Sustainability Approach on Building Design

Layout of the twisting geometry of the towers (Fig. 1.19) which responds organically to neighbouring buildings, solar orientation, and distant views reflex a strong identity of the site. The open link courtyard is facing and connected to the KLCC Park. It created its own microclimate, where shade and wind-driven in through the landscaped courtyard naturally filtering the outdoor polluted air affected by the traffic (Fig. 1.19), tempering the excessive tropical humid and heat naturally to the apartments when the weather allows (RIBA 2012) (Figs. 1.20, 1.21, 1.22, and 1.23).

The core orientation of each tower is towards the centre east to provide 100 % space efficiency and flexibility of the layout floor planning. Furthermore the site plan showed how the three towers’ blocks could be functioned as a parameter barrier to buffer the noise coming from the road site and heavy traffic of the Tun Razak highway. The intricately twisted geometric slender concrete shear walls also meant to function as vertical shading device to shade the opening that focuses towards North West orientation, it partially screens the penetration of solar radiation from coming directly into the building but providing sufficient day-lighting. The application of Low-E glass as curtain wall cladding helps in reducing the heat gain affected by the west orientation opening (Fig. 1.24).

Fig. 1.17 The vertical storey plan showing the various types of unit houses in the three towers (courtesy to BRDB)

The strong character of the slim shear wall divided each floor into spaces with its own language featuring a firm statement of Troika high technology building identity. The twisted geometrical shear walls with natural finish given each space its own quality which is able to communicate with the active urban citizen as the way the lobby entrance welcomes visitors toward its own enclave and defined the space by the two shear walls. This uniqueness in the new style of urban feature design was recognised by RIBA and RIBA news (2012) that mentioned that Foster + Partner has come out with a very daring attempt to find a new functionally driven form for high-density urban living in tropical climates combining (Fig. 1.25).

Fig. 1.18 The rotated housing of various types in block A (Courtesy to James Ong)

Fig. 1.19 The rotated housing of various types in block B (Courtesy to James Ong)