Design In Print 3.3 Malaysia

MALAYSIA ISSUE

A NEW UPTOWN CITY FOR JOHOR BAHRU

BERJAYA CENTRAL PARK

MODERN ELEGANCE IN A PRIME LOCATION

CONTINUOUS RENEWAL INDUSTRY DP ARCHITECTS AT

WORLD CITIES SUMMIT

www.dpa.com.sg

DANGA HEIGHTS

IN FOCUS DPA IN MALAYSIA

MICA (P) 012/10/2012

IN DEPTH

VOLUME 3 NUMBER 3 2012 SINGAPORE

Volume 3 Number 3, 2012, Singapore

CONTENTS Letter from the Guest Editor Dear Readers, The latest happenings in DP

Malaysia is and will always be our closest neighbour; a close cousin of sorts, conjoined as one before, but has progressed and grown quite divergently since.

Our journey through the 37 years as a practice in Malaysia has been arduous, tumultuous and remarkably tenacious. We did not start out as DP Architects until 1994 when we renamed and rebranded ourselves. Much has been traversed and we wish much more could have been covered in so far as exerting our influence over the architectural landscape across the causeway.

Early this year marked a milestone as we restructured ourselves when two of our Malaysian partners decided to venture beyond the ambit of the family. A chapter has closed, but another has begun for us, setting forth a time for rejuvenation.

The vast opportunities in Malaysia offer us much hope to grow and the potentials to thrive in are immense. Building capabilities and repositioning DPA as a significant industry player require an update in our work approaches to meet new challenges and demands.

Staying anchored with a common set of corporate values as an international practice coupled with an inherent local content is key. The future holds much promise as we consolidate our ways, realign our staff and refocus our business to meet the demands of the industry and continue to serve our clientele the best way we can.

Our works shall continue to accord respect for the local culture, the socioeconomic and political dictates, and, most importantly, the environmental context of Malaysia while embracing the best global practices. In this manner we hope and strive to stay relevant and be an exemplary practice worthy of our regional standing.

Key Promotions DPA Malaysia Team Building

Short takes on new & notable projects

01 Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine 02 Downtown East 03 Madge Residences 04 sPICE 05 Azea Residences@Danga Bay 06 The High Commission of the Republic of Singapore 07 Verticas Residensi 08 The Waves at Puteri Harbour 09 New Selangor Turf Club

Featured projects

Danga Heights Berjaya Central Park Impiana Resort Apartments

Architecture Issues

DPA in Malaysia: Continuous Renewal

We are pleased to share our journey with a showcase of diversified range of projects being undertaken in the Golden Chersonese (ancient name for the Malay Peninsula).

Awards & events

Selamat Menikmati (have a pleasureable read).

DP Architects at World Cities Summit DPian recognised for Public Service contribution DP Architects wins Green Good Design Awards

Chin Thoe Chong, Director, DP Architects Pte Ltd

Interview with Herman Teoh, Yeoh Tok Jew & Hoo Chuen Piew

Graphics

Writing

Editorial

DP personalities

Celebration of past projects Chan Hui Min Nartano Lim

Ampang Park Shopping Centre, 1973 Leong Wei Lin Mandy Too Toh Bee Ping

DESIGN IN PRINT TEAM

Loh Yew Cheng Lek Noonchoo Gowri Krunathan Fu Tingting

Additional contributor: Jackie Poh

Cover photo: Danga Heights Master Plan

| The latest happenings in DP

KEY PROMOTIONS

CN Suneeth has over 20 years of experience in a wide range of projects, with a particular expertise in residential developments. His current projects include H²O condominium and Zhongshan Park Mixed Development.

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Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine Singapore

Lee Shee Koeng’s experience spans a wide range of building types. He is currently heading a major commercial development at Robinson Road and Silversea condominium.

Mike Lim heads DPA’s interior design arm, and has led many notable ID works including Paragon Shopping Centre and The Dubai Mall, the largest mall in the world.

The Experimental Medicine Building

ASSOCIATE DIRECTORS

Tong Bin Sin specialises in commercial developments and retrofitting projects with complex programming and technical requirements. He current heads the Paya Lebar Square and Carlton City Hotel projects.

Koh Chua Lian joined DPA in 2011 and is currently leading the Connexion project – a mixed medical, commercial and hotel development.

Lee Boon Woei is a Professional Engineer and specialises in building energy efficiency and integration of systems for optimal building performance. He heads DPA’s Environmentally Sustainable Design Department.

Kris Shotam, with over 30 years of experience, heads the Information and Communications Technology Department.

Tan Jiann Woei’s current projects include the luxurious residential development Skyline at Orchard Boulevard and MediaCorp’s new media complex at Mediapolis.

Team Building

The Clinical Sciences Building

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The Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Singapore’s newest medical school, will have two campuses: at Nanyang Technological University’s Yunnan Garden and at Novena, next to Tan Tock Seng Hospital.

The Experimental Medicine Building, close to NTU’s science and engineering colleges, will serve as a focal point for the biomedical-engineering hub in the university’s Yunnan Garden campus. This building will have training facilities such as seminar rooms, learning studios as well as teaching and research laboratories for students and researchers to learn and work collaboratively.

The Clinical Sciences Building at the Novena campus will house state-of-the-art learning spaces and advanced research facilities suitable for innovative medical education and translational medicine research.

Students will spend time honing their medical skills in innovativelydesigned laboratories and the best clinical skills training suites.

Downtown East Singapore

The new master plan for Downtown East provides for programme and spatial requirements, vehicular and pedestrian flow, security, image and identity. Key elements and spaces are planned along a main north-south planning axis which defines the main circulation and view corridors. The new MUCE (Membership, Union and Community Engagement) centre will be situated along Pasir Ris Drive 3 to form an urban front with E!Hub, presenting an updated and coherent façade for the new Downtown East. Further up north, facing Pasir Ris Park and Beach is the Costa Sands Downtown East Resort; while at the heart of the new Downtown East, the water theme park, Wild Wild Wet, will have a new expansion, doubling the area of the existing park.

DPA MALAYSIA DP Architects’ Malaysian office participated in a team-building workshop to reinforce the bond among the staff. For two days, on 25 and 26 Jun 2012, the staff members ‘relocated’ to Hotel Capitol in Kuala Lumpur for a series of activities aimed to underline the company’s vision and core values, galvanise the team and help the staff know themselves and perform better within the dynamics of the organisation.

master planning

SENIOR ASSOCIATE DIRECTORS

DP Architects is pleased to announce the following key promotions with effect from 1 July 2012:

| Short takes on new & notable projects

institutional

Senior Associate Directors and Associate Directors

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Short takes on new & notable projects

residential

03 Madge

Residences Kuala Lumpur

The development is strategically located in a prime residential area in the heart of Kuala Lumpur. Completed in 2006, it consists of three blocks of four-storey apartment buildings with 21 units, a visitor’s pavilion and various amenities.

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sPICE Penang

Located in Bayan Baru, Penang, sPICE, an acronym for subterranean Penang International Convention and Exhibition, is a new facility housed under an outdoor park and green roof, deemed to be the People’s Park of Penang. sPICE will be linked to the existing Penang International Sports Arena (PISA) to the east and Aquatic Sports Centre to the south. The two existing facilities will be enhanced – PISA with a new backlit perforated metal cladding and Aquatic Sports Centre with new retail, F&B and office spaces; all three will share a harmonised façade identity, forming an integrated recreation and MICE facilities complex, the first of its kind in Malaysia.

Azea Residences @Danga Bay

civic

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recreational

This development is designed as a community of innovatively-designed homes that will set a new benchmark for modern contemporary resort living. Lush landscaping surrounding the apartment blocks provides the soothing atmosphere of a green sanctuary. Consistent with the modern contemporary theme, the buildings are designed with simple clean lines, natural tones and contrasting textures, with an emphasis on exclusiveness and free-flowing spaces. Generous balconies provide a transition between inside and outside, allowing areas for rest and contemplation within the shade during sunny afternoons.

Johor Bahru

Located on a 1.7ha site in the heart of the new Danga Bay master plan proposal along the Straits of Johor, Azea Residences@Danga Bay is a serviced apartment-type residential development that consists of four residential towers of 25 storeys with a total of 689 apartments, a seven-storey carpark podium with an environmental deck, four storeys of residential ‘London House’ and a two-storey amenities block with retail and commercial programmes.

residential

The form of the towers reflects the maritime fluidity and movement of the Straits of Johor. The articulated and continuous metal lattice screen accentuates the verticality of the towers and forms the distinctive character of the tower crown.

The façade design, reminiscent of a sail, is created by variation in the balcony lengths and unifies the four towers as a single development, adding a landmark to the Johor Bahru skyline.

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The High Commission of the Republic of Singapore Kuala Lumpur

The new chancery for the Singapore High Commission in Kuala Lumpur is a harmonious balance of both formal and informal architectural languages which combine to find a unique expression representative of Singapore’s eclectic social and architectural landscapes today. The architecture is simply composed of two diametrically opposing elements – a serene ‘floating’ cube and a light, crisp, dynamic ‘dancing’ podium beneath.

This striking contrast of an ordered, utilitarian form suspended in counterpoint to the tectonic, irregular silhouette of the podium base creates visual tension. The juxtaposition of these two elements is reminiscent of a ship on lively seas. A placid and stoic cuboid form poised atop a free-flowing, buoyant, animated volume symbolises a steady ship in full mastery of the waves of change. This is a fitting maritime metaphor in light of Singapore’s progressive rise as a prominent regional and international transshipment port, today the world’s busiest port in terms of shipping tonnage.

master planning

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Verticas Residensi Kuala Lumpur

Located within Bukit Ceylon in the heart of Kuala Lumpur’s city centre and occupying 2.67 acres of prime land, Verticas Residensi is an upmarket mixedresidential development – comprising three 43-storey towers and a 10-storey low-rise block – which offers 308 residential units and 115 serviced suites.

residential

The exclusivity of Verticas Residensi is epitomised by its grand driveway with a series of water features, culminating at the four-storey high entrance lobby. The podium roof houses the communal amenities, complemented by the sky terrace located at the 27th storey which connects two of the towers. With KLCC and the KL Tower as a backdrop, Verticas Residensi reaches a height of over 150m, setting itself apart as one of the tallest residential developments in the vicinity with a 360-degree panoramic view of the KL skyline.

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The Waves at Puteri Harbour Kota Iskandar

The Waves at Puteri Harbour is a fully-integrated development strategically located within the heart of the commercial zone in Puteri Harbour, Nusajaya, a development in Kota Iskandar, Johor.

recreational

The jagged silhouette of the building podium is reminiscent of contoured waves – dynamic and ever-changing when viewed from different street angles. The distinctive sculptural quality of The Waves presents a stark contrast to its rectilinear neighbours, and instantly creates a visually compelling anchor development within the Commercial South Zone. The clean-cut and sloping nautical form of the development draws reference from the maritime site context, and generates a sense of energy and vibrancy. It also reinforces its status as a prestigious waterfront development equipped with world-class infrastructure and luxury facilities along the Straits of Johor, a mere 10 minute leisurely drive from Tuas Second Link (Tuas causeway).

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New Selangor Turf Club Selangor

The New Selangor Turf Club master plan aims to achieve a cohesive environment for the international horse racing track, the 1,700 stables, a 15,000-seat grandstand, a members’ clubhouse, the Selangor Equestrian Sports Centre and a gated residential development on a 750-acre site. The planning revolves around the tracks in the centre of a site that is touted to be amongst the best aligned for international horse racing.

The grandstand is conceived to be a spectacular piece of iconography designed to optimise patrons’ sight lines for the viewing of races. The curvilinear roof, supported by mega trusses, provides cantilever to achieve spaces that are column-free. The overall impression is a floating roof punctuated by skylights and courtyards which allow free flowing air for natural cooling and lighting.

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Featured projects

Project team: (front row from left) Yeoh Tok Jew, Emily Soh, Chan Hui Min; (back row from left) Lim Wei Liang, Joerg Knuettel, Kenny Foo, Goh Wee Heng; (absent) Chin Thoe Chong, Esther Chai.

Top: Overview of the Danga Heights Master Plan.

Far left: A sheltered pedestrian thoroughfare providing optimal retail experience.

YEAR: 2012

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SITE AREA: 178 ACRES

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MALAYSIA

DANGA HEIGHTS A NEW UPTOWN CITY FOR JOHOR BAHRU

By Leong Wei Lin

A ‘walk-able city’ with a prominent sheltered pedestrian retail street linking vibrant city-rooms Conceived as the modern uptown of Johor Bahru and differentiated from its historical down town, Danga Heights Master Plan will become a new highdensity mixed-use city where leisure, work and living are integrated. The new city centre capitalises on its location, which is on an important trajectory of the Skudai Highway that leads southwards to Johor Bahru downtown and Singapore, and northwards to Senai International Airport. The nearby Skudai residential districts will provide the critical mass to support the retail-intensive nature of the development.

The master plan features multi-use plots with a one-kilometre long pedestrianised retail street set out in an axial pattern and interjected by nodes acting as cityrooms, as well as a large city park in a prominent and strategic location. The variety of city-rooms in turn fosters the vibrancy and colourful energy of the new city centre. Key attention is also paid to the design of interstitial spaces within the formalized programmatic spaces to promote informal and spontaneous activities.

The idea of a ‘walk-able city’ is another high priority in this master plan.

Besides the main pedestrian retail thoroughfare, all serviced residence plots are kept at a maximum of 200m away from the retail street to encourage city living experiences on foot. The continuous pedestrian retail street is designed to be sheltered and will form the key circulatory spine that unifies the different phases of the master plan.

The predominance of mixed-use plots is a departure from traditional land use zoning parameters in Johor Bahru. Ground floor spaces especially will be dedicated to retail commercial use as well as public plazas and amenities to generate interaction between users and to inject liveliness into the city throughout the day. The concept behind the retail outlets along the pedestrian street will allow for units to have double frontage facing the street and the internal road.

Urban greenery is designed to complement the pedestrian patterns, enhancing the city experience. With these planning strategies, the Danga Heights Master Plan encapsulates the key elements for the future growth of sustainable and dynamic city-living in Johor Bahru.

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Featured projects

YEAR: 2013

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AREA: 126,263 SQM

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MALAYSIA

BERJAYA CENTRAL PARK MODERN ELEGANCE IN A PRIME LOCATION

By Leong Wei Lin

The Berjaya Central Park development is strategically located within the Golden Triangle of Kuala Lumpur, at the junction of Jalan Sultan Ismail and Jalan Ampang. A stone’s throw away from the iconic Petronas Twin Towers, five-star hotels, vibrant shopping and entertainment, Berjaya Central Park targets Malaysia’s lively business and entrepreneurial landscape. It is also highly accessible to the public via a pedestrian bridge to Bukit Nanas Monorail Station as well as having close proximity to Dang Wangi LRT Station.

Berjaya Central Park is set to meet the burgeoning demand for prime commercial space in Kuala Lumpur The development comprises two towers, three basements and a commercial podium that will house a banking hall and retail outlets. One tower will be the new home of Bangkok Bank’s Malaysia corporate headquarters, while the other will house prestigious serviced apartments.

Project Team: (front row from left) Chai Ming Kuang, David Harbord, Leow Yuon Fei; (back row from left) Mohd Khairool Bin Kamaruddin, Mohd Rafehuddin Bin Manap, Nora Ibrahim, Khairul Anuar B Abdullah Sani, Shuibullah Bin Amran, Immanuel Daud; (absent) Chin Thoe Chong, Hoo Chuen Piew, Lim Wei Liang, Thong Fu Shen.

Facing Page: The contemporary design language continues vertically through the two towers with a sleek curtain-wall façade

The architecture is characterised by a contemporary image defined by a grand stone-cladded portico, accentuated by louvred screens and night-lit glass showcases. The elegantly proportioned grand entrance foyer, complete with lush greenery and water features, balances the geometrical lines of the colonnade and complements the development’s very desirable address in Kuala Lumpur. The glass showcases light up at night and become a visual attraction amongst the surrounding dazzling nightlife.

detailed by vertical fins.

Right: Large glass showcases introduce natural light into the building by day and light up as decorative features by night.

Below: Residents of the serviced apartments can

The contemporary design language continues vertically through the two towers with a sleek curtain-wall façade incorporating vertical fins. Building users and visitors will be delighted by the extensively landscaped podium roof deck, which includes a swimming pool, a tennis court and spa facilities for the serviced apartment residents.

enjoy the facilities at the landscaped roof deck.

Attention is paid to user comfort and environmental performance. Carbon dioxide level monitoring with a variable air volume system in the tenanted spaces and carbon monoxide level monitoring systems in the car parks are some of the in-built building features that ensure optimal ventilation. Energy saving measures include the use of double-glazing on the façade and motion sensors in washrooms, car parks and corridors. The development has recently received Green Mark Gold certification, awarded by the Building and Construction Authority of Singapore, for its environment-friendly features.

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Featured projects

Left: Sketch showing overall planning of the development; view of the elevated gym from the pool.

Above: View of the facilities and landscaping from a unit in one of two 11-storey towers.

Right: Sky terrace for residents to unwind.

YEAR: 2014

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AREA: 107,050 SQM

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MALAYSIA

IMPIANA RESORT APARTMENTS LIGHT, SPACE AND JOY

By Mandy Too

Project Team: (front row from left) Za’in Nur Naim, Yeoh Tok Jew, Munirah Binti Azmi; (back row from left) Lim Wei Liang, Mohd Firdaus, Loh Kah Hock.

Top: View of the towers and main entrance.

In conceptualising Impiana Resort Apartments, being a ‘prime-mover’ development, not only did the designers have to articulate spaces, they had the daunting task of visualising an image for the residences that befits Nusajaya as the premier integrated administrative, commercial and residential hub within the greater Iskandar development. Being a lush tropical enclave strategically located in between Johor Bahru city and Singapore, Nusajaya is also the new administrative capital of Johor Bahru developed under the Iskandar Malaysia master plan. It was

integral to the design to consider the prestige of the address and also take advantage of the natural greenery of the site. Essentially, homeowners at Impiana Resort Apartments are not only buying quality spaces and amenities – they are buying a brand.

The units were designed to optimise three ideals of luxury living – light, space and joy The apartments are designed to have a resort feel with the intention of fashioning a luxury holiday. The overall planning is simple: the main axis of the site was determined in response to the neighbouring mall. The four blocks are arranged symmetrically from the main axis; each side of the axis having one

23-storey tower and one 11-storey tower. The residence’s main features and facilities are placed along the main axis; these include the main entrance and grand steps to the landscape podium with cascading waters alongside, and a gym perched over the Olympic-sized pool in the midst of tropical greenery.

The units were designed to optimise three ideals of luxury living – light, space and joy; be it the smaller 610 sq ft studio apartment or the 2,300 sq ft penthouse. The living spaces of each apartment enjoy ample natural light from full-height glazing. There are no partitions between the living room, dining room and kitchen; the open plan allows fluid transition between spaces. Mr Yeoh Tok Jew, director of DP Architects Sdn Bhd, explains, “It was important that the quality of space and the enjoyment of views be carried throughout the apartment”.

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Architecture Issues

DP Architects in Malaysia

CONTINUOUS RENEWAL

By Nartano Lim

Founded and headquartered in Singapore, DP Architects has had a long-standing presence in our neighbour to the north. Since our first project in Malaysia – Ampang Park Shopping Centre, designed with a nod to the retail podium of Singapore’s People’s Park Complex and completed in 1973 – DP Architects has continued to contribute to the built environment in Malaysia with the same ethos as in Singapore. Early projects, such as the triangulated form of Merlin Inn in Johor Bahru (1982) and the undulating façade of Merlin Hotel in Penang (1986), showed a willingness to experiment with aesthetic expression while still subscribing to the core beliefs of circulation and operational clarity. While the aesthetics have changed with the times, the endeavour to leave a positive impact on the built environment has remained constant.

size of Singapore, with over 5 times the total population, Malaysia is an extremely varied land. Each state in Malaysia has its own unique culture and geography. As the country shifts its economy from a reliance on natural resources and a primarily agricultural base to manufacturing and, increasingly, services, the architectural needs have similarly evolved accordingly. At the same time, developers now expect a consultant who is adept at a wide range of programme types and scales, and brings well-integrated building solutions and an international-level of expertise.

Top: Danga Heights, a master plan project in the Iskandar Development Region of Johor State, features expansive public spaces that orchestrate the built

At a total land mass over 400 times the

environment.

DPA’s current projects in Malaysia span from new residential developments and master plans in the massive Iskandar Development Region in Johor State, to an integrated recreation and convention complex in Penang, to commercial towers in the dense centre of Kuala Lumpur. Increasingly, DPA’s expertise in

large-scale mixed-developments, such as The Dubai Mall and Resorts World Sentosa, is becoming a key asset as projects in Malaysia grow progressively in scale and complexity, extending beyond single buildings to full master plans. One such mega-development is Danga Heights which comprises over 140 ha of areas and provides a full range of amenities from housing to leisure and commercial projects.

The evolution of DP Architects into a multi-disciplinary design practice made up of the DP group of companies, each performing as a resource for the firm’s twelve offices, is a necessary development to bring together all the techniques and solutions to meet prevailing demands.

Recently reorganised to strengthen ties with its head office and associate companies, the Kuala Lumpur-based office is well placed to fully capitalise on this development.

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Awards & events

DP Architects at

World Cities Summit DP Architects participated in the World Cities Summit Expo held from 2 to 4 July 2012 at Marina Bay Sands, Singapore. The biennial global event, organised by the Urban Redevelopment Authority of Singapore and the Centre for Liveable Cities, was attended by over 18,000 delegates from 104 countries and regions coming together to exchange new ideas on liveable and sustainable urban solutions, explore the latest technologies and forge new business partnerships. DPA’s presentation pavilion at the expo highlighted the efforts of the DP group of companies in shaping urban spaces to enhance the community’s quality of life.

DP Architects wins

Green Good Design Awards DP Architects was honoured with two Green Good Design 2012 awards for ITE College West and Zero Energy Building, both in Singapore, by The Chicago Athenaeum and The European Center for Architecture, Art, Design and Urban Studies. The Green Good Design awards are conferred on outstanding individuals and organisations who are contributing towards a healthier and more sustainable environment through their projects, services, programmes, ideas and concepts. The winning products and buildings will be exhibited in conjunction with a special Conference on the Environment to be held in Sep 2012. The exhibition will travel around the United States of America through 2013.

DPian recognised for

Public Service Contribution DP Architects’ Associate Director Mr Song Yew Kee has been conferred the PS21 Star Customer Award for his work with the Singapore Civil Defence Force to develop a new set of fire safety guidelines that will ensure persons with disabilities are not left behind in fire emergencies. The guidelines have since been adopted by the building industry. The Excellence in Public Service Awards recognises public officers and agencies for their service excellence. The PS21 Star Customer Award was introduced in 2009 to acknowledge individuals who have contributed significantly to a positive outcome in public service delivery. The ceremony was held on 25 May 2012 at Suntec Convention Centre Ballroom.

Zero Energy Building

Photo courtesy of Building and Construction Authority

ITE College West

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DP personalities

An interview with

HERMAN, TOK JEW & CHUEN PIEW

From left: Herman Teoh, Yeoh Tok Jew and Hoo Chuen Piew

IN PERSON

celebrates the firm’s diversity by profiling members of the DP family.

The interview is conducted as a casual conversation between individuals.

Interview by Toh Bee Ping

Taking charge of DP Architects’ operations in Malaysia are directors Herman Teoh, Yeoh Tok Jew and Hoo Chuen Piew – all three are Malaysia-born and Singapore-schooled; they began their professional careers in Singapore and have worked extensively on projects in both countries. They share their cross-border experiences with Design in Print.

Please share with us your early experiences at DP Architects.

HT: I actually started working with DP Architects in Singapore, following my graduation from the University of Singapore in September 1977, before moving to Kuala Lumpur. In the early years, I worked on several of DP’s key projects in Malaysia, such as Imbi Plaza and Wilayah Shopping Complex. Not

many people know this, but, back then, DP Architects in Malaysia was known as ABC Akitek. I also worked on the Merlin Hotel in Penang, a landmark of the city that was featured quite often on tourist postcards. More recently, I have worked on U-Thant Residence and now Verticas Residensi.

TJ: When I graduated from National University of Singapore in 1987, there was a recession and I

was fortunate to gain a ‘conditional’ employment with DP Architects Singapore. My first drawn salary was SGD800, subjected to DPA securing a prestigious project in the Marina precinct!

In my formative years, my mentor was Mr Chan Sui Him, now our chairman. I remember the Beach Road days, when DP’s office was at Golden Mile Complex, where I followed him for meetings with Far East Organization, Singapore

Tourism Promotion Board and Public Works Department for projects like Lucky Chinatown, conservation of Empress Place Museum and the refurbishment of City Hall and Supreme Court. He taught me precious professional and life lessons that were not taught in school, like people skills and the importance of integrity and posture. I returned to Kuala Lumpur as a resident architect in 1992 and to care for my dad who was invalid due to a severe stroke. I rejoined DPA Malaysia in 2000.

“Not many people know this, but back then DP Architects in Malaysia was known as ABC Akitek.”

- Herman Teoh

CP: I joined DP literally by chance: In 1995, I have resigned from a previous firm and was attending the SIA Annual Dinner when I bumped into Chin Thoe Chong – now a director in DP – a senior who had ragged me during the university hostel days and whom I have not met since graduation. He suggested that I consider joining DP. That fateful evening, Francis Lee, our current CEO, impressed me into joining DP – his wits on stage convinced me that working in his firm cannot be wrong!

My first project in DP was Berjaya Times Square in KL, working from our Singapore office until 1997 when I decided to move to KL. When the project was finally completed in 2003 – eight years after commencement, and surviving the 1997 Asian financial crisis in between – it was joy and pride beyond description for those of us who have worked on the project.

The experience opened my eyes to projects with higher degree of complexity. After that, I worked on two other large-scale projects: The Dubai Marina Mall, Hotel and Apartments, and Resorts World Sentosa in Singapore. The experiences of working on these projects, totally out of my comfort zones then, were nothing short of rewarding professionally.

What is the main difference between working in Malaysia, Singapore and elsewhere?

HT: To obtain authority approval in Kuala Lumpur, well, in the whole of Malaysia, requires a more personal touch with the authorities, while in Singapore it is more regulated.

TJ: Yes, dealing with authorities in Malaysia is a very different ball game – both frustrating as

well as an art! That said, Malaysia, being less structured, fosters a fertile environment for innovations and businesses alike.

CP: The efficiency of the statutory agencies and systems in Singapore is a definite plus compared to KL and Dubai where I’ve also worked. It takes considerably more time and effort to pursue statutory approvals in KL and Dubai. Project implementation wise, during the boom time in Dubai, the contractors practically work 24/7 non-stop in three shifts. The authority in Dubai had to impose strict no-work hours in the afternoon during the high summer, when temperature can hit beyond 45ºC, to stop the labourers who will otherwise continue working to max out their hourly pay at the risk of dying from heat exhaustion!

What do you like most about working and living in Malaysia?

HT : The best thing about working in Malaysia is not having to bring along a passport! On a serious note, to be able to contribute to the built environment of my country, and, hence, the lives of my countrymen, is something that I take pride in.

TJ: Well, I come from a humble background.

My dad was an immigrant from Chaozhou, China; we sold fruits in the wet market. In my school days, besides my studies, I indulged in gymnastics and scouting. I thank God for being my everlasting fortress and stronghold.

“The traffic conditions in Malaysia took some getting used to; it took me nearly two years before I finally broke into the habit of driving like everybody else!”

- Hoo Chuen Piew

CP: After working as an architect for two years after graduation, I was offered to join Singapore Airline as a cadet pilot. It was then a case of choosing what I had wanted to do for a long time or my girlfriend, now wife. I chose the latter! It was a wise choice that has given me a life partner who has kept me going. Imagine, I would have otherwise become a professional driver all my life!

TJ: What I treasure most about working and living in Malaysia is the abundance of choice, be it living and lifestyle alternatives, the simple joy of food and the experience of the great outdoors.

“Malaysia fosters a fertile environment for innovations and businesses alike.”

- Yeoh Tok Jew

CP: I really enjoy venturing into the outskirts of Klang Valley and beyond to other states and cities, especially along the east coast of Malaysia. Frequent short driving trips with the family to escape from the city routines also helped foster a closer family bond between my wife, our children and I. But the traffic conditions took some getting used to; it took me nearly two years before I finally broke into the habit of driving like everybody else!

Workwise, our KL office is smaller which is more conducive for staff interaction.

Tell us something about yourself that few people know about.

HT: Friends know I enjoy durian, but they have no idea how much I love the fruit and the great lengths I would go to eat it.

All Rights Reserved. No material may be reproduced without prior permission. DP Architects accepts no responsibility or liability for any errors, omissions or resultant consequences including any loss or damage arising from reliance on information in Design in Print. Any opinions in Design in Print are solely those of the named authors of the article in which they appear. Unless named as author, DP Architects, Editorial Panel and other Contributors do not endorse any such views and disclaim all liability from their publication.

Copyright © DP Architects Pte Ltd MICA (P) 012/10/2012 Printed by SC (Sang Choy) International Pte Ltd L028/03/2012 Published by DP Architects Pte Ltd 6 Raffles Boulevard, #04-100 Marina Square, Singapore 039594 T: +65 6338 3988 F: +65 6337 9989 E: ask_corpcomm@dpa.com.sg W: www.dpa.com.sg Photo Contributors: Rida Sobana, Loh Yew Cheng, Tay Hoong Wai, Toh Bee Ping, Wellington Kuswanto, Yan Son & Zubir Daud.

All photos are credited to the mentioned photographers unless otherwise stated.

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Ampang Park Shopping Centre was DP’s first project outside Singapore. The 16,640sqm site is about two kilometres from the city centre and easily accessible from most of Kuala Lumpur. In response to the long, rectangular site, the horizontal circulation takes the form of a linear stretched-ring route. Larger units are located at the ends of the linear circuit to encourage movement along the length of the building. The main entrance leads to a central void which accommodates escalators to upper floors. The building has emerged as one of Kuala Lumpur’s most successful shopping centre since its completion in 1973.

Project Team: William S W Lim and Chan Sui Him

Ampang Park Shopping Centre

1973