TWO highly motivated and ambitious British architects decided in the early 90s to seek their fortunes in Asia. Opportunity came by when they were offered jobs in DCM, an Australian company based in Singapore.
They were transferred to Kuala Lumpur to undertake the building of the Ampang Point Shopping Centre, which was completed in 1992.
That was the turning point for Martin Haeger and James Lindsey to eventually pursue their own business, hence HL Design Group (HLDG) was set up in 1994.
Speaking to StarBizWeek, HLDG director and co-founder Haeger says: “We later joint-ventured for more than a decade with Australian retail specialist B+N Retail Group before becoming independent again in 2005. Co-founder Lindsey has since retired.
Following the introduction of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) in Malaysia and subsequent changes to the Architects Act, HLDG with local partner and director, Ahmad Izaham, and another long-term employee of the group registered HL Architecture Sdn Bhd in 2018 as a body corporate architect.
Izaham, who is an architect by profession, also has vast experience in the architecture business.
HLDG, which is headquartered in Kuala Lumpur, is an award-winning international design company practising architectural design, master-planning, interior design, branding and graphic design.
Its affiliate HL Architecture provides full architectural services, working hand in hand with the group’s international team, combining international expertise in design and more than 28 years of local experience and professional services in South-East Asia.
and CapitaLand Mall.
This project was completed in collaboration with Izaham.
It was named “World Gold Winner (Retail)” at the prestigious FIABCI, The International Real Estate Federation World Prix d’Excellence Awards 2020, dubbed the Oscars of real estate.
For interior design, Haeger says HLDG undertook and completed the NU Sentral mall interior for Malaysian Resources Corp Bhd or MRCB, Gurney Paragon for Hunza Properties Bhd and is currently working on a unique destination for Malaysian artists, fashion retailers and entrepreneurs called Malaysian Artisan District, part of Merdeka 118 Mall, to be opened in 2024.
The group was also involved in the architectural and interior design works for KLIA Gateway for WCT Holdings Bhd and Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd in collaboration with Arkitek AAP, which was the country’s first landside airport mall.
HL Architecture is also the architect for a new 73-storey twin tower development called the Landmark next to Times Square, and has recently been engaged by UEM Sunrise Bhd as architects for an exciting new mixed-use development in Petaling Jaya.
On the group’s strength, Haeger says: “We develop designs that are conceptualised as more than just buildings, but rather urban projects that respond and express the identity of an institution, city or nation.
“This combined with diverse expertise has led to our involvement in various project typologies, ranging from retail, offices and living spaces to urban regeneration.
“Balancing creative vision with commercial viability, HLDG’s projects have proven to satisfy our client’s expectations, improve the quality of life, strengthen communities and positively impact the public realm, as well as providing lasting and long-term economic value.”
On top of that, he says the group’s core strength is its diversity. Having a multinational team hailing from the UK, Europe and South-East Asia together with a strong creative Malaysian team has allowed the group to share global experience with a strong sense of understanding of local culture, and of the challenges of designing in a tropical climate.
“Our commitment to sustainable design is also critical, as the world acknowledges the significant impact of the built environment on our carbon footprint,” he notes.
Outlining the challenges of the local architecture landscape, Haeger says there are a number of hurdles which it is facing.
With approximately 20 million sq ft of unoccupied office space in the Klang Valley and significant saturation in the retail and high-end residential markets, he says developers are faced with rising construction prices due to supply chain issues and the impact of the ongoing conflicts in Eastern Europe.
Coupled with reduced banking liquidity, Haeger says investors remain cautious and developers are under pressure to deliver products which are affordable and relevant to a rapidly shifting market adapting to significant changes in work life culture as a consequence of the Covid-19 pandemic.
All these challenges will have an impact on the architectural landscape, he adds.
There are, however, areas of growth such as the data centre and other technology-based industries, where the group is actively involved with its advanced building information modelling or BIM capabilities.
These are areas where Malaysia is well-positioned to attract multinational investment, he says.
Commenting on the architectural process, he says: “The practice of architecture relies on the symbiotic relationship between developers, their consultants and end-users.
“We are finding more than ever that a more collaborative approach is required, combining not only design, but better operational standards with reduced operational costs, etc.
“A good example is our work with Asia Pacific University or APU and working closely with its CEO, Datuk Parmjit Singh, with his deep passion for education to realise his ambitious goals to develop a creative, naturally ventilated campus environment to meet the expectations of their global student population.
“In an age where social media has now become the driving force for many businesses and the battle of online versus bricks and mortar continues to evolve, the demands for developers to meet rapidly changing aspirations requires creative minds and a level of risk-taking to explore new, sometimes untested solutions.
“With this said, Malaysia has much to be proud of, with its impressive skyline boasting some of the world’s tallest buildings and largest malls, many built with the synergistic participation of leading global architects and their Malaysian collaborators.”
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