COMMERCIAL / JEWEL ON THE HILL

WORDS

NIZAR MUSA

PHOTOGRAPHY LIN HO (H.LIN HO

PHOTOGRAPHY), LAWRENCE CHOO JUN SHING (PIXELAW

PHOTOGRAPHY)

JEWEL ON THE HILL

WITH ITS EXPRESSIVE SILHOUETTE, THE NEW EXTENSION OF THE BOH TEA CENTRE BRINGS IMAGINATION AND CHARACTER TO THE LARGEST TEA PLANTATION IN MALAYSIA.

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Overlooking the verdant Sungei Palas valley, the BOH Tea Centre has, for well over a decade, been a favourite attraction in Cameron Highlands.

Drawing visitors and tea lovers near and far, the acclaimed 145m-by-9m-long building of concrete, steel, glass and timbre remains to this day a delicately-balanced architecture of unapologetic materiality and considered flourishes.

The Centre’s design has since been revisited, expanded to meet new requirements. Where a legacy vocabulary could have been persistent, there was an opportunity for a trajectory shift.

And seize it, the architects did.

THE CHALLENGE OF SUCCESS

Both the award-winning Phase 1 building and its Phase 2 extension were designed by renowned local practice ZLG.

“It’s a very linear building, based on a simple concept of sustainability, no cut-andfill, and elevated,” describes Susanne Zeidler, Partner at ZLG, of their original piece.

“It was very site-specific, (we knew) where we wanted to have the views, where we wanted to have the main cafeteria, all connected back to the existing offices.”

The request to enlarge the centre would come 10 years later, finally completing in 2018.

But adding to such a successful and much-lauded icon posed its own concern; the

1. Constructed perpendicular to the original building, the BOH Tea Centre extension interprets the undulation of the surrounding hills through its irregular folded roof structures.

possibility of marring the outlook of the existing building was a real consequence.

“It was a big challenge, you know. Because you build something (like that), so on its own, so present and strong, and now you’re supposed to do an extension. How do you respond?” says Zeidler.

Additionally, the programmatic requirements of VIP areas, a bigger cafeteria and an admin

building had to fit into the scheme.

The architects’ response was therefore to fashion an envelope that departs from the original; springing perpendicular are two extension blocks that hug the contour of the hill, each featuring an asymmetric concertina roof that folds down to frame a clear glass façade.

ABOVE.

The extension modules are poised insertions lifted off the ground, relying on the natural lay of the land to present a jewelled proposition amid native flora.

ABOVE.

The use of materials such as cement board, coloured cement and different finishes of concrete adds to a diaspora of surfaces.

Says Zeidler, “As an architect, you change, hopefully. Of course, it’s not going to be a duplication of the existing. The idea for those roofs come from the surroundings.

“You have the contours of hills, slopes, different formations. So I thought it was a nice answer to have the roofs in irregular pitches, a poetic response.”

ABOUT PRACTICALITY

While the new extension may at first glance appear playful, it is nevertheless rooted in pragmatism.

“Pitched roofs in general work better in this climate in the long term, especially with leaves and water discharge. So in our response there is always both; it’s not just pure form, it’s also about practicality,” Zeidler emphasises.

SUSANNE ZEIDLER, PARTNER, ZLG

She adds that the Onduline roofing and cladding material, a bituminous corrugate, possesses insulating properties on top of its rich dark brown aesthetic, able to reduce noise from rainfall when compared to standard metal deck roof systems.

The approach to the extension’s structure and materiality is in congruence with the original; concrete plinths are used,

SITE PLAN

BOH TEA CENTRE

LOCATION

Pahang, Malaysia /

COMPLETION

2018 /

SITE AREA

7,500m 2 /

BUILDING AREA

2,888m 2 /

GROSS FLOOR AREA

1,230m 2 /

DESIGN ARCHITECT

ZLG /

SUBMITTING ARCHITECT

Mastor Bin Surat /

DEVELOPER

BOH Plantations /

CONTRACTOR

Dimensi Contracts /

C&S CONSULTANT

Edge Consulting Engineers Malaysia /

M&E CONSULTANT

ABI Consulting Engineers /

QUANTITY SURVEYOR

CPK Associates /

SANITARYWARE

Johnson Suisse

similarly elevated off the ground, and above them steel structure set to the same height.

Steel is also maintained in the glass façade framing, a series of concatenated square modules.

Altogether, this assemblage of elements establishes a visual coherence between old and new, not just in construction but also in proportion and language.

A COLLECTIVE BELONGING

Plywood panels line the ceiling of the extension’s spaces and walkways, similarly staggered like the façades.

Says Zeidler, “Over the years, we actually did other buildings with plywood, and we became more confident with using it, since it’s not that simple to apply.

“In the old building, we used bamboo for the ceiling. In the end, both bamboo and plywood are very similar because they’re a local, non-imported, vernacular material, that is warm and has a natural look.”

The use of other materials such as cement board, coloured cement, different finishes of concrete and tile inlays adds to a diaspora of surfaces that not only enhance that sense of warmth, but also communicates

ABOVE.

Through concatenated black frames of clear glazing, the naturally-ventilated cafeteria extension offers visitors an uninterrupted view of the hills, an experience enhanced by dynamic ceiling planes and floor finishes of coloured cement and Peranakan-style tiles.

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2. With its shared kitchen facilities, the new extension’s cafe counter is a bright and functional addition with a play of inlays and patterns that lend expression and character to the interior space.

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a richness of character both inside and out.

“When you look at our work, we are always looking at materiality. And when we do projects, we like to do the whole thing; we see architecture and ID holistically,” speaks Zeidler, of their process.

Against the panorama of plantation, native flora and sky, the BOH Tea Centre’s newest extension elicits delight and joy for the astute and the masses.

Yet, through the masterful use of scale and vocabulary, it manages a contemporaneous appearance, a collective belonging to its older counterpart, that is in itself worthy of accolade.

3. Architectural and interior design touches blend to define the cosy yet refined ambience of the extension’s VIP room.

4. Plywood panels line the ceiling and walls, chosen for them being a local, non-imported, vernacular material.

PHOTOGRAPHY ROBERTO RUIZ &

ADRIÀ GOULA

THESE FOUR CAREFULLY-RESTORED PROJECTS IN THE CITY OF BARCELONA IN SPAIN NOT ONLY REPRESENT HOW APARTMENTS CAN BE SENSITIVELY UPDATED FOR 21ST CENTURY LIVING, BUT ALSO SHOW HOW VERSATILE JUNG’S SWITCHES CAN BE. PAST PRESENT DIALOGUE

PROJECT: CASA 1302 A TERRASSA ARCHITECT: HARQUITECTES

This apartment has undergone an extreme makeover. Only the outer walls and staircase bear witness to what it used to be. The rest of it has been restyled through inserting three wooden “boxes” into the ground and upper floors to segregate the spaces. An industrial charm permeates, with unplastered brickwork, exposed rafters and planks of wood in place of walls. Matching it all is the JUNG LS CUBE switch, wall-mounted so it stands out.

PROJECT: FONT 6 ARCHITECT: MARGHERITA SERBOLI ARQUITECTURA

The Catalan Art Nouveau style is transposed to presentday in this 75m 2 apartment in the Eixample quarter, a stone’s throw from the Sagrada Família. Overhead, the false ceiling was removed and the original Catalan vault exposed. Anchoring the space beneath it is an island with blue panels on the side. More colours like warm pink, coral, white and azure are found throughout, further accented by the JUNG design classic LS 990 switch in aluminium and anthracite.

PROJECT: APARTMENT IN BORN ARCHITECTS: COLOMBO AND SERBOLI (CaSA)

With 4m-high vaulted ceilings, large windows and thick brickwork, there is much to appreciate about this renovated apartment in Born, Barcelona’s oldest district. Its design style is now light and airy, made possible through colours like warm pale pink, grey and deep blue. By the kitchen, a partition doubles up as a wardrobe, its bright orange giving it a cheerful lift. Amid it all, the JUNG design classic LS 990 switch in alpine white unobtrusively blends in with the interior design.

PROJECT: TYCHE APARTMENT ARCHITECTS: COLOMBO AND SERBOLI (CaSA)

In an early-19th century building, an apartment has been carefully restored, reviving the essence of its original Art Nouveau style. The Catalan vaults in their authentic terracotta finish are revealed and fresh colours like pink, orange and green brighten the space. Subtle and functional is the JUNG design classic LS 990 switch in alpine white, its pure shape fitting in elegantly.