Design Unit Architects Sdn. Bhd.

Aemulus at the Runway

Aemulus at the Runway
© Lin Ho Photography

AEMULUS AT THE RUNWAY 

Design Unit Architects Sdn Bhd

PHOTOGRAPHS
Lin Ho Photography

CATEGORY
Factory, Office

YEAR
2020

MANUFACTURERS
AutoDesk, ISEO Asia, Igreen

LEAD ARCHITECTS
John G N Bulcock RIBA, Chin Kuen Cheng APAM

MECHANICAL AND ELECTRICAL ENGINEER
HPM Consultant

AREA
9405 m²

MAIN CONTRACTOR
MLG Design & Construction Sdn. Bhd

LANDSCAPE
Landarc Associates Sdn. Bhd.

LOCATION
Bayan Lepas, Malaysia

QUANTITY SURVEOR
GKG Konsultant Kos

CLIENTS
Aemulus-Corporation

DSIGN TEAM
Design Unit Architects Sdn Bhd

ENGINEERING & CONSTRUCTION
Perunding YAA Sdn. Bhd

Aemulus is a 58,000 sf manufacturing & office building for an electronics company. The site overlooks the Penang airport runway which becomes the focus of the project & to which views are maximized.

Aemulus at the Runway
© Lin Ho Photography
Aemulus at the Runway
© Lin Ho Photography

Conceptually, an elevated brick box separates to allow entry into a reception lobby overlooking the runway.

The space between the two brick boxes, reception and circulation, becomes multi-functional over three levels.

Aemulus at the Runway
© Lin Ho Photography
Aemulus at the Runway
© Lin Ho Photography

The predominantly brick façades to all but the open runway elevation have brick fin openings and perforated brick walls to provide shade from solar heat gain and glare while creating a beautiful internal natural light ambiance.

Aemulus at the Runway
© Lin Ho Photography
Aemulus at the Runway
© Lin Ho Photography

As well as the main office & production spaces, the client brief called for a hierarchy of creative & break-out spaces which focus on encouraging staff interaction and chance meetings, quiet spaces for contemplation and larger spaces for collaboration.

Aemulus at the Runway
© Lin Ho Photography
Aemulus at the Runway
© Lin Ho Photography

The main atrium/lobby & circulation also becomes a multi-functional space for large & small gatherings & impromptu meetings.

Aemulus at the Runway
© Lin Ho Photography
Aemulus at the Runway
© Lin Ho Photography

The lobby is entered via a ‘tunnel’ through the building i.e. a ramped brick passage with walls, floor & ceiling converging to one point - the main entrance door that is set deep within the building.

Aemulus at the Runway
© Lin Ho Photography
Aemulus at the Runway
© Lin Ho Photography

This passage takes staff & visitors from the ‘dark ambience’ of the tunnel into the light filled volume of the lobby & the experience of the runway.

All circulation spaces are naturally ventilated including the main triple-volume lobby where cooling is assisted by two large industrial fans.

Aemulus at the Runway
© Lin Ho Photography
Aemulus at the Runway
© Lin Ho Photography

A continuous narrow ventilation slot under the main lobby roof exhausts rising warm air.

The siting, design and orientation of the building protects against direct sunlight. Angled brick walls shield the glazing generally, an overhanging louvered roof canopy provides additional shade, and the roof garden is insulated.

Aemulus at the Runway
© Lin Ho Photography
Aemulus at the Runway
© Lin Ho Photography

Skylights at the top floor office provide additional daylight into the interior and natural light is borrowed from the lobby area into the fully glazed office & production spaces.

Double-glazed low-e glass is used for all external glazing & energy efficient air-conditioning & lighting are installed. Landscaping is also used to shade the building.

Rainwater is channeled from the roof via free-standing stainless steel hoppers & downpipes which then free-flows from the pipes into catchment drains to an underground storage tank.

This feature of cascading rainwater heightens our awareness to this tropical climate & is experienced falling, being captured & then recycled for landscape use creating a powerful sustainability connection.

Aemulus at the Runway
© Lin Ho Photography
Aemulus at the Runway
© Lin Ho Photography

Local common clay bricks are used for all walls both internally & externally with wide mortar joints creating an organic texture & inconsistency of colour but achieving an overall distinctive tone.

The bricks are also low maintenance, a trait that is shared with the fair-faced concrete columns & flat slabs.

When natural light falls on bricks & concrete it brings the material to life & is very poetic - the façades come alive and constantly change throughout the day.

Aemulus at the Runway
© Lin Ho Photography


Aemulus at the Runway
Concept Diagram
Aemulus at the Runway
Environmental Diagram Long Section


Aemulus at the Runway
Flexibility of Space Section 01
Aemulus at the Runway
Flexibility of Space Section 02
Aemulus at the Runway
Flexibility of Space Section 03
Aemulus at the Runway
Flexibility of Space Section 04
Aemulus at the Runway
Flexibility of Space Section 05
Aemulus at the Runway
Environmental Diagram Short Section


Aemulus at the Runway
Ground Floor Plan
Aemulus at the Runway
First Floor Plan
Aemulus at the Runway
Second Floor Plan
Aemulus at the Runway
Roof Plan
Aemulus at the Runway
Terrace Plan
Aemulus at the Runway
Sections


Aemulus at the Runway
Back and Right Elevation
Aemulus at the Runway
Front and Left Elevations

Design Unit Architects Sdn. Bhd.
T +60 3 20961933 F +60 3 20961633
Design Unit Architects Sdn. Bhd.
8th Floor, Syed Kechik Building, Jalan Kapas, Bangsar, 59100 Kuala Lumpur, Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia