Sin Chew Daily - Awarded with Malaysia's 1st GreenRE gold award; Green W KL building
W Hotel Kuala Lumpur won the first Gold GreenRE Award
Neighbouring to Kuala Lumpur Twin Tower, W Hotel Kuala Lumpur has officially started its operation on August 2018 and is now the new landmark in the city.
The two months old building has 55 levels that includes 25 levels of hotel and 30 levels of serviced residence. This building upholds the green building and won Malaysia first ever Gold GreenRE, building.
This issue of “City Prominent Building” will talk about the uniqueness behind the building that located at this strategic land.
During an interview with Veritas Interiors Sdn. Bhd. architect Syah Kamarudin, he mentioned that from building to completion of construction, this building has an effort of 8 years with its company as the construction company, whereas Skidmore Owings & Merrill (SOM) as the building design company.
He said, the group accepted the project since 2010 and it’s also the tallest building the group ever accepted.
He added, as this is the first W Hotel in Malaysia hence it must contain local uniqueness in the building idea, that is Confluence as the main theme whereas Urban Jungle as the main theme idea in serviced residence.
“Y” represents intersection of two rivers
He said Kuala Lumpur is at the intersection of Klang Valley Rivers and Permai Rivers that form the capital “Y”, which being used as the design direction.
“The flows of river are representing through the every slight details.”
Unique staircase resemble art piece
Syah Kamarudin said, the hotel entrance at lower level resembles the river movement that aligns with the design concept. The actual hotel lobby is at level 8, 1st to 7th levels are car park, level 8 also includes bar and restaurants, whereas 14th to 23rd levels include 150 units of hotel rooms.
There are many chandeliers at hotel lobby and bar that resembles the water movement through the brimming lights effect.
He added, the ballroom is at level 9, level 10 are all the corporate offices include meeting rooms in variety sizes that able to host conferences, whereas level 11 has a Chinese restaurant.
The staircase leading from level 9’s ballroom to level 10’s corporate units has spent quite a while to be completed and it design looks magnificent that has mirror effect.
“The swimming pool and bar at level 12 can witness the view of Kuala Lumpur Twin Tower at a close distant and the night view with city lights are certainly captivating.”
He added, there are 353 units of serviced residence from 25th level and above, while at the 53rd floor it has the highest swimming pool in Kuala Lumpur and four levels of underground car park as well.
The appealing dark blonde external building
Syah Kamarudin pointed out that the usual external building are grey or blue, but W Hotel has a unique dark blonde external that non-other building in Kuala Lumpur has it.
He added, the building will not look rather tall externally because of its horizontal line of each “box” is between level two to three.
He said, every three level fit into one “box” for hotel levels while serviced residence are every two level fit into one “box”. This makes the size of external building looks rather uneven, however it did not block the view from the inside.
“Level ` to 7 are the car park levels and it has designed in a way that it does not look like it. The unique design of capital W used to cover the levels and it also resemble the river movement.”
DGU Glass blocks sunlight and heat
HE added, W Hotel is a green building that won Malaysia first ever GreenRE Gold Building award. The entire building installed with double layers of DGU Glass and this high quality glass that able to block strong sunlight to reduce the heat wave internally. This will minimize the usage of air conditional and lead to the reduction of electricity usage.
Box house history at Level 8 restaurant
He said, prior to the development of W Hotel by current developer, that area used to be a box house. In order to relive the history of box house, they design the restaurant at level 8 and include certain features so that people remember the history of current land.
[Picture Caption 1] The uniqueness of a building creates a character for the city.
[Picture Caption 2] Every two to three levels designed in a box, hence it does not look extreme tall externally.
[Picture Caption 3] The car park levels are design in W pattern and it looks enchanting with the night-lights.
[Picture Caption 4] Syah Kamarudin said, W Hotel used Confluence as the main theme to represent the intersection of Klang Valley River and Permai River.
