Design Studio Portfolio Y2S2

LIM JIA YING SEMESTER 04 DESIGN STUDIO PORTOLIO

CONTENTS 01 PLANTER SPACE Individual Work

02 SITE ANALYSIS Group Work

03 SITE RESPONSE Individual Work

04 BUTTERFLY BIOTOPE Individual Work

01

PLANTER SPACE This project aims to create a planter space for butterflies. Over the past decade globally, the number of insect species has declined over 41%, making its extinction rate 8 times faster than that of mammals, birds & reptiles. Among the most affected insects are butterflies, with 53% of them either being in decline, threatened or endangered. This is mainly due to habitat loss caused by the lack of larvae host plants and nectar sources for butterflies to feed or lay their eggs on. This proposed planter space essentially acts as a biotope for the butterflies, providing an area of specific assemblage of nectar and larvae host plants for the butterflies as a food source and a place for them to reproduce on.

A biotope is said to be a microscopic approach to preserve the ecosystem and ecology biodiversity, the scale of this planter space being 2.4m x 2.4m makes it a good testing ground to challenge itself to provide a new habitat for the butterflies. The butterfly biotope is located inside a forest, with a cocoon like structure covered in plants and flowers hung amongst trees as a parasitic sturcture.

02

SITE ANALYSIS This project aims to study the existing tangible and intangible surrounding context of the chosen site in Persiaran Tropicana, Petaling Jaya and to analyze the information that could aid in the design development of the final building project.

Buildings along Site A

Buildings along Site B

03

SITE RESPONSE Upon the completion of the macro and micro site analysis, this project aims to use the information gained to develop massing models based on site responses.

“To Jut” Physical Model (Scale 1:200)

“To Levitate” Physical Model (Scale 1:200)

“To Contrast” Physical Model (Scale 1:200)

04

BUTTERFLY BIOTOPE The proposal is a butterfly farm set in Persiaran Tropicana, a horticulture hub in Petaling Jaya known for its plant nurseries. With the dwindling number of butterflies in urban areas, it is hoped that this proposal will go some way to reintroduce native butterflies to the local area while also acting as a biotope for the existing butterflies at the urban area. Butterflies are said to be one of the best indicators of an ecosystem’s quality and biodiversity, and they are especially important in this area, as Malaysia is known for having one of the greatest diversity of butterflies in the world. By planting nectar plants for the butterflies to feed on in this butterfly nursery, the building acts as a biotope for the butterflies, providing a living place for the butterflies in an urban area whose rapid development has caused the habitat loss of these pollinators. Host plants are also planted in this nursery to breed certain species of butterflies as a conservation effort. The nursery will take the visitors on a journey to experience the many remarkable stages of a butterfly’s life cycle: egg, caterpillar, chrysalis & butterfly.

Data showing the decrease in number of insect species, particularly butterflies during the past decade.

Site Plan

The site of this project is located at Persiaran Tropicana, Petaling Jaya. The site is approximately 50m (L) X 20m (W) wide.

The location is known for its famous array of plant nurseries.

Ideation Sketches

Sketch of section to show the main functions of the nursery that is divided into 2 floors: to breed butterflies (Ground Floor) & provide a habitat for the existing butterflies in the area (First Floor).

Spatial planning on the visitor’s journey into the butterfly nursery to experience a butterfly’s life cycle.

Concept of open loops to allow light into different internal spaces

Research on Butterflies

Site Architecture Language The buildings on site all take in a linear & planar shape, constructed primarily with materials such as flat zinc roofs, linear timber & steel columns & beams.

Iterative models

Iterative models exploring different forms of combining different spaces and phases of the butterfly nursery as inspired by the linear & planar architecture language of the site.

Model studying the effect of carving light wells into a space.

Physical model of the space for the caterpillar phase, studying the effect of small light wells in a space.

Sectional models studying the daylight effects of different openings at the chrysalis phase.

Iterative models exploring the relation between the café and different variations of the open terraced garden at the first floor.

Ground Floor Plan

First Floor Plan

Second Floor Plan

Section Y-Y

Section X-X

West Elevation Construction Drawings

South Elevation

Construction Drawings

East Elevation

Egg Phase

The first phase experienced by the visitors is the egg phase. The male & female butterfly species are let to mate here and lay eggs on their respective host plants.The host plants are planted on hanging planter boxes to ensure visitors can observe the eggs at an eye-level.

A light well is designed in this space to make this the brightest point of the journey and to indicate the start of the butterfly life cycle.

Componential Axonometric

Caterpillar Phase

Visitors observe the second phase of the butterfly’s life cycle at this space. Caterpillars are placed into glass tubes with their respective host plants for them to feed on. Visitors can observe the caterpillars up close through the glass tubes.

Polycarbonate sheets are used for the skylight well to dim the space,bright light is only allowed to enter the glass tubes.

Componential Axonometric

Chrysalis Phase

For the third phase of the life cycle, pupas are displayed on rods behind a glass window. The space becomes narrow as the visitors walk towards the exit of this space. A single slit is used as an opening in this space to allow little light into the space and to shine on the chrysalis.The change to a darker and narrower space in this phase recreates the feeling of a caterpillar wrapping itself into a cocoon.

Componential Axonometric

Butterfly Phase

Visitors are greeted by a large and bright plant conservatory for the final phase of the life cycle. Hatched pupas enter into this space from an opening carved at the end of the chrysalis display area. Here, visitors can observe the many types of butterflies bred in this garden filled with luscious greeneries and nectar plants for the butterflies to feed on.

A mud pond is also built to allow puddling for the male butterflies to extract minerals.

Componential Axonometric

Thank You