WLEA Interior Design: Best Commercial Design GOLD, Workplace – Shan

From high-end office spaces to luxury retail compositions, these award-winning works set new benchmarks in Malaysia’s unique design scene and its rising global influence

The winning projects at this year’s Designer of the Year Awards, commonly recognised as DOTY, are among Malaysia’s finest designs. In honouring and celebrating the works of leading visionaries, the platform has become the benchmark of excellence in the Malaysian and international design scene. With exceptional talent, these design studios are able to change the worlds that surround them into innovative spaces of being, living and breathing. Presenting — the recipients of the 15th installation of the DOTY Awards.

Gold Winner of DOTY 2025 Best Commercial Design — Workplace

SHAN by WLEA Interior Design

In the vibrant heart of IOI Rio City, Puchong sits shān, a 1,880 sq ft commercial workspace designed by WLEA Interior Design and serving as its office in Kuala Lumpur. Capturing the essence of nature, shān was designed as a sanctuary, inspired by the towering strength and quiet majesty of mountains. The project’s name, shān (山), which also means “mountain” in Mandarin, provides a glimpse into the philosophy behind the design, rooted in balance, calm and the endurance of nature.

Taking its inspiration from WLEA’s logo, which symbolizes a mountain, the design team wanted to embody the same strength and stability reflected in the grandeur of the mountains. Drawing heavily from the ancient artistic traditions of China, the design is inspired by Guo Xi’s famous Northern Song painting, A Thousand Miles of Rivers and Mountains which depicts magnificent natural landscapes with its grand scale, intricate brushwork and profound symbolism. The design of shān similarly strives to connect the people within the space to the tranquil beauty of the natural world.

Another challenge that the design team wanted to overcome was to instill a sense of calm and relaxation within today’s fast-paced urban environments. WLEA has taken this challenge head-on by designing an office environment that seamlessly blends work with a sense of peace. For those entering shān, there is an immediate feeling of being apart from the bustling city, surrounded instead by the serenity of earthy tones and nature-inspired textures.

To achieve this, the design team put key focus on using earthy tones dominate the color palette. These natural hues—such as soft browns, muted greens, and warm greys—were chosen to evoke a sense of calm and serenity. Smooth, curved walls are used to divide the space, creating a natural flow that gently guides people from one area to the next. The absence of sharp angles enhances the sense of calm, encouraging movement in a fluid, organic way.

One of the most striking features of the space is a suspended meeting room that is connected through half-curved glass. This creates a unique element within the space that adds visual intrigue while putting more emphasis on the openness and transparency of the design. The meeting room also serves to blend aesthetic beauty with functionality to create a space that is both stunning and pragmatic.

The material choices for shān work to further bring out the natural, earthy theme. Collaborating with Unicraft, a bespoke surfaces expert, the design team included custom-made feature walls that add texture and depth to the design. The textured paint used on the walls adds a tactile quality to the space, giving off a more organic, earthy aesthetic, while the soft, fluid patterns of the sky-blue marble flooring creates a visually stunning feature that is reminiscent of rivers flowing through the mountains. The design and materials used promotes a tranquil environment, offering a peaceful retreat from the bustling energy of the city just beyond its walls.

With shān, the team designed a seamless integration of work and nature, allowing staff, customers and visiting patrons to breathe, relax and immerse themselves in a space that feels far removed from the everyday hustle. By blending earthy tones, natural materials, and innovative architectural features, WLEA has created a space that shaping not only the spaces we inhabit but the experiences we take from them, serving as a true retreat in the heart of the city.