A breath of fresh air
Step into a government building that is far from the usual drab institutional monolith.
AS we drive into the area, the semi-open, high-ceilinged lobby of the administration building exudes a welcoming feel.
Three skylights provide natural lighting in the porch, which is separated from the interior by a green-tinted glass panel.
Walking inside, the familiar logo of Malaysia’s Social Security Organisation (Socso) rests on the main wall behind the reception desk.
We are at the Socso Rehabilitation Centre in Malacca, the biggest and first such centre in Malaysia, and probably South-East Asia, that combines medical and vocational rehabilitation with an allied health institute. It is also the first rehab centre under Socso, which has 6.4 million contributors now.
“The whole concept of this rehab centre is in line with our objectives. We don’t want to just pay out compensation and pensions, or merely give treatments to Socso contributors. We want to offer them a second chance in life after an accident.
“We want to give them the opportunity to return to their jobs or at least equip them with living skills to manage themselves and be independent,” says Datuk K. Selvarajah, Socso chief executive officer and director general, during an interview in Kuala Lumpur after our tour of the centre.
More than that, the centre – located in Malacca’s Bandar Hijau, Hang Tuah Jaya – is proudly a green building.
“It’s a good location, not very far from the Klang Valley. The piece of land was developed by Yayasan Melaka, who offered it to us. Bandar Hijau is a new growth area and we are one of the pioneer institutions there,” says Selvarajah.
“The whole area is a green zone and is designated for institutional buildings. Going green is the order of the day and we wanted to adhere to the Government’s objectives of being environmentally-friendly,” he adds.
The administration building is certified under Malaysia’s Green Building Index (GBI), the green rating tool for buildings to promote sustainability in the built environment.
According to greenbuildingindex. org, a “Green building focuses on increasing the efficiency of resource use – energy, water and materials – while reducing impact on human health and the environment during the building’s life cycle through better siting, design, construction, operation, maintenance and removal”.
The firm that designed the centre is Arte Axis Design Group, which consists of Anuar Aziz Architect, Arte Axis Atelier and Arte Axis Interior.
The centre’s facades are built with low-e (low-emissivity) glass panels, which reflect 60% to 70% of heat. The cost of these panels for the administration block alone is RM6mil but, as Selvarajah points out: “They may cost quite a lot but in the long run, it will save electricity costs.”
Mokhlis Abdul Rahim, resident architect with Anuar Aziz Architect, explains further: “The low-e glass panels are a key feature of this project. This type of glass reflects heat, leading to lower energy needed to cool a room. It takes about five to seven years to get energy savings back from the low-e glass, so it is a viable solution in the long run,” says Mokhlis.
Facades facing west do not feature glass panels, only concrete, to minimise heat inside the buildings.
The buildings are also designed to allow natural sunlight and air in through skylights and air wells, by keeping ceilings high, and using an open concept interior design. The features succeed so well at introducing natural light that artificial lighting isn’t required during the day – which is quite unusual for an office building.
The administration building lobby has no air-conditioning, as the high ceiling and other design features promote natural cooling.
Insulating materials – including aluminium cladding – on the roof and certain walls are also used to keep heat out.
To further reduce its energy footprint, the complex has a centralised air-conditioning system and water chillers.
Naturally cool:
“The Building Automation System with a smart thermal control feature allows chillers to be switched on at designated times automatically to suit operations and to achieve the required conditions and regulate usage.
“The system – which also controls the lighting – optimises energy saving and the comfort level of occupants,” says Edmund Cheong, the centre’s deputy director and head of administration.
Lights used are the LED (lightemitting diode) T5 type, which uses 30% less electricity compared to regular lights.
Completed on July 31 last year, the complex also features a rainwater harvesting system – four underground reservoirs, each with a capacity of 4,540 litres, supply water for the landscaping’s irrigation system. All roofs in the area serve as water catchment channels that direct the water into underground pipes. The water is then filtered before being stored in concrete tanks.
A network of pipes all around the area operate by way of gravity, making use of the sloping grounds. Once the hoses are plugged in, the water will flow out, much like an
aqueduct
across watered centre’s around the
street There area. on emission.
up period
at current RM170,000 approximately cool
cost a RM275,000 towards of says
was Architecture