The National Film Development Corporation Malaysia (FINAS), a government agency under the Ministry of Communications and Digital, has since 2004 played an active role in not just promoting local cinema but also supporting industry talents and services. The FINAS HQ in Damansara Damai will consolidate their existing facilities of Kompleks Filem Negara and Kompleks Studio Merdeka. It pays homage to the technological transition of the industry, from past to present.
FINAS HQ
A 21st-Century
Homage
Inspired by the transition from celluloid to digital, the facade is articulated as a rhythm of unravelling pixels from a film strip that crescendos from podium to tower.
The pixelated envelope minimises solar heat gain by having more than 50% of the façade in reflective aluminium while a minimum amount of glazing is allocated to illuminate the rooms. Just like two-reel film, the tower and podium are separate elements yet are distinctly connected, housing administrative and production departments respectively. These two “reels” are connected by the bridge, a single “film” that acts as an intermediate social space between the two.
Suspended concrete rooms float within a large soundstage, with recording rooms sitting on a series of rubber dampers that mitigate sound and vibration transmission to the rest of the building.
The ‘box-within-a-box’ design of the podium’s soundstages must meet stringent acoustic requirements, requiring a tight collaboration between many specialists including acoustic and audio-visual consultants. A cinema, workshops, and live editing rooms also make up the podium. Up above, the tower comprises FINAS’ main offices, post-editing rooms, meeting spaces, a multipurpose hall and a film vault.
To minimise ecological impact to a largely green site, the FINAS HQ is made accessible via a 300-metre-long overhead bridge under which native flora is preserved. The building is also raised 7m above grade to allow vegetation growth around the perimeter. Another environmental consideration is the local deepening of an adjacent river that will reduce flood risk to the building and its surroundings.
To minimise ecological impact to a largely green site, the FINAS HQ is made accessible via a 300-metre-long overhead bridge under which native flora is preserved. The building is also raised 7m above grade to allow vegetation growth around the perimeter. Another environmental consideration is the local deepening of an adjacent river that will reduce flood risk to the building and its surroundings.
