KL Sports City

LIGHTING

KL SPORTS CITY

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Images: Aaron Pocock

ompleted in just 18 months in order to host

C the 2017 South East Asia (SEA) Games, the new Kuala Lumpur Sports City - the largest sports complex in Malaysia - was designed by Populous and developed by the Malaysian Resources Corporation Berhad (MRCB). The complex, which saw the existing Bukit Jalil National Sports Complex transformed, includes high-performance sports training facilities, a sports rehabilitation science centre, a youth park, a public sports facilities, a sports museum, a youth hostel, a convention centre and a sportsfocused retail mall. Being such an ambitious rejuvenation project, the aesthetics were of vital importance, which is why Singapore-based Limelight atelier was appointed as lighting design consultant. Melvyn Law, Director at Limelight atelier, explained the task they were given for KL Sports City: “The brief was to create a seamless integration of façade lighting, expressing the architecture and the space. We had to pay particular attention to the costs and timeline due to the tight construction deadlines, too.

LIGHTING

“We took it further to increase energy efficiency and reduce cost by creating a lighting scheme that encourages multiple values in return.” Limelight atelier worked on the design of the façades of the Bukit Jalil National Stadium, Axiata Arena, National Aquatic Centre and the new covered link way. The 87,000-seat Bukit Jalil National Stadium is at the heart of the complex - and the new, striking façade has a distinctly local feel, reminiscent of the stripes of the Malayan tiger. It allows for sun shading, natural ventilation and transparency to the existing iconic structures. The lighting scheme consists of concealed lines of lights, which are carefully integrated within the 678 parametric twisting blades using Acclaim lighting’s LED Flex tape RGBW, with eight-pixel control of the LED nodes at every metre that allows for close and far away visuals of graphical displays and colours. This gives the operators the ability to display a fully bespoke visual for every event. The second layer of the lighting design saw the design and implementation of a bespoke six-headed adjustable gimbal luminaire from Acclaim. The solution greatly reduced the amount of light fixtures needed to illuminate multiple aspects of the façade, adding a welcome ecological aspect to the design. Each luminaire is carefully placed in between each blade,

blending in as part of the architecture. It allows for the illumination of two blade surfaces, illuminates the roof ring structure and, at the twisting juncture of the blades, reflects some light inwards, adding visual depth to the architecture by paying homage to the existing iconic skeleton structures. This adds not just aesthetics, but allows for the reduction of functional lighting to the perimeter of the stadium. Another venue Limelight atelier worked on was the Axiata Arena - formerly known as Putra Stadium. The building fabric of the indoor arena was to have illumination radiating through the undulating perforated façade panels, revealing a tremendous visual interest of form, light and colour after dusk. The positioning of the grazing luminaires for an optimised display of the geometry of the façade - especially at the entrance’s wavy roof - was the first challenge. However, with multiple desktop simulations, small scale tests and full size mockups with the support of the contractors and manufacturer, the issue was resolved. The Limelight atelier team faced another challenge in the form of concealing the luminaires and its auxiliaries to minimise electrical and control cables routing disruption to the existing building due to cost and time limitations and site constraints. Working closely with Populous, an architecture tray detail was designed to integrate into the

078WWW.MONDOSTADIA.COM

LIGHTING

TECHNICAL INFORMATION

LIGHTING: Acclaim Lighting Flex Tape RGBW pixel | Acclaim Lighting HP-MIDI RIG Blue |

Acclaim Lighting HP-Linear RGB | Acclaim Lighting DynaWash | ELR Vasari 3 with Rosco glass coloured filter | Simes Loft Wall Square | Targetti CCT LED Architectural Mini | Targetti CCT Architectural Classic Adjustable HP | Targetti

Dart Medium | Meyer Expolux

edifice, concealing fixtures, cables and drivers. Meyer Epolux luminaires, mounted on columns, were used as uplights for the main entrance to the arena. Downlighting was designed as a distinct visual marker with a warmer 3,000K colour temperature, flanked by the cooler colour temperatures of 4,000K. At the boulevard, horizontal twisting blade roof elements formed the newly-constructed shaded canopies, linking the existing light rail station and various sports venues. Each structure column is up-lighted in hues of blue using Acclaim’s HP-Midi-RIG. Melvyn explained the reason for this decision: “Besides enhancing the aesthetics and decreasing energy usage, we also utilised colour psychology in the circulation area. “The columns of the covered linkway are deliberately lit in blue hues. This reflects the user’s journey, encouraging calm and authority if the spectators are ever upset with the result of the game.” Finally, the National Aquatic Centre, equipped with an Olympic-standard swimming pool, is illuminated in the style of a “glowing lantern from within” expression, with Targetti luminaires uniformly uplighting the new membrane canopy, along with suspended customised

pendant lighting using Targetti’s recessed downlights for functional needs. ELR Vasari 3 recessed narrow beam downlights, with selected Rosco colour filters, are used to graze the new fritted façade glazing to optimally portray a new colour identity for the international-graded swimming arena. Following phase one of the project, the overall results have already seen an increased usage and social growth to the surrounding area. “All lighting design should be smart in a way or another, it does not make sense to have a design that does not improve lives or the situation. Our designs not only embrace this, but also push the limits in what we do and how we achieve it,” added Melvyn. “We treated each stadia and arena separately, but holistically plan the lighting design to create a revelation of sight and display.” KL Sports City has been recognised both internationally and regionally, too, highlighting the success of the project. Besides being a finalist of the World Architecture Festival in 2017, it is also a winner of the exterior lighting category of the Asia Pacific Property Awards 2018 and attained the Singapore Good Design Mark (SG MARK).

ARCHITECT: Populous | LIGHTING DESIGNER: Limelight atelier | BRANDS: Acclaim Lighting, Targetti, Meyer by Electrix, ELR WEBSITES: www.populous.com, www.limelightatelier.com, www.acclaimlighting.com, www.targetti.com, www.meyer-lighting-us.com, www.elr-group.com

080WWW.MONDOSTADIA.COM