d+a Annual 2019 (Preview)

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DESIGN AND ARCHITECTURE / WWW.DESIGNANDARCHITECTURE.COM / / ANNUAL 2019 /

SOUTHEAST ASIA OPPORTUNITIES IN THE REGION HOW TO LEVERAGE THE REAL ESTATE BOOM

MARINA ONE SINGAPORE’S NEWEST ICON

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S I N G A P O R E

$ 8

M A L A Y S I A

R M 1 8

A PLETHORA OF ORIGINAL DESIGN IDEAS

VIETNAMESE VERNACULAR YOUNG ARCHITECTS GET INSPIRED

F E AT U R E

16

S.E.A. OF OPPORTUNITY There is no time like now for architects and designers to leverage the real estate boom in Southeast Asia.

WORDS David Ho

A

BOOM

IN

BUILDING

WORK

IN

SOUTHEAST

ASIAN COUNTRIES HAS OPENED UP A WEALTH OF OPPORTUNITIES FOR ARCHITECTS AND DESIGNERS. A recent report by the non-pro t nstitute

rban

and

says the increased competition for assets

in Asia is changing the industry in fundamental, and often unexpected, ways. ne result of this phenomenon is the migration of investors into markets and asset classes that in the past did not attract much interest, including a wider variety of real estate investments. his report clearly shows that in Asia, investors are considering a broader portfolio of markets and asset classes many in the value-add space.

his includes

affordable housing projects, student accommodation and senior housing, says f cer of

ohn

it gerald, Chief Executive

Asia aci c.

he real estate boom in

outheast Asia goes back

further than the recent asset investment developments. icholas

o,

artner at hpa

Architects Engineers

o

artners

evelopment Consultants ,

says the current real estate boom was spearheaded by ingapore and

alaysia.

Puchong Lakeside City by hpa is an exciting new township with a generous central park, grand canal connecting to the lake, and ocean club for destination water sports, entertainment and F&B.

17

F E AT U R E

18

BOTTOM UP APPROACH TO OPPORTUNITIES Architects

and

designers

say

there

are

opportunities in all those areas, but there is a need to understand design trends to gure out where their offerings t best. nce you understand their needs, you can evaluate and understand what value you can bring to a project,

o says, underlining the importance of

research into these markets. ut ultimately, it s the environment that fuels the design. We are not wiping something clean. We need to consider how one building affects another and how it ts in with the local culture. hen we, as designers, need to enable these places to have smart growth over time, Custer adds. his sentiment is in line with o s views.

We need to let go of our egos and create community spaces within our projects where the users, not us as designers, can be the curator of a space and dictate its usage as things evolve, says

o.

o do so, he recommends that designers think about placing the central core which house the stairs, elevators, lifts and other amenities to the side of their buildings.

heir relatively strong economies attracted a lot of foreign direct investment from China around 20

and 20 4. t inspired more capital

ow into

commercial projects in neighbouring countries like the C

Cambodia,

aos,

yanmar

ndonesia and the hilippines, says And for

of

course, China s

infrastructure

signature elt and

ietnam ,

o.

ambitious

construction

push

through

its

oad nitiative is also changing

the region. he Asian evelopment anks says Asia- aci c must invest

. trillion per year in infrastructure if

the region is to maintain growth momentum. arryl

Custer,

Callison

enior

ice

resident

of

the design consultancy arm of Arcadis

, sees Asia as a mixed basket. are

n

Cambodia,

a

fair

bit

yanmar of

resort

aos,

there

destinations and

seeing a rise in mixed use projects in ndonesia and urban infrastructure work in ietnam, said Custer. o, with more residential, commercial and are growing.

active and passive design strategies were used by hpa in designing the Super D Technology Centre, such as solar panels and a

and

residential opportunities coming up. We are also

infrastructure

Sustainable

projects underway, opportunities

sky garden to enhance natural ventilation and lower the building’s latent temperature.

Lotte Center Hanoi, a

19

65-story mixeduse tower designed by Callison RTKL, is located in the capital city’s embassy district and is a cultural landmark for visitors and residents.

his way, developers or building owners can freely develop the space for whatever their needs are at the moment. he joy and challenge of being an architect, is not drawling lines and making it a project. t s working within constraints and addressing technical and social projects, says

o.

t is precisely this goal to meet the people s need that is driving governments in those countries to look into ways of smart city urban planning. mart cities are not the future, it is the here and now. t is the urban planning solution to an everchanging world. Architects and designers now need to come with an open source planning approach. he hardware and software of a city needs to be upgradable, urges

o, who is working on the

ew

anila ay project, a smart city built on reclaimed land in

anila. ecause we are living in a constant ux of change,

a building needs to be

exible. n 0 or 20 years from

now, the world will look nothing like what we originally designed, he adds.

F E AT U R E

SMART SOUTHEAST ASIA

26

Weaving technology into the ever-expanding urban fabric of the region could bring a host of benefits.

WORDS Oliver Ellerton

IMAGES RSP Architects, Planners & Engineers (Pte) Ltd, Morrow, Arup, Keppel

27

SOUTHEAST ASIA IS ONE OF THE FASTEST GROWING REGIONS IN THE WORLD. AS A RESULT, IT HAS SEEN AN EXPONENTIAL INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF RURAL MIGRANTS ENTERING ITS CITIES. Within its geographical boundaries are over 230 cities each with more than 200,000 people, collectively producing two-thirds of the region’s economic growth.

By 2030, 90 million more are expected to live in cities and “middleweight” cities of between 200,000 and two million residents.

While this has been a boon for architects, developers and the wider industry, it has also brought numerous challenges – from overcrowding and congestion, to pollution and inequality – which threaten the region’s continued sustainable growth.

If these cities are to emerge as centres of wealth, opportunity and work for the people that live in them, then better, smarter solutions are needed.

Smart cities have often been touted as one answer, where metropolises brimming with gadgets and digital solutions lead to cleaner cities and easier living.

There is no doubt that technology will play a part.

According to a recent Smart cities in Southeast Asia report from the McKinsey Global Institute (MGI), smart solutions could:

• Remove up to 270,000 kilotons of greenhouse gas

emissions every year

•

Keppel Urban Solutions’ recent project

•

ave ,000 lives otherwise lost to traf c accidents, res and homicides Save up to eight million man-years in annual

commuting time.

saw them partner with Microsoft to implement

SOUTHEAST ASIA’S SMART CITY PUSH Increasingly, the region’s nations are beginning

smart city

to understand the challenges that rapid urbanisation

solutions in

poses, and the role smart cities can play in alleviating

Saigon Sports

them and driving future growth.

City, where they monitor key information, making the buildings and infrastructure smarter.

The ASEAN Smart Cities Network (ASCN) is a Singapore-led initiative established in April this year.

It seeks to bring together cities to collaborate towards aims

to

driving

smart

leverage

city

technology

development to

solve

and many

urbanisation issues, improve people’s lives and create further opportunities.

F E AT U R E

28

Neil Walmsley, Principal, Singapore Planning Leader at Arup

At the inaugural meeting in

uly this year,

ve

agreements were signed between ASCN cities, solution providers and external partners.

One of it was between Amata Smart City in Thailand’s Chonburi province and the Yokohama Urban Solution Alliance to help the former become fully selfreliant on renewable energy sources.

But even before the ASCN, other cities in the region were already moving forward with their smart city ambitions. One is Indonesia’s third largest city, Bandung.

All of the more than 70 government departments have social media accounts, and the US$2 million Bandung Command Centre was set up to monitor social media trends.

mart cities are de ned more by the application of technology and less by the availability. Being ‘smart’ is

This allows them to identify in real time issues

about harvesting the right information, drawing useful

such as traf c congestion, crime hotspots and ooding,

insights from that information in real time, and acting

and respond to them.

upon those insights” says Neil Walmsley, Principal,

Yet, a smart city is not necessarily de ned just by the technology it employs.

Singapore Planning Leader at Arup. or example, knowing about a traf c jam is useless unless citizens know how to avoid it, and the system

THE SMART USE OF SMART TECHNOLOGIES

managers know how to stop it becoming a systemic

The term “smart city” is often is often used

problem. mart traf c management is about predicting

by pundits and media personalities and is mostly

that there will be a jam and making active adjustments

associated with driverless cars, the Internet of Things

to prevent it from occurring.”

(IoT) and other technologies.

Yet, a true smart city is measured by more than just

Arup are working alongside Singapore’s Housing Development Board (HDB) and a multi-disciplinary

the number of shiny new technologies, but by the way

consortium to create the country s

they are used.

development framework for public housing.

rst smart urban

29

Arup is working alongside Singapore’s Housing Development Board to develop the first smart urban development framework for public housing.

and Big Data for smart buildings. These smart buildings will be able to respond faster to the needs of occupants,” says Cindy Lim, Managing Director, Keppel Urban Solutions.

“For instance, smart buildings may be able to assess and identify the distribution of people in a building and with this information, channel services e.g. cooling, to where it is needed most.”

“The digital masterplan for future HDB towns

Keppel Urban Solutions works with governments

aims to enhance sustainability, liveability, ef ciency

and

and safety through the use of digital technology. For

communities, from the macro level to district-level

example, sensors will be placed around HDB estates to

heating and cooling.

gather real-time data into a central repository named

private

companies

n a recent project,

to

plan

aigon

and

design

ports City, it

the Smart Hub, which will be used for the planning and

collaborated with Microsoft to monitor key information,

maintenance of estates,” adds Walmsley.

making the buildings and infrastructure smarter.

SMART BUILDINGS MAKE SMART CITIES

cloud, we are able to monitor essential services such

“Through Azure, Microsoft’s intelligent and trusted A city is a collective term for many smaller moving

as security and access control, remote monitoring

parts, including the buildings and structures that make

and control of smart infrastructure, and monitoring of

up its physical presence.

community vitals such as air quality,” adds Lim.

As such, to make a city smarter and more responsive to its citizens, start with the buildings themselves. o is a major enabler for smart cities of the future as it seeks to improve quality of life through analytics

“Keppel Urban Solutions will also launch an integrated mobile app which will deliver convenient lifestyle, transport and other value-adding services to residents and businesses in Saigon Sports City.”

F E AT U R E

30

Dr. Liu Thai Ker, Chairman, Morrow Architects & Planners

GOING BACK TO BASICS While technology will offer many solutions to urban challenges, it is also necessary to not lose sight of the main role of a city – to satisfy basic human needs.

Dr. Liu Thai Ker is known as the “architect of modern ingapore , and played an in uential role in the city’s planning during its formative years.

He recently founded his own architectural practice, Morrow Architects & Planners, where he is applying his own brand of planning theories and experience around the region.

When it comes to smart cities, Dr. Liu stresses the need to understand the past, and focus on basic human needs.

Interested in this topic?

Join d+a as it hosts its inaugural

“These have not changed. We still need housing, a job, areas for shopping, schools etc.

he challenge

forum discussion entitled

is to know how much of each do you need to satisfy,

“Sustainability in Urbanisation –

and where. You cannot talk about the future and smart

fact or fiction?” on 18 October 2018 at the Commune Flagship Store in Millennia Walk.

cities unless you solve this problem and get it right.”

Dr. Liu’s belief is that the underlying design is

THE CITY AS A WORK OF ART Yet, there is more to a smart city than technology, science and data.

“On the one hand, a city is like a machine, and as planners we know each of the machine parts, sizes,

For more information, visit

critical to a well-functioning city, and that each part,

www.designandarchitecture.com

from the precincts and individual neighbourhoods to

ut a city is not just a machine it is also a work of

the new towns and beyond, should be built according to

art, an expression of a society’s culture and aspirations.

the needs of the citizens.

I believe a key part of this expression comes through

numbers, and how they connect,” points out Dr. Liu.

31 SMART SYSTEMS WORTH ADOPTING

JUNG KNX SYSTEM From lighting to security and temperature, the JUNG KNX System is able to network all of these facets of a building (and more) together for greater control. This helps to improve the quality of living and ensures greater energy ef ciency.

For instance, if the sun is shining brightly into a room and heating it up, sensors can detect it and lower the blinds. n the event of a burglary or re in the building, the system will alert you.

There is also the option to hook-up your entertainment system to the KNX. From there, it can help you control, for example, the audio in different parts of a house. Play classical music in the living room, an audio children’s book in the nursery, and ja

in the kitchen.

The Chongqing City South Bank District masterplan is being designed

by Dr. Liu Thai Ker, who is applying many of the lessons learnt while

V-ZUG-HOME You have friends over and a chicken is roasting in the

designing

oven. When the meat is ready, V-ZUG-Home alerts you to

Singapore

it. In between, you can continue chatting with your guests

during its formative years.

and not worry about the food.

This is an app launched by Swiss household appliance manufacturer V-ZUG that allows products from the brand to be networked to it and connected to you at all times. In doing so, you can keep track of the status of their operations. These include its hobs, washing machines,

the natural environment, which must be protected – no city in the world has the same natural features.”

He refers to technology as a vitamin, able to provide a bene t and solve a particular problem, but useful only as long as the body – i.e. the city – is well designed.

At the end of the day, a city’s basic design needs to be robust enough to satisfy the key needs of its citi ens only then can the wonders of technology be applied to create a truly smart city.

tumble dryers and dishwashers.

For home chefs, the app also has numerous recipes if you need inspiration. These can be transmitted to the appliance, which will then take over the cooking – all within a few clicks. Also noteworthy is the scanner function where you hold your smartphone over the ingredients, and will be advised on how to create a dish out of them.

F E AT U R E

FLEXIBLE, FUN, FUNCTIONAL

34

Co-working spaces are redefining traditional office design and the work environment not only in Southeast Asia, but the rest of the world.

WORDS Low Shi Ping

WeWork focuses on transforming buildings and spaces into dynamic environments for creativity, focus and connection.

IN

JUNE

2018,

WEWORK

ANNOUNCED

THE

LAUNCH OF ITS SECOND AND LARGEST SPACE IN SINGAPORE AT 71 ROBINSON ROAD. This latest development comes on the back of the news of its

rst location opening in ndonesia

akarta, speci cally

that will welcome its tenants by

the third uarter of 20 . t is no coincidence that both locations are in outheast Asia. n fact, in August last year, the world s largest provider of co-working spaces revealed it is investing

00 million in the region and outh orea.

y the end of 20 , it will also have a presence in angkok,

anila and uala umpur.

f you ve missed the subtext, the implication is that the co-working scene is burgeoning in outheast Asia and the rest of the world, for that matter .

35 Spherical pendant lights make WeWork Beach Centre resemble a hipster cafe than an office environment.

one are the days of the traditional cubicle of ce spaces, says ylvia ay, esign irector of WeWork.

Companies like WeWork are

transforming

layered upon each other in a skyscraper have been uprooted. n their place: open

oor plans,

exibility

and a strong emphasis on the user experience.

open spaces that enable big companies to engage

he attractiveness of a working environment

with future talent, interact directly with customers,

is becoming an increasingly important recruiting

and build a culture that is more aligned with what the

element, says anager of

workforce of the future wants. atthew rm

hang is a principal at architecture

assell who has designed co-working spaces in

ingapore for brands like

he Working Capitol,

he

reat oom and more recently, he Work roject. e says that even traditional of ces are evolving because of co-working spaces, Every organisation is now trying to maximise returns of their workplace, such as by changing the style of working with no xed desks.

aarten

amin, the

lobal

esign

ACE , which unveiled plans to

expand with ve new co-working sites in ingapore by mid-20 .

Employers want to help create a better worklife balance.

esigners help by blurring the ne line

between creating an of ce environment that feels more like a home. his is part of a bigger trend.

here has been a

macro shift toward a new way of working and living people are focused on meaningful connections and being part of something greater than themselves,

IMPACT ON OFFICE DESIGN here are implications of this on architects and designers of of ce spaces. otions of templated layouts with sterile walls

shares ay.

And the co-working brands are cognisant of it.

C C W

operates 2

co-working spaces in

akarta and edan. ollowing a fund-raising of

20

F E AT U R E

36

The Work Project designed by Hassell places an emphasis on a more “hushed tone� with plenty of space for quiet conversations.

or example, their spaces are augmented with many pockets for breakout fun. enants can choose to work on beanbags, swings, space pods and even picnic desks.

At WeWork, it focuses on transforming buildings and spaces into dynamic environments for creativity, focus, and connection. his means common areas bustling with people and energy, of ce spaces and conference rooms with more privacy and

uiet without compromising on

the spirit of teamwork, and phone booths, breakout or tucked-in areas for total privacy. o hang, he sees the co-working projects he has worked on as being in a different pot from these bigger boys . he scene in

ingapore right now is very

competitive, which creates an interesting marketplace. he bouti ue-scale brands are trying to distinguish million earlier this year, it has plans to launch 00 locations throughout outheast Asia by 2022, including in ietnam, the hilippines, and hailand.

We want to provide spaces that can inspire our

themselves through identifying different audiences. ne way they do it is through design. e references

he Work

internally facing

roject, which is more

and concerned with how its

members to create something, to boost their creative

community interacts within itself.

ideas and minds so they can be productive, says its

public areas are important, with a more hushed tone

public relations executive ina urniawan.

and plenty of space for uiet conversations.

We always ensure all our locations have an artful

ts location in a

his means the

rade A of ce building in

E

dash of playfulness dancing across our breakout areas,

owntown means it also attracts a more sophisticated

common areas and relaxation corners, which appeal to

audience. his explains hang s choice of using classic

our community.

furniture from the early 20th century from brands such

37

COCOWORK ensures all its locations have an artful dash of playfulness dancing across its breakout areas, common areas and relaxation corners.

as Cassina and ClassiCon, retailed by pace urniture. t s nice that we can bring skills honed from hotels and

into the commercial sphere, points out hang.

will have the ability to host and launch retail and fashion-related events all within a mall setting, points out amin. lexibility is another issue.

t s great that there s more coming together of the two sectors.

he touchpoints have a higher

uality and

hang is constantly

looking for ideas and devices that can help modify

strong appeal.

the layouts of co-working spaces uickly and cheaply,

FINDING THE RIGHT BALANCE

than move.

hey want an organisation to grow with them Another challenge is around density and spatial

nderstandably, designing a co-working space is far from effortless. Among the challenges include

relationship considerations. WeWork s ay shares,

ensuring the spaces have the correct mix of form and

going beyond the mindset of purely designing of ce

function, while taking into consideration that it is

spaces, we factor in the hospitality component by

future-proof.

also

ne way this is overcome is by identifying how the tenants use the space and incorporating those lessons learnt down the road. At

ACE , it always ensures

dynamism and creativity are part of the nal product. or instance, our new location in ne af es lace

y

guring how to host the space in a very dense

environment. he company has an established set of standards for the spaces it lets, as well as the programming of each, to ensure opportunities to meet, collaborate, and delight in a healthy and inspiring environment .

F E AT U R E

40

EYES ON THEM Here are the architects and designers from Southeast Asia we want to keep firmly on our radar.

C A M B O D I A

“ARCHITECTURE ISN’T FOR THE WEAK-OF-WILL

HOK KANG

OR FAINT-OF-HEART. IT’S GRUELLING, TIRING, DOESN’T PAY, AND MORE OFTEN THAN NOT, WILL HAVE YOU PRESSED AGAINST A WALL THAT HAS OUTLASTED THE COLLAPSE OF SOVIET RUSSIA

This architect’s style has WORDS Danielle Keeton-Olsen

AND NAJIB RAZAK’S GOVERNMENT,” writes d+a’s

HOK KANG

of fortitude to cut it in this business.” And he is right.

Hok Kang Architects

Which is why it is important to recognise those who

In line with the Southeast Asia theme of this Annual, d+a turns its periscope onto the region, and identi es architects and designers from this fastdeveloping region to keep watch on. From Indonesia to

he

hilippines,

ietnam, Cambodia and even

yanmar, these individuals inject a breath of fresh air into the urban (and sometimes even rural) landscapes where their projects are located.

So, while they might not be household names yet, their commitment to their craft has already begun to garner them recognition. More importantly, they are applying philosophy, sustainability, innovation and creativity into their designs to make a positive impact

rst and most proli c project rm s

An architecture practitioner himself, Musa goes on to say, “Aspirants would need a healthy amount

who are relatively new to the game.

Cambodia after his company’s the Brown Coffee franchise. The

Malaysia-based, regular contributor Nizar Musa.

dare to tread this well-worn path, especially the ones

become recognised throughout

cafes in

hnom

enh

and Siem Reap all have a different atmosphere, from the vintage air in

hnom

enh s trendy

locations, to the open communal SOK MUYGECH BMK Architects

environment of The Brown, in front of the Raintree co-working space, which he also designed.

HUN CHANSAN

Hok’s approach to design

Re-Edge Architects

is a marriage of artistry and entrepreneurship. The starting point is always the end user, while bearing in mind the rapid development and modernisation of Cambodia. As a result, he has developed his business beyond architecture, founding real estate development rm

rbanland Asia,

aintree

and holding shares in Brown Coffee as well. Yet, design remains his passion, which he sees as an opportunity to propel Cambodia and its young, motivated population into the same strata as Southeast Asia’s other cities.

on the built environment.

Hok Kang’s style is best captured in the Brown Coffee stores, where the chic and comfortable ambience attracts consistent crowds.

Hun Chansan aims to transform commercial buildings, including Chip Mong Group’s office and the Lumiere Hotel, into energy-efficient structures with edgy design.

SOK MUYGECH The are

so

when

structure

of

standardised architect

radical change.

Sok

Cambodian that

most

Muygech

ut the partner at

architecture and interior design firm

shophouses clients

balk

suggests hnom

a

enh s

Architects

says the design and science behind her renovations

HUN CHANSAN

gain clients’ trust. She often suggests moving a

Hun

Chansan

practices

staircase, breaking down a wall or removing a floor

architecture with an intention

to add more space in a narrow shophouse. Her clients

to

generally concede once they see her sketches. She has

urban

also transformed simple, boxy hotels, like the Hi Land

Edge Architecture, has grown

otel in hnom enh, to a green lung just by breaking apart the existing walls and balcony.

in

contribute growth.

towards is

prominence

good

rm,

and

e-

project

scope since he opened it in

Even though most of her clients seek open spaces

hnom

enh

in

20 .

he

and fresh air in their daily lives, they are not always

sharp-corners and open-spaces

comfortable breaking out of the traditional four by

characteristics

of

Re-Edge’s

m2 shophouse. Given how much time people spend

designs are increasingly popping

at home, Sok aspires to show her clients that they

up throughout the Cambodian

can create a better lifestyle for themselves if they are

capital, gracing modern, elegant

willing to rearrange their habitats.

villas, to the distinct Lumiere otel jutting up from the ak

ang

oeng

neighborhood.

Its unique style also attracts boundary-pushing clients such as the Noro Mall, which prioritises open spaces and will accept mobile payments only.

Hun is a proponent of innovation in the area of energy ef ciency. When he has a moment to spare, he reaches for his sketchbook to think of ways to improve the design of his ongoing projects.

e also uses it to

draw out his thoughts and ideas on how to create more new architectural concepts for Cambodia.

Breaking down the traditional shophouse structure allowed Sok Muygech to transform the boxy Hi Land Hotel into a breathable space.

41

F E AT U R E

T H E 42

P H I L I P P I N E S

JASON BUENSALIDO The

principal

architect

and

chief

design

ambassador of Buensalido Architects, Jason Buensalido aims to contemporise the local design scene while using elements that remain true to Filipino culture. His design principle aims to be authentic, with an aversion for a contrived, built environment. Architecture, he believes, should be shaped by the context in which it exists, and in uenced by the past, present, tradition, technology, the place, and its people. He also believes that projects should be altruistic

it should put people

rst and uplift the members of the community.

WORDS

Buensalido’s guiding principle has served him

Mercedes

well, as his rm has managed to snag some signi cant

Romero

accomplishments, from the

ohler

such old

as

multiple

nominations

esign Awards, where it won

the Culture Category award for its ongoing project for JASON BUENSALIDO Buensalido Architects

A

Entertainment, a movie and television producer.

He and his team also won the Metrobank Arts and Design Excellence award for commercial category for The Terraces at Dao, the headquarters of a lighting

SONNY SUNGA

equipment rental company.

SONNY SUNGA AND ARNOLD AUSTRIA Sonny Sunga and Arnold Austria are founding partners of Jagnus Design Studio, which has earned a solid reputation for designing spaces with a modernist take, since they established their it was their 20

rm in 20 0. Yet,

commendation from the

on the seminal Ronac Art Center that cemented their status as two of

he

hilippines brightest talents

in architecture.

College classmates turned best friends, Sunga and Austria’s aesthetic sensibilities are inspired by the works of masters such as Tadao Ando, Richard Meier and teven

oll, as well as other elds such as music,

art and fashion. These inspirations will be showcased in their new projects: an adult co-living space, an expansive headquarters for a distribution company, a few posh residences and a hub for start-ups.

AND ARNOLD AUSTRIA

ational

Commission for Culture and the Arts for their work

eeping

in mind their aspirations of improving people’s lives

Jagnus Design Studio

and

he

hilippines built environment,

unga and

Austria plan to infuse the local architecture scene with

BUCK RICHNOLD SIA

new ideas and perspectives for years to come.

Zubu Design Associates

The soon-to-becompleted APT Studios in Cainta, Rizal, which will be home to the longest running noontime show in

The award-

The Philippines,

winning Ronac

Eat Bulaga (left);

Art Center

Sofia Townhomes in Taguig, developed by DMCI Homes (top).

in San Juan, Metro Manila.

Mya Myitzu is driven by an innate

M Y A N M A R

curiosity of why something is done the way it is.

BUCK RICHNOLD SIA The

founder

of

Cebu-based

Zubu

Design

Associates, Buck Richnold Sia follows a modernist

WORDS

principle when it comes to design, after having been

Low Shi Ping

mentored by leading architects such as Alex Medalla, Eduardo Calma, and oey Yupangco. Each project that Zubu (named after the pre-colonial name of Cebu) undertakes

features

progressive

and

innovative

design solutions, such as one of ia s favorite projects: an Iligan City house that was modeled after the look of a line graph to maximise space.

While he admits that he does not have an artistic background, Sia approaches his work with a direction that dictates the structure’s geometry. This he combines with what he calls “essence”, or the structure’s purpose. These two elements will be in play at the soon-to-launch ardens at the

anning

hilippine

ardens Expo 20

avilion and in China,

a co-project with C Asia andscape Architects. he pavilion promises to showcase the geology of Davao, the hometown of hilippine president odrigo uterte.

MYA MYITZU M.ID

MYA MYITZU Mya Myitzu is a Myanmarese interior design who comes highly recommended by prominent property developer Yoma Land – no surprise considering she was handpicked to design the

eninsula

esidences

Yangon Sales Gallery housed in a heritage villa.

Founder and Creative Director of M.ID, she says she is driven by an innate curiosity of why something is done the way it is.

Myitzu describes her style as one which introduces traditional design elements in a contemporary way, “I am very much enthralled by motifs and prints and various possibilities for our culture not yet introduced in a modern setting to the world.

ehind every project

she does is a philosophy centred on inspiration. It could be “an homage, or an ode to something – a color, an era, sometimes even someone’s style”, but it should never be forced.

Interior and exterior of Buck Sia’s Line Graph house in Iligan, which maximised space through its innovative design.

43

COUNTRY FOCUS

BREAKING NEW GROUND Marina One is a high-density, high-rise icon that forms the core of Singapore’s new central business district. All signs point to it being a role model for other cities.

54

S I N G

WORDS Low Shi Ping

A

THE BEST WAY TO APPRECIATE MARINA ONE IS BY

P

HOVERING IN A HELICOPTER ABOVE THE TOP OF

O R E

PHOTOGRAPHY ingenhoven architects & HGEsch

THE PROJECT. The aerial view will reveal a 37,000m2 garden nestled in between the four towers and two for residences development by

.

he latter is jointly owned by investment fund

two for of ces

that make up this mixed-use

ha anah

alaysia s strategic

asional and

state-owned investment company emasek Aptly named core is

reen

lled with

ingapore s oldings.

eart , the lush, heart-shaped

0,000 plants and rimmed by

organically-shaped, multi-tiered terraces . nfortunately, admiring it from a helicopter is almost impossible so the next best alternative is to enjoy this clearly green building at ground level.

Accessible to the public, the reen a garden in the middle of

arina

eart is not just

ne, but an integral

component of the focal point of ingapore s new central business district C

.

We recommended a project with a very strong centre that can still be a centre in 20 years when everywhere around it and beyond is built up, says Christoph ngenhoven, founder of his eponymous practice that is one of the pioneers of sustainable architecture, and esign Architect of

arina ne.

Marina One comprises a 37,000m2 garden nestled in between four towers – two for offices and two for residences.

55

S I N G A P O R E

COUNTRY FOCUS

56

S I N G A P O R E

hat s how we came up with the idea of building a sort of conglomerate of four buildings.

hey are

naturally related to one another, both architecturally and materially, and generate a very strong gure, formally as well, around a common centre, the reen

eart.

tand along

arina tation

oad and what is also

visible is the pair of residential towers that stand before the of ce blocks, rising

m tall.

Combined, they contain

,042 units of city

residences, offering one to four-bedroom con gurations and penthouses. hese are complemented by facilities

A CITY UNTO ITSELF

such as a

he two of ce towers both rise some 200m up.

Collectively, .

they

make

available

approximately

million ft2 of net lettable area of prime,

of ce space in the heart of the new C

rade A

he lobby itself is a triple-height volume space that

Currents, a series of suspended and hyperbolic

wave-like sculptures inspired by organisms in nature, n levels 2 and 2 are Asia s largest prime,

a-half

rade

oor plates of approximately 00,000ft2 each.

panning

0m from one end to the other, or three-and-

lympic-si ed swimming pools placed length-

wise , it can t up to 2,000 people. ut there is no fear of feeling overcrowded as the oor-to-ceiling height on these two high-density oors measure . m.

boxes

that delineate the

the impression of pigeonholes randomly slotted into the building. he show designer

ats are designed by prominent local

abriel

an,Â

multidisciplinary

design

rm arm and akenouchi Webb, expertly bringing out

created by multi-disciplinary artist race an.

A of ce

heir fa ade has an angular geometric design, marked by rectangular

balconies and protrude from the glass windows, giving

.

impresses with its sheer scale. urther accentuating it is

lanes

0m lap pool, private dining room and

teppanyaki terrace.

the spacious layouts. nside each unit, uality ttings by oggenpohl,

iele and illeroy

n a podium tucked around the

och can be found. reen

eart, and

on the second basement oor is the retail component of arina ne, occupying 40,000ft2 of space. rom a

tness club, to a supermarket, food court

and restaurants, the tenant mix is varied and caters to a cosmopolitan audience.

SECTIONAL PERSPECTIVE

57

S I N G A P O R E

RESIDENTIAL ELEVATION

OFFICE ELEVATION

COUNTRY FOCUS

58

S I N G A P O R E

The lush, heartshaped core is filled with 160,000 plants and rimmed by organicallyshaped, multitiered “terraces�.

59

S I N G A P O R E

BEFRIENDING THE ENVIRONMENT When we were awarded a project of this magnitude

possible.

his has a tremendous effect on the energy

in ingapore, it s only natural to see it as a model, as an

and resource balance. t s also important to think about

opportunity, even as an experiment from which other

how to incorporate as much mixed use as possible into

projects can learn, says ngenhoven.

building, explains ngenhoven.

And there is indeed much that can be borrowed from this project CA reen

after all, it is

EE

latinum and

ark latinum certi ed.

project. n fact, drive past

Apart from the reen eart, other environmentallyfriendly

features

include

an

optimised

building

orientation and fa ade to reduce heat gain and glare on the of ce oor plates by 20 percent. catch the tropical bree e to maximise the natural air reen

eart, as well as

between the towers. n doing so, he ensured that all the residential units are naturally ventilated. ome 2

percent of the site area were replaced

with green spaces

ve times more than re uired by

the local authorities. ome

percent of the oor area

were also replaced with dedicated public spaces. or this project, green building means thinking about how you can build as massively and densely as

ling

arina

ne along Central

oulevard and it looks just like any other cluster of buildings in the C

.

t is only when you walk into the project, or y over it in a helicopter or as a bird would

ngenhoven also studied very carefully how to convection both within the

or all that talk about green, however, it is pu

that precious little of it is visible from outside the

is almost impossible

the latter of which

that the reen

eart is visible.

Additionally, the dark colour palette of navy blue, brown and grey that tends to absorb heat, seems at odds with the hot and sunny tropical weather of ingapore. till, considering the number of ways the project has broken new ground and the bene ts it boasts, more than make up for these shortfalls. ays ngenhoven, Architecture should always be exciting and beautiful and emotional and inspiring, but it should also contribute to addressing uestions about future and survival.

COUNTRY FOCUS

BEND IT LIKE BAMBOO Once regarded as “poor man’s timber”, this material has been gaining popularity in recent years in building projects around Indonesia.

WORDS Praise Poh

WITH A GROWTH CYCLE AVERAGE OF THREE TO PHOTOGRAPHY

74

Rio Helmi (Sharma Springs), EFF Studio and Arte Architects & Associates,

I N D O N E S

IBUKU

FOUR

YEARS

SEQUESTRATION

AND

HAVING

CAPACITY,

CARBON

BAMBOO

—

TECHNICALLY A GRASS AND NOT WOOD — IS

ONE

OF

THE

MOST

ENVIRONMENTALLY

CONSCIENTIOUS BUILDING MATERIALS. Appropriately managed, bamboo plantations can remain productive for more than 0 years. hanks to its tensile strength and exibility, it is also highly resistant to strong winds and earth uakes, making it an ideal building material in earth uake-prone ndonesia. here are over ,400 species of bamboo identi ed globally, and ndonesia alone has more than 40 known

I

species, of which at least a do en is being commonly

A

used in construction. ecognising its green credentials and versatility, ambu estari oundation, together with the of Environment and

inistry

orestry, are partnering

to

cultivate bamboo in ,000 villages across ndonesia as part the country s efforts to combat climate change,

he akarta ost reported.

Designed by IBUKU as a jungle fantasy escape, Sharma Springs, a six-storey, fourbedroom, 750m2 villa overlooking the Ayung River Valley in Green Village Ubud, Bali, was built almost entirely out of bamboo.

75

I N D O N E S I A

COUNTRY FOCUS

A HOST OF BENEFITS An emblem of sustainable construction,

ali has

witnessed the birth of numerous bamboo projects. , an rm based in

ndonesian design and architectural ali, is a strong advocate and pioneer in

bamboo construction. ts

rst project,

reen

chool, was started with a

simple vision: o create a natural, holistic, student-centred learning environment that empowers and inspires students to be creative, innovative, green leaders.

As such, bamboo became the most logical choice of material for them due to its eco-friendly properties, strength and beauty. n a world of retro tting or re-designing traditional items and materials to be slightly less bad , we decided to wipe the slate clean and start fresh.

76

people living in that space connect to nature, which then enhances uality of life, Elora creative director of he

I N D

haring E

reen

illage in

s love and passion for bamboo are

tudio and Arte Architect rom his rst project

in

I A

reen chool is a part of the

bamboo villa overlooking the Ayung iver.

E S

ardy, founder and

, explains.

bud, which also contains harma prings, a six-storey

O N

ot only is

bamboo good for the environment, it also helps the

bud,

Associates.

amboe

oening

ali in 20 2, to the recent ubu

andapa, a

it -Carlton

estaurant

estaurant at

eserve, and other upcoming

public and hospitality projects, E

tudio s founder

Effan Adhiwira is no stranger to bamboo. e recalls that he started using bamboo because it is

exible, bendable, and lightweight , allowing him the

possibility to create various shapes and designs. owever, as he began to study the material, he grew to appreciate it better for its sustainability and other eco-friendly properties. ivelements

uri Ahimsa

ealing Centre in

ali, was one of the early projects that founder of Arte Architect with bamboo.

bud,

etut Arthana,

Associates, has undertaken

Giant wicker basket-shaped bamboo structures were built around Sharma

77

Springs to effectively create a space within a

I

space, while

N

providing

D

visual points

O

of interest.

N E S I A

We started the project in 200 and were trying to create a green development as part of our responsibility to ali s natural environment. We looked for alternative The entire bamboo structure of Sharma

materials and considered bamboo and thatch roof, which at that time were not yet commonly used as part of the architectural design, he shares.

Springs was

iven its uni ue characteristics, bamboo allows the

handcrafted

architects to create endless possibilities for building

by skilled craftsmen, which

exciting shapes and forms. epending on how you use it, bamboo can also

involved them

add a touch of softness to the overall design despite its

handweaving

hardy structure.

the walls on-site and whittling pins to attach

del ango Architect

illa Estate, another project of Arte

Associates is one such example.

After developing the project with a lot of concrete

splits of

and

bamboo skin

which did not represent ali at all, says Arthana.

onto the floor one at a time.

at roof, the design came out as stiff and hard he developer then invited me to design the lobby

and restaurant in order to soften the overall design and to create and accent an element of surprise as guests enter the property.

We came up with the idea of using bamboo, considering its soft characteristic, which works contrary to the stiffness of concrete and can be shaped to create an interesting form.

COUNTRY FOCUS

78

I N D O N E S I A

A “RAINCOAT� FOR BAMBOO hough bamboo is highly versatile and full of merits, it is not without its limitations.

ome of its

major concerns are termites, sunlight and rain.

the glucose inside the bamboo, rendering it indigestible to insects.

While a simple treatment can easily solve the

ntreated bamboo in direct contact with moist

issue of termites, protecting it from sunlight and rain

ground or rain may break down completely in less than

becomes an interesting challenge that the architects

a year, or be eaten to dust by termites.

are eager to explore with clever designs.

owever, new treatment methods available today have successfully lengthened its life expectancy. or instance,

uses a boron solution

a naturally occurring salt solution that suppresses

here are actually a lot of things that we can do design-wise to protect the bamboo from direct sunlight, rain or water, Arthana offers. or example, when we create a bamboo structure

79

I N D O N E S Supported by three giant bamboo towers with roofs shaped in the form of three nautili spiraling into one another, this is the work space for the Green School’s administration team, as well as high school.

and the design involves exposing some part of the structure not covered under the roof shade , we can

last longer amidst the rain condition. ikewise,

ardy and her team relies on dramatic

use another material such as metal pipes to replace

overhanging roofs and tilting structural columns to

the particular part, and then create a joining between

protect their bamboo villas from prolonged sun and

the pipes and bamboo, so that it would visually blend in

rain exposure.

with the whole bamboo structure.

he adds,

o prevent moisture, our structural

Another example is when the bamboo structure is

beams are secured by steel and concrete to large river

placed in an area that has a lot of heavy diagonal rain,

rock stones. hese are in turn secured within the earth s

we can cover the bamboo structure with layers of

foundation by steel rods reaching down several meters,

at

bamboo strips, so that the main bamboo structural can

as determined by our team of structural engineers.

I A

COUNTRY FOCUS

BOREY BOOM The cookie-cutter housing developments on Phnom Penh’s outskirts are growing in number and offerings – as is their popularity.

WORDS Danielle Keeton-Olsen

WHEN

DEVELOPER

ORKIDE

PUT

ITS

FIRST

DEVELOPMENT, THE GRAND, ON THE MARKET IN NOVEMBER 2013, IT QUICKLY REALISED IT HAD STARTED A TREND. All 220 matching villas in the borey, or gated community, in the outskirts of Phnom Penh sold out within three months.

The growth has not slowed since then, and it does not expect popularity to cool soon either – so says Tony Yu, the company s marketing manager, at rkide s ashy E -striped sales of ce in central hnom enh.

“Whenever [Cambodian] people want to buy a house, the rst thing they buy is a house in a borey,” Yu said.

Orkide and the other borey developers have seen enough growth to launch increasingly grand new projects throughout Phnom Penh’s outskirts, brought C A M

on by a widening market of middle and upper-class Cambodians who seek quality housing set among green spaces and wide sidewalks.

B O D

INSPIRED BY TRADITION orey

eng

uoth, one of the

rst to enter the

I

market, began investing in developments in 2005 that

A

featured rows of identical, newly-constructed houses behind gates, says senior corporate affairs manager Chan Ratha.

110

“During the civil war, many luxury villas and houses were either destroyed or abandoned,” Chan says. “The company understood the trend and decided to invest in borey to meet the demand in the market and contribute to developing a beautiful city.”

Some of the earliest borey developments were modelled after the traditional Cambodian shophouses, consisting of tidy rows of connecting three-story buildings with an open ground

oor for families to

operate a restaurant or corner store.

The clean, new constructions and safety-behind-agate model attracted a growing number of families.

As the market expanded, developments started to incorporate different styles of homes, including townhouses and even condominiums, symmetrically incorporated throughout the massive plots.

After early success in its first borey, Cambodian developer Orkide started construction on its second gated community, The Royal, in Phnom Penh’s Teuk Thla comm ne.

C A M B O D I A

111

COUNTRY FOCUS

As more borey come online in the Cambodian capital, developer Borey Peng Huoth integrated Euro Park, a shopping and entertainment center inspired by major European cities, into its luxury development on Phnom Penh’s o tskirts.

The prominent developers — Orkide, Peng Huoth and Borey Piphup Thmey — are behind multiple properties to the north, west and south of Phnom Penh, each with proposed projects underway.

The trend is also inspired by gated communities throughout Southeast Asia, but most other markets lack the enthusiasm of Cambodian consumers.

When he consults borey developers on their upcoming projects, R Property Investment director Teng Rithy studies regional designs and trends to anticipate new ideas for the Cambodian market.

He believes the Thai-style gated communities best t Cambodia s trends,

tell investors they should

consider Thailand [for inspiration], because they follow infrastructure from the US and follow design from Europe, so these two things will make you successful.”

C A M B O D I A

Borey Peng Huoth designed its Villa King A housing unit to feature modern and European inspired style, but with six bedrooms and a spacious

112

interior to

DARING TO BE DIFFERENT As the demand for borey ramps up, developers are attempting to hone unique identities of their projects, even if individual house designs seem nearly indistinguishable.

Many of the borey include stores, shopping malls and international schools within their grounds. And the latest projects in the market have grown more ostentatious in their themes.

house extended

Orkide’s seven-phase Botanic City will feature

family

a massive botanical garden and green spaces, while

members, as preferred by Khmer families.

Peng Huoth is attempting to recreate old world European luxury with replicas of Big Ben and the Eiffel Tower along a canal within its budding Star Platinum Polaris borey.

Teng says he has pushed the developers he consults for like Borey The Mekong Royal to hire Thai architecture rm A even.

Other companies such as Borey Peng Huoth keep architect and Greek national Nikolaos Valatsos on staff as design director.

Some developers have been hesitant to budget for architects, but Teng believes more are starting to see the value they add to the design and architecture.

Orkide’s Botanic City in Phnom Penh’s Chroy Changvar neighborhood will be the developer’s most ostentatious project yet, featuring more than four hectares of green space.

A NEW TYPE OF COMMUNITY

OPPORTUNITIES IN THE OUTSKIRTS

The good news is the borey market

ourishes

Borey

on

Phnom

Penh’s

outskirts

are

still

despite Phnom Penh’s condominium boom, which

gaining traction, but both developers and real estate

is driven by foreign investors but has attracted few

professionals see potential for this typology throughout

Cambodian consumers.

the rest of Cambodia.

C

Tom O’Sullivan, director of real estate portal

Apart from selected investments in smaller

Realestate.com.kh, says the foreign land ownership

cities like Sihanoukville and Siem Reap, there are few

restrictions are keeping the landed borey market

new constructions in Cambodia’s provinces, partially

B

exclusively to the growing Cambodian middle class.

due to cost.

O

A M

“I think for now, protecting the Cambodians to allow

Teng says the demand for quality housing is

them to buy houses at affordable prices is de nitely the

starting to grow in these less populous markets, but

I

right thing to do,” he says.

developers will need to balance cost in order to make

A

The demand for borey among Cambodian buyers

projects accessible.

is so strong that many sales of ces pay little or no

Though Orkide and Peng Huoth build their

commission to referring realtors, and word of mouth is

reputation through luxury villas and mansions, the

the strongest marketing tool, O’Sullivan notes.

developers also incorporate more affordable options

Interestingly, borey popularity seems to extend

into their grand designs.

Peng Huoth offers smaller condo units within their

beyond the prestige of land ownership.

The Royal Condominium, the six-tower complex within Orkide’s The Royal borey, already gained deposits

gated communities for US$35,000, while Orkide offers landed properties starting at US$50,000.

for more than half its units before its completion in 2020.

Middle income families are increasingly seeking

About 90 percent of the prospective condominium

homes that include community spaces where they can

owners are Cambodian, even though the local market

raise their kids, so they are turning toward borey, Yu says.

To O’Sullivan, borey are a strong development

strongly prefers landed properties.

Yu

suspects

Orkide

was

able

to

overcome

in the real estate market, not only for the voracious

Cambodians’ condominium scepticism because of the

demand but because of the communal and inclusive

brand’s reputation for building a neighbourhood with a

aspects in their design.

community.

“We never really market the housing itself,” he says.

“What we try to sell is the lifestyle.”

D

“Having different levels of society in terms of wealth living in the same area is part of building a community,” he says.

113

COUNTRY FOCUS

LIKE FATHER, LIKE SON Brunei’s pioneer architect Dato AR H Idris BH Abas shares his insights on how the country’s scene has grown and evolved. Picking up the baton from him is his scion AR Zul Amali DP H Idris.

WORDS Low Shi Ping

DATO AR H IDRIS BH ABAS B R U N E I

122

How do you think the architecture scene in Brunei has evolved since you started Arkitek Idris in 1985?

International Convention Centre and the University runei

arussalam, exempli es the architecture

Our country gained independence in 1984 and

of the period with pitched roofs, large assembly

it was celebrated in grandeur. At that time, I worked

areas, segregation of areas for male and female

as a government architect. Correspondingly, the

use, open spaces and even facades characterised

architecture scene re ected the nation s pride and

by traditional Malay motifs. Our architectural style

vernacular architectural style, which was based on

combines tradition with modern technology. Our

local needs, inspired by local culture and tradition and

concept remains “vernacular”, insofar as designing for

climatic conditions. The national philosophy of Melayu

local needs and climate conditions but adopting the

Islam Beraja (Malay Islamic Monarchy, MIB) has also

latest technology.

characterised the country s architecture style.

Arkitek

dris

earlier

projects,

namely

Eventually, the exposure of Brunei to the the

international scene, and the in ux of overseas foreign

The curvaceous form of the UBD Nursing College Tower Block (right); light falls in between the pillars of the walkway in the college, creating a chiaroscuro on the floor.

workers hired to compensate

industrial and commercial. I am proudest of the trust

the lack of manpower for the

given to me by each of my clients, especially the

country s

for

government of His Majesty, for the opportunity to

infrastructure, and progress in

contribute our services to the country s development,

all aspects of the economy, has

for projects like the Women & Child Centre at RIPAS

in uenced

Hospital, Faculty of Health Science at the University

sudden

the

need

architecture

Brunei

style until now.

Recent

trends

in

technology, advancement in

Darussalam,

Ministry

of

Industry

and

Primary Resources (MIPR) building and even the Ash-Shaliheen Mosque, to name a few.

the construction methods, and

Other private projects are like the Wisma Taha

development of new products/

Building, International Bank of Brunei HQ, and

materials has opened new

monuments like Billionth Barrel in Seria and the Sultan

venues in design, inspiring

Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Silver Jubilee Park at the capital

new forms especially in roof

Bandar Seri Begawan.

Another achievement for Arkitek Idris was being

structures and facades. These characterise the difference in Brunei architecture

the

in 2018. But nonetheless, culture and tradition have

a certi cate of approval of

always been preserved and adopted. As I previously

and pioneering computer-aided design and drafting

noted, “vernacular” meeting of the local needs, but

in Brunei.

incorporating the latest trends in technology. It is still

rst local architectural consultant to be awarded 00

in April

Modesty aside, I would say that the awards and recognitions bestowed to Arkitek Idris and myself are

“Bruneian at heart”.

Also, the emphasis on green building design

proud moments. To name a few: Finalist, 1996 Royal

built

Australian Institute of Architect (RAIA) International

environment has gained popularity in the country. As

Architect Award; Finalist in Aga Khan Award 2001;

President of the Green Building Council of Brunei, I

Asia aci c Entrepreneur of the Year 200 Award

have taken every opportunity to promote and educate

National Award 2012.

towards

energy

saving

and

a

sustainable

E

the public in green building design.

B R U N E I

How do you think these achievements helped shaped What are your proudest achievements when it

the architecture scene in Brunei?

I believe we have contributed to improving the

comes to Arkitek Idris?

Arkitek Idris has been involved in government

skyline of the capital Bandar Seri Begawan. I recall that

education,

in the late 1980s when we started, we set the trend in

housing, religious buildings, sports and recreation,

using tiles on façade design. Our residential designs,

projects

including

public

buildings,

123

COUNTRY FOCUS

The distinctive architecture of the Women & Children’s Block at RIPAS Hospital has made it an icon within its neighbourhood.

with their prominent pillars/columns at the front porch,

What hopes and dreams do you place in your son

also started a trend.

for Brunei’s architecture scene?

Aside from this, we strove to provide better public

Aside from the continuity of the practice, I hope

facilities including those for education, religious,

he can expand and grow Arkitek Idris to become a

sports and recreation, which are convenient and easily

practice within the ASEAN region, and be given the

accessible to the public. Most of the buildings Arkitek

opportunity to work together on prestigious projects.

Idris has designed are strategically located. making

We are halfway there since my son and I are currently

them landmarks in these areas, like the Women &

both recognised members of ASEAN Architects (AA).

Children s

lock at

A

ospital,

niversity

runei

Darussalam, Ash-Shaliheen Mosque and the Royal

What will you like to say to inspire the next

Brunei Police Headquarters.

generation of architects in Brunei?

The BSP Billionth Barrel Monument for Brunei Shell

For those students who are going through the

and the Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Silver Jubilee

course of architecture, especially those studying

onument are Arkitek dris contributions to

abroad, learn and educate yourself. The knowledge

mark the milestone of signi cant events in the country.

and techniques from your studies abroad will equip

ark and

you to face the challenges as you start your career.

B R U N E I

124

But as you practice, remember you are Bruneians,

How do you feel about your son becoming an architect too?

you have your own culture and tradition that you

m proud to have a son follow in my footsteps and

must consider in your designs; the MIB concept

take up the challenge of being an architect. I can be

should not be forgotten. Keep your identity but learn

sure that the practice I started will continue under my

also to utilise modern technology to improve the

son s guidance. he legacy continues.

comfort level in your design. Continue to educate

I was given the opportunity to contribute to the

yourself; do not stop learning and keeping abreast

country s professional development as the former

of the new trends in construction methods and

President of PUJA (Institute of Bruneian Architects,

products/materials.

University Technology Brunei (UTB) started

Surveyors and Engineers). I am glad to see my son is currently the Chairman for the Architect Division of

the

PUJA today.

opportunity for further studies locally.

rst architecture degree this year.

his is an

The AshShaliheen Mosque is designed in the Moorish Andalusia style and is the first mosque to have a retractable roof (right); mosaic tiles line the arches, reflecting the colour of the carpet in the same hue (bottom).

AR ZUL AMALI DP H IDRIS

Why did you decide to follow in your father’s footsteps? was exposed to my father s work at an early age, and thought it was very cool to see how things were made. I learned that there was much more to architecture than just buildings when my dad designed several monuments such as the Brunei Shell BSP Billionth Barrel Monument, and was involved with master planning work for Brunei. I have always been creative and my strengths are in lateral thinking to

to

runei s architecture scene further bolster the

rm s

uality of design and good standing in the

architecture eld.

solve problems, so I sort of fell in step to becoming an In following in his footsteps, the baton is being

architect too.

pass on to you. How do you read the architecture How do you feel about the architecture industry that your father was pivotal in building?

I feel immensely proud as Dad was a pioneer not

scene in Brunei right now?

There is still a lot of growth potential in Brunei. m proud to say in runei, the level of professionalism

only in local architecture, but a champion for private

is high within the A EA

business owners in those early days. The portfolio of

evolved over the years, Arkitek Idris has constantly

work that I have as Senior Architect and Project Lead,

adapted the latest best practices and even headed

such as the

ational ospital Women Children s

the formation of the Brunei Green Building Council.

block and UBD Health Science Faculty Buildings, was

While our roots in vernacular architecture and

A

region. As the of ce has

due in part to the practice s good reputation built prior

are strong, outside in uences can sometimes

to my joining Arkitek Idris in 2007. My contributions

mean younger architects lose that balance between innovation and place-making.

How can it be improved?

I hope to establish and mainstream areas such as green building, vernacular architecture and MIB, and have more social and impactful spaces which give back to the public. These already exist but need to be reinforced. My being involved in the architecture curriculum committees at UTB and part of PUJA enables us to give voice to help steer the local scene.

Where do the opportunities in the architecture scene in Brunei lie?

Brunei

still

requires

more

public

domain

projects, so buildings and public spaces which

B R U N E I

strengthen social and cultural identity are de nitely an ongoing need. Economic development is always on the nation s agenda and hence, will always re uire architects from strategic planning to implementation.

Additionally, good quality housing is a never-ending requirement for the growing population.

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