Sentul Pavilion

The Pavilion is located in a privately maintained park in Sentul West, Kuala Lumper. It is composed of a sloping glass/steel box and at its very core, a 18m high atrium facing the park. It serves as a venue for event spaces for the community. The Client’s vision is the rejuvenation of it by constructing a 35-acre park to serve the growing residential community springing up in the area. All in the spirit of urban renewal, while preserving the heritage and homage to the past with the preservation and reuse of existing buildings sprinkled throughout the district. Already completed is a Performing arts centre, Library, SoHo office and restaurants. The Pavilion was a continuation of these buildings as part of an overall masterplan in the park. It is a simple form, with no advertisements or embellishments. Aspiring to become a “shy” aberration of a building. Through its transparency and reflectivity, it aims to celebrate others and its surrounding. It is distinct in character but strives to have strong connection to the land, allowing itself to disappear. By taking a minimalist approach to the design ethos, this encourages nature to take the forefront and shine through. Allowing it to be a haven for the community to come together in a space where the focus and attention is upon the environment rather than the edifice itself. The floor plan is a simple 25x25m square. A 45x5m rectilinear block slides in-between to delineate 2 separate zones. This sequences a suggestive procession from an intimate space into an expansive main hall. The block anchors the form and provides the supportive rooms such as a kitchen, green rooms and storage. At the far end, bathrooms facilitate with an outdoor sink area nestled in an internal garden. A round moon gate opens the space and composes views of a sculptural bonsai within. Glass sits over the aluminium trellis roof and performs a dance of light and shadow through the day. The main gesture is the sloping roof towards to the greenery. Starting at a height of 5m, it lifts up to a 18m high atrium with views towards the sky and green. The atrium created, with its visual transparency and volumetric impact, captures the essence of the drama. The space within is intended as Mies Van Rohe put it, “an ideal zone of tranquillity”. The distillation of a beautiful space. The lack of a fixed accommodation allows users to have a free plan, giving flexibility and various configurations for different events to take place within. The Pavilion promotes much needed business and trade to the newly gentrified area. It takes conventions, commonly held in urban settings, to the gardens, and promotes commerce through tradeshows and exhibitions.