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The public often perceives architects as egotists revelling in their own creative designs. So it came as a surprise when British architect Jonathan Parr, a partner at the internationally acclaimed architectural firm Foster + Partners, emphasised that our interview should focus on the Inca-inspired Arcoris Mont’Kiara he had helped design as well as his firm rather than on him.
Parr has been with London-based Foster + Partners for the past 20 years, and has racked up an impressive track record, having worked on various large-scale projects, including some of the biggest in Asia. He was part of the team that designed the Chek Lap Kok International Airport and the West Kowloon Cultural District in Hong Kong as well as China’s Beijing International Airport.
No stranger to Malaysia, Parr’s first project in the country was Universiti Teknologi Petronas in Perak, which won the Aga Khan Award for architecture in 2007.
After we settle down for the interview, Parr starts reminiscing about his first trip to Malaysia.
“It was in the winter of 1996. I was hired for the Universiti Teknologi Petronas project. It was such a joy to work with the late Tan Sri Azizan Zainul Abidin, chairman of Petronas, who was very involved in the entire process. Much of the project was his vision,” he says.
Foster + Partners also designed the award-winning The Troika in KLCC.
Parr’s latest project — Arcoris Mont’Kiara — sees him flying back and forth between the UK and Malaysia on a regular basis.
Arcoris is a mixed-use project in Mont’Kiara, Kuala Lumpur, by Sunrise Bhd, a wholly-owned subsidiary of UEM Land Holdings Bhd. The development sits on a six-acre parcel not far from Plaza Mont’Kiara. When completed in December 2015, Arcoris will integrate five components — business suites, SoHos, serviced residences, retail and a hotel. The gross development value of the project is RM940 million.
Machu Picchu inspiration
The Foster team led by Parr got their inspiration for the Arcoris design from Machu Picchu, a 15th century pre-Columbian Inca site in Peru that is reputed to be one of the most familiar icons of the Inca world.
The team started with 17 ideas for the integrated development. “By the time we got to version 18, which was the final scheme, the idea to base Arcoris on Machu Picchu suddenly struck us,” says Parr.
He goes on to explain that the Arcoris design negotiates the different levels of the site, taking advantage of the natural terrain and weaving the public and private realms with sloping terraces that look into the heart of the development.
Parr says Macchu Picchu sums up the firm’s idea for Arcoris — an area of greenery wrapping up and around a mass. “We try to integrate as much greenery as possible in this development. Another important issue was orientation. We wanted to maximise views and privacy, making sure that each unit had a good view of greenery, even though you are on a higher floor.”
Parr says Foster takes the approach of questioning “what the best solution for a project is in any given place. Every project is unique; we don’t take an idea and recycle it”.
“What we try to do at Foster is ensure that the communities are seamlessly integrated yet distinctly set apart. To one end, the entire northern block functions as a purely residential enclave, while the south tower integrates the hotel with the other communities.”
Parr adds that the Arcoris residential tower will have a separate entrance from the retail section and hotel. “This is to ensure the privacy and security of residents.”
“What struck us the most was that although Jalan Kiara is a busy road, it doesn’t really have character or a centre for the residences. Besides that, there is no link between the flow from Jalan Kiara to Jalan Kiara 4,” says Parr, who is confident that Arcoris will eventually become the new focal point of the neighbourhood, bringing together the surrounding communities once it is completed.
The development is made up of two blocks, one 18 storeys high and the other 35 storeys. The 18-storey tower will house 331 serviced residences with built-ups of 850 to 2,000 sq ft while the taller tower will house business suites — known as Arcoris Suites — a hotel with about 275 rooms with built-ups of 350 to 1,000 sq ft and 368 SoHos with built-ups of 450 to 1,000 sq ft.
Sunrise has already sold most of its Arcoris Suites — some 90% of the available 262 units were snapped up following a preview. Prices start at RM383,000 or RM660 psf while the built-ups are 660 to 850 sq ft.
The retail component, which comprises 50 units, will be in a central plaza that links the two towers. Arcoris will eventually have 1,470 parking bays as well as 24-hour security, swimming and wading pools, function and multi-purpose rooms, and tennis and badminton courts.
Foster is also responsible for the interior design of the partly furnished SoHos, which will be launched next. “There shouldn’t be a distinction between the inside and outside of a project. We believe it will add an extra level of quality when the inside reflects and complements the architecture of the building,” says Parr, adding that the interior design will offer a simple and clean look.
Raymond Cheah, project director of UEM Land Holdings’ development division, says the group aspires for Arcoris to be Green Building Index-certified in the future as it has many green features: a high green plot ratio, energy-saving escalators and lifts, multiple check meters to ensure minimal wastage of water and electricity, rainwater-harvesting system, water-efficient sanitary ware and fittings, inverter-type air conditioning and effective building massing that will minimise direct heat from the sun.
“Arcoris represents a holistic balance of the work-life environment within an upmarket locality,” he says.
The Foster signature
“We believe Foster’s signature is in the details. It makes complex solutions simple while maintaining quality,” says Cheah when asked why Foster + Partners was selected for the project.
He adds that Foster’s ability to adapt and work around the budget despite having dealt with many big-budget ventures previously was a key reason the developer decided to hire the firm to design Arcoris.
Despite its international fame, Cheah says the firm has impressed with its flexibility and willingness to engage local craftsmen, suppliers and manufacturers for practical and environmental reasons.
When asked what was his biggest challenge in working on Arcoris, Parr chuckles. “Well, boss, what say you?” he asks Cheah before saying that their biggest concern was finding a balance between height and space while juggling the budget for the various components.
Parr also points out that there is a misconception that Foster only handles expensive projects. “We do have many clients with a more than generous budget, but we have also done projects for clients with smaller budgets. Personally, I find it interesting and very rewarding to create something good out of a reasonable budget.”
So, are there any plans for future collaboration between Foster and the group?
“We have some projects lined up in Nusajaya, Johor,” says Cheah. “It is always great to work with them. There is so much to learn from each other. The learning curve is huge!”
This article appeared in City & Country, the property pullout of The Edge Malaysia, Issue 915, June 18-24, 2012
