Download Project Part 2 Analysing Self and Architecture

Bachelor of Science (Hons) (in Architecture / Architecture)
THEORIES OF ARCHITECTURE & URBANISM (ARC61303)
Tan Hui Xian
0311719
Building: Public Bank IT & Training Centre
Location: Bangi
Architect: Arkitek IPPM
The purpose of the study is to theorize architecture based on the analysis of self and
architecture. It explores the relationship between the building and its architect, and
how the ideas, architectural perspectives and values of the architect are translated
into the building.
The architect whose building that is studied is Ar. Kenneth Sim, owner of his own
company, Arkitek IPPM, who has been in the industry for umpteen years and has
established a strong reputation in the field of architecture, with a great depth in
knowledge and experiences.
Ar. Kenneth Sim’s design philosophy is to design in context. He firmly believes that
the building must be suited to the site, the client, the user, the community and the
environment, which can be seen in his various projects. Ar. Kenneth Sim stated that
his design philosophy dictates that the building must be physically functioning as well
as aesthetically pleasing. He strongly emphasizes on the practical aspect of the
profession, with an opinion that functionality and practicality is of great importance
when it comes to design.
The general scope of study is focused on the analysis of three external contributing
factors that influence Ar. Kenneth Sim’s architectural thought and perspective, shown
in the example of his project, the Public Bank IT & Training Centre, located in Bangi.
The three contributing factors analysed are design elements and materiality,
landscape and hardscape, and spatial arrangement, which are key design features
that reflect Ar. Kenneth Sim’s purpose and philosophy in design.
Design elements and materiality
The design of the building is very much adapted to the context of the site and its
surroundings, as well as the client and the user, which aligns with Ar. Kenneth Sim’s
architectural philosophy and belief, which is to design in context.
The design concept of the building is based on the commitment of the bank to be
continually striving and moving forward, to propel the bank into the forefront of banking
technology and services. The theme of movement and striving ahead is expressed as
a central theme throughout the design, and is expressed through the design elements
and the materials used in the building. The form of the building is rather crisp,
contemporary and modern, which reflects the bank’s ongoing pursuit of high
technology in the 21st century of modern banking.
To achieve the modern, contemporary look of the building, reflective glass and granite
wall panels are used throughout the north and south curtain wall of the lobby, forming
a continuation which begins at the external grand staircase, penetrating through the
internal double volume space and ending at the rear garden. The use of the same
material throughout the north and south wall of the building brings about a sense of
wholeness, connection and continuity to the design, and the extensive use of reflective
glass and granite wall panels further emphasizes the concept of transparency in
design.
There is a very strong horizontal emphasis on the front façade of the building. All
horizontal mullions are emphasized with white aluminum strips, in contrast to the deep
blue reflective glass, which resembles electronic lines running along the façade. This
provides a strong symbolism of the speed of the electronic age. The vertical joints are
kept to a minimum, which further emphasizes the horizontality of the façade.
The material applied to the floor is polished black and grey marble, which contributes
to the stylish and contemporary design of the building. This material provides a play in
poetics, as it resembles a reflecting pond, a context as a reflecting plane for light and
shadow.
The front and the rear of the lobby is wrapped in clear glass at double storey height,
providing an unobstructed view of the entrance portico, the main lobby and the rear
west sculpture garden.
The unity of spaces is expressed in the use of free-standing pylon plates with hanging
terra cotta pots and urns at the grand staircase and also at the rear west sculpture
garden, which unifies the two external spaces and reinforces the axis of the building.
The monumental grand staircase and guard house leading up to the main entrance of
the building carries a sense of transparency and drama, leading visitors and
employees to the double volume main lobby, encompassed with glass to provide a
modern, futuristic look.
The design elements and materials used within and on the exterior of the building is
strongly based on the design concept of transparency, unity, and ongoing pursuit of
high technology, with the objectives and requirements of the user and client in mind.
The monumental entrance
The front facade
The main entry lobby
The north lobby lounge
Landscape and hardscape
The greenery, landscape and hardscape of the building is a feature that enhances the
design of the building. It is a design feature that provides a green haven for the users,
an environmental feature that contributes to the green and sustainability of the
building.
The design of the landscape and hardscape reflects the building’s concept of
movement and continuity between exterior and interior spaces. There are three major
gardens, which are the west sculpture garden, the north roof garden and the south
landscape garden.
The west sculpture garden comprises of six tiers of cascading planes that flow inward
toward the main entry lobby. It consists of 16 pylon planes with hanging terra cotta
pots and 26 urns. These are repeated at the grand staircase at the entrance of the
building, which terminates the building’s east-west axis.
The south landscape garden is designed as a social garden to meet, to communicate,
and to hold a party occasionally. The garden is lined with rows of palm trees and a
good mixture of varieties of local shrubs. The large leaves of the palm trees provide
excellent visualization of the wind movement during breezy afternoons, and cast
moving shadow textures over the garden. The waving earthwork provides a sense of
rhythm and a visual impression that the garden space continues indefinitely, which
reflects the continuity of the design. The south landscape garden is indeed an ideal
space to escape to and relax.
The north roof garden consists of a waving earth pattern similar to that in the south
landscape garden, which unifies the landscape design. The absence of trees and
limited access to the garden, sets a mood of enclosure and privacy. The building
concept of unifying the external with the internal is best portrayed in this garden where
the continuation of the external hardscape design penetrates into the double storey
volume of the north lobby lounge.
North roof garden
West sculpture garden
South landscape garden
Front façade with trees lining the front
Spatial arrangement
The building is divided into five interconnected blocks. The main entrance common
block is situated at the centre of the site, with the administration block, the computer
block, the hostel block and the training block and auditorium branching out from it. The
spatial arrangement of the building is clearly centric, with the main entrance common
block at the centre being the common, primary space.
The common block at the center is a public space with a more open plan, to indicate
accessibility and openness. The training block and the administration block flank its
sides at the entrance, spaces that are semi-private but also of importance. The
auditorium branches out from the training block, connected by a bridge that is
equipped with the latest digital audio visual systems. The computer block is designed
to provide the necessary resources for the current IT needs, and to allow for future
expansion. It is a seven-storey windowless structure that is designed to provide
housing and support for all the production and development work. It also functions to
support all critical services linked to its nationwide network of computers during a
disaster.
The hostel block, or the accommodation block, is a four storey structure consisting of
55 twin bedrooms which are furnished with local rubberwood furniture, designed to
provide comfortable and pleasant living quarters with supporting recreational facilities,
which include a lounge with colour TV and sofa at every floor. The accommodation
block has networked computer terminals that enable employees to check their email
daily and communicate with headquarters or respective branch offices. Besides having
a wonderful landscape as a place for relaxation, the recreational facilities include
squash, tennis, aerobics, sauna and spa, jogging track and so on. Employees have a
wide variety of means to exercise, de-stress, and stay healthy.
The project site is at the Multimedia Super Corridor, surrounded by Ikatan university
to the west, Maybank training centre to the south east, and bank Bumiputra training
centre to the north east. The building is designed with a modern and contemporary
look, due to its context and the surrounding buildings, which are also modern designs
with a similar concept of advancement and pursuit of high technology.
The orientation of the building is determined by the north south axis of the MSC and
Jalan Air Hitam expressway which leads towards Putrajaya. The front façade is
orientated to face the expressway, to provide a clear visual of the building from the
expressway and also a convenient circulation and proper flow of traffic.
The administration and training blocks are situated on both sides of the common block
and run parallel to Jalan Ayer Hitam.
Common block
Computer block
Accommodation
block
Utility block
Auditorium
Site plan
Training block
Administration block
Discussion and Conclusion
Ar. Kenneth Sim’s design philosophy can be seen through his practice of architecture,
especially in this building, the Public Bank IT & Training Centre. In terms of the design
elements and materiality, the landscape and hardscape as well as the spatial
arrangement, these are well thought out and carefully designed to suit the context, the
site, the client, the user and the surroundings. The building is not only aesthetically
pleasing, it is functional and user friendly as well. With his in depth knowledge and a
vast experience in the field of design and architecture, Ar. Kenneth Sim applies his
knowledge in design elements, material selection, landscaping design and spatial
organization to the building.
Ar. Kenneth Sim believes that form follows function. He stated the importance of
understanding the flow of production and the requirements of the building, site, users
and client before you can come up with the form. The site context has to be taken into
account as well, and the design is based on the environment and the surroundings.
To Ar. Kenneth Sim, an aesthetically pleasing form of a building that is not usable or
user friendly is pointless and meaningless. His design personality is more of a
minimalist. The same block shape design of the Public Bank IT & Training Centre can
be seen in many of his other projects, which also reflects the same minimalist design.
The term, “less is more” is clearly expressed through many of his architectural designs,
whereby the design and form of the buildings are practical, simple, and relevant to
today’s time. Ar. Kenneth Sim also has a knack for catching up on the latest design
trends at an earlier stage. He claims that he has been doing the modern bungalow
design, with the crisp, contemporary and modern look, for the past twenty years now,
an architectural style that has recently become the latest design trend.
The simplistic and minimalistic design of his buildings could be a reflection of his
personality, which he describes as quiet, reserved and introverted. Ar. Kenneth Sim
explained that parents in the olden days tend to control their children, with the strong
belief that children should be seen and not heard, unlike in the modern days where
children are encouraged to express themselves. Despite having a quiet and reserved
personality, Ar. Kenneth Sim chooses instead to express himself through his designs,
immersing himself in huge projects like the Public Bank IT & Training Centre. His
passion for architecture became his outlet to express himself.
Architect: Self
Name: Ar. Kenneth Kheng Sui Sim
Date of Birth: 10 March, 1960s
Place of Birth: Klang
Childhood
- Grew up in rural Klang
- He was quiet, reserved, introverted and also
rather artistic
- He was resourceful in making his own toys,
scavenging from old crates and rubbish
- His passion for design began at a young age
Education
- Studied at a Chinese primary school in Port
Klang, SJK Tshing Nian
- He later moved on to another Chinese
primary school, SJK Hin Hua.
- He attended secondary school at SMK
Methodist (ACS) Klang.
- He furthered his studies by going overseas to
Australia to study architecture at the
University of New South Wales.
Working Experience
- Unable to find a job in any architectural firms,
he found a temporary job in a property agent
company and worked as an assistant
- A few months later, he went to New Zealand
and worked for a small company in Auckland
- In his second year, recession hit New Zealand.
So he came back to Malaysia in 1991 and
established his own architecture firm in 1993.
- He is involved in many huge industrial
projects
External Contributing Factors
Design Elements & Materiality
- The design elements and materials used within
and on the exterior of the building is strongly
based on the design concept of transparency,
unity, and ongoing pursuit of high technology.
Landscape & Hardscape
- The greenery, landscape and hardscape of the
building enhances the design of the building,
reflecting the building’s concept of movement
and continuity between exterior and interior
spaces.
Spatial Arrangement
- The building is divided into five interconnected
blocks. The main entrance common block is
situated at the centre of the site, with the
administration block, the computer block, the
hostel block and the training block and
auditorium branching out from it. The spatial
arrangement of the building is clearly centric,
with the main entrance common block at the
centre being the common, primary space.
Theory on Architecture
Design in context
-Ar. Kenneth Sim’s design philosophy is to design
in context. He firmly believes that the building
must be suited to the site, the client, the user, the
community and the environment. He stated that
his design philosophy dictates that the building
must be physically functioning as well as
aesthetically pleasing. He strongly emphasizes on
the practical aspect of the profession, with an
opinion that functionality and practicality is of
great importance when it comes to design.