DOTY 2022 BTRA Profile – Rachel Khong

Dive a little deeper into the sensational designs that were honoured with DOTY 2022’s prestigious Building Transformation Recognition Award, courtesy of the ingenious minds responsible for their captivating beauty and renewed sense of purpose.

The Building Transformation Recognition Award (BTRA) recognises the dedicated initiatives taken in building restoration and transformation of an existing building as an effort towards sustainability, respecting the unique challenges tackled in doing so. It encourages the restoration of old buildings, preservation of heritage as well as the creative use of space and function. Receiving this invaluable accolade under the Designer of the Year (DOTY) Awards 2022, an illustrious event organised by ACG Media, are six of the following designers and architects who have made their mark across the Malaysian landscape with their uniquely spectacular designs which pay homage to the past, and at the same time, move boldly towards the future.

Rachel Khong

Director

Northmos Sdn Bhd | www.northmosdesign.com

Project: Five Thousand Years Restaurant

Just like the fresh batch of blooms that re-emerge at the end of March, so does the restored heritage building that reopens its doors as Five Thousand Years. Inspired by the beauty of this flower, along with the flourishing temperament of verdant greenery, strong Oriental influences harmoniously converge with fresh, contemporary visuals at the hands of Northmos through an assiduous equilibrium of elements. The vast canvas afforded by the 10,000 sq ft space and the opportunity to develop an original restaurant theme from scratch attracted Rachel Khong to take on this project in the first place.

A unique gimmick, the multitudinal shades of foliage covering parts of the textured black facade pulls you in from afar, conveying a commitment to sustainability and an immersive dining experience like no other. Apart from representing growth and renewal, the lush green accents inside complement the large faux cherry blossom tree at the epicentre; doing more than just reinforcing the muse of the project, this stunning feature is used to strategically cover the building’s main structural beam in a way that blends in smoothly with its environment.

Red tapes, tight timelines, structural modifications and material sourcing were some of the barriers encountered. In order to knock them down, Northmos relied on streamlined workflows, close progress monitoring and effective communication among its superbly skilled team — all of which culminated in the project’s swift completion in just 70 days. Grateful for the experience, she signs off saying, “Heritage buildings are like a beloved book. Designing for them is like the art of preserving cherished pages, while crafting new chapters with elegance and respect.”