Hospitality Project: The Lantern Hotel in Kuala Lumpur

25 June, 2015

The Lantern Hotel is a new product design of the ZLGdesign architects.

Based in Kuala Lumpur, the design process for The Lantern Hotel project started in 2012 but it was only concluded now in 2015.

Long periods of time to get the building facade approval from the authorities was the main topic to justify the delay of this hospitality project. At the end, the achieving is quite impressive: 49 guest rooms, all with attached bathroom, 2 dorms with each 6 beds and external bathroom, facilities for breakfast, centralized computer area, locker area and an outdoor terrace overlooking Petaling Street, Chinatown.

Sadly so, the existing shop houses at this site were demolished and were replaced with a huge building block of 5 levels, with no regards to the surrounding or the Malaysian heritage. Hong Leong Bank is operating at the first 2 levels. The 3 floors above which were empty over the last few years, was most recently used as a stationary/ bookstore as far as we know.

The architects said they were facing on one hand with an ‘out-of-proportion’ existing building mass, and to satisfy client’s brief to maximize the space for as many rooms as possible for the minimum budget possible; At the same time, try to design a hotel in which guests would feel good and respond to the surrounding, partially [most already destroyed] heritage and history of Petaling Street in the most sensitive and empathic way possible.

In terms of sustainability, the architects decided from beginning on to have all the public areas natural ventilated, only the guest rooms have optional split air con unit, and to bring as much natural light into the space as possible. Therefore, they coould ensure cross ventilation in the horizontal as well as vertical space via openings in the facade and the vertical void with a gap between skylight and roof.

For this hospitality project was used locally manufactured building materials like dark burned clay brick, polished colored concrete and terrazzo tiles for the floor, white lime wash finish and natural plywood. The architects found local craftsman to build the timber shutters for the facade and use recycle solid timber for terrace and loose furniture. Solar panels for hot water showers are installed on the roof and last but not the least, the total cost of this renovation all in including furniture / furnishing up to soap holder is only 4.2mil.

The construction phase alone faced a lot of constrains and hurdles. Hong Leong Bank operating in the first 2 floors, along with the hawker shops at the ground floor could not be disturbed or interrupted, which put a challenge for the contractors and the site logistic. The architects had to work in an unconventional way, having to deal with all the different trades and craftsman mostly not versatile with the English language, with no main contractor on board. Most decisions were made directly on site either verbally or via sketches to simplify elaborated cad drawings.

Throughout the whole design process the challenge was not to lose track of the initial idea to create a central void/ courtyard space. The architects aim was also to introduce natural light into all floors, face all the guest rooms internally and place the main corridor along the outer facade instead for guests to experience views out [either through the new clay brick walls with openings or through the timber shutters on their way to their rooms].

Having the reception on level 2, the main entrance was highlighted at ground floor with a red pendant lantern ceiling facing the main entrance door. Upon entrance, the architects designed a small foyer waiting area with a fixed concrete/ plywood bench before stepping up to the reception area at the 2nd floor. This floor has 15 guest rooms and all the basic public amenities like reception/ bar/ counter, charcoal pant/ magnetic wall for notes and information, a computer counter area, a simple plywood shelf and tables/ chairs inside the courtyard. These tables and chairs are to be used for morning breakfast, and meet-ups. From this level, a steel/ timber staircase leads you to the outdoor terrace overlooking Petaling Street. The next 2 floors above are typical floors with each 16 rooms + 1 dorm.

We hope this building will evoke associations, memories and a glimpse idea of what might have been at this specific site before, reminding us of the rich historical past and heritage throughout many places in Malaysia and South East Asia.