Photo: Shahnaz Interior’s design work at the Thomson Hospital, Kota Damansara
Kuala Lumpur, 12 March 2024 — At a time when healthcare surroundings are crucial for patient well-being, the importance of sustainable and thoughtful interior design cannot be overstated. While hospitals focus on helping patients recover, from a physical standpoint, external factors such as patient environment have been shown to play a crucial role in aiding the mental and emotional aspects of patient recuperation. Here, Shahnaz Interiors shines as they create spaces designed to soothe and speed up the healing process, while still remaining as efficient as possible as they tackle four ongoing projects with private and government stakeholders alike.
With an increasing demand for sustainable spaces and green-building, more and more firms are working to incorporate sustainability into projects, and Shahnaz has not been far behind. In its capacity as Malaysia’s leading healthcare environment specialist, the firm is playing a pivotal role in promoting sustainability in hospital interior design. Contributing expertise to fostering sustainable, aesthetically pleasing, and functional hospital environments that are environmental, social, and corporate governance (ESG) compliant, their current projects include;
These projects, initiated last year, vary in completion times ranging from 6 to 9 months, subject to the complexity and readiness of the construction site. Work for private stakeholders includes contract work on IJN for the building of a new 5-storey block, and the curation of built-in furniture at Hospital Selgate Rawang. Within the government sector, Shahnaz is currently focused on interior design work and consultation for Hospital Parit Buntar and Hospital Manjung. Work on IJN is expected to be completed by May 2024, while work for Hospital Parit Buntar, and Hospital Manjung is expected to be completed in June 2024.
“We’re there from the start — from the conception stages of the design, to when the contracting work begins, right down to those final touches in setting up and bringing the plans to life! As design and building contractors, our work covers everything from A to Z, we coordinate everything ourselves, including handpicking the materials used in construction, and see the plans through from the drawing board to reality,” shares Nazrin Shahnaz, CEO of Strategic Design Practice, Shahnaz Interiors, adding “As contractors, we also get to make the call when it comes to choosing design materials, and this gives us the freedom to make more environmentally-friendly picks, which are as efficient as the standard products, minus potential pollutants!”
Photo: The design work by Shahnaz Interiors at Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia (HUSM)
The scope of these projects is reflective of Shanaz’s involvement and signifies a step towards a more sustainable and patient-centric healthcare future. Focusing on providing innovative interior design solutions, Shahnaz advocates for systemic change in building methods, emphasising features such as modularity, disassembly, flexibility, and accessibility without compromising on aesthetics. At the same time, they actively seek to increase material efficiency and eliminate polluting materials from the fabrication process, making a significant impact on the healthcare industry’s environmental footprint.
As design and build contractors, Shahnaz collaborates closely with architects, interior design consultants, and mechanical and electrical consultants to ensure seamless coordination. The company focuses on architectural finishes, avoiding double work or mistakes at the construction site, ultimately saving time, money, and resources for clients. The firm’s commitment to sustainability is also reflected in its material choices and building methods. The company employs modular systems in built-in fabrication, reducing waste and assembly time while maintaining functionality and aesthetics. Shahnaz prioritises materials that are safe, hygienic, and either recycled or recyclable, contributing to a healthier planet and reducing the carbon footprint.
As their ongoing projects reveal, Shahnaz continues to remain committed to sustainable practices, and is currently at the forefront of sustainable healthcare interior design, making meaningful contributions to projects that enhance patient well-being and environmental stewardship.
