FURAMA HOTEL
LOCATION
Kuala Lumpur
BUILT-UP AREA
600,000 sqft
SITE AREA
1.42 acre
STATUS
Completed in 2012
The original development comprised of a 30 storey 605 key Hotel, a separate 30 storey Officetel with 6 storey podium commenced in 1998 but was later abandoned in 2000 due to economic downturn.
Only the reinforced concrete (rc) structure of the Hotel block was completed up to Level 16 with the Officetel being completed up to Level 20 including the podium and 5 levels of flooded basement.
Two major challenges were posed upon taking over and rehabilitating this project. These were the adaptative reuse from the conventional Hotel rooms to Hotel Serviced Apartments, the conversion of Officetel to Service Apartments and creating a modern contemporary architecture from the dated design with the constraints of its completed as built frame and foot print.
The existing old design was re-rationalized and made more efficient by reducing the podium from 6 to 3 storeys converting the excess service areas previously provided into more revenue areas without increasing the Plot Ratio. The introduction of new balconies and pop-up windows to serviced apartment and clever composition of glazing with the juxtaposition of solid panels in an otherwise uninteresting hotel façade exude the modern and contemporary feel to the rehabilitated development.
