ZO
NE
ARCHITECT The Boutique Hotel and KPJ hospital Sungai Penchala
June 2015
An interview with Ar. Chong Chee Keong
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• The ZONE Architect 1-2
• Introduction to Ar. Chong Chee Keong 3-4 • 2 Projects involved
5-6 • Roles and Responsibilities 7-8
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THE ZONE ARCHITECT
Background & History
ZONE Architect is an interna0onal architecture and design consultancy fi rm tha t has been established for 27 years, s i n c e 1 9 8 9 . T h e i r headquarter is located at Jalan Ipoh, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Besides that, they also have other branches at Ipoh, Johor Bahru ,Myanmar and Abu Dhabi. .
They have successfully delivered projects that are worth more than RM3 billion and have undertake projects in Australia, China, Cambodia, Indonesia, India, Malaysia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) . Currently their office in Abu Dhabi has carried out projects in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Ras Al Khaimah, Ajman as well as in the Sultanate of Oman. 1
Company Structure
Principal and Associate Directors
Mid-Level Management Team
Design
Management
Construction
Contracts
Marketing
Our team is made up of 50 personnel at KL HQ, who are all rigorously selected and trained to perform at peak level. We ensure the team members are part of a con0nuous training and development program to keep up with the latest building techniques. At Myanmar, the branches are in charge by others SOC, which have around 10 personnel while the Abu Dhabi branch is in collabora0on with the Kuala Lumpur HQ.
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INTRODUCTION to Ar. Chong Chee Keong
Q1: What is your biggest challenge as an architect ? To interpret the brief and make it workable in the industry. Convince client on the design concept. Also, meet up the budget with less risky ideas. Dealing with the contractors (convince them that the design works). But mainly, dealing with the authority because after submitting and being compliant, more requirements are needed as if the authority is the client and the inability to offend them is a headache. 3
Ar. Chong Chee Kong has 13 years of professional experience a^er gradua0ng from University Malaya, including his 2 years in ZONE and has gained strong analy0cal ski l ls in problem iden0fica0on and implementa0on of effec0ve solu0ons. Besides, he is well versed in most aspects of housing and commercial developments; and building regula0on in Malaysia. He strives for con0nued excellence and advancement, and always presents himself in a professional manner.
Ar. CHONG CHEE KEONG, Project Director
Q2. How do you describe your university life as an architecture student? Try to participate and mee t more peop le outside of the course instead of the same people in it because there is no end in architecture if you just keep perfecting your work causing you to be less sociable.
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Q3. Is becoming an architect your first ambition ? STPM did not prepare me for my ambition so I was just focusing on getting good grades. After that, architecture seemed great because I was qualified and thought it was fun and did not need to study much. Initially, I also thought that my drawing was good.
Q2. How important is y o u r u n i v e r s i t y educaGon to your career now ? University was a time to explore concepts and is less serious compared to actual work .
“ Architecture is actually very funny , you never have an end to the projects.” - Ar. Chong Chee Kong
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Throughout his 12 years of experience as a project architect, Ar. Chong Chee Keong has worked from preparing schema0c design, developing design, preparing tender to managing and administering building contract. Among the projects he has handled, he stated that the challenging ones are the proposed private medical center for KPJ Hospital in Sungai Penchala and proposed 3-‐star hotel, Bou0que Hotel at Jalan Yap Ah Shak, Kuala Lumpur. Regarding the Bou0que Hotel, Ar. Chong was in charge of the preliminary plan. When the preliminary plan was almost completed, and he was wai0ng for the submission and approval. He had done the tender drawings already and he was ensuring whether it was construc0ble. Ar. Chong said that when they wanted to call upon the calling tender, the client wanted them to redesign it, saying that they wanted a different typology. He then had to redesign the whole concept by star0ng from the sketching process.
BOUTIQUE HOTEL , Kuala Lumpur By Ar. Chong Chee Keong
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For the hospital project, when he was involved in it, it already has a preliminary layout. A^er the hospital operator came in, he and his team have to redesign the whole structure. The layout has to be approved by 3 par0es. Not only the layout, they also need to emphasise the cost and deal with the Quan0ty Surveyor. A^er finalising the layout, they have to complete the KN submission. Right now he is wai0ng for the client’s instruc0ons as they are s0ll nego0a0ng the cost.
Private Medical Center for KPJ Hospital , Sungai Penchala Proposed by Ar. Chong Chee Keong
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Ar. Chong designs a tender drawing that is construc0ble star0ng from a sketch. When the client wants a design of a building, they will brief him first on what they want. T h en , t h e h e h a s t o inves0gate the site and then designs according to the regula0ons and laws of planning requirements. He has to communicate with the council to update them on the design informa0on. whole thing will be sent to
the KM. Also, he has to choose the materials for the building construc0on as well. If the client is not c o n fi d e n t w i t h t h e ma te r i a l s chosen , a discussion will be held and a proposal will then be sent to the suppliers.
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ROLES & RESPONSIBILITIES
Of Ar. Chong Chee Keong for the pass 12 years
A^er the first design, he will then have to present it. If the design is accepted, he can then proceed. However, before construc0on starts, the design has to be sent to a quan0ty surveyor to c a l c u l a t e t h e t o t a l construc0on costs. A^er that, the plan and eleva0on has to be sent to a planner. Finally, the
BEFORE CONSTRUCTION
Hs job does not end directly after the completion of construction. He has to revisit the site to observe the views and know the location of access and the slope. He also need to assess the condition of the building to ensure that it is in good condition. His work con0nues un0l a^er the building work. Part of the payment due to the builder – the reten0on – is held back for up to twelve months and is only paid out on the architect’s instruc0on, a^er any defects have been rec0fied by the contractor. Remember that the architect ’s Opinion on Compliance with Planning and Building Regula0ons is subject to work not being changed during construc0on.
DURING CONSTRUCTION
He has to go through the contract and ask the contractor to submit all the compliance materials. A sample model also has to be made for reference. Then, he will be involved in site visits and mee0ng s , o ve r s ee i ng t he construc0on and signing off on various pieces of work. He will be nego0a0ng with contractors and dealing with and resolving any problems that arise.
AFTER CONSTRUCTION
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ABOUT US
Group Leader : Shum Li Sze Group Members : 1. Tan Jia San
2. Ng Ji Yann 3. Phares Phung 4. Ong Von Wan 5. Ngu Xian Le
Tutor : Pn. Hasmanirah Mokhtar 9