Sim Li Mei |Portfolio by Sim Li Mei

SIM LI MEI

PORTFOLIO SELECTED DEGREE WORKS

FOREWORD

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Temporal, continuous and changing...â&#x20AC;?, every place is continuously evolving with the people.

I would very often indulge into the emotions and senses of the environment or atmosphere that a place provides, I would try to remember every senses and feelings that Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve experienced because it makes me feel the presence of being alive. Soon, I realised that this is how our human body experience spaces and that this uninhibited, personal and expressive response to space is natural to everyone. The influence of architecture in shaping human behaviour is evident. I believe that people complete the function of architecture, hence people should be placed as the priority. Their feeling of well-being or comfort is important and this can be achieved in design that utilizes the distinctiveness and uniqueness of each place. Hence, sketching acts as a medium for me to record the people, place and time and during the process, I can focus on the details that we often overlook in our life. Through architecture, my thoughts and imagination can be expressed through space design. Architecture helps me to look at things from different perspectives and embrace different thoughts and opinions. Life is a continuous learning process, just like how every place continuously evolves with people. The evolution of architecture through time forms different layers, enriches our life and requires us to learn from the past, apply in the present in order to adapt in the future. These three elements are an interchanging process that I constantly look into and values. Welcome to my portfolio that records my learning journey in architecture.

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Parallel . Knit

Visitorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Interpretive Centre | Kampung Pulai, Kelantan

HUMAN . PAST

Boundless

Community Swimming Centre | Port Dickson, Negeri Sembilan

HUMAN . PRESENT

Interwoven

Community Learning Centre | Klang, Selangor

HUMAN . PAST - PRESENT

The Rhythm

Cultural Experience Centre | Jalan Tun Tan Cheng Lock, Kuala Lumpur

HUMAN . PAST - PRESENT - FUTURE

Parallel . Knit

Visitor’s Interpretive Centre | Kampung Pulai, Kelantan 体吉验兰中丹心布赖

邂逅的平行线

“HOW PAST & NATURE SHAPE US?” Kampung Pulai, the Hakka Chinese settlement is the only former gold mining settlement to have survived to the present. The closely-knit community due to continued isolation and its subsistence-oriented economy resulted from the “parallel” characteristics found on site. The geographical location of the site at Gua Musang, Kelantan surrounded by many parallel run of mountain peaks such as Gunung Tahan and Gunung Benom. Kampung Pulai settlement located parallel with the Sungai Galas river with run of hills as the backdrop. These factors resulted in independence of Pulai Chinese and their less interactions with the outside world.

ORIENTATION. VIEWS Placed allign to the river, bank and hills for views.

WIND Void created in between for prevailing wind

KNIT The vertical walls create strong parallel elements while the horizontal human circulation passing through the walls act as a knit and tie the relationship of building with people.

CIRCULATION Mirror the existing staircase located at the opposite plaza

SUN ORIENTATION Wall planes act as sun shading strategy

GRID Parallel planes according to grid of settlement & temple

Human . Past The emphasis on vertival wall planes tend to make the building free and encourage active relationship with the sky to receive light.

Site Plan

It reminisces of how Kampung Pulai people survived at here, they are satisfied and grateful hence they extend their own continuity rhythm to work, live and continue their generation here. Site Section 5

Second Floor Plan

First Floor Plan

Ground Floor Plan

Relationship Play of material such as expanded metal within and timber at the facade creates different transparency of view to the user.The boundary within the space is easy to break through but the boundary with outside is harder due to the distance and gap by the nature geographically, it is to reminisces the ancestors of Kampung Pulai who live their life without much interaction with outside however the bond between them are strengthen due to the religion and culture that brings them together and represented by the staircase framing the ShuiYue Temple.

AXIS 7

MEMORY

Section A-Aâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;

WEAVE

THRESHOLD 8

Parallel . Knit

Visitor’s Interpretive Centre | Kampung Pulai, Kelantan 体验中心

吉兰丹布赖

邂逅的平行线

Boundless

Community Swimming Centre | Port Dickson, Negeri Sembilan 社森区美游兰泳波中德心申

无际的海平线

“WHAT DEFINES BOUNDARY OF A COASTLINE?” Port Dickson, Negeri Sembilan located at west coast of Malaysia. The natural landscape is overwhelmed with developments losing its local identity and history. The relationship of the communities closely ties to the sea since the past. The social dimensions and history of the place serve as the reference point to their cultural identity. Initiating a relationship between the community and public through swimming and cultural activity, the community swimming centre allow the community to appreciate the nature through visual, experiential and spatial composition, forming the overall environmental setting of the place.

ORIENTATION. VIEWS Placed align with site to maximize view to beach.

Macro Site Plan

Easy Access

Aerial View of Site

Tree Buffer

Sunset View

Settlement Along

SEA. WATER Pools placed in a line forming void to building.

WIND. VOID Elevated up to allow wind to pass through.

Framing Horizon BOUNDARY The implied presence of ground, horizon and sky creates a concrete presence of nature to life. The primary route held along the PD coastline links and connects PD together.

SUN. LIGHTING The long facade is facing north and south.

Spine-clustered GRID. INTERSECTION Sea tides acts as life force & ties people with sea.

Human . Present The cape is flanked with mangrove swamp at one side and the beach at another creating a unique context. The issue of lack of identity and bridging the gap between public and community need to be addressed through the program held at the spaces. By implementing traditional culture approach to celebrate beauty of beach and also swimming we hope to attract community back to the beach.

Site Plan

First Floor Plan

Ground Floor Plan

Basement Floor Plan

Building. Nature The spatial direction is formed by the sea and leads people to the swimming centre. The transparency of the building’s boundary allow the building to appear as part of the coastline. The low skyline allow the building to blend with the nature well. The edges formed by the water interact with light and silhouette formed form columns and roof openings created temporal rhythm of nature. These form closed vista which invite people to step back and admire beauty of nature.

“Those place that we can’t reach with our feet, we can reach with our eyes, those place that we couldn’t reach with eyes, we can reach with our mind.” - Norberg-Schulz

EDGES 15

HORIZON

Section A-Aâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;

INTIMACY

THRESHOLD 16

Boundless

Community Swimming Centre | Port Dickson, Negeri Sembilan 社区游泳中心

森美兰波德申

无际的海平线

Interwoven

Community Learning Centre | Klang, Selangor 社巴区生学老习城中心

新旧的交织线

“HOW TO PRESERVE THE PAST IN THE PRESENT?” Our site is held on the historical street in South Klang, Jalan Stesen 1. The well-preserved rows of shophouses are with history of nearly hundred years, they have witnessed the history and past of Malaysia. There are many traditional businesses and trades on the street. The three existing historic shophouse buildings on our site are the first bat kut teh, Teck Teh and Wing On Medical Hall which hold strong cultural values and social memories of the society. There is a row of half-century old food stalls along side alley beside our site. Attracting the local community back to the beautiful Klang old town become the key issue on site.

Macro Site Plan

THE PAST Urban Wall - Local Identity The facade with near 100 years old have strong historical value to the community.

SUN ANALYSIS Long side facade of site is facing to west

THE PRESENT Fusion - Infuse of Contemporary The contrasting of building attraction to locals.

SOLID & VOID Correspond to intimate open space of the street

WIND Cross and stack ventilation by courtyard & old louver fenestration

Site Plan

create

THE FUTURE Youth and Green - Sustainability Strengthen communityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s identity and preserve our culture to sustain it.

CIRCULATION The spaces are organized in linear arrangement

SPATIAL HIERARCHY Transition from public space to private space at upper floor

Connection to City The youth learning centre highlights Klangâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s cultural diversity with music and art culture fusion to reconnect the young. The converging path of different communities on site, the collaboration between schools, local artisans, local culture learning centre and local associations are crucial to attract and connect the communities together.

Ground Floor Plan

First Floor Plan

Second Floor Plan

Human. Past - Present The space are lit up naturally and ventilated throughout the day. The old fenestrations create sense of nostalgia while the steel structure with brick wall infill are the contemporary component forming a balance in the space.

ROOF JAMMING SPACE

EXPERIMENTAL THEATRE

WING ON MEDICAL HALL

CELEBRATION 23

SCALE

ART STUDIO

FOYER

COLLABORATIVE AREA

ARCHIVE WORKSHOP GALLERY

Sectional Perspective

TRANSITION

INTIMACY

Interwoven

Community Learning Centre | Klang, Selangor 社区学习中心

巴生老城

新旧的交织

The Rhythm

Cultural Experience Centre | Jalan Tun Tan Cheng Lock, Kuala Lumpur 文化体验中心

吉隆坡老城

川流不息的城

“WHAT LIES IN THE FUTURE OF AN OLD CITY?” What is a city made up of? From the past. Aging is natural process every human being would go through and it applies to the city as well. We would not want to see our city to turn younger where all the social memories that ties the community and place would dissapear and forgotten as time passes. The need of enhancing the music culture on site is important to create sense of belonging of people with the city. The collaboration between local association and government university, ASWARA in creating fusion music, create interactive engagement with public while complement use of Central Market strengthen cultural diversity element of site.

Site Plan

Rhythm of

Live Ritual Life

+ Enclosed

RITUAL Play during rituals tradition, ceremonies and festivals

LIFE Teaching, learning and sharing after work

UNIQUE EDGES Adjacent with Central Market, Kasturi Walk, Klang River

RIVER Create a public urban park to create continuity with river

LIVE As catalyst to attract young back to old streets

= Open

RITUAL + LIFE + LIVE Layering of symphony form intersection of space for different type of theatres

CENTRAL MARKET AXIS CONFLUENCE. NODE Form connection with river and A bridge create to amplify the heritage building connection of two voids

WIND Southwest prevailing wind create microclimate

Reconnect with River The music cultural experience centre create connection with Klang River, century-old building, Central Market and Kasturi Walk forming a cultural loop. Public can engage with nature and river through peopleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s park and collaboration theatre for festiveâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s performance hence creating the public realm and meeting the socio-cultural needs of heritage core of KL.

Ground Floor Plan

Second Floor Plan

First Floor Plan

Human. Past-Present-Future Diverse and cohesive communities can be built and the quality of life in the city been improved by re-connecting the river with city and local music culture forming the rhythm of Malaysia.

PERFORMANCE THEATRE

FUSION EXPERIMENTAL PRACTICE SPACE

CENTRAL MARKET

NATURAL LIGHTING Almost 60% of the floor is naturally lighted

EMBRACE 31

ELEVATED FLOOR Create cooling effect and connection with streets

MULTILAYER

JALAN TUN TAN CHENG LOCK

FUSION STAGE

OPEN GALLERY

RECEPTION

COLLABORATION THEATRE

GREEENERY Provide shade and create connection with Klang River

NATURAL VENTILATION Southwest prevailing wind & microclimate from river

Sectional Perspective

INTIMACY

CONNECTION

The Rhythm

Cultural Experience Centre | Jalan Tun Tan Cheng Lock, Kuala Lumpur 文化体验中心

吉隆坡老城

川流不息的城

October 2019 Heritage Preservation & Economic Development Students’ Workshop

In The Making | The Fashion Incubator Jalan Tunku Abdul Rahman, Kuala Lumpur

Best Project Award

Urban Liveability Infusing urban green spaces throughout the urban fabric allows a network of connection that improves the walkability and residents’ living environment.

Architectural Conservation Category

SCE Project Asia, Studio Architetti Croce, IUAV University of Venice and Venice Architectural Association (VAA) in collaboration with Think City, organized a thematic design workshop. This workshop aims to engage young professionals to re-imagine the future of Kuala Lumpur’s historic centre. Located at Jalan Tunku Abdul Rahman in the northern part of Kuala Lumpur historic zone, the studied precint is highly driven by commercial activities, predominantly textile tradings with residences infilled in between. The study aims to highlight the traditional textile industry and to preserve the traditional shophouses in the precinct.

Blue Corridor for Local Residents and Visitors Extending the public space to the riverbank which helps to reclaim the role of Klang river in built environment fabric.

Proposed Building Typology Adding an airwell in the center to increase natural lighting while provide common space, incubates local talent and improve living quality.

August 2018

April & September 2019

The SABD 20th Anniversary Exhibition

Future Thinkers V & VI Design Forum

Exhibitor

Sem III & Sem IV Speaker

Taylor’s University SABD 20th Anniversary Exhibition (SABD stands for School of Architecture, Building & Design) showcase collective architecture student graduate works produced by SABD in the past 20 years publicly.

The SABD Design Forum dubbed ‘Future Thinkers’ is bi-annual event aims to showcase the school’s homegrown creative thinkers from Architecture Degree and Master program as well as the school’s main platform for intellectual discourses between students, lecturers and industry partners.

June 2020 Future Thinkers VII Online Design Forum Head of Organising Committee

This is the first time organizing Future Thinkers VII SABD Design Forum via online platform. As head of organising committee for this Future Thinkers VII, involving in preparation process of this event enable me to learn more on the operation of an online event. The event went global with alumni, Architects, and professionals outside Malaysia attended the forum. Attendees from Singapore, Australia, Philippines, Hong Kong, China, and India, on top of the students and lecturers who were in the different states of Malaysia. A total of 357 attendees have witnessed and interacted with our very articulate presenters.

SIM LI MEI