Curated by Hana Abdel FACTORY, OFFICES • BAYAN LEPAS, MALAYSIA
Architects : Design Unit Architects Sdn Bhd
Area : 9405 m²
Year : 2020
Photographs : Lin Ho Photography
Manufacturers : AutoDesk, ISEO Asia, Igreen
Lead Architects : John G N Bulcock RIBA, Chin Kuen Cheng APAM
Clients : Aemulus Corporation
Design Team : Design Unit Architects Sdn Bhd
Engineering And Construction : Perunding YAA Sdn. Bhd
Mechanical And Electrical Engineer : HPM Consultant
Main Contractor : MLG Design & Construction Sdn. Bhd
Landscape : Landarc Associates Sdn. Bhd.
Quantity Suveyor : GKG Konsultant Kos
City : Bayan Lepas
Country : Malaysia
Textual content description offered by the architects. Aemulus is a 58,000 sf manufacturing & workplace building for an electronics firm. The positioning overlooks the Penang airport runway which turns into the main focus of the undertaking & to which views are maximized. Conceptually, an elevated brick field separates to permit entry right into a reception foyer overlooking the runway. The area between the 2 brick packing containers, reception and circulation, turns into multi-functional over three ranges. The predominantly brick façades to all however the open runway elevation have brick fin openings and perforated brick partitions to supply shade from photo voltaic warmth achieve and glare whereas creating a fantastic inside pure mild ambiance.
In addition to the principle workplace & manufacturing areas, the consumer transient referred to as for a hierarchy of inventive & break-out areas which deal with encouraging workers interplay and probability conferences, quiet areas for contemplation and bigger areas for collaboration. The principle atrium/foyer & circulation additionally turns into a multi-functional area for big & small gatherings & impromptu conferences.
The foyer is entered by way of a ‘tunnel’ by the building i.e. a ramped brick passage with partitions, flooring & ceiling converging to 1 level – the principle entrance door that’s set deep inside the building. This passage takes workers & guests from the ‘darkish atmosphere’ of the tunnel into the sunshine stuffed quantity of the foyer & the expertise of the runway.
All circulation areas are naturally ventilated together with the principle triple-volume foyer the place cooling is assisted by two giant industrial followers. A steady slim air flow slot beneath the principle foyer roof exhausts rising heat air.
The siting, design and orientation of the building protects in opposition to direct daylight. Angled brick partitions protect the glazing usually, an overhanging louvered roof cover gives further shade, and the roof backyard is insulated. Skylights on the high flooring workplace present further daylight into the inside and pure mild is borrowed from the foyer space into the absolutely glazed workplace & manufacturing areas. Double-glazed low-e glass is used for all exterior glazing & power environment friendly air-conditioning & lighting are put in. Landscaping can also be used to shade the building.
Rainwater is channeled from the roof by way of free-standing stainless-steel hoppers & downpipes which then free-flows from the pipes into catchment drains to an underground storage tank. This function of cascading rainwater heightens our consciousness to this tropical local weather & is skilled falling, being captured & then recycled for panorama use creating a robust sustainability connection.
Native widespread clay bricks are used for all partitions each internally & externally with large mortar joints creating an natural texture & inconsistency of color however reaching an general distinctive tone. The bricks are additionally low upkeep, a trait that’s shared with the fair-faced concrete columns & flat slabs. When pure mild falls on bricks & concrete it brings the fabric to life & could be very poetic – the façades come alive and continually change all through the day.
