THE NODE

First City UC

Project idea

‘It’s more than a station, but a people‘s station.’ This proposal, called ‘THE NODE’, aims to redefine transportation hub identity as a communal community space. The chosen unutilised spaces in Terminal Bersepadu Selatan (Malaysia) is being repurposed to create a new phase of journey experience. Transportation hub is now in high demands as more countries are going for more comprehensive urbanisation and globalisation development. As transportation hub provides seamless connectivity across borders, it did not only connect communities but also promotes green awareness of taking public transport. However, it is generally accepted that transportation hubs nowadays are gradually neglecting in-station users experience results from insufficient ticketing and queueing system to unattractive interior design. Outdated systems and managements not only lead to rush hour delays but also unpleasing experience. As interior design always considered as after-thought, transportation hubs were designed in such rational and economical manners, sticking to the monotonous and cold design instead of expressing the identities and stories behind the designs. According to the statistics, more users are now shifting to public transports and expecting ‘more than a station’ experience to kick-off their journeys. However, poor management and unimpressive aesthetic left the country’s major integrated transport terminals ''in a state of flux and havoc'' upon facing the rapid increases of footfall traffic and demands for refreshing experience. Thus, this proposal aims to tackle the above issues and explore different fresh and new identities.

Project description

Terminal Bersepadu Selatan, the chosen site, was in Bandar Tasik Selatan of Malaysia, was to replace the existing insufficient bus terminals in 2011. It foresees potential increases of ridership and revenues due to its strategic location. This projects also aims to promote the awareness of using public transportation and deserve more recognition as the country gateway. This proposal enable users to enjoy and relax along their journey with the introduction of new zoning such as green zone, art gallery, double volume reading platform and play zone, while the designs also make good of existing ticketing and queueing systems. Overall design is inspired from local products included material, traditional motifs and passive design strategies. The proposal intended to emphasise the relationship between the ‘point (station)’, ‘line (linkage)’ and ‘plane (coverage)’. Thus, voronoi was used to express the abstract connection between the three elements due to its similarity. Its geometrical gridlines divided spaces according to the proximity of regions to form a new territory and broke up the rigidity of configuration while encourage flexible interaction and communication. The three main elements of voronoi to form new and flexible spaces, reflecting the relationship between ‘point, line and plane’. The idea also make use of the ‘more than a station’ initiatives and redefine certain major areas as ‘core points’ during the layout planning. Besides, in regards of the idea of 'Point. Line. Plane', linear signage was further emphasised and developed on floor in navigating passengers as if they walking in art gallery or museum. The signage was circulating all those specific service areas to highlight a clearer boundary between general areas and service areas.

Technical information

The six-level bus terminal occupied a total of 196,000sqm. It serves all transit lines across the western Malaysia and to Singapore and Southern Thailand. Level 3 and 4 was proposed in this project and Level 3 will be separated into air-ventilated and passive-ventilated zone to promote environmental and cost effectiveness. Among the other interesting features, the ceiling canopy design was using reclaimed bamboo and timber planks to create consistent flows, as well as navigating passengers walking through the station. The structure also expresses the beauty of nature and promotes interactions between nature and passengers. The initiatives of using local bamboo was also echoed the local Ministry of Natural Resources suggestions to advocate using local materials. Reclaimed materials were used as a primary construction material and finishes for the station counters, pedestals and seating. Bamboo poles were also used for the station interior decoration and encourages passengers to explore its beauty. Passenger flows are further emphasised by the grid structure arranged along the wavy ceiling structure to radiate a dynamic movement and functions as natural way finders. The new structure is reusing the existing columns supporting the loads and spreads into a tree-like canopies with intersecting branches.

Co-authors

None.