NATURE AND CONSTRUCTED

lecture no.11

What is the role of nature in architecture today? Is nature predominantly a design metaphor, a set of physical factors to emulate, or a set of physical factors to overcome or oppose; some combination of these or something else?

Nature itself in architecture has crossed many lines in recent years. What used to be inspiration for flowing forms, has become a thorough study in inspiring solutions to man-made problems. Nature predominantly seen in a design metaphor light is now age-old. Though a really wonderful past-time that nature inspired form has brought us, we are set to welcome a new age of nature-inspired designs.

Nature-inspired designs in today’s architecture are no longer confined to walls and forms of structures, they have already transcend beyond that. Nature in architecture now represents sustainability in nature, understanding the rules governing natural forms rather than simply emulating and replicating nature in terms of forms, but also function as an overall.

Nature in modern architectural studies has become a phenomenon, a movement. Biomimetic architecture is what we call it, it is the contemporary philosophy surrounding nature in today’s architecture. It involves examination of nature, its model, system and processes for the purpose of gaining information to solve man-made problems.

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For this, I would like to present my case study for this article, the PAM Centre or Centre of Architecture located at Bangsar, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The architect, Ar. Mohd Heikal bin Hasan from (HMA & Associates) came up with a design that is elegant and efficient solution on a very tight, highly constrained site with the east-facing front façade with its strong but simple grid creates a flexible canvas for various screening devices to be deployed. It is a work that revolves itself around the surrounding environmental factor and factors the results of those environmental studies into the overall design of the building.

A “breathable skin” screen that covers the front façade of the centre, is also the most striking one. Heikal says, “I’ve used powder coated black aluminium here. The pattern is repeated throughout, very minimalist and modular, which creates an immediately distinctive character for the PAM Centre. It also responds to our tropical environment by providing shade against the glare and heat.”

In order to achieve platinum rating status under the Green Building Index, Heikal has introduced several environmentally-friendly features to the PAM Centre.

The diagonally stacked landscaped open atriums on the street façade makes a distinctive tropical statement, is seemingly what we call as vertical gardens in today's terms. The stepped atriums alongside the long single flight of stairs opens up the stairs, creating a dramatic central connecting space to unify the whole building. The vertical gardens feature are a reminiscent of another Malaysian architect brainchild, Dato’ Ar. Ken Yeang, who similarly pioneered in ecoarchitecture and ecomasterplan. Namely, the Mesiniaga Tower.

The architects effort to achieve platinum status in the GBI index includes fewer parking lots (only 45 bays) to encourage PAM members to walk, cycle, take public transport or carpool; a rainwater harvesting system that is used for irrigation and flushing purposes; a 25kWp photovoltaic system to make use of solar energy; and vertical greenery to maximise use of the limited space.

The building even has a herb garden at the back to grow local herbs such as pandan, limau purut, lemongrass and galangal.

During the day, every space in the building is illuminated by natural light thanks to careful placement of shades and skylights that funnel light into the building. Old-school louvre windows and punched holes in the shear wall provide natural ventilation.

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Here, I would like to raise a quote by Marc-Antoine Laugier, “ It is the same in architecture as in all other arts: its principles are founded on simple nature, and nature's process clearly indicates its rules.” This quote aptly proves the direction of modern architecture is moving towards; gaining information from the nature, its model, system and process to solve man-made problems.