BEP Akitek Archive BEP Akitek 事務所檔案
The BEP Akitek Archive documents significant works by Booty, Edwards and Partners (incorporated as BEP Akitek in 1969) – one of the oldest and most prolific architectural practices in the Federation of Malaya and subsequent Malaysia.
This archive consists primarily of approximately 500 architectural drawings, in addition to architectural photographs, papers, slides and transparencies that documents 39 key projects between 1953 to 1984, including major buildings such as the Subang International Airport, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, The Kuala Lumpur Hilton, and the OCBC Centre, Singapore. The archive’s significance lies in its representation of architectural innovation in Malaysia, Borneo, and Singapore, aligned with the new nation's socio-economic developments and internationalist ambitions in the first two decades after the independence of the Federation of Malaya in 1957. Secondly, it represents the contribution of both expatriate architects (A.O. Coltman and C.H.R. Bailey) and new local design leaders (Kington Loo and Kam Pak Cheong) in shaping the post-independent built environment. Thirdly, it marked the beginnings of designing for tropicality, and the Malayanisation of architecture before it became politicised.
Overall, BEP Akitek’s archive represent the firm’s works as projections of multiple modernities in the context of Malaysia’s nation-building. Between the late 1950s to mid–1970s, the firm was commissioned to design landmark projects, including the Brunei State Mosque (1953–1958) and Kuala Lumpur’s Chartered Bank Building (1964), which reflect the rapid development of cities as political and commercial centres across the Federation of Malaya, and subsequent Malaysia.
The architects’ versatility in designing for diverse building typology, with bold use of form, materials and construction technology that suited local needs and conditions, were evident in a range of projects. They used gold–anodised aluminium for the domed roofs of Brunei House (Palace of His Highness Sultan of Brunei, 1960) and peaked roofs of Kuala Lumpur Hilton (1968–1972); developed a custom design sun-shading grille for the Employees Provident Fund Building (1962); experimented with concrete thin-shell roofs for the Muara District Mosque (1956), Century Batteries Factory (1960–1962) and Subang International Airport (1962–1965), and made inventive use of locally sourced belian shingles on the roof of Kuching Catholic Church (1965–1968). These projects were completed before the advent of the government preference for buildings to incorporate ‘Malayan’ elements, and they demonstrate an attempt to manifest the universal modernist ideals of social and technological progress, which resonated with the zeal of a new nation.
The BEP Akitek Archive was donated by BEP AKITEK Sdn Bhd in 2019. M+ is committed to the preservation and to the arrangement and description of the BEP Akitek Archive to the highest international standards. As sections of the archive are catalogued, they will be made available on the M+ Collections website.
This archive consists primarily of approximately 500 architectural drawings, in addition to architectural photographs, papers, slides and transparencies that documents 39 key projects between 1953 to 1984, including major buildings such as the Subang International Airport, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, The Kuala Lumpur Hilton, and the OCBC Centre, Singapore. The archive’s significance lies in its representation of architectural innovation in Malaysia, Borneo, and Singapore, aligned with the new nation's socio-economic developments and internationalist ambitions in the first two decades after the independence of the Federation of Malaya in 1957. Secondly, it represents the contribution of both expatriate architects (A.O. Coltman and C.H.R. Bailey) and new local design leaders (Kington Loo and Kam Pak Cheong) in shaping the post-independent built environment. Thirdly, it marked the beginnings of designing for tropicality, and the Malayanisation of architecture before it became politicised.
Overall, BEP Akitek’s archive represent the firm’s works as projections of multiple modernities in the context of Malaysia’s nation-building. Between the late 1950s to mid–1970s, the firm was commissioned to design landmark projects, including the Brunei State Mosque (1953–1958) and Kuala Lumpur’s Chartered Bank Building (1964), which reflect the rapid development of cities as political and commercial centres across the Federation of Malaya, and subsequent Malaysia.
The architects’ versatility in designing for diverse building typology, with bold use of form, materials and construction technology that suited local needs and conditions, were evident in a range of projects. They used gold–anodised aluminium for the domed roofs of Brunei House (Palace of His Highness Sultan of Brunei, 1960) and peaked roofs of Kuala Lumpur Hilton (1968–1972); developed a custom design sun-shading grille for the Employees Provident Fund Building (1962); experimented with concrete thin-shell roofs for the Muara District Mosque (1956), Century Batteries Factory (1960–1962) and Subang International Airport (1962–1965), and made inventive use of locally sourced belian shingles on the roof of Kuching Catholic Church (1965–1968). These projects were completed before the advent of the government preference for buildings to incorporate ‘Malayan’ elements, and they demonstrate an attempt to manifest the universal modernist ideals of social and technological progress, which resonated with the zeal of a new nation.
The BEP Akitek Archive was donated by BEP AKITEK Sdn Bhd in 2019. M+ is committed to the preservation and to the arrangement and description of the BEP Akitek Archive to the highest international standards. As sections of the archive are catalogued, they will be made available on the M+ Collections website.
This archive is being catalogued. Information will be released periodically.
Details
Object Number
CA51
Archive Creator
Archival Level
Fonds
Date
1953–1984
Credit Line
M+, Hong Kong. Gift of BEP Akitek, 2019
