Ng Sze Ying 108021255

1.Embrace of the future

In the modern society, new emergent technologies and materials have significantly affected our community. It allows the possibilities for the construction of new and more complex landmark building such as the PETRONAS Twin Towers connected with a sky bridge. It consists of 88 floors that built mainly by reinforced concrete, with steel and glass facade designed based on simple Islamic geometric forms. Advance technologies have proved to be essential across all fields and should be further investigate in the coming future.

2. Freezing of the Past

The passive design features on the surface of Dayabumi and the Post Office Headquarter have the ability to control and channel natural sunlight as well as ventilation that offers pleasant ambient into the internal spaces. However, this method has decreased gradually as a result of being considered as not an important principle since active design such as artificial lighting or air-conditioning is now available to assist in operate building services. As the environment issues has become a fundamental concern for all populations, passive design is therefore plays an important roles in shaping our future world.

3.Transition between the Past and the Present

Kuala Lumpur Performing Art Centre (KLPAC) is reclaimed and refurbished from an old railway building in Sentul West. Besides, the preserved brick used on the old part, while both steel and glass applied to the new part of the building are recognisable and distinctive shows the transition between the past and the present in material expressions. Other than that, the preserved brick on the old part giving a sense of enclosure compare to the new parts built by steel and glass which offer a more open and transparent building appearance.

4.Cultural Crossroads

The photo above shows the shop houses in Petaling Street. Petaling Street was previously occupied by the Chinese but as time goes by, other races such as Malays and Indians alsodwell and does their business in this area. Traditionally, shop houses were plastered off-white colour. Later on when renovation take place, owner tends to paint the colour they favour. For example, the shop house designs by china style but with adding some texture in western or Malay texture. All the facade of shop houses is different as the ornamentation obtains inspiration from different races, such as Malay, Chinese and even European traditions.

5. Collapsing Identity

The Merana City Bank is form by simple geometric shape, with flat roof and it is symmetrical. Modern materials such as concrete, glass and steel are used to construct this building. There is no ornamentation on the facade and the windows are of ribbon windows. The identity of Malaysia is somehow lost in this building as it is of international style and seems it can be place in anywhere in the world.