PGCC: Penang's Greedy City Centre?
The mothership in landing at the former Penang Turf Club. Price-tag: RM25 billion
According to Anil Netto, PGCC's Teheran-born architect, Nasrine Seraji, has indirectly exposed the developer's mathematics.
But the Father-in-Law says the PGCC will propel Penang into world-class logistics hub.
I have been booked to speak in Penang on November 17.
Comments
RM25 Billions price tag. OMG.
Can someone tell me how Penang people going to FIND THE MONEY to MAINTAIN this monster.
Isn't this mean the state will KICK out all "low value rate payer" from the Island? Oh, isn't this a great news for people who votes the care-less government in place.
Posted by: moo_t
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September 12, 2007 05:24 PM
The schematic doesn't look right; the KL turf course on which KLCC complex with park, lake and all couldn't have been smaller than the Penang turf course on which PGCC is to be built so if what we're seeing at KLCC today at 9 billion isn't that big spread volume after all, what can possibly make PGCC at 25 billion look like that with those things that seem to squeeze themselves into that schematic? They look out of scale. Notice also the highrises at one end.
Secondly, we know the access and parking problems for KLCC so how are those going to be solved for the Penang turf site when back is hill, side is bungalow, front is mansion and other side is one small playground? Don't even think about chopping down the trees.
Thirdly, the architect should pop over to Admiral Bay in Bayan Lepas and examine carefully which part of that complex actually succeeds - if any - before proceeding with this design which looks like a much bigger version of that, what more streaked out into strips with just some greens in between.
If we can imagine looking out through a gigantic glass pane (if such is intended) from inside one of the streaks to outside where the green would be, it would be just like looking at that 'clump' of 'jungle' inside KLIA embarkation centre. You won't get any natural feeling at all for the environment.
Another thing about streaky designs. It's like Megamall in KL, or Subang Parade in PJ. When people go to such long places, they would naturally enough be propelled to walk the length of it; you don't walk halfway and then get back into the car. But unless you have something different every few yards, you will only get to see the same pattern repeated along the entire stretch. Furthermore, this PGCC streaky design is probably longer than both of them, by the looks of it. If we try to imagine standing inside one of those streaks, it'll probably evoke the feeling one gets in either of the two examples (tired from walking, bored by the same trite offerings, engulfed by the crass commercialism of it all, etc) or worse, like jason bourne standing in a very long railway station.
A good design should blend outside to inside without sacrificing the habitability factors for the people who will be working inside, or who will be walking through it. Just think of who will be there where it matters; the new Generation Y kids; make it a better world for them. By now we must have learned one bitter lesson from say Wisma Tabung Haji; ask anyone inside how it feels to sit eight hours in a triangular room.
So, triangles and intrusive pillars aside, if you don't have glass to give dimension, it becomes a glorified guantanamo. If you have too much glass in our type of climate, it will be too hot which means higher energy costs in keeping the place liveable, or people will put curtains and then it gets ugly, or foliage will be used, and then you will get shadows into the rooms which will cause visibility problems.
The architect takes such things into consideration and try to blend everything together to optimize it throughout, not just be satisfied with 'satisficing'.
The two things i remember about Penang are the tiles and the trees. Those tiles are no longer made but they are colourful, and you may see some of them along Siam Road on the front of that stretch of old shoplots. The trees used to be magnificent but not anymore.
My question is why can't those tiles be replicated again? computer design is available so even more designs you can have. Also we should have a national policy for trees. Trees can be our good friends. They help make carbon-zero possible.
Since we are now talking about a national policy for trees, why not a national policy for all urban things? The mayor of KL, for instance, talks about making KL a nice place after work. Keep talking. And the mayor of PJ? MIA, probably. And what about Ipoh? Might as well rent out to the Hopi tribe. And JB? Bring your knuckleduster, pepper spray etc. Yes, we need stronger brews if we want to stay alive, and sane.
Actually whether we are thinking of this megaproject or any other, you can probably list on ten fingers which are the tolerably memorable places of this entire country. And that's very sad. We have so much going for us of sky, sea, sand and land that more imagination can be infused to take cultural infusions melded to chrome techforms to a more definitive and higher dimension, instantly telling the person who sees it the first time as he turns the corner that hey this has been extremely well thought out. The operative word is thought.
At duapuluhlima-b, more thought please.
Posted by: Neil
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September 12, 2007 10:11 PM
Just read in malaysia-today that patrick lim through his father has some kind of connection to the penang turf club.
Patrick is a horse lover of some kind and hence the company's name.
But the development feels completely alien and monstrous for Penang. (even for KL). Why can't we have development that blends in with the neighbourhood, developed in small parcels to minimise inconveniences.
Posted by: sydput
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September 13, 2007 01:52 PM
The REAL PROBLEM of PGCC REVEALED
The Penang Turf Club is an area regularly prone to flooding. Use of geologically or environmentally sensitive areas for high density development as proposed by the PGCC will have adverse impacts on the surrounding ares especially in term of flood control. Drastic alterations of a ground surface, such as compaction or paving can reduce the infiltration capacity of a surface, which can cause a serious reduction in groundwater recharge and an increase in runoff. The proposed development density of nearly 30 units to an acre may result in increased cost to local governments and other public agencies. As the local government will be force to provide more public services such as flood control, public transportation, sanitary sewage, storm sewage, solid waste collection and disposal. In many situations, the cost of providing these services to such high density commercial development is much higher than the revenues to local governments resulting from the expanded tax base. What is the cost per arce will be when utilities, flood control, transportation, and subsidiary governmental entities’ costs are included? The public would like to know how the state government can justify such kind of urban sprawl without taking into consideration the public expenditures that will incur to maintain the so called development.
The local community objects to the development, arguing in part that the area was prone to flood and not suitable for development. The flood hazard mitigation effort by the state government also appears to have been carried out on an ad-hoc basis with a lack of strategic catchment planning and poor commitment to their maintenance. Flooding in the surrounding area is expected to be exacerbated by insufficient urban drainage capacity if the development is allowed. How much million the state government is expected to spend on stormwater control projects? Turning the Penang Turf Club into greenways and trails may result in reduced costs to local governments and other public agencies. Establishing a greenway in an area prone to hazards, such as flooding, may decrease costs for potential damages. Greenways and associated vegetation can also help control water, air and noise pollution by natural means, resulting in potential decreased pollution control costs. Greenways and trails may promote physical fitness, leading to decreased public health care costs.
The local community cannot afford to allow this project to take place, it is not just the traffic congestion that will haunt the resident, but the potential uninvited hazard that will surfaced at their living room when it rain; FLOOD!
Image how the muslim community nearby going to pray when the state mosque is flooded when it rain. Image how ridiculous when the Governor of Penang, has to be evacuated each time rain water flooded the official residence at Residency Road. Image how the rich and famous have to be evacuated each time it rain when rain water flooded Jesselton ,York Road,Scotland Road, Hospital Road and surrounding areas. Is this what you call development, a pride to Penangites?
Posted by: Ong Eu soon
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November 29, 2007 02:32 PM