The Rise Of Asia

A record-breaking 53 skyscrapers over 200 metres high were completed in Asia in 2013, accounting for three-quarters of the year's tallest new buildings, according to the latest industry report.

The annual review from the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat reveals that 74 percent of worldwide skyscraper completions in 2013 were in Asian countries - a 19 percent increase on 2012 - and that the region now contains 45 percent of the tallest buildings in the world.

China accounts for the majority of this total, with 37 skyscrapers of over 200 metres spread across 22 different cities, including the lesser-known locations of Hefei and Xiamen that before this year had never contained buildings of this scale.

South Korea also plays a large role in the statistics with nine 200-metre-plus buildings completed in the last year, eight of which are located within a single complex in the growing city of Goyang.

The overall findings of the report were that worldwide skyscraper construction is back on the rise, in spite of a stall in 2012 that saw the total number of tall buildings fail to increase for the first time in six years, and that 2013 was the second-most successful year ever for skyscraper construction with a total of 73 buildings over 200 metres.

"By all appearances, the small increase in the total number of tall-building completions from 2012 into 2013 is indicative of a return to the prevalent trend of increasing completions each year over the past decade," it reads.

"From 2000 to 2013, the total number of 200-metre-plus buildings in existence increased from 261 to 830 - an astounding 318 percent. From this point of view, we can more confidently estimate that the slight slowdown of 2012 - which recorded 69 completions after 2011's record 81 - was a 'blip', and that 2013 was more representative of the general upward trend."

The tallest building of the year was the 355-metre JW Marriott Marquis Hotel Dubai Tower 2 completed in Dubai, the city that now also houses the world's tallest twisted skyscraper, the 307-metre Cayan Tower.

Only one of the 73 buildings over 200 metres was located in north America, while four were in Europe, including Renzo Piano's The Shard in London and the Mercury City tower in Moscow. None were recorded in Australia, Canada or Saudi Arabia, although construction did begin on the proposed 1000-metre Kingdom Tower in the Saudi Arabian city of Jeddah.

Source: Dezeen

Titijaya's RM2.6 Billion Project In Penang

SHAH ALAM (May 27): Titijaya Land Bhd obtained shareholders’ approval to acquire about 23 acres of leasehold land in Batu Maung, Penang to build a mixed-use development after its extraordinary general meeting (EGM) here today. The land is located within 1.5km from the Sultan Abdul Halim Mua’dzam Shah Bridge (the Second Penang Bridge). 

The mixed-use development will be built by Titijaya Land’s wholly-owned subsidiary, City Meridian Development Sdn Bhd and is the group’s first development outside of the Klang Valley.

“The property market in Penang is highly competitive, but we believe that the demand for residential and commercial properties in Penang is expected to remain favourable among local and foreign buyers,” deputy group managing director Lim Poh Yit (pictured, right) told reporters after the EGM. 

The land acquisition will be satisfied via a cash consideration of RM126 million in bank borrowings and internal funds.

The newly acquired landbank will be used to develop a proposed mixed-use development with a gross development value (GDV) of about RM2.6 billion. The proposed development, which is yet to be named, will offer about 1,700 small office, home office units across four blocks, retail components and four office towers.

According to GDP Architects Sdn Bhd's associated partner Hairul Afzahizan Osmayati (pictured, below), the development will be built in three phases.

“We phased out the developments into three [phases]. The first phase will have two residential blocks with retail and shops; Phase 2 will be the remaining retail and two residential blocks. The last phase will be [all four] office [towers],” said Hairul. GDP Architects is the appointed master architect for the whole project.

Lim said: “We plan to launch Phase 1 this year. It will be either year-end or early next year, which is our launching schedule.” He added that the first phase will have an estimated GDV of RM600 million.

Lim is aiming to obtain approval from the authorities to develop the project by early next year.

After the land acquisition, Titijaya Land has 432.47 acres of landbank throughout Malaysia.

“We believe that this acquisition will expand our development activities in the future, which will contribute positively to the group’s future financial performance,” Lim added.

Source: The Edge Property

Komtar 59th Floor Opened

Shenzhen's Slender Tower By Morphosis

Morphosis Architects latest works in Shenzhen is currently under construction. Through the folding of its steel structure, “Hanking Center Tower” merges commercial retail with private office space. It is a skyscraper designed with the notion of breaking away from conventional modern office buildings.

With innovative approach to circulation, social, and work spaces, Hanking Center Tower rethinks the traditional commercial office building typology. The project offers flexible tower office space anchored by high-end retail and dining in the podium. The tower brings density to the suburb of Nanshan and acts as a response to Shenzhen’s growing body of global professionals.

Located on a prominent piece of land along Shennan Boulevard, Hanking Tower’s slender profile redefines the local skyline. Conventional towers often have separate and disjointed volumes defining their various programs while Morphosis’s tower utilizes folded angles to elegantly merge public components in the podium with private commercial space in the tower. A grand plaza surrounds the tower’s podium enhancing public activity at the street level.

The interior is the result of an aspiration to create strong and humane communities with glazed lobbies and skygardens every five floors act as a communal hubs for use by all tenants. Space planning flexibility with natural light and ventilation offers healthier working environments. The masterpiece of the interior has got to be the sun-lit atrium that brings in nature into the building.

Shenzhen

Shenzhen is often overshadowed by its more popular cousin namely Hong Kong thanks to the close proximity between the two cities. But Shenzhen itself is an impressive city not inferior to Hong Kong.

Shenzhen's impressive skyline.

 

Religious Tower vs. Modern Skyscraper

One thing that never fails to fascinate me is the beauty of chaos that is so common in most Asian cities that make them unique and distinct from Western cities. 

Western town planning carve out the city into different parts according to functions and roles of each part. You have the CBD in the centre, entertainment precinct in a separate zone while the bulk of the city's population live in suburb away from this centre. This method of planning no doubt will give you a very organised city but it lacks vibrancy especially after working hours when everyone rushes home to the suburbs.

Such thing never happens in Asian cities thanks to the seemingly poorer town planning strategy. Penang is one such city that makes it so interesting and continues to attract tourist from all over the world. There is no clear CBD zone in Penang. There is also no clear suburbs to speak of. Residential towers mushroom in every corners of the island while office buildings scattered in various areas. There is no clear distinction between work and living in its traditional commercial buildings namely the heritage shophouses where people operate their business on the ground floor and live on the first floor.

Asian cities grow 'naturally' much like trees in the forest without too much human intervention in the planning stage. Therefore it is not surprising to witness a scene where the tower of a Buddhist temple would stand gracefully against the backdrop of modern skyscrapers.

The 'let it happen' attitude in Asian town planning seems to be more appealing to me personally as it helps to create cities that are full of energy, life and vibrancy.

Aspen Vision City In Penang

Ever since the second Penang Bridge was opened to traffic in 2014, the development scene has changed dramatically with trends shifting from the island to the mainland side of the state.

With IKEA announced its first store in Penang, Batu Kawan suddenly becomes a much talked about town in the region. The area around the proposed IKEA will be developed into a self-sustaining township in its own right. Aspen Vision City will transform the once lacklustre image of Seberang Perai into development hotspots in years to come.