Envisioning an ultrapolis

An artist’s impression of the mixed development project and the winning participant will be giving a facade to i-City.

It is not every day one gets an opportunity to design a facade for a mixed-development project in an ultrapolis or the chance to see their ideas come to life before graduating from university.

i-Berhad is giving undergraduates this opportunity through its i-Design Facade Design Competition.

Open to Malaysian university students studying locally and abroad, the competition challenges them to come up with creative and innovative designs for a facade of the developer’s upcoming project in the western part of i-City.

The project comprises seven tower blocks for residential and office use, two retail podium and six carpark levels.

The winning idea for a large single LED facade will be placed in front of the multi-level carpark.

Design ideas should be based on the theme “Pulse of Selangor” and/or “City of Digital Lights”, and must incorporate a Malaysian element.

Students of any field of study are welcome to participate individually or in a group.

It is more than just drawing up designs as students must find ways to use innovative technology to come up with an original design that will serve as an iconic statement in the township.


The Liverpool Insurgentes Department Store in Mexico City, Mexico, has a centralised control system that changes the scene and dims the entire facade.

i-Berhad director Monica Ong said response had been positive since registration started early this month.

“We have received more than 110 registrations so far from students studying locally and in countries like the UK, US and Singapore,” Ong said.

She said students should not pass up the opportunity as winners would get a chance to work with experts in the industry and be part of the working process of turning their ideas into reality.

As a treat and boost of encouragement for participants, i-Berhad will organise a one-day workshop where participants can listen to and seek advice from a panel of speakers, who are also industry experts in the field of facade engineering, LED technology, creative design and marketing.

To secure a spot, students must register for the competition and sign up for the workshop, which will be held in mid-November, through the i-City website.

Seats for the workshop are limited and is on a first-come-first-served basis.

Henry Butcher Retail managing director Tan Hai Hsin said students must ensure designs were timeless, functional and practical in cost.

“It must have continuous and moving LED lights, incorporating 10 units of the tenant’s logos and also attract passers-by, both day and night.

Designs should also be easily maintained and allow 40% air ventilation at the carpark entrances.

Tan shared some interesting facade designs which had been incorporated around the world which students should take note of.

Mall Taman Anggrek in West Jakarta, Indonesia, is listed in the Guinness World Records for having the largest media facade.

The mall’s facade has high and low-resolution screens which can be programmed with commercial and non-commercial content, with visuals evolving continuously throughout the evening.


The Confederation of Danish Industry headquarters in Copenhagen, Denmark, has a facade that changes during the day, night, seasons and special occasions.

The Confederation of Danish Industry headquarters in Copenhagen, Denmark, has a facade that attracts people both day and night.

The building has an LED structure that is diagonal with light plug-ins that can be tweaked and modified with parameters like speed, colours and direction of lights.

The content of the facade changes during the day, night, seasons and special occasions.

A facade to the building in i-City will stand as a masterpiece of a mixed development, and as such, will be the centre of attention.

An interesting facade not only draws a crowd, but keeps them talking about it.

The Liverpool Insurgentes Department Store in Mexico City, Mexico, stands as an example of a building you cannot help but be in awe of.

The building’s LED facade is a simple glass box with textured skin which resembles a honeycomb pattern by day and transforms into multi layers of dynamic lights at night.

It also has a centralised control system which changes the scene and dims the entire facade.

Those interested have until Saturday to register for the competition and workshop.

Submissions is from Nov 1 to 30, and the winner or winners will be announced by the end of December to early January.

Those taking part in the initiative stand a chance to take home RM10,000 in cash.

To register for the competition and for the workshop, visit www.i-city/my/i-design. - BY KATHLEEN MICHAEL (StarProperty)