Talula Hill is perched on a hilltop near Gunung Lambak in Kluang, Johor. The 10 acre site was originally an oil palm estate that is to be converted into a vegetable farm and fruit orchard. The intention is to develop a place for organic farming and sustainable living — a model for a future green livelihood. The proprietor’s plan is to have a reception building giving access to a cluster of cabins. The cabins will include a multipurpose hall for small gatherings. Steel frame buildings or prefabricated buildings are proposed for ease of construction. The cabins are stacked together on the slope with voids between the cabins. The buildings are raised on stilts and cantilever from the hillside in keeping with the concept of architecture that ‘touches the ground lightly’.
The planning began with multiple attempts to position the cabins to suit the existing terrain and access while ensuring efficient surface drainage that would feed a man-made pond. As one enters the farmstay, one arrives at a welcome centre that houses a registration counter and a small reading area. The building’s entrance has breathtaking views of the surroundings. Timber and stone are the materials of choice for a rustic overall appearance.
SAMA Square: Reinventing Urban Connectivity in Setapak
Nestled in the vibrant heart of Setapak, SAMA Square emerges as a groundbreaking landmark, pioneering a new paradigm in community and Commercial development. This project epitomizes the spirit of unity and communal engagement, encapsulated in its name, "SAMA SQUARE," which translates to "togetherness." As a beacon of community and multi-generational interaction, SAMA Square invites the residents of Kampung Baru Air Panas and beyond to celebrate life in its myriad forms, from shopping and dining to leisure and activities, all accessible from its strategic location at Setapak.
Introduction: Unveiling the Heartbeat of Setapak
SAMA Square is thoughtfully segmented into three distinct zones: the Main Market Building, offering a plethora of dining and shopping experiences; the Open Street People Plaza, a dynamic space for pop-up events and gatherings; and the Retail Village, a curated collection of shops, eateries, and service outlets designed to cater to every need and desire.
Design Ethos: A Canvas of Urban Vitality
SAMA Square is a bold response to the challenges and opportunities of urban living in Setapak, Kuala Lumpur. By adopting a 'club sandwich' approach to its design, the project maximizes the use of its ground plane, creating a layered experience of public plazas, markets, and retail spaces that not only enriches the urban fabric but also promotes sustainable and vibrant community interactions.
Celebrating Vibrancy of Life: The Heart of Community Engagement
The overarching planning concept of SAMA Square is to empower and engage the local community through an integrated design that fosters social interaction, supports active lifestyles, and encourages a dynamic interplay of public and private spaces. This vision comes to life in the People’s Plaza, a central hub that connects various elements of the project, creating a seamless flow between the food court, market, and retail village.
Masterplan: Weaving Community Threads Through Innovative Design
Through its comprehensive mix of amenities with colourful metal decking roof and facade for community markets, retail villages, and pocket gardens, SAMA Square is poised to become a pulsating heart of the community.
A Tapestry of Spaces: From People’s Plaza to Urban Retreats
The market at SAMA Square is a revolutionary space that transcends traditional market experiences. It is a hub of freshness and variety, housing fashion wear, coffee roasteries, and food courts alongside bakeries and patisseries. The market's design, with its translucent facades and strategic lighting, creates an ambiance that is both inviting and innovative, fostering a unique shopping and dining experience that extends into the evening hours.
A sustainable Market: A Beacon of Light and Life
"SAMA SQUARE" redefines the marketplace, setting new standards for cleanliness, organization, and accessibility. The modular stall design and linear organization streamline operations and enhance the shopping experience, connecting seamlessly with residential areas and providing easy access for all. The development is meticulously designed to optimize rainwater harvesting, passive ventilation and natural lighting, catering specifically to the tropical climate. This approach not only enhances comfort but also promotes sustainable design by significantly reducing energy consumption.
Conclusion: SAMA Square - Where Every Day is a Celebration of Community
SAMA Square stands as a monument to community, vibrancy, and innovation in Setapak, Kuala Lumpur. Through its thoughtful design, strategic planning, and commitment to inclusivity, SAMA Square not only meets the needs of its community but also inspires a new vision for urban living.
B-Quik: Revitalizing Car Maintenance with a Modern, Eye-Catching Design with Steel
B-Quik is a high-standard car maintenance service center brand. It’s well-regarded as a quick and convenient option, with its wellknown unique circular symbol and bright yellow box-shaped façade, visible from the road or surrounding neighborhood, The client’s brief is to upgrade the building’s external appearance to capture the concept of modernity and create more eye-catching spaces. The design team at Architects 49 (Phuket), then began to evaluate and develop the design based on B-Quik’s original identity, adjusting some features to create a new memorable picture of this vehicle repair center and B-Quik’s office branch on Ratchadaphisek Road in Bangkok.
A maintenance center’s primary role is simple: it provides free space for automobiles waiting to be repaired in front of an area, allowing easy access to parking in rows. A modest reception area sits adjacent to the repair bay. On the second and upper floors of the yellow façade box, there is a spare parts storage area and a compartment for several tires. The architect selected to retain the flow by grouping all maintenance service stations.
B-Quik’s strong point emphasizes speedy service: the ability to wait to pick up the vehicle. The lobby was moved from downstairs to the second floor with an enlarged room to accommodate customers waiting for their cars. The shape of this new lobby is intended to be a capsule logo frame, piled in sizes to resemble the letter “B” that customers are familiar with. It also serves as the façade, which retains the brand’s trademark yellow color, crucial to its identity.
The structure of the maintenance building, including the main elements of the wall and roof, is constructed using metal sheet for lightness and durability, reflecting people’s perception of the brand. In addition, the architect adds characteristics by designing vertical sunshade panels for the waiting area and office. As a result, the customers may see the view of the outside road from a higher perspective. At the same time, they can see their cars in the repair bay from above. This vertical shading device is the exterior frame of the black capsule. When viewed from the outside, the interior produces a sense of dynamism in the eyes of those passing by. It also improves the new image to set it apart from competing brands.
To design the new B-Quik branch, the architects used COLORBOND® steel in Valiant Grey color, 0.51 mm. after painted thick from BlueScope on Trimdek 760 profile from Lysaght for the workshop façade on the side and back walls of this more than 500-square-meter building. The idea behind using dark-colored metal sheets as the background for the brilliant yellow lobby is to make this area stand out and give it a contemporary look. The installation procedure took place from the ground up to the roof, using a ZINCALUME® steel, 0.47 mm. total thick from BlueScope on Trimdek 760 profile from Lysaght. Regarding the benefits of employing metal sheets, the architects explain that this material has a length that enables them to build big walls without joints. This is a significant benefit, according to the architects, compared to many other materials that require joints to be handled at a distance of 2.4 meters. Metal sheet walls also have less leakage form joints problem.