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FIRM PROFILE

OUR PROFILE


We are a small design-build team whose vision is to provide services from design inception through construction completion on any scales of built environment.


We would like to carry our design intent and idea from beginning of design through end of construction that can give a richer meaning to end products i.e. places for people.  During the process, we collaborate with our clients, communities and consultants within and without our team. Walt Disney said “You can dream, create, design and build the most wonderful place in the world, but it requires people to make the dream a reality”. As co-founder and principal of the firm,  Johannes has worked at The Walt Disney Company for sixteen years and learn the processes and realizations of many built projects when he was working at Disneyland Theme-Park and Resort.


We start from an abstract idea and with collaborative efforts of all project stakeholders to create end products which are buildings, spaces and places that would enhance social interactions, increase economic values and friendly environmental concrete/real products which hopefully are unique, interesting and aesthetically pleasing while touching human souls and spirits.
We do not believe in creating same styles over and over for different projects/programmatic requirements. If possible we would like to study the specific characters of projects and create distinctive buildings/places for different clients, communities and contexts. 

AWARDS & RECOGNITION

Award.avif

Best Residential Architect 2021-2022-2023 

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California Expert recommended Top 3 Residential Architects in El Monte, California. All of our residential architects actually face a rigorous 50-Point Inspection, which includes customer reviews, history, complaints, ratings, satisfaction, trust, cost and general excellence. You deserve only the best !

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Three Best Rated - 317 Ranch Road 620 Austin, TX 78734 • USA

"At the beginning of  his architectural career in the late 1980s, Johannes was part of the interior architect "Chaix & Johnson International" who collaborated with Kisho Kurokawa, architect who designed Melbourne Central, Melbourne, Australia. Under his seniors and mentors who studied under prominent architect Charles Moore, his floor pattern design was to compliment Kurokawa's iconic glass cone enclosing the historic Shot Tower as the focal point of the shopping mall complex. About ten years latter, his friend who lives and works in Melbourne has kindly given the pictures of the Melbournce Central Interiors. And, during his school years at Parahyangan Catholic University, Johannes studied and was influenced by Japanese metabolism architect Kenzo Tange and one of Tange's students, Kisho Kurokawa."

In addition, Melbourne Central was featured as background movie set of Jackie Chan's 1997 "Mr. Nice Guy".

Courtesy of Google and Wikipedia.

Melbourne Central:

Floor Pattern Design Intent and Meant for Public Plaza capturing Critics comments collage and public perception utilizing AI (Artificial Intelligence-courtesy of Microsoft 365 Copilot & Google Gemini).

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History of the Site​

  • 1889: Coop's Shot Tower is completed as a lead ammunition factory.

  • 1973: The tower is saved from demolition via a heritage listing.

  • 1980s: Excavation for the "Museum" (now Melbourne Central) station begins nearby.

  • 1991: The tower is encased in the world's largest glass cone as part of the new $1.2 billion development.

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The Floor design in front of Coop's Shot Tower at Melbourne Central was originally conceived by Japanese architect Kisho Kurokawa for the center's 1991 opening. The floor under the massive 84-meter-high glass cone featured a high-quality polished granite and marble pattern.

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Design Elements (1991 Original)​

  • Geometric Layout: A radial pattern centered on the shot tower, mirroring the geometry of the glass cone above.

  • Material Mix: The design primarily used black, grey, and reddish-brown granite interspersed with light-colored marble strips.

  • Symbolism: The circular motifs were intended to represent the "ripples" of energy from the historic tower meeting the modern development.

  • Daimaru Connection: This floor served as the grand entrance to the Daimaru Department Store, which was the center's primary anchor tenant at the time.

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The 1991 development of Melbourne Central, designed by architect Kisho Kurokawa, incorporated the historic 1889 Coop's Shot Tower beneath a massive 84-meter conical glass roof. The floor pattern surrounding the tower was designed to complement the modern, expansive retail atrium while highlighting the preserved 19th- century industrial structure.

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Design Context and Features​

  • Architectural Integration: The design aimed to merge Japanese architectural influences with Melbourne's heritage, placing the historic brick tower as a centerpiece in a futuristic setting.

  • Surrounding Pattern: The floor area, part of the extensive atrium built by Australian and Japanese collaborators, generally featured a polished, light-colored tiling pattern that contrasted with the red brick of the shot water to make it stand out.

  • Spatial Purpose: The flooring was designed to create a large, open public plaza under the cone, leading into the Daimaru department store and specialty shops.

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The 1991 development was a pioneering, though controversial, example of heritage adaptive reuse in Melbourne.

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Heritage Council Victoria​

The floor pattern in front of Coop's Shot Tower in Melbourne Central (within Shot Tower Square) is a contemporary radial design consisting of concentric circles and geometric lines that emanate from the base of the historic tower. While many historic areas in Melbourne, such as the Block Arcade, are famous for their Victorian-era mosaic files, the flooring directly surrounding the Shot Tower was designed as part of the modern Melbourne Central redevelopment in 1991.

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Design and Features​

  • Radial Pattern: The flooring features light and dark gray stone or tile arranged in a sunburst or circular motif that draws the eye toward the center of the square where the tower stands.

  • Modern Aesthetic: Unlike the nearby historic arcades with colorful clay path tiles, this are uses a more minimalist, neutral palette to complement the industrial brickwork of the tower and the high-tech glass cone above.

  • Functionality: The square serves as a major thoroughfare and gathering point for visitors watching the hourly Marionette Watch performance.​​​​

The floor pattern around Coop's Shot Tower in Melbourne Central features intricate geometric encaustic tiling, reflecting the Victorian-era heritage of the original 1889 structure. These tiles are characterized by classic repeating patterns typical of 19th-century Melbourne public buildings, often using deep earthy tones like terracotta, cream, and charcoal.

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Key Features of the Floor Pattern

  • Victorian Encaustic Style: The patterns are created using inlaid clay of different colors rather than a surface glaze, ensuring the design remains visible even as the tiles wear down over time.

  • Geometric Precision: The area directly in front of the tower's base often showcased elaborate borders and central motifs that align with the tower's historical significance.

  • Integration with Modernity: When the Melbourne Central Heritage project was completed in 1991, Japanese architect Kisho Kurokawa purposefully integrated these traditional floor elements to contrast with the sleek, modern glass cone that now encased the tower.

  • Cultural Context: These types of clay path tiles are seen throughout historical sites in Melbourne, providing a "tangible reminder" of the city's 19th-century industrial and residential aestehtic.

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