Blog Posts By Author: Jon Guerechit

Hand drawings from WATG's Seattle office will be featured in an art gallery this week!

I was recently contacted by Lauran Klenow -- a friend, artist, and curator -- regarding a new exhibit at the Gage Academy of Art in Seattle. We will be featuring some hand-drawn elevation studies for the Grand Hyatt Kuala Lumpur that were done by our very own Andrew Lam and Jeff Naprawa. The opening reception -- Friday 22 April 6:00pm to 8:00pm – will feature a lecture by exhibiting artist Leo Saul Berk as well as the work of other artists and architects, including Richard Sundberg, Owen Richards Architects, Roy McMakin, Jeremy Mangan, Julie Alpert and Iole Alessandrini. The gallery is located at 1501 10th Ave. E; and the exhibit runs through 15 May.

About the art:
The elevations were drawn on vellum using pens and markers with underlays of the previous schemes. Two of drawings were done by Andrew Lam and two of the drawings were done by Jeff Naprawa in the WATG Seattle office.  These are only four of approximately 100 elevations drawn to provide the client with options to choose from.  Elements from many of the elevations were combined to create the final rendition of the building.

About the project:
Grand Hyatt Kuala Lumpur is currently under construction and expected to open January 2012.  The challenge was to design a sophisticated 40-story five-star luxury hotel and mixed-use development for downtown Kuala Lumpur. The structure also includes service apartments and offices. The design of the contemporary tower is one of simple and timeless elegance. The structure incorporates distinctive exterior materials of gold-tinted glass and metallic-coated white glazing and cladding, blending with the stainless steel of the nearby Petronas Towers across the park. Guests enter the building then ride the express lifts to the sky lobby where 360-degree views of the entire city will greet them. Guestrooms are situated on floors 21 to 37 with service apartments on four levels below.