Mirroring the owner's motorcycle accessories business, this facility treats architecture as an open-ended industrial chassis customized with rugged, multi-functional components ready for adaptation through a practical, machine-tectonic approach. The floor plans integrate flexible, open-concept zones tailored for the MKA Group’s diverse divisions. From R&D labs to warehousing, these adaptable footprints allow for effortless interior reconfiguration, spatial extension, and functional conversion, embodying a well-tuned, modifiable machine.
An angular, folded facade dominates the front elevation, sweeping downward into a protruding metal parking canopy. Inspired by automotive dynamism, this feature replaces a heavy concrete slab with a slim, lightweight steel truss system to maintain horizontality and minimize foundation loads. The canopy integrates concealed lighting and cleanly routes rectangular downpipes within structural H-beam recesses. Clad in weather-resistant cement panels with a seamless render finish, it interfaces flawlessly with the adjacent vertical folded wall. Above the entrance, the steel facade features an Italian IRONic finish by Novacolor®, a two-coat system which undergoes natural chemical oxidation to reproduce the authentic appearance of weathered iron and Corten Steel to organically transform tropical weathering into a texturized industrial aesthetic.
Similarly, the main road signage is integrated into the building’s envelope to merge corporate identity with functional lighting. Utilizing a rugged UNISON KAWA R600 corrugated profile in a reflective Zincalume finish framed by boxy aluminum extrusions, the sign mimics an outer-skin add-on. After dark, top- and bottom-mounted 2000K linear LED floodlights cast a warm amber glow, accentuating the steel corrugations with sharp highlights and shadow recesses.
From the entrance, the spatial journey climbs via interconnecting staircases wrapped around a central atrium void. Crowned with a pyramidal Low-E glass skylight, the atrium filters out harmful UV and infrared sunrays while inviting natural light to sustain indoor greenery and minimize thermal gain. Compared to flat glazing, the steep geometric profile offers superior wind resistance, deflects harsh sunrays at safe angles, directs condensation to perimeter channels, and leverages its slope for self-cleaning performance in Malaysia’s humid climate.
Oriented to the southeast to capture morning sunlight, the building mitigates glare using deep aluminum fins and interlocking metal features across full-height glazing. The envelope utilizes the COLORBOND® steel - Steel Petal Series; the industrial-toned Sahara Iris facade achieves an SRI of 65 via Thermatech® technology, backed by AAC block walls acting as an insulating air-gap buffer. Paired with a highly reflective Off White roof coating (SRI 80), this shell drastically limits heat transmission. Metal roofs built with the boltless UNISON KAWA® R700 clip-fixing profile, enables an ultra-low 1-degree pitch while its protruding high ribs allow future solar panel brackets to clip on without material penetration, ensuring a clean and leak-resistant roof system.
Beyond providing a regional hub for innovation, distribution, and growth, MKA Innocentre transforms the rural streetscape of Kampung Seri Cheeding, Banting into tomorrow’s exciting industrial node. The facility creates new job opportunities for the surrounding community, particularly young motor enthusiasts familiar with the client’s premier Malaysian aftermarket brand, RCB (Racing Boy). The project also features rooftop hydroponic urban farming, while transforming its remainder 5.8 acres land into a durian and coconut plantation and a future integrated recreational go-kart track which doubles as a product prototype testing ground. This agro-industrial approach slashes carbon emissions and food miles by supplying locally harvested produce, promoting composting, and conserving resources—as the hydroponic systems use up to 95% less water than traditional agriculture. Furthermore, the expansive durian orchard supports regional biodiversity, providing natural habitat sanctuary to local wildlife. Finally, the designer intentionally left an adjacent facade wall blank and unadorned, allowing employees to partake in joint mural-making via team-building to foster shared ownership and togetherness.
The design transforms a conventional manufacturing facility into a contemporary corporate landmark that reflects the innovation-driven identity of Contacthings Solution Sdn. Bhd. Breaking away from the rigid rectangular forms typical of industrial buildings, the architecture introduces dynamic, curvilinear forms that express inn ovation, precision, and technological advancement. Working within the existing structure presented both opportunities and challenges. Through the creative use of metal cladding, expansive roofing systems, and strategic extensions, the building was revitalised into a modern industrial headquarters. A sweeping glass curtain wall and an undulating upper volume create a striking corporate entrance, establishing a transparent and welcoming frontage while integrating seamlessly with the efficient manufacturing spaces beyond. By giving the existing building a second life, the project demonstrates how thoughtful design can transform an ageing factory into a contemporary corporate headquarters that strengthens brand identity, enhances workplace quality, and promotes sustainable redevelopment through the responsible reuse of existing built assets.
Innovation in steel application forms the technical centrepiece of the building’s envelope, rejecting basic masonry in favour of highly engineered, corrugated and perforated metal sheet facades. Advanced coated steel technology is utilized to construct the expansive, custom-curved metal deck roof using single skin construction DMI WeatherClip 700® crafted in COLORBOND® steel. This robust roofing system features premium steel sheets backed by long-term structural and performance warranties against perforation and colour fading. These sweeps of advanced steel cladding not only define the project’s high-tech, futuristic aesthetic but also resolve complex construction requirements by introducing lightweight, high-strength structural profiles over wide floor areas. Perforated steel screens are strategically positioned across the building envelope to act as intricate shading systems and architectural veils. Rather than functioning merely as structural layers, these coated steel applications deliver superior weather-tight sealing against regional tropical downpours while establishing a contemporary texture that highlights the capabilities of modern industrial craftsmanship.
Sustainability underpins the project's technological systems, combining active engineering with passive climate responsive measures to drive energy efficiency. The sweeping curved roof and deep architectural profiles create defensive shade barriers, reducing overall solar heat gain across the expansive glass curtain walls. Beneath the durable COLORBOND® steel skin, high-performance thermal defence is achieved via an integrated roof insulation layer featuring double-sided reflective woven reinforced based foil and fibre insulation wool blanket. On the rooftops, artificial grass overlays combined with soil drain-cell systems form a living layer that mitigates the urban heat island effect and assists in primary thermal cooling. Responsible water and resource management is prioritized through the deployment of dedicated metal water harvesting tanks to store stormwater for internal maintenance needs. Furthermore, by relying heavily on durable, infinitely recyclable coated steel components for the primary cladding, the industrial facility optimizes its structural lifespan, lowering ongoing replacement waste and minimizing the development's lifetime embedded carbon footprint.
At the civic and neighbourhood level, the design humanizes the industrial sector through highly integrated universal accessibility and contextually conscious planning. The exterior landscape replaces harsh concrete barriers with gabion walls and permeable interlocking concrete pavers arranged in specialized herringbone patterns to optimize heavy-duty durability while promoting efficient on-site drainage. To encourage community integration and safe pedestrian mobility, the site incorporates designated grass pavers and open plazas, ensuring a soft, inviting edge along the busy industrial roadway. By preserving green nodes, using soft boundary detailing, and deploying functional glass canopies at entry points, the facility actively transforms its industrial surroundings. The result is an inspiring, worker-centric environment that fosters human dignity, establishing a sophisticated benchmark for modern manufacturing hubs.
Contacthings Solution is a progressive industrial development located within the Bayan Lepas Industrial Zone, Penang. Rather than demolishing the existing factory, the project embraces the reuse of the existing building, giving it a second life through a comprehensive transformation. By retaining and enhancing the original structure, the project minimises demolition waste, conserves resources, and demonstrates a sustainable approach to revitalising ageing industrial buildings.
As the first commercial development within Elmina City Centre, Elmina Lakeside Mall was envisioned as more than a retail destination—it is the catalyst for future urban growth and a vibrant community hub that redefines the neighbourhood shopping experience. Positioned along the township's primary boulevard and adjoining the 35-acre Elmina Central Park, the project embraces an open-air retail concept that seamlessly integrates architecture, landscape, and public life.
Rather than adopting the conventional enclosed shopping mall typology, the development is planned as eight interconnected retail pavilions arranged around landscaped pedestrian streets. This clustered layout creates a porous urban fabric that maximises natural ventilation, daylight penetration, and visual connections to the surrounding park. Retail frontages are carefully oriented towards the main roads, parking zones, and park frontage to maximise tenant visibility while creating an active and engaging streetscape.
The design prioritises people over buildings. A continuous network of sheltered walkways links every retail block and extends directly into Elmina Central Park, encouraging visitors to experience shopping, dining, recreation, and nature as one continuous journey. The barrier-free single-storey layout, generous pedestrian routes, accessible ramps, and strategically located drop-off points ensure an inclusive environment for visitors of all ages and abilities.
The architectural identity is anchored by a grand arrival canopy that establishes a memorable sense of arrival while providing shade and comfort within Malaysia's tropical climate. Supported by lightweight long-span steel, the canopy creates an unobstructed drop-off space and expresses the project's contemporary architectural language. Complementing this arrival sequence is the 40-metre signage tower, an iconic landmark visible from Guthrie Highway that strengthens the identity of Elmina Lakeside Mall while providing highly visible branding opportunities for tenants.
The architectural expression combines the warmth of veneer brick façades, reflecting the architectural DNA of the City of Elmina, with the precision and contemporary character of COLORBOND® steel cladding in Gun Metal and Gull Grey. This material palette creates a timeless architectural identity while responding to the township's vision of a modern yet community-oriented destination.
Steel is fundamental to both the architecture and constructability of the project. More than 25,000 m² of ZINCALUME® steel roofing and 18,000 m² of COLORBOND® steel wall cladding, including the landmark signage tower, were incorporated throughout the development. The lightweight coated steel system enabled long-span roof structures, canopies, and refined façades with minimal joints, improving weather resistance, reducing maintenance, and accelerating construction while delivering long-term durability in Malaysia's tropical environment.
Innovation extends to the pedestrian environment through a custom-designed 230 mm cement board ceiling system incorporating 10 mm ventilation gaps between panels. The detailing allows controlled airflow to reduce wind pressure during extreme weather, improving structural performance while maintaining a clean timber-like architectural finish using a practical and economical construction method.
The landscape forms an integral part of the architecture. Lush planting, koi ponds, cascading water features, and the signature Avatar Trees with vertical planting create a biophilic environment that enhances thermal comfort and promotes well-being. Together with the naturally ventilated planning strategy and durable coated steel envelope, the project reduces dependence on mechanical cooling while lowering lifecycle maintenance requirements.
Elmina Lakeside Mall demonstrates how BlueScope coated steel can transcend its structural role to become an architectural language that enables openness, durability, sustainability, and placemaking. More than a shopping destination, the project establishes a new civic heart for Elmina City Centre and sets a benchmark for environmentally responsive, community-focused retail architecture in Malaysia.
Reimagining Space Through Adaptive Reuse
Tuah 1895 explores adaptive reuse as a sustainable design strategy, transforming a former sales gallery into a vibrant public space that celebrates food, culture, and social life. Its architecture is designed to reflect modern urban lifestyle while honouring local history — the name references the year 1895, when the nearby Pudu Jail was established, and the site’s streetscape legacy. Strategically positioned along Jalan Hang Tuah and adjacent to the LaLaport BBCC mall, the hub functions as a pedestrian-oriented interface between retail, transit, and leisure areas.
Architectural Concept & Design Features
TUAH 1895 blends contemporary design with functional urban space — it’s not just a building, but a community hub that invites people to gather, dine, and engage. Through material layering, textural contrast and programmatic reconfiguration, the design breathes new life into the existing envelope. The approach emphasizes place making, fostering social engagement and inclusivity within the urban fabric.
The architecture emphasises:
Four-level spatial layout: Ground,Mezzanine, First and Second floors host a mix of culinary, social, and lifestyle venues, creating an active street edge and internal circulation.
Open plaza and fountain area: A central fountain plaza acts as a focal point and gathering space, providing an outdoor urban room that connects visitors and activities.
Mezzanine level: Offers visual connection between floors and dynamic interior volumes, encouraging movement and social interaction.
Integration with surroundings: Positioned along Jalan Hang Tuah and adjacent to the LaLaport BBCC mall, the hub functions as a pedestrian-oriented interface between retail, transit, and leisure areas.
Façade
The use of premium coated steel cladding contributes not only to the building's contemporary aesthetic but also to its long-term durability and low maintenance requirements. The precision of the metal panels enables the smooth execution of complex curves and continuous surfaces, demonstrating how modern cladding technology can achieve both architectural elegance and high-performance building envelopes in tropical climates.
Urban Context & Experience
TUAH 1895’s architecture is not merely functional — it is social and experiential. The design encourages people to linger, walk between venues, and engage with a dynamic mix of casual and formal spaces. Anchored by lower ground parking, public plaza, pedestrian linkage and easy connectivity to transit (LRT/Monorail), it enhances pedestrian flow and urban interaction in a major Kuala Lumpur node. This adaptive transformation stands as a testament to architecture’s ability to regenerate space, respond to contemporary urban needs, and promote sustainability through thoughtful reuse
Positioned at the gateway of Eco Business Park VII in Port Dickson, Negeri Sembilan, the sales gallery occupies a prominent corner site marking the main entrance into the new industrial park. Surrounded by an emerging industrial setting with few established architectural references, the building is conceived as the first architectural landmark that defines the identity and arrival experience of the development. Completed in 2025 as a temporary building, the project explores the idea of coated steel as architecture, demonstrating the architectural potential of conventional corrugated coated steel beyond its role as a construction material. Developed within the practical constraints of budget, programme and construction timeline, it demonstrates how disciplined design, material restraint and precise detailing transform an everyday industrial material into a refined architectural expression.
The building is conceived as a pure and restrained geometric form, wrapped in an off-white corrugated coated steel veil that gives the architecture a calm and refined presence. Its fluid silhouette is a contemporary reinterpretation and subtle nod to the sweeping curve of the traditional Minangkabau roof, expressed through abstraction rather than direct imitation. Rather than functioning as a conventional façade, the layered coated steel envelope gently drapes around the building, reinforcing its sculptural form while creating a sense of lightness and depth. The façade transitions from solid to perforated surfaces, allowing light, shadow and transparency to become integral components of the architectural expression. At the main entrance, the perforated veil frames the arrival sequence and, by night, transforms the building into a luminous lantern that establishes a memorable gateway for the development.
Beyond its functional role as a sales gallery, the project creates a welcoming arrival experience through landscaped forecourts, generous shaded drop-off spaces and a double-volume sales gallery that enhances openness, orientation and visual connectivity. The restrained architectural language, softened by the fluid coated steel envelope, offers a more approachable character within the industrial park while creating a distinctive first impression for visitors and prospective investors.
Innovation lies in the reinterpretation of a familiar industrial material into a refined contemporary architectural language. Rather than relying on expensive finishes or complex construction, the project elevates conventional corrugated coated steel through disciplined proportion, carefully resolved detailing and controlled material application. Lightweight modular coated steel construction enabled efficient prefabrication, faster installation and reduced structural demands while preserving the clarity and integrity of the architectural form within tight project constraints. The project demonstrates how conventional corrugated coated steel can achieve architectural refinement through disciplined design rather than material extravagance.
Environmental performance is embedded through passive planning and efficient construction. The west-facing frontage is protected by a deep overhanging drop-off roof and a double-volume space that minimise direct solar heat gain while creating comfortable shaded arrival areas. Service and toilet spaces are positioned predominantly along the eastern edge to buffer the principal occupied spaces from morning heat exposure. Rainwater harvesting and rooftop solar panels further support resource efficiency and long-term operational performance. The lightweight modular coated steel system reduces material consumption, minimises construction waste through prefabrication, and enables future adaptability, reuse and recyclability, making it particularly appropriate for the lifecycle of a temporary building.
The project demonstrates how conventional corrugated coated steel can be transformed into a pure architectural expression, where coated steel becomes not merely a material, but architecture itself.
Azman Hashim Community Sports Centre: A Modern Icon of Steel Expression and Cultural Integration
Located in SibuJaya, Sarawak, the Azman Hashim Community Sports Centre is a benchmark in community-based sports infrastructure, combining advanced material use with cultural resonance. Completed in mid-2022, this 8.31-acre development brings together thoughtful architecture, steel innovation, and local heritage to serve as a multifunctional sports hub for the region.
Design Driven by Form and Purpose
Designed with layered geometry and dynamic morphology, the sports complex plays with volume and scale to create a striking silhouette. The standout feature is its use of corrugated metal roofing, which wraps the building like a race track—symbolising movement, speed, and continuity. These metal strips, installed with precision, capture light at different angles, enhancing visual dynamism throughout the day.
The architectural form is further animated through height variations and folded planes, generating a rhythmic pattern of light and shadow that enhances spatial quality and passive illumination.
Material Honesty and Industrial Aesthetics
At its core, the design embraces a modern-industrial palette, favouring clean lines and honest material expression. Steel and brickwork form the primary construction language, with exposed finishes that highlight craftsmanship and durability. Contemporary clay brick textures are integrated with refined detailing, elevating the overall visual and tactile experience.
Such material articulation reflects not only architectural intent but also precision in construction, showcasing how conventional materials like steel and brick can be reinterpreted with sophistication.
Functional Layout with International Standards
Built across 24,520 sq. ft., the facility includes:
An indoor sports arena with badminton, futsal, and volleyball courts, supported by 372 terrace seats.
Outdoor amenities such as a football field, 8-lane IAAF-compliant running track, long/triple jump, and throwing zones, with a 450-seat grandstand.
Auxiliary spaces including a café, management office, disabled-friendly amenities, and over 270 vehicle parking bays.
Ethnic Elements with Structural Intent
In a nod to Sarawak’s rich cultural roots, the complex incorporates motifs inspired by the traditional Borneo warrior shield. These elements are not merely decorative—they are functional.
Steel-crafted shield patterns serve as:
Balustrades – providing safety while maintaining visual permeability.
Grilles – offering security with artistic flair.
Lighting screens – subtly concealing fixtures while contributing to ambient lighting.
Each application embodies the shield’s symbolic roles: to protect, guard, and conceal—a seamless fusion of narrative and engineering.
Ventilation, Light, and Sustainability
Environmental responsiveness is embedded in the design. The use of clerestory windows, cross ventilation, and open-ended corridors ensures that the complex benefits from natural airflow and daylight, minimising reliance on mechanical systems. This passive design approach not only supports sustainability but enhances comfort and user experience.
A New Standard in Community Sports Architecture
The Azman Hashim Community Sports Centre stands as a bold example of how steel architecture can serve both community needs and cultural storytelling. It demonstrates how form, function, and identity can converge through material innovation and architectural clarity.
As SibuJaya evolves into a regional nexus, this project reinforces the value of steel-led design thinking in shaping resilient, meaningful public spaces.
The Kedah Digital Library (KDL) celebrates the future-forward concept of “Library Without Books” and redefining the role of a State-owned Public Library as Learning Hub and Community Node. The project emerged as a result of Adaptive Re-use of an existing 2-storey Colonial Bungalow Memorial Tunku Abdul Rahman Building in Alor Setar, in a site of total area spanning 2.13 acres.
The former Memorial Tunku Abdul Rahman Building is an iconic landmark within the immediate milieu, rich with heritage value and charm. Original site is nestled in a lush green lung adjacent Alor Setar’s largest urban park and now rejuvenated with a new life as a Digital Library in a park-garden ambience.
KDL’s development is divided into two (2) distinct and successive sections, comprising: -
a) Section 1 – ‘The Tunku Mansion’
which involved the refurbishment of the existing historic Anglo-Indian bungalow – hereafter referred to as ‘The Tunku Mansion’ – as the first immediate parcel roll-out to benefit the neighbouring community.
Key spaces include private reading and study spaces, kids digital play room, discussion rooms, a renewed garden and parking spaces.
b) Section 2 – ‘New Annex’
which entailed the addition of a New Annex building as an extension to The Tunku Mansion – with multi-purpose event halls, amphitheatre, teleconference facilities and most importantly – a contemporary new Digital Gallery featuring virtual exhibition of notable Kedah leaders.
Crafting Contemporary Digital Libraries with Historical Significance
The Implementing Agency of the Project aims to create a holistic conducive environment that encourages interaction and collaboration; and as a place where knowledge is obtained via the use of information and communication technology.
This project brief eliminates the necessity all physical forms of data or information (commonly books, displays, hard copies) by moving it to the virtual realms. It ultimately led us on a search for better ways to design and create varied physical experiences for this modern lifestyle to take place.
We made strong attempts to excel in the following areas along the entire project implementation (to be further elaborated in the following pages): -
Preservation, Integration & Reimagination of Historical Intents
• Repurposing historic structures with resilient design for new public usage.
• Preserving excellency of previous purposes and adapting them into parts of a larger, newer brief. For instance, moving the previous traditional memorial gallery to a redesigned space in the New Annex.
• Reimagining how new age information is consumed by current society and integrating them into building design. Eg. virtual exhibition and borderless galleries.
Strategic Planning of Project Roll-Out / Re-activation of Urban Nodes
• Phasing projects sensitively for early public utilisation and simultaneously carry out new construction.
• Re-activating deteriorating urban nodes with new functions, one building at a time.
Sensitive & Holistic Addition of New Wing
• The Tunku Mansion remained as the dominant visual arrival point of the new altered massing, enhanced by a new central garden that ties the old and the new – a nod of respect to its formal and heritage values.
• The roof line and building height of the New Annex were controlled to not overpower the existing mansion.
Physical and Implied Connections between the Old and New + Outdoor and Indoor
• Designing new spaces with the myriad concepts of transparency, opacity, solids and voids, edges, and boundaries.
The AME Elite Headquarters redefines the conventional office and industrial park aesthetic by embodying a visionary blend of functionality, sustainability, and enjoyment. Rather than conforming to the standard industrial model, the design integrates workspace and lifestyle elements, creating an environment where work and leisure seamlessly coexist.
Central to this concept is the I-Park Experience Centre, which exemplifies resort-like living within a traditionally industrial context. This facility supports a balanced lifestyle by combining workspaces with recreational amenities, including a swimming pool and courtyard garden. The clubhouse and three-storey office structure are strategically designed to offer both productivity and relaxation, providing a visually appealing and serene environment.
The architecture and landscape of the headquarters are thoughtfully crafted to enhance user experience, promoting wellness and a holistic approach to work-life balance. This approach challenges the typical notion that industrial environments must prioritize mechanical productivity over personal well-being, positioning the AME Elite Headquarters as a sanctuary where business meets lifestyle in a harmonious and revitalizing setting.
The main design idea emphasizes bringing the “LIFE” between buildings. The building serves as a collection of lifestyles retail shops for the nearby community. Informal, refreshing, relaxing, exciting are among the keywords to describe the space and events happening within it.
The building is designed at a human scale to ensure people feel comfortable and safe within the building. The outdoor al fresco are is designed as a “people watching people” space to foster interaction and human engagement through simply sitting or watching people go by.
The central of the development is punctuated by a spacious open event space surrounded by outdoor seatings.
This open event space provides flexibility for all possible open-ended activities to take place. It is also a move to create a move livable and enjoyable space that prioritize the needs and experience of people.