KL coCa | Hanis Abd Razak

The realization of the topic is depicted based on the future of art in Malaysia significantly. To ensure sustained growth in the long run, Malaysia must forge an environment that is conducive to innovations, new discoveries and the creation of new knowledge. Globally Kuala Lumpur is well known for its Petronas Twin Tower and Malaysia itself is well known of its landmark on the world map rather than its society and talent. Building up an artistic and creative buzz will thus help us to attract both local and foreign talents to contribute to the dynamism and growth of our economy and society. Pasar Seni (Central Market) has long been known as Malaysian art hub.‘Seni means art in Malay’. However, where is the ‘seni’ in Pasar Seni now? Pasar Seni no longer carries the same value as it had always been back during the 90’s, which is a bit disappointing as it used to be a place where the local gathers to enjoy local arts and cultures, a place which defines Malaysia in its artistic and cultural aspects. Compared to those days the present Pasar Seni seems to change tremendously. It may received more visitor these days but none could deny the ‘emptiness’ evoked by its present’s atmosphere. It is just another ‘shopping mall’, contradicting its initial purpose. This scheme was my personal respond to ‘recreate’ Pasar Seni, to reclaim what it originally was, to bring it back to its glorious past where art meets culture. This project try to revive Pasar Seni area to its name by introducing art as a nodes. As the current site is the home of the longest graffiti wall in Malaysia, rather than only allow people to view from afar, it is an opportunity to bring people to the work of the art itself. The proposed structure that sits under the LRT station of Pasar Seni that currently seen as a waste land will act as an urban park, and art center, community center and talent hub which to balance between street and authority, formal and informal, the rich and the poor, and in other words can be described as a ‘Third Place’. The essence of the proposed Center was flexibility called ‘university of the street’, responding to the ever changing needs of its users. In order to adapt with diverse culture of Malaysian society, workers and students, I tried to introduce an ever-changing framework as an architecture, a flexible container, and the ideas of moveable floor.