Globalization of architecture in Malaysia has increasingly brought threats to natural resources and environmental sustainability. In order to protect the environment, stringent limitations are places on pollution and waste. Large- scale adaptation of forested land for certain purposes which included development in architecture increases between 1900 and 1950. 11% of Peninsular Malaysia was used for new roads, tracks and settlements. Deforestation increases throughout the years for the purpose of rural development and agricultural purposes, therefore the air quality turns bad due to the mass constructions ongoing. Certain usage of reflective building materials such as glass could reflect sunlight and causes surrounding temperature to rise, on top of that, there are lesser trees to absorb heat and carbon dioxide (CO2) produced by the vehicles. Haze, is then formed. It has been an ongoing problem in Malaysia as well as other Southeast Asian countries. Thus no matter how spectacular globalization in architecture has brought to Malaysia, it still causes pollution to the environment which is quite a serious drawback consequence.
Figure 2- Haze problem in Malaysia
Figure 1 & 2- Menara Telekom Malaysia
Menara Telekom (Menara TM), also known as Bamboo Tower, is the headquarters of Telekom Malaysia in Kuala Lumpur. This building has a height of 310m with 55 floors, which has influenced by a sketch of “bamboo shoot”. The unique part of the tower is its 22 open skygardens swapping every three floors. The unique curvy structure has formed an exclusive signal for Malaysia by signifying a young bamboo with strong foundations at its root and little leaves sprouting. Come to think of it, bamboo is actually a Chinese symbol of longevity in Chinese culture. So the building does not designed to depict Malaysia’s culture but just design for the sake of applying one another’s idea and apply it on their own design by “borrowing” from different countries. This building design is not specifically for Malaysia but it can also be placed in somewhere out the world with Chinese culture.
On top of that, it also increases gaps between haves and have- nots among the residents. For instance, the Sunway Pyramid shopping mall in Subang, Petaling Jaya that has shown a big contrast within one same area. This situation can’t be helped, as most areas developed from low to higher class, because the wealth and standard of living of the residents will increase over time.
Figure 3 & 4- Sunway Pyramid Shopping Complex in Sunway City, Selangor
Figure 6- Palmville Condominium
Figure 7- Lagoon View Condominium
The two high end condominiums and residential houses were built at the other side of the complex.
Figure 5- Low cost apartment opposite of Sunway Pyramid Shopping Complex
On the other hand, this is a low cost apartment at the opposite of the high-end shopping complex in just a distance of two main roads. There are some other low cost terrace houses around that area which shows the vast difference within Sunway area. Eventually the economic growth in these two areas has formed a marked difference whereby residences from both areas have different standard of living.
4.2 Strategies of Balancing out the Negatives
Malaysia is heading towards globalization, but in the meanwhile it still remains some other historical buildings in order to preserve the culture of this beautiful country. Take the railway station in Ipoh, Perak as an example, it is considered as a historical building in Malaysia due to the structure built in 1917, historical importance and architectural significance. It was built with the combination of the British colonial and Moghul architectural style of India influences mainly on its facades and roofs, therefore the railway station is also known locally as the “Taj Mahal” of Malaysia.
Figure 4- The railway station in Ipoh, Perak
On the other hand, Malaysian government is actually planning for a 100- storey skyscraper which will be named as either “Warisan Merdeka” or “Heritage of Independence” to dwarf the KLCC towers. Though there are quite a number of laymen objecting on this idea, but this is one obvious plan from Malaysian government to head this country towards globalization.
Many high rise buildings are erected from the plain ground in this country, but do they really stand for an identity of itself or even the country, or somehow or rather just being built for the sake of constructing a building with an attractive outlook to draw people’s attention? There is one good building example which is the Petronas Twin Towers that is set in the heart of the commercial district of the city. It is designed based on a traditional form in the Islamic culture, a 12 vertex star. The existence of this building was once a defended project which attracted criticism, but now turned out to be a lovely national icon. It has met a few features of critical regionalism which are the most obvious one, being in the median point between architectural movement- implemented cultural elements as well as the modern design. Followed by that, it has an extensive use of glass facade that was designed to bear a resemblance to Islamic art motifs and reinforce concrete is the main material of the twin buildings. However, it is not only a free- standing building in the middle of nowhere but in the heart of the commercial district of the city that becomes the urban city’s landmark. At the same time, throughout the complex an integrated energy- system is being used, which is using heat from drain air to power the cooling of outside air as it enters the building. The system reduces 50 per cent of the amount of energy required to air condition the building. The twin towers have introduced new architectural standards to Malaysia in terms of design, construction and technology by combining modern technology with a sense of cultural identity. This is a successful project as it represents a new direction in skyscraper design, attributing advanced technology while symbolizing local and national objectives.
Figure 5-
Points in critical regionalism are essential in designing and deciding where to build a building. They lead the design of the building to be more unique by applying its own country’s cultural identity so that users do have the feeling of belonging. Besides that, the location of the building is constructed on a chosen site by respecting the natural resources. Designs are not easily “borrowed” by the other architects if one own cultural identity or material implication is being used, therefore the skyscrapers would not look more or less the same no matter in which country. Globalization still exists but somehow it does not lose the icon of the country by having the similar design on architecture throughout the whole wide world.
The term ‘Critical Regionalism’ is actually an approach to architecture that take the building’s environmental context into consideration rather than having a soulless free- standing building which lacks of identity in Modern Architecture.
Local culture should be applied into local buildings’ design to make them specially for this country, but not borrowing some other architect’s idea which the building itself could be placed at somewhere out the world. Projects should be allocated to local architects instead of foreign one as they can understand local culture even better.
By referring to the strategies in Critical Regionalism, I have got to realize that there are certain strategies which have been used, whereas some have not been used in Malaysian architecture yet. Firstly, by merging traditional designs with modern ones. For example, the National Museum. This building is built in the style of Rumah Gadang with the design elements of traditional Malay and modern features on the facade.
Figure 5- The National Museum
Secondly is to make use of the material and features of the site, whereby Malaysia is in a dominant position as it has natural building materials such as bamboos and hard wood which are suitable for building construction; on top of that, buildings could be constructed without interrupting the local terrain. Thirdly is to build the building as a whole, not only section; for example we can use a particular bungalow called the Polo Club Bungalow that is built in Selangor, while using a screen concept to divide the home into 3 different zones i.e. private, semi public and public and at the same time infusing all these different zones into a single seamless concept.
Figure 6- Exterior view of the Polo Club Bungalow
Figure 7- Interior view of the Polo Club Bungalow
Followed by that, is to use the natural aspects of the site instead of using just the design of the building. For instance, the direction of light can influence a space, the site can be built to take advantage of the sun, which moves from east to west; if it rains a lot, use the rain to create an effect on the glass; if the site is windy, can take advantage of the wind by using louvers or wind traps; construct the building into the hills if the site is not flat. A most prominent example of such an application is the Mesiniaga building, headquarters for IBM in Malaysia, which incorporates environmental aspects of the site such as sunlight, air-flow, prominence to access roads and highways. It even has green balconies on several levels and takes advantage of the sun. It’s design has incorporated the site conditions so much so that it has been termed as an ‘organitech’ building in the bioclimatic tall building category.
Figure 8- the Mesiniaga Building
Other than that, building with energy- saving design is one of the strategies, with air- flow in mind, hot air goes out at the top, cool air coming in to save energy. A house that was built with this in mind in Malaysia is called the Idea House, a Sime Darby project. It uses stilts to naturally cool the house using air ventilation without air-conditioning. The house was also built in accordance with the contours of the land, disturbing as little soil as possible at the site.
Figure 9- the Idea House by Sime Darby
Last but not least, the project or architect can take concepts from local and international standards to create a new culture for the site. For example, KLCC and Angkasapuri building (merged with local Muslim and international design). Some other examples are the various resorts in Malaysia that have instilled native regionalism into their design which stems from traditional Malay vernacular designs. Those that can be observed are resorts such as Tanjung Jara and Aryani in Terengganu, The Datai and Langkawi Lagoon in Langkawi, Pangkor Laut in Perak, Impiana Resort and Club Med Cherating in Pahang, and many others.
Figure 10- the Angkasapuri Building
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