THE SCULPTURE OF CONCRETE ROOF THAT REDEFINES DRIVE-THRU DESIGN — WHBC × EVCC™
- Levn admin
- 1 day ago
- 3 min read
At EVCC™ Pedas RSA, even a Drive-Thru roof tells a story — one of architectural ambition, sustainability, and sculptural precision. Suspended above three major brands — McDonald’s, The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf, and Tealive — this elongated canopy is more than just a roof. It is a concrete sculpture that brings character, functionality, and permanence to one of Malaysia’s most forward-looking highway rest stops.
Designed by WHBC Architects, the form is a direct extension of their award-winning design philosophy: bold minimalism, material honesty, and movement-inspired architecture. This is not just about sheltering retail space — it’s about creating an architectural gesture that reflects speed, flow, and a sense of destination.
Built to Flow — and to Last
This barrel-shaped concrete roof spans across a trio of retail Drive-Thru outlets, elegantly covering the customer-facing façades and service counters of McDonald’s, The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf, and Tealive. Its geometry is deliberate — designed to echo the movement of vehicles queuing through the site, while unifying three distinct operations under one continuous architectural gesture.
The curve isn’t just visual. Its elongation allows for extended queue coverage and architectural continuity, ensuring each outlet enjoys both visual prominence and practical weather protection. More than just a canopy, the roof acts as an organizing spine — bringing cohesion, shade, and a sculptural identity to this retail precinct at the heart of EVCC™ Pedas RSA.
Why Concrete? Why Curved?
Unlike typical steel canopies or tensile structures, this roof is entirely made from cast-in-place reinforced concrete — selected not only for its sculptural potential but for its inherent thermal and structural properties. Concrete brings a timeless quality that aligns with the long-term vision of EVCC™: to create highway infrastructure that is both future-ready and architecturally enduring.
1. Heat-Resistant by Design
Malaysia’s climate demands passive cooling solutions. Concrete’s thermal mass makes it ideal for this context — it absorbs daytime heat and releases it slowly, helping moderate the environment beneath. The result? Cooler queues, more pleasant waiting experiences, and lower mechanical cooling dependency for adjacent food counters and workspaces.
2. Texture as a Signature
The inside of the roof bears the imprint of the timber formwork used during casting — a deliberate decision by WHBC. Instead of polishing it away, the architects retained the natural linear grain left behind, turning the ceiling into a textural feature. This tactile warmth softens the visual weight of the concrete and humanizes the material — a quiet yet powerful design move.
Engineering a Landmark
What appears seamless from below was, in fact, an immense engineering and construction challenge — one that required craftsmanship, planning, and coordination at every step.
The Rebar Challenge
Beneath the sculpted exterior is a dense, 3D matrix of rebar, manually shaped and assembled to mirror the organic curve of the vault. Each segment was individually bent, anchored, and secured, with no prefabricated shortcuts — a true feat of on-site structural artistry.
Formwork as Craft
The formwork was not delivered in crates; it was custom-built on-site, plank by plank. Carpenters crafted a negative mold of the roof’s curvature, aligning every timber panel to match the precise contours envisioned by WHBC. This bespoke approach gave the roof its unique textural fingerprint — no two panels are exactly alike.
Concrete Pouring
Concrete was poured in carefully controlled stages, with precise slump management, internal vibration to eliminate voids, and strict curing to avoid shrinkage or cracking. Given the angle and overhead casting, gravity was a constant challenge — every pour had to be perfectly timed and technically executed to prevent deformation or collapse.
The WHBC Architects Touch
WHBC Architects are known for expressive infrastructure — and this roof is a masterclass in their ability to turn everyday structures into landmarks. What could have been a utilitarian canopy has instead become an identity marker — a visual and experiential centerpiece of EVCC™ Pedas RSA.
It exemplifies the belief that even something as commonplace as a Drive-Thru can reflect dignity, elegance, and intention. The roof’s curvature evokes speed, the material embodies resilience, and the design resonates with movement — all perfectly in sync with the user journey.
A Drive-Thru Worth Looking Up To
With this concrete roof, EVCC™ Pedas RSA elevates the very idea of a rest stop. It’s no longer just a pit stop — it’s a place where architecture meets infrastructure, where function is fused with form, and where every detail contributes to a larger narrative of quality, comfort, and forward-thinking design.
This is not just a roof. This is a sculpture that shades, guides, and inspires. And it stands as a powerful reminder that even in transit, we deserve beauty.
To learn more about the EVCC™ PEDAS RSA and its development journey, visit: www.evcc.my
For leasing opportunities or partnership enquiries, contact: inquiry@evcc.my
コメント