Parcel F9 and F10, Putrajaya.

Final design scheme for parcel F9 and F10 jointly developed with S&O Architects (F11), submitted to Perbadanan Putrajaya for planning permission, and proceeding with preparation of tender drawings. The design was developed based on concepts initiated by the lead architects, Pakatan Reka Architects Sdn Bhd (PRA).

Travels: Melaka, Kampung Morten

Traditional Malay houses of the Malacca type, indigenously developed throughout centuries by the Malay population is a popular tourist attraction here. Among the distinct features of the Malaccan Malay house compared to that of other states include the distinctive tiled main front staircase, the A shaped roofs and a connecting courtyard between the main house and the kitchen area.

2C2 Green Office Building, Putrajaya

Presentation Boards for 2C2 Green Office Building prepared for Putra Perdana Construction Sdn Bhd and Putrajaya Holdings Sdn Bhd for an upcoming exhibition.

Perpat Resort, Kapar, Malaysia

This is a project which my associate Saiful Bahri Sulaiman and I worked on to a conceptual planning stage.I found it nice to work on projects like these, being given the opportunity to explore rustic materials and to take into account basic human scale in design and detailing. In this scheme, the use of timber and clay tiles with deep overhangs provided those involved with a valuable design exercise in equatorial/tropical architectural expression.

Travels: Steel structure in a pre-war building in Taiping

This white timber building in the Taiping Club is supported by a steel structure.

A very curious structure indeed.

The building is really beautiful in its simplicity.

A close look at the structure tells you that this building is not of the 60s or 70s.

Sometime during mid 2006, whilst doing research for Kelab Sultan Sulaiman project in Kampung Baru, KL, I went to several old towns one of which was Taiping, an obvious choice because of the significant number of pre war buildings that's still around. During a visit to the Taiping Club, recently restored by Lawrence Loh, to my great pleasure I discovered this unique structure, a small timber building supported on steel pillars. I haven't seen anything quite like this before and found this discovery to be truly enlightening as application of structural steel in a timber building such as this is not the norm during colonial times. The building to me is truly a beautiful piece of work.

4G9 Tower: Finalised Fibonacci facade drawings

Fibonacci 8 facade (8 floors high)

Fibonacci 2, Fibonacci 3 and Fibonacci 5 facade segments

Roof, Fibonacci 1, 1, 2 and 3 downward

The Fibonacci series is a mathematical progression of numbers in which the following number is the sum of two previous ones: 1,1,2,3,5,8,13,21......This series is incorporated into the design concept of 4G9 Tower, Putrajaya, based on the number of floors for each segment from the top; i.e 1 floor, 1 floor, 2 floors, 3 floors, 5 floors downwards.

4G9 Tower: Sketches

Early sketch overlay with 3d massing model

Early facade concept sketch based on the Fibonacci series

Design development sketch to calculate number of precast fin walls against diamond shaped Fibonacci facade.

Sketch drawing to study the relationship between facade and section/inclination of facade. Note that this early scheme had skygardens which had later been deleted in the final scheme.

4G9 Tower: Progress as at 8th July 2010

Latest photos from Putrajaya lakeside promenade, Dataran Gemilang and Precinct 19 showing progress of Fibonacci curtainwall, spray painting and installation of gondola machinery.

Lot 5G2, Putrajaya

Progress of Lot 5G2 Putrajaya as at 8th July 2010

Government offices on Lot 5G2 (abbreviation for Precinct 5, Government Building, Parcel 2) located adjacent to the Pullman Hotel, Putrajaya, consists of 2 office blocks designed by SeniBahri Arkitek for Putrajaya Holdings Sdn Bhd to fulfill their contract with the end users; The Ministry of Tourism, Malaysia; and The Ministry of Higher Education, Malaysia.

In December 2007, Jafri Merican Architect was appointed by Bina Goodyear Berhad (BGB) as the design and build architect to interpret design intentions of SeniBahri Arkitek and develop design drawings contained in the contract documents into construction drawings, in collaboration with engineering, interior design and landscape consultants appointed by BGB.

The architectural concept is based on a symbolic theme of traditional Malay culture, its heritage and artifacts. Symbolic elements such as ‘Tombak’, ‘Pendeng’, ‘Nenaga’ and ‘Pintu Pong’ among others were developed into buildable details and the intricate design of the building enclosure refined in collaboration with a façade engineering consultant. Drawings were prepared and submitted for approval to Putrajaya Holdings Sdn Bhd project management team and their consultants in 3 stages; concept submission, design development submission and construction drawings submission. Upon obtaining the necessary approvals, these drawings are issued to BGB site personnel for construction implementation.

4G9 Tower: Fibonacci curtainwall facade performance testing

Posted here are photographs of the 'Fibonacci 2' curtainwall facade installed at a testing facility in Balakong for performance testing on the 24th of November 2009. The specimen here passed the test with flying colours, well above the performance criteria imposed, enabling fabrication and site installation to proceed. Kudos to the facade subcontractor Avos Sdn Bhd, and the main contractor WCT Berhad.

Visitors' Centre, Mutiara Damansara

One of our early projects. Located in Mutiara Damansara, next to Ikea and Ikano Power Centre, the Visitors’ Centre and Site Office for Mutiara Rini Sdn Bhd is one of the earliest buildings built in what was known, to those involved in Boustead Holdings Berhad projects in early 2000, as the Kem Kual development. Completed in 2001, it served as both project management office, where site meetings were regularly held for projects under going construction; and sales office, where the latest product launches took place attended by many prospective buyers.

Conceived as an extension of a public landscaped park proliferating around a water retention pond, the building was designed as a configuration of 5 connected structures; a single central edifice being the main exhibition/showroom area and four smaller structures (comprising a management office, meeting/conference rooms and a surau) connected at a diagonal angle.

The architecture is of modern tropical expression combined with diverse regional influences; featuring deep overhanging roof forms and stone walls as raised platform and column bases. Selection of natural materials, rather than paintwork for colour gives the building its earth tones, blending harmoniously with its idyllic landscaped park setting, an outstanding scheme designed by Malik Lip and Associates Sdn Bhd as a prelude to the verdant image of Mutiara Damansara, which Mutiara Rini Sdn Bhd intended to portray to its future habitants.

Parcel F8, Green Building, Putrajaya

In April 2007, 10 Malaysian architectural firms participated in a design competition for Parcel F, Putrajaya, of which 3 architectural firms obtained the commission; Pakatan Reka Architects Sdn Bhd (PRA) whose scheme was chosen as the development theme, S&O Architects Sdn Bhd and Jafri Merican Architect, appointed for sub parcels F8, F9 and F10.

PRA’s architectural scheme for the development featured a modern theme, with building enclosures of green coloured glass and passive solar shading devices. The layout plan. designed based on the concept of sustainable development, had the buildings clustered around small ’pocket parks’ and landscaped avenues to minimize heat accumulation at the ground surface areas. Orientation of each building’s wider elevation was set on a north-south axis, a strategy to reduce direct solar heat gain.

Parcel F8 is designated a common facility building housing a cafeteria, visitor’s centre, multi purpose hall, surau and auditorium. Parcels F9 and F10 are office buildings which will be implemented in the second phase of the development. The concept adopted for the auditorium building, as F8 is now referred to, is that of a ‘functional box’, a no frills approach in which the functional placement of its internal spaces and solar shading requirements shape the outlook of its exterior form. It is a functionalist approach which imbue the scheme with a timeless appeal.

Kelab Sultan Suleiman, Kampung Baru, Kuala Lumpur, featured in Architecture Malaysia magazine

Our Kelab Sultan Suleiman project in Kampung Baru featured in Architecture Malaysia magazine November 2009 issue.

The Sultan Suleiman Club in Kampung Baru, Kuala Lumpur, founded in 1909, is the oldest and most prominent club created exclusively for the Malay community. The earliest clubhouse, of timber construction and thatched roof, was destroyed in a fire in 1930, and subsequently a new building was constructed in 1932, of bricks and concrete structure, with enclosure of timber panels and clay roof tiles. By the mid 30’s, the club had become a favourite gathering place for various Malay associations and became historically significant when the first Malay Congress that led to the formation of the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) was held there in 1946 (This is a subject of debate between Johor and Selangor UMNO around the time of the officiation ceremony of this replica building, but nevertheless, our article refers to Bernama and other official sources). Lamentably, by 1967, this clubhouse structure had fallen into a state of disrepair and was demolished to make room for a new building, a modern clubhouse which is still operational today.

In early 2007, Jafri Merican Architect was appointed by the Ministry of Culture, Arts and Heritage, Malaysia, to design an accurate replica of the 1932 clubhouse, to be reconstructed as authentically as possible, given the absence of any of the original working drawings, which after consulting with numerous sources, were deemed no longer available. To overcome this constraint, old photographs were studied, interviews conducted with senior citizens who frequented the club prior to 1967, and site visits carried out on various colonial buildings of similar period and construction type. These type of buildings, predominantly located in old towns such as Taiping , Kuala Kangsar, and Tapah among others, were studied and photographed to ascertain the type of materials used, sizes of timber elements, method of construction, and the prevalent architectural style used in expressing building details during the 1920s to 30s colonial period.

Initial working drawings were prepared and presented to the Museum and Antiquities Department of the Ministry, and the Sultan Suleiman Club committee. Based on their feedback, drawings were refined to produce the final agreed scheme, approved for submission to authorities; and due to constraints of a tight construction schedule, the calling of a design and build tender. Upon award of the contract, our firm was appointed to work directly under the design and build contractor to produce details concurrent with the progress of construction work.

During this stage our efforts were directed towards preparing construction detailed drawings and advising the contractor regarding material selection and sizes of timber elements to be used. Timber sawmills which could produce the required plank sizes were sought and identified, as were suppliers for materials such as clay roof tiles of the ‘Marseille’ profile and u-shaped metal gutters and rainwater downpipes similar to those used during the colonial period. Ultimately, It is the selection of correct materials and construction details that gives authenticity to the completed building.

Construction works were certified practically complete in late November 2007, and the building was officiated by HRH The Sultan of Selangor, Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah on the 8th of December 2007.