SHAFTBURY , PUTRAJAYA
SKY FUNNEL
GRANDEUR - OPULENCE- VASTNESS
Located in Putrajaya, being a city underpinned by sense of authority and Islamic influence, the detailing of the mall such as the lifts, and balustrades were inspired by Islamic motifs.
The premise of this project encompasses not only interior design, but conceiving the overall concept for the mall, from selecting all the interior and architectural materials, detailing the shopfront facade, baluster detail, hardscape to conceptualising the structural trusses.
The key spatial organization centres on the main atrium at each wing, flanked by an arcade forming the central spine connecting both these spaces. The spine is an idea of a reminisce of the shopping arcades that invite gaze of its consumers close to the catalytic Parisian arcades. The roof truss is deliberately placed at close distance at the arcade so that the atrium glass roof creates the principle of repetition and with sunlight creates a good shadow play and sense of movement.
In the atrium, the brief was to create a water feature to celebrate the centric space. Challenging the common idea of water feature as a fountain, the designer inverted the idea to create a water feature that comes from the top, creating a sculptural water feature called the Sky Funnel.
Sky funnel is a 5-storey high funnel-shaped indoor water feature, with the funnel structure constructed of a geometric hollow tube, tapering parabolically 15m down to a central 3.5 circular opening at the bottom, and animated with colourful LED lights to offer a captivating optical experience to the patrons. Supported about 25m above the ground, this massive 35 metric tonne stainless steel structure is enveloped by about 850sqm of lightweight translucent EFTE membrane. At a continuous flow, the whirling mass of water gushes down from the funnel top, forming a vortex before free-falling 10m to ground floor level.