Architectural Analysis on Ampang Park Shopping Complex

1. Ampang
Park
Shopping
Centre
| Joanne Bernice ChuaYunn Tze 0315905 | Loo Mei Chuen 0317379 | Teh Gie Eng 0316179 | YeowYi Chuan 0317576 | Lim Jian Jun 0316867|

2. Figure 1.1 Bird eye view of Ampang Park Shopping Centre
(Source: Robert J. Steiner, 2006)
INTRODUCTION 3-4
ARCHITECTURE STYLE 5-7
MATERIALS AND BUILDING CONSTRUCTION 8-12
ELEMENTS AND COMPONENTS 13-16
CONCLUSION 17
REFERENCE 18
CONTENTS

3. 1. Malaysia’s first and oldest shopping centres
in Malaysia in 1973.
2.Designed byABCAkitek's (currently known
as DP Architect) Chan Sui Him and William S
W Lim
3. Became a landmark to indicate the first
move from main street shopping to a self-con-
tained air-conditioned shopping mall.
4 The first complex with cinema, hosting car
shows and fashion shows in that period.
5. Once a symbol of beginnings, of progress
and prosperity of the growth of Malaysia’s ar-
chitecture, economic and technology.
INTRODUCTION
1.1 FAST FACTS
Figure 1.2 Right side view of Ampang Park Shopping Centre
(Source:Wang Segget, 2011)
Figure 1.3 Location map of
Ampang Park Shopping Centre
(Source: Google Map, 2014)
3

4. Figure 1.4 Floor plans of Ampang Park Shopping Centre
(Source: Ampang Park website, 2010)
Ampang Park Shopping Centre (APSC)
is recognised as one of Malaysia’s first
and oldest shopping centres located
near Suria KLCC,in JalanAmpang,Kua-
la Lumpur. Designed by ABC Akitek's
(currently known as DP Architect)
Chan Sui Him and William S W Lim,
it was developed by Low Keng Huat
Brothers Realty Sdn Bhd with an area
of 425,000 sq ft, using RM 10 million.
APSC was the idea of the Low brothers
following their successful project, the
People's Park in 1968 which was the
first shopping complex in Singapore.
Officially opened in March 1973,APSC
became a landmark to indicate the first
move from main street shopping to a
self-contained air-conditioned shop-
ping mall. It was the first complex with
cinema, hosting car shows and fashion
shows in that periods.It was once a
symbol of beginnings, of progress and
prosperity of the growth of Malaysia’s
architecture,economic and technology.
Today,Ampang Park Shopping Centre is
known for their extensive range in Ma-
lay fashion.Besides fashion,it also offers
many other services and dining choices.
APSC is conveniently located at the
intersection of Jalan Ampang and Jalan
Tun Razak,and are well serviced by the
public transportation such as buses,
taxis and Light Rail Transit (LRT) and
within walking distance to the Petronas
Twin Towers, Malaysia’s iconic building.
1.2 HISTORY
4

5. 2.1 ARCHITECTURAL STYLE
ANALYSIS
Ampang park Shopping Centre is the first
modernized shopping mall with air-condition-
ing that was much influenced by Le Corbusier’s
five points of new architecture. From the ex-
terior of the building to its floor plans , the Le
Corbusier style was clearly portrayed through
its spatial organization, form and shape. In ad-
dition, the architect wisely adopted the devel-
opment of Le Corbusier’s idea of“street in the
air” which offers expedient places for people
in the building to interact with each other .
Figure 2.1 .1 Idea of “street in the air”
(Source: Google Image, 2014 )
Figure 2.1.2 Idea of “street in the air” in APSC
(Source:YeowYi Chuan, 2014)
5
ARCHITECTURAL STYLE

6. The middle walkway of the building was actu-
ally inspired by the combination of two con-
cepts, the atrium from the western style and
street market from the local style.The atrium
was one of the special features derived from
the ancient Roman dwellings, which was de-
signed to give the building a feeling of space
and light.The concept not only allowed natural
sunlight penetration but also provides a better
air ventilation inside the building, making the
shopping centre more environment friendly.
The shop lots were arranged in a way that
look like a local street, which eventually
gives visitors a more comfortable shopping
experience as people from that era were
used to do all the shopping along the street.
Figure 2.2.1 Centralised
shops in APSC
(Source:YeowYi Chuan,
2014)
The composition of vertical and horizontal el-
ements gives the building a streamline , mod-
ernize feeling.The boxy blank walls protrud-
ing out at selected portions and concourses
are set in complementing the boxy wall pan-
els and left open to allow natural ventilation
for passers by along Jalan Ampang to view
the “busy-ness” of the shopping complex.
2.3 EXTERIOR
Figure 2.2.3 Concourse of
APSC
(Source:Wang Segget,
2011)
6
Figure 2.2.2 First floor of
APSC
(Source:Wang Segget,
2011)
2.2 inTERIOR

7. Ampang Park Shopping Centre has featured
elements from the Art Deco period. One of
the features of Art Deco was found from its
external wall, which is the Shanghai plaster.
Shanghai plaster is an interesting, cheaper al-
ternative to stone that has a special kind of
rendering effect that gives the building a raw
and natural feel. The vertical fins or chamfered
windows on the external wall serve not only
for climatic solutions but also play an import-
ant role in decorating the building. There is
also quite a number of decorative expression
with different geometrical shapes that can
be seen around the building, such as the col-
umns, wall ornamentation and openings.
2.4 ART DECO
Pilotis. The load of the structure is sup-
ported by the grid reinforced concrete col-
umns to replace the supporting wall. The
lifted structure looks more welcoming ,
as no supporting walls enclose the build-
ing. This principle works perfectly fine on
the shopping mall as it’s a commercial cen-
ter that should be gathering the people.
2.5 LE CORBUSIER
Figure 2.3 Left facade of APSC
(Source: Yeow Yi Chuan, 2014)
Figure 2.4 .2 Columns used in APSC
(Source: Yeow Yi Chuan, 2014)
Figure 2.3 Comparison of APSC and Villa Savoye
(Source: Wang Segget, 2011; Jeffrey Howe, n,d)
7

8. 3.1 Characteristics of Building
Construction
T
he Ampang Park Shopping Centre has a heavy massing in the form of an
inverted ziggurat, elevated on a rows of load bearing columns rising from
the ground floor, a signature of the Art Deco period in the 1930s. The
construction of this building very much follows methods applied in the West
such as the extensive use of bricks to form the walls of the building, which is
also seen in the Chrysler Building in New York City.The Chrysler Building, the
tallestArt Deco Building to be constructed at that period,was constructed with
3,826,000 bricks that were manually laid, to form the non-loadbearing walls of
the skyscraper.
The construction of this building also features the 5 architectural concept
of Le Corbusier, despite the later’s rejection of the Art Deco movement. His
concept of Pilotis is applied throughout this building as well as a free plan.
Fig 3.1 Ampang Park Shopping Centre in the1970s.
Source: Guide to Kuala Lumpur Notable Buildings, 1976.
material
analysis &
Construction
8

9. D
ue to its step leveling facade
on both interior and exteriors,
materials such as reinforced
bricks, reinforced concrete and con-
crete columns are used in this building
to allow layers of mass construction to
be built from the ground. Reinforced
concrete, a material which became
widely used since being introduced
to Malaysia in the 1930s, was used to
form the walls of the building, as the
rebars inside the concrete wall have
high compressive strength. Shanghai
plaster was used on the exterior to
mimic the matt sutfaces of exotic ma-
sonry as found in the west. Shanghai
plaster, a good, cheap, external grade
material which could be applied easi-
ly, by skilled craftsmen to achieve the
matt appearance of stone, is used as
the finishing for the columns.
Clay bricks were also used as one
of the components to construct the
walls for the shopping centre. Laid in
Flemish bonds, the brick walls were
then cladded with concrete before
being given a paint finishing.The
usage of clay bricks is evident in the
rooftop’s walls. However comparing
to the progress in the West,West-
ern countries have already started
to adopt precast concrete as well
as insitu concrete which have higher
compressive strength.
Fig 3.2.1Exterior walls.
Photograph by Ivanka Teh.
Fig 3.2.2Clay Bricks in
Flemish Bonds.
Photography by Ivanka Teh
Fig 3.2.3 Flemish Bonds sketch
Source: Google Images.
3.2 Walls
9

10. A
nother feature to mention
is the staircase design of the
building. The design of the
staircases connecting to each level
is designed specifically according to
the design language of the building
leveling.The bridging of the staircase
from level to level creates an archi-
tectural visual of ziggurat steps in its
construction.As the building is split
into two, with a high volume walk-
way in the middle of the building,
the staircase promotes circulation
around the building with access to
different levels.
The staircase is constructed using
reinforced concrete slabs.To form a
flight of stairs, about 12 slabs that
forms the steps, are cemented onto
one long concrete slab running
across the 10 slabs. The slabs are
then supported by a metal structure
that forms the skeletal frame of the
staircase. This construction meth-
od is possible due to the advent of
mass production of construction
materials such as metal and con-
crete during the 1930s, when inno-
vation is heavily driven by mechani-
cal industries.
By the 1970s, elevator shafts have
already made their way into the
construction industry in the west
and are implemented widely. A lift
was only added for Ampang Park
Shopping Centre much later on.
Fig 3.3.1Staircase for Circulation
Photograph by Ivanka Teh.
Fig 3.3.2 Construction details of staircase
Photograph by Ivanka Teh.
3.3 Staircase
10
Fig 3.3.3 Floorplan Circulation
Diagram by Loo Mei Chuen.

11. A
t the ceiling of the top level
is constructed with waffle
slab ceiling, with the use of
prefabricated hollow sheet-met-
al domes to create a grid pattern
of voids in a solid floor slab, saving
material without reducing the slab’s
strength, at the same time relieving
the structural stress load onto the
building.
The roof of APSC is made of struc-
tural joist sheated by aluminium foil
in the interior.The aluminum foil is
light and it is able to block 95 per-
cent of the heat radiated. This re-
duces the load bearing of the roof
on the columns and is able to main-
tain the cool temperature in the
building.
3.4 Ceiling and Roof
Fig 3.4.2 Aluminium Foil roofing
Photograph by Ivanka Teh.
11

12. z
S
teel and glass are another prom-
inent materials used in the art
deco architecture. Constructed
with thin framing, the glass panels on
the façade are secured on the open-
ings created on the walls and aligned
in linear with fins in between of them.
The fins of the window are used to
limit light penetration from direct
sunlight and restrict visibility as well.
Elongated ribbon window at the
back of the façade is as well con-
structed with glazing window glasses
to reflect heat from entering the
building.
Moving to the interior of the build-
ings, glass panels with aluminum
steels are extensively used to show-
case and the display the products of
the shops.
3.5 Windows
Fig 3.5.2 Glass Panels used for showcase in shoplots.t
Photograph by Ivanka Teh.
Fig 3.5.2 Elongated ribbon windows at rear elevation
Photograph by Ivanka Teh.
12

13. component analysis
T
he Ampang Park Shopping Centre manifests an essence of Streamline Moderne architec-
ture. From the exterior, there is a strong emphasis on the vertical and horizontal elements.
It is shown through the horizontality of the façade and the verticality of the columns be-
neath.The color palette used in the building were of subdue shades; base colors were typically light
earth tones or off-whites, such as beige and light yellow, while the trim colors were dark colors
such as dark orange and green to contrast from the light base.In addition,walls had smooth surface
finish made of stucco to enhance its sleek linear appearance.
Due to influence from the Art Deco style, fun-
damental geometrical shapes such as circles,
squares and rectangles were used as minor or-
namentation for the building to achieve a mono-
lithic appearance with applied decorative motifs.
4.1 streamline moderne 4.2 decorative expression
Figure 4.1.1 External façade
(Source: PAM, Dec 1987)
Figure 4.1.2 Sketch illustrating the horizontality
and verticality of the facade
Figure 4.2.1 , 4.2.2 Geometrical shaped elements inside building
(Source:Teh Gie Eng & Loo Mei Chuen, 2014)
13

14. Wide eaves which keep out the sun and rain were adapted as horizon-
tal banding devices that merge into the heavy horizontal articulation in
the building.The banding devices were also used to form vents above
glazed window openings, hence the fine line between decorative form
and practical function..
The building comprised of a few types of windows, one of it being
the punctured openings, either square or small circles, to preserve its
streamline appearance. Ribbon windows wraps around the corner of
the building to provide further linear exaggeration and predate the
glass wall found in future modern architecture.Vertical fins or cham-
fered windows were used for climatic solutions, in relation to the use
of energy conservation devices.
4.4 Horizontal banding4.3 windows and openings
Figure 4.3.1 , 4.3.2 Round openings and chamfered windows
around the building (Source:Teh Gie Eng, 2014)
Figure 4.3.3 Ribbon windows in the front facade of the building
(Source: Loo Mei Chuen, 2014)
Figure 4.4.1 Horizontal banding cornering the building
(Source: Loo Mei Chuen, 2014)
14

15. 4.6 LOGO
The use of logo on the building is a significance of art deco.
Figure 4.6.4 Logo of APSC (Source:YeowYi Chuan, 2014)
Figure 4.5.3 Railings of staircase
(Source: Loo Mei Chuen, 2014)
Figure 4.5.1 Decorative element within building
(Source:Teh Gie Eng, 2014)
Figure 4.5.2 Sketch illustrating elements coming in threes
The influence was clearly seen in the building, as everything seems to
come in threes; the staircase railing being the most obvious.
4.5 threes
15

16. 4.8 FLAT ROOF
The staircases in the building were of tower-like
construction and were used to accentuate the
corners of the building.
The building had a flat surfaced roof as to not disturb the horizontality of
overall building besides giving a distinct modern look while the exterior
walls were extended beyond the roof line to form a parapet that wraps
around the building.
4.7 TOWER-LIKE STAIRCASE
Figure 4.7.1 Sketch illustrating placement of main staircases
Figure 4.7.2 Tower-like staircase
at corners of the building
(Source:YeowYi Chuan, 2014)
Figure 4.7.1 APSC (Source: PAM, 1987)
Figure 4.8.1 , 4.8.2 Flat roofline of the building
(Source: PAM, Dec 1987; Loo mei Chuen, 2014)
16

17. CONCLUSION
I
t is conclusive that the spatial ar-
rangement, form and shape of Am-
pang Park Shopping Centre was
able to portray Corbusier’s points
of architecture and it was clear that
Art Deco elements and features
were incorporated into the building.
The use of grid reinforced concrete
columns which acts as support struc-
tures allowed a free facade, giving
way to the emphasis on the horizon-
talily and verticality of the building.
Since the building was free from load
bearing walls, the plan could be de-
signed in a way that expresses the
idea of “street in the air”, offering a
similar shopping along the street ex-
perience just as how people used to
do during that era. With the use of
subdued colors, it creates an essence
of Streamline Moderne feel within
the building. Emerged as one of the
most successful shopping centre in
Kuala Lumpur, the modern looking
APSC is constructed with the ad-
vanced construction methods with
reinforcement technology and mate-
rials for a 5 storey high shopping cen-
tre, highlighting the liner stretched-
ring circulation in the building.
Built with the influence of modern-
ism and art deco movement, APSC
is no doubt an spectacular design
in the 1970s , very much influenced
with the local context to accom-
modate the busy streets and also
the weather condition in Malaysia.
Figure 5.1 Rear facade of APSC
(Source: Ivanka Teh, 2014)
17

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