urban pocket - Kota Kinabalu bus and taxi terminals

[denis_t]

Hello there, my name is denis tu and i'm a third year architecture student in The National University, Malaysia. Here's my latest design project and i really wish to hear some comments and crits. Thank you.

The project aims to develope and re-plan the kota kinabalu (a busy city in East Malaysia, Borneo Island) bus and taxi terminals, and to provide a multi-functional urban pocket hub thatfosters and celebrates exploration, artistry, intellectual debate, and challenge, and thus, encourages both the locals and tourists to explore the site and appreciate the uniqness of the site.

The project also aims to provide fasilities to the site and to upgrade
existing fasilities. Former constraints will be imposed by site utilities and the design efficiently integrates infrastructure, architecture, and landscape in plan and section. Ultimately, the project creates a site that brings and holds people together and exists as a hub for everyone.

THE CONCEPT

Careful studies on the site shows that the site has been a busy hub for both the locals and the tourists. Passangers from every part of kota kinabalu passes by the site everyday, ignoring the uniqueness of the site and its surroundings. In short, it is a site with heavy movements. To help appreciate the site, a concept of FROZEN MOVEMENTS is introduced.

The design of the bus and taxi waiting area is derived from the stroboscope principle, in which a SEE - DON'T SEE - SEE - DON'T SEE effect is created. Passengers and drivers passing by the site get to see people in the waiting area at times and yet don't see them at times. A quick SEE - DON'T SEE - SEE - DON'T SEE effect is therefore created at certain frequencies and observers get to learn the movement concept. Observers will then learn to appreciate movement and stationary and thus learn to appreciate what they see. What observers see will be at STATIC and what they don't see will be considered as MOVEMENTS.

The design scheme and planning also seeks local identity and aims to bring spirit of place. Design concerns such as SPIRIT OF HUMANITY, SPIRIT OF TIME, SPIRIT OF SPACE and SPIRIT OF PLACE is intergrated to show and reflect social lifestyle and spirits of Kota Kinabalu and the site. Historical values, cultural background, climate factor, site environment, and topography factor became major design concerns.



The design introduces openess in its planning to help visitors feel and to appreciate the uniqueness of the site. A promenade approach enables people to walk around and explore the beauty of the site. The planning design evokes interest and curiousity and thus helps people learn to appreciate the uniqueness of Kota kinabalu and its cultural background through the architecture and the plannings.

Every design element is carefully implemented to bring message to visitors and to response to the environment, landscape, built-scapes and layers of atmosphere. The project has been carried out on a strictly physical basis by carefully organising forms and spaces. The ultimate goal is to show the rich historical and cultural texture and layers of the site through the rich layering in its architecture language.





The design creates an episode with its own identity- more than just architectural promenade, an authentic sequence of plans and views, but also a way of experiencing the city through its rich and poetic layerings.

The bus and taxi waiting area and kiosks are able to protect people from heavy rain and direct sunlight by having large roof overhang systems of metal decking with insulator. Kiosk designs are enhanced with protection layer made of perforated steel sheets that allows cross ventilation. Bus and taxi waiting area, including kiosks designs provides openess and panaromic views to the surrounding.

[denis_t]

view to taxi waiting area, 32 free standing lamp posts reflects 32 ethnical groups in kota kinabalu

[denis_t]

waiting area

[denis_t]

taxi waiting area

[takesh h]

Hi denis, welcome to pushpullbar.
Since we have rating system already for every thread on ppb (check the top-right corner of the page), I closed your poll and let discussions roll.
This "poll" is not for rating works, but... well... see what other polls are calling for.

About your work;
Concept sounds interesting but I am not sure if the form you chose really reflects what you say.
The connection between idea and concept is too literal at this point and that seems to be the weakpoint of the project.
We need more info, like plans and sections to see how "Every design element is carefully implemented to bring message to visitors and to response to the environment, landscape, built-scapes and layers of atmosphere." is carried out.

[denis_t]

aerial view to site, strong and bold geometrical planes shows the strong and rich cultural + historical
values of Kota Kinabalu, also to show movements and dynamics of the site.

[denis_t]

taxi parking area

[denis_t]

newspaper kiosk

[denis_t]

water element reflects the site as seashore before reclaimation

[denis_t]

bus ticket kiosk