Commercial Rooftop Garden at Mertajam Urban Mall, Penang Mainland
2025-12-03
On the mainland side of Penang, the bustling town of Bukit Mertajam is known for its Hokkien heritage shophouses, street food corners, and a growing young population. In the middle of this energetic district stands the newly developed Mertajam Urban Mall, a commercial complex designed not only as a place to shop—but also as a community anchor.
The mall’s most unexpected feature isn’t inside the building, but on top of it. A once purely functional flat roof—used to house air-conditioning units—has been transformed into a surprisingly green and welcoming rooftop landscape, crafted using modular green roof trays and lightweight planter modules.
commercial green roof, urban mall landscape, modular planting trays, sustainable retail architecture
A Commercial Hub with a Local Character
Mertajam Urban Mall reflects the architectural rhythm of the town. The façade mixes industrial modern elements—dark metal cladding, large glass panels—with subtle references to the old Chinese shophouses nearby, such as vertical lines reminiscent of timber window frames and the muted earth-tone palette.
This blend creates a building that feels modern yet familiar, fitting well within a district where traditional kopitiams sit next to co-working spaces. The rooftop garden enhances this identity by adding a soft, natural layer atop the bold commercial structure.
HOENSOEY & LEIYUAN: Bringing Lightweight Systems to Commercial Projects
Because commercial roofs often carry heavy mechanical equipment, weight considerations are strict. The mall’s construction team therefore opted for lightweight PP-based modules supplied by HOENSOEY and LEIYUAN, two Chinese manufacturers recognized in Malaysia for producing reliable modular green roof systems.
Most areas use the shallow green roof modules, allowing a wide “green carpet” effect across the rooftop. For corner zones and small planting pockets, deeper planter boxes were added to accommodate colorful shrubs and creeping tropical flowers.
The installation connects seamlessly to the mall’s drainage points, forming a complete modular rooftop planting system capable of handling Penang’s intense monsoon rains.
A Green Landscape Above the Retail Floor
Walking through the mall, visitors may not immediately realize the amount of greenery above them. But from nearby mid-rise apartments or from drone views during marketing photoshoots, the rooftop garden is unmistakable—an expansive green patch that softens the mall’s sharp industrial edges.
The landscape uses hardy species well-suited to Penang’s humid, sunny climate:
- Sedum species forming a resilient base layer
- Malaysia Creeping Daisy adding cheerful yellow accents
- Mini variety Bougainvillea providing bursts of pink and orange
- Zoysia turf in the broader open areas
These plants thrive even during the hotter dry spells on the mainland. The modules’ built-in water-retention chambers also help reduce irrigation needs—a practical advantage for building managers dealing with the high operational demands of commercial properties.
Cooling the Mall and Softening the Urban Environment
On a busy weekend, Mertajam Urban Mall can feel lively and warm, especially around food courts and cinemas. The rooftop garden plays a subtle but meaningful role here: by shading the building’s upper slab and reducing heat absorption, the rooftop planting helps bring down interior temperatures on the top floors.
This improves energy efficiency and enhances comfort for retail staff and visitors. It also changes the way the mall looks from the surrounding area—adding a layer of green to a part of the town dominated by asphalt roads, car parks, and metal-clad shoplots.
Growing Interest in Modular Rooftop Landscaping in Malaysia
Across Malaysia, commercial developers are beginning to take rooftop landscaping seriously. Articles from sustainability-focused platforms such as Wiki Impact suggest that more buildings—whether malls, hotels, or office towers—are adopting greener approaches to reduce environmental burdens.
This shift is also a response to practical concerns. Modular rooftop systems—whether called green roof trays, planter cells, green roof containers, or planting modules—offer predictable performance, easy installation, and better longevity than traditional soil beds built directly on concrete.
For busy commercial developers, HOENSOEY and LEIYUAN’s systems offer an appealing balance of durability, cost-effectiveness, and scalability.
A New Kind of Community Space
While the garden is not a public park, its presence is felt in the surrounding community. Local residents have commented on how the mall “looks more alive” from a distance. From certain angles, the rooftop appears like a green hilltop perched above the rows of shoplots—a refreshing sight in a densely packed commercial corridor.
Developers of Mertajam Urban Mall believe this rooftop garden sets a precedent for future commercial developments in Penang Mainland: buildings that serve the market while also giving something back to the environment and the community.
To learn more about the modular systems applied in this project:
• Green Roof Modules
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