What’s in store for construction in #2023? See the latest issue of Construction Plus magazine (Singapore, Malaysia & Hong Kong) […]

A well-balanced life is not just about the amount of time one spends at home, at work or at play. […]

The project occupies a tight urban site on Jalan Imbi and was designed to accommodate an international branded serviced apartment complex. The main façade is composed of deep and angled architectural fins arranged at regular repeated intervals. These fins serve as shading devices, shielding the building interior from the solar heat.

This is the latest addition to the Lakefront Residence development in Cyberjaya, which—together with the completed villa and the housing developments—form the overall residential master plan. Building Information Modelling (BIM) and Virtual Design & Construction (VDC) for construction planning and operations reduce the time design and construction traditionally take. Digital 3D modelling visualises the structure, evaluate construction methods, and test these against the company’s safety requirements before starting work.

The three-storey building is highly visible, connecting the architecture to the surrounding urban context. The design features a transparent façade that allows for a flood of natural sunlight into the inside, while giving staff and visitors visual access to the outside. This establishes a new identity for logistics facilities that puts people at the centre.

The logical sequence of works from a planner’s viewpoint starts with planning at a macro or city scale, followed by urban design when layers of details are added, and completed with the architectural design at a smaller building scale. However, a reversed sequence could often be the case. Smaller-scale neighbourhoods or building developments that are carried out without a coordinated macro-scale master plan will cause patchy developments and often result in urban chaos. Therefore, it is necessary to coordinate the roles and contributions of the three stages.

The rapid growth of population, the way we move around the planet, the way we live, work and play, profoundly impact infrastructure development and the way we design. But at the heart of any project is the local culture and climate that imbues our designs with the spirit of the place.

The construction industry’s fatal workplace injury rate has declined by 76 per cent since 2006, with major changes such as the introduction of the WSH Act and Construction Safety Audit Scoring System (ConSASS) in 2006; the start of bizSAFE and the enhancement of the Construction Safety Orientation Course (CSOC) in 2007; the enactment of the WSH (Design for Safety) Regulations in 2015; and the introduction of other initiatives and regulatory changes.