Nabeel Joomun Architecture Design Project Report

ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN PROJECT REPORT (ARCH 60108) THEME: SUSTAINING HUMANITIES PROJECT: INTERFAITH AND MEDITATION SPACE

NAME: MUHAMMAD NABEEL ALI JOOMUN ID: 0320583 TUTOR: Mr. LAM SHEN FEI

INTRODUCTION

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION

PROJECT AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

“Sustaining humanities” is the main theme of this design project. There is a need to propose a design according to the theme and also the River Of Life project which is currently being carried out. The report will show the process leading to the design of an Interfaith and Meditation centre. It starts by a deep analysis of the site which is found in Pasar Seni, Putrajaya. This is then used to derive the concept that helps shape the building. Context, environmental and sustainable design are all taken into consideration

The design of an architectural space in an urban site is required to be able to follow the theme of “Sustaining humanities” and the idea of the River of life project.

The project is mostly focusing on th beautification of Kuala Lumpur, improving the health of people and improving the happiness and socialization. Architecture is a way of achieving those through the use of spaces that goes against the negativity of the urban city life. This at the same time improves the community around the city which are slowly fading away.

The objective of this project is to understand the process of desiging an architectural space that suits in a specific theme in an urban context.

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Context, building science, structures and graphical presentation are all taken into consideration for this project.

SITE ANALYSIS INTRODUCTION

SITE ISSUES

The site is located right in front of the Central Market in Pasar seni, Kuala lumpur, Malaysia. The development of this area started during the tin mining industry in Malaysia (circa 857). Wet markets were built to cater to the community needs. Around 953, the Central Market was renovated into a cultural market.

This area is well known for its cultural significance and is among the famous tourist destinations in Kuala Lumpur. It is a mostly commercial area from the central market to the Petaling street where the flee market is located. Surrounding the site, there are a diverse architecture style; from the vernacular shop-houses, the Art-Deco Central market, Islamic architecture and modernist high-rises.

STRENGTH

OPPORTUNITY

- The site is located in a very dense and active area - The high-rises on the west side provides shade to the site.

- There are bus stops, a bus station and an LRT station nearby the site.

- There is a diverse user group on the site; Traders, workers, students, local visitors, tourists and foreign migrants - The Klang river is situated besides the site

WEAKNESS - Lack of vegetation on the site and on the surrounding. - Noise due to the traffic in front of the site and the LRT track besides it.

THREAT - Heavy traffic during peak hours along the road facing the site -Lack of parking space

URBAN STUDIES

Edge

Landmark District

Path

Path

Node

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MACRO SITE ANALYSIS

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PROJECT BACKGROUND AND DESIGN INTENTION STRATEGIES DESIGN INTENTION Following the site analysis, it can be concluded that the site is quite chaotic due to the high density and disordered circulation of pedestrians and vehicles, the noise and the varying building features.

This analysis lead to the design intention of creating a space of order in defiance to the chaotic nature of the site, Pasar seni. The design would enable people to escape from this busy and fast-paced lifestyle of the urban city into a space of harmony and tranquility.

RELATING TO THE THEME The urban chaos has an effect on the mental health of people who are constatnly there. This can affect the emotion and productivity of these people. Therefore, a space of order can calm and refresh the mind thus keeping the people healthy. This fits in the theme of “sustaining human life�.

PROGRAMME PROPOSAL A space of order contains activities related to meditation. After looking at the users in the site, it can be concluded that it is quite a diverse user group in terms of religion and culture. Therefore spaces for prayer for the 3 main religion in Kuala Lumpur is proposed. The religion includes Islam, Christian and Buddhism. These praying spaces allow the people to get away from the urban chaos into a more harmonious and spiritual space.

MICRO SITE ANALYSIS Analysis diagrams of the micorsite are made so as to better understand the sources of chaos and how it affects the site. This is then later used to assist in designing the building.

1. Pedestrian density, circulation A Nolli plan diagram is used to analyze where are the most dense and active pedestrian spaces. The dense crowds are mostly found around activities like shopping and eating. The pedestrians circulates all round the site in a disordered pattern and is most dense at the intersections.

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2. CONCLUSION OF PEDESTRIAN DENSITY AND CIRCULATION From the previous analysis diagram, the main dense pedestrian spots is identified . In this case, there are 5 dense areas.

The first one near at the central market entrance is where there is a large amount of people moving in/out of the building. This creates an active space with constant movement.

The next one is at the Kasturi walk entrance where there is a mixture of activities (shopping and eating) together with the intersections at the road.

The 3rd one is oposite the kasturi walk. This node happens because people gather at the pedestrian crossing.

The dense spot at the “Texas chicken� building is usually crowded beacuse of it being an eating place and also the presence of a bus stop which is used by both tourists and locals.

The last spot is where a large number of people flows from the LRT station to the central market area. It is combined with the road intersection which makes it denser. This spot is related to the central market and kasturi walk dense spots by the circulation through the site.

This analysis will help later on in the design process through the understanding of the sources of pedestrian chaos and the dense areas that need to be focused on.

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3. VEHICLE DENSITY AND CIRCULATION This analysis diagram helps to identify the traffic of vehicles and other public transports. The heaviest traffic occurs along the Jalan Tun Sambanthan road, which is right opposite the site.

The existing ingress and egress to/from the site is also identified. This will later help in deciding what would be the best position for the vehicle entrance to the site. The road from which the vehicles enters/ exit the site is a one way road, and therefore this will be thought of in the design process.

The buses mostly come from the Pasar seni bus station. There are two bus stop near the site. The one on the site is used mostly by locals while the one on the opposite site is used by both tourists and loacals. The position of the bust stop will be thought of during designing the circulation in the site.

The LRT track beside the site is fast paced but less intense compared to the vehicular movements.

Since this is a commercial area, there is a lot of delivery trucks going along the road and occasionally in the site. The bulkiness of those vehicles adds to the chaotic nature of he site.

This analysis wll be used to understand the type of chaos generated from vehicular movement and density whcih will lead to a design that counters this chaos.

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4. NOISE SOURCE ANALYSIS The noise sources are categorised as high, medium and low HIGH: The vehicle density and circulation analysis helps to identify the location of the noises on the site. It can be concluded that the overall loudest noise on the site comes from the vehicles. The position of the road in between buildings makes it like a “valley� where there is a lot of noise reverberation.

HIGH: The site receives a considerable amount of noise from the moving LRT due to the position of the LRT track. There is a certain frequency to the movemennt of the LRT with around 10-15 minutes delay betwen each circulation.

MEDIUM: There is usually loud music playing in the interior of the central market and along the Kasturi Walk. This generates sound which can be heard on the site. The crowds at the centrl market and Kasturi Walk also adds up to the noise.

LOW: The flowing water of the Klang river can be heard from the site at the area under the LRT train. This noise is not an issue but could be consiered as quite harmonious and could be used as part of the design.

From this analysis, the design will be using strategies to block or filter the noise from the specific locations so as to create a space of order.

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5. VARYING BUILDING FEATURES AND SCALE The site is full of a variety of buildings of different scale. These different types can be associated to their use. For example there are the shophouses which are more for commercial and food use. Their characteristics are the detailed ornamentation of the facade and the variety of colours used. These are usually smaller in scale (2~3 storeys).

The other types of buildings are the high rises which are mostly used fas office. The modernist style gives this rather simplistic, usually glass, facade. There are some exceptions like the Daya Bumi (next to the site across the river) which has a detailed Islamic pattern facade.

This helps to identify the different user groups and what type of spaces they will be seeking for. The general public and users who are found in the smaller ornamented building are closer to the street and tend to be closer to the chaos. Therefore the y will be more likely to seek for spaces of order and tranquility. The others, mostly office workers an college students, are located in those simplistic repetitive high-rises and therefore are more likely to seek for active and varying spaces.

The design will be looking into features and a scale that would fit harmoniously in balance between these completely different types of buildings.

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CONCEPT

PROJECT BRIEF AND OBJECTIVES

The concept is to have different layers of spaces in the building through which there will be a transition of chaotic exterior to a more ordered interior. Therefore the designed is focused on the journey through the spaces where the user, coming from a chaotic urban city, goes through the different layers until the main programme which is the most ordered and harmonious space. This transition makes the journey more subtle and makes the exterior of the building fit well in the context.

1. The building needs to filter/block as much as exterior noise as possible 2. There must be as much use of natural ventilation and illumination so as to give more natural feel to the spaces 3. The design must take into consideration the different requirements of the praying spaces 4. The Praying spaces should be able to accommodate around 200 people each.

5. The central market must not be visually blocked.

PROGRAMME

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SITE RESPONSE

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SPATIAL PROGRAMMING The spaces are positioned according to the level of quietness. This is done by first using layers. The 3 layers consist chaotic, less chaotic and ordered. This creates a transition from the normal chaotic urban exterior to the ordered interior of the building. This makes the journey of transition to the interior more subtle.

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The main strategy of the design is to reduce the noise as much as possible. This done using the combination of vegetation + double skin facade + building structures. As it goes through these layers, the noise gets filtered and loses its intensity. The landscaping is also important. The building is raised so as to get different levels from the ground. This reduces the reverberation effects on the building.

The vegetation is arranged according to the analysis of noise sources The position of the spaces is also important. The most quiet spaces are placed further from th e chaotic areas of the site. The Praying spaces are placed further up as a way to show its importance and also placing it away from the street chaos.

Different heights on the landscaping to raise the building.

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2. Meditation + reading + relax space 1. Pathway and entrance

Muslim praying space

3. Ablution space

Christian praying space

Buddhist praying space 13

Structural details

WALL SECTION BLOWUP DETAIL 1

The structures consist mostly of steel structures and composite wall and floor. The composite wall and flooring are lightweight and contain material with sound absorbing properties.

WALL BLOWUP DETAIL 2 Section of one praying space showing the double skin facade andSECTION roof connection

Axonometric showing the spaces and the structures

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SITE PLANNING STRATEGIES In the afternoon, after 5:30 p.m, the site is shaded by the high-rise (Daya Bumi) on the west side. Almost 50% of the site is covered at that time. The building is placed in this space so as to take advantage of the afternoon shading. Therefore the spaces on the west side can be more open and require less shading devices.

The wind coming to the site has an increased pressure when going below the LTR track. This therefore increases the velocity of the wind coming from the west side to the site.

LRT track

The river is found beside the site. This allows evaporative cooling which can cool down the site, however not reducing the humidity level.

The blocks, such as the praying spaces are arranged so that the smaller area faces the west and east, which is the sun’s path.

ORIENTATION: WIND AND SOLAR ANALYSIS

Sunpath diagranm

Wind rose diagram 15

Noise cancellation + natural ventilation + natural light The challenge of this design was to cancel the exterior noises while still allowing openings for ventilation and natural light.

The roof design is made so as to be able to bring in enough natural light. The facade has horizontal claddings which acts as shading device to prevent direct sunlight.

The ventilation is made possible through the use of opening at the top end of the space and the roof.

This creates a combination of cross and stack ventilation. To prevent noise from coming in side, a noise absorbing material is used to prevent reverberation.

Noise absorbing material

Cross ventilation going through

Natural light through the roof

Noise coming from street are first filtered through the vegetation, then the skin facade and finally absorbed by the noise absorbing material on at the opening Horizontal louvres facing West/ East act as sun shading device

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Sunshading and orientation The hottest month in Malaysia is March. Therefore, the sunpath for this month is taken into consideration when orienting the spaces. The facade facing the west does not need much shading devices as in the afternoon, this facade is shaded by the neighboring high-rises.

Vegetation and landscaping Vegetation is widely used in the design of this building. It is strategically placed in a way to reduce the exterior noise coming to the site. It is also providing shading to the public spaces and the building. The presence of vegetation also increases the quality of the air which is healthier and more fresh. It also adds up to the aesthetics of the place which is contrasting to the urban jungle.

The types of trees which are used are the Arytera littoralis, Switenia macrophylla, Andira inermis and Mesua ferrera. Those trees all grow in Malaysia and are the most preffered due to its acoustic qualities.

Natural and mechanical ventialation Most of the building makes us of natural ventilation. This make the spaces feel more natural and at the same time make the building more sustainable. The only space using mechanical ventilation is the office and library. The office is because the workers are constantly there and therfore needs a regulated thermal comfort. The library needs a good temperature and humidity control so that the books are not damaged.

Material used The structures are made of steel. This is used as they are lighter in weight and easier to install. The y can also support heavy weight and can be formed into any shape. The material used for walls is composite concrete. It is light in weight and also has a good acoustic properties.

Concrete also have a good thermal property which helps cooling down the builidng.

Glass is not used much in the building as those does not have a good thermal property. Some interior spaces are divided using vertical wood cladding. This reduces material used while still enabling ventilation and light through the spaces.

The roof is made steel which is more lightweight and reduces the need for bigger structures. The roof has a shaded skylight to bring in natural light to the spaces.

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