Theories of Architecture and Urbanism Theorizing Architecture Wong Roung-Jang 0303368 Parcel L, Cahaya Alam.
A. Introduction Ar. Martin Lee, famously known as the go-to architect for Sunway and Kota Damansara projects, has been practicing architecture for more than 25 years now. He excels in integrating modern architecture with landscape and linear gardens. He was educated in the University of Sheffield in the United Kingdom and is now the co-founder of CL+O Architects Sdn Bhd. Nilai Univeristy, Sunway SPK (3 Harmoni) and The Palazzio, Sri Hartamas is one of the few best-known works. By having a wide range of knowledge of nature and simple circulation flow, he is able to design buildings differently compared to other architects, simply by applying his knowledge of nature and architecture when designing a new project. The selected building for this analysis is known as Parcel L, at Cahaya Alam. Parcel L is one of the many units located in Cahaya Alam. The client of this project had approached Ar. Martin Lee with several concerns and he decided to accept the project, challenging himself and his team to design and use landscaping as his source of solution. “Architecture is the knowledge of art, science and technology and humanity’, therefore, this essay is written in order to study and understand the way Ar. Martin Lee design and solve solutions through architecture, and how we could learn from it.
B. Analysis The building is analysed on three factors : Climate, Client and Architecture Theory.
i) Climate Malaysia is constantly hot due to the amount of sun exposure all year round. Therefore, The front and back of the houses of Parcel L are orientated to face the lake. Therefore, it gets maximum cool air from the lake and it helps the units reduce hot air in the building.
In addition, the openings are placed minimal on the eastern and western side of the walls. Thus, reducing heat gain in the building and bringing comfort to the users.By placing majority of the openings such as windows and doors and the front and back of the house, natural wind ventilation is achieved in the internal spaces. Wind ventilation on each floor depends on the type of spaces on each floor. Ground floor and First floor have multiple openings on adjacent walls, whereas on the Second floor, two openings with wings are applied.
By stepping the building back each floor, it helps the units receive as much natural lighting as possible without sun glaring in the house. And by doing so, it helps reduce the use of mechanical lighting
ii) Client When the client approached Ar. Martin Lee, they had the idea of re-planning the existing township layout to introduce a series of value-enhanced low-rise stratified development parcels. And due to the prime location of the site, the client demanded to solve the flooding issue on the site and wanted something that could achieve quality living and also a design that could be certified as Green Building Index (GBI) to help promote the developers branding. After countless of appointments and meetings, the final brief was drafted up and both architect and client came to an agreeable conclusion.
The existing linear park is extended and revamped to be the main green element and unifies and connect the various components together. These changes has the effect of transforming the development into a township with stronger identity.
Ar. Martin Lee proposed a retention pond that would not just serve as a pond that retains rain water before being discharged. But to also use it as a lake and a garden for walks and jogs. The landscape of Parcel L is designed in such a way that when it rains, the rain water would flow directly to the retention pond, ensuring sufficient flood mitigation measures.
To blend avant-garde landscaping ideas and breakthrough architectural concepts to bring families together in a safe, beautiful and ecologically sound environment. Due to Ar. Martin Lee’s knowledge on landscaping, the main landscape of Parcel L is elevated four times above the retention pond level to reduce the impact of the flood on site. The landscape gradually out slopes at least 5% for smooth rain water flow and to also provide sufficient silt and debris traps. Exposed drains found around the site are turfed or covered with outdoor furnishings simply because Ar. Martin Lee wanted the users to have a clean visual of the linear garden and pond without any obvious drains being seen or found to prevent any accidents.
iii) Architecture Theory (Regionalism) Parcel L is more of Regionalism. Regionalism in the sense of the fact that it can only be found in tropical countries. The theory of Regionalism architecture can be strongly related to the overall design based on its overhang gable roof and landscaping. Ar. Martin Lee designed Parcel L to be much different compared to the neighbouring context that consists of post-modernism. The linear garden can be seen in most of his project and this is indeed his trademark in all his projects. By integrating landscape with architecture, it helps unify and connects various components together around the site. The façade of the building is stepped back to minimize the sense of massiveness of the building. Thus, allowing the sense of harmony, unity and humanity that can be seen or felt on site. The structure of the building is simple as it is a housing area and the sense of simple circulation flow could be achieved. Relating it back to the demand of the client (flood issue and GBI standard), Ar. Martin Lee has demonstrated Regionalism in Parcel L, if not, the whole of Cahaya Alam, earning him Gold for GBI certification.
C. Discussion and conclusion After understanding Ar. Martin Lee’s “SELF” and analysing his building, a few theories can be said to theorize his architecture. First of all, architecture of consciousness. Ar. Martin Lee’s behaviour in doing architecture shows his consciousness about his own responsibility as an architect, just like how his father raised him up, where he learned to live up to the ethnics that his father held in life and therefore, reflected to his architecture style. Meeting a commercial-minded client, Ar. Martin Lee does not surrender to the commercial architecture that can be easily done to please the client. However, he knows clearly about his job as an architect, whereby he has to provide professional services to his client. By knowing what is best for the society and community, Ar. Martin Lee took his users as his priority in his design process, and not forgetting the site issue. From the orientation of the building, to the detail designs of the units of Parcel L, it can be seen that Ar. Martin Lee has tried his best to provide the best way to solve the issue on site by integrating architecture with nature. Also, by having an influence of the architect he worked with for the Nilai College University, he clearly knows the important of how nature and landscape is on site and to help the building not lose its identity. Furthermore, the principle of regionalism that is applied onto the building design allows me to theorize Ar. Martin Lee’s architecture that stands out among Malaysian architects. In order to create a breakthrough architectural concepts to bring families together in a safe, beautiful and ecologically sound environment, he’s trick towards the pond had earned him the GBI award, Gold, for this project. This is because of his experience with R.J. Ferguson, the architect he worked with for the Nilai University College back in the 1990s.
It can be concluded that Ar. Marti Lee’s upbringing and life experience, as well as his passion towards Nature and Architecture has affect him in his architecture. By doing so, these had help him to be one of the most successful architect in South-East Asia.
D. References CL+O Architects Sdn Bhd. Presentation slides http://www.cloa.com.my/ http://announcements.bursamalaysia.com/EDMS/subweb.nsf/7f04516f8098680348256c6f0017a6bf /9508035a378a98af482578a100231d73/$FILE/ENCORPPage%2046%20to%20ProxyForm%20(1.9MB).pdf http://www.thestar.com.my/story/?sec=b&file=%2F2012%2F6%2F16%2Fbusiness%2F11482234