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Group Members

Tan Foo Wong

Lucas Wong Kok Hoe

Simon Soh Wei Aun

Yap Chun Yew

Ibrahim Adhnan

Maria Rosa Sue

0310004

0309421

0316887

0309343

0314694

0317067

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1.0 Introduction

2.0 Architectural Styles

3.0 BUilding Constructions

4.0 BUilding Materials

5.0 ARchitectural Elements

6.0 COnclusion

7.0 References

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In amidst the other famous historical landmarks of Kuala Lumpur, the Rubber Research Institute of Malaysia (R.R.I.M.) sits unsuspectingly on 260 Jalan Ampang, sprawling on a 7.6 acre stretch of land. The decades old structure was erected on 19th May, 1937 and was actually considered ahead of its time, with its prominent Art Deco style (which was rather popular in KL at the period) and exposed fair faced red bricks. It is open every day of the week, from 8am until 5pm, except on Saturday, Sunday and public holidays since the year it first opened its doors to after its relocation.Although now known as a heritage building, it still plays an important role in the economy of rubber in Malaysia.

1.0 Introduction

FIgure 1.1 Rubber Research Institute of Malaysia 1937.Source: Tan Foo Wong, 2014. Milestones in rubber research: 75th anniversary of the Rubber Research Institute of Malaysia (1925-2000).

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The R.R.I.M. was established to take over the research and technical advisory work on rubber production of the whole of Malaya, as funds were provided by a tax on rubber exports. Prior to the establishment of the R.R.I.M., there was no concentrated location to coordinate and consolidate information regarding the material that played a very important role in the Malaysian economy. It now acts as a testing center for experimental rubber products in the country before it is.available to the commercial market

Around 1926, the organization was located in Damansara Road, Kuala Lumpur. The R.R.I.M. began as a small organization with only five divisions, an experiment station, a small library and a staff complement of about 20 headed by its director.However, it was felt that the buildings occupied by the institute were inadequate as its permanent home. Thus, it was subsequently relocated to 260 JalanAmpang, Kuala Lumpur in the heart of the national capital on 14 May 1937 and was erected at the cost of around $200,000. However, if one were to observe closely, many extension wings have been constructed throughout the years in order to accommodate more areas for the testing process and to.improve productivity as well

Figure 1.2 Rubber Research Institute Board of Committee 1926.Source: Tan Foo Wong, 2014. Milestones in rubber research: 75th anniversary of the Rubber Research Institute of Malaysia (1925-2000).

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The R.R.I.M. was designed by Arthur Oakley Coltman (under the architecture firm of Booty and Edwards), while the contractor for the building was Bong Sin and the consulting engineer as Steen Sehested.

A.O. Coltman was a British Architect who had practiced in Malaya for 32 years, from his arrival in 1925 until his retirement in 1957. Incredibly, Coltman is also responsible for designing most of Kuala Lumpur’s greatest Art Deco structures, including Wisma Ekran near Merdeka Square and the Lee Rubber building. Also, he is cited for bringing modernism to the Federated States of Malaya, later Malaysia.

As typical of Art Deco buildings, the RRIM is geometrical and symmetrical in design, with exotic ornamentation cladding its exterior façade. It is associated with modernity, one of the reasons the RRIM was deemed ahead of its time, and made use of showing off its raw building materials.What makes this building unusual, though, is that Art Deco is normally seen in individual buildings, whereas in the R.R.I.M., it is employed a complex of linked, single- story buildings set in a landscape compound. The collections of buildings are almost linked with identical façade elements.

Art Deco in 20th century Malaya was a product of prosperity, founded on the British colony’s exportation of tin and rubber. So, it only makes sense that the RRIM was built in this style, as it represents the opulence of the industry it was housing. However, after 1957, when Malaysia achieved its independence from Britain, buildings seized to be designed in the Art Deco style, as it was often associated with its colonial era.

FIgure 1.3 Rubber Research Institute 1974.Source: Yap Chun Yew, 2014.

FIgure 1.4 Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II tapping Rubber Tree with Malaysians 1974.Source: Tan Foo Wong, 2014. Milestones in rubber research: 75th anniversary of the Rubber Research Institute of Malaysia (1925-2000).

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FIgure 1.5 Foundation stone of the Rubber Research Institute of Malaya.Source: Soh Wei Aun, 2014.

Figure 1.6 Site plan of RRIM.Source: Google Maps, 2014.Click image to view full map online.

Figure 1.7 Panaromic View of one of the facades. The collections of buildings all share almost identical facade elements.Source: Lucas Wong, 2014.

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2.0 Architecture StyleEarly 90’s century, art deco movement started in 1910’s and reached its peak during 1925 – 1939. Le Corbusier was the first architect who has been attributed the term art deco in building industry. When art deco emerged, it came to be associated with symmetry, geometry patterns and exotic ornamentation. One of its greatest strengths was its ability to adapt to local conditions. Bangunan Getah Asli as known as The Rubber Research Institute Malaysia located at 260 Jalan Ampang has been listed as a National Heritage. The building built in 1937 was a significant Art Deco movement architectural style that was considered ahead of its time in Malaya, built by architect Arthur Oakley Coltman.

Figure 2.1 Le Corbusier having discussion with the site workerssource: http://38.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_mcsxwpDLZ11qearaqo1_1280.jpg, 1949

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2.0 Architecture Style As Figure 2.2 shows that the columns and ornament element was highlighted by sticking out of the wall to create visually attractive and all of them were arrange symmetrically. The ornament elements emphasizes geometric forms: spheres, polygons, rectangles, trapezoids, zigzags and more. The architect itself uses repetition of the façade structure form and emphasizes it around the courtyard and the links the building. Streamlines were dedicated to be shown on the details.

Rounded Corners Figure 2.3 started to appear in the Art deco architecture was because the technology during 1930’s was started allowed for construction to be built with rounded corners and ornamental treatment wad often limited to the most visible parts of the building, where art deco is more emphasizing on the exterior than the interior when it comes the ornamentations. Geometry shape was often soften at the edge with round curved corners. Rounded curved corners indicate the Art Modern style which is spreading its influence alongside with Art Deco. The major difference between Art Deco is which emphasis more on the verticality elements while Art Modern is on the horizontal

The beginning of the Art Deco movement in Malaya uses reinforced concrete as columns but yet with bulky look, ornamentation was used to give the building an exotic look. With observation in details, ornaments are extruded presenting vertical emphasis more of like a decorative feature. Other than that, the building of art deco usually have a parapet walls with conceal flat roof or low-pitch roofs. Decorative curiosities such as roof drainage were added to further enhance the design.

Figure 2.2 Facade view that shows the building ornamentations extruding out of the buildingsource: Soh Wei Aun, 2014

Figure 2.3 Curvy round elements can be spotted at a western buildingsource: http://content.clickbooq.com/3358/photos/adfc80747e.jpg

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The exterior of Art deco building got rich colour tone by using different material and no longer had neutral base colour. It represented luxury, glamour, exuberance, and faith in social and technological progress. As the bangunan getah asli was built by red brick and concrete with grey pebble. The red brick and grey pebble wash has enhanced colour tone and texture feeling of exterior wall.

Some of the wall Figure 2.4 & 2.5 also got reliefs to show the history that relative to the building.

Figure 2.4 Wall sculpting of the life of a rubber tappersource: Soh Wei Aun, 2014

Figure 2.5 Wall sculpting of the history of who brought rubber to Malayasource: Soh Wei Aun, 2014

Figure 2.6 Brickwall arrqnged in different level, corners are curved and attached with the grey pebble washsource: Tan Foo Wong,2014

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Figure 2.7 Wall sculpting of the history of rubber in Malaya till Malaysia todaysource: Soh Wei Aun, 2014

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Everything in the building seem to come in threes, as the figure shows below. Three windows, or three bandings or three steps up etc. This is probably due to the Egyptian influence of the pyramids.

Chrysler building Figure 12 in New York seems to have influence from the pyramid stacking and infused with the sun burst element on each level. This proves that the Egyptian architecture not only influences the west, it also was brought into local society like the RRIM building.

The bandings mostly was horizontal element on the facades of the buildings Figure 2.9 and 2.10, which can be incised or applied in decorative materials such as tile. The banding was finished in a contrasting colour with the red brick wall .

Figure 2.8 Chrysler building showing the sunburst element of art decosource: Leena Hietanen, 2005

Figure 2.9 The corridor facade with 3 bandage & 3 openingssource: Soh Wei Aun, 2014

Figure 2.10 The 3 section differentiate by 2 define linessource: Soh Wei Aun, 2014

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The interior space of building normally will have a large skylight Figure 2.12 or a row of window on top of wall Figure 2.11 to bring the sun light even the door also have glass. The interior floor are terrazzo flooring, is a flooring material consisting of chips of marble or granite set in concrete and polished to give a smooth surface.

The spatial organization of its building grouped around a courtyard giving access throughout the whole site and was giving the environment a private garden for the building. This was giving the building the luxurious elements where it provides natural sources such as air, light, tranquillity and security and private. After the World War II, there are disagreement that sees the design as inappropriate luxurious. The local influence of bringing in the courtyard was brought by the Chinese peoples from China that migrate to Malaya during the war and established their life here. It was then taken account in the design of the RRIM building.

Figure 2.11 Windows arrange high up in a row of the interior spacesource: Soh Wei Aun, 2014

Figure 2.13 Courtyard viewsource: Soh Wei Aun, 2014

Figure 2.12 Skylight at the entrance atriumsource: Soh Wei Aun, 2014

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The second point was the glamour element that was referring to the lavish ornamentation of the Art Deco movement. This could be observed through the façade where the ornamentation details were design very precisely with a good craftsmanship. The building was designated in a bulky way and huge ornamentation yet with very fine details on the ornamentations, such as rubber tapping symbols and sheet of rubbers was shown in Figure 2.15 & 2.16 Figure 2.14 Rubber are dried under the sun

source: http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FjgVm2XBU9o/UD9X5y3KMoI/AAAAAAAAABs/ManSe7e-Fu8/s1600/Sun+dry+of+rubber+sheets.jpg

Figure 2.15 Rubber sheet sculpture on the facade.source: Soh Wei Aun, 2014.

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Follow by exuberance of the ornamental quality, there are test tube pattern ornaments that’s representing the equipment for research purposes. Meaning behind the work of the rubber tapping has infused with local influence, its pattern was crafted and located at the building façade. This could be seen by the detail of the meaning which the rubber tapping industry that took place in the Malaya. This is the representation of the rubber researcher’s and rubber tapper’s life as well as the job that they are the professional at hand. This building shows innovative of the industrial revolution, inventive elements and nature of the Art Deco style.

Figure 2.16 Rubber research test tube sculpturesource: Soh Wei Aun, 2014 Figure 2.17 Rubber research test tube sculpture on the facade

source: Soh Wei Aun, 2014

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Art Deco was influenced by cubism, an Avant-garde art movement pioneered by Georges Braque and Pablo Picasso. Subsequently, it inspired movements in music, literature and architecture. Cubism has been considered as the most influential art movement of the 20th century. Furthermore, it plays an important role in influencing architecture movement, where it doesn’t follow or imitate architectural style from the past and it was understand as the futurist movement. This was certainly shown throughout the structure of the Rubber Research Institute of Malaysia, where rectilinear could be observe through the bulky form of rectangular form. Similarly, the ornamentation details of the ceiling was also in the similar form.

Figure 2.18 Portrait of Georges Braque and Pablo Picassosource: http://blog.styleboston.tv/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/georges-braque-et-pablo-picasso.jpg, 2011

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Figure 2.19 Rectilinear ceiling design under the pathwaysource: Soh Wei Aun, 2014

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3.0 Building Construction Foundation

The foundation of the building is concrete base support the structure, this foundation has a footing placed below a foundation wall. According to Figure 3.1, the footing is wider than the foundation wall to give extra support at the base.

Walls

Surrounding the building is a series of load bearing brick walls, these bricks are laid from ground level concrete slab to the top. Some parts of the wall with decorative sculpture plastered with pebble wash.

base

caulk

anchor

concrete wall

concrete footing

interior brick layer

exterior bricklayer

Figure 3.1 Sketch of Foundation Columnsource: Yap Chun Yew, 2014

Figure 3.2 Sketch of Load Bearing Wallsource: Yap Chun Yew, 2014

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3.0 Building Construction Walls

Figure 3.3 Load Bearing Walls(Source: Soh Wei Aun, 2014)

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Sliding DoorIn Figure 3.4, the sliding door is placed at main entrance to save space and accommodate medium density circulation. It is built on a 500mm high platform to the lobby of the building, the door is 3 meters tall with a width of 1.4 meter in total.

Figure 3.4 Main Entrance Sliding DoorSource: Soh Wei Aun, 2014

Figure 3.3 Sketch of Frame of Sliding DoorSource: Yap Chun Yew, 2014

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Windows are the key feature of the buildings, they have long vertical and high above eye level types. Vertical windows allow more sunlight to penetrate into buildings but most of these windows are shaded windows. In Figure 3.6, the external part of the windows are shaded with extended ceiling. When the windows are opened for ventilation, cool air will flow inwards to fill the area. As for the high level windows, they are located in the library building which has a second level. The function of the high level windows are to let light penetrate to higher grounds and also prevent users from getting distracted by the views outside.

Windows

Figure 3.5 Library High WindowSource: Soh Wei Aun, 2014

Figure 3.6 Repetitive WindowsSource: Soh Wei Aun, 2014

Figure 3.7 Sketch of Frame of WindowSource: Yap Chun Yew, 2014

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Figure 3.8 shows the roof of the buildings are flat with gutter for rain water displacement through drop outlets. Zinc plate is installed on top of structural deck with the ceiling joist.

Figure 3.9 Roof View from TopSource: maps.google.com, 2014

Zinc Plate

Structural Deck

Ceiling Joist

Roof

Figure 3.8 Sketch of Zinc Roof Layersource: Yap Chun Yew, 2014

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Second LevelFrom the Figure 3.10, the concrete column and beam forms a second level to the building. This is made possible because a frame is used to place in between the concrete slabs which acts as a supporting load bearing structure. The extension of the wings are added a few years later.

Figure 3.11 Double Level BuildingSource: Soh Wei Aun, 2014

Beam Column Bearing Ledge

Figure 3.10 Sketch of Double Level Building Construction Concrete Framesource: Yap Chun Yew, 2014

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Art Deco Movement was a break away from tradition in the use of materials. In contrast with the Art Nouveau period, Art Deco designers began to work with more straight lines and geometric pat-terns, and the materials they chose for their work had to be able to mimic those lines in form and feel.Bangunan Getah Asli is a pure example of material employment in Art Deco movement in Malaysia, that relecfts the characteristics of Art Deco Architecture.

Figure 4.1 Material employment in external facadesource: Soh Wei Aun, 2014

4.0 building materilasBack

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stuccoStucco is a durable, attractive, and weather-resistant wall cov-ering made of aggregate, binder and water which hardens to a very dense solid when applied wet. Traditional stucco is made of lime sand and water. Animal or plant fibers were often added for additional strength. Stucco has been used in the ar-chitectural decoration schemes of many ancient cultures. It is used to form extension from the real architecture and match-es with the painted architecture in the Art Deco movement. It played an important role in decorating the joints between walls and ceilings as seen in Bangunan Getah Asli.

Until the latter part of 19th century, stucco was commonly used in the exterior of the buildings.

Common Materials used in Art Deco1.Stucco2.Concrete3.Fair Faced Brick4.Tera cotta5.Steel6.Aluminium7.Glass Blocks

8.Decoratvie opaque plate glass. 9.Exotic woods10.Marble 11.Metals12.Plastic 13.Lacquer14.Animal Skin

Figure 4.2 Stucco artworksource: Soh Wei Aun, 2014

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Fair Faced BricksFair Faced bicks are versatile and durable masonry units made of fired clay. It was used to build the load bearing walls of Getah Asli. Fair-faced brick is a way of using bricks to cover walls where the material is left on view with no further work or finishing layers. This type of brick masonry is especially used in the exterior of Ba-ngunan Getah Asli, which is common in art deco buidings. The vast use of bricks in Getah Asli lends the building an individual charac-teristic of naked material use.

Figure 4.4 Chrysler buildingsource: http://www.newautomodels.org/crysler-building/crysler-build-ing-0/, 2014

The Chrysler Building in New York is a good exam-ple of brick employment in Art Deco Architecture. The building is cald white brick and dark brickwork is used as horizontal decoration to enhance the window rows.

Figure 4.3 Fair faced brick wallsource: Adnan Ibrahim, 2014 Concrete

Concrete is a mixture of cement, aggregate and water. It has strength, durability and most importantly workability, which made concrete one of the vast materials used in Art Deco buildings. Concrete with reinforcements is used to build supporting structure of the building. Moreover it was the ideal material to design the exterior ornamentations like the flag Poles and Bands as in the

Figure 4.7 Concrete beam and column structuresource: Soh Wei Aun, 2014

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AluminiumAluminium is a low density metal with high strenghth, superior malleability, easy machining and exellent corrosion resistance. As the Art Deco movement surfaced in the 1930s many architects used aluminium in therir designs. Aluminium was a way to com-bine traditional craft motifs with Machine Age materials. These properties make it ideal for making doors and windows. It is wide-ly used in art deco buildings throught the globe. Windows and Doors of Bangunan Getah asli were made with aluminium framig. However, the use of aluminium for decoration in Bangunan Getah Asli was very less compared to Art Deco Buildings in the west.

Figure 4.5 Empire state buildingsource: http://www.cambridge2000.com/gallery/html/P10223842e.html, 2008

Aluminium was seen as a luxurious material in the Art Deco Movement in America. The Foyer of the Empire State Building features an Aluminium relief. Aluminium trims are used for deco-rative purposes.

Figure 4.6 Aluminium frame windowssource: Soh Wei Aun, 2014

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Brick BondsWhen the vertical joints between bricks are not aligned in adjacent courses, which is known as “bonding”. There are a number of configurations but the 3 basic arrangements are the English bond, Flemish bond and the Running bond. This building uses 2 types of brick bonding layout; one is the Flemish bond and the other is the Running bond. In the Figure 5.1, the type of bonding used is the Flemish bond. The pattern of this bond is made from varying headers and stretchers in the course giving it an aesthetic look to the building with a good bonding strength. A queen closer is normally seen at the end of the course to complete arrangement. This bonding is seen on surface of every other building except for the library.

In the Figure 5.2, a course of soldier brick can be seen with cut edges. The purpose of this cut edges is to show its aesthetic design over the Flemish bond as a foundation. The cut edge soldier bricks were seen on many low brick walls from across the courtyard and entrance. In the figure above, the low brick wall was built as the foundation of the higher Flemish bonding walls.

Figure 5.3 shows the Running bond which is also commonly known as the stretcher bond as it is laid horizontally in overlapping courses of stretchers. This bond is the toughest and most common type of bonding seen on many buildings. Headers are not seen in this type of bonding as headers minimize the strength of the bonding. This design naturally minimizes any cutting giving its simplicity the advantage.

5.0 Architectural ELements

Figure 5.1 Flemish Brick Bond at the Institute.Source: Soh Wei Aun, 2014.

Figure 5.2 Course of Soldier brick with cut edges on the column.Souce: Soh Wei Aun, 2014.

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Figure 5.3 Running brick bonds at the exterior of the library.Source: Soh Wei Aun, 2014.

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Doors

Figure 5.4 Timber Sliding Door at main entrance.Source: Soh Wei Aun, 2014.

The carved timber doorway in the main entrance was very decorative, with elaborate pilasters and a pediment that framed the building beautifully. If one were to look closer, the pediment is almost eyebrow like, shading direct sunlight and keeping the interior passage cool. It featured ornaments depicting rubber sheets on the top corners of each of the door’s pilaster. Also, two windows frame the entrance on either side, adding the symmetry and central balance to the viewer’s eye. It is large and majestic, giving an overall impression of splendor when entering the institution and what it represents.

Figure 5.5 shows the on site sketching of the main entrance of he Rubber Research Institute.

Figure 5.5 On site sketching of detail of the main entrance sliding door. Source: Maria Rosa Seu, 2014.

Figure 5.6 Typical door design that can be found around the RRIM.

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When you first see the façade of the institution, you’ll immediately notice its clean modern profile and sharp edged corners that make its Art Deco style so distinctive. The walls compromise of exposed, smooth fair red-faced bricks, with stylized geometrical and streamlined ornaments grappling on its elevation, symmetrical to each other and giving a total overall impression of balance.

The ornaments on the outer walls represent things relating to the rubber industry, such as test tubes and folding rubber sheets, lines of tapping and bowls to collect rubber; this was because the Rubber Research Institute of Malaysia (R.R.I.M.) was the front liner of rubber research in the country. The façade features a series of set backs that create a stepped outline. Low relief decoration panels can be found at the entrances, around windows, along the roof edges and as stringcourses.

Façade

Figure 5.7 A water color sketch of the Façade.Source: Maria Rosa Seu, 2014.

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Flooring

Herringbone PavementsThe figure 5.8 is a paver made up of herringbone pattern bricks. The arrangement of this pattern is achieved by lying blocks of bricks at 45° in such a manner that the “chevrons” run along the principal direction of traffic or along the pathway, rather than across. At side of the pavement are 2 courses of half soldier bricks aligned uniformly from the beginning to the end. Bricks are long lasting landscape designs. With proper and occasional care, bricks can offer a long lifespan service and maintain its aesthetic looks compared to other materials.

Hexagonal TilesThe figure 5.9 shows the hexagonal floor tiles at the corridor pathway connecting from one building to another. This type of arrangement has its advantages in its durability and unique pattern arrangements instead of Common Square tiles arrangements.

Figure 5.8 Herringbone arrangement pavements.Source: Lucas Wong, 2014

Figure 5.9 Hexagonal TIles at the corridor.Source: Lucas Wong, 2014

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OrnamentationsOrnamentations can be seen throughout the buildings in this research facility. As Art Deco style architecture, ornaments are used to beautify the building at the surfaces of the walls. Art Deco buildings usually have flat roof or multileveled flat roofs. The figure 5.10 shows a combination of 3 ornaments. From the front of the building entrance shows 2 columns fixated to the lintel. Both the columns show the symbol of the rubber tapping and the collection of rubber sap.

The overlapping white sheets represent the sheets of rubber collected after the rubber is processed. The meaning behind this art deco is to show its collections of the rubber research made since the opening of this faculty. on the both sides of the wall shows the concrete test tubes. This is to represent research andlaboratory testing on the rubber materials.

The 2 columns shown in the Figure 5.11 are art deco columns. Art deco columns usually stand out from the building and attached to the front façade acting as an archway even if it’s non-accessible. Lintels can be either a load bearing element or a decorative architectural component found over doors, portals, windows or fireplaces. As for the Art Deco Style that the RRIM follows, the lintels are used for purely ornamentation purposes and have no structural function. It emulates the fold of the sheets of rubber, which echoes the other ornamentation found covering the building.

FIgure 5.10 Ornamentations on the entrance.Source: Soh Wei Aun, 2014

Figure 5.11 Art Deco Columns intersected with lintelsSource: Lucas Wong, 2014

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The Figure 5.12 shows the pilotis supporting the shade at the corridor. The pilotis gives free spaces for circulations under the construction. On the right of the photo shows the ribbon windows which give the freedom for the building to extend its windows across the wall.

The Figure 5.13 shows a design of wall stud framing. Art deco columns are used as studs to create sections of frames. A frame is created when the wall is recessed inwards. This is seen at the exterior wall of the library.

Figure 5.12 Pilotis supporting the corridor.Source: Lucas Wong, 2014.

Figure 5.13 Wall Stud Framing as an exterior decoration.Source: Lucas Wong, 2014.

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Figure 5.14 Skylight Ceiling at the main entrance of the building.Source: Soh Wei Aun, 2014.

The skylight ceiling illuminates the main lobby and provides natural lighting for the building and helping save to save electrity costs. Art Deco is a style that exudes an aura of grandiose and power, and the Skylight helped to prove that the moment one steps into the building.

FIgure 5.15 Rear wndows of the Library building.Source: Maria Rosa Seu, 2014.

The windows in the RRIM typically appear as punctured openings, mostly in a cubic form. Piers frame the window openings, which are divided into three vertical bands by two large, protruding plaster mullions. Art deco windows are usually geometrical and symmetrical, which can be seen in the R.R.I.M.

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At the side of the library block are the “The Seven Gems”, a set of relief panels designed by Italian sculptor Rudolfo Nolli, who was based in Singapore at the period. Relief panels are commonly used to narrate a story to the viewer and made a revival in the 20th century with the emergence of the Art Deco style. The arrival of the industrial age helped to make manufacturing these relief panels easier. Ornamentation was not an issued route, but merely meant to give a building unique characteristics and easy to differentiate from other Art Deco styled buildings. Symbols were often used to show a building’s connection to the industry in which it was housing. Elements taken from Egyptian art, such as hieroglyphs, were incorporated into bas-reliefs, but streamlined. Also, Classical figures were seen in the roles of modern workers, exemplifying the connection between classical idealism and modernity.

The seven gems depict the story of rubber, appropriately fitting the building’s function, from the manufacturing process all the way to its use in the commercial world.

The Seven Gems

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Figure 5.16 The Seven Gems.Source: Yap Chun Yew, 2014.

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Figure 5.17 The image shows the planting of rubber trees in Malaysia.Source: Yap Chun Yew, 2014

FIgure 5.18 Workers tapping the tree for rubber.Source: Maria Rosa Seu, 2014

Figure 5.19 Smoking of the rubber extract.Source: Yap Chun Yew, 2014

Figure 5.20 Research on the properties and uses of rubber.Source: Maria Rosa Seu, 2014

Meaning of the Gems

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Figure 5.21 Exportation of rubber products.Source: Maria Rosa Seu, 2014

Figure 5.22 The application of rubber in everyday life. Finding futuristic themes in art deco ornamentation is commonplace, and the airplane in the relief illustrates that.Source: Maria Rosa Seu, 2014

Figure 5.23 Relief of Sir Henry Wickham, who apparently is responsible for stealing approximately 70,000 rubber seeds from the rubber- bearing tree Hevea brasiliensis in Brazil around 1876. The seeds were brought to London and then its seedlings were later dispatched to many tropical locations, including Malaya.Source: Yap Chun Yew, 2014

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6.0 COnclusionThrough our site visit to the RRIM, one of the most prominent Art Deco buildings in Malaysia, we have learnt a lot about this architectural style and the colorful history behind the building. We also managed to understand more about the principle, ideas and contributing factors behind the modern architecture movement in Klang Valley.The project has thought us how to analyze and identify the different elements and components of an Art Deco styled building and how to differentiate it amongst the other modern architecture in Kuala Lumpur, such as its striking ornamentations and raw use of materials.

Furthermore, we had to document the architectural heritage of our building through the form of writings, descriptive diagrams and photography. The writing was done within the group, with the help of some research on books we found in the library of the RRIM.

Lastly, we compiled everything into a web book as a mean to publish academic materials. This information can now be shared with all.

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7.0 ReferencesLai, C.K. (2007). Building Merdeka: Independence Architecture in Kuala Lumpur, 1957 – 1966. Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia: Petronas.

Meijs, M. & Knaack, U. (2009) Principle of Construction: Components and Connections. Basel: Birkhauser.

Fama, P. (2013, June 6). The History and Influence of Art Deco in Malaysia's Architecture. Retrieved June 11, 2014, from http://www.expatgomalaysia.com/article/1205/the-history-and-influence-of-art-deco-in-malaysias-architecture

Malaysia, L. G. (n.d.). The Origin and Establishment of RRIM. Retrieved June 11, 2014, from http://www.lgm.gov.my/general/rrim70yrs.aspx

Price, L. (2011, May 27). Rubber Research Institute Malaysia. Retrieved June 11, 2014, from http://cavingliz-noncave.blogspot.com/2011/05/rubber-research-institute-malaysia.html

Yeang, K. (2013). Malaya in the Early 20th Century. The Architecture of Malaysia (1st ed., pp. 172-175). Amsterdam, The Netherlands: The Pepin Press. (Original work published 1992).

Sharon Koskoff. Art Deco Elements. Retrieved June 13,2014 from Art Deco Society of the Palm Beaches website: http://www.artdecopb.org/whatis2.html

Wentworthstudio. (2013) Historic Styles / Art Deco Style 1925-1940. Retrieved June 13,2014 from http://www.wentworthstudio.com/historic-styles/art-deco

Vint Elegance. (2012) Art Deco Inspired. Retrieved June 13, 2014 from http://vintelegance.blogspot.com/2012/01/art-deco-inspired.html

Architecture, Landscape, and Urban Design. (2011) Art Deco and Modern. Retrieved June 13,2014 from http://architecturestyles.org/art-deco/

Setting out Herringbone. (2014) Block Paving: Herringbone Pattern. Retrieved June 13.2014 from http://www.pavingexpert.com/howto45.htm

Fama P.(2013). The History and Influence of Art Deco in Malaysia’s Architecture. Retrieved June, 2014 from http://www.expatgomalaysia.com/article/1205/the-history-and-influence-of-art-deco-in-malaysias-architecture

Interior Decorating. (2014) Styles of Decorating: Art Deco. Retrieved June, 2014 from http://interiordec.about.com/od/decorateforbegin/a/StylesofDecoratingArtDeco.htm

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