Recycle Collection Center: A Green Innovation in Architecture

Azim A. Aziz and Zulqaisar Hamidin's Award-Winning Design for Sustainable Living

The Recycle Collection Center is a community project initiated by Cyberview Sdn. Bhd. Designed to be a green-certified building, it incorporates various recyclable materials and sustainable practices. The center covers an area of approximately 1,200 sq ft, housing a main entrance, foyer, lobby, seating area, receiving center, prayer room, restroom, waste segregation area, and storage area. A playground and a mezzanine floor for selling used clothes are also included.

The building's orientation minimizes exposure to the East and West sun, while the roof tilts Southeast for optimal solar panel installation. A signature free-standing wall, built using fly-ash concrete, serves as a focal point, making the building identifiable from afar. The building is designed for natural ventilation, with open tops for walls and permeable walls made from recycled bottles, tins, and bottles.

The center's walls reflect its purpose. A specially designed wall, made using galvanized steel as a cage, acts as a wall. This 'cage' is openable for the replacement of the bottles, plastics, and tins, anticipating that these materials will fade over time due to exposure. The floor boards of the mezzanine floors and staircase threads are made with reused railway sleepers.

The Recycle Collection Center is located in Cyberjaya, a planned city dedicated to the development of Science and Information Technology. As the township grows, waste generation increases. The center encourages residents to separate and recycle their waste, promoting a greener lifestyle. The center also features drive-thru bins for public convenience, allowing them to drop their materials at the center after hours.

The design of the Recycle Collection Center was recognized with a Silver A' Sustainable Products, Projects and Green Design Award in 2017. This prestigious award is given to designs that demonstrate outstanding expertise and innovation, showcasing a remarkable level of excellence and introducing positive feelings, amazement, and wonder. The Recycle Collection Center is indeed a testament to the power of sustainable design and a model for future green developments.