Desígnscape. ARCHITECTURE meets GRAFFITI ART. Special Feature NIPPON PAINT YDA 2012 Winners. the e-magazine for design. Issue 002 /

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Desígnscape the e-magazine for design Issue 002 / 2013-02

1 Desígnscape the e-magazine for design Issue 002 / ARCHITECTURE meets GRAFFITI ART Special Feature NIPPON PAINT YDA 2012 Winners

2 This is an authorised excerpt from DESIGNSCAPE 02, FEB 2013 The full magazine can be downloaded for free from our website COPYRIGHT DESIGNSCAPE 2013 All rights reserved. The written and visual contents of this magazine are protected by relevant copyright laws. However, permission is granted for free distribution in its original electronic form, provided it is done in whole, unamended and complete with all published pages. Requests to reproduce parts of the magazine (eg excerpts / reprints ) should be addressed to info@designscapemag.com, stating the details. e-issn Publisher DESIGNscape Editor Jaz Sidhu jaz@designscapemag.com Art & Design Hadri Sabain hadri@designscapemag.com Communications Khairul Anwar khairul@designscapemag.com Issue 002, February 2013 Produced in Malaysia for worldwide distribution FREE DESIGNSCAPEmag info@designscapemag.com

The inaugural issue was received exceptionally well beyond our wildest expectations.

3 editor's note [ we've gone ] international As we go through the final stages (can't say 'go to print' because we don't!) of Designscape issue #2, we've just been back from the long break of welcoming in the Chinese New Year the Year of the Snake. The inaugural issue was received exceptionally well beyond our wildest expectations. We were surprised to see the statistics of the e-magazine being downloaded at a dizzying rate so much so that within the first 24 hours, our servers were overwhelmed! We've also received much feedback and we are endeavouring to meet the expectations of our readers from as far as Australia, the UK, Russia and the Middle East. The bulk of our readership is from Malaysia (our base), Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia, India, Pakistan, China, Taiwan and other regional countries. As a result, you'll see that we've started including a much more internationalised selection of works beginning this issue. This would be expanded to feature more up-and-coming designers designers whose work we otherwise seldom see published. Ofcourse, we shall always endevour to publish works of internationally acclaimed designers, and Mario Botta's amazing Wellness Centre graces the cover of this issue. I'd like to thank the designers who have been generous to share their projects with us as well as my small, dedicated team who have embraced the passion with as much zest as me. I'm thankful too, to the advertisers who have trusted us in doing this project in our own unique way while breaking away from the norms of the traditional publishing industry. To us, its a passion and we invite others to enjoy the ride together. While we were among the pioneers, we see today others following our e-concept. That's really great; let's all join hands to go green and save Mother Earth for the enjoyment of future generations. Please introduce Designscape to your friends far and wide and keep the feedbacks flowing in. Jaz Sidhu This e-magazine can be downloaded for free from our website and distributed freely FREE DESIGNSCAPEmag info@designscapemag.com

4 CONTENTS FEATURE PROJECT ABF Administration Building BINTULU, SARAWAK, MALAYSIA Design Network Architects DESIGNSCAPE

New Administration Building (NAB) In 2008, Asean Bintulu Fertiliser (ABF) approached the architects to design their New Administration Building (NAB) in Bintulu they had outgrown their existing

5 New Administration Building (NAB) In 2008, Asean Bintulu Fertiliser (ABF) approached the architects to design their New Administration Building (NAB) in Bintulu they had outgrown their existing office building which was built in the 1980s. The ABF plant produces anhydrous ammonia and granular urea which is used in fertilisers, amongst other products. They are a key company in Bintulu, providing employment to over 1,000 local inhabitants. ABF is a joint venture between five Asean countries namely Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Philippines, and Singapore. Project Brief Bintulu is a coastal town, some 650 kilometers from Kuching and a major industrial centre. It hosts the Petronas Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) Complex currently the world s largest liquefied natural gas production facility on a single site. The client s brief called for office space for 200 staff members in a building that was energy efficient and flexible the usual hallmarks of a modern and progressive work environment. What was un-expected and not progressive was the client s request for the demolition of the existing offices, and for the new building to sit on the cleared site. Site However, when the architects visited the site it became evident as to why the client would want to start with a clean slate the existing office building was a cluster of five blocks with steeply pitched pyramidal roofs and a Minangkabau roof as the entrance statement. The architecture of the entire complex was reminiscent of an 1980s resort hotel with its terracotta coloured roof tile façades. The existing buildings had problems with water leakages; the interiors were dim and claustrophobic because of the dark tinted windows and low ceilings. The existing site was cradled by low hills with mature trees the site is relatively low-lying when compared to its surroundings. DESIGNSCAPE

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Project Response From the onset, the architects decided that the new offices would have to be roughly four-storeys high to accommodate the clients staff, a sub-basement car park directly under this

The question that still remained in their minds was whether the existing buildings needed to be demolished to make way for this new building as architects they were very much aware that these

9 Project Response From the onset, the architects decided that the new offices would have to be roughly four-storeys high to accommodate the clients staff, a sub-basement car park directly under this building would cater for the car parking spaces required. The question that still remained in their minds was whether the existing buildings needed to be demolished to make way for this new building as architects they were very much aware that these buildings were part of the site s history. As a result, the designer's then decided to partially demolish the existing two buildings and to merge them in appearance and functions with the new 4-storey Administrative Building. Planning The new 4-storey building is designed to house all the departments within an open plan work environment with support facilities such as meeting rooms, rest areas and amenities while the existing 2-storey buildings will house communical facilities such as the medical centre, gym and library. With the demolition of a portion of the existing buildings, a space was opened up in the front of the buildings this would serve as the forecourt to the NAB. This public space works in conjunction with the 2-storey entrance lobby to the east of the site to project a strong corporate identity for the client. DESIGNSCAPE

10 CONTENTS Conclusion At the end of the day, this is an office building that performs very much like any other in this part of the world. Perhaps it deserves a second glance due to its location in Bintulu and that probably, is it. Unless one considers the effort to retain the past to weave it with the present to create a more meaningful project. The NAB shows how existing structures on a project side can be incorporated into new designs without compromising both the new or old. In fact the inclusion of the existing structures meant that the NAB is located further from the entrance road, which gives it a sense of formality as one approaches the building. The forecourt created by the demolition of the two front blocks adds to this formality and place-making. Ultimately, the architects believe that existing structures on site should take precedence above all else as they represent material and emotional investments of the past. Credits Client Asian Bintulu Fertiliser Architect Design Network Architects Design Team Leong Gian Wen Wee Hii Min Interior Designer Design Network Architects M&E Engineer Perunding Dynatech Contractor Pembinaan Tajri Built-up Area 10,000 sq m DESIGNSCAPE

years engineering peace of mind

years engineering peace of mind 1917 2017 engineering peace of mind Port Melbourne [ Certificate of Incorporation September 1923 ] Union St, Brunswick One hundred ago four brothers, Ben, Ern, Ted and Bill Gordon began an engineering