Breathing new life into heritage and history

The Star, 8 December 2024

By CATHERINE CHONG

FORMERLY a Federated Malay States Railways (FMSR) building, Sentul Works celebrates the rich heritage of its original century-old architecture while projecting a modern aesthetic on the historical site of Sentul West in Kuala Lumpur.

Nestled within a pristine lush park, this remarkable development by YTL Land & Development Berhad has been masterfully revitalised into an astoundingly unique office address that delivers a rare definition of prestige.

Natural beauty, historic architectural appeal and an infusion of cutting-edge design enhancements create a zone of creativity and connectivity that will revolutionise office ideals.

Its restoration and reconstruction, a marriage of heritage to striking contemporary architecture, began in July 2019, initiated by YTL Land which from the early 2000s had steered Sentul’s revitalisation to preserve its rich railway heritage.

The building stood as a ruined grand colonial structure with its distinctive colonial-style brick facade enhanced by a series of prominent concrete-arch colonnades. 

From an aerial view, the remains beckon as a “hollow shell” which in its grandeur was akin to a blank canvas for the YTL Land Design Team to explore possibilities for adaptation into a modern contemporary office while preserving the building’s railway nostalgia.

The objective was to ensure that the “new” must not overwhelm the “old” as ideally, both elements should coexist to capture the building’s history and heritage in preserving its character for generations to come.

The restoration under an adaptive reuse approach therefore takes a palette of rich, earthen colours to celebrate local character and identity as well as tranquillity of the site in its natural state.

Now fully restored, preserving 95% of its original structure yet ingeniously adapted to look, feel and function as a state-of-the-art workplace, Sentul Works has set a new global benchmark in office design and innovation.

This vision of renewal without a doubt is an extraordinary feat that went on to greatly impress the judges of the prestigious Malaysia Property Award™ 2024 by FIABCI Malaysia.

A rare achievement indeed for one project to take home two MPA accolades but Sentul Works achieved just that – the development won hands down in both the Heritage Category and Office Category.

Since its conceptualisation, Sentul Works has received much excitement as a heritage-designated work and play destination and this recognition will further propel it to greater heights.

A vision of renewal

The preservation and repurposing of Sentul Works is a continuation of YTL Land’s reuse and rejuvenation efforts under its urban renewal masterplan in Sentul West to renew the community but not at the expense of sacrificing its railway heritage. 

“There has always been a strong interest in heritage and historical buildings globally. Hence we have been preserving these century-old railway buildings inherited from the FMSR era,” said YTL Land director Yeoh Pei Teeng.

“Careful integration of historical structures with the surroundings plays an important role in the regeneration scheme and in creating significant benefits for the community and the nation.

“The building may have outlived its purpose but its colonial-era brick structure remained distinctive within a historical site with cultural significance.

“Naturally it’s our role to honour its heritage and rustic charm. By strategically blending old with new, we took a holistic approach to ensure the outcome is a visually enhanced balance between heritage-led conservation and modern contemporary design,” she added.

Yeoh said by retrofitting Sentul Works for a new use, this allows the dilapidated building and its structure to be updated under a sustainable approach to meet modern demands while retaining its historical integrity.

“Starting from the welcoming entrance drop-off to the reception featuring a double-volume atrium to the open landscaped deck commanding inspiring views over a park setting, the building is constantly generating new experiences and regenerating old connections in curating its illustrious history.”

The design journey preserves the existing colonial brick wall facade where the “old and rustic” remain exposed. Additions to the structure in Corten steel pay homage to Sentul’s illustrious industrial past.

Connecting elements between the “existing” and “new”, natural materials like red brick, concrete, steel, glass and timber are deployed in innovative ways to integrate seamlessly with the building’s architecture.

The biophilic design brings nature seamlessly into the very heart of the building to create Kuala Lumpur’s first heritage office in a park.

Reimagining the work environment

The original layout of Sentul Works consists of two main spaces separated by a central double-volume hallway. The periphery is lined with covered verandah walkways framed by brick and concrete-arch colonnades serving as a buffer between the building interior and the tropical outdoors.

Adapting to the symmetry of the interior, the new free-plan office space flanks the original hallway which now serves as a double-volume central atrium for a grand reception area.

Two bridges on the first floor spanning the central atrium space link the office floor plates on both sides. Visual connection is established between tenants of the ground and first floors without compromising on privacy. 

The future-proof office space is minimalist and flexible in design to cater to current and future needs alike.

A new second floor and third floor cladded with the trademark Corten steel bring the total floor area of the four-storey office to 39,800 sq ft. 

The self-weathering Corten steel mirrors the unique environment of Sentul today, its new urbanism enhanced by its history.
Another material of significance is red brick, which is synonymous with the character of railway artefacts in Sentul West, represented in the area’s other period buildings including the award-winning Kuala Lumpur Performing Arts Centre.

Carefully positioned windows, pop-up balconies and the open deck provide many levels of engagement with the refreshing outdoors while transforming the interior into welcoming light-filled spaces.

A transformative statement

With history dating back to the early 1900s, the Sentul West enclave with its collection of old railway warehouses and workshops symbolises more than an icon of the area’s glorious past.

The site’s long history as one of the biggest and finest integrated railway engineering workshops in the world, serving Malaya’s rail network under British rule, is pivotal in defining the identity of Sentul for over a century.

Today, an artfully sculpted skyline and stunning architectural statements define the landscape of modern Sentul, complemented by unrivalled infrastructure and connectivity including four train lines (MRT, LRT and KTM) and five stations.

YTL Land has infused intelligent infrastructure enhancements and strategically planned residential and commercial spaces to create an integrated way of life in a unique community, where the old blends seamlessly with the new.

Heritage renewed with a timeless flair, Sentul’s rich railway heritage has gloriously come alive to inspire the new generation. Today, these valuable assets play an important role as a catalyst for regeneration and provide opportunities for appreciation of the nation’s rich and valued heritage.