T. R. Hamzah and Yeang Overview

Asia is one of architecture's most fecund frontiers. The vast number of cultures, the rapid growth of its cities, and the global information network carrying in influences from all over the world -- all are sending Asian architects in radically new... [more]

Asia is one of architecture's most fecund frontiers. The vast number of cultures, the rapid growth of its cities, and the global information network carrying in influences from all over the world -- all are sending Asian architects in radically new directions. Hamzah and Yeang are on the forefront of this exciting time. Since establishing an effective partnership in Malaysia in 1976, this duo has made waves specializing in innovative low-energy design. Perhaps Ken Yeang's own home, "Roof Roof House," best epitomizes their philosophy. Deemed an "environmental filter," the house emphasizes ecology while drawing heavily upon contemporary technology. The glaringly white and pristine structure is placed perfectly in the north-south position, so that its latticed roof protects against the tropical sun. The balconies are placed so that the prevailing winds travel right through the house without break. Even the pool acts as a climate regulator. Hamzah and Yeang have expanded this "bioclimatic" paradigm into the high-rise realm to create some of the most uniquely functional buildings in Southeast Asia. As Ken Yeang, a Ph.D. from the University of Cambridge, notes, "We look at a skyscraper like a city in the sky. We map the skyscraper in the same way that you map a city in terms of land use, density, population, community spaces, open spaces." The resulting buildings all incorporate natural lighting and ventilation, preserve environmental integrity, and show poignant concern for proper waste disposal. The "Menara Mesiniaga" remains one of the most interesting buildings in all of Asia. (Mesiniaga means "business machine," a subtle wink at Le Corbusier's "machine for living in" treatise.) External louvres run down the side of the giant building, acting as intermittent sunshades. A hue of Cubism lingers about the building; however, the overall purpose of the design isn't purely artistic. Rather, the aesthetic agenda is regulated by its environmental focus. Ken Yeang actively spreads his theories of symbiosis throughout the world. Lecturing and teaching about urban growth in fast-developing Southeast Asia, Yeang has become a major force for architectural eco-visions. He has also written two books outlining his philosophy for the new millennium. [show less]