Suneeda Sisuwan's Architectural Portfolio

architectural

port folio.

2019 - 2022 Suneeda Sisuwan Master of Architecture Graduate University of Malaya

about.

SUNEEDA SISUWAN

Master of Architecture Graduate | LAM, RIBA Part II University of Malaya

Architecture is my window to the world. I am passionate about issues pertaining to the world, especially on us human beings and how we relate to our physical environments, which is prominent in architectural themes such as culture, context and sustainability. Thus, architecture is my outlet towards understanding these themes and expanding my worldview, in turn, shaping my designs.

I am Suneeda Sisuwan, a Malaysian Siamese who has recently graduated with a Master of Architecture (with Distinction) from University of Malaya, and with this momentum, has since been keen on achieving greater excellence and extending her architectural knowledge by learning from exceptional industry leaders who mainly take on their role in bringing changes to the world, one architectural solution at a time.

“Aims to inspire as much as she is inspired.”

projects.

Transmissions Post-pandemic Renault Headquarters & “Vending Machine” Showroom Post-pandemic Office Tower

Community Grandparenting Offering the Guiding Presence of Seniors to Shape the Sense of Community Eco-urban Housing Development

The Herbal House Revitalising Beauty Practices from the Olden Days for a Heritage Town Lifelong Learning Center

Wakaf Commemorating the Climatic Design of the Traditional Malay House MRT 3 Surface Station

part A.

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Sustainability ARCHITECTURE

Master of Architecture Projects

To be able to design a building that is aesthetically pleasing can be impressive, but they often fall trap into the disregard of ecological conservation, which is an approach that is highly implemented in sustainable architecture. In light of the condition of the environment in present times, sustainability is becoming an increasingly significant aspect in architecture and should be present in all buildings. However, sustainability in the built environment is often overlooked and sometimes treated as an afterthought. Therefore, I believe every aspect of sustainability is key to every architectural design.

This section features notable Master of Architecture projects centered around sustainability, with the first project being a post-pandemic office tower demonstrating programme sustainability in the context of a post-pandemic workplace, and the second project is a socially sustainable attempt on designing an inclusive housing development in the sensitive context of an old town.

Architecture + Sustainability Master of Architecture Projects

Transmissions

Post-pandemic Renault Headquarters & “Vending Machine” Showroom

Post-pandemic Office Tower

Petaling Jaya, Selangor

A Study on Programme Sustainability in a Post-pandemic Workplace

The workplace has seen a drastic transformation in the current reality of the Covid-19 pandemic where we have been keeping our distances, being in isolation, and working from home. With the emergence of remote working, people are able to connect instantly with people from across the globe.

However, this comes with a significant impact on employee’s mental healths. In the workplace, there is still no substitute to face-to-face interactions, and the meaningful collaborations you can only get in the office. As said by Matthew Lieberman, we suffer greatly when our social bonds are threatened or severed. Therefore, in this time of rapid digital transformation, office buildings now take on a crucial role in re-establishing connectivity in the workplace and reaffirming the importance of the workplace as incubators of innovation and new ideas.

“Transmissions”, a post pandemic office tower designed to re-establish and foster connectivity in a highly digitised post-pandemic world, aims to reaffirm connections in the workplace, giving new purpose to the office in a time of isolation and distance.

Welcome to “Transmissions”, an office tower designed to foster connectivity in a highly digitised post-pandemic world by celebrating passion for life.

Scan with mobile QR Code Scanner or click link on desktop to experience the Enscape Immersive View!

Living in the current reality of the COVID-19 pandemic, we have been keeping our distances, being in isolation, and working from home.

What does this mean for the workplace? Although the emergence of remote working has seen it possible to connect instantly with people from across the globe, it does not come without a significant challenge for most companies: the unseen impacts that distancing and isolation have on employees’ mental health and emotional wellbeing, as human beings that crave connections.

To expand on building the world of work in the post-pandemic times, office buildings now take on a crucial role of bringing people together and creating connections, fostering collaboration in spaces that act as

that act as incubators of innovation & new ideas. To learn from Renault, their passion for life and their core values have set them as leaders for innovations especially in sustainable mobility.

Transmissions is an office tower that aims to leverage these values to act as a corporate office building that is able to enhance its site by looking into barriers that otherwise segregate people as opportunities for creating spaces for safe segregation of people while integrating connectivity, transmitting life within Transmissions and with its surroundings.

Transmissions is essentially a post-pandemic office tower designed to foster connectivity in a highly digitised post-pandemic world by celebrating passion for life.

“In post-pandemic times, office buildings now take on a crucial role of bringing people together and creating connections, fostering collaboration in spaces that can act as incubators of innovation & new ideas. ”

Ideation | Issue, Aim & Gamechanger

For the client, Groupe Renault, sustainability is the main drive of the company. Fueling Groupe Renault’s passion for sustainability, they have set three leadership goals: electric vehicles, the circular economy and driverless vehicles.

As well as a cross-functional performance indicator: the reduction of its carbon footprint. These ambitions will be achieved by the Drive the Future plan, in 2022. Renault was exploring the future of mobility by focusing on a human-centred ecosystem, where the car would fully integrate with the human element.

Groupe Renault’s ambition is to make social responsibility an integral part of its sustainable development and competitiveness strategy. To better prepare for and adapt to these changes, Renault Group is taking a decisive step by signing a new global framework agreement titled “Building the world of work together at Renault Group” with IndustriALL Global Union, the French trade union federations and the other trade union federations or unions represented within the Renault Group Works Council. The members of the Group Works Council are stakeholders in this agreement.

“Passion is in our DNA. It’s what unites us, it’s what drives us to excel, and it’s what inspires us to make Renault stronger.”

Aligning with Groupe Renault’s Passion for Life

In line with passion for inclusion, the urban strategy is essentially to re-establish this connectivity, allowing Petaling Jaya Section 13 to expand beyond its disconnection. The design will take into consideration the underutilised Institutional Axis, providing programmes for the Learning Community, as well as Urban Connectors to provide continuity along the Commercial Junction.

“Training & education are at the heart of our inclusion policy. Groupe Renault is rolling out initiatives in several countries. It sets up partnerships with the academic world and offers in-house training. The challenge is great: to promote universal access to education, facilitate students’ schooling and prepare our employees for the jobs of tomorrow.” — Renault Group

Anchoring Renault, “A Learning Company” into the Knowledge-Based Parcel Passion for Inclusion & Learning

“Automotive

Urban & Public Realm Connectivity Human Transmission with Safe Segregation through Zonings

Post-pandemic Car Purchasing

Introducing the “Automotive Vending Machine”, a new way of car purchasing in the post-pandemic era, in line with the rapid digital transformation, that supports Renault’s existing services including the car subscription service and Renaut’s e-Stores.

Renault’s “Automotive Vending Machine” | Passion for Customer Relations

Building the World of Work Together at Groupe Renault Passion for the World of Work

Activity-based working supports the ever-changing needs of a workplace, ensuring flexibility before and after a pandemic or in any situation.

FLEXIBLE TOWER

SANITATION POINT & ENTRIES ONE-WAY CIRCULATIONS FLEXIBLE TOWER

MANAGEMENT Renault Office AUTOMOTIVE LIVING LAB Learning Community & Public

MARKETING & SALES Renault Office R&D, INNOVATION & LEARNING Renault Office

FOCUS TOWER BUSINESS LOUNGE COLLABORATIVE CLOUD

MARKETING & SALES Renault Office R&D, INNOVATION & LEARNING Renault Office CONNECTIVE TISSUE

The pandemic situation calls for more provision of flexible office types for workers who would mostly work remotely, and only come to the meeting for important meetings and to collaborate. Understanding this, the tower is separated into two functions: the “Focus Tower” and the “Flexible Tower” which occupants can access through separate lift cores to funnel workers into their preferred working type. The “Focus Tower” mainly accommodates workers who work full-time in the office.

Celebrating Renault’s passion for the World of Work, the separated office drop off features a triple volume lobby next to a staff automated parking doubling as a car showcase, opposite to a wellness pocket park as a space that fosters collaborations and informal meetings.

Energy Efficiency: The high performance building envelope passively cools the building with a double skin façade and sunshading devices integrated with solar panels. A wind chimney effect helps further in passive cooling by directing hot wind upwards, ventilating the building with cooler air. This reduces the cooling load for the use of air conditioning to be utilised in optimum and manageable levels.

Indoor Environmental Quality: The active cooling strategy includes using active chilled beam units integrated with filters instead of conventional air-conditioning, which is both environmentally friendly and helps mitigate the effects of the virus in a pandemic situation. The same wind chimney effect can be achieved with the double skin façade system, acting as an insulation to minimise the cooling load of the active chilled beam system.

Water Efficiency: The landscaping at the ground floor of the building functions in directing stormwater runoff into the ground with the use of permeable pavements and planting.

Sustainable Site Planning & Management: This building also features an increased provision in common areas with abundance of space for distancing and natural ventilation. Green terraces with landscaping in planter boxes help in natural ventilation and passive cooling of the building. Street planting also helps to mitigate urban heat island impacts.

Materials & Resources: The building is assembled out of steel structure with a composite slab system which have low environmental impact in its overall life cycle assessment and are recyclable.

Empowering Renault’s Environmental Commitments Passion for Environmental Sustainability

Resilience

as incubators of innovation & new ideas. To learn ues have set them as leaders for innovations especially age these values to act as a corporate office building that is able to enhance its site by looking into barriers that otherwise segregate people as opportunities for

Transmissions” is essentially a post-pandemic office tised post-pandemic world by celebrating passion for

Wall Sectional Detail N.T.S.

CHILLED BEAM HVAC UNITS WITH HEPA PATHOGENIC FILTERS

Building Services Strategies for Post Pandemic

Architecture + Sustainability Master of Architecture Projects

Community Grandparenting

Offering the Guiding Presence of Seniors to Shape the Sense of Community Inclusive Housing: An Eco-urban Housing Development Petaling Jaya, Selangor

A Study on Social Sustainability in a Residential for an Ageing Population

“Can we design a new housing development in PJ Old Town that reaffirms the place of older adults in society as caretakers of the community, instead of being taken care of?

Can the new development enhance the self-sufficient urban landscape of an old town to prevent its perpetual quality from perishing with its ageing occupants?

And lastly, can the design of this multigenerational housing development be tailored to the safety of its residents, instead of for the convenience of cars, connecting it to the greater urban fabric?”

This is an eco-urban housing development that aims to celebrate the perpetual quality of Petaling Jaya Old Town, a place that has grown hand-in-hand with the people that call it their home. This development strives to acknowledge the role of senior citizens as the guiding presence in shaping the sense of community, particularly in this old town, through a concept called “community grandparenting”, giving them the role of passing down knowledge and experience to future generations, therefore future-proofing social sustainability of the community.

Project Recognition

2nd Runner-up

“Sense of Place: PJ Old Town” | History, Heritage & Cultural Documentary Video PAASWE 2021

The ‘Empty Nest Syndrome’ in Ageing Populations A Threat to the Social Sustainability of Ageing Communities

Interaction among a close-knit community comprising of multiple generations is not a new concept, but was once considered a norm. These communities offer the ageing population the role as a guiding presence and the ability to overlook the community. But the issue arises in current times that have seen the centralisation of economic activities into big cities, resulting in depopulation of suburban areas by the younger population. This raises the likelihood that an older adult will experience

increased social isolation and the “empty nest syndrome” after their children leave home around their time of retirement, especially when they do not participate in the community. This also results in the increase in ageing populations across the country, exacerbating the issue of population ageing. Among the groups that will require more comprehensive social protection is the older generation, both now and in the future.

Petaling Jaya Section 4: A Perpetual Old Town Future-proofing the Social Sustainability of Old Towns

Section 4, Petaling Jaya shows an example of population ageing. It is blessed with the unique quality as a perpetual old town that has grown hand in hand with the people that call it their home, from when it was a newly-emerged satellite town as a solution for Kuala Lumpur’s booming population.

With the rapid urbanisation of its neighbouring towns, recognising the town’s perpetual quality, and the role of seniors in these old towns can future-proof the town’s social sustainability from perishing with its ageing occupants.

Ideation | Problem Statement & Game-changing Idea

Grandparenting: A New Urban Living Concept?

What if we look at the challenge of population ageing as an opportunity? Instead of the older generation to be taken care of, we can acknowledge the role of seniors as the guiding presence in shaping the sense of community especially in ageing populations and old towns, through an intention called

“community grandparenting” which can offer senior citizens the role as a guiding presence to pass down knowledge and experience to the future generations within the community, giving them the chance to participate in the community and the younger generation to learn from the older generation.

Community

The Self-Sufficient Nucleus | Strategies to Reconnect the 15-minute Town

The housing development bridges connections between nodes at the Public Realm Axis, enhancing the self-sufficient quality of the town by integrating the 15-minute-city idea. The Neighbourhood Axis creates a linkage from the residential districts towards the shared community spaces in the development, giving residents a new life with an enhanced sense of community.

The Sense of Place | The Urban Trajectory & Perpetual Quality of PJ Old Town

Scan here for the full experience! (or click the link below) “Sense of Place” Petaling Jaya Section 4

Frameworks & Strategies

Housing Policy Framework | The Community Grandparenting Model

work of the development is tied

parenting intention, consisting of programmes that the elderly population can overlook mostly

Programme Framework for Social Sustainability | A Common Ground of Growth & Sharing

Urban Connectivity | Seamless Connectivity with Surrounding Activity Mosaic

With the 3 districts, the site is observed to be self-sufficient. This new housing development will not only take the place of the site, but enhance the connectivity of the urban fabric by incorporating a 15-minute-city idea for the safety of all generations and enjoyable journey traversing across the site.

The Market Connector is an adaptive street with pocket parks connecting occupants to the commercial district. The front area of the site celebrates the Public Realm Axis with public facilities and retails that can serve the greater community of PJS4. Areas along the Urban Promenade connecting the Neighbourhood Axis consist of activities that seniors can pass down their knowledge onto younger generations.

The Spiritual Connector is a green mini-boulevard street that connects temples in a spiritual environment. The Educational Connector provides a safe and fun boulevard for schoolchildren to use daily, and includes a play area as an urban intervention.

Market Connector

Retail Village

Pekan Pasar

“Sisir”: Linear Park

“Lanai”: Urban Promenade

Multipurpose Hall

Learning Square

Early Education Space & Childcare

Playground

“Anjung”: Main Drop-off

Educational Connector

“The future of sustainable development is designing the urban living experience with the elderly population in mind, not only benefiting other vulnerable groups, but the rest of the community as well—mainly ensuring walkability, safety and accessibility.”

Cultivating Community | Community Grandparenting Programmes

Community Grandparenting Features within Typical Block Layouts

The assisted-living block comes with walk-up ramps to accessible & wheelchair-friendly units.

Section N.T.S.

Block Layout 1 N.T.S.

“Rewang” community farming & allotment area provided for seniors to spend their free time overlooking.

Block Layout 2 N.T.S.

Ageing in Place Strategy | Crime Prevention through Environmental Design (CPTED)

MAINTENANCE

Spaces for activities where seniors can pass down their knowledge onto the younger generation is taken care of by seniors themselves as part of their pastime routine

NATURAL SURVEILLANCE

Multipurpose Hall opening up to connected to Surau Al-Islah and Wakaf Village acting as a natural surveillance for the community, taken care of by the community’s grandparents

NATURAL ACCESS CONTROL

Drop-off points closer to buildings and leading into the main promenade to ensure safety and walkability

Separating pedestrian and road access to ensure pedestrian walkways are used safely The main urban promenade becomes a welllit, safe shortcut within the residential area

TERRITORIAL REINFORCEMENT

Reactivating the Anjung as an Ageing in Place Neighbourhood Strategy

Cycle of Activities within a Multigenerational Home

Cultivating a Multigenerational Neighbourhood Units come with shared anjung configurations!

part B.

ARCHITECTURE +

Contextual Design

Bachelor of Science in Architecture Projects

Architecture mainly presents itself as a direct manifestation of context, in how parts of the design are given significance by reference to the surroundings. This idea proves to be inherent when comprehending the meaning of architecture in its most fundamental form; architecture is the design of spaces to meet the needs of its users. These needs emerge from activities, which are configured by culture, including traditions and practices. Hence, contextual design in architecture is important in giving significant meaning to the design as well as continuity of activities present within the context.

This section features notable Bachelor of Science in Architecture projects centered around contextual design, with the first project being a lifelong learning center demonstrating contextual design in a heritage town, and the second project is a sustainable attempt on designing an MRT Surface Station, a public facility showcasing Malaysian architecture through a contemporary take on the ‘Rumah Tradisional Melayu’ and its passive design features.

Architecture + Contextual Design Bachelor of Science in Architecture Projects

“The best skin foods are found in nature!”

The Herbal House

Revitalising Beauty Practices from the Olden Days for a Heritage Town Lifelong Learning Center Taiping, Perak

A Study on Contextual Design for a Heritage Town through Nostalgic Urban Continuity

For the Taiping elderly, herbs were once an essential part of their everyday lives, especially in health & beauty practices. The main intention of The Herbal House is to revitalise beauty practices of olden days and nurture herbal beauty to the community, as well as allow for intergenerational interaction and collaboration through herbal beauty that is becoming relevant among youngsters. The idea is to bridge the generational gap in Taiping, the “pensioner’s paradise”, that has widened in recent years.

As the saying goes, “Give a man a fish, and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish, and you feed him for a lifetime.” The Herbal House allows people of Taiping to experience the herbal beauty lifestyle in its wholeness rather than just providing herbal beauty products, from plucking herbs from herb gardens, to processing the herbs and formulating them into their desired beauty product, and finally celebrating the process with therapy in The Herbal House’s soothing, healthy environment packed with greenery.

Project Recognition

Top 2 Best Design BSc Architecture Portfolio Review Year 3 Semester 1

Continuity of neighbouring activities for enhanced sense of familiarity

Continuity of 5-foot walkway from shoplots & creating a ‘storefront’

Activities from building ‘spill out’ to urban intervention, acting as linkage to give back to community

Covered walkway along transportation hub and multi-storey parking

Urban Strategy | Sensitivity to the Urban Context of Taiping as a Heritage Town

The site is situated in a bustling commercial area consisting of a food court, central market, hawker center, and rows of heritage shoplots significant to Taiping, being a heritage town. With that being said, The Herbal House is designed with sensitivity to the site and the impact to the community in mind.

Hence, continuity of neighbouring activities consisting of retails and cafes is established, to give a sense of familiarity which is important for the slow-paced Taiping people. The 5-foot sheltered walkway unique to the old shophouse typology is acknowledged and brought into the design of the building. A souvenir shop and a cafe is situated along the 5-foot walkway of The Herbal House, acting as the storefront, creating a seamless connection to the row of shophouses beside. Section N.T.S.

Site Plan N.T.S.

The Herbal Beauty Experience

Revitalising Beauty Practices from the Olden Days

The ground floor acts as an “introduction to herbal beauty” to visitors of The Herbal House. The front part is designed as a storefront to establish continuity of the 5-foot walkway from the shophouses beside, showcasing herbal beauty products & juices. As users step into the landscape, they will experience the first part of herbal

The herbal beauty journey is continued at the first floor where there are learning spaces including classrooms, workshops, coworking spaces and discussion areas enveloping a central courtyard. The classroom opens up to a herbal garden situated beside a herbal ingredients pantry where

processing which is gardening and harvesting, as well as engage with herbs with their senses. The urban intervention site holds a community gardening space in which the activity spills out from the gardening workshop at the rear part of The Herbal House. herbs can be harvested and processed, before proceeding to learn to make their own beauty products in workshops. Lastly, users get to celebrate their own unique herbal beauty experience with the beauty product(s) they have made at the therapy suites.

At the second floor, users will witness the activities within the advanced learning stage, where users get to see herbal beauty experiments being demonstrated in the research labs. Intermediate students who have learned in classrooms and workshops may proceed here as advanced students.

Finally, the multipurpose hall designed to allow users to celebrate what they have learned through events such as beauty fairs, and by involving themselves in the events to promote their social interaction and community engagement.

Ground Floor | Introduction to Herbal Beauty

First Floor | The Herbal Beauty Experience

Second Floor | Advancing Herbal Beauty

“

Taiping is a heritage town that is also fondly referred to as a ‘pensioner’s paradise’. We need to continue maintaining our status as a Heritage Town and rejuvenate it to have better surroundings and as a liveable city.”

— Datuk Abd Rahim Md Ariff, Taping Municipal Council President

Herb Garden

Herbal Therapy

Rooftop Garden

Prayer Room Meeting Room

Herbal Gardening Workshop Garden Sectional Perspective N.T.S.

Architecture + Contextual Design Bachelor of Science in Architecture Projects

Wakaf: MRT Surface Station

Commemorating the Climatic Design of the Traditional Malay House MRT 3 Surface Station University of Malaya

A Study on Contextual Design through Climatic and Environmental Strategies Catering to the Tropical Context

In the wake of modernisation, there exists an idea that modern buildings can be built in any environment regardless of regional characteristics, which needs to be reinstated. Vernacular architecture of region and cultural aspects are given less consideration in contemporary buildings in Malaysia.

Through the design of this MRT station, my aim is to commemorate the climatic design of the traditional Malay house. Railway stations in Malaysia heavily portray the iconic Malaysian identity, and as a continuation to that, the design of this MRT station is enriched with these elements. This MRT station is located at University Malaya which also exhibits a significant amount of the portrayal of Malaysian identity.

With the use of high-pitched roofs and ornamental carvings, natural ventilation aided by the infiltration of air through building orientation can be further controlled, in which stack effect can occur, leaving only cooler air along body height and air of higher velocity being directed through the carvings. Having minimal partitions and walls significantly enhances this effect, allowing for optimum natural ventilation throughout the building.

Project Recognition

Top 3 Best Design BSc Architecture Portfolio Review Year 2 Semester 2

Commemorating the Tropical Passive Design Strategies of the Traditional Malay House

To be able to design a building that is aesthetically pleasing can be impressive, but they often fall trap into the disregard of energy and ecological conservation in the design of the built environment, which is an approach that is highly implemented in sustainable architecture. In light of the condition of the environment in present times, sustainability is becoming an increasingly significant aspect in architecture and should be present in all buildings. However, sustainability in the built environment is often overlooked and overpowered by aesthetic qualities in design. For this project, my intention is to implement the notable design values of Malay vernacular architecture, in the pursuit of commemorating the

climatic design of the traditional Malay house to meet the passive design strategy requirements. The traditional Malay house is built upon the respectfulness on the natural quality of life, that is, by considering the interaction between users and its built environment. In a functional space, the aspects which determines quality of life are socio-cultural and environmental aspects. The design of the traditional Malay house is essentially based on the understanding of local environmental characteristics, needs, socio-cultural interactions and cultural values of the local people. A Malay ‘kampung’ house is the place where local environmental concerns of region and locals’ daily lifestyle are represented.

Front landscaping integrated with pedestrian walkway for a sense of welcoming

Plaza and passive recreation for people with fastpaced lifestyles to wind down

Information center to cater to the needs of foreign or unfamiliar travellers

Bicycle facilties with solar energy generators as means of generating energy

Sheds for students to have discussions or to selfstudy before or after class

Retail area enveloped by outdoor plaza area

Site Plan N.T.S.

Ground Floor Plan N.T.S.

Section A-A N.T.S.

Section B-B N.T.S.

part C.

Software Skills

This section aims at showcasing my software abilities across multiple stages of the architectural design process including 2D CAD Drawings, Building Information Modelling (BIM), 3D Modelling & Design, Architectural Visualisation and Presentation & Composition, which are aligned to the Part II Architect position.

2D Drawings

Ground Floor Plan Post-pandemic Office M Arch Year 1

Section A-A Post-pandemic Office M Arch Year 1

BIM Modelling & Design

Exploded Axonometric Police Station

BSc Arch Year 2

Sectional Perspective Police Station

BSc Arch Year 2

3D Modelling & Design

Exploded Axonometric Eco-urban Housing M Arch Year 1

Sectional Perspective

Master’s Thesis M Arch Year 2

Architectural Visualisation

Exterior Perspective Post-pandemic Office

Architectural Visualisation

Sectional Perspective

Lifelong Learning Center BSc Year 3

Sectional Perspective

Master’s Thesis M Arch Year 2

Presentation &

Presentation Board

Eco-urban Housing M Arch Year 1

thank you.

Suneeda Sisuwan

Email: suneedasun@gmail.com Contact: +6 019 410 2176

LinkedIn: Suneeda Sisuwan