New Centre for Master Builders Association Malaysia

Competition Education Interior Workspace

New Centre for Master Builders Association Malaysia

MASSIVE PASSIVE

MASSIVE

The building is conceived not just as a shelter, but as a support network machine that incubates many micro ecosystems. Therefore the new image of MBAM will not merely be one of an industry association, but a think tank that houses a conducive environment allowing its members to turn massive ideas into workable practices and set new standards for the construction world.

PASSIVE

The new philosophy for sustainable design is to intelligently orchestrate a variety of high and low tech strategies to achieve the highest efficiency of power use and lowest carbon footprint cost. This building design approaches this challenge by embracing nature not just as a resource, but also its moderator. The unique façade contorts to minimize solar insolation, while maximizing the intake of natural prevailing winds. This passive approach consumes zero mechanical energy with the added bonus of creating a uniquely iconic form.

COLLABORATION

The resulting design creates many outdoor terraces that are shaded. The unique façade not only cools the building down, but also creates comfortable microclimates around the building for meaningful encounters and informal gatherings. Such a relaxed setting makes the headquarters a hub for continuous learning and a model for collaborative production.

LEADERSHIP

By creating a headquarters that transcend outdated modes of placemaking, this building and its owners become leaders of a society that is increasingly conscious of the environment. Not only does the building set new standards for design, its flora in the open gardens will attract a wide variety of fauna to eventually form many small but important ecosystems.

 

SITE CHALLENGES

BUILDING ORIENTATION AND ICON

Situated along major thoroughfares, the building requires careful placement with respect to its neighbors and surroundings. The North and South faces are key to creating a unique identity for MBAM and its ideas about sustainable construction.

MAXIMIZING PREVAILING WIND ORIENTATION

A major challenge is how to capitalize on the prevailing wind conditions that are uninhibited due to the low suburban surroundings. The building’s footprint forces it to sit on an east-west orientation, while the prevailing winds blow rather consistently 45 degrees to the site. How then do we solve this issue without yielding to heavy mechanical and electrical demands?

MINIMIZING SOLAR INSOLATION AT FAÇADE, MAXIMIZING FOR PV PANELS

A further challenge is the solar path of the tropical sun. While its path is predictable, the question is how to minimize heat again while still reaping the benefits of natural daylighting without resorting to costly insulated glass, electrical heliostats, and other appliances.

MAXIMIZE SURROUNDING VIEW FROM THE BUILDING

The site sits on a flat area with uninterrupted views of its surroundings. Maximizing natural daylighting should be in tandem with creating pleasant work environments, and that includes provisions for views without the discomfort of solar glare.

USER TYPES AND THEIR OVERLAPS

This project has essentially three different users, the owners and admin, the users and members, and the public. The project is carefully designed to allow all parties to co-exist within this sphere of business and learning, while still allowing each party to maintain a suitable level of separation and dedicated use of some facilities.

FLEXIBILITY FOR USERS TO ENSURE FUTUREPROOF BUILDING

This project is designed to be “futureproof” and with maximized flexibility. Due to the ever-changing nature of the construction industry, new types of spaces and tools demand a building space that not only can be updated for unforeseen uses, but must also cater to the evolving role that MBAM plays in society. In the future, MBAM may play a greater role in advancing the standards and technology of construction, including leadership roles in regional and community exchanges.