The Rainz is sited in Bukit Jalil, a developing suburban neighbourhood and home to several high-rise residential apartments and landed residential properties. Situated within an enclave of high-rise residential apartments, one of the architectural challenges that were present was building a unique and identifiable identity amongst a dense and typified apartment typology. Hence, inspired by a seemingly common nature element in Malaysia, the ‘rain’, we sought to push the boundaries and explore the various translation of this idea into every element of the building design.
Towering at 36 storeys high, the Rainz was arranged as 3 towers positioned in an arc linear configuration sitting atop a 7-storeys high parking podium. These 3 towers were positioned as such to maximise the accessibility to views of the various landscape elements and the city, as well as to encourage natural ventilation within the apartments. These towers are strategically connected via bridges at Level 9 and Level 35 for ease of accessibility to the various facilities availed to the residents.
Inspired by the patterns of the rainfall, the building incorporates vertical aluminium claddings which are arranged to mimic its configurations on the podium façade. Further to this, ventilation blocks were also arranged in a seemingly random manner to replicate the patterns of the rainfall. Moving on to the towers, the use of lightweight concrete vertical fin and tinted glass was also incorporated to narrate the rain pattern on its façade. We seek to explore of usage of simple and basic building materials to not only enforce the concept in a subtle way but to also create a new design language within an enclave of high-rise apartments.
Extending from the rain patterns, the rain ripple effect can also be seen in the driveway pattern at the entrance gate and Level 8 facilities floor. The rain ripple effect pattern was incorporated across the floor in an expanding circular design, creating a pervasive ripple effect that spans out, which also makes for an interesting design when seen from an aerial view.
Additionally, the rain concept is depicted using a ‘rainforest’ landscape idea, with lush trees and foliage at the Level 8 facilities floor and Level 35 sky lounge. At Level 8, almost half of the facilities floor is covered with lush landscape, in which each landscape differed based on tower area. These differing landscapes create a series of narrative stories of an individual exploring a rainforest. At the sky lounge at Level 35, the rainforest concept can be subtly seen in the incorporation of lush shrubs. The concept was enhanced by the presence of hanging huts placed at intervals along the sky lounge. This created an environment akin to jungle tree houses which provide magnificent views of the surroundings. Balau timber was also intentionally used as the main material of the staircases and timber wall enclosures of the hanging huts to echo the rainforest environment. The final touch of the rain concept can be seen in the usage of vertical LED strips that are placed vertically along the Level 35 façades. At night, these LED strips create a mesmerising light motion pattern, thus explicitly enhancing the rain concept to its viewers.
Rain, a natural element of the environment we live in and the basis of this development’s concept – calls for a greater emphasis on the incorporation of eco-friendly and green features into the building. This has resulted in the certification of GBI Certified for the building itself. Green features such as rainwater harvesting are incorporated to aid the irrigation of the vast landscape area within the development.
In conclusion, our endeavours were so that the Rainz is not seen as just a typical residential building with customary branding for advertisement but as a manifestation and embodiment of the concept of ‘rain’ within the whole development.
