Article on Leaderonomics being in the Top 10 most inspiring offices in Malaysia

1. Steelcase, Kuala Lumpur
Starproperty.my
Sunday 20 July 201416 A R C H I T E C T U R
Top 10 most inspiring offiHere’s a personal tribute to a selection of “wo
Kudos to the talented architects, interior and
85 Tranquerah, Malacca
1
85 TRANQUERAH, located in the
designated Unesco site in historic
Malacca, has been transformed
by way of conservation and
adaptive reuse. Representative
of the quaint double-use shophouse
with commercial activities conducted
on the ground floor while the upper
floor housed the residential quarters,
old is intrinsically gold as far as the
front architectural facade is concern
– retained in all its former glory.
Step inside to see the transformation
of the middle portion into workspaces.
Surprises abound in the back area
with its back once facing the sea – now
transformed into a totally unexpected
sleek facade complete with full length
glass windows and a steel metal screen.
PCL Architect founder Lim Pay Chye
celebrates the “continuation of the
past”. Working with Idea Workshop
Sdn Bhd design director Hau Woon
San, both Malaccans pay tribute to
venacular wisdom – interpreting the
space so that the back portion becomes
the new front.
“We revisited and reinterpreted the
spirit of the past, making it relevant
and new to today,” reiterated Hau.
The PLOT, Kuala Lumpur
2
THE PLOT is a green trans-
formational, modern office
complemented by an indoor
courtyard and outdoor gar-
dens that has won various
design awards. Towering four-and-a-
half storey high, this once-residential
unit has been turned into an 11,000sq
ft office space that seamlessly blends
work-and-play.
“The office has lots of cross ventila-
tion features and sunlight,” said PDI
Design and Associates’ Tan Su Cheng.
“The design scheme ensures every
single door and window has a great
view. It’s an intelligent design with
low maintenance cost,” he added.
Famous quotes are peppered
throughout the space which serve
to inspire creativity and motivate
its employees to strive to give their
creative design best. “We designed
the place using a lot of rustic materi-
als, granolithic and recycled parquet
flooring. There are two pods in the
garden reminiscent of tree houses
which also act as transitional areas
for holding the office’s many parties.”
MindValley, Kuala Lumpur
3
MINDVALLEY is a multiple award-
winning office which occupies
two levels at Menara UOA in
Bangsar, Kuala Lumpur.
Envisioned as a breeding
ground for eureka moments, the 5,095sq
ft and 6,940sq ft offices respectively
thrive on the versatile working scenarios
ranging from private nooks, meeting
rooms, bar settings and bean-bag areas.
“The idea is to cultivate a spirited intel-
lectual atmosphere wherein international
participants from all walks of life can
come together and share their thoughts,”
said PDI Design and Associates senior
designer Ian Lee.
Reinforced by a series of smaller, stra-
tegically situated multipurpose areas,
this whimsical office exists around two
key zones: a monochromatically inclined
workspace conducive to hot-desking
where kidney-shaped workstations visu-
ally complement a suspended lighting
fixture, and a beanbag-strewn, 150-
capacity auditorium accompanied by its
own superhero-themed café.
A vibrant hangout spot for staff, the
workspace is home to oversized digital
murals by British illustrator Liam Brazier
and splashy red seats that pay tribute
to Mindvalley’s official mascot, Wonder
Woman.
Designer Block
By YVONNE YOONG
yvonneyoong@thestar.com.my
5
OCISION and Magnet Bizz are subsidi-
aries of Star Publications (M) Bhd, co-
existing within the same space on the
same level of the Menara Star office
building in Petaling Jaya.
Designed for two separate groups of peo-
ple with different needs, Ocision has flexible
workstations including a picturesque tree
house suspended in the middle of the work-
space for quiet chats.
The Magnet B
more conventio
A skip away f
out outpost with
“Using slight d
and outcome, w
that allows staff
for working,” co
partner and des
the 3,600sq ft w
Ocision and Magnet Bizz, Kuala Lumpur
4
STEELCASE Asia Pacific’s global
business centre Kuala Lumpur,
has made a name for itself as the
first LEED (Leadership in Energy
and Environmental Design) certi-
fied Commercial Interior (Silver) office in
Malaysia spanning a built-up of 30,000sq
ft on levels 26 and 27. The leading office
furniture company prioritises solutions for
the environment. “Our office is designed
for human interactions,” said managing
director Barbara Reimbold. “The space
fosters social integration with collabora-
tive zones throughout for big or small
meetings – in spaces that inspire people,”
concurred Asia Pacific director of Sales
Resource Network (SRN) Andrew Low.
Nike sales office, Kua
10
NIKE SALES (Mal
needs no introdu
synonymous wit
footwear, appare
ment innovation
Enter the green-rated offic
Menara OBYU, Petaling Jaya,
called Point 92 which was de
Design Sdn Bhd), and voila, y
running along the vast expan
designed like a sports arena –
walls are laced with images o
and famous athletes.
“We drew inspiration from
diums. The high ceilings add
industrial-looking space,” sai
marketing manager Robin Ko

2. R E & D E S I G N
Starproperty.my
Sunday 20 July 2014 17
ices in Malaysiaow”workspaces ofwhich I have had the privilege to visit.
landscape designers who made them happen.
Tujuan Gemilang office, Kuala Lumpur
6
TUJUAN GEMILANG’s office at the PJ Trade
Centre in Damansara Perdana, Petaling Jaya,
has all the hallmarks of a green office complete
with an outside edge forming a private garden
of about 700sq ft with trees that soothe the
soul. “The inspiring thing about our office is the strong
connection to nature. The private garden faces east.
“And, the west side faces the courtyard of the build-
ing, where we see the tops of hundreds of forest trees,
and the occasional bird and butterfly. The sales display
is at the front while the conference room is right in the
heart of the office with a built-up of 5,750sq ft,” said
Tujuan Gemilang executive director Peter Chan.
Genovasi office,
Kuala Lumpur
7
GENOVASI, the
only Design
Thinking School
in Malaysia is
situated in the
industrial enclave of
Petaling Jaya. All of its
20,000sq ft workspace
cum training area is
fully utilised to max-
imise productivity and
encourage creativity and most
of the seats are high bar stools
to ensure one is at full alert even
when sitting.
Designed to empower partici-
pants on its programme, a huge
blackboard of sorts allows one to
leave messags while a merry-go-
round adds an air of camaraderie
to the space. “The Genovasi office
is nicknamed the ‘Aquarium’
because of its glass walls,” said
Genovasi chief inspiration officer
or CEO Carol Wong.
Pendant lights add a touch of
gaiety to the dining area while
the library area is astrewn with
beanbads and colourful sofas com-
plemented by coffee tables crafted
from wooden palette on wheels.
A cafeteria area beckons with a
pantry area while unlimited drinks
and snacks keep hunger pangs at
bay. Lockers for the students are
available and colourful chairs and
other modular furtniture pep-
per the area. And, there is even a
futsal court complete with mobile
goal posts for warm-up exercises!
Leadernomics, Kuala Lumpur
8
LEADERONOMICS is in the busi-
ness of leadership and fun moti-
vation.
When commissioned to
undertake the design of its
workspace, FSHDesign Group partner
and design director Max Barcham was
happy to encapsulate the meaning of
“fun” in the workspace by including
a swing and designing R&R (rest and
relax) spaces.
“Usually, with office interiors, one
deals with the issue of numbers but in
this case, it was different as we included
group “interactive spaces” as represent-
ed by the casual “sitting room” areas.
The pillars of growth, relationships,
building a future, empowering and
giving are represented in the open
spaces and colourful designs framing the
backdrop of the “urban park” with its
exposed red bricks.
Google HQ, Kuala Lumpur
Bizz area on the right features
onal work station clusters .
from the work areas is a chill-
h bean bags, TV and hammock.
differences in design approach
we created a work environment
f alternatives to the ‘desk’ area
ommented FSHDesign Group
sign director Max Barcham on
workspace.
THE STAR
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you’ll feel like
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ok.
9
GOOGLE goes tropical in
Kuala Lumpur. What’s there
not to love about Google? A
visit to its 10,000sq ft office
in KL Sentral’s Quill build-
ing showcased a workspace laden
with sandwiches and other treats
so none will ever go hungry here.
Local adaptations emerge in the
batik rendered Google signage and
meeting rooms named after local
delicacies. Truly Googlicious!