No-To-Scale

🔮 LUST approached NTS* with the intention for creating a cover artwork that best represented their upcoming album, TUGU. Here we’d like to share our process on how we developed the idea to fruition 📏🖍️

🔊 LUST shared demos of their upcoming songs for us to get a feel for and we developed several ideas, one of them was this approach that you see as the final artwork.

💭 The TUGU tower design was based around the idea of moving particles as the album, TUGU, revolves around the topic of a central universal force binding us all together (or how we interpreted it lah).

🟣 Wanting to take a more playful approach, we decided to convey this through the use of a large scale marble run set. The marble run as an analogy to life works here as it has layered meanings to the ideas of fate, our actions and what we can control.

Swipe through for process snippets! ⏩️

🗼 Structure:
* The base is a concentric layer of columns, with a main central column in the middle and 3 outer columns surrounding it. Similar to that of an atom structure.
* The main column, in red, branches out to the other sub-columns. The challenge here was to create a marble run set where the marble (guli) would travel the greatest distance before coming to a stop, for each individual column.
* Figuring out the routes and connecting together the pieces together was a nightmare, but fun to say the least 😄
* It took almost 500 parts and pieces to assemble the tower together, including the base and the cut-out islands.
* The tower was made of a combination of laser cut + 3D printed parts, CNC-cut base and custom off-the-shelf plastic components.
* Dimension wise the tower stands about 1 meter high with a base footprint of 45cm by 45cm.

Overall it was a great build and we had fun making it. Terima kasih to LUST and Amir for trusting us for this project. Looking forward to more future projects guys! .rjohari 

TUGU TOWER for LUST:
Design & Fabrication: NTS* Sam & Nadhrah
Technical Assistance: Zan Nureen
Photography by: Amani & asst by Saiful Azwan

As we close in on the year, here is a sneak peak of a project we recently completed at TRX’s Food Exchange - A wall piece made up of 40% recycled plastic. More on this soon!

We would also like to announce as a build arm of NTS, focussing on interior and architectural services for retail and commercial spaces. A way to bring our ethos of joy and delight into everyday spaces.

We are proud to be joined by in leading MODE together. Nureen is an experienced architectural designer that we have worked with consistently over the years, and with whom we trust in realizing our visions.

More to come in 2024.

‘Sarang Billboard’
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Exhibited as part of Interim Atlas and Interim Cinema at Archifest, Singapore ongoing till 28th October taking place at the Festival House in Kampung Gelam.

Desc
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Swiftlet farms are apparent throughout the region; though not easily recognisable initially, they exist as ubiquitous blocks of concrete commonly found in urban peripheries and rural areas.

A common sight as one traverses along the many expressways in Malaysia, these ominous blocks can be found along the highway between the lush greenery of its backdrop.

Swiftlets, or ’Burung Layang-layang’ or ‘Burung Walit’ nests, are harvested due to their traditional medicinal properties and being somewhat of a delicacy in this part of the world. These farms are aperture-less concrete structures and are often placed in rural areas. It presents a jarring reminder of our attempts at capitalising on nature.

(Continued)

“Towards an Indigenous Guardianship of Resources”
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A manifesto for the convening of the UIA (International Union of Architects) Congress in Copenhagen, compiled under the International Manifesto Relay (IMR)

“What are the current social, cultural and political functions of the manifesto? Where does its impact lie? In order to answer these questions, the Copenhagen Architecture Festival (CAFx) has compiled 45 manifestos from around the world that explore the role of architecture in envisioning and constructing a sustainable future”

“Towards an Indigenous Guardianship of Resources”
was highlighted by the CAFx Curatorial team as among the manifestos that best captured the spirit of the IMR.
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We had the pleasure of crafting out this manifesto with Dr. Najah Md Alwi (Universiti Malaysia Kelantan), Dr. Aiman Mohd Rashid & Dr. Nor Izura Tukiman (Universiti Teknologi Malaysia).

Dr. Najah was the Chairman of PAMNEXT (PAM Graduate Committee) 2021-2022.
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Gangsapura just released the Live recordings from ‘Pengembaraan Satu Malam’ and it is an absolute joy to listen to.

Full track listing from the performance nights for those that want to relive the experience or for those that missed the shows. This is for you.

Musical composition by Teuku Umar Ilany and Mohamad Faliq.

Much thanks to for releasing this gem into the world.

Now streaming on all major music platforms.

LINK IN BIO