RETHINKING POST PANDEMIC HIGH-RISE OFFICE
MIXED-USE DEVELOPMENT, PERSIARAN BAYAN INDAH, PENANG.
RITMA TOWER

Rethinking post- pandemic high-rise is a shift in mindset of redesigning high-rise after the Covid- 19 pandemic. The city is known as a landmark and a symbol of nation’s development, economic growth, and stability. Companies competed intensely for prime office space in major urban centers. The rapid urban sprawls resulted in urban expansion and densification in the cities. Next, excessive use of automobile, pollution, congestion and vanishing urban open spaces were the battle cries.

The recent pandemic impacted the city in adapting towards the new norm that changed how people lived and work. Reimagining work shifted the paradigm of work culture and experiences of open plan concept, collaborations and social interaction rather than individual working. The current trend in the 21st century put great emphasis on bringing people together and creating buzz concepts like high-density open- plan working as well as flexibility of space.

Based on this scenario, this project is aimed at imparting experience to students on reducing building footprints by going vertical in alleviating some of urban sprawl in Bayan Lepas Free Industrial Zone, Penang. Rethinking the post-pandemic high-rise development should address the new norm of living in vertical cites whilst re-engaging in a stimulating work environment.

ISSUE

ACCORDING TO WONG LP, ALIAS H, MD FUZI ET. AL, AFTER COVID-19 PANDEMIC HITS, MOSTS OF THE HIGH-RISE URBAN DWELLERS SEARCHING THE MEANS TO ESCAPE FROM THEIR HECTIC LIFE. HENCE, MENTAL PRESSURE INCREASE BETWEEN THOSE INDIVIDUAL FROM 2019-2021, FROM THEM ACCOMMODATE THE HIGH-RISE I.E APARTMENTS AND SOHO, FLATS

Hence, the strategies,
WHIMSICAL [ART}SCAPISM ART & CULTURE ESCAPE IN PENANG

DESIGN STATEMENT
TO ACHIEVE THIS CONCEPT, THE DESIGN WILL AIM TO SHIFT INTO NEW DIRECTION AND NEW NORM AFTER PANDEMIC- PERMEABLE, ELEVATE LIVELINESS, FLEXIBLE AS WELL AS DESIGNING FROM INSIDE OUT BY BRINGING THE OUTSIDE IN.

USING ART & CULTURE IN PENANG AS A CONCEPT WERE MEANT TO DRIVE THE SOCIAL CHANGES OF THE HIGH-RISE URBAN DWELLERS INTO TRYING SOMETHING NEW AND ESCAPE THEIR HECTIC LIFE.

The recent Covid-19 has impacted our work and living culture. The vertical urban sprawl challenges revolves physical use of space as well as urban dwellers’ psychological wellbeing. The reimagining high-rise mixed-use building address the exploration of flexible layout in ensuring health, safety and occupants’ wellbeing. The resilient vertical city concept is seen as the future direction for urban sprawl with mixed use development concept integrated with public or communal spaces using innovation solutions and technologies.

Hence, the technology used as follows:
1. Core Location and Building Form - to enhance the prevailing wind and optimised energy efficiency.
2. Facade and Louvres- Glass Fibre Concrete Framing ( reduce corrosion and heat transfer)
3. Low E- Glass (double pane injected with argon gas for insulation)
4. Rainwater Harvesting for Plant Irrigation
5. Photovoltaic Panel
6. HVAC with MERV-13 filtration