Architectural Portfolio by SAR

Selected Works 2019 - 2021

Contents

Hey, I’m Syed.

It’s nice to meet you! phone (+60)124981296 email syedabdullahredha@gmail.com instagram house_of_kooky linkedin http://linkedin.com/in/syed-abdullah-2a8a7b1b3

1.

BSc. (Honours) in Architecture (Part I) Architectural Design Project (Semester 6) Get Kultured! Cultural Experiential Centre

2.

BSc. (Honours) in Architecture (Part I) Architectural Design Studio 5 (Semester 5) The Interchange: Klang Learning Centre

3.

BSc. (Honours) in Architecture (Part I) Landscape Architecture (Elective) REVIVAL

4.

Competition RISM Idea Symposium 2019 Shah Alam Clover Park

5.

Competition Penang Bay Masterplan 2020 HEX

6.

Competition RTS - PAM Competition 2021 The Prism

7.

Exhibition KLAF 2019 Heritage for Tomorrow Old Chinese Temple of Johor Bahru

8.

Work Experience Retail V Cafe

9.

Work Experience Residential House for Mr Y

10. Work Experience Commercial - Hospitality H Homes Miscellaneous

“We depend on our surroundings obliquely to embody the moods and ideas we respect and then to remind us of them. We look to our buildings to hold us, like a kind of psychological mould, to a helpful vision of ourselves.” Alain de Botton in his book, The Architecture of Happiness.

Buildings have the ability to speak and they speak on various topics in regards to how they look like. For example, a building with a height that is near to its ground plane presents itself as a welcoming and intimate building whereas building that is tall evoke a sense of arrogance and can be seen as a threat. In perspective, design and architecture are being reflected based on our intentions and the kind of life we practise in which of course, translates back to our own interpretations and visions of happiness.

With that in mind, I aspire to create spaces that can spread joy and evoke a sense of happiness through the usage of colors, play of light and shadows, experimenting with different types of materials, as well as exploring new forms. Not to forget, I also take considerations on the surrounding context and the local culture to serve as a binding agent when I’m designing.

As a designer, I enjoy the process of making things and exploring new ideas in order to find a solution to a problem. I would label myself a curious person as I question a lot on various of aspects. Needless to say, it does work out for me in the end.

In a nutshell, I believe that architecture should always embrace happiness and joy within its people. I do hope to see more designers that share the same principles and values as me in the future.

BSc. (Honours) in Architecture (Part I) Architectural Design Project Project Title Location Tutor Softwares Used

: Get Kultured! Cultural Experiential Centre : Jalan Sultan Hishamuddin, Kuala Lumpur : Ms. Teh Beng Siang : Rhinoceros, Lumion, Photoshop, Procreate , Vectorworks 2D

Colonialism, a legacy of Kuala Lumpur history that brought not just life to the city but also the spice trade. Spices, the essence of existence which was once a luxury to a certain colony shaped the form and colors of the economic landscape of the city. Its significance binds cultural assimilation and amalgamation. The metaphor of the project is mapped out from exploring the idea of binary. Conceptually, culture is a product of two elements which are people and principles.

These two aspects can be further translated into two binaries, formal(principles) and informal(people). Furthermore, the appreciation of relationships of processing spices from its history to production symbolically ignites the roots of unity that brings people to its locus.The scenography of spice processing infused the heavy and light of machinery and at the same time stimulates the attention to everyday form and space where the high contrast of its aromatic scent, color, sounds, and benefits always grounded our experiences. The proposal will reignite a part of Jalan Sultan Hishamuddin as a future cultural hub that will complement the existing National Textile Museum, as well as increases the place’s vitality besides serving as a new addition to the historic core of Kuala Lumpur urban form and fabric.

Aerial View of Get Kultured! Spice and Aromatic Herbs Cultural Experiential Centre

View from the National Textile Museum

Spice and Farmer’s Market

Exploded Programmatic Blocks

Exploring the relationship between spaces

The Big Idea

Formulating the design intention to be site specific

The design narrative revolves around a binary opposition

Preliminary Sketch based on the idea of a spice factory that requires to be hands-on

Design Development sketches

Early design 3D model

Arranging the spaces in section as way of storytelling

Exploration of Spatial Poetics

One of the given scenarios of the centre

Points

A massing model to study the layout

Diagram to show the poetics of the centre, influenced by the production of spices

An attempt of layering the design strategies

Core

Memories

Surfaces

Bridges

Views

Layering Method : Generating the design strategies by extracting the site’s palimpsests

Site Plan

Sorting Room

Linear Fields In The Day

Ground Floor Plan

Linear Field’s Front Entrance from the sidewalk

Grid Line

General Massing

Circulation Spine

Axis of Memories

Building Height

Lifting Up

Optimum Sunlight

Bridges as Connectors

Vertical Circulation

Structure

Green Facade

Landscaping

Palimpsests as Design Strategies

Facade Strategies

Drying Room

Scent Corridor

Full Wall Section

Culinary Workshop

BSc. (Honours) in Architecture (Part I) Architectural Design Studio 5 Project Title Location Tutor Softwares Used

: The Interchange, Klang Learning Centre : Jalan Stesen 1, Klang : Ar. Kenny Chong : Revit, Autocad 2D, Enscape, Photoshop

Klang is experiencing a mini-existential crisis and that being the youth is no longer interested in Klang’s heritage and culture. It is the first capital city of Malaysia and has a wealth of treasures to offer. Located nearby KTM station and the central bus hub, Klang has the potential to bloom due to its connectivity but it is yet to be thoroughly explored. The youth in Klang has no more interesting attractions to draw and lure them in as the city becomes more quaint than ever. The proposed learning centre is dedicated to serve as a platform for the Klang’s community, specifically the youth to be more productive and able to express themselves through art-related activities such as performing, crafting and cooking.

The long gone essence and culture of the place will be once again injected through this learning centre by having flexible spaces for different groups of people to gather. The Interchange aspires to achieve an environment that promotes cultural and social interchange through sharing and exchanging of ideas, information, experiences, moments and also promote the intercultural understanding by celebrating each other’s differences. The new landmark will definitely complement the surrounding nodes due to its strategic location; at the intersection of two districts, Artisan and Little India District. Bringing people in from different backgrounds, The Interchange becomes a place of celebration for all groups of people, hence making the learning centre rich in social and cultural engagements. As people walk through Jalan Stesen 1, one will notice a shift from pre-war traditional facade to modern yet humble facade, being The Interchange.

Its ephemeral facade donned with vertical louvers are designed in such a way where impact can happen at its minimun but at the same time, making it memorable due to its prominent roofline.

‘The Archived Town’ collage

The Interchange at dawn

Sectional Perspective

Cooking Workshop

Murals to enliven the back alley

Sectional Detail of the Performing Studio

First Floor Plan NTS

Ground Floor Plan NTS

Ground Floor Plan

Design Narrative

Second Floor Plan NTS

Third Floor Plan NTS

Floor Plans

Exploded Isometric

Food Hall

Spice Garden

BSc. (Honours) in Architecture (Part I) Landscape Architecture (Elective) Project Title Location Completion Softwares Used

: REVIVAL : Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia : 2019 : SketchUp, Autocad 2D, Photoshop, Illustrator

Located in the heart of Kuala Lumpur, Wangsa Maju is a township constituency. Surrounded by Setapak, Taman Melati, and Gombak, the township is considered one of the largest in Kuala Lumpur.

Design Proposal

Aerial View of the new courtyard

Typical Playground Typology

One of the passive zones

Seksyen 2 has several flat blocks that were arranged in a cluster manner. The blocks are separated according to each sub-cluster, majority of it consists of four blocks with a central courtyard. Residents who live in the area are mostly families with small children and adults.

The current condition of the courtyard near Flat C1, C2, C3 and C4 is poor and requires a positive intervention. The project brief focuses on improving the public realm of this particular space for the children in the neighbourhood to utilise.

The park that is available right now is not very conducive and it is in poor condition. It is seen to be not well maintained judging from the broken equipments. The word revival holds so much meaning as it gives hope for the people to expect a better version of the current park. Unlike most playgrounds in Malaysia, the park layout will be slightly different as the park does not use the typical layout of a playground. The design proposal will be more flexible in terms of space organisation and will have more breakout spaces.

Accessibility

Playscape

Proper pedestrian walkways should be added into the site as it navigates the users to move through the spaces. The park serves as a meeting point connecting all residents from nearby blocks. With proper pedestrian pathways, residents will be more appreciated as the current condition of the park is poor.

One of the main components. Designed in such a way where children can explore and grow resilience. Activities including climbing, sliding and running.

Community Garden

The park has several gardening areas reserved for green thumbs. Residents can practise their gardening skills and share their love for plants.

Safety Controlled Vision - With the use of trees, (low and medium level) it can control the depth of people’s vision. The microsite is not gated which makes it dangerous for the children to play at the playground.

Controlled Risk - Children grow their resilience through experience.

The playscape is designed to be ‘risky’ (in terms of heights, etc) in order for them to learn and be creative.

Vision

Risk

Sunken Theatre

A gathering space that promotes social interaction between the old and new generation. The sunken theatre is multi-tiered so more people can sit and interact with each other.

Inclusivity

Active

Design Strategies

Passive

The space should cater to everyone.

DIfferent people has different personality traits. Some like to run and be active, some like to read and take their time. By having passive and active zones, people with different needs can all feel inclusive.

Active zones usually consist of playgrounds and so on, whilst Passive zones consist of seating areas, and so on.

Seating Areas

These circular and elliptical seating areas are shaded with trees for users to escape from the tropical heat. The seating areas can also be a meeting point, which enriches the park.

Programmes

Bubble Diagrams and Schematic Design

Competition RISM Idea Symposium Project Title Location Completion Softwares Used

: Shah Alam Clover Park : Shah Alam : 2019 : Revit, Autocad 2D, Lumion, Photoshop

The interchange serves as a point where people from different parts of Selangor come together and exit to their own destination. What if people could get out from their vehicles to meet up and enjoy the environment and engage in on-going activities before continuing their journey?

Aerial View of the interchange at night

The scheme consists of three parts, the bridge, the ring and the clovers.

The bridge connects main source of pedestrian to the interchange. It acts as a transition zone that brings pedestrians around the site to the interchange. Greeneries along the bridge form visual continuation to the landscape around the site, creating a setting of a floating garden.

The ring together with its whole structure acts as an archway for the state capital that welcomes people from different parts of Selangor. It serves as a viewing deck that allows people to observe the movements and skyline of the area, witnessing the progression of the city. Activities happening on the ring attracts drivers to stop by and explore the interchange.

Exploded Diagram

Clovers that cater various kind of engaging activities ranging from taking a stroll to festival events, allow infrastructure to be used by people, but not just vehicles. Gardens with playscapes, pavilions, and water feature encourage social interaction and temporary escape from the city.

Personal contribution : Involved in the design process, post production, composition of boards and overall presentation (presenter).

Picnic spots are intertwined within the pedestrian pathways on the ground level

Pedestrian pathways surrounded with pocket landscape areas

Proposed Plan

Sectional Detail

Front Elevation

Proposed Programmes at the Shah Alam Clover Park

View from the ‘ring’

Physical Model upclose

Amphitheatre at night

Physical Model in scale

Competition Penang Bay Masterplan 2020 Project Title Location Completion Softwares Used

: HEX : Penang, Malaysia : 2020 : Rhinoceros, Morpholio Trace, Photoshop

Penang Bay is an ambitious programme to rehabilitate, regenerate and rejuvenate the water-based assets of George Town and Butterworth into a seamless and dynamic space aligned with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Penang, the Shining Pearl of the Orient The brightest star of all, the shiniest of them all. Penang has never fail to deliver, and will always deliver. The story of Penang, is a love story full of commitment, elegance and proud. Its emergence to the world symbolize the power and strength of the South East Asia region. An exemplary town by its own right, Penang continue to shine the world with its never-ending spirit and belief.

The dynamism of Penang is unique and vibrant. Marrying its ‘Merchant’ identity on the island side and ‘Labor’ identity on the mainland side, ensuring their ‘Port’ identity is justly celebrated.

HEX, is a pioneer concept that embrace the legacy of the past while welcoming the vibrant future ahead. Using the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) as the basis of our proposal, ‘Resilience’ is the keyword. Adopting both heritage conservation and modernist technological advancement, this is a proposal one of a kind. Reposition themselves by relooking at their glory past, embracing their powerful cultural differences, readapting to the dynamic changes of the world and nothing symbolizes more about the state apart from the Penang Bay itself. Ensuring its resilience in driving Penang towards the future.

Pedestrian bridges were introduced to link the people in the exisitng areas into HEX

Georgetown

Seberang Perai

Overall Masterplan of HEX

One of the objectives was to make Seberang Perai the silicon valley of Northern Malaysia

Design Intention

The Georgetown side overlooking the Seberang Perai side

Personal Contribution : Leading the design team, constructing 3D base model and involved in post-production

Competition RTS - PAM Competition 2021 Project Title Location Completion Softwares Used

: The Prism : Johor, Malaysia : 2021 : Rhinoceros, SketchUp, Lumion, Photoshop

Public transportation hubs in architectural sense represents the celebration of mobility and people within a city or locality.

For the RTS, the experience and context is further amplified due to it being a third umbilical chord between Malaysia and Singapore. Commuters movement within this spaces will be like clockwork. Orderly, somewhat precise and predictable.

The proposed facade aimed at capturing these patterns and moments of pause in between arrivals and departures. Using natural light as a medium, the waiting experience will be sensual, a spectacle display to the eyes in literal sense.

The station’s sides is orientated north east to south west.

Morning light would bask the east facing side of the station’s facade starting from 8.30 am to 11 am. To capture the light, the roof is angled and curved aimed at maximising the effect to the internal spaces. Rather than just being a natural light source, the skin will transform the light into various spectrum depending on the facade angle and time. The internal surfaces will vividly glow at different light wavelength causing whole platform in its entirety to ‘move’ in between train’s arrivals and departures.

Aerial view of the proposed RTS Link Station

The prism effect is projected onto the floor of the station, giving it a unique spatial experience

Through prism effect, the folded skylights refracts and reflects light unraveling the nature’s prism colours. Often appear as a rainbow colour, there will be time and sections in which the prism skylight emits only the longest wavelength. The platform floors will then act as a canvas for the spectacle.

Personal Contribution : Leading the design team, constructing 3D base model and involved in post-production

The RTS Link Station seen from ground level

View when approaching the RTS Link Station

Exploded Axonometric

Side Elevation

Facade components

Short section

Exhibition KLAF 2019 Heritage for Tomorrow Project Title Location Completion Softwares Used

: Old Chinese Temple of Johor Bahru : Johor, Malaysia : 2019 : Revit, Autocad 2D, Photoshop

The showcased work was taken from our submission for the module, Methods of Documentation and Measured Drawing.

Spanning across 7 weeks, the project aims to provide the students with an understanding of the architecture, historical and cultural aspects of a given building. Students are expected to measure and document the building and refine the data in the form of drawings, model and a report.

The Old Chinese Temple of Johor Bahru is one of the oldest Chinese temple in Malaysia, making it significant to mostly the Chinese community in Johor, particularly the Teochew clan, though the Taoist temple accomodates deities from five Chinese clans (Teochew, Cantonese, Hokkien, Hakka and Hainan). Constructed in the 19th Century, the temple has stand the test of time due to its architecture as well as the preservation by the devotees. However, the building did undergo renovations in 1995 to 1996. A recent renovation has been done to the exhbition/gallery area behind the building in March 2018, raising the single-storey building into a three-storey gallery. The construction has since been done as of the time we visited the temple.

Sectional Isometric

Personal Contribution : Involved in constructing the 3D model in Revit and the physical model

Exploded Isometric of the Office

Exploded Isometric of the Mountain Gate

Overall view of the physical model

Sectional model reveals the interior spaces

The model is constructured in two sections

The entrance to the main prayer hall in detail

A sketch of the Mountain Gate

A sketch of a gate next to the Feng Yu Sheng Zhe pavilion

The insides of the burner for incense sticks

The side courtyard that connects to the back space

A sketch to depict the burner for incense sticks

The internal structure is made out of timber

Work Experience Retail Project Title Location Phase Softwares Used

: V Cafe : Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia : Schematic Design : Rhinoceros, SketchUp, Vectorworks 2D, Photoshop, Enscape

The client requested a design that captures a casual dining experience that is inspired by nature, specifically the plants.

The cafe is designed to attract users that seek a moment of tranquility while in the midst of being in the hustling city. V Cafe does not only serve as a dining place, but it is also designed to house a plant shop as the client is an owner of a renowned plant shop in Kuala Lumpur. In order to make it impactful, V Cafe is intended to improve the urban streetscape as it is located in between two significant landmarks which are Pavilion KL and Novotel Hotel. Not only that, with the presence of the cafe, visual connection is enhanced due to its architectural elements. Green elements are also introduced to create meaningful and calming experience.

Since the site is located at an abandoned plot next to Novotel, We wanted to take the Brutalism queues from the hotel itself and influence the design of the cafe to pay an homage to the Brutalist architecture.

Ground Floor Plan showing the furniture layout

View from the mezzanine level

V Public Corner

View from Jalan Perak

View from the overhead pedestrian bridge

View from Novotel Lobby Drop Off

1. existing condition

2. proposed first tier demolition

3. mezzanine floor and outdoor seating are introduced

4. glass enclosure

5. metal ribbons over glass

6. possible planter box as metal ribbons

Preliminary sketch of the facade

The dining section of the cafe

View coming in from the plant shop entrance

Diagrammatic Process

Facade Explorations

Work Experience Residential Project Title Location Phase Softwares Used

: House for Mr Y : Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia : Design Development : SketchUp, Vectorworks 2D, Photoshop

The site is located in the middle of the city and it is the most sought after residential address in Kuala Lumpur. The density is extremely low which makes the neighbourhood exclusive as it still retains its old charm through its winding roads, mature trees and bungalows that were built during Malaysia’s pre-independence period. The unique site takes shape of a funnel that opens up to a vast green space that is filled with trees and in the opposite, a flowing creek is present. Due to the height of the trees, the site is always shaded and screened away which makes it good for privacy.

View from the main road facing the gate entrance

Personal Contribution : Involved in the design development stage and post-production renderings

The view of the house from the opposite creek

A physical model is built to understand and study the overall massing of the house

Physical model

Site Analysis

Preliminary Floor Plans

Design Development sketches

public semi private

private

Preliminary Front Elevation View

Diagrammatic Section

private

Work Experience Commercial - Hospitality Project Title Location Phase Softwares Used

: Hyatt Homes : Kuantan, Malaysia : Conceptual Stage : SketchUp, Vectorworks 2D

Hyatt Regency has always been the-it place to stay in Teluk Cempedak. For this project, the team decided to create an icon for Kuantan that holds the spirit of the place. Much like Kandalama Hotel by Geoffrey Bawa, the site is located near a forest reserve which is right opposite of Hyatt Regency.

Influenced by the terrain and lush greeneries, the design revolves around the idea of blending with the vegetation as a way to juxtapose with the urban blocks of the exisiting Hyatt Regency. Furthermore, the client wanted the development to be exclusice to serve as a getaway place far from the bustling city.

Personal Contribution : Involved in the conceptual stage, building the 3D model, and the development of the facade.

Aerial view of the proposed project

View of the facilities deck

5

1. main entrance 2. main drop-off

10

3. services access 4. datum podium car access

7 1

10

5. ground podium car access 6. link bridge to hyatt regency

2

7. podium unit block 8. facilities deck

10

9. link bridge to taman teruntum

7

10. unit tower blocks 10

8

9 10

3

10 4

6

10

Site Plan

Massing Strategy 1 : Intervention

Schematic Section

A close-up view of the external facade

Massing Strategy 2 : Terracing

Massing Strategy 3 : Levelling

Massing Strategy 4 : Green Facade

View from the ground level towards the lobby entrance

Close-up view of the individual units’ balconies

Growing up, I have always loved things that are colourful and pleasing to the eye.

Spending most of my school breaks travelling in different parts of the world, I draw a lot of inspiration from different cultures. I sketch a lot when I was a little kid as a way to express my thoughts.

Miscellaneous

Apart from that, I also consider photography as my hobby. I received my first ever camera when I was 12 years old and since then, I take photographs of almost everything that piqued my interest such as surreal landscapes and unique architecture.

In this section, I compiled some of my works ranging from photography, sketches, illustrations, renders, and scrapped projects.

Jack of All Trades, 2020

Inktober : Masked, 2020

Old Town of Klang, 2021

Through the Mirror, 2020

Untitled, 2017

Office for Mr.R, 2021

STUNNING!, 2020

Untitled, 2017

Splish Splash!, 2019

Paradigm Shift, 2018

CTRL + C+ V, 2020

Rimbun Residence, 2019

Rimbun Residence, 2019

Paradigm Shift, 2018

Venice, 2016

For N30N, 2017

Rome, 2016

Sichuan, 2016

Vienna, 2018 Venice, 2016

Sichuan, 2016

Sichuan, 2016

Sichuan, 2016

Milan, 2016

Vienna, 2018