Theories of Architecture and Urbanism (ARC 2224)

Theorizing Architecture

Project Part II

Chosen city: Kuala Lumpur City Centre

Chosen theory: Complexity and Contradiction in Architecture – Double-

Functioning Element

Name: Elaine Bong Poh Hui

Student ID: 0310432

Tutor: Mr. Lam Shen Fei

Kuala Lumpur City Centre is an urban development in Kuala Lumpur city. Kuala Lumpur

has been growing rapidly in terms of population causing short of places to stay and lack of

public transportation. This rapid growth of population forces Kuala Lumpur to develop into a

better city and to satisfy and serve the needs of its citizen around it. To redevelop Kuala

Lumpur city, a plan was proposed to create a city consisting offices, hotels, residential,

convention centres, retails, recreational facilities and infrastructures.

To increase the accessibility into the city, highways are provided as well as the main road

linking the landmarks together.

The city centre consists of more offices than residential for the development focus on

business and tourism more. Both this fields contribute a lot in our country’s economy

developing our country. Nevertheless, the condominiums and apartments are sufficient and a

public park is just nearby for recreational purpose.

G Tower Avenue K

Suria KL

Masjid As-syakirin

Aquaria KLCC

In the book Complexity and Contradiction in Architecture by Robert Venturi, he explored

architecture in a different way by relating the interior and exterior design of a building. To do

this, he worked with the design of a building and its spaces and relate them to the surrounding

context. One of the points stated in the book is the double-functioning element which

increases the complex and contradictory hierarchies of scale and movement, structure, and

space within a whole (Venturi, 19). Depends on how something is justify, it can be different

based on personal views and perspectives. Like how a gallery can be a corridor and at the

same time be a room.

Contrast between the Kuala Lumpur city centre skyline with the urban landscape in the

middle.

Double functioning element is relatable to the landscape in the heart of Kuala Lumpur city

centre. A 20-hectare tropical landscape is created in the middle of a busy city as a static

paradise to contrast with its surrounding. The concept and design of the park become a place

of interest for the local as well as the foreigners. This man made garden is built to create

nature in an urban city and to create a calm setting to get away from the hustle bustle of the

city, ensuring the city development has an appropriate balance between commercial and

public land use. This park has active and passive spaces where the active spaces like the

playground leads to interaction between human and the facilities. The passive spaces induces

interaction between people. By having this park, residents living around the area could have

enjoy a piece of greenery without having to travel far out to the suburban. (443 words)

Reference

Group, N. (2014). Privatisation of Urban Space: The Kuala Lumpur City Centre (KLCC). Issuu. Retrieved

19 April 2015, from http://issuu.com/noviscape/docs/02-kl-klcc

Venturi, R. (1977). Complexity and Contradiction in Architecture (1st ed., pp. 34-40). New York: The

Museum of Modern Art. Retrieved from

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