Renowned Japanese architect Kengo Kuma was inspired by Malaysia’s forests, people and textures in designing Hyatt Regency Kuala Lumpur at KL Midtown.
Sharing how nature and local culture guided the design, he said: “The columns are not straight by design.
“They shift and rotate slightly to represent forest diversity.”
Speaking at the launch of the hotel located in KL Metropolis, Kuma said the theme was rooted in a desire to bring the rhythm of nature into the city.
“The interior uses many wooden materials with vertical lines to create the impression of walking in a forest,” he said, adding that vertical spacing was used not just for structure but to capture lightness.
Kuma and his team drew from a wide palette – from batik and songket to pewter and rice paper.
The aluminium facade panels were patterned in collaboration with local craftsmen to resemble the texture of pewter.
The lobby ceiling took inspiration from woven textiles, while imported paper screens from Japan were tinted with warm tones to reflect Malaysia’s tropical setting.
On one of his favourite spaces, the lobby, Kuma said: “Most hotel lobbies are dominated by marble or granite.
“Here, we used rice paper, wood and special light fixtures to create warmth and intimacy.”
He also highlighted the hotel pool area, describing it as a “floating paradise in the forest”.
A major challenge, he said, was translating Malaysian motifs into architectural form.
“We collected samples of batik and songket and tried to blend the patterns into the design.”
Louvres and walls, meanwhile, were designed using a wood-panelling technique called yamato-bari to interact with light and shadow.
For guest rooms, Kuma introduced Japanese design flexibility into the layout, incorporating movable partitions and light screens to enhance openness.
