JIMMY LIM ARCHITECTS

Established in 1978 by Jimmy Lim Cheok Siang, CSL Associates has a

reputation for personalised client service. Subscribing to the philosophy of
hearing what the client wants and translating it into creative and cost effective
designs that are customized.

CSL Associates, with total commitment to Design and Architectural

philosophy, endeavours to provide architectural designs which reflect the local
context. Besides architectural and design services, the firm also engages in
other related social activities, writings and works which have been featured in
a number of local and foreign publications

JIMMY LIM ARCHITECTS

Philosophy
· Design and Implementation
Excellence
Maintaining a disciplined regime
once the best solution had been
obtained which ensures that the
final product will be what is to be
achieved.
JIMMY LIM ARCHITECTS
· Conserving and Adaptive
reuse
Jimmy Lim Architect formerly
· continuous living heritage.
CSL Associates, is strongly
committed towards
conservation and is active in
many areas related to public
awareness.
Conservation of the old built
environment in order to
enhance and celebrate the
new and
Adapting the old environment
to modern usage hereby
giving old buildings and
environment a new lease of
life.
Conservation is preserving
yesterday for tomorrow. Just
as Today is Yesterday's
Tomorrow, Today will be
Tomorrow's Yesterday
JIMMY LIM
ARCHITECTS
8 Jalan Scott, Brickfields, Kuala
Lumpur.
JIMMY LIM
ARCHITECTS Office Reception Lobby.

8 Jalan Scott, Brickfields, Kuala

Lumpur.

Interior of Studio.
1.We do Projects 3. We engage Seputeh Residents
Association
•Architecture the Public & More content coming
More content coming soon. Socially expand soon.
Club
-Resort and Recreational the More content coming
Builidngs understanding soon.
-Medical Centres/Hospitals Redevelopment

-Apartments/Condominiums of architecture, Project Committee

-Commercial Buildings heritage, More content coming
-Factories/Warehouses conservation soon.
Selangor Turf Club
-Religious Buildings and the
-Schools/Institutions More content coming
-Residential Dwellings environment by soon.
Turf Club
•Landscaping being involved More content coming
More content coming soon. in the various soon
•Planning organisations
More content coming soon. University NSW Alumni
•Interior Design More content coming soon.
Royal Selangor Yatch Club
More content coming soon More content coming soon.
Badan Warisan

More content coming soon.

Royal Selangor Club

More content coming soon.

Malaysian Branch of The

Royal Asiatic Society

More content coming soon.
2. We are Professionally .

Affiliated to
WACA (World
RAIA(Royal Australian

JL with Pisit in Chiang
Association of Chinese Institute of Architects) Mai.
Architects) More content coming Convenor Fellows
More content coming soon.
soon. PAM (Malaysian Institute
 of ARCASIA
of Architects) More content coming
More content coming soon.
The Judges of the WACA soon.
Council Meeting
CPD Lecture
Inaugural Gold Award for
Architectural Excellence.. More content coming More content coming
University NSW soon. soon.
MA Editorial Committee
More content coming Architects (AA)
More content coming
soon. soon. More content coming
Board of Architects NSW ARCASIA
soon
More content coming More content coming
soon. soon.
IPDM JL with Sumet in Chiang
More content coming Mai.
soon.
RIBA (Royal )

More content coming

soon.
Lembaga Arkitek

More content coming

soon.
4. Occasionally we lecture, run workshops and
teach at different Universities and Colleges
Jimmy Lim has been invited by various
Universities/public bodies/societies to give
talks/lectures and conduct workshops covering
wide aspect of Architecture from his own work to
other aspects of tropical energy efficient
architecture, the environment, conservation,
heritage, innovative use of timber in architecture
and energy conservation.
5. We also try to Introduction: not agree, but the tropic is currently
Energy is used to provide comfort for probably the most important region on

explore the man. It maintains cooling, heating,

lighting, personnel and equipment
earth. It is also probably one of the
least researched regions on earth.

Architectural Frontier, conveyor system, security control system,

and other building automation systems. It Research material on the tropics
investigate New drives sophisticated computers, which in pertaining to the impact of the climate
turn control other equally sophisticated and the environment, on buildings if they
Directions, and Energy depended on electrical energy to sustain may suggest that the rivalary and
equipment. Modern buildings are totally exist, are not commonly available. It

efficient Architecture them. jostling for scientific advantage in the

field of bio-diversity research has
Tropical Energy efficient To safeguard against any electrical
dislocations, breakdowns, or blackouts,
Designs engineers provide back-up power supply,
In the tropics there is a lot of sun only to be followed by further source of
and sunlight, we also have a lot of back-up power system. It only
serves to emphasis the importance of
rain and the water has to be energy in any modern buildings. Many
addressed accordingly. developing countries in their infancy of
For comfort there must be energy production are contraints by
regular electrical breakdowns and
openings to facilitate wind blackouts. This impedes their industries
movement. In taking advantage of and rapid development.
these elements and disadvantage We are told that the developed countries
we are begining to produce consume 80% of the earth’s resources
whilst the only 20%. This presumably is
energy efficient architecture. the result of being the first to Indsutrialise.
The challenges and opportunities Despite advances by many Asian
in the tropics are varied and countries like and S. Korea most of the
countries in and these around the
plentiful. equatorial belt are lagging in technology
and ability to solve their own problems.
After all we should not forget that the
world’s economy and power still belongs
to the West. Many people may
caused any information to be kept from
the public. The situation is further
aggravated by the lack of published
papers on building science studies and
results or findings from local Universities
and research laboratories. Very little
information is disseminated to the
industry for reference.
Modern buildings and building science
are relative new to the tropics.
Many so called first-generation buildings
were designed in the last fifty years.
Modern building automation was only
introduced a short thirty years ago in .
State of the art building technology is
still being adopted and familiarised, like
at the KLIA in Sepang, or the Chek Lap
Kok airport in Hong Kong and the in .
A light movable walls/panels, preferably
More content coming soon.Tropical no walls
high rise buildings ought to be
“energy towers” producing their own openings and apertures at apex for
energy to operate its systems and free flow
be self-sustainable. It should be
able to:
produce energy from solar panels;
direct wind cooling at higher levels;
direct and indirect lighting to the
interiors;
rainwater collection for generating
energy;
wind rotaries at high levels to
produce energy;
reduce use of conventional lifts;
alternative mechanical movements layered roofs for wind flow
to produce energy;
new thoughts and approach to
designing high-rise buildings
B Lower Energy
More content coming soon.
“Architecture without
walls”Natural ventilation and
dehumidification
layered roofing over

D Sustainable
 Architecture
More content coming soon.
direct light penetration

Sustainable Architecture for the
slatted floors and platforms

air vents
 and openings at ground level
Equatorial Rainforests.
People living in the tropics do not require
light weight operable windows

much to survive. There is plenty of
operable roof panels

sunlight, rain and wind to provide
use non-solid sidings

comfort. The forests are full of fruits,
raised floor
 berries, nuts, a multitude of herbs and
Designing for larger tropical other bio-diversity awaiting research.
buildings There are no cold winters to freeze the
take advantage of the site
 people and the environment. The seas
and rivers are full of fishes to feed the
understand the environment

people. There is plenty of drinking water
check wind direction

coming out of springs and forest to
creating of cool and hot zones

quench the thirst of the people. This

sounds like paradise! Is this the garden
high ceilings
 for convection air flow of Eden as described in the Genesis? It
provide
 apertures at high level for heat could certainly pass as one. A situation
escape like this would hardly require much
provide heat source to induce
 energy to survive. As these countries
circulation aspire for modernisation adopting or
imitating out of context solutions creates
a dependency on energy which is
generally obtained from fossil fuel; and
C Energy Production the earth’s reserve of fossil fuel will last
More content coming soon. for another forty years. The question we
need to ask ourselves is, “how are we
going to tackle this problem from a
tropical point of view?”
E     Tropical Architecture

The Rites of the Tropic

The EQUATORIAL TROPICAL E     Tropical Architecture

5. It enhances a  11.  Integrating 

climate of Malaysia has

The Rites of the Tropic
Visual structural elements freezes
The EQUATORIAL TROPICAL experience and celebration the intergrated
climate of has is tantalised by complexities of structures

only two seasons,-

only two seasons,-
"hot and wet", and the
the different layering of found in Nature.
"hot and wet and more wet". shapes, light and shade,
variety of hues and 12.  Darkness and 

"hot and wet", and the

The tropic is a celebration the mysticism shade intimate coolness acting
of the following:
of the unseen and unanticipated. as a
1. Celebration of Colours visual magnetic draw upon

"hot and wet and more wet".

in Nature 6. Tropical architecure one's sensitivities, in
- of differing intensity
and variation,
allows a Symbiotics  contrast to the
- of shapes and sizes, relationship between surrounding brightness
- of the play of light against Man-made elements and Nature, and heat.
Darkness. It is a cerebal relationship The magnetism between light
2. Celebration of Sounds laced with emotions and and shade is a constant

The tropic is a celebration

- of water
- of the rainfall
- of the rivers and
flowing streams
memories, continuing conflict of
It embraces totally all of pain and joy.
one's senses, The tension between light and

of the following:
3. Celebration of Smells
of Nature
- of the ground, as heat
surrenders itself to
the rain
- of the decay and
death as the sun and
the intertwining of shade perpetuates the
Nature into Man-made structure continuing search for
celebrates this symbiotic comfort and discomfort.
relationship
7. It provides the 
opportunity for

1. Celebration of Colours in Nature

heat sap the life out of
the descarded the invisible 'structure' of Nature
organic matters. to be "stylised" and
"framed" in the

- of differing intensity
4. It evokes a
Professional route
to celebrate a transformation
of sensuality accentuated by
organic expression of the roof Design typologies for the Tropics, a new
approach
form non heat retentive external
and other interior parts and

and variation,
the heat and the humidity. structures material
using more natural material

8. The mysticism of e.g. timber

- of shapes and sizes,

minimum disturbance to the
Transparency, layering
of Forms, Light, Shade, environment
Structural texture - accentuates maintaining all vegetation


- of the play of light against Darkness. the Visual Surrealism of the where possible
Space, -
blurs the distinction between
Space, Distance and Time.

9. History can be a

2. Celebration of Sounds
Juxta- positioning
of memories focus one's vista on
the journey of time and history.

- of water
It contextualise the
visual composition.

- of the rainfall
10. Weaving of the
lattice screens, delineations of
the flooring,
exploding of the walls creates
- of the rivers and flowing streams depth,
transparency and surrealism.

3. Celebration of Smells of Nature

- of the ground, as heat surrenders itself to the rain
- of the decay and death as the sun and heat sap the life out of the descarded organic matters.

4. It evokes a
Professional route
to celebrate a transformation
of sensuality accentuated by
the heat and the humidity.
5. It enhances a Visual
experience and celebration
is tantalised by
the different layering of
shapes, light and shade,
variety of hues and
the mysticism
of the unseen and unanticipated.

6. Tropical architecure allows a Symbiotics relationship between

Man-made elements and Nature,
It is a cerebal relationship
laced with emotions and memories,
It embraces totally all of
one's senses,
the intertwining of
Nature into Man-made structure celebrates this symbiotic relationship

7. It provides the opportunity for

the invisible 'structure' of Nature
to be "stylised" and
"framed" in the
organic expression of the roof form
and other interior parts and
structures
8. The mysticism of Transparency, layering of Forms, Light, Shade,
Structural texture - accentuates the Visual Surrealism of the Space, -
blurs the distinction between
Space, Distance and Time.

9. History can be a Juxta- positioning

of memories focus one's vista on the journey of time and history.
It contextualise the
visual composition.

10. Weaving of the lattice screens, delineations of the flooring,

exploding of the walls creates depth,
transparency and surrealism.
11. Integrating structural elements freezes the
intergrated complexities of structures found in Nature.

12. Darkness and shade intimate coolness acting as

a visual magnetic draw upon one's sensitivities, in
contrast to the surrounding brightness and heat.
The magnetism between light and shade is a constant
continuing conflict of pain and joy.
The tension between light and shade perpetuates the
continuing search for comfort and discomfort.
Design typologies for the Tropics, a new
approach
•non heat retentive external material
•using more natural material e.g. timber
•minimum disturbance to the
environment
maintaining all vegetation where
possible

minimise earthworks
minimise width of roads and its
construction
create natural drains maintain
natural water courses
raise buildings above the ground
to conserve energy
use large over hanging eaves
use more verandahs for shading
more openings both at the sides
and overheads
refrain from importing irrelevant
and unsuitable ideas
work with the climate
work within the constraints
retain both traditional and cultural
values
there are many lessons to be
learnt from the past
F Recycled Materials
and Design
Refer to LINK .
.
G R&D : Telok Pulai
House H Zero Energy
More content coming soon.
To test his own believes and to
Architecture
demonstrate the qualities of More content coming soon.
timber, recycled building
components and materials, Zero energy architecture is
Jimmy Lim Design used his own one where the materials used
house at 26 Jalan Telok Pulai, had already negated the
Taman Seputeh, in Kuala Lumpur energy used in its
as a R&D laboratory. production. Recycled
It was initiated in 1981 and has
gone through nine stages of building material from
experimentations. The results of demolished buildings were
the various experiments on eco- regularly utilised in as a
friendly and sustainable gesture to lower the energy
architecture were later applied to consumed. Integrating
their projects. recycled material with new
It had many visitors and notable can be challenging and
architects over the years from all
over the world.
requires care, innovation and
Among them were Geoffrey Bawa creativity. The final designs
(), Charles Correa (), Philip Cox are ultimately influenced by
(), Itsesu Hasegawa (), Wu Liang the layering-over of these re-
Yong (), William Lim (), Ken cycled components.
Yeang (), and students from
Universities all over the world.
6. Our concern with our built
Heritage has prompted us to 3. As we are the direct living descendents of
campaign for its Conservation. awhatever
continuous living heritage follows that
we do within the context of good
We have developed the following architecture and built environment that
4-points approach to goes towards sustaining and continuing our
heritage has to be acceptable as part and
Conservation: parcel of the living culture.
"Therefore it is a fallacy to insist
1. A heritage building or site no matter how
that everything we recreate in the
derelict or fallen into disrepair can be
restored rebuilt and rehabilitated for some spirit of and for the present living
useful adaptive reuse. heritage must be a repetition and
copy of the old tradition".
,.
4. All heritage buildings should be able to
2. Working on heritage and conservation generate self supporting income
projects requires dedication and sensitivity without becoming a burden and therefore
and therefore eliminating the need for it to economically non- viable or sustainable.
be expensive or economically non-viable.
.
7. With the destruction of the Natural Environment we
need to preserve Nature and minimise its destruction,
to reforest and replace what has been taken from
Nature:

Safeguarding the natural environment through sensitive and

innovative planning and balancing between built and natural
environment thereby providing development without
sacrificing nature.
It is a losing battle on a global basis. Too many goal post
are being relocated an it becomes confusing for those who
are concerned to consolidate their efforts. Leading
economies of the world has to show the way otherwise it is
a matter of time that there will be a 'global game over'.
9. As part of economising on the earth's
resources and to be sustainable we exercise
Frugality in Architecture:
Using sensitive and innovative design principles
and building techniques, frugality in usage of
energy and building materials is practised,
causing the project to be cost effective.

Sustainable Architecture
Using, by choice, local and indigenous renewable
building materials that are easily accessible as
well as the fact that they can be reused. This
extends to include the use of re-cycled building
materials.
2. PROJECT OVERVIEW

A. EVOLUTION OF OUR IDEAS OVER THE YEARS. MAINTAINING THE

COURSE IS NOT ALWAYS EASY...................WE TRY.

The Walian
House, the
first
environmentall
y-frieindly and
ecologically
sustainable
architecture
for the tropics,
Kuala Lumpur.
1984
The Walian House,
environmentally
friendly and
sustainable interior,
Kuala Lumpur.
1984
3. Tropical Houses

More content coming soon. T Y Chiew, Balakong,

Selangor (1979)
Projects of Tropical
Eu House,KL (1989)
Houses
Amy Loh, Seirra Mas,
S. W. Lum, Desa, KL
Selangor (2002)
(1979)
Eu House, KL (1989) The Prayer Hall in ASPA
Amy Loh, Seirra Mas, Selangor Mosque Tanjong Api
(2002) (1983)
Tropical Details
The shaded veranda in ASPA
Mosque Tanjong Api (1983)
 S. W. Lum, Taman
Desa, KL (1979)

Eu House,KL (1989)
Amy Loh, Seirra Mas, Selangor (2002)
T Y Chiew, Balakong,
Selangor (1979

The Prayer Hall in

ASPA Mosque
Tanjong Api (1983)
Eu House, KL (1989)

The shaded veranda in ASPA Mosque

Tanjong Api (1983)
4. Sustainable Energy Design
More content coming soon.

1. Recycled Materials
More content coming soon.

2. Zero Energy
More content coming soon.

ASPA Mosque Tanjung Api (1983)

3. Natural Environments
More content coming soon.
 “The inevitable search for alternative source of harnessing energy
from Nature and ways of using sustainable and renewable building
materials could result in
new architectural modelling and expressions. The tropics has an
abundant reservoir of untapped
energy from the sun, it provides lighting, heating for comfort as well as
electricity from solar cells; rainwater, for hydro energy; wind energy at
high level; and other mechanical devices to produce energy. Combined,
these alternative sources of energy could be sufficient for a building’s own
use. From these interventions an architectural form could evolve,
influenced totally by its dependency on nature for its own sustainability”.
“The current method of designing high-rise buildings in the tropics may
be out-dated. I see the future of tropical high-rise buildings as “energy-
towers”, that are self-sustaining and also supplying energy to the
surrounding neighbourhood.
These towers should be
the energy source of the
district. Imagine the whole
of ’s tropical cities being
covered by these “energy-
towers”, producing a truly
new Form of architecture,
heralding an Asian
renaissance”.

Energy-Tower
Concepts &
Philosophy
5. Conservation Sometime Resort, (1994)
Badan Warisan
More content coming soon.
Historical Heritage

More content coming soon