The Disappearing Gateway

Dialogue With The Trees

Competition UM Gateway Ideas 11

UM Gateway Ideas Competition GP011BRM

Open to the public, this competition is to design a new gateway that reflects the image and identity of the university in line with its mission, vision, and core values:

Vision: A global university impacting the world.

Mission: Pushing the boundaries of knowledge & nurturing aspiring leaders

Core Values: Passion / Oneness / Integrity / Sincerity / Empathy

Prize: Third Prize

Why Campus Gates?

the entrance to universities, but also work as interfaces between them and the cities, and as tools of their identity representation.

designs often motivated by:

- Local references (eg vernacular Malay roof profile)

- Free-floating historicity (historical collages – eg colonial columns)

- Geometric/stylistic experiments

- Place/ments: spatialized gates (not 2D passage; expand into a spatialized design)

( H. A. K. A. N. (2018). University Campus Gates as a tool of identity representation. Frontiers Research of Architecture and Engineering, 1(2), 54. https://doi.org/10.30564/frae.v1i2.48)

Existing Gateways & its Surrounding Context

Design Concept

The gateway proposal aims to reflects the identity and aspiration of the university in line with its core values: to nurture and grow.

The proposal strives for an architecture that ‘ grows ’ (ever- changing, to adapt according to time) and that it van shes n o na ure ’ , its structure so light that it seemingly disappear into its background of existing lush green trees surrounding UM’s gateways.

The gateway structure being ‘subsumed’ into the surrounding trees and thus harmonises with the context – symbolizes UM’s rigorous championing of sustainability research & practice in Malaysia.

Design Concept

On top of fulfilling the university’s aspirations put forth in the design brief, the proposal also aims to:

1. to celebrate the lush background of UM’s flora, & to use them to highlight the university’s aspirations;

2. to create a gateway that ‘changes’ as time passes symbolises UM’s adaptability in changing with the time);

3. intangibly ground the gateway in Malaysian’s weather (sunlight, wind).

Knowing the Site

Existing gateways are disconnected from the lush surrounding; does not convey the ideals of the university. Not ‘grounded’ on site.

Potential: To celebrate the existing nature and use them to highlight the university’s aspirations.