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Chris Chan
Manager, Interior Design
Space Man
Chris designs spaces for Royal Selangor- from retail stores, offices to trade stands.
“When I started in 1992, drawings were still done by hand. Having trained in AutoCAD, a drafting and drawing software, I demonstrated what I could do. However, the other designers were sceptical. Some of them even asked how can a mouse and monitor be faster than the hand and the eye? When they saw that work could be done more quickly and efficiently, the entire department switched to computer aided design,” Chris reminisces with a proud smile.
Over the years, Chris has seen retail and interior design trends come and go. His work, however, has always drawn heavily from Royal Selangor's brand values. This can be seen in the new 2020 retail concept.
“We’ve introduced an ‘immersive’ element at our new flagship store in Pavilion Kuala Lumpur last year. Products are on special display units with almost translucent surfaces which contributes to its streamlined look. There are video screens inside our store that show videos of our latest product launches and brand story. We also have Metalesce wall panels. It consists of beautifully textured tiles created by our very own process of applying a high metal content coating on substrates such as ceramic, timber or even plastic. It’s a great way to show walk-in customers, especially interior designers and architects, the potential of using these coatings for their offices or hotels,” he explains.
For Chris, there’s never a dull moment in interior design. It’s the challenge and the sense of achievement that drives him forward.
“We also knew that our new flagship store faces the busy street below and so we wanted to use this street-facing store to show off our brand and products. I knew that if I had to use a conventional video screen, it would block out the natural light and make the store very claustrophobic. We decided to do something different and install a transparent LED screen! It provided enough space to showcase our videos to pedestrians and our store customers still get to enjoy the view. I’m proud to say we are the first in Malaysia to do this,” Chris says.
He was also responsible for the modern industrial look of Royal Selangor’s head office that includes elements of its pewter heritage.
He is also appreciative of the opportunities given to him. They allow him to stretch himself professionally.
“I was given the opportunity to work with the architects and consultants of our Royal Selangor Visitor Centre, based in Kuala Lumpur. When it was opened in 2004 by the Sultan of Selangor, it was a very proud moment for me,” he says.
“A big challenge in designing the visitor centre was creating engaging exhibits. What could we make out of pewter? Then we thought of making a replica of the Petronas Twin Towers out of straight sided tankards, a top-selling item. My team and I spent a lot of time stacking them and making sure they were properly soldered and stable. There is also the Wall of Hands where pewter handprints of long-time employees in different styles are arranged in a pattern. It can be seen on a huge arch outside and within the centre. That took months of work. And till today, we’re still working on it, because for every employee who has served 5 years at Royal Selangor, they leave their pewter handprint on the wall!"
Creativity. Passion. Ingenuity. These three qualities have helped Chris and others like him push the boundaries of what Royal Selangor can offer its customers and the world.
“When I started in 1992, drawings were still done by hand. Having trained in AutoCAD, a drafting and drawing software, I demonstrated what I could do. However, the other designers were sceptical. Some of them even asked how can a mouse and monitor be faster than the hand and the eye? When they saw that work could be done more quickly and efficiently, the entire department switched to computer aided design,” Chris reminisces with a proud smile.
Over the years, Chris has seen retail and interior design trends come and go. His work, however, has always drawn heavily from Royal Selangor's brand values. This can be seen in the new 2020 retail concept.
“We’ve introduced an ‘immersive’ element at our new flagship store in Pavilion Kuala Lumpur last year. Products are on special display units with almost translucent surfaces which contributes to its streamlined look. There are video screens inside our store that show videos of our latest product launches and brand story. We also have Metalesce wall panels. It consists of beautifully textured tiles created by our very own process of applying a high metal content coating on substrates such as ceramic, timber or even plastic. It’s a great way to show walk-in customers, especially interior designers and architects, the potential of using these coatings for their offices or hotels,” he explains.
For Chris, there’s never a dull moment in interior design. It’s the challenge and the sense of achievement that drives him forward.
“We also knew that our new flagship store faces the busy street below and so we wanted to use this street-facing store to show off our brand and products. I knew that if I had to use a conventional video screen, it would block out the natural light and make the store very claustrophobic. We decided to do something different and install a transparent LED screen! It provided enough space to showcase our videos to pedestrians and our store customers still get to enjoy the view. I’m proud to say we are the first in Malaysia to do this,” Chris says.
He was also responsible for the modern industrial look of Royal Selangor’s head office that includes elements of its pewter heritage.
He is also appreciative of the opportunities given to him. They allow him to stretch himself professionally.
“I was given the opportunity to work with the architects and consultants of our Royal Selangor Visitor Centre, based in Kuala Lumpur. When it was opened in 2004 by the Sultan of Selangor, it was a very proud moment for me,” he says.
“A big challenge in designing the visitor centre was creating engaging exhibits. What could we make out of pewter? Then we thought of making a replica of the Petronas Twin Towers out of straight sided tankards, a top-selling item. My team and I spent a lot of time stacking them and making sure they were properly soldered and stable. There is also the Wall of Hands where pewter handprints of long-time employees in different styles are arranged in a pattern. It can be seen on a huge arch outside and within the centre. That took months of work. And till today, we’re still working on it, because for every employee who has served 5 years at Royal Selangor, they leave their pewter handprint on the wall!"
Creativity. Passion. Ingenuity. These three qualities have helped Chris and others like him push the boundaries of what Royal Selangor can offer its customers and the world.