My Studio Design 3A project, titled “NEXUS,” was a Cultural Centre located in Kampung Baru, Kuala Lumpur, under the theme “Reclaiming the City.” The brief required us to design a culturally and community-focused building that responds to the identity of Kampung Baru while considering its relationship to the surrounding modern city. Kampung Baru is surrounded by rapid development, especially with KLCC and the Saloma Bridge nearby, yet it still retains a strong traditional Malay identity, community life, and cultural memory. Because of this, my project focused on how architecture can reconnect people to culture while also responding to the pressure of urban change.

The main design objective was to create a building that acts as a connector between two different worlds: modern Kuala Lumpur and traditional Kampung Baru. My concept was inspired by the idea of a “wormhole,” where the building becomes a transition space between the city and the kampung. I wanted the cultural centre to not only function as a place for exhibitions and community activities, but also to create an experience of movement, change, and connection.

My design approach was based on the idea of transition. The project used a central wormhole void, curved bridges, a roof garden, marketplace spaces, gardens, and an amphitheatre to guide users through different spatial experiences. The movement from Saloma Bridge into the project was important because it allowed users to enter from the modern city side and slowly move toward the more cultural and community-based atmosphere of Kampung Baru. I also explored material transition, moving from steel and glass elements toward timber screens, greenery, and warmer community spaces.

One of the strengths of the project was the concept itself. The wormhole idea gave the project a clear identity and helped me create a strong story behind the design. It allowed me to think about architecture as more than just a building, but as a journey between different identities, memories, and urban conditions. Another strength was the site response. Since the project was connected to Saloma Bridge and Kampung Baru, it responded to real movement and contrast within the area instead of being placed randomly on the site.

The project also had a strong community intention. Spaces such as the marketplace, amphitheatre, roof garden, and cultural activity areas were designed to support gathering, social interaction, performances, learning, and local activities. These spaces helped the building feel active and welcoming for both visitors and the local community. I also included environmental ideas such as gardens, shading, rainwater harvesting, and BIM-related solar and wind analysis. These helped me understand that the building should respond to Kuala Lumpur’s hot and humid climate, not only its cultural context.

However, after reflecting on the original proposal, I can also see several limitations. The first limitation is that the wormhole concept was stronger symbolically than functionally. It clearly represented a connection, but it could have done more in terms of environmental performance. For example, the central void could be developed further as a passive cooling space that supports natural ventilation and allows hot air to rise through the stack effect.

Another limitation was the clarity of circulation. Because the project included multiple levels, bridges, roof access, gardens, marketplace areas, and an amphitheatre, the user journey could become confusing. The movement from Saloma Bridge to the roof garden, through the wormhole, and down toward Kampung Baru needed to be shown more clearly through diagrams and spatial hierarchy.

Overall, this project helped me understand that a strong concept is only the starting point in architecture. A good design also needs to work through site response, circulation, climate, structure, materiality, and user experience. My original project had a strong narrative and ambition, but it could be improved by making the wormhole more climate-responsive, functional, and easier to understand. Instead of completely changing the design, the next step is to refine it so that the concept, environmental performance, and community purpose work together more clearly.