With a commitment to make sustainability an integrated part of the everyday business with three broad categories; engaging more people, reducing climate impact and taking social responsibility, IKEA South East Asia wants to improve operational efficiency and strive to be climate positive.
Christian Rojkjaer, managing director of IKEA South East Asia shares, “Our belief in co-creation allows us to partner with different segments of our business, such as IKEA stores with our shopping centres, along with other tenants, the surrounding community and the many people. This means we do not simply build a shopping centre for the sake of a shopping centre. We listen and connect with the local context to address people-and planet issues.”
IKEA is no newbie to the sustainability scene. This impression 1.1 million square-feet shopping destination will be more efficient to operate and optimise resource consumption, as well as bring out the positive social impact to the locality through supporting local community projects.
Utilising where possible, solar power technology will be positioned at the roof level. The integration of the Intelligent Building Management Systems enables energy costs to be controlled more easily by monitoring the building’s mechanical and electrical equipment such as ventilation, lighting, power systems, fire systems, and security systems.
During those heavy downpours especially, rather than allowing rainwater to run-off hard surfaces such as the rooftops, rainwater harvesting is implemented to collect, store and reuse the rainwater for re-use on site.
The Concept Design incorporates rainwater recycling, sustainable material sourcing, high-efficiency chiller plants and ME systems, LED lighting, motion sensors, space allowances for material recycling and regenerative lift technology.
The studies have undertaken to evaluate the general availability of light as well as the sunlight exposure. From the studies, it is concluded that the skylights allow for a very high level of natural lighting into the upper atria floors. Based on overcast sky conditions, higher illuminance should be expected in clear sky conditions. To the possibility of over-illumination, an adjustable sun protection system was highly recommended to allow adjusting light transmission of the skylight.
From the studies, items such as direct glare, high contrast ratios, and energy transmissions are to be addressed. As a first step, a semi-diffused glazing has been applied. This means that the sunlight would be diffused, but still at a preferred direction.
The lighting integrates with the design concept through generous yet controlled natural lighting. Using natural light would result in using a constantly varying source of light, in terms of intensity, direction, colour and diffuse or concentrate.
Toppen Shopping Centre is projected to attract 15 million visitors in the year 2020, not only from Johor but from the southern region of Malaysia and nearby countries like Singapore. The shopping centre development will bring with it thousands of business opportunities within Malaysia and neighbouring countries adding vibrancy to the economy. It is also set to create many career opportunities with an array of permanent jobs for the Johor community.
The Toppen Shopping Centre is targeted to achieve the LEED Gold and GBI Certified Award.
