Facade Concept - Medan Mara building Kuala Lumpur A concept for the refurbishment of the landmark Medan Mara building, Kuala Lumpur. Facade Concept is a kinetic sculpture on a massive scale. Powered by the wind, it produces subtle sounds and stunning visual patterns.
The 'songket' weaving design on the existing Medan Mara facade is to be enhanced by 20,000 movable dichroic tiles. Each tile is hinged at its top edge and reflects two colors dependent on the angle of reflection. In the test film below; a gold/indigo combination is used to represent the metal threads. Supported 1.5m from the facade on slender frames are huge arrays of these tiles to form an ever changing visual screen of wind patterns. The tiles semi-translucent nature ensures the existing 'songket' design remains visible. Facade Concept adds a living element to the Medan Mara building, now reflecting the life of the city around it by day and night, organicaly being a part of it and transforming with it.
Lighting Concept
Top: Medan Mara night view from Petronas Towers Sky Bridge. Above: Medan Mara night view, bistro/entrance elevation.
