Showroom at Rock Road
“Opportunistic gesture with sensitive detailing that differentiates it from other showrooms.”
– PAM Awards 2011 jury citation, Gold in Showroom
Showroom at Rock Road is a commercial project that is located along Rock Road, one of Kuching's oldest trunk roads. This specific site was historically a residential area with private homes and some small shops lining Rock Road all the way to Batu Tiga, the fringe of town until the 1970s. The site itself called for a building with size and mass that harmonised with the surrounding area and made an impact on the streetscape.
The building is conceptualised as a sculptural whole – a monolith rendered with a minimalistic palette of locally available materials and finishes for sustainable measures. Several varieties of local concrete vent blocks were composed into mosaic facades. They create texture on the exterior while having more fundamental purposes of bringing in natural ventilation to the building. The areas that benefit from this are the lift lobbies on every floor, the toilets, fire stairs, and staff pantries.
A local steel fabricator was engaged to construct the perforated steel curtain on the south side of the building ; concealing air-conditioner condensers and providing yet another texture to the external palette. A similar exercise took shape at the front staircase, composing aluminium sunshades into a tapestry of light and shadow against the borrowed foliage of the neighbour’s trees.
Ship-lapped cement-rendered wall conceived in a low-tech attempt to provide a texture to the vast expanse of cement-rendered walls. There were concerns about trapped water and mould in the groove lines in the cement render. Therefore, the designers thought along the lines of traditional timber construction. The results are effective in terms of cost and aesthetics.
The interiors of the showroom shared the same frugality of purpose, doing enough for the future tenant and not a layer of finish more. The tall round columns, the lift shaft wall, and soffits of the concrete slabs were cast with a little bit more care than usual, as the result would be the final finish. Its double height makes a greater visual impact and provides flexibility for staging large items. The rest of the floors are designed for general office and support spaces; these were served by a service and circulation core at the north-west corner.
Double volume display area accompanied by double height windows that allows the space to be naturally lit
Showroom at Rock Road emphasises the beauty of utilising local products and passive design with a touch of monolith palette. The result is a more sustainable building that not only utilises local materials but also incorporates local craftsmanship and skills, thereby maximising the effectiveness of our design and community.
Text by the architect
PROJECT GALLERY
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Architect : Design Network Architect Sdn Bhd
Client : Benta Mewah Sdn Bhd
Area : 2,500 m²
Project Location : Kuching | Sarawak
Year : 2009 -
Contractor : Pembinaan Leyan Sdn Bhd
Design Team : Wee Hii Min | Lau Ming Ngi | Thang Suh Chee
Photography : Lau Ming Ngi -
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