Plinth and Cantilever

2019 | Hong Kong, China
Academic | Designer| CUHK
Community Center

This project is situated within a forested site in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, where the climate is both scorching and humid. It proposes a 4,000 sqm rowing centre for professional athletes, integrated with a community facility for local residents. The design process began with an analysis of programmatic requirements across different user groups. To minimize interruptions from public activities on athletes’ training routines, the program is divided into two distinct stacked volumes. The upper volume projects over the water, offering an enhanced view for spectators of rowing events, and accommodates multifunctional spaces such as a hall and a café for community use. By contrast, the training hall and boathouse are located at the lower level, adjacent to the pier for direct accessibility.

Beyond spatial organization, the project also emphasizes constructional strategy and environmental responsiveness. With the exception of the Vierendeel beams, the structure is primarily composed of timber, complemented by adjustable louvres that mitigate solar exposure while preserving the surrounding tropical forest. The lower mass is supported by V-shaped trusses inspired by the form of tree trunks, while the elevated foundation minimizes soil compaction and environmental disruption. The Vierendeel beams combine steel members for bending resistance with timber members for vertical loading, therefore ensuring both structural efficiency and material sustainability in supporting the upper volume.

Index|Architecture|Photography|Installation

The project is situated within a forested site in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, where the climate is both scorching and humid. It proposes a 4,000 sqm rowing centre for professional athletes, integrated with a community facility for local residents. The design process began with an analysis of programmatic requirements across different user groups. To minimize interruptions from public activities on athletes’ training routines, the program is divided into two distinct stacked volumes. The upper volume projects over the water, offering an enhanced view for spectators of rowing events, and accommodates multifunctional spaces such as a hall and a café for community use. By contrast, the training hall and boathouse are located at the lower level, adjacent to the pier for direct accessibility.

Beyond spatial organization, the project also emphasizes constructional strategy and environmental responsiveness. With the exception of the Vierendeel beams, the structure is primarily composed of timber, complemented by adjustable louvres that mitigate solar exposure while preserving the surrounding tropical forest. The lower mass is supported by V-shaped trusses inspired by the form of tree trunks, while the elevated foundation minimizes soil compaction and environmental disruption. The Vierendeel beams combine steel members for bending resistance with timber members for vertical loading, thereby ensuring both structural efficiency and material sustainability in supporting the upper volume.