Following a competitive process, Hugh Broughton Architects were selected to provide the British Council with concept designs for its worldwide estate. The 2,000 sqm Kuala Lumpur facility provides a regional headquarters for south-east Asia and is located in the bottom four floors of a tower block in the central business district, close to the Petronas Towers. Our flexible design combines a cool restrained palette with moments of drama, matching the best of contemporary Britain with the fast moving high tech economy of Malaysia.

Normally the British Council use British architects to develop schemes to an advanced concept stage, but for this project our brief was extended to full detail design. Public spaces are arranged at ground level and include a library, digital interactive zones, children’s area, education and research space, video conference facility, a classroom of the future, self access centre and café. The double height entrance space is animated at night by a cold cathode colour changing back-lit stretch fabric ceiling.

Concept view for the main public area

Circulation between floors is managed with an elegant new giant steel helical stair, which was made n Sussex and shipped to Malaysia. The first floor mezzanine has been extended to accommodate 100 workstations and the second floor houses the teaching centre, one of the Council’s most important worldwide.

Working with the British Council, we have also been involved with projects in St.Petersburg and Madrid, demonstrating our enthusiasm and ability to work on fast track schemes within different time zones, often many thousands of miles away.