Seeking to develop a Malaysian-inspired office architecture rather than follow the ubiquitous aluminium-and-glass model seen from New York to Singapore, the architect innovatively used simple local materials - over-burnt bricks, concrete ventilation blocks and exposed concrete - for this 20-storey structure. The fast-weathering materials and the planting of a publicly accessible forest immediately in front enabled the building to quickly fit into its natural setting of wooded granite hills. The ventilation blocks are crafted into delicate full-height screens on the eastern and western facades, as sun-shading devices and to minimise highway noise. The space between these and the building creates balconies for private gardens, further enhancing the connection with nature.

Source: Aga Khan Trust for Culture