Interview with Ar. Steven

THEORIES OF ARCHITECTURE AND URBANISM [ARC 61303]

GROUP MEMBERS: Teh Tsu Tsen 1103P12147 Tiow Tze Jinn 1101P13103 Alice Wong Kie King 0309221

Tutor: Ms. Ida

Bio data Personal Profile Name

: Ngu Ngie Woon, Steven

Year of Birth

: 1980

Age

: 34

Family members

: 3 elder sisters and 1 younger brother

Origin

: Sitiawan, Perak

Hobby/Interest

: Photography, Gardening and Music

Graduated from

: University of Malaya, 2006

Company

: Garis Architect Sdn. Bhd. (Since graduate)

Favourite architects : Kengo Kuma & Peter Zumthor Philosophy in life

: Being decisive and passionate about what you are doing

List of Projects RESIDENTIAL 1.

391 units of Equine Heights Condominium, Taman Equine Schematic Design, Design Development, Contract Documentation

2.

Show Unit of Equine Heights Condominium, Taman Equine Schematic Design, Design Development, Contract Documentation & Management

3.

Residential Development of Blooming Hill @ Taman Equine Schematic Design

4.

126 units Cluster Housing Development @ Block 2, Cyberjaya Schematic Design, Design Development, Contract Documentation & Management

5.

136 units Cluster Housing Development @ Block 3, Cyberjaya Schematic Design, Design Development, Contract Documentation & Management

6.

Residential Development for Parcel C, D1, D2, G1&G2 of timur@enstek Schematic Design

7.

Proposed 2-storey Villa @ Janda Baik Schematic Design

8.

56 Units Semi-D, Type Palmea, Phase 2B2, Glenmarie Cove, Klang Contract Documentation & Management

9.

36 Units Semi-D Phase 2A1, Type Rosea, Glenmarie Cove, Klang Contract documentation & administration

10.

297 Units waterfront pier apartments The Light Collection II, Penang Contract Documentation & Management

11.

526 Units Terrace Housing Development @ Phase 1, Bandar Rimbayu Schematic Design, Design Development, Contract Documentation & Management

12.

328 Units of Acardia Courtyard Apartments @ Phase B, Arcadia Nilai Schematic Design, Design Development

13.

136 Units of Arcadia Townhouse Development @ Phase B, Arcadia Nilai Schematic Design, Design Development

Figure 1.0 Symphony Hills Residence, Cyberjaya

Figure 2.0 Symphony Hills Residence, Cyberjaya

Figure 3.0 The Light Collection II, Penang

Figure 4.0 Bandar Rimbayu 2-storeys terrace house

INSTITUTION 1.

Proposed Media Prima Studio and Office for TV3 at U16, Shah Alam.

Schematic Design

2.

Proposed Institution / College of Ministry of National Defence (PUSPAHANAS) at Precinct 1, Putrajaya.

Schematic Design, Design Development, Contract Documentation & Management

3.

Proposed Village Club Development @ Cyberjaya Schematic Design, Design Development, Contract Documentation & Management

4.

Proposed Club Village Development @ Bandar Rimbayu, Kuala Langat Schematic Design, Design Development, Contract Documentation & Management

5.

Proposed Convention Center & Transport Terminal @ Puteri Harbour, Johor Schematic Design, Design Development

Figure 5.0 Bandar Rimbayu Club Village

Figure 6.0 Bandar Rimbayu Club Village

COMMERCIAL 1.

IT Park & Mall Project in Hyderabad Design Proposal

2.

Mix-Used Development of 24Ac Land @ Section 12, Petaling Jaya Schematic Design, Presentation

3.

Mix-Used Development of Parcel Commercial South & Private Marina @ Puteri Harbour, Johor Schematic Design

4.

227 Units Boutique Suites of D’Wharf Waterfront Apartment & Retail @ Port Dickson Waterfront, Seremban Schematic Design, Design Development, Contract Documentation & Management

5.

666 Units SOHO & Retail Development @ Symphony Hills, Cyberjaya Schematic Design, Design Development

Figure 7.0 Symphony Hills, Cyberjaya

Figure 8.0 Symphony Hills, Cyberjaya

RELIGIOUS 1.

Proposed Praja Guanyin Sagely Monastery @ Jln Sg Besi, Kuala Lumpur Design Development

PLANNING & U R B A N 1.

Master Plan of Hyderabad international Airport (HIAL)

2.

Master Planning proposal for the Airport City of Hyderabad International Airport (HIAL), Hyderabad, India Design Proposal, Presentation

3.

Proposed Development of Commercial Waterfront in Precinct 2 & Western Business District in Precinct 7 & 8 Design Proposal, Presentation

4.

Master Plan of Commercial North, Commercial South, Precinct F&I, Precincnt D @ Puteri Habour, Johor. Design Proposal, Presentation

5.

Urban Design Guidelines of Commercial North, Commercial South, Precinct F&I, Precincnt D @ Puteri Habour, Johor.

Presentation, Urban Design Guidelines, Implementation

6.

Master Plan of Sports Stadium Complex @ Gambang, Pahang Design Proposal, Presentation

7.

Master Planning and Urban Design Guidelines of Housing and Facilities @ Iskandar Region, Johor.

Design Proposal, Presentation, Urban Design Guidelines

8.

Urban Design Guidelines of Bukit Jelutong City Centre @ Shah Alam, Selangor.

Design Proposal, Presentation, Urban Design Guidelines

9.

Master Planning and Urban Design of Port Dickson Waterfont Township @ Port Dickson, Seremban Design Proposal, Presentation

10.

Master Planning and Urban Design of Rimbayu Commercial City Center @ Bandar Rimbayu, Kuala Langat Design Proposal, Presentation

Figure 9.0 Puteri Harbour, Nusajaya, Johor

Figure 10.0 Puteri Harbour, Nusajaya, Johor

Figure 11.0 Bandar Rimbayu Club Village

Figure 12.0 The Light Collection II, Penang

List of Awards 1.

2013 Architect for PAM Architecture Steel Awards 2013 – Honorable Mention for Symphony Hills Office, Cyberjaya.

2.

2012 Architect for PAM Awards 2012, for Excellence in Architecture, Commendation, Commercial Category for Symphony Hills Office, Cyberjaya.

3.

2010 Urban Designer for FIABCI PRIX D’EXCELLENCE Runner-up Award for Master Plan 2010, for Puteri Harbour, Nusajaya, Johor.

4.

2009 Urban Designer for FIABCI Award for Best Master Plan 2009, for Puteri Harbour, Nusajaya, Johor.

5.

2006/07 Top 20 Designs of 7th International Student Design Competition 2006 – “A Small Sustainable Sports Centre” by Commonwealth Association of Architects (CAA) & Architects Regional Council of Asia (ARCASIA)

6.

2006 Recipient of PAM Best Student Awards 2006 (B Arch Part II) Pertubuhan Arkitek Malaysia

7.

2006 Recipient of Best Gradutes Award 2006 (B Arch Part II) Department of Architecture, University of Malaya

8.

2005 1st Prize Winner of PAM Student Design Competition (Part 2) in 18th Architecture Student Workshop, UPM Pertubuhan Arkitek Malaysia & University Putra Malaysia

9.

2005 3rd Prize Winner of Sustainable Design Competition Department of Architecture, University of Malaya

10.

2004 Recipient of Best Graduates Award 2004 (Bsc Arch Part I) Department of Architecture, University of Malaya

11.

2001-2006 Several Dean’s List Awards Department of Architecture, University of Malaya

Figure 13.0 Puteri Harbour, Nusajaya, Johor.

Figure 14.0 Symphony Hills Clubhouse, Cyberjaya

Theories in Architecture and Urbanism Project 1/Working Experience

TIOW TZE JINN 1101P13103

Ar. Steven Ngu Ngie Woon, currently 34 is working as a senior architect in Garis Architects Firm.

After he finished his STPM, he worked as a primary school teacher in his hometown for 5 months.

During the second year of his architecture studies, he works as an intern at TR Hamzah & Yeang at the year 2003. He graduated his undergraduate studies at year 2004 and graduated his postgraduate studies two years later – 2006. After graduating from University of Malaya, he decided to start his career in Kuala Lumpur instead of his hometown because his hometown – Sitiawan, Perak has yet come to the level of appreciating the architecture to-date. Not only that, in his opinion working in his hometown decreases the level of exposure towards new and fresh things and also working in his hometown provides lesser opportunity compares to working in the city.

He took the fast trip to gain his AR title by registering to LAM right after he graduated. After gaining his Ar. Title, he started working in Garis Architects. Due to the fact that Steven was a top student in his university days, he only need a short amount of time to put himself in position to work as an architect. He plans and trains himself into adapting to the architect’s life as it should be. When first pursuing in this career, his dreams and goals have always been being truthful and passion on what he in pursuing and to create a sensational and remembrance space to heighten up the living style of the modern people these days. When he first involve himself in the construction industry, he is struggling with the limited knowledge on the cost sensitivity to design and create a building because during the time he was studying, building cost is just a very brief subject as the area is too general to taught to students, so he must start from scratch and learn one by one through different kind of projects and experience. When he receive his first project, his boss commented on his work to be more creative on top of fulfilling client’s need.

To Steven, his architecture life begins with his first project – Symphony Hills, the symbol of his architecture life. The Symphony Hills is the first project that he is completely involved in all the design process. Because of this project he has achieved several awards such as the PAM Awards 2012 for Symphony Hills office design and PAM STEEL Awards for Symphony Hills Club House design. Not only that he followed up his past achievements by winning awards like FIABCI Prix for Urban Design Guideline Puteri Harbour, Nusajaya, Johor; PAM Awards 2014 for Rimbayu and The Light, Penang Project. Not only these, he mentioned that his proudest achievement would be winning the PAM Awards for Student Works, and PAM Awards for Excellence Architecture.

From the past 7 years’ experience with Garis Architects, he has done mostly residential projects, office tower, and conventional tower. Other than these projects, he would also wish to design hotels,

Theories in Architecture and Urbanism Project 1/Working Experience

TIOW TZE JINN 1101P13103

resorts and religious building in upcoming years. His favorite architects would be Kengo Kuma and Peter Zumthor. Throughout the years of working, when designing a building, the fundamental thing he would begin with is the site context, he will go to the site as often as possible and get inspired by the site context to help him begin with his design, a design that would make an impact on the people as well as the site itself. The first thought when he is doing design, is to visualize what does he wants to build at the site, what kind of building, what ambience does he wants to give to the site and the people there.

When designing, he avoids metaphor and symbolic architecture, he doesn’t like putting his trademark somewhere in the building to signify that it is one of his work when he is designing his building. He simply put it this way “I am not into the trend.”

As for principles, he always like to play with light and shadow, he likes to use it as a texture of building design especially the shadow casting. During the design stage he really emphasizes on the process itself, the journey from the start to the end, from the site context to spatial arrangement and to the user experience of spatial quality. In his opinion, the process is what defines that how the building will look like by the end of the design stage, amendments and ideas are always on repeat hence working to the details is very important for him.

Steven has been a part of Garis Architects for 7 years, through years of experience, he has learnt that in order to be successful in this field, we must let the client to feel they are confident with us and talk professionally when presenting our design proposal to the clients. Through this field, he has learn and discover more about himself, it’s also a self-discovery journey for him. Being persistence helped him in his career, and his life as well, with the principles of knowing what you are doing, what you are heading to and knowing what you want to achieve. Being an architect, his characteristics of being passionate about his work, dedicated to his work and being responsible helped him to achieve what he wants to achieve in this career, however, he did have flaws when working, he can be stubborn at times, time management issues and also when it comes to design he is always being indecisive.

In addition to being paid money, this career has given value to his life to have a sense of pride and confident about himself and what he is doing. Working throughout the years, he has a more focus working scope now, designing with a groups of junior architects and senior architects is much better than working alone with a design idea, he always say that better design comes from a team. He prefers everyone working together on one main idea and during discussions there are other side ideas to support the main idea and concept to make the design work. As an architect and as an architecture student, stress is always in his life, however working under stress making him to push and strive harder

Theories in Architecture and Urbanism Project 1/Working Experience

TIOW TZE JINN 1101P13103

in this field. During the interview, he mentioned that the best thing about this field is watching his sketches turn into a building, and the worst part would be dealing with the local authorities. As an architect, he always like to keep his inspirations fresh, so travelling would be his number one on his list, travelling to other parts of the world opens up a lot of doors and ideas to him.

Architecture is a life time career that Steven has grown up with, over time he does not think that a person needs to overcome a serious setbacks or challenge to be truly successful, because is the mistakes that make us who we are. In addition, he mentioned that knowing his limitations in life and career offers him guidance and boundaries. Last but not least, his advice for all the architects in the making, “Be passionate in what you are doing.�