Simply Different

BackHome Guest House, Kuala Lumpur

A backpackers’ lodge in KL city is not what one would normally consider award-winning stuff, but the Architects’ Association of Malaysia (PAM) thought it was.

Describing it as “a refreshing approach to create an innovative solution to budget constraints without sacrificing creative detailing with spatial articulation with effective use of architectural elements and materials”, the PAM Awards 2009 jury named architects Masyerin MN Architect in collaboration with MMN Design Sdn Bhd the winner of the “Adaptive Re-use” category.

Completed this year, Back Home Tower was designed to change and uplift backpacking standards in Kuala Lumpur. Located along Jalan Tun H.S. Lee, four shoplots were revitalised and redesigned to accommodate 42 guests, a café, and an outdoor area.

Harking to cosmopolitanism at the turn of the 20thcentury, Back Home was conceptualised to be honest, comfortable and reminiscent of being home.

In line with this, the architects preserved the use of raw-finish concrete, treated marine plywood, facing bricks and unpainted galvanised steel elements. The ceiling was also lifted and an air well was built to facilitate natural light and air flow.

Glass was also used generously in the inner façade facing the courtyard to promote natural light, while glass light boxes were randomly positioned to create light interplay in the interior spaces by day while transforming into floating beacons that decorate the exterior by night.

These measures, along with steps to re-strengthen the deteriorating building structure, were done while preserving much of the original structure. A link-bridge and service facilities such as a wet area, kitchen, laundry and storeroom were also added.

As part of its design, Back Home also has several energy-saving design elements, including PLCE and LED lighting, louvered windows to minimise the use of air-conditioning, and a heat exchanger unit to recycle the heat emitted from the air-conditioner compressor to heat up the hot water tank.

The designers also used only natural sealants, ensuring they were water-based instead of acid- or chemical-based products. Chemical paints and processed building materials were kept to a minimum, in line with an environmentally friendly attitude towards the regeneration of the premises.


Address:
BackHome Kuala Lumpur
30, Jalan Tun H.S. Lee,
50000 Kuala Lumpur.
Tel: +603 2078 7188

Green Hotel: Muntri Mews, Penang

MUNTRI MEWS is affordable luxury accommodation for today's flashpacker in the heart of Georgetown, a UNESCO world heritage site. It is within easy walking distance to the key heritage landmarks in the city and a 20-minute drive from the beautiful Batu Feringghi beaches.

Muntri Street has perhaps the best preserved rows of 19th Straits Chinese architecture in Malaysia, equivalent to Singapore's Emerald Hill.

The grade 2 listed building was formerly the stables and carriageworks of the street's grandest terraces. Carriages were kept below while drivers and staff were housed above in 12 worker's quarters. In the Edwardian period it became a garage for some of the smartest cars in Penang.

Acquired in a dilapidated state in 2009 by award winning hotelier Christopher Ong (previous projects, www.clovehall.com and www.galleforthotel.com have both been cited in Conde Naste Traveller's Hot Lists) the Mews has been meticulously restored with its utilitarian spirit kept very much alive but without sparing any modern comforts.

Once again Ong has revitalised this historic premises by infusing it with the Malay, Chinese and European influences that have made his entrepot hometown world famous. The interiors are bright and spacious with comfortable and relaxing furnishings, highlighted with a gorgeous selection of local, historical and quirky paraphernalia.

All suites come with en suite bathrooms, LCD tvs, spacious sitting areas which open to the verandah upstairs or the lush private tropical gardens downstairs. WiFi, a small shop and a compact business centre are also provided for your convenience. There are just 9 suites upstairs and downstairs creating an intimate feeling of social conviviality but also allowing for privacy when desired.

The Mews café prepares the best fresh local produce for a menu inspired by asian cuisine combined with a selection of tasty international favourites: steak sandwiches and beer battered fish and chips sit comfortably alongside a spicy curry laksa and luxury nasi lemak. Air conditioned inside and al fresco in front, the café sits comfortably at the entrance to the mews and is popular with locals and visitors alike. Beers and latte are served all day.

Muntri Mews combines the clean lines and textures of contemporary design in a laid back tonal palate that is rich in character, with its warm cozy ambience. It encapsulates the grand terrace lives of Muntri Street residents in the early years of last century.

Antique, deco and retro furniture and a tropical jungle garden make this both a convenient base to explore all that Penang has to offer and a perfect escape from the urban delights of this amazing merchant town.




SOURCE:
http://www.muntrimews.com/

Minimalist Design

Just sharing some of the nice ID i found on the net

Villa Indah Manis - Bali

Surrounded by forest and rural scenes, Villa Indah Manis commands breathtaking views spanning the Indian Ocean and the southernmost tip of the island all the way up the west coast past Jimbaran, the airport, Kuta and Canggu, and inland to Bedugul. On a clear day, the awesome vista takes in Mt Batu Karu together with the volcanoes of East Java. This beautiful area boasts some of the most idyllic beaches in Bali, including Balangan, Dreamland, Bingin and Padang Padang. These hidden, white sandy coves are great for both surfers and non-surfers alike.

Designed to maximise the views and catch the cool breezes even at the hottest time of year, the property offers a blend of air-conditioned comfort and tropical open-air living. It is composed of a series of pavilions, with a dramatic 16-metre lap pool, complemented by a flat green lawn, terraces ornamental ponds and water features. All of the bedrooms are equipped with safe deposit boxes and hairdryers, and additional TVs can be provided upon request.




The property is built to be functional, designed around weddings, parties and celebrations. A full service kitchen provides the facilities to cater for up to eighty guests, all of whom can be seated on the terrace. The main garden can accommodate the same number for a Champagne reception, and the open-air bar is also a suitable area for stand-up cocktails. The pool can be covered with a temporary platform to create a dance floor or a stage for a live band. The terrace and lawns are also perfect for dance performances, and barbeques, which are a specialty of the villa. The modern Balinese architecture makes use of local materials, such as white Palimanan stone, teakwood and sandwash, together with ‘sirap’ ironwood shingle for the roofs.

Frangipani Langkawi Resort & Spa

The Frangipani Langkawi Resort & Spa representing the best in Malaysia travel, recently received a highly commended award in the Large Hotel Category at the Virgin Holidays Responsible Tourism Awards organized by responsibletravel.com.

Launched in 2004, the awards are run in association with partners World Travel Market, The Daily Telegraph, Geographical Magazine and BBC World News Service. They are the most respected and competitive of their kind in the world. This year a record 1,976 nominations were received from travelers around the world voting for tourism ventures that provide outstanding holidays that also benefit local people and destinations.

At a ceremony hosted at World Travel Mart (WTM) held in Docklands, London, the Awards were handed out to the recipients. The judges commented on Frangipani Langkawi Resort that: “More than 80% of Frangipani’s workforce is from the local community and 40% of its food is produced on the island. The resort also has a large environmental management program designed for betterment, extensively planting native trees and maintaining a wetland in the resort.”

Justin Francis, founder of The Responsible Tourism Awards and Managing Director, responsibletravel.com, said: “In this, the fifth year of the awards, the bar has been raised for responsible tourism yet again. What inspires me is the efforts that businesses and destinations are making in order to ensure that responsible tourism lies at the heart of their strategies and plans. Without a doubt, this is the only way for the future – responsible travel is not a passing fad or a niche travel trend for marketing purposes. It is an entire, holistic approach to tourism operations.”

The award also creates awareness amongst hotels, resorts and tourism operators that there are greener operational policies that ultimately reduce environmental impacts. Resort owner, Mr Anthony Wong, said after acknowledging the award: “The Frangipani Langkawi Resort & Spa has implemented various greening programs to streamline its daily operations and to minimize environmental impacts. Since the resort’s inception in 2006, we have set out to implement various policies to reduce our impacts upon the environment. Some 100 initiatives are in place and listed on our website and we hope these will become a model for other resorts to follow.”

Mr Wong remarked that various methods have been introduced at the resort including reducing consumption especially wastage, effectively managing energy usage to reduce wastage, using environmentally-friendly detergents, filtering the resort’s ‘grey water’ through a wetland and working with the local authorities to reduce the amount of rubbish that goes to the island’s limited landfill.

“Everyone in the Frangipani Langkawi Resort community from the owners to management, staff and guests is encouraged to participate in our programs and we find that we have the full support of all. Being an island, Langkawi has many sensitive environmental variables that need to be carefully managed if tourism on the island is to be sustainable,” said Mr Wong.



The Frangipani Langkawi Malaysia Resort is a secluded and eco-friendly resort established along 400-metres of beautiful golden sands at Pantai Tengah, in Langkawi, a popular island resort in Malaysia. The resort is a 15-minute drive from the Langkawi International Airport and just a short walk to the island’s top restaurants.

http://www.zimbio.com/Malaysia+Destinations/articles/19/Eco+Friendly+Frangipani+Langkawi+Resort+Malaysia