Signature – KUEE Architecture

BVH Office Headquarters

Inorx Foong — Sun, 19 Jan 2020 08:47:37 +0000

COMMERCIAL

BVH Office Headquarters

1 Lasam was conceptualised more than eight years ago by the owner Dato Lim, when GBI rating tool was new and there was still no other green buildings in Perak. The amicable and ambitious client wanted to build the first ever GBI Platinum building in the state, to resonate with the group’s motto of being a pioneer in many of the businesses they have ventured in since decades ago.

Built on the V-shaped land of Dato’s childhood house, the design evolved greatly over the years. To maximise the building footprint, the dramatic shape of the massing followed the shape of the site. A central courtyard was carved in the centre, to allow more daylighting into the office spaces. Nako windows were installed at high levels of all office spaces for natural cross and stack ventilation through the central courtyard, so that during a cool day no air conditioning would be required.

Location

Ipoh, Perak

Status

Construction

Client

Nurilim Sdn. Bhd.

Scope

Architecture

Measuring about 30,000sf of office space, the 5-story office block comes with majority workspaces with ancillary spaces e.g. conference room, gallery space etc.The design team explored the concept of floating boxes which further developed into box-in-box geometry. The higher floors were lifted up supported by a bold V-shape column, to allow for vehicle circulation on the street level. With the neighbouring army camp, many restrictions in building design were imposed. The west facing double layered wall installed with dense louvres not only eliminated direct view to the camp, it also blocked the heat and sunlight to the office spaces in the evening. On this gesture, the Architect managed to kill two birds with one stone.

Other green features included maximising electricity generation from the solar panels, rainwater and grey water harvesting, tinted glass, grasscrete for lowering heat island effect, and bioswales on site for effective storm water drainage etc.

Materials were selected carefully to reflect the client’s intention to keep the building as “raw” as possible. Exposed bare concrete, red bricks applied with waterproofing solution, simple aluminium framed tinted glass, exposed ceiling throughout, and to many’s surprises, not a single drip of paint was used in the entire building.

To resonate further the V-shape land and V-shape column, V-shape balustrades were designed to emphasise the strong alphabet presence of the client’s mother company name “BVH”.

1 Lasam was perhaps one of the boldest new addition to Ipoh’s low profile skyline. It’s head-turning architecture has attracted interests from professionals and the public in general since it’s completion. With Dato’s intention to allow public access on the ground floor for green building education, we believe this building will contribute positively to the local sustainable architecture scene in many years to come.

Video Interview

The Gallery

Galasa Event Place

Inorx Foong — Sat, 20 Jun 2020 02:44:57 +0000

COMMERCIAL

Galasa Event Place

Inspired by the black diamond, the design concept of Galāsa Event Place was originated from the gemstone’s geometry and its light transmission. Contrary to a conventional wedding hall which would be generally white in colour, the client particularly asked for the event place – though mainly to host weddings, to have a striking dark industrial finish to stand out from the crowd. It was a very bold move, however, a successful outcome was achieved with the commitment from both the client and the architect.

Constructed with large-span I beams, a column-free space is created in the main hall to allow unobstructed spectacular gathering space underneath. The main facades with gradually unfolded pleated black and dark grey glass surfaces, stand out to be the main feature of the place. Aluminium framed Low-E laminated glass panels were used to create three different types of arrangements for the pleated surfaces – extreme zigzagged, zigzagged, minimal zigzagged, to symbolize the dynamic unfolding process of diamond facades.

Location

Ipoh, Perak

Status

Completed

Client

Cattleya Caldwell Sdn. Bhd.

Scope

Architecture

Measuring 2,200sqm (indoor and outdoor combined), the event place can accommodate up to 1000 pax. This size caters perfectly for the local Malay communities, with many of their weddings are grand and large scale. Half of the site is covered with lush greenery, with ancillary structures e.g. the altar, orchid glass house and parlour scattered around at adequate spacing in between. The altar is the floating platform above a tranquil pond, where vows are exchanged in a garden setting. The orchid glass house and parlour respectively serve as pre-event gathering spaces and VIP lounges.

With nearly three quarter of the building construction material as steel, this was a fast- tracked project which was completed within a year. With its unique design and thoughtful space planning, the Galāsa Event Place has been greatly sought for many wedding and event bookings even before its official opening.

The Gallery

The Architect’s House in Ipoh

Designer — Mon, 27 Jul 2020 03:47:01 +0000

SIGNATURE

The Architect's House

Having worked for Foster + Partners in London, the Architect has adopted clean lines and
geometries in her design.

Upon returning from the UK to Ipoh, she has failed to find a house that satisfied her spatial
requirements and quality of finishes. Also, in believing the saying that “Never trust an Architect
who has not build his/her own house”, she decided to build her own.

Location

Ipoh, Perak

Status

Completed

Client

Private

Scope

Architecture, Interior

Natural Ventilation

To the architect, part of the reason of returning to live in a tropical country was all about enjoying the sun all year round but at the same time keeping out the heat out. Clear glass windows and doors facing the North are maximised, while solid raw reinforced concrete walls are built at 200mm thick to shield the house from strong sunshine from the East and West. Except for the private rooms and bathrooms, all internal spaces were designed as open and inter- connected to maximise the effect of cross ventilation. Central courtyard acts as a wind towers brings hot air up. Dramatic double volume ceiling also draws hot air out from the living space through openings from the first floor.

The approach is very successful. The house is able to keep itself cool all year round.

Living with Green

Vertical garden with creepers wraps around the staircase with operable louvre window allow outside air to be filtered into the stair core. This allow the architect to wake up to fresh air from the greenery every morning as she descends from the floor above. The creepers, which has already covered up fully within 6 months of move-in, act as a shield to the strong morning sun from the East.

Materiality

The material palette has been kept simple and straight forward – white rendered walls, raw concrete printed with strip plywood formwork and grey tinted glass with powder coats dark grey aluminium frames. In Malaysia, especially in a humble city of Ipoh, raw concrete finish was still a fresh approach and the architect wanted to explore with the local workmanship and quality of concrete. One layer of mineral paints was applied to all raw concrete surfaces as protection from stains and acting as a water repellent. As a natural stone lover, several types of stones were used by the architect for the house, e.g. Black Travertine for outdoor fish pond and dining table, white travertine for the powder room and Ivory cream for the ground floor.

Summary

As a relatively young Architect, she had a constraint of budget but that did not stop her from building something she would happily call home. It is a relatively simple house built amidst a quiet neighbourhood. However, it is really its simplicity and crisp clean lines which celebrated its existence. The project has since invited a lot of interests locally and certainly brought her some substantial clients.

The New PCAH Building in Ipoh

Designer — Fri, 15 Sep 2023 01:06:27 +0000

ARCHITECTURE

The New PCAH Building in Ipoh

A Beacon of Tradition and Innovation

The Perak Chinese Assembly Hall (PCAH) is set to embark on an exciting new chapter, one that will not only reect its esteemed institutional character but also mark a signicant milestone in the city of Ipoh.

As a highly recognized Chinese Association in Perak, PCAH is poised to unveil a remarkable landmark building that marries tradition and innovation in an extraordinary way. This upcoming architectural marvel is more than just a structure; it embodies a commitment to sustainability and environmental consciousness. With a resolute focus on reducing its carbon footprint, PCAH’s new home is designed to be an epitome of energy eciency and green building practices. From the materials used to the overall design, every aspect of the building has been meticulously crafted to harmonize with our planet.

Location

Ipoh, Perak

Status

Conceptual

Client

Perak Chinese Assembly Hall

Scope

Commercial

The crowning jewel of this splendid edice is the exquisite apex, a feature that pays homage to the magnificent hipped roofs of ancient times. This architectural marvel not only captures the eye but also serves as a powerful symbol of PCAH’s unwavering commitment to guiding the Chinese community and various Chinese organizations towards progress and advancement. It stands as a testament to PCAH’s enduring legacy and its pivotal role in shaping the future.
The pairs of Imperial Guardian Lion statue in Chinese Assembly Hall is believed to have mythic protective benets in Chinese tradition and culture. They act as the ‘guards’ for the entrance. Deriving from the Imperial Guardian Lion, the simplied repetitive motif on the solid wall serves as the ‘guards’ that look after the whole building.