Design Report

Co-Working Office by Seow Koji Takehira 0320816

Table of Content
1.0 Introduction to Project
1.1 Abstract
1.2 Project Introduction
1.3 Project Aims and Objectives

2.0 Site Investigation and Contextual Studies

2.1 Site Introduction
2.2 Historical background of site
2.3 Site significant issues
2.5 Macro-site analysis

3.0 Project Background and Design Intentions or Strategies

3.1 Micro Site Analysis
3.2 Precedent Studies
3.3 Architectural Position and Design Intentions
3.4 Programme/ Project Brief
3.5 Form Studies
3.6 Spatial Programming

4.0 Environmental and Technological Strategies

4.1 Orientation: Wind and Solar Analysis
4.2 Environmental Strategies
4.3 Sustainability Concepts
4.3.1 Energy Conservation Features
4.3.2 Material and Resources
4.3.3 Acoustical Consideration
4.3.4 Innovation
4.4 Structural Concept
4.4.1 Buildability and Structural Logic

5.0 List of Reference

5.1 Image Reference

6.0 Tutorial Log Book

 1.3 Project Aim and Objective
1.0 Introduction to Project
1.1 Abstract According to the intention of this project, it would be focusing on:
- To restore the meaning and purpose of “work” as a value rather than a money-making scheme.
In recent years the offices has dramatically shifted from what it once was a conventional approach. The demand for - To provide spiritual uplift and inspiration within the site where the experience of a “place” is lost.
hierarchy, privacy and efficiency are foremost consideration for designing a perfect office environment. While observing - To well interweave nature as part of architecture to soften the urban landscape
the current trend, the new norm may rise into having a Live + Work + Meet / Congregate / Play concept as the future - Outreach to youth and entrepreneurs where it acts as a catalyst to bring positive impact within the site
of the office environment. Although this concept may not be new as it was the same concept planners introduced before - Architecture as a form of beauty once again, rather than a form for mechanistic function.
the invention of automobiles. The concept is to provide housing within the proximity of the factories and offices. Making
it more efficient in travelling time and distance. Also referred to as mixed-use development, the ‘live-work-meet’
concept benefits the working people of today by cutting travel or shorter commute and more time for activities likewise
engage into better social life.

1.2 Project Introduction

In this age of consumerism, everyone is blinded by what we want for ourselves rather than what we truly need within
this society. The perception of the power of purchase has lost its meaning due to how we define the value of a product:
we now no longer pay attention to the means of its manufacture due to the rise in automated machinery processes, but
define the value of a product largely through its price point and its baiting taglines to emphasize its creditability for the
people to purchase which is often overflowed with unnecessary information.

A victim of this phenomenon and money-driven society, Petaling Street, or Malaysia’s Chinatown, was once a home and
a pride to the Chinese ethnic, being a heritage built upon the emergence of a Chinese identity in a foreign land and the
need for settlement to form a community which allows interaction and connection amongst it. However today, it has
lost its essence and roots of being “Chinatown,” now predominantly occupied with migrant workers and abandoned
shophouses that is misrepresentative of its name.

As much as the flow of time has vastly changed Petaling Street’s identity, could we bring positivity, meaning and a new
image for the place by the means of architecture?
 2.2 Historical background of site
2.0 Site Investigation and Contextual Studies
2.1 Site Introduction 1800:
The booming of tin mining industry which was then led to a steady migration of Chinese community into the city.
Located in the Chinatown of Kuala Lumpur, Petaling Street. The site sits next to the junction between Jalan Sultan and
Jalan Hang Jebat which is an existing Parking lot for vehicles.

Nearby to many shophouses and cafes, the site is in a strategic location where it is accessible to its user’s and in terms
of its zoning where many amenities are available.

1980:
New cultural policies emphasised on Malay & Islamic symbolism in urban space. It turns out the Chinese was being
defined as ethnic minority.

2003:
Chinese used Chinatown to negotiate their cultural identity to contest the state’s version of multiculturalism and restore
the Chinese memory
2.3 Site significant issues c. Petaling Street as tourism hotspot where it invites non-context related business such as café and bars which the
“Chinatown” culture is only meant for marketing its business.
a. Consumerist behavior whereas losing its local demographics over time by the migrant workers. It has increased
the living cost and rental of the shop whereas Petaling Street are now known as the place to “make money” rather
than to culturally appreciate as a Chinatown.

d. Loss of meaning to its place. Whereas the ethics, values and purpose of working within the site had been lost to
consumerist intentions.
b. Urban spaces for cars rather than a space for the people. More parking lots are created which invites more cars
from other areas that cause traffic congestions.
2.4 Macro-site analysis

Figure ground
Zoning/ Land use Diagram

Key Buildings around site

Transition
3.0 Project Background and Design Intentions or

Strategies

3.1 Micro site analysis SWOT Analysis:

Strength
- Good flow of vehicular and pedestrian traffic
- Located within Tourist hotspot
- Existing Chinatown as a Landmark
- Public Transport Accessibility

Weakness
- Noise Pollution due to traffic congestion
- Habitation of Homeless and Prostitution
- Black market near the site
- Safety Concerns
- Over Population of Migrant Workers.
- Hygiene issues

Opportunity
- Business and Entrepreneurship
- A Catalyst in upbringing cultural appreciation and value
- Social Hub to gather locals and tourist at one place.
Site Analysis Overview

Threat
- Disappearance of local communities whereby replacing the context of communities with migrant
workers in the area as the new locals.
- Cost of living
- Heavy traffic flow
- Nearby developing office tower that may cause traffic congestion around the area.

Views to site Views from site Views within site

Site Elevation:
It is noticeable whereby the skyline of the site is disrupted by the developing PNB tower building.

PNB Tower

Site

Chinese Opera Shop houses

3.2 Precedent Studies B. Terrapin Bright Green - “14 Pattern of Biophilic Design: Improving Health and Well-being in the Built
A. Christopher Alexander - “The Nature of Order” Environment”

In the four chapters books of “The Nature of Order” written by Christopher Alexander explores architecture in the Biophilic design can reduce stress, enhance creativity and clarity of thought, improve our well-being and expedite
manner to understand what gives life and beauty and true functionality to towns and buildings. Each of the books healing; as the world population continues to urbanize, these qualities are ever more important. “14 Patterns of Biophilic
deals with one facet of the discipline, where it provides a world view on how language for the construction and Design” articulates the relationships between nature, human biology and the design of the built environment so that
transitioning to a new kind of society can be rooted in the nature of human beings. we may experience the human benefits of biophilia in our design applications.

The four books, each one an essay on the topic of living structure are connected and independent. Where each sheds
light on one facet of living structure: first, the definition; second, the process of generating living structure; third, the
practical vision of an architecture guided by the concept of living structure; and fourth, the cosmological
underpinnings and implications brought into being by the idea of living structure. Thus, the book offers a view of
human-centered universe, a view of order, in which the soul or human feeling and the soul, plays a central role.
It is radical to view architecture once again detached from the 21st century functionalist point of view and embrace the
truth of beauty and experience that can’t be explained; while being part of the buildings important programme.
However, by doing so may instill the importance on the honesty of human feelings and experience in a place which had
been loss on site.
Extracted from the book: -
“biophilic design is being championed as a complementary strategy for addressing workplace stress, student
performance, patient recovery, community cohesiveness and other familiar challenges to health and overall well-being.”
Whereby it provides the idea for the potential of biophilia, which is to reconnect human beings with nature to heal
spiritually. There are three types of nature-design relationship which can be studied: Nature in the space; Natural
Analogue; Nature of the space.

Extracted from the book:

“When we compare different organism, we feel that some things have more life than the other- even though, technically,
they all have equal degree of life.”- Book One, The Phenomenon of Life, Christopher Alexander

Which gives an idea, architecturally, even if we have sort out many functions of spatial programmes at once, the users
would redefine the programme itself once again which may use the space in an unintended way to suite its need.
Thus, the building should be designed for people as a biological organism, respecting the mind-body systems as C. Co-working office precedent- Second Home Spitalfield by Selgascano Architect
indicators of health and well-being in the context of what is locally appropriate and responsive. As part of the design
strategies, a good biophilic design should draw from influential perspectives, such as the health conditions, socio- The work space occupies the ground and first floor of the 3-story factory. It accommodates different stages and sizes of
cultural norms and expectations, past experiences, frequency and duration of the user experience, the many speeds at companies where the workspace consists of communities from diverse industries. From fashion to financial service and
which it may be encountered, and user perception and processing of the experience – to create spaces that are technology, it is a common ground for individual who seeks for creativity and innovation.
inspirational, restorative, healthy, as well as integrative with the functionality of the place and the “urban ecosystem”
to which it is applied.

The architect’s approach for the design is to use lightweight materials, contextualizing its design by the use of colors
and adapting biophilic properties. As a result, it created a multi-sensory awareness due to the presence of activity, a
space of varying scales and occupation for different needs and spatial arrangement which enhances better social
interaction. It invites a various intensity of light and shadows throughout the days and morphed its spatial typology by
the movement of people.
3.3 Architectural Position and Design Intentions B. Design Response

The design for a Co-working office will aim to:

A. Response to site context

C. Programmatic Response
3.4 Programme/ Project Brief 3.5 Form Study

Project Brief:
The exploration of this project was done through an understanding of “The Nature of Order” by Christopher Alexander,
in which writes that architecture works primarily with the human emotion and experience, thus, can simulate the
feeling of being ‘alive,’ which cannot be defined and well-speculated through a functionalist approach.
The form is studied through the understanding of biophilic design and human spirituality where unorthodox form shall
be adapted which relates to us as a human being. Organic, Parametric, and curves are the most relatable form which
human beings can relate and resonate to. From the scale of a cell to the scale of a universe, the nature’s way of forming
and striving within an environment, the nature’s analogue that is perhaps what the site might need as a form of spiritual
inspiration.

The design’s core principle is hence, human emotion: the purest interpretation of forms and feelings as well as the
experience as part of the programme that provides spiritual uplift, a sense of realization and the existential question of
self within the space.

Programme:

The programme would focus on the experience of the “being” within the living structure, which is important to
redefine, restore or re-instill the ethic and the value of working within a place that had been lost. The programme
would be separated into three segments such as the living, working and meeting quarter.

Charles Eames - “The Power of Ten”

As a result, the building would be designed as if it’s a living cell, where it acts as a catalyst that emerges out from the
site to its surrounding. Therefore, the users within the building would be imagined as if the small little components of
a cell which make the whole structure the “living structure”.
3.6 Spatial Programming

Ground Floor Plan Second Floor Plan

First Floor Plan Third Floor Plan

4.0 Environmental and Technological Strategies
4.1 Orientation: Wind and Solar Analysis

Wind Rose Diagram

Sun Path

Shadow Casting:

Through observation, the building site is oriented facing the North-West direction whereas the orientation of the
building is considered accordingly. However, the annual direction of the wind by wind rose diagram is also part of the
consideration where it could provide effective passive cooling strategies and promote natural ventilation. The wind
direction that are most prominent on site are from East-northeast. South and West direction. Thus, with these in mind,
the building design shall adapt to implement biophilic properties.
9am 12pm 4pm
4.2 Environmental Strategies 4.3 Sustainability Concepts

For the respective design, it would aim and focus to achieve the following environmental strategies: 4.3.1 Energy Conservation Features

a. Climate resilience
- To focus on identifying and managing risk of possible seasonal weather changes which may greatly
impact the building life-cycle, end-users and neighboring buildings. For example, in March, the northeast
monsoon and southwest begins at the end of May which would be under the influence of strong winds.

b. Engagement
- To raise awareness of sustainability as a concept amongst the community. In addition, to support the Orientation
adoption of positive environmental behavior and responsibility.

c. Building
- To incorporate biophilic properties which aims to heal human spirit by reconnecting the community
back with nature. Equally, to adopt passive design by incorporating the fundamental element of nature of
sunlight, wind and green as part of the design.

d. Education for sustainability Wind

- To promote and embed sustainability concept as part of the programme to learn about the importance
of sustainability by experiencing on firsthand.

e. Energy
- To monitor, reduce and reuse energy which are directly associated with the buildings design and lessen
the carbon footprint as low as possible.

Sun

Green
4.3.2 Material and Resources 4.4 Structural Concept

The building would focus on the usage of timber where it is considered as one of the most sustainable material as
compared to concrete and steel. As the production and preparation of the material for timber requires less energy and
it has low carbon footprint.

4.3.3 Acoustical Consideration

The building would be facing the main primary road where noise intrusion within the space may occur. Thus: Timber louvre facade

Operable timber louvred window

Timber floor deck

Timber Baffle

Timber Glulam Column

4.3.3 Innovation

Roof System: Solar Panel would be adapted to the design as the sun is casted constantly on
the building without any interruption. Thus, making it efficient and effective to be used as
the primary energy source to be supplied in the building.

Partial Timber Structural system: An approach to experiment the usage of timber along
with other building material in a 4-story building. A catalyst for an impact for the
communities to be aware of the potential of timber as the new modern structural system.
4.4.1 Buildability and Structural Logic

The intention of the building to be in a curve and free form was also part of the process to understand the meaning of
work during the construction. The building would be treated as a sculpture, where every piece of floor slabs, columns
and beams should not be done hastefully by the idea of mass production, thus redefining the whole construction back
to the start where it was constructed by hands.

The design of the structure would be following the unorthodox method of construction which would not follow the
conventional column grid system. However, it would still be able to construct with the idea of understanding the
building as a “table”.
Details:
5.0 List of Reference
5.1 Image Reference

First Floor Plan NTS

Ground Floor Plan NTS

Second Floor Plan NTS

Basement Plan NTS Third Floor Plan NTS

Front Elevation NTS

Cross Section NTS

6.0 Tutorial Logbook

Some tutorials were carried out online where tutorial logbook is irrelevant to monitor the progress.