Merging Tradition With Modernity

Blu Water’s Design Director, IDr Nashzelima Ngadmin, is an experienced and inspiring individual with plenty of recognisable projects under her belt such as The Edison Hotel Penang and EQ Kuala Lumpur. IDr Nashzelima’s family has always been interested in arts and crafts, so from a young age, she had an environment that was supportive of creativity. Growing up, she watched home deco shows on TV with her sister, and that’s when her love for design began. “To me, design means an effort to make our lives better, in terms of practicality, our aesthetic preference, and most importantly self-expression,” she says.

She brings this ideology to her work. When designing spaces from clients such as in the hospitality industry, she believes it’s the designers’ roles to recognize the owner and operator’s own set of needs, and then bridge those visions to create spaces that are not just easy on the eyes but operationally efficient. Designs that draw from local culture and heritage is an inspiration to IDr Nashzelima. She likes to include her personal touch to modernize concepts that are more traditional while balancing it with the client’s vision. Traditional materials are also a part of this; she enjoys taking the essence of these traditional materials and turning them into timeless modern pieces with new form and function.

My philosophy revolves around balancing nostalgia and excitement, luxury and modesty,” IDr Nashzelima says. “It is important for us as designers to not only create spaces that we’re inspired by, but spaces that inspire others.” The biggest challenge that she’s faced from the beginning was not the creation of the design itself but the execution on-site. They may have the ideas on paper, but to translate that the physical building takes a lot of monitoring and cooperation with the builders and contractors. Another major challenge is working on refurbishing projects that involve traditional and historic architecture. This requires carefully planning, seamless design directions and meticulous execution so that the original beauty of the architecture is not damaged.

But, of course, it’s not just all hardships – there are also many triumphs. Being the Design Director at Blu Water is IDr Nashzelima’s proudest and best achievement because it’s a reflection of all the years of work she has put in from the start. She’s also very proud of her team and of the younger generation that will take charge after her. She commends them for being able to quickly adapt to new technologies in design software, building materials and up-and-coming design styles.

The most important advice she has for up-and-comers is to stay curious and never stop learning. “The idea is not to compete, but to explore our unique expression of identity,” she shares. “Be daring to experiment, be passionate to create, and be patient in the journey.” IDr Nashzelima believes that with her advice in mind, the design circle will be rich with unique styles and talents sprouted from different individualities.