Our studio master Mr. James Lim gave a a wonderful speech about his journey in architecture life to us in theory class. His mesmerising projects that he has done while he was working in zlg design at Singapore. Most of his projects/ideas was to merge nature into architecture world such as random façade treatment, floating idea and mainly integrating with natural phenomenon into his buildings. For the lecture 5 (materiality and immateriality), the example of the buildings he talked was quite easy and catchy for us to understand. Besides that, he also shared about working life in architecture firms. The management team of design and project are precise in working from the professionalism.
These are the buildings he talked in the class:
-Point 92, Malaysia
-Natura gurney, Malaysia
-Old Folks Home, Kolkata, India
1) Point 92
ZLG design completed this work in late 2012. The name of the building was inspired by the size of the site (0.92 acres)consists of a single 19-storey tower with 200,000 sq feet of office space.
The implement of structural look for the facade using cement concrete was the main idea for this Point 0.92. The another idea of floating from the nature was successfully done with intelligent way of creating vertical garden surround the basement so the building would looks like floating above.
At night, lights from the building will glow randomly through the random arrangements of the facade openings. They implied the same method during day time as well.
Besides that, lobby of the building one of the main objective for this building. Using of different type of materials; plywood for the ceiling finishes and polished tiles for the flooring. To have the touch of nature they planted trees around the lobby to buffer/reduce the noise from highway.
2) Natura Gurney
Designed by ZLG design. The same aesthetic sense from building Point 92 implied which is the floating above the nature bed and that is why they named it "nature gurney". The random openings and double volume height created ambiance of relaxation and end view for users.
3)Old folks Home, Kolkata, India
This projects is located in India and form of this building is in clustered to have aesthetic value and as well bringing an old age home to the building. The raw material reflects calmness and tranquility to the user. The open courtyard give a pleasing ambience to the user. This building incorporates nature because the end user are old people and the materials were used are bricks, concrete, stones, etc.
Q&A
1. Novi
From all of the design, is therr any issue with the end user feedback?
There are feedback received like its too iconic even thou its not in a big scale, but mostly, the main point of the feedback from the end user is that they liked it and enjoy using the space.
2. Pang Shi han
Comparing Malaysia and Singapore, do you think Singapore is a better platform for architects to explore and be given more opportunities in terms of exposure and experiences?
- yes, as Singapore is a small country, it becomes a design hub where architects from Singapore will receive various projects from other countries around south east Asia.
- architect will be given more exposure toward international projects and be able to work with people from all around the world.
3. Yap yen ling
In your opinion, do you think the architect still following the theories of architecture in terms of designing rather then just follow the clients’ needs?
- Of course we still follow those theories somehow but when architects design also need to refer back to the clients requirement and as I mentioned just now the project Point 92, we do persuit and try to educate them with our typology and design sense. If you talk about theories in term of philosophy kind I think this seldom happen in Malaysia and it is too individualism to practice in Malaysia too.
4. Logeshwaran
Your (mr. James) designs speaks a lot about random openings and allow natural phenomenon penetrate thru building. What if the client likes the idea, but with neat and less opening on the facade?
- Convincing the client is hard but work smart with what you can substitute with clients needs with a proposed cost.
http://www.archdaily.com/386153/900-zlg-design
and self notes:)
ZLG design completed this work in late 2012. The name of the building was inspired by the size of the site (0.92 acres)consists of a single 19-storey tower with 200,000 sq feet of office space.
The implement of structural look for the facade using cement concrete was the main idea for this Point 0.92. The another idea of floating from the nature was successfully done with intelligent way of creating vertical garden surround the basement so the building would looks like floating above.
At night, lights from the building will glow randomly through the random arrangements of the facade openings. They implied the same method during day time as well.
Besides that, lobby of the building one of the main objective for this building. Using of different type of materials; plywood for the ceiling finishes and polished tiles for the flooring. To have the touch of nature they planted trees around the lobby to buffer/reduce the noise from highway.
2) Natura Gurney
Designed by ZLG design. The same aesthetic sense from building Point 92 implied which is the floating above the nature bed and that is why they named it "nature gurney". The random openings and double volume height created ambiance of relaxation and end view for users.
3)Old folks Home, Kolkata, India
This projects is located in India and form of this building is in clustered to have aesthetic value and as well bringing an old age home to the building. The raw material reflects calmness and tranquility to the user. The open courtyard give a pleasing ambience to the user. This building incorporates nature because the end user are old people and the materials were used are bricks, concrete, stones, etc.
Q&A
1. Novi
From all of the design, is therr any issue with the end user feedback?
There are feedback received like its too iconic even thou its not in a big scale, but mostly, the main point of the feedback from the end user is that they liked it and enjoy using the space.
2. Pang Shi han
Comparing Malaysia and Singapore, do you think Singapore is a better platform for architects to explore and be given more opportunities in terms of exposure and experiences?
- yes, as Singapore is a small country, it becomes a design hub where architects from Singapore will receive various projects from other countries around south east Asia.
- architect will be given more exposure toward international projects and be able to work with people from all around the world.
3. Yap yen ling
In your opinion, do you think the architect still following the theories of architecture in terms of designing rather then just follow the clients’ needs?
- Of course we still follow those theories somehow but when architects design also need to refer back to the clients requirement and as I mentioned just now the project Point 92, we do persuit and try to educate them with our typology and design sense. If you talk about theories in term of philosophy kind I think this seldom happen in Malaysia and it is too individualism to practice in Malaysia too.
4. Logeshwaran
Your (mr. James) designs speaks a lot about random openings and allow natural phenomenon penetrate thru building. What if the client likes the idea, but with neat and less opening on the facade?
- Convincing the client is hard but work smart with what you can substitute with clients needs with a proposed cost.
http://www.archdaily.com/386153/900-zlg-design
and self notes:)