Ong (left) and Henry Butcher Retail managing director Tan standing by the model of the upcoming mix development in the Western portion of i-City which undergraduates are called to give a facade to.
BY 2018, i-City will welcome a new mixed development project comprising seven tower blocks for residential or office use, standing on two levels of retail podium.
The project standing on a 12-acre (522,720 sq ft) land, on the Western part of i-City will have retail podium of 300,000 sq ft with 270 shops for residents and visitors of i-City.
The trade mix of this project is that the retail podium will act as an outdoor street mall and complement the Central Mall Plaza.
They will share the same group of customers.
It will house retail shops, food and beverage outlets, services, convenience stores and services catered to the Soho residents above.
The combination of retail podium from the mixed development and surrounding attractions like the mall, theme park and Hilton Hotel in 2019, is expected to draw a large crowd annually.
Henry Butcher managing director Tan Hai Hsin said they expected 20 million shoppers to the Central Mall Plaza annually.
The retail component and the mall will see 7,378 residents that will use the services provided, 90,000 weekly visitors from i-City’s theme park, and close to 55,000 students from neighbouring universities and 280,000 residents living within a 15-minute drive distance.
Visitors can access the retail podium through its multi-level carpark with 6,500 bays. It is also within walking distance from nearby attractions and will be accessible by LRT in 2020.
i-Bhd director Monica Ong said the seven-tower blocks consisted of the i-Soho Tower A and A1, i-Suite Tower B and B1, Liberty, Parisien and Hyde.
Liberty, Parisien and Hyde have interiors fitting the theme of New York, Paris and London.
i-Soho which will come partially furnished will be completed in 2016, fully furnished i-Suite will be completed in 2017, while Liberty, Parisien and Hyde towers, fully furnished will be completed in 2018.
The mix development project is in excess of RM1bil.
“As part of our MSC Cybercentre development, these seven blocks are catered for the 50,000 knowledge-based workers in i-City when the development is completed.”
“The units could also be rented out to the short and mid-term visitors to i-City,”she said.
The units range from RM300,000 onwards.
While construction takes place to complete the project, i-City is on a lookout for creative minds from the public to give the two-level retail podium an attractive facade.
The facade is an integral part of the overall City of Digital Lights concept in i-City.
The contest is open to all undergraduates in public or private universities, be it full-time or part-time students.
Malaysians studying abroad can also participate and need not be studying arts and design to take part.
Tan said this is an opportunity for students to apply into the contest what they had learned.
“This is a Malaysian project and if you love architecture or design, you can contribute as an individual or group,” he said.
Ten finalists will be selected and will present their ideas to a panel of judges before a winner is selected.
“It’s daring for developers to allow students with no real experience or practical knowledge and to be involved in a project like this.”
He added that it is good to reach out as there are many people who saw things differently and could come up with great ideas.
Speaking about the designs for facade, Tan said participants should incorporate a Malaysian element into their final product.
They are seeking a facade that looked like an artwork during the day and that will wow passers-by at night, especially when incorporated with LED lights.
The contest is beneficial to students as they will get real-life experience working with people in the architectural industry before stepping out of university.
Ong said students would learn to conceptualise their ideas and bring them to live.
“In the process, they will not just learn more about design but also learn on what can and cannot be done,” she said.
Designs submitted have to be timeless, practical and functional from its design to cost.
It should also be easily maintained.
The facade contest is i-City’s first CSR programme with the aim to involve the Malaysian community, particularly university students, to be part of the development of i-City.
“The conceptualisation of this ultrapolis development involves world renowned master planner and international architects and foreign investors.
“Through this contest, students will have a chance to be part of this development and carve a name for themselves,” Ong said.
Design entries should be based on i-City’s theme of City of Digital Lights and/or The Pulse of Selangor.
Designs must allow for 70% air ventilation at the carpark entrances and be able to incorporate LED lights and 10 facade panels for signage with dimensions of 10m by 5m each.
The winning design will receive RM10,000 cash.
Participants will first go through registration before submitting entries.
Registration began on Oct 1 and will continue until the end of the month. Submissions will begin from Nov 1 to 30 and the winner will be announced sometime late December to early January.
For more information and to register, visit www.i-city.my
