A K U A R I U M TAR
These was my final project for Bachelor Degree in Universiti Malaysia Kelantan, where I've got "Best Project Award". The named of these project "Proposed Upgrading Akuarium Tunku Abdul Rahman for Fisheries Research Institute at Jalan Batu Maung, Pulau Pinang". Akuarium Batu Maung also known as Akuarium Tunku Abdul Rahman.
WHY I CHOOSE THIS PROJECT?
1. Akuarium Tunku Abdul Rahman make people to love and care about ocean, including corals.
2. Have many activities that public can join, whether its free or by funding.
3. Want to attract more people to come because this building have a great location.
4. Interesting educational project that related with users or people.
TOUCH POOL
I have chosen the Fisheries Research Institute as my client for this project and proposed to upgrade and modernize the Tunku Abdul Rahman Aquarium which is located in Batu Maung, Pulau Pinang. The main reason that I choose this project is due to the functionality of the aquarium which is to display marine life as well as promoting an interesting educational project to the public especially the visitors.
COUNTER
In the meantime, there were also other issues that need to be addressed in this project such as the corals and the living things in the ocean that suffer from pollution and climates which are caused by humans. Besides, the lack of new technologies at the existing aquarium is also one of the many reasons. New technologies and green technologies would make the aquarium look pleasing and inviting in order to attract more visitors.
INTERACTIVE PATHWAY
In this space, a creative blend of lines and curves was layered into the existing structure and design, expertly showcasing the old while incorporating the new. The result is a place of balance and beauty, in harmony with its surroundings.
SHARK WORLD
The concept that was implemented in this design is named as “Flexible Heap”. The meaning behind this concept was taken from the sea, and was narrowed down to marine life which is shrimp that act as the main subject. This project was mostly related to the ocean and the clients themselves, in which they did not only display marine life but they also conduct research at the aquarium to educate youngsters towards marine and aquatic life.
WEIRD + WONDERFUL
Furthermore, choosing shrimp as the subject in this project is one of the specific research creatures at the aquarium. Consequently, the word “Flexible” that was taken from the concept is actually the characteristic of the curling shrimp, which is when the shrimp changed its shape. This process occurs once the shrimp is cooked and starts to curl up.
THE LIVING OCEANS
The other word which is “Heap” was also taken from the subject matter as well. The body of the shrimp which is called ‘pleura’ is stacking each by each. However, instead of choosing the word “stack”, I have decided to use “Heap” for the concept since both words have similar meaning. In data structure, the word “Stack” is defined as not flexible and cannot be altered. The origami and structure of the ‘pleura’ on the shrimp’s body were stacked on each other and caused the shrimp to bend or curl its shape. Therefore, the concept chosen was “Flexible Heap” or “The Flexible Heap”.
INTERACTIVE AREA
The new technologies added into the design is to mainly attract the public by visiting the aquarium again in the future and so that they could spend more hours there to give them some inspiration and calmness while exploring the marine and aquatic life. By applying the digital interactive in the aquarium exhibitions, it would make a great impact to the environment and will produce the avant-garde to the visitors or even the workers. All in all, the use of digital interactive will give a good experience towards Malaysian in terms of context, design and also future generations in technology. It will also allow people to interact with the data for appropriate purposes.
INTERACTIVE AREA VIEW 02
Meanwhile, in the living oceans area, I have used the shades of black on the walls to create a strong contrast and I would like to take advantage of the artificial light in order to create spatial illusions. Besides, using bright colours at the entrance and at the counter area as well as the direct natural lighting from the skylights would give a better impression for the visitors and make the venue more lively and memorable. From my personal opinion, the existing skylights will absolutely help to support and achieve my project’s goals and objectives. Likewise, the use of whale hologram at the centre part will bring out the excitement to the visitor while they visit the aquarium.
In Malaysia, the knowledge to create a good digital interactive is still medium in size, and indeterminate especially towards producing an aquarium that fits the use of new technologies. This matter gave such a huge impact to small aquarium’s entrepreneurs when they needed to enhance and pursue their strategies in digital interactive as well as applying the technologies into available spaces to attract the visitors for their own experience.
THE AMAZONS
Sustainability in this project refers to the need of models development for the wellbeing of humans. The initial idea and concept is to combine the use of sustainable building design and functional systems as a new technology to create a building that is environmentally friendly for the community and requires low maintenance. Both buildings are also built to give opportunity and affordability to the society. These combinations of technologies and sustainable designs would make a tremendous impact towards the final stage of the design. The existing site and building itself has already been using sustainable designs with some improvements such as, skylight, window roof, solar energy, and the use of a rain harvesting system.
