Biodata & essay compilation

Project Photos : Projects done in 2013:

Cahaya SPK, Shah Alam, Townhouses Eaton International School, Kajang Primer Garden Townvillas [Photograph]. (2013). Retrieved September 21, 2014, from http://thinkproperty.com.my/realestate/listing-­de-­ tails/new-­development/2236/

Eaton International School [Photograph]. (2013). Retrieved September 21, 2014, from http://ww-­ w.eaton.edu.my/

Projects done during 1997 to 2012 :

12 units of service apartments, (Duplex) Sunway Lagoon Resort Hotels Sunway Monash Residence| Sunway University Duplex Townhouse At Sunway Lagoon [Photograph]. (n.d.). Retrieved September 21, 2014, from http://my.booking-­ fair.com/Hotel-­hotel/malaysia/selangor/Duplex-­Townhouse-­At-­Sunway-­Lagoon-­(Selangor)-­Resort_462482/

Sunway Monash Residence| Sunway University [Photograph]. (n.d.). Retrieved September 21, 2014, from http://sunway.edu.my/university/admissions/ac-­ commodations/monash

Tropicana Kajang Heights , Terrace houses Nilai University Sunway Rymba Hills Tropica Heights [Photograph]. (2014). Retrieved Sep-­ tember 21, 2014, from http://www.propertygu-­ ru.com.my/property-­listing/tropi-­ cana-­heights-­kajang-­fairfield-­residences-­for-­6934793

Nilai University [Photograph]. (n.d.). Retrieved September 21, 2014, from http://afterschool.my/institution/nilai-­university/

List of Reference : CL+O Architects (n.d.) About Us. Retrieved September 21, 2014, from http://cloa.pixacreative.com/about-­us/ Arkitek Maju Bina Sdn Bhd (n.d.) Palazzio Sri Hartamas Kuala Lumpur. Retrieved September 21, 2014, from http://dynamic.architecture.com.au/awards_search?option=showaward&entryno=2012194847 Arkitek Maju Bina Sdh Bhd (2010) Practice Statement. Retrieved 21, 2014, from http://www.ambsb.com.my

Sunway Rymba Hills [Photograph]. (n.d.). Retrieved September 21, 2014, from http://property.malaysiamostwanted.com/projects/sun-­

CHILDHOOD Nikki Wong Tyan Mun 0303281

Ar Martin Lee Wee Hong is a respectable certified Architect who is the founder of the well-known CL+O Architects Sdn Bhd together with Ar Chiam Chin Yong. For assignment and self enlightening purposes, we had the privillege of conducting an interview with Ar Martin Lee to study his life journey and experiences that led him to be the well respected architect that he is today.

To gather his information effieciently, the interview was dissected into 3 topics, such as childhood, education then career. With that, the interview session then turned into a personal story telling moment from when he was a child till he became the brains of CL+O Architects Sdn Bhd. When the interview began, Martin decided to talk about himself in hopes of answering some questions that we have yet to ask him. As he went on, I realized that he is very enthusiastic on the topics regarding his past education and careers, infact hardly a word was spoken about his childhood. But soon enough, after some clarification on the requirements, Martin opened up and back tracked to his childhood days.

It is found that, when traced back to their roots, architects are mostly based on their education and career life and rarely related to their childhood and upbringing. This is the case with Ar Martin Lee but after we gathered some info of his childhood, his experiences as a kid, even so small, has an influence on him at the age of 15 when he realized that architecture is his passion. Coming from a family of 6, including his parents, Martin lee was the middle child and is more fonder of his older brother. Ar Martin Lee described himself as a very normal and introvert child growing up, not mentioning how humble and modest he is. When he was much younger, he grew up in an estate plantation as his father was a planter and he had the chance to live in a colonial bungalow on the plantation site. Colonial bungalows are of very distinct and individual

architecture and being exposed to that at a young age taught him of the beauty of architecture and individuality. But it was only a thing of admiration without much curiousity but that will soon change as he age.

During his primary school days, he moved to Pj and lived in a terrace house. The school he went to was Bukit Bintang Boys School. As an introvert, it is understandable that Martin Lee treasures his alone time. His time will be spent drawing and reading. Martin’s interest in drawing never fade as he grew up, infact is stayed strong with him. His creativity and passion for art proved to be one of his strongest asset today as an architect. When asked what was his favorite subject is school, he metioned art and physics. Martin mentioned how the collaboration of arts and science fascinated him even before he decided that architecture was his calling. It is of no surprise when Martin mentioned how neat he was as a child, he didn’t like his space to be covered with clutters and mess.

Adding to his introvert nature, he spends most of his time at home during his school holidays drawing and reading, honing his skills. Interacting with other kids were far less interesting than deepening his creative flair.

Though every child has their innocent dream ambitions even before realizing their true passion, Martin Lee was no different. He told us that he dreamnt of becoming a pilot when he was a child, a dream that was fulfilled by his older brother instead. Martin Lee’s older brother is his strength and support when they went overseas at the age 0f 13 to a boarding school. Martin has a tough expereince being away from home but the support from his older sibling helped him through it. It was at age 15 when he was studying at uk, that he realized that architecture is the path that he is destined to follow. Despite the tough experience, Martin is grateful for the opportunity, that his parents chose to sacrifice and spend money on their children’s education. Just as he is doing for his own children. As knowledge and education is priceless to him. It is no surpsie, considering the fact that Ar Martin Lee is a very intellectual being himself.

He laughed reminiscing about his younger dreams but is very much happy and satisfied with his true calling, a successful architect.

PROJECT PART I: ANALYSING SELF EDUCATION TONG CHIA SIN 1101A12324

Ar. Martin Lee embarked on his early education in Bukit Bintang Boys School , currently one of the oldest boys school in Selangor. His academic journey was an unconventional one at his time. At age 13, in hopes of giving their children a better education, young Martin Lee, together with his brother, were sent to Wellington School, a boarding school based in the British countryside in the United Kingdom. It was there where he spent his high school life. He took O-Levels, and later on A-Levels. In high school, he received a well-rounded education, taking up both the highly-regarded Art and Science subjects, namely Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Math, Additional Mathematics, English, French, Technical Drawings, Geography and Art. To put it shortly, Ar. Martin was Jack of all trades.

Then, come the university years. Ar. Martin Lee believes that the broad, interdisciplinary education he has enjoyed guided him to where he was today. Unlike most teenagers, Ar. Martin Lee had already set his path. He was artistically-inclined and has always been fascinated by technical theories such as Physics. It was the natural choice for him to pick Architecture; the best of both worlds. Architecture to him was a blend of science and art. Scientifically, architecture adhered to the laws of nature and respond to program, function, schedule and budget. Artistically, architecture responds to the human condition in intangible and meaningful ways; it is powerful and aesthetically stimulating.

In his opinion, architecture engages the senses in a poetic and phenomenological fashion while performing its ultimate purpose of shelter. Even at 18, he knew he wanted to make a positive impact on the individual, community and environment through architecture.

Throughout his architectural studies in University of Sheffield, Ar. Martin Lee drew a lot of inspiration from his idols, Norman Foster and Richard Rogers. Both were respectable architects noted for their modernist and functionalist designs in high-tech architecture.

Like his idols, Ar. Martin Lee’s projects in school were often clean, unfettered and environmentally-aware. He also fondly remembers how his mentor, particularly Ar.

Edward Cullinan, an award-winning architect, has influenced his style of architecture today. He looked highly on the design principles of architecture, and puts a strong emphasis on construction detailing. According to Ar. Martin Lee, University of Sheffield was a pragmatic architecture school and encourages student to pay significant attention and work to portray all domain concepts explicitly in their architectures.

Interestingly enough, Ar. Martin Lee is an avid traveller. With every chance he gets during his school holidays, he will be globe-trotting with his fellow architecture friends.

One of the thrills of visiting Europe especially is being exposed to the tradition of architecture that dates back to thousands of years ago. Regardless of whether circumstances call for restraint or exuberance, the architects and artists from centuries ago pay a great deal of attention to detail. These are evident in the intricacy of brickwork (a new material at the time) and the elaborate coloring on the building facades. His appreciation of building structure also grew as he observed the stone structures, large expanses of glass, clustered columns, sharply pointed spires, intricate sculptures, ribbed vaults, and flying buttresses while he travelled. He was intrigued by how different built environment and culture could influence how buildings look like. Travelling has taught him many things and one of the main philosophy he still holds today is that architecture must be sensitive to the culture and climate of its place; the same sentiments as Norman Foster himself.

More often than not, architecture students find themselves struggling to get through their years until graduation. This was not the case for Ar. Martin; he had time for his studies, church events, travels and extra-curricular activities as well. He breezed through it easily and graduated from the Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in 1986. However, education did not stop there for him. Thirsting for more knowledge, he went on with Diploma in Architecture from 1986 to 1989. This was promptly followed by Master of Arts (Architecture) in 1990, where he employed the design principles he learned to incorporate it into his final thesis. After that, with a Part 2 in hand, Ar. Martin Lee was

equipped with sufficient technological and other related skills to work with Building Design Partnership, one of the most prestigious multidisciplinary firm in UK, for the next four years.

Working experience Wong Roung-Jang 0303368 Ar. Martin Lee is an experienced architect since the late 80s with a vast working experience of 25 years in the architecture industry.

Martin Lee received his training in the University of Sheffield in UK and worked in Building Design Partnership for four years, during which he was involved in institutional and commercial projects including the School of Engineering’s Library Building at University of Sheffield and expansion to Sheffield Hallam University Campus.

During his training life in the UK, he was closely mentored by Edward Cullinan, an architect well-known in the UK. From there, it has widened his perspective of things in architecture, not just in design but also in theories, materials and also construction detailing. But it did not just stop there, time helped him change his architectural approach as new materials and new technology helped create new possibilities. But as time goes by, Ar. Martin Lee remained true to his colours.

His architectural work strongly emphasizes on construction detailing to showcase his appreciation of structure.

Throughout his internship years, Ar. Martin Lee has interned in two companies, Michael Hyde and Associates, UK, from 1986 to 1988 and Building Design Partnership, UK, from 1989 to 1993. In the span of seven years, Ar. Martin Lee has worked on a wide range of projects from Commercial buildings to Residential houses, Educational buildings to Institution buildings. Basically, you name it, he’s built it. Ar. Martin Lee also stated that upon being involved in the projects, it has helped him value the society more because architecture is not just a shelter but also gives value and sense of identity.

In 1994, Ar. Martin Lee returned to Malaysia and joined Arkitek Majubina Chartered Architects and in 1997, was the joint founder of Arkitek Maju Bina Sdn. Bhd. Arkitek Maju Bina was a company that mainly handles residential projects, namely, 3

Harmoni, Rymba Hills and Challis Damansara. But the highlight of his career during his time at Arkiteck Maju Bina was when he designed all six phases of Nilai University College at Bandar Baru Nilai together with R.J. Ferguson Associates, a well-known architecture firm from Perth, Australia. Teaming up with them was indeed a joy for Ar. Martin Lee because the firm not only practices conventional and yet, logical designs but also the use of raw materials and surprisingly, construction detailing. The Nilai University College was a project Ar. Martin Lee is very proud of because it expresses his appreciation towards materials, construction detailing and structures – an interest he picked up since his intern days.

After finishing such a great project, Ar. Martin Lee was approached by Sunway to design Sunway Townhouses at Sunway Damansara. Being an architect who have designed almost all sorts of buildings, he came up with a 3-storey but two units product design. A design that has only been used by him and his architectural firm.

One uses the Ground floor and half of the First floor, and the other user uses half of the First floor and Second floor. This product design may sound complicated but it has helped him received Singapore’s Buidling Construction and Authority (BCA) Green Mark Awards and it was the first landed design in Malaysia to be awarded the Malaysian Green Building Index Certification. This product design was also later on used in 3 Harmoni at Sunway SPK Damansara and Challis Damansara Townhouses, in which helped him received Singapore’s BCA Green Mark Awards as well. But according to Ar. Martin Lee, Sunway Townhouses was his proudest work to date.