This article first appeared in City & Country, The Edge Malaysia Weekly on February 24, 2020 - March 1, 2020
WDA Architects Sdn Bhd constantly strives to shape a quality-built environment in a creative and innovative way. The firm’s aim is to produce sustainable building designs that function well and are visually engaging.
Founded in 2009 by designer directors Hanc Wang Hon Choon and Ng Kok Keng, the medium-sized architecture firm in Mont’Kiara has a total of 30 architects. The firm has since conceptualised various integrated commercial and residential high-rise developments in the Klang Valley and southern region.
According to Wang, a good architectural design stimulates the senses and triggers inspiration and memories through experiencing the building and its spaces. It also involves engaging with people who use the architecture.
In an e-mail interview with City & Country, Wang, who studied architecture at Curtin University in Australia, says: “Architecture is not an object; it has a soul. Our team always believes in doing good designs for people to use and live in. Through our design projects, we insert hints of our wacky thought process in parts of the buildings to create an interesting experience and ‘aha’ moment when people discover and piece these elements together.
“Australia is my second home. I was inspired by the modern designs of the buildings there, where architecture is contextual — it is shaped by the community, environment and economic motivation. Thus, I always love exploring how people live and engage with the environment and spaces that support lifestyles.”
Wang says the main challenge in the architecture industry is that economic factors often affect and dictate people’s lifestyles and challenge the parameters of the architect’s design.
“Architecture that is not built remains as paper architecture, thus architects should explore the balance between economic returns and architectural ideologies and aesthetics to get the project on the ground, yet not sacrifice the creative aspects of building design, and limit our design exploration in response to changing lifestyles,” he says.
Nonetheless, the architecture industry is in an exciting era. “We are optimistic about the prospects and opportunities afforded to architects in Malaysia. There are currently young architects who are able to bring in new ideas, which will dictate the future built environment of Malaysia,” says Wang.
In terms of current residential architecture trends, he says there are no specific ones, as architecture changes over time and influences people’s lifestyle. “Disruptive technology is constantly changing the way consumers, industries or businesses operate.”
WDA Architects’ notable completed and ongoing projects include Villa Prima by Faber Union Sdn Bhd, Astetica Residences by Hua Yang Bhd and Astoria Ampang by Land & General Bhd, all of which are located in the Klang Valley.
The firm’s noteworthy projects include Exsim Group’s Expressionz Professional Suites (Expressionz) in Jalan Tun Razak and Twin Arkz in Bukit Jalil.
Situated in KL’s Golden Triangle, the RM547 million Expressionz was completed in 2018. The building’s architecture was inspired by the sheer intensity, energy and tension of the city’s urban elements, movement and speed.
Occupying a 1.12-acre leasehold parcel, Expressionz has a gross floor area of 900,337 sq ft, including nine levels of parking, with 849 bays. The 53-storey building — divided into Tower A and Tower B, comprising a total of 447 fully furnished residential units — has a net floor area of 387,145 sq ft.
“Inspired by the spirit of luxury that the city centre lifestyle entails, we wanted the building’s architecture to express this energy and intensity while exuding a sense of luxury through its spaces.Its architectural design elements expresses a sense of movement.
“This can be seen in the building’s façade design, where the layout planning, concrete planes and glass windows are integrated to create a three-dimensional effect. Tower A expresses itself with a pop-up façade whereas Tower B has a recessed-in façade,” he explains.
Wang says Exsim’s RM280 million Twin Arkz project in Bukit Jalil was completed in 2016. Twin Arkz enjoys a magnificent view of the Kuala Lumpur city centre. It comprises two 34-storey towers with a total of 363 serviced apartments and SoHo units.
The development occupies a 1.8-acre freehold site adjacent to the Bukit Jalil Golf & Country Resort, Bukit Jalil International Park, Calvary Church and Technology Park Malaysia, and the landscape was designed to integrate seamlessly with the façade. The entire concept is designed so that the project can be environmentally, socially and commercially self-sustaining.
A star-gazing deck in the shape of an ark — a symbol of sanctity and life — sits atop each tower to give an impression of majestic structures in the sky.
WDA Architects has 15 new and ongoing projects comprising high-rises, landed houses, industrial and SoHo units located in the Klang Valley, Johor and Ipoh. These projects are expected to be launched in one to two years.
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