There is a Denai or garden walk around the lake that connects the neighbourhood in a wash of green. After an invigorating walk, this Denai comes to a resting place where you may sojourn for a while, a place where neighbours can meet and socialize, and where communities can be built. This is The Serambi.
The Serambi as both a place of respite and community harkens back to the Serambi of tradition where families gather and guests are entertained. The Lakeside Serambi, named Tasek@ KotaSAS is a single-storey family-oriented F&B enclave with a plaza-sized deck hovering over the water’s edge. It is conceived with the lake and the gardens as the centre of the community.
The Serambi is essentially an oversized garden pavilion with a large soaring roof. Underneath the large shaded area, the Serambi, a moniker taken from the Malay term for ‘verandah’, becomes a focal point for recreation, entertainment, family time and social interaction, where recreation intertwines with familial bonds and social engagement.
Conceptually part of the garden, its layout is open, integrating itself with the garden. The open plan with its layered roof allows natural crosswinds to blow and light to shine through, orchestrating a symphony of natural light and air, imbuing the space beneath with an atmosphere of tranquillity and warmth.
The Serambi is composed of fair-facing bricks. The Serambi pays homage to its origins, sourced from the earth, connecting the Serambi back to the earth and nature. In its unadorned state, brick serves as a testament to the raw beauty of natural materials, forging a subtle link between The Serambi and nature.
The TASEK@KotaSAS faces the lake with a picturesque view, while its reverse side welcomes visitors from the main street. It has a large open area at its centre to host commercial exhibitions or social and community events. In an architecture of celebration, it presents itself to the lake as an expansive facingbrick open pavilion covered with a soaring roof.
“The Fish Processing project derives its design inspiration from the streamlined efficiency of fish anatomy, symbolising cohesion and progress.By aligning its layout and structure with the functional needs of processing facilities, the park serves as a central hub for nearby fisheries, fostering collaboration and growth. Through its innovative approach, the park not only optimises operations but also promotes sustainability within the industry, setting a new standard for industrial architecture.”
COMMUNITY SPACE
Tasek@KotaSAS serves as a dedicated community space, offering a socially neutral environment for people to socialise, interact and build relationships. It is an informal club of sorts, where residents from diverse backgrounds converge to share laughter, stories, and experiences, transcending barriers and fostering a sense of unity and solidarity. It’s a place where memories are made, traditions are upheld, and the spirit of community thrives.
“The Serambi at Tasek@KotaSAS represents a harmonious integration of tradition and contemporary community design. Serving as a focal point for social interaction, this oversized garden pavilion embodies the essence of a traditional gathering space. Its open layout and natural materiality foster a seamless connection with the surrounding garden, creating a welcoming environment for recreation and family gatherings. By blending cultural heritage with modern functionality, The Serambi sets a new standard for communal spaces, promoting connectivity and cohesion within the neighbourhood.”
THE ARCHITECTURE
The strategic placement of The Serambi, slightly elevated and away from the lake but visible throughout the park, imbues it with a sense of prominence and hierarchy. Its adjacency to the plaza, which extends to a deck hovering over the lake’s edge, effortlessly integrates the Serambi with the surrounding landscape, effectively reconnecting it with the essence of the lake and its gardens. The Denai, intersecting the plaza, further enhances this integration, physically linking The Serambi with the rest of the Lake Garden, thereby completing the ensemble.
The architectural form of The Serambi is characterised by three horizontal and overlapping tents, imparting a whimsical and carnival-like aesthetic. Despite its playful appearance, this design choice serves a practical purpose, allowing for a flexible floor plan that responds to the lake view.
While the shops facing the lake capitalise on the picturesque view, Serambi’s design responds to the hierarchy of the street, resulting in a subtle but intriguing dichotomy between the roof form and the retail plan. This deliberate misalignment of the shops with the building adds an element of visual interest and dynamism to the composition.
The façade of the shops is characterized by its clean lines and contemporary aesthetic, reflecting a sense of liberation and modernity. With the roof soaring high above the sidewalk, there’s a distinct sensation of walking in an expansive open space rather than under a conventional covered roof. The presence of planters and trees along the sidewalk further enhances the atmosphere, evoking the feeling of being ensconced within a verdant garden oasis amidst the urban landscape.
The central atrium space, cutting through the massing of The Serambi, serves as a focal point, offering a continuous vista from the street through to the lake. This visual connection not only extends the spatial experience of the lake and gardens to the street but also enhances the overall legibility of the structure. The discordance in the height with the lower roof pushes the atrium into prominence, contributing to a heightened awareness of the space that reinforces its spatial coherence and anchors the composition of The Serambi.
Within the Atrium, a multitude of social and commercial activities unfold, ranging from casual gatherings to cultural celebrations, market fairs, and product sales. This dynamic space serves not only as a functional location marker but also as a vibrant nexus for social interaction and the representation of local culture.
The design of the atrium allows for a smooth transition from enclosed space to breathtaking views of the lake, creating a stark contrast in spatial emotion that heightens the experience of encountering the open plaza. Rich natural materials such as stone and timber, interspersed with landscaping, define the aesthetic of the open plaza. Terraced seating along the edges invites individuals to sit and congregate, offering a vantage point akin to a theatre where one can observe and participate in the bustling activities below. The openness of the plaza provides a canvas for a diverse range of community events, from flea markets and competitions to concerts and cultural festivals. Through these gatherings, the community comes together, fostering a sense of belonging and unity as they celebrate their shared heritage and traditions.
THE INSTA DESTINATION SPACE
Tasek@KotaSAS is an Instagrammable place, it has visual appeal and both contemplative and active spaces where one may create shareable moments. It has picturesque views of the lake and the gardens and the poetic architecture of The Serambi with its plaza sized deck hovering over the water, the central atrium with its soaring roof, its skewed brick faced shops and the terraced seating areas surrounded by greenery provide Instagrammable backdrops. Public spaces such as the Atrium and the plaza provide the stage for public activities and celebrations whilst the F&B and Food court become the venue for get togethers for shareable Instagrammable activities.
CONCLUSION
The design of The Serambi draws inspiration from traditional Malay architecture, with its oversized garden pavilion, adorned with a soaring roof and open plan layout. It evokes a sense of cultural identity and heritage. The use of fair-facing bricks, sourced from the earth, further connects The Serambi to its natural surround- ings, creating a harmonious blend of modernity and tradition.
TASEK@KOTASAS serves as more than just a physical space—it is a symbol of community cohesion and resilience. The Serambi provides residents of KotaSAS with a place to come to- gether, celebrate diversity, and create lasting memories. As the social hub of KotaSAS, TASEK@KOTASAS embodies the spirit of togetherness and unity, enriching the lives of all who call it home.
