Holcim Awards Bronze 2011 Asia Pacific

Ecologically-designed retail and commercial building, Putrajaya, Malaysia

Type of project:	Building and civil engineering works
Start of construction:	November 2011
Main Author:	Kenneth Yeang, T. R. Hamzah & Yeang International Sdn. Bhd., Malaysia
Further Author:	Tengku Robert Hamzah, T. R. Hamzah & Yeang International Sdn. Bhd., Malaysia

Accepting the Holcim Awards Bronze 2011 Asia Pacific for “Ecologically-designed retail and commercial building, Putrajaya, Malaysia” on behalf of winners Ken Yeang and Tengku Robert Hamzah – Andy Chong of T. R. Hamzah & Yeang International Sdn. Bhd., Malaysia.

Project description
The 14-level commercial and retail building is located on the main boulevard of Malaysia’s planned city and federal administrative center, Putrajaya, 25km south of the capital, Kuala Lumpur. The building concept is based on a sophisticated, well-elaborated and integrative merger of eco-friendly state-of-the-art technologies appropriate for high quality use. The two towers are interconnected by a public atrium and pedestrian bridge, and with the shaping of the building masses producing a well-formulated urban space with an inviting atmosphere. Vegetation is actively integrated to reduce energy consumption, provide solar shading, and create comfortable spaces considering all requirements of utilization.

A double-skin façade system assimilates a number of functions acting as a ventilated air cavity, improving thermal performance and featuring traditional Malay design patterns – while also creating a unique aesthetic element in the newly-created urban space. Active water management collects and treats surface runoff water via bioswales and is stored on-site for irrigation. The lighting concept balances economic demands of the urban surrounding with the aim to minimize energy consumption by introducing grading modes that become a beneficial aesthetic soft design element.

Comment of the Holcim Awards jury Asia Pacific
The jury considered this project an imaginative and leading-edge response to upmarket building design. The well balanced, detailed and pinpointed combination of high-tech elements with the functional integration of vegetation demonstrates a complex holistic approach to creating a high-class living space that is responsive to the local climate.

The sustainable building services contribute to the concept in an exemplary way. The whole building vibrantly visualizes its environmental issues, is partially open to the public and is socially engaged with its surroundings. The integrative engineering approach leads to a sustainable building organism and is a commendable example of best practice design processes.

Image gallery
Ecologically-designed retail and commercial building, Putrajaya, Malaysia
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