Interesting interplay of façade patterns and forms is not only exciting but functional in hiding the car park podium. The façade treatment creates a strong identity by effectively breaking down the scale of this large development to a more human level.
KIP Core Sentral is located halfway in-between the capital of Wilayah Persekutuan Putrajaya and Kuala Lumpur International Airport.Kota Warisan has established itself as a low-density neighbourhood with a strong community presence.
Being surrounded largely by low-rise development, KIP Core Sentral set up the development to become the new landmark of the area.Standing 15 storeys tall, the bold colours used in the development is designed to be captivating and can be seen directly from the Putrajaya – Cyberjaya Expressway; making presence, accessibility and navigation easier.
The strong architectural discipline of KIP Core Sentral stands in contrast to the visual and physical chaos of the various buildings in the vicinity of Kota Warisan and is particularly noticeable from the highway to KLIA.
KIP Core Sentral is a 15-storey mixed-use development consisting of 76 units of retail shops (Core Avenue) and 466 SoHo units (Core SOHO Suites).Retail shops are laid out in an L-shaped plan on Level 1 and Level 2 comfortably connected via dedicated lifts and escalators on a podium.Four levels of podium car parks separate the retail shops from the SoHo units in two connected blocks above.
KIP Core Sentral is an embodiment of architectural intentions to challenge the cookie-cutter design and to stand as a representation and inspiration that to be bold and distinctive does not have to be expensive.The modernist cubic design combines the bold use of colours on the façade with a strong expression of solids and voids.The feature of perforated coloured screens extends down from the SoHo units to the podium car parking and is interlaced with meshed screens, allowing for future advertising by retail shop owners.
As it is not a high-budget development, the choice of building materials that can be incorporated into the building design is limited.In response, the building was designed with a bold form of architectural elements projecting a character and visual appeal to the building without having to rely on the aesthetic quality of building materials.Apart from the glazing and the screens, the façades are mostly finished in plaster and paint.Hence, constant monitoring of the workmanship of the façade is required to ensure they are up to the acceptable standard.
SoHo units are divided between Block A and Block B.Although the blocks are connected visually and physically by an internal corridor, each block is served by dedicated lifts and services.Internally, the façade expression allows penetration of daylight and breaks the monotony of the corridors connecting the SoHo units.The SoHo units are designed with an open plan layout.The compact and flexible living space allows for a variety of different living configurations incorporating a dedicated ensuite and compact kitchen.The big windows allow for light to fill the internal space, creating spaciousness and lightness for what is just an affordable unit.
A dedicated fully landscaped recreation deck is designed above the podium car parks at Level 7 complete with a swimming pool, kid’s pool, gymnasium, multi-purpose hall, toilet and playground.
A feature of the user experience is the covered linkages provided to adjacent buildings, the completed KIP Mall and the hotel under construction.These linkages connect standalone buildings of the master plan prepared without this essential urban design consideration.
