Pods in a Garden @ 188 Tower Marketplace (Prelim. Concept)
Type: Marketplace, Prefab
Location: Riverfront, Menara 188 Kuantan
The riverfront marketplace at Kuantan 188 Tower is conceived as a vibrant, organic extension of the public garden, where architecture and landscape merge to create a dynamic social environment. Inspired by the image of mushrooms sprouting after rain, the pre-fabricated pods emerge lightly and playfully across the site, symbolizing growth, renewal, and the spirit of community. Their arrangement follows a rhizomatic logic—non-linear, interconnected, and adaptive—encouraging fluid circulation, chance encounters, and exploration.
The marketplace consists of three pod typologies: compact 45 sqft and 70 sqft units for food, retail, and local craft businesses, and a larger central café that anchors the garden and serves as a communal gathering point. Each pod is constructed from prefabricated FRP panels and glass, chosen for their durability, lightness, and ease of assembly. This material system allows for efficient installation with minimal site disruption, while the translucent and reflective qualities of the glass open the interiors to natural light and create a lively dialogue with the surrounding greenery.
Innovative in both design and operation, the pods are modular, flexible, and low-maintenance, providing an accessible platform for emerging entrepreneurs and small businesses. Their scattered yet connected arrangement transforms the garden into a marketplace that is more than a site of commerce—it becomes a social ground where visitors can stroll, discover, and interact. By integrating architecture with nature, commerce with leisure, and individuals with community, the project redefines the riverfront at Menara 188 as a living network of cultural and economic exchange.