DESIGN WITH MODERN LIVING AND COMMUNITY COHESION AT ITS HEART
MUN SHUNG & PARTNERS
2 | Asia Outlook issue 43
CONSTRUCTION
Putting People
FIRST Having arrived in Malaysia on a mission to prove a concept in 2011, Melvin Lim has enjoyed a remarkable growth story with Mun Shung & Partners, the architecture firm built on a passion to transform communities Writer: Tom Wadlow | Project Manager: Ryan Gray
Opportunities in this region, especially in Malaysia, are vast! Having worked in the country for the last seven years, the expansion of both private and commercial activity I have seen has produced a huge amount of opportunity in the country. “The growth rate and the maturity within the construction industry creates fantastic prospects for companies like ours, albeit a huge amount of competition at the same time. However, this is healthy and keeps you on your toes, forcing you to constantly seek better ways to improve products and services. “Even in our building industry there is still much room to evolve into, not only as brick and mortar investment, but contents and user experience which is now more important than ever. And that, I would suggest, means a vastly vibrant future awaits.” Melvin Lim is, rightly, a stout optimist when it comes to Malaysia’s construction scene.
A key contributor to an economy that is growing consistently at well over five percent a year, the sector’s advancement is reflective of the country’s journey towards becoming a high-income nation, a feat which is expected to be realised as early as 2024. Melvin is Founder and Design Director of architecture firm Mun Shung & Partners, the Asian branch of UK-based Barton Willmore known as BWLim International until 2018. Established in 2012 after he arrived back in his home country from London, even Melvin would admit that the company which stands today is unrecognisable from the daunting challenge he initially walked into – to prove Malaysia could work for Barton Willmore and create a failproof business plan inside six months. “My team consisted of just me,” he quips, “an individual who had never worked in the country before with zero contacts and very limited funds. Asia Outlook issue 43 | 3
MUN SHUNG & PARTNERS “Instead of an expansion plan, as horrifying as it sounds, it did feel like I was setting up my own practice. Days turned into weeks and months felt like years. It was hard, hard work having to acclimatise to the business culture in the shortest possible timeframe, and to make ends meet with no local experience.” Melvin’s leap of faith paid off in a
remarkable way. Within eight months he had enquiries for 12 project feasibilities, and by the time a year had elapsed the venture had secured several contracts on developments worth more than 500 million Malaysian Ringgit ($123 million). Fast-forward to today, and Mun Shung & Partners is operating from a second office in Melaka, the firm
AN INTRODUCTION TO MUN SHUNG & PARTNERS Set up in 2012 and headquartered in Kuala Lumpur, Mun Shung & Partners was formed on the basis of a respect-based and people-first approach to design, its work centred around the aim to build a more sustainable society. Its project portfolio is vast and covers a wide range of developments, spanning residential, commercial, mixed-use, interior design and masterplans. The company provides: • A full scope of architectural services, from design feasibility to the completion of the building, including production of full working construction drawings and information • Masterplanning design services • Marketing and branding services, inclusive of all collaterals such as brochures, sales leaflets and more • 3D computer generated sketch models, perspectives for design visual discussions • High quality animation fly-through for marketing use • 3D renders (CGI) for marketing use • Interior design services Its client base consists predominantly of private developers and private landowners, including public listed companies, the firm’s 15 employees working from offices in Kuala Lumpur and Melaka. Mun Shung & Partners is also able to draw on extra resources from the UK and China on a projectby-project basis. The company is also the proud recipient of several awards, including: • Asia Pacific Property 2019 – Best Mixed-use Architecture Malaysia, Best Hotel Architecture Malaysia and Best Mixed-use Development Malaysia (for the Satori project) • LUX Life – Kuala Lumpur’s Most Outstanding Multidisciplinary Design Practice 2019
Asia Point Construction Welcome to the world of Asia Point! We hope you would find answers to questions regarding the Company’s activities and services. Though this is not all-encompassing, the information provided will help you to familiarize yourself with its contents and keep it as a handy reference. We believe that our primary responsibility is to our clients and all others who use our services in meeting their needs and paying meticulous attention towards the quality aspects. We constantly strive to reduce our cost in order to maintain reasonable prices yet producing premium outcome. Communications between you and us have to be ongoing and lively as we strive for continuous improvements in everything we do by listening to you, rewards of which will benefit both you and us. We started-off in 2009 as a small scale construction and renovation company. After gaining more and more networks, we upgraded the company into a Sendirian Berhad entity. Since its inception and over the years, Asia Point grew and expanded both through growth within the company and in strategic partnership with suppliers that augmented Asia Point’s position in the construction industry. The directors, Mr. Marco Yan and Mr Michael Lee, both built up the company and secured multi-million ringgit in development projects such as high rise buildings, logistics warehouse and many more. Getting along with Mun Shung & Partners for the current Satori project had been a vivacious moment and looking forward for more projects with their resourceful team.
• Recognition at the SME 100 Awards 2018 asiapointconstruction@hotmail.com
4 | Asia Outlook issue 43
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MUN SHUNG & PARTNERS engaged on a tremendous variety of projects, from residential and commercial to mixed-use and interior design work, both in Malaysia and the UK.
FOR THE GREATER GOOD The past seven years, by Melvin’s own admission, could have been foreseen in his earlier days. “I almost fell into architecture, if I’m honest,” he recalls. “I grew up with a family of teachers and engineers, and I remember when asked during my early teens that I always wanted to be a doctor and save lives – I even pursued full science subjects for my A-levels. “But my creative side got the best of me eventually, when I was offered a scholarship and a place in the Greenwich University to read architecture.” Melvin’s desire to impact lives for
the better has never left him, a passion that was rekindled during his tenure with Barton Willmore in London. “It was then I witnessed how design does matter and how it affects people,” he continues. “I realised the profession plays a vital role within the building industry, one that inevitably affects lifestyles and the way we live. “I am not referring to the colour of your roof or where one would place their dining table, but the ability to be at the forefront of any development, and how we are able to make design decisions that enables a safe neighbourhood to be created. “I find it most intriguing to see the full process from sketch paper proposals to the completion of the built environment unfold, and how these new streets and homes or offices are then occupied.”
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SABAIDEE CITY MASTERPLAN Promising to become an iconic landmark for Vientiane, capital city of Laos, Sabaidee City’s main feature will be a central tower resembling ‘Nop’, generally accepted as the form of greeting among Lao people where palms are placed together in a position of praying at chest level. The development will be centred around a park with several key destinations for tourists and local communities. MORE: www.ms-partners.co/sabaidee-city
This people-centric passion and attitude filters through the whole of Mun Shung & Partners and what it stands for today. Community engagement is vital, Melvin bringing to Malaysia the lessons he learned in the UK, where communication with stakeholders is an essential part of the planning process. The Founder and Design Director identifies the Embique Condotel development as proof of this approach in action. A residential condotel precinct in Melaka comprising one- and two-bedroom suites, the building’s design is just the surface of what the client, HLT Land Sdn Bhd, wanted to create. As well as developing a safe, modern and characterful neighbourhood for people to live in, HLT was determined to build a brand, a reason for knowing Embique that would reverberate beyond the residents occupying its range of apartments. In response, Mun Shung & Partners created Bique Fest, Melaka’s largest curated weekend art bazaar. Centred around an interactive experimental dome, it carried the tagline ‘Unique Moments, Unique Journeys, Unique Living’, designed to attract a large cross-section of people to the site. “This is all about connecting the community through arts and culture and embracing Embique’s unique fusion of nature and design with Melaka’s creative and gastronomic scene,” Melvin says. “It was held over four weekends of site activation showcasing local artists, designers and entrepreneurs to the community.” The results were beyond expectation. In the space of a month the Bique Fest brand built up a reach of more than half a million people with an engagement rate of over 55 percent with 25-54-year-olds in the southern region of Malaysia.
PROJECT PRIDE Embique aside, Melvin points to a number of other projects which 6 | Asia Outlook issue 43
CONSTRUCTION
‘A RESIDENTIAL CONDOTEL PRECINCT IN MELAKA COMPRISING ONE- AND TWOBEDROOM SUITES, THE BUILDING’S DESIGN IS JUST THE SURFACE OF WHAT THE CLIENT, HLT LAND SDN BHD, WANTED TO CREATE’
Embique Condotel
MUN SHUNG & PARTNERS
PRODUCT SNAPSHOT
MIHARJA Made of 700 residential units across 1.55 million square feet and 4.67 acres of land, the Miharja development is a landmark addition to the Kuala Lumpur skyline and seamlessly blends into its surroundings. It creates a point of difference, its own expression, yet it is a good neighbour to the surrounding buildings, responding to the urban fabric. Other key features include a 50-metre infinity pool, multipurpose hall for events, indoor cinema and fitness facilities, and close proximity to schools and amenities. It is very much a development designed for growing families.
have proven to be landmarks for him personally, lessons from which he has brought to Malaysia and Mun Shung & Partners from his time at Barton Willmore’s London practice. First is Poplar Business Park. Situated in the London borough of Tower Hamlets, it proposes a redevelopment of the existing site to an urban village scheme with the inclusion of the village’s square at its heart. Other significant features include a new office complex, light warehousing facilities, more than 300 residential units and a hotel and restaurant. “The square serves as one of our key features for this development,” says Melvin. “It is designed to be highly accessible and safe and to create a natural identity for the local community. “Understandably, community involvement was vital when getting 8 | Asia Outlook issue 43
“THE SQUARE [POPLAR BUSINESS PARK] SERVES AS ONE OF OUR KEY FEATURES FOR THIS DEVELOPMENT, IT IS DESIGNED TO BE HIGHLY ACCESSIBLE AND SAFE AND TO CREATE A NATURAL IDENTITY FOR THE LOCAL COMMUNITY”
feedback and comments woven within the architecture of the development. Key to gaining that planning permission for this project, we believe, was the additional community engagement introduced during the design process which, ultimately, formed part of our strategic development framework for the scheme.” North of London, in seaside town Grimsby, Barton Willmore has been guiding the Freshney Green Estate Regeneration Programme for over five years with Stamford Homes, Shoreline Housing Association and local authorities. Once again, consultation with local residents, especially younger generations, was vital in securing enthusiasm for the proposals, which are helping to transform an area once labelled as a blight on the area with a worrying crime rate. “The plan for Freshney Green was to redevelop the area with new homes, however, that involves moving some of the residents,” explains Melvin. “During the engagement, we found a huge amount of vandalism in the area, and one of our ideas to tackle the was to build a ‘graffiti house’ for the community. The interesting part of this was that the idea came from a six-year-old girl, who was taking part in the draw your home activities. “Freshney Green was once seen as an eyesore to the neighbourhood, and it is now a fully-grown residential development with its own formed community and sustained house prices.” These projects represent important learnings for Melvin, the Embique project demonstrating how he has been able to transfer the emphasis on community engagement seen in the likes of Poplar and Freshney Green to Mun Shung & Partners’ work in Malaysia. A similarly momentous project for the company was Hatten Satori, another mixed-use scheme which paved the way for the firm to secure its first masterplan development under the same client.
CONSTRUCTION
Poplar Business Park
Asia Outlook issue 43 | 9
MUN SHUNG & PARTNERS ‘SATORI, MEANING ENLIGHTENMENT IN JAPANESE, COMBINES HEALTH, WELLNESS, BEAUTY AND LEISURE IN ONE DESTINATION’
Satori
10 | Asia Outlook issue 43
CONSTRUCTION Satori, meaning enlightenment in Japanese, combines health, wellness, beauty and leisure in one destination. The main architectural features are the curvilinear towers which house a premium wellness hotel and serviced apartments, a mall and over 50 health and wellness themed facilities. Its pedigree is no better demonstrated than by a series of awards, Satori scooping three prizes at the Asia Pacific Property 2019 event – Best Mixed-use Architecture Malaysia, Best Hotel Architecture Malaysia and Best Mixed-use Development Malaysia. Though tremendously proud, Melvin is the first to admit that such accolades could not have been secured alone. He highlights the indispensable role of partner companies, chiefly construction contractors which are responsible for bringing ideas to life. “The tender process is a vital part of any project planning,” the Founder says. “Tender interviews and the contract documentation allow us to carry out all due diligence when selecting the right contractors for the job. “Undoubtedly, finding the right contractor for the job is highly crucial. Some of our partners have been working with me since my UK tenure back in 2005, and we work well together. However, every job differs and may require different people to come on board.” Such collaborations will be critical moving forwards. Melvin also revealed an exciting and highly valued masterplan development in Kuala Lumpur, and potentially a game-changer for both Mun Shung & Partners and the city. The scheme is currently in the final stages of feasibility and will be making headlines in the development sector.
STAYING ON-TREND Securing (and delivering) on future landmark projects will require the company to stay ahead of the curve and continue differentiating itself from what is a competitive design landscape.
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THE GREEN Set on a 4.38-acre plot of land near Kota Laksamana in Melaka, The Green comprises two towers of 40 and 24 storeys containing 516 serviced apartments, fronted by a 15-storey hotel block. “Several key features make this unique,” Melvin comments, “including a centralised courtyard landscape for activities. Due to the hot climate, we designed a canopy roof over the courtyard space in the form of a ramp, therefore providing shade and shelter for kiosk and retail opportunities. “The upper deck of the special featured ramp also created useable roof space in the evening as a higher ground viewing deck. One of the project’s major moments was the grand launch, officiated by Melaka’s Chief Minister, what I would call our first marker in Malaysia.” MORE: www.ms-partners.co/the-green
The digital revolution is firmly on Melvin’s radar, the advancement of autonomous technologies and convenience-driven lifestyles now critical factors for architects to consider. “In my view, the sector has a lot of catching up to do,” he says. “I can only
envision the need for our practice to continue venturing into the ever growing need to engrave user-experience within our designs as if our lives depend on it. “AI and smart solutions are the next big thing that is impacting the building Asia Outlook issue 43 | 11
MUN SHUNG & PARTNERS “WE WILL CERTAINLY CONTINUE TO INSPIRE MORE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT ACTIVITIES WITHIN OUR WORK, AS WELL AS PUSH FORWARD FOR MORE EXPLORATION AND EXPERIENTIAL DESIGN METHODS”
CONSTRUCTION industry – they now have the ability to print houses! Front doors no longer need keys, a fridge orders your milk for you when close to empty, and homes can talk and entertain you without lifting a finger. “If shutting out blinds and switching lights off before we leave home is now considered the traditional way, then we as architects and designers of cities and neighbourhoods will also need to acclimatise.” The company itself is already adapting. For example, it has been able to print 3D models of its designs in its studio for five years, a breakthrough which marked the beginning of a new modern era. Anticipating the next wave of advances is now key for Mun Shung & Partners, one of several priorities for the year ahead as Melvin brings the conversation to a close.
PRODUCT SNAPSHOT
ADMIRAL CITY MASTERPLAN Admiral City is a themed 150-acre masterplan designed to cater for highend commercial developments. Based in Melaka, the proposed scheme includes 53,000 square metres of hotels, 800,000 square metres of serviced apartments and more than 350,000 square metres of retail space, as well as a seafront marina and seaplane terminal. MORE: www.ms-partners.co/admiral-city
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MULBERRY MEWS Based in London, UK, this development has replaced redundant twostorey warehouse buildings with contemporary living and working spaces. The scheme utilises natural ventilation and sustainable technologies, while creating life and interaction day and night through retail and small workspace units centred around a pedestrian area. MORE: www.ms-partners.co/mulberry-mews
“I would like the team to continue being more robust with our design ambitions and to keep producing more interesting scheme proposals to suit the current and ever demanding market trends,” he says. “We will be investing more time and effort to incorporate more advanced software and AI technology into our design methods and processes, thus giving us more time to design. “We will certainly continue to inspire more community engagement activities within our work, as well as push forward for more exploration and experiential design methods. It will be an exciting year.”
MUN SHUNG & PARTNERS Tel: +603 6411 9895 info@ms-partners.co www.ms-partners.co
Asia Outlook issue 43 | 13
MUN SHUNG & PARTNERS Kuala Lumpur D4-3A-2 & D4-3A-3 No.1, Jalan Dutamas, Solaris Dutamas, 50480 Kuala Lumpur Tel: +603 6411 9895 info@ms-partners.co www.ms-partners.co PRODUCED BY ASIA OUTLOOK MAGAZINE