Waz Lian - Gallery U-Thant, Jalan Madge

The building comprises two clusters of three units per cluster. Each cluster is ten storeys high and separated at the ground levelby a 50m pool. All apartments are equipped with a private lift and a plunge pool. An additional service lift is provided in each cluster. The apartements have very few shared walls and three sides of each apartment are opened to wiews.

The design form symbolises the Malaysian forest. The leaf shape roofs represent the forest canopy, the skeletal elements, the branches of our trees and the 50m sinuous pool, our rivers. This microclimate is thus created by shading the exterior and cooling the interior.

In doing so, green plantings and falling waterscapes are adopted to help reduce hard surfaces and increase moisture retention for cooling effect. These are featured in lush landscapes on the building periphery, surroundings of the pools, on the roof garden and planting turf in hollow pavers along the fire appliance routes, as well as the water element in the main and private pools and an abundance of waterscapes.

The facade is characterised by large areas of glazing with deep sun shading or balconies. The floor to floor height is 4.2m. The average apartement size is 4100 sqft and the duplexes level basement. Other facilities include a gymnasium and squash court of which are located near the pool.

The roof garden is designed for entertainment with two main areas for seperate functions, each having lift access. Three are also smaller decks for smaller social groups and playground.

Thee twin clusters plan, combined with the bracing structures that support the elevated pools, deep sun shade elements and leaf shape roofs create a unique and organic, nearly skeletal form. This is made more evident when looking at sreet level. The Galeri-U Thant thus adds visual interest and dynamism to the streetescape.