Architect T.Y. Au

Ar. Jimmy Lim introduced me to architects from India who were in Penang for the Asia Link Sketch Walk 2024. I recalled the famous architects from India who I researched at Washington University- Balakrishna Doshi and Joseph Allen Stein.
In 2012, at Datum, I met up with Ar. Gurjit Singh Matharoo who was a speaker at the event. Ar. Gurjit's work is very modernist with Corbusier's influence.
Later, Ar. Bijoy Jain, a senior at Washington University, became well known for his passion in traditional craftsmanship and detailing.

Sometimes, to complete a world standard project, one needs to take a long and arduous journey. From my own experience, inception to completion of a project may take up to 8 years. In the case of Merdeka 118 Tower, it has been 14 years. Currently, Merdeka 118 is the 2nd tallest tower in the world, after Burj Khalifa and the tallest in South East Asia. It is 678.9m in height with a multi-faceted diamond-shaped façade and a unique spire design located on the side of the building.

We were fortunate to be able to visit the project-organized by Pertubuhan Akitek Malaysia, Northern Chapter. The presentation by Tengku Dato’ Ab. Aziz Tengku Mahmud, the CEO of PNB Merdeka Sdn. Bhd. was very enlightening and informative. Tengku was involved from the initial selection of design architects up to the issuance of F1, the partial completion and compliance of the tower (office floors only).

Design Critique, RAS203: Architecture Studio 1 Final Project Presentation, Universiti Sains Malaysia. 29 Jan 2024

Marjorie S Chang WSU Cougs alumni in the news.......

When I was doing my Masters in Architecture and Urban Design at Washington University in St. Louis, every class had to host an architect for the Monday Night lecture series. Our speaker, for the MAUD program, was Antoine Predock, at that time a very in demand architect for his projects in New Mexico. I remember that he was very flamboyant and always in black.

American Architect and Educator Antoine Predock Passes Away at 87 Learn about the life and career of architect Antoine Predock, whose bold, poetic forms continue to inspire worldwide.

I was at Starbucks Pulau Tikus yesterday when I saw this publication. It was a pleasant surprise to read the article on 123 Macalister and Dato' Ooi Sian Hian. I helped Dato' Ooi by doing research about the property when it was almost completed. The photos in the article were taken when 123 Macalister was just restored but nothing was done inside. The building is now tenanted by AHAM Asset Management Berhad and has been fitted out with modern amenities.

Construction work has started at Pykett Avenue after Mah Sing disposed of the land to Mornngjoy Sdn. Bhd. for RM 66.33M in 2022 https://www.edgeprop.my/content/1903648/mah-sing-sells-freehold-land-penang-rm66m

Previously, there was a big issue as Mah Sing had demolished a heritage building at the site and was ordered to rebuild the building- https://www.edgeprop.my/content/developer-ordered-rebuild-historic-bungalow .

Now that the land has changed hands, is this condition no longer enforced? Strangely, the heritage activists are extremely quiet about this development. Or, is there something we don't know?

Developer ordered to rebuild historic bungalow GEORGE TOWN: Neighbours of an illegally demolished precolonial bungalow that once belonged to 19th century tycoon Khaw Sim Bee have welcomed the gover...

Jutze Interconnect Sdn. Bhd. Interiors of the project, completed together with Ms. Loo from IBEC (Pg) Sdn. Bhd.

https://www.archdaily.com/1012185/finnish-architect-of-light-juha-ilmari-leiviska-passes-away-at-87?ad_campaign=normal-tag

We visited the Myymarki Church in our Finland study trips when we were studying at DIS - Study Abroad in Scandinavia.

Finnish ‘Architect of Light’ Juha Ilmari Leiviskä Passes Away at 87 Experience the architectural genius of Juha Ilmari Leiviskä, renowned for his design of light-infused sacred and secular spaces.

Prior to establishing Architect T.Y. Au, I was working for DEM Design Group. We had 2 offices, in Kuala Lumpur and Penang. It was an interesting time, getting to work on projects of a different scale. And, there are a few alumni from DEM who have established themselves after working for the firm.

Sadly, due to market forces and economic downturn, DEM stopped operations in Malaysia in 2000. This book- https://www.archtyau.com/index.php/download_file/441/0 - chronicles the work that the Penang office was involved in.

This is the remaining pages of the book.

This book was my attempt to promote the architecture of Penang, Malaysia when I was very active with Pertubuhan Akitek Malaysia (Northern Chapter). And, thanks to the generosity of Datuk Seri Ar. Richard Jong, a small compendium of the Penang architecture scene was documented. Some of the buildings-most notably, the Penang Indoor Stadium-have been altered considerably. This publication serves as a record for future architects and those interested in history of the selected few architects and their buildings.

This existing 4 storey industrial building was formerly known as the Follow Me building in Bayan Lepas as it was the office and warehouse of a famous shampoo/bath product. When a cable assembly and wire harness producer leased the building in the 1st Quarter of 2023, Ibec (Penang) Sdn. Bhd. appointed us for architecture and I.D works.

BP4-3C-2. 44 units of double storey semi detached homes and 2 units of double storey bungalows.

BP2-3-1B. A project in Bertam, Kepala Batas consisting of 19 units single storey detached houses and 10 units double storey detached homes.

Sharing what I know about Heritage, Conservation and the Challenges in Penang.

An industrial project that was completed in October 2022. The building houses 2 separate entities but related in terms of management. The project is a refurbishment of an existing industrial building.

This is Jon Lim's latest book on Penang's history and its architects. We are very humbled to be featured in the publication, alongside some notable and extremely successful architects from the island.

A book to learn about the contributions of pioneering architects and their contribution to Penang and Malaysia.......

https://www.entrepotpublishing.com/pd-the-penang-house-rise-of-the-malaysian-architect-1887-2017.cfm

Research, writing and sharing.........

I was pleasantly surprised that Chris Ong's House was reviewed in Tatler Homes Aug-Sep 2021 issue. The author of the article is Professor Robert Powell.

The publication contains other interesting projects and is a good read.

Watch this space! One of our earliest project has been featured in this publication by Professor Robert Powell.

Professor Robert Powell has written 15 books on houses in Tropical Asia. Terrace Transformations in The Tropics is his latest book.

I wrote an article on Gurney Drive for Architecture Malaysia in 2001, around the time when the Penang Outer Ring Road was proposed. Has anything changed since?

Taman Bukit Minyak Utama, Phase 5. The project consists of 90 units of two storey terraced houses, 4 units of double storey semi detached homes and a community building.

Photos were taken by Bee Nyean

MBPP Interior Renovations

Photos were taken by Bee Nyean