Phase 3 - Final Design & Outcome

The Ground floor proposed, the idea is to enhance the back alley so as per designers proposal. The main entrance to the building is at the back, after generating curiosity and attraction at the frontier, users will be directed to the  back alley.

Second floors void allows users/ visitors to enjoy the ground floor live cooking and play area as they walk through the curved walls of intimacy heading into the chill and bar area. 

Details and technicality of the display zone using red perforated metal with panels of frost or clear glass to enhance the teaser programming.

The above section shows one of the featured spiral staircase joint with slide that allows the interaction between people circulating  in the space, particularly from first floor one can slide down to Ground floor having others see the excitement and encourage to use it.

Featured detail of slide and spiral staircase, the idea of using this is to fit the curvature flow and create the sensuality feel in the vertical circulation too.

Phase 2 - Understanding & Creation

This conceptual study of fire fly was inspired from the life cycle of a fire fly such as its survival and mating methodology which is to lure the male fire fly by flashing luminous for mating. Application of this subject matter to the micro community that interested the observer which is the wandering sex workers in Petaling street.  This was fascinating and led to more thorough and in depth research in order to know and learn about this community which has been labelled as unethical and dirt in the society. 

Above graphical illustration highlights on the activities and atmosphere/ambiance of the actually petaling street, Malaysia is ranked as 8th in the world to be having 150000 sex workers, after learning about these sex workers and their lifestyle it gave to the rise of a spatial project that can bring these sex workers together with other people in the society in order to change the perception they are labelled with. 

Understanding of spaces using model study, where by laces and fragments of fire fly is broken and carved into unexpected spaces. 

Eventually after various trial and errors, Ribbon became the main language of spatial development, this also tallies with the concept of feminine, curvature and curves representing woman in most cases.  This would enhance the space to its aesthetic value and contribute to the circulation and flow of the space from one zone to another. 

collaboration between conceptual model and conceptual sketches formed spaces using ribbon but in order to understand the form and flow of this proposed design direction it is important to use existing precedent study to improvise or innovate something new out of it . 

This ribbon chapel by Hiroshi architects  inspired further models and sketch study using paper and belts to understand the  forms flow for further design process. 

Ribbon is used as the main language of circulation that creates intimate, unseen, unknown spaces and hence contributes the programming aspect of this design proposal. 

The programming is divided into 4 main zones, which different than the usual ones. The space is designed with the aim of letting users feel sexy but not to have sex,  the zones are as follows :  women wearing products sold tease through frosty glass display at the facade attracting and creating curiosity at different interval, once an individual enters the space he or she is directed to the foreplay zone which consists of specialised swings and slide, one can play and watch the crafting of their main and selling product, The Edible lingerie.  Some may be served as part of the entertainment. 

Therefore, present to you the first Edible lingerie brand in Malaysia, these products are live exhibited by the users to advertise the products better,  visitors face intimacy through the intimate apparels worn and displayed in the space, upon liking a certain product visitors may purchase and wear it to the role play at the second floor dancing area, where women wearing these will be dancing in jars and enjoy eating of candies each other, finally the flow directs to the bar and chill area where users just chill and rest.

Above is the comparison of zoning that was proposed early and refined with changes in the programming.



The whole phase helped me to explore a lot of different possibilities and alternatives in terms of designing something out of my usual choices, research and study on programming of such controversial topic as it includes the legal matters and laws that may be allowed and so on.  Model study and sketches influenced the conceptual study &  final design outcome.

Phase 1 _ Exploration & Discoveries

I believe starting off with this montage would give you all a good overview idea of how my assigned site and surroundings look like, the context including users, building types, accessibility, activities, other aspects such as religion and ethnicity. A highlight on the location, this is one of the most happening street/area in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The China town or also known as Petaling Street for the locals, the collaboration of people and place form some sort of community that belongs there, it is known for trading of counterfeit products such bags, accessories and so on.

After thorough site visitation and observation, all the information and data is collected to be filtered in order to understand the macro and mirco aspect of this site as seen below: 

This circle graphical presentation explains on key points of petaling street covering aspects of culture, safety & security, SWOT , Urban Development , the needs and wants of users/ owners at the specific location.  This further helped on exploration and discoveries of ideologies and myths that were just surficial initially but became clearer with research . It is evident that Petaling street includes black market where numerous illegal activities take place such as gambling , prostitution and a few to mention.

This determines income of the area and affordability level/ classes of people that are more likely to visit the site. 

Based on research and observation at the site, the most likely users are adults since the place is labelled as dangerous or risky, lesser kids in the vicinity. However, looking at the unused spaces like back alleys or narrow corridors in petaling street gave a rise to this transitional space which is the adult playground,  based on the body movement such as thrust and push helps to generate mechanical energy to electrical energy hence lighting up the back alley and enriching the unused back alley. 

However , it is also necessary to understand that end users would not be attracted or lured in to this back alley if it wasnt anything beneficial, so based on research and consideration of end users needs and wants,  the seesaw are attached with charging pods making it a charging pod station where users can play and charge their gadgets simultaneously generating energy and adding aesthetic value to the space. 

Above presentation sheet elaborates on the mechanism of these energy in relation to users and space, the overall enrichment of a dull back alley is now an aphrodisiac alley where adults come together to form a new community whilst contributing to the environment and creating awareness through a 3D transitional space.