Malaysian architect's new book features 17 selected works designed in harmony with nature

Masjid Daing Abdul Rahman features a unique galvanised steel screen comprising randomly patterned triangular panels that reflect the traditional mashrabiya design in a contemporary way. Photos: Razin Architects

If not for the lockdown in March last year, Razin Mahmood’s architectural book would probably not see the light of day.

The award-winning founding director of Razin Architects, a practice based in Johor Baru, first started working on the coffee table book in July 2019, but admitted he didn’t have a clear direction for it.

“It was initially just a collection of project photographs with short write-ups. I did photography as a hobby and my favourite subjects were always travel and architecture.

“I started with 35mm slides and was commissioned a few times to take photos for a local design magazine. That was in the mid-90s, when I set up my own practice.

“So naturally, when I completed a few projects under my own name, I made sure the completed works were documented,” he said via email.

Since then, Razin has collected thousands of publishable building photographs.

His peers soon commended his unique style and design consistency, and started calling him “regionalist”, “tropical architect” and “eco architect”.

Razin hopes more local architects and designers will publish their works so that together, they can better promote Malaysian designs.

“Along the way, I was honoured to be given a few design awards both by local and international institutions, which somewhat gave me the idea that maybe I should share my work and thoughts in the form of a book,” he said.

Blurring Boundaries was completed in July 2020, just after the country’s first movement control order, and officially launched in March this year.

“To be honest, the lockdown period pushed me to complete the book,” said the father of five.

Blurring Boundaries features 17 selected projects by Razin Architects, ranging from private homes and small offices to religious buildings.

The most difficult aspect of writing the book was deciding which projects to feature, said Razin.

A large over-sailing roof with perforated walls form the simple facade of the award-winning Surau Nusa Idaman in Johor Baru.

“I was lucky I had a renowned architectural writer, Prof Robert Powell, to guide me on the publication. Powell has written more than 40 books on tropical architecture from Sri Lanka, Thailand to Indonesia.

“Getting the agreement from him to write the foreword for my book is an endorsement, which is probably the highest form of recognition for my works,” said Razin.

Humble beginnings

The son of a religious teacher, 56-year-old Razin was born and raised in Pontian, Johor.

He attended Malay College Kuala Kangsar and, in 1983, was awarded a government scholarship to study architecture at Louisiana State University at Baton Rouge, Louisiana, the United States.

After graduating, Razin worked with an architectural firm in Austin, Texas, before returning to Malaysia in 1989.

He worked with a few local firms before setting up his own firm (then a sole proprietorship), Razin Architect, in 1996 in Kuala Lumpur. A year later, he moved his practice to Johor Baru due to the economic crisis.

The pool and garden area of Denai House in Johor Baru. Photo: Lin Ho

Since then, many of his projects have gained much attention locally and abroad.

The East Ledang Guard House in Ledang Heights, Johor, won the Silver Award (Adaptive Reuse category) in the 2012 Malaysian Institute of Architects’ PAM Awards.

Razin was also named Golden Emerging Architect (Malaysia) at the Architecture+Design CERA Awards held in Turkey in 2014.

Notably, his Surau Nusa Idaman project in Johor also made an impact and won the Gold Award (Sustainability category) in the 2014 Arcasia Award for Architecture as well as the Gold Award (Special category) in the PAM 2011 Awards.

“I built a smaller prayer hall for the congregation there in 2010. It was very basic, as budget and time were their constraints.

“It was more like a shed with a raised praying platform and a big umbrella roof. Perimeter unplastered brick fencing around the platform became the wall.

“Trees were planted between the raised platform and the perimeter fencing to provide shade and reduce rain splashes. It was like praying in a garden,” he described.

The open-sided living space at Denai House in Johor Baru is naturally ventilated. Photo: Lin Ho

When the project was exhibited at the 32nd Korean Architecture Festival’s International Exhibition in South Korea in 2013, Razin was named one of the 100 Architects of the Year by the Korean Institute of Architects.

“I never expected such a simple and basic building would be given such recognition,” admitted Razin.

When the mosque committee decided to build a proper mosque on the same site a few years down the road, Masjid Daing Abdul Rahman – which exudes a sophisticated, contemporary look – was born.

“(For the design), I focused on the look and feel of their former small prayer hall.

“We used the same architectural language, (using) unplastered brick walls and steel structures to hold the big roof.

“The objective was to design a sustainable place of worship for everyday use. The number of users varies a lot, from probably 200 people during daily prayers to 3,000 people on Fridays or Hari Raya,” said Razin.

The main formal prayer area was kept small for just 300 people, but lots of overspill space, either roofed or in an open plaza, was included to cater for large crowds during festivities.

What’s visually unique about the mosque is its galvanised steel screen comprising randomly patterned triangular panels that reflect the traditional mashrabiya design in a contemporary way.

Mashrabiya is an architectural element characterised by latticework prevalent in Islamic architecture.

The screen is installed around the glass box prayer hall to provide shade, with trees planted in between the glass box and the screen.

“We wanted the building to have a contemporary and progressive image. In a way, it symbolises how Islam is indeed progressive.

“The architectural style should not be stuck with the appearance of buildings that were built a few hundred years ago,” explained Razin.



Responsible architecture

Blurring Boundaries, said Razin, is about bringing the outside in and vice versa, a true definition of living in the tropics.

“I hope to inspire readers, be it design students or the general public, that architecture should be truthful to its place and time.

“We should be proud of the way we live and the way we build for our climate.”

A good example of living in the tropics is the Denai House in Kempas Baru, Johor Baru, which is where the architect lives with his family.

Razin said that project posed the biggest challenge in his career.

“To live in my own design, to discipline myself to give priorities to actual needs versus wants, and to juggle budget constraints yet aspire to make a statement, were not easy.

“But I was quite proud of the outcome,” he said of the award-winning design.

Does he have any plans to work on a second book?

“I was told that Masjid Daing Abdul Rahman was probably the most unique building I had ever done. I am planning to showcase mosque proposals, built and unbuilt.

“My next book will probably be titled ‘Tropical Mosques’. I have done so many mosque proposals that I could write a book – literally,” he quipped.

Razin also hopes to see more local architecture and design books written by Malaysians.

“You see a lot of design books published by neighbouring South-east Asian designers and architects.

“I hope more local architects and designers will publish their works so that we can together promote Malaysian designs by filling up the shelves of major bookstores in shopping malls and airports.

“There are so many talented local designers out there – we need to make our presence felt,” he emphasised.

Essentially, his aim as an architect is to “bring harmony between nature and the built environment”.

“As architects, we are in the position to create awareness about being responsible – building and construction activities are big contributors to carbon emission and depletion of natural resources.

“It will be my ultimate goal to use my knowledge and skills to be a responsible inhabitant of the planet, and a better servant to my Creator,” he concluded.