Buchan principal Malou Ellis is a creative architect leading Buchan projects in South-East Asia. Malou takes a contextually and culturally sensitive approach to design, drawing on extensive experience with complex retail, hospitality, multi-residential, commercial and mixed-use projects globally.

What do you enjoy about working as an architect?
Being an architect is the best job! It’s a blend of creativity and problem-solving and has the ability to leave a tangible mark on the world. Design shapes the way we live, which is constantly evolving. I like to apply research to bringing things to life and creating a positive impact.

How do you apply research to design?

The analysis of data is the start of the design process. It’s the essence of design and allows us to tailor a unique user experience. It’s important to know who we are designing for and why. We lead vision workshops with client groups to help align ideas, aspirations, concerns and fears around the design and delivery of their projects. This early understanding is the key to unlocking our design creativity.

What philosophies or principles shape your design thinking and approach?

Design must respond sensitively to the surroundings and complement rather than dominate. As well as geographic location, it’s important to consider adaptability and serviceability in relation to the surrounding buildings. I value clarity and simplicity of design, and a memorable narrative. Light, shadow, material texture and the fluidity of the user journey create memorable and emotional experiences that should be inspiring beyond the purely functional.

What’s unique about working with clients in South-East Asia?

I’ve worked with clients across diverse cultures in the Philippines, China and Singapore. They appreciate Buchan’s design thinking and highly value relationships and loyalty. I work hard to build trust and rapport, and to learn how to read what’s on their mind. To be competitive in South-East Asia, you have to be flexible, agile and think quickly, because things are fluid and often change. I maintain constant communication with my clients. It’s very collaborative and they often communicate via text because it is direct and immediate.

What are the constraints and opportunities of working in South-East Asia?

The challenges include different design regulations, the humidity, the traffic and pollution. However, the opportunities are immense. Rapid growth and urbanisation are driving demand for large-scale infrastructure, housing and mixed-use developments. Secondary cities are becoming the next big thing in development, and there is awareness that good architecture, with LEED or EDGE certification, benefits communities. There is a push for net-zero developments and renewable energy integration. And a younger, design-conscious population who are driving demand for innovation and experiential architecture.

What are you enjoying working on?

South-East Asia’s rapid urbanisation has increased consumer spending and we are working on several ‘third-spaces’ where people go to spend time and interact. We’re doing a major refresh of the Ayala Center Cebu in the Philippines, a premium regional lifestyle, cultural and social destination. We want to make it culturally familiar without being kitsch. We’ve worked with local artisans, and used rice-husks, a by-product that usually gets thrown away, as an innovative finish. The rice-husks provide a unique texture and are great from a sustainability perspective. It also gets people thinking about other ways to use products creatively.

What do you like about working at Buchan?

I love the variety and the people. I’m from the Philippines originally, and there is so much potential across South-East Asia. I find it incredibly fulfilling to work across different demographics and cultural contexts, and developing strong client relationships and making sure we’re doing the right thing by all the people we’re working with. It requires strategic thinking and that’s something I really enjoy.

Photography: Jes Lindsay