This article first appeared in City & Country, The Edge Malaysia Weekly on July 29, 2024 - August 4, 2024

Where we are standing now used to be a car park — a lifeless concrete desert,” says Tenaga Nasional Bhd chief global business solutions officer Datuk Ahmad Hushairi Ibrahim. He is referring to the former brownfield site adjacent to Tenaga’s original and iconic headquarters built in the 1960s, now known as Bangunan Warisan TNB.

“Bangsar had more greenery in the early days. Over time, there was a boom in development, turning the area into a concrete jungle. Then, the [Tenaga employees’] quarters deteriorated due to age. Hence, we felt the need to rejuvenate the area and that was how the concept for the new headquarters, TNB Platinum, came about,” he explains as we stroll through the lush landscape.

“We wanted to design and build something that would last for a long time. So, the design of the building and the landscaping were done in a sustainable and responsible manner.”

Completed in 2022, the Green Building Index (GBI) Platinum-certified TNB Platinum sits atop a 13.6-acre site, transforming the area and bringing a much-needed “green jolt” to the Bangsar suburb.

The arboretum forest, with more than 1,380 forest plants, envelopes about 51% of the development. The trees and undergrowth form a multi-layer canopy that can be controlled via the monitoring of plant coverage, moisture and nutrient levels. Among the foliage lie four office buildings that progressively step down from a peak of 19 storeys to the two-storey Leo Moggie Convention Centre, named in honour of former Tenaga chairman Tan Sri Leo Moggie.

“The cascading design is one of our special features. It keeps the density low and allows the office buildings to blend with the environment and surroundings,” says Ahmad Hushairi, adding that the TNB Platinum is designed to be a sprawling campus, a concept that is benchmarked against other green and sustainable corporate campuses worldwide.

And rejuvenate the area, it did. TNB Platinum is recognised as a Gold winner under the Landscape Design category at The Edge Malaysia-ILAM Sustainable Landscape Awards 2024, a feature of The Edge Malaysia Best Managed & Sustainable Property Awards 2024.

Meanwhile, at the heart of the development lies the aptly named Spark Plaza, which connects all the buildings and serves as the forecourt as well as a place to gather and interact amid the verdant landscape. The plaza also connects to the food court in the basement via a spiral staircase that is surrounded by greenery. The other ancillary buildings — that of Tenaga’s charity arm Persatuan Wanita Tenaga Nasional Bhd (Pelitawanis), a childcare centre and an interactive plaza — complete the development.

The inspiration behind this landscape was creating a “green” spark that serves as a genesis or trigger for a responsive and sustainable office design, says Ahmad Hushairi. This is achieved by having green spaces that interweave around the development.

“The landscaping and green design features are cohesively infused into the development of TNB Platinum, proving TNB’s seriousness and aspirations towards environment, sustainability and governance (ESG), as well as its connection and our commitment to the energy transition agenda,” says Ahmad Hushairi.

According to Praxcis Design Sdn Bhd, the landscape architect hired by Tenaga, the extensive planting frames in the buildings allow the prevailing winds to cool the structures, reducing air-conditioning costs by about 20% and benefiting the surrounding neighbourhood. “Lush green areas are known to lower surface temperatures by up to 7 degrees Celsius. By allocating some 50% of the site with green soft landscaping, it acts as a heat exchange mechanism, allowing the winds to reduce the ambient temperature as they pass through the buildings,” says Praxcis Design director Yap Nga Tuan.

“Careful planning is required as we select the suitable tree species known for its broad canopies to create an enclosure but remain open enough to allow some sunlight to penetrate. They offer a respite from the heat, providing a space to unwind and relax. The lush plants not only enhance the aesthetics and provide shade, but also act as a refrigerant to reduce the ambient air temperature,” says Yap.

The landscape employs the use of light-coloured pavements that can reduce the overall heat island effect. “Heat is reflected, and this helps create a cooler microclimate by up to 20% compared with dark-coloured pavements,” she notes.

“We even labelled the plant species for educational purposes,” Ahmad Hushairi chimes in, pointing to the signs at the base of each plant. The development houses a range of tropical plants, from one of the tallest tropical tree species — the Koompassia excelsa (tualang tree) — to shrubs such as the ubiquitous pandan plant. “We consider the rainforest as our nature, our national treasure,” he adds.

Yap points out that some of the tree species were selected based on their bird-attracting characteristics. “When birds come in, they act as a biological pest control. We don’t need to resort to the use of pesticides or any chemical interventions,” she says.

That itself led to cost savings in terms of maintenance, she adds “We mimicked the natural rainforest setting by selecting native trees and undergrowth. This reduces the need for more irrigation and maintenance, contributing to the lowering of cost and increasing sustainability.”

Meanwhile, TNB has also taken note of the recent spate of incidents involving bad weather and falling trees in the country. “I would attribute this to climate change. It is something we want to relook as it is not common to see large trees falling like that. We will plan for strategies to manage and care for the trees – a thorough review. Even the rise in temperatures can affect our tree species,” notes Ahmad Hushairi.

“We look at this as an opportunity rather than a problem. This is because it provides a way to increase the competency of our team in terms of better managing the property.” 

On top of that, TNB Platinum utilises rainwater harvesting, greywater recycling and a condensate water recovery system to minimise water usage. Automatic water irrigation systems also increase irrigation efficiency.

“This is pivotal to ensuring the landscape receives the requisite water volume, thus mitigating water wastage,” Yap explains.

Hence, with all the meticulous planning and selection, the overall cost of maintaining the landscape is kept at a manageable RM18,000 per month, which translates into about RM0.03 psf per month for the entire 13.6-acre site.

To complement the foliage below, the grass-covered roofs reduce the amount of heat that is absorbed by the usual concrete roofs, which translates into a reduction in ambient temperature for the floors below. In addition, photovoltaic panels convert solar radiation into energy, enhancing sustainability as well as acting as shade for the roof slabs.

The result is a vibrant and inviting environment. After all, a workplace does not have to be solely utilitarian. The office inhabitants are greeted by a seamless transition from the workplace to the natural realm of the outdoors. This biophilic design concept fosters a harmonious relationship between the environment and the office space, improving the well-being of the employees.

“[The landscaping of] TNB Platinum is a response to the client’s aspirations of sustainable development, from the lush landscapes to the green roofs, they act in sync to reduce urban heat and create an opportunity to have a unique public space in the heart of Bangsar. It is also according to Tenaga’s desire to create a workplace of the future, one that is timeless and yet considerate of the surrounding environment,” says Yap.

“We wanted to transform TNB Platinum into a workplace that our staff would love to be in. It’s a unique environment that gets rid of the Monday blues. People look forward to being in the office,” says Ahmad Hushairi.

For instance, he shares that employees are contributing to the community garden within the site. The garden is adorned with arches and netting to provide some shelter from harsh weather while serving as climbing poles for vines and creepers. “It has over 10 species of fruits, vegetables and herbs that the employees are free to take and exchange,” says Ahmad Hushairi.

“TNB Platinum epitomises a commitment to the overall well-being of its employees, not just in design but also in shaping workplace culture and future workplace development, a crucial foundation to achieve Tenaga’s sustainability pathway goal of net zero emissions by 2050,” says Yap.

“We hope that by getting recognition for this project and [by] winning the award, the general public and developers will be able to realise the importance of sustainability in design and its positive contributions to the environment and for future generations.”

Ahmad Hushairi says Tenaga would like to explore the concept of introducing more greenery in the interior of the development. “We have observed several overseas projects that adopt mid-sized trees but we have to study the feasibility of doing so here in terms of maintenance. We would have to get the right species of plants that do not shed as much and are suitable for indoor planting. Overall, the thoughtful integration of sustainable landscaping principles aligns with our vision for TNB Platinum, emphasising the importance of not just architectural excellence but also environmental responsibility.”

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