Special Projects

Client: Helsinki City Art Museum 
Status: Competition 2014

Inspired by the Finnish landscape and the Kalevala epic, the Guggenheim Helsinki is conceptualized as a Landscape for Art. The building is envisioned as an abstract landscape, weaving together the multi-dimensional fabric of Helsinki and the experience of the museum’s exhibition into one. Linking the park to the waterfront, the Guggenheim appears as a cascading form which catches the light and gently rises towards the city centre on one side, the sea on the other, a subtle iconic inflexion to the city skyline.

The placement of the public programs responds to the network of pedestrian movement along the harbour-front while the gallery space is experienced as a continuous ramped loop which opens up towards monumental vistas of the sea and the city. The Guggenheim Helsinki brings together social interactions and the experience of art into one, in a facility that is global in outlook, yet Finnish in spirit.

This competition entry was prepared in 2014, and the project was subsequently aborted.

Client: Ministry of Antiquities
Status: Competition

The design brief for this international competition for the Grand Egyptian Museum called for the building to be simultaneously a repository for the largest collection of artefacts from Ancient Egypt and a living institution. Sited close to the Pyramids of Giza, set against the vast backdrop of shifting sand dunes, the design concept captures the spirit of discovery and reconstruction, just as fragments of the past are excavated and reassembled to piece together an unfolding story of an ancient civilization where the truth is constantly rewritten, and the meaning of an idea—continually re-questioned.

We proposed a building half submerged in the desert site, visible to the world as an edgeless form extending into the shifting sands, an allusion to today’s borderless world where knowledge is accessible to all. The dematerialization of the structure gives expression to this, as walls and roof converge into a series of abstract convoluted planes harbouring a cavernous space beneath the dunes.

This is the Great Hall, the heart of the museum, the primary space dissolving into a labyrinth of galleries. That it is simultaneously the point of departure and return of the visitor’s journey bespeaks its ceremonial significance in the entirety of the scheme. Slits of varying widths illuminate the internal spaces, sometimes widening to bring in natural ventilation reminiscent of the passive cooling qualities of the traditional malqaf—Middle-Eastern wind chimneys, found abundantly in indigenous buildings in the Middle East.

Status : Completion 2028

This 13,000sm winery sits on a 17ha parcel in the beautiful natural landscape of gently rolling hills on the northern island of Hokkaido. Its planning transcribes the process of sparkling wine making which dictates the placement of respective spaces while the separation of controlled (clean) zones for employees and non-controlled zones for both staff and visitors ensures efficient yet sanitary operations. A rectangular “factory” building and a doughnut-shaped cellar structure are connected with a volume housing vertical circulation in the middle, a loading dock and employee entrance to the north and the guest area to the south. The predominant exterior finish is basalt rock from the site applied in different sizes and textures. The interior of the guest receiving area, offices, employee lounge, locker rooms and dining hall use wood finishes including teak and mahogany window frames.

Client : Women’s Aid Organization Shelter Home
Status : Completed 2022

The WAO Shelter Home is a Corporate Social Responsibility project to rebuild a 1960s house that had been struck by lightning and partly destroyed by fire. The house much deteriorated and due to its condition, it needed extensive rebuilding. The burnt roof tiles were salvaged from the partially demolished house. The existing house was a safe home for rescued children under eighteen, who found refuge within its walls.
The design idea is to keep portions of the old structure for the administration zone and create two-storey annexes for the residential zone. In between, the administration and residential zones share a green courtyard serving as a communal space.

The WAO Shelter home is one of the first childcare center with Green certification achieving the highest Platinum score to date. The house design focus on its passive and active cooling strategies, recycled material, and optimized use of renewable energy.

The house is oriented to enable good daylight penetration with minimum solar heat gain even with large openings at the ground. Cross ventilation breezes and convective airflow were achieved via the central courtyard and permeable screen walls. Besides the main rooms, wet areas i.e. toilets, bathrooms, and kitchens are designed with operable windows and vent walls for natural ventilation and daylighting.The house is oriented to enable good daylight penetration with minimum solar heat gain even with large openings at the ground. Cross ventilation breezes and convective airflow were achieved via the central courtyard and permeable screen walls. Besides the main rooms, wet areas i.e. toilets, bathrooms, and kitchens are designed with operable windows and vent walls for natural ventilation and daylighting.

To reduce the detrimental impact on occupant health from finishes emitting internal air pollutants, low VOC paints, and environmentally friendly adhesives were used as the source for interior surface finishes, besides that, several Certified green label products were used such as lightweight wall panels and Mineral roof tile.

With the limited budget valued at approximately RM180 per square foot, the new shelter home reused various recyclable materials such as the rejected porcelain tiles and sample marble tiles from developers, excess stock sanitary ware and fittings from the suppliers, and the burnt roof tiles from the fire-damaged house were repurposed and up-cycled to create a new protective interior screen wall.

The Home was the result of a six-year project with a limited budget; the new 2 and a half storey children's home finally marked its completion on 20 January 2022 with a total built-up of 5700 square feet. Despite the pandemic and experiencing 2 major lockdowns the shelter is a beacon of hope, just like the burnt roof tile screen wall, it symbolizes a gesture of recovery, regeneration, and resilience. It is hoped that this calm and sheltered environment will inspire the children who have suffered domestic abuse and violence and inspire people to create a more supportive and regenerative environment for those less fortunate.

Client : ECER Development Council
Status : Completion 2025

The Turtle Conservation & Information Centre (TCIC) in Cherating, Kuantan, Pahang, is undergoing a significant architectural upgrade. This revitalization project aims to enhance both functionality and aesthetics, ensuring the centre serves as a beacon of conservation efforts and education. Key elements of the upgrade include the incorporation of sustainable materials and design principles that reflect the natural habitat of the turtles.

The architectural redesign focuses on creating an immersive experience for visitors, integrating modern exhibit spaces with interactive displays that educate and engage. The exterior will feature organic forms and natural textures, harmonizing with the surrounding environment. The use of renewable energy sources and advanced waste management systems underscores the commitment to sustainability.

Interior spaces will be reimagined to facilitate better flow and accessibility, ensuring a seamless visitor experience. This includes the expansion of educational facilities, research labs, and community areas. The design also emphasizes the importance of natural light and ventilation, creating a comfortable and inviting atmosphere.

Overall, the upgrade of TCIC Cherating embodies a holistic approach to conservation architecture, blending functionality with ecological sensitivity, and positioning the centre as a leading example of sustainable design in the realm of environmental education and wildlife preservation.

Client: Perbadanan Kemajuan Negeri Selangor

The Lakeside Floating Restaurant is located in the heart of Shah Alam, the capital of Selangor Darul Ehsan. The building is a refurbishment of an existing structure located at the same location. The restaurant’s design was inspired by the Perbadanan Kemajuan Negeri Selangor (PKNS) HQ which was completed in 2016. That award-winning building was also designed by VERITAS and the new floating restaurant located nearby was conceived to complement its elaborate design.

Elements of Selangor’s cultural identity mixed with the latest trends of environmentally sustainable architecture are embedded into the design concept. The restaurant which is 1200sm, consists of a single-storey design that caters for up to 300 pax at one time. It is easily accessible and it is well-connected to the PKNS HQ via a pedestrian walkway. The building also re-purposes a significant amount of construction material which includes 40sm of timber deck and over 300 pieces of clay roof tiles which were recycled from a building which was once stood on the same site. The new building’s high ceiling, naturally ventilated openings and use of natural day-lighting enhances it’s low-energy performance and ensures efficient energy usage. 

Client : St Andrew Church

Client : Kampung Bharu Development  Sdn Bhd
The Saloma Link is a pedestrian bridge that connects Kampong Bharu, the traditional Malay enclave dating back to late 19th century and the Kuala Lumpur City Centre (KLCC), the modern cosmopolitan Central Business District (CBD), formerly separated by the Sungai Klang and the six-lane AKLEH highway. It re-established historical connection between Jalan Ampang and Kampong Bharu, among the prominent landmarks that creates Kuala Lumpur.

It encompassed the redevelopment of Jalan Saloma, with a streetside plaza, wider shaded foot paths and a 370m elevated walkway culminated on a bridge that spans 69m across the Klang River and the AKLEH highway.

Inspired by the Sirih Junjung, a matrimonial gift hand-crafted from sireh leaves, traditionally offered in Malay weddings as a symbol of unity, the Saloma Link represents a ceremonial gesture that embodies the bond between two important enclaves in the city: the affluent Kuala Lumpur City Centre and the traditional village of Kampong Bharu. It is aimed to celebrate and encourage pedestrian mobility in the city as part of the sustainable urban design initiatives. Moving towards that objective, Saloma Link also connects the missing link towards a more complete city-wide pedestrian path network in the city.

Client : Johor Land Berhad
Situated in Larkin, Johor next to the existing Tan Sri Dato Haji Hassan Yunos Stadium, the new indoor stadium designed by VERITAS is located on a site which already has a vibrant community which will utilize the project. The stadium is expected to be an important piece in the SUKMA 2020 games which will be hosted in Johor. The design introduces a facility for sporting events while also integrating the existing public realm elements of the site.

The stadium will house 7,000 spectators and will accommodate numerous types of indoor sports. i.e. badminton, takraw, basketball, etc. The building form is derived from the requirement of the stadium itself. The seating arrangement employed is best for the spectator’s line-of-sight and for the placement of ancillary spaces. This arrangement, which is a hybrid of a square and a circle, therefore becomes the main generator for the building form. The geometric motif, repeated in the facade and structure of the building, is derived from ornamentation found in traditional Johorean houses. The motif of the ornamentation is abstracted and re-utilized in the design using contemporary methods and materials. 

Client : Internal Project 
Imagine a single ditalini tube pasta. Then imagine the tube sliced along its ridge, opened and folded upright into a receptacle. Voila! You have the Macaroni Chair. Its catchy namesake is self-explanatory; this is a chair that isn’t afraid to express its originating idea. Mounted on steel legs, it has strategically placed slots on the elbow of its surface to allow it to be stackable. 

Its disposition is buoyant and playful; the melding of the backrest and the seat into one continuous, curved plane is an ironic twist of the common perception of the anatomy of the chair. Just as pasta is patterned, the Macaroni Chair has long ridges running the length of its body, offset by the slick polyprylene surface. The Macaroni Chair is designed to be a casual café chair, built to allow the user to sit back in a relaxed, loose posture following the curvature of its contours. Produced in collaboration with Kian Furniture, the chair comes in 4 colours: lime green, turquoise, black and white. Its tongue-in-cheek allusion to food would be made complete if only one were to sit on it whilst eating Macaroni (the pasta, not the chair) and it demonstrates that even furniture can make a statement that interacts with its context. 

Client : India High Commission 
Torana Gate is a torana (a type of gateway) in Brickfields, Kuala Lumpur. The gate is a gift from the Government of India to Malaysia, as a mark of continued friendship between the two countries.  It was influenced by Hindu and Buddhist architecture of the Indian subcontinent. While toranas are generally single plane structures, the design of the Torana Gate in Kuala Lumpur merges two toranas with a patterned ceiling comprising carved stone panels, thereby creating a pavilion.

The total height, from ground level to the chakra on top, is 10.4 metres (34 ft) and the width at its maximum point is 7.3 metres (24 ft). Each facet of the Gate has been adorned with decorative motifs and carvings, in buff-coloured sandstone panels from India. The artwork was designed to convey rhythm, symmetry and decorative beauty, while remaining a timeless reminder of Indian craftsmanship. This project is in collaboration with Akshaya Jain & Associates. 

Client : Department for International Development UK  
The new 3 storey office building for the British High Commission (BHC) in Dhaka. The linear layout of the building allows an larger open space for better orientation and views towards the building when approached from the entrance. Main entrance facade design based on the traditional Bangladeshi embroidery pattern 'Nolok Taga' becomes the defining feature of the design. Office layout allows for flexibility of working areas. 

Client : KLCC Projeks Berhad (Universiti Teknologi Petronas)
The project called for the development of a new mosque in replacement of an existing one in service of the growing university population. The former mining lake on site gave impetus to the idea of a mosque floating on the water. The mosque seeks to be a conscious transposition of Islam in a society that has embraced modernity and progress; architecture reverent of the Islamic doctrine yet cognizant of the advent of globalization. The design of the mosque is derived from first principles and the result is a departure from the mosque typology, the most apparent of which is the absence of the traditional minaret. The language of the mosque adheres to the maxim that less is more-ostentatious ornamentation is scrupulously avoided. The little it has is limited to calligraphy at the interior base of the dome and the mihrab wall and the lack of decoration only serves to emphasize the purity of its form. Beginning from a floating pedestal, the bulbous base of each column evokes the lines of a palm flowing uninterruptedly from base to underside of each of the 80 small domes, culminating in a bell-shaped khutbah under which the soaring main prayer hall rises. The groves of palm columns seen in their entirety allude to the classical forest of columns. At the client’s request, the main dome echoes the silhouette of their preceding mosque at Suria KLCC.

The mosque is sheathed in white to heighten visual sensitivity to the slightest shift in light. This interplay of light and shadow gives a textural richness to the flowing lines of the formal geometry. The asymmetrical configuration of the scheme is a deviation from the symmetrical layout characterizing most places of worship, conceived to facilitate circulation and gender segregation. Driven by the intention to create a flow-efficient design, the ergonomics of the ablution areas and its surroundings were studiously re-engineered with thoughtful little details; a stool, which is really the serambi, doubles as a shoe rack. The dome’s acoustics-often neglected-was dealt with by conducting tests to ensure optimal auditory clarity. Unlike other mosques-over-water, the threat of flooding here is real and an elevated weir is utilized to counteract the high water level. The result is that part of the pedestal of the mosque appears to float on cascading water, whilst the rest of the mosque is simply reflected on the lake’s serene surface.

Client : Iskandar Invesment Berhad (IIB)
LEGOLAND Malaysia is located in the heart of Nusajaya Iskandar Johore and expected to be opened to the public in 2013. Veritas Johore branch office is to involve in the planning and design of the 38 or more architectural components.LEGOLAND Theme Park will be the centerpiece of a 145 acre integrated complex, that will include a unique lifestyle retail centre, offices, hotels, serviced apartments and residential units. 

Client : Malaysia Nature Society
The Malaysian Nature Society Pavilion was designed by VERITAS in support of Malaysian Nature Society's efforts in conserving the environment. The pavilion will be used as a platform to brief visitors before they embark on the Natural Heritage Trail. 

Client : Ibrahim Hussein
Ibrahim Studio development function as an artist studio and a private working space for the famous artist Datuk Ibrahim Hussein. It consist of a gallery, a private studio and an apartment. Located at Jalan Khatib Koyan off Jalan Raja Abdullah Kampung Baru Kuala Lumpur. Mainly used by Datuk himself as an individual working space and to store his work of art. 

Client : Ireka Corporation Berhad
In 2000 VERITAS was selected from an invited international design competition for the new Brunei Embassy in Beijing, China a turnkey project under the leadership of Ireka Construction Sdn Bhd. The building comprises a 3-storey embassy, chancery and ambassador's residence, including a basement car park and multi-purpose hall and is currently under construction. This 80,000 sq. ft. diplomatic center is designed to harmonize traditional Bruneian and Chinese architectural motifs and is located in the 3rd diplomatic precinct, Beijing.