building that can adapt with the future potential pandemic that may occur anytime. Housed within an urban context with Pulau Jerejak well situated on the east of the site, the idea of this project is to redesign a pandemic-resilient mix-development building by integrating present attributes within the site and echoing environmental quality.

Project description

Having the wellness of the office users and the social connection of the public as the core, the project is proposed to be a therapy-oriented project by introducing the three methods of therapy which are green space, water, and air. As for the social purpose, the podium of the building is designed as a public communal area, enhancing the social integration within the local people started from the streetscape while having the commercial activity as another core purpose.

Technical information

The project is proposed to be designed with the contemporary structure as the main foundation for its construction, which has bundled tube system. As for additional supporting systems, both towers are enveloped with a steel system that also features LED lighting, illuminating the building during dawn and night. All facades that face the East and West are equipped with horizontal shading which helps to reduce the glare and sun penetration on the facade glass. The main material is made of pre-casted concrete that reduces the excavation impact at the site. the building also features numerous sustainable strategies such as rainwater harvesting, building-integrated photovoltaic panel (BIPV) and water features that helps to cool down the temperature inside the podium space, reducing the need for artificial ventilation.