Structura Design Challenge 2014 (Finalist)
ZEITGEIST. A new era ignited by a SPARK.
Zeitgeist. Meaning spirit of the age. Certainly in this era, it alludes to ideas of progress, technology, unbound potential and wide horizons. And we feel that the SPARKS project currently being built embodies the current zeitgeist in its effort to bring Johor Bahru to an iconic status as a new world-class city.
Conceptually, the forms derive their inspiration from the cultural context of Johor itself. The curves and exposed steel beams of the skin facade, akin to industrial sails, acknowledges the nautical past and maritime industry of the economy here, being one of the busiest shipping ports in South East Asia. It celebrates the industry and history of this state, and aims to show what a modern, visionary place it can be as it attracts more tourists and visitors to this iconic place. The parametric panel clusters that make up the skin were inspired by the pineapple, a major agricultural produce for Johor, from which we take inspiration from its skin, which wraps “parametrically” around the fruit itself.
These fluid curves and pineapple panels however are no mere exercises in form-making, to embody the spirit of the local zeitgeist we used parametric modelling systems to calculate the site forces and create a form that truly interacts with the climatic sensitivities of the context. The parametric skin, which is an application of a type of Tridilosa structure, is composed of exactly 1515 modular components of either photovoltaic, perforated metal, or low-e glass panels, and acts as rainwater and solar harvesters, wind catchers and protection from glare and heat to the building mass. The Tridilosa is also a very light and material efficient 3D structure, enabling savings of up to 66% on concrete usage and up to 40% on steel, making these beautiful curves technically and economically feasible and environmentally sustainable.
Alongside the eastern and western façades of the towers, parametric modelling was again used to determine the optimum placements of the balconies and vertical gardens to create maximum sun shading and protection from morning solar radiation along the eastern facades and afternoon sun glare along the western facades. We have preserved the planned living ecosystems of green roofs and gardens, and enhanced them as the curved skins act as a semi- transparent sun shading that can shield the passersby and delight them with the play of shadows as the filtered rays of sun streams through it, creating a real sense of destination.
In short, our design reaches from the past, but looks to the future. It will be a premier lifestyle destination rivalling the likes of Singapore or Dubai, and while modern, still attributes to the character and history of its home state. The creation of such an iconic piece of architecture only helps to “SPARK” a new era for Johor Bahru!
