Ghee Hiang Manufacturing Co

Nestled at the cornerstone of a traffic circus within Penang Science Park North in Simpang Ampat, is Ghee Hiang Manufacturing Co. Sdn. Bhd.’s newest industrial facility. Ghee Hiang, a heritage brand and cultural icon spanning almost 170 years, started off producing traditional pastries before becoming synonymous with teel-seed oil; a gift normally bestowed on mothers who are in confinement. Its logo, a waving infant inside a red circle, is instantly identifiable. Ghee Hiang gained success through many years of careful expansion and growth and as such, the theme for this facility was to reflect the ideology of natural growth.

This ideology is prominent on a site scale, as the 2 to 3-storey facility sits humbly, fittingly, yet distinctively within its industrial context. Both roofscape and streetscape portray a universal architectural language, with the extensive use of Zincalume® steel (AZ150). The facade is a unified collage of texture and color, complemented by building elements that matches the steel. A captivating design statement is displayed by two halos made of steel, painted in red and inter-connected by a curvaceous roof at the front building. Inspired by the kernel of the teel-seed, these halos symbolize longevity and infinity, and are instantly recognizable from the streetscape.

The construction of this 4 acre facility was fueled by the increasing global demand for Ghee Hiang’s teel-seed oil. The facility is separated into 2 parts; the first, a 3 storey building, enclosed by a roof curvature made of Zincalume® steel with Activate™ Technology (AM150), that is open to the elements yet shielded by functional customized Zincalume® louvers, mirroring the canopy layer of the forests. A production area and office space occupy the first two levels, with a recreation and event space on the top floor. Three gigantic steel columns symbolizing the Sesamum indicum tree form the support for the curved roof. At the rear, two single storey buildings divided by a corridor for forklifts, are warehouses for raw materials and finished goods from production line. The second part of the facility is where the finished goods are packed, stored before being shipped out to customers worldwide.

As the facility is for production of food, building materials specified and used have to comply with GMP requirements to ensure safety and quality of the end product, as well as for ease of maintenance. The steel roof of the warehouse is left bare to ensure that the raw material can dry out, aided with natural ventilation via 3 angled bays of fixed louvers, custom-made in Zincalume® steel.

The entire facility is finished with Zincalume® wall cladding together with exposed bare concrete and facing brick that demonstrate the honest approach of the manufacturing process. The patterned facing brick contrasts pleasantly with the selected cladding and different tones and shadows are noticed at various times of the day. With time, a natural patina will coat the surface of the brick facade.

Rainwater is drained through carefully sculptured stainless steel gutters and rainwater down-pipes. The form of the logistic buildings is elementary thereby ensuring the texture, finishes and colour of the materials are given the opportunity to shine. Expanded galvanized wire, normally used as fencing, is shaped to act as a barrier at the balconies.

As a footnote, the entire facility was constructed and completed during the Covid-19 times, when there were strict restrictions on logistics of raw material and skilled labor was scarce. As the form of the buildings is unpretentious, extra effort was undertaken to ensure the cladding, louvers and extrusions were all precisely dovetailed during installation. The completion of this facility demonstrates the design’s team aspiration towards excellence and innovation.