The Horizon Hills Golf & Country Clubhouse is located on slightly sloping terrain, strategically positioned at the halfway mark in the new 18-hole golf course in the Malayan state of Johor. It is part of a much bigger development, the Iskandar Malaysia project that will encompass new waterfront housing, retail outlets and village square, bonded together by water in the form of lakes, ponds and canals. Hence, the clubhouse will form the heart and soul of the township, the center stage for recreation and socializing where families, friends, neighbours and their guests will gather and meet.
The brief was to represent and express the progressive concept of township in this rapidly developing nation. It was to provide an alternative quality of life that is still not readily available in the state and its intention was to draw investments and business to Johor to make it an “international city”. It was to be distinctive and competitive on a global scale, yet at the same time, it must simultaneously retain the ideals of the country’s rich conservative culture.
The functional program of the whole complex resulted from the in-depth study of the specific features of the location. To achieve this, the building layout was conceived in a linear manner, catering each section for different activities. The overall architectural language is to be tropical and contemporary with the use of natural materials to bring a warm feeling to the building.
The approach to the building is via the main road through a gradual and ascending climb, overlooking the peripheral residences across the new lake. The drive is a scenic one, with snippets of the building proper in the backdrop amidst the lush tropical landscape. Only upon entry does the building reveal itself and allow the spectacular view of the luxuriant green course to unfold.
Low and linear to follow the contours of the land, the building can be divided into three basic functional groups (public, sports and golf wing), physically linked but recognizably separate. Envisaged in linear stratums, it is anchored by a common entry concourse that cleverly distributes the people with the varied visiting intentions. This 6-meter high impressive main lobby space is designed with “lightness” in mind, a far cry from the opulent and inhumanly grandeur of typical lobby spaces in traditional clubhouses and resorts. It is essentially a giant translucent roof supported by steel members and timber trellis which also acts as a form of filter from direct sunlight above.
Developed on two levels, the main entry level encompasses some of the public spaces like the ballroom and restaurant. One then diverts into the golf wing via the sizable common walkway, in which functional amenities like offices, changing rooms and kitchen are lined on each side. It is only after passing through here that one truly appreciates the deliberate placement of the building which seemingly cuts the golf course at such a perpendicular axis – to allow both elevations of the golfers’ terrace to have sweeping views over the whole course. One is then able to descend into the golfers’ lounge below, which is basically the starting, resting and ending point for the golfing game.
At the same lower level on the other side houses the third group – the sports wing. Here, a two-storey volume has been created above a reflection pond and a gently cascading waterfall ripples from the top of this feature stone wall. It is also in this shaft that the attention of the visitor is captured both audibly and visually to proceed into the activities below. This includes the gymnasium, café, Olympic-sized swimming pool, a fun pool and pool decks for the kids. The main bulk of the administrative services are also placed on this floor, but more discreetly located behind the main public areas.
Overall, much of the longitudinal elevations of the clubhouse have been given a 3-meter wide viewing terrace or open patio space, with a cantilevered overhanging canopy in metal trellis. This parallels our response towards modern tropical architecture, in which we still believe in having light, shade and shadow for building in the tropics, even if the use of materials have modernized.
