Adela Askandar received her BA in architecture and masters from University of Cambridge, United Kingdom in 2002. Upon completion of her degree in 2000, she worked at Lisa Shell design, a small design office based in Hackney, London for 2 years, after which she gained her RIBA Part III qualification. These formative years in studio-based set up allowed her to dabble in all aspects of practice, including bespoke design work for individual clients. Charged with her Part III and a renewed spirit for architecture, Adela joined Unit One design consultancy in Kuala Lumpur upon returning to Malaysia in 2003. Amongst notable projects are the Leisure Farm Villas, Johor(winner of the 2009 WAN international residential awards), Love Lane, Penang (winner of PAM 2006 Adaptive Reuse awards) and Batu Uban Bungalow show units, Penang. She then set up Adela Askandar design or a.a.d., a design-oriented collective of architects and designers. Established as a full-time practice in February 2006, a.a.d. offered services ranging from interior fit-outs for residential, corporate, and commercial outfits; branding of corporate entities integral with interior design; and feasibility consultation for proposed development projects. Having had work experience both in the UK and Malaysia, it aims to reconcile best practises learnt from both worlds, with a special commitment to design. She also teaches alongside practice, previously in interior design at the Centre for Advanced Design, Kuala Lumpur and at the University Malaya as a part-time design tutor. Adela enjoys collaborations with galleries, other creative houses and individuals that allow further nurturing of ideas. With this in mind, she joined citylabstudio in 2009.  

Designer
Unit One Designs
Architecture & Interior Design
2003 - 2005

Designer
Lisa Shell Design
Architecture & Interior Design
2000 - 2002






Publications
2007 Curator of ‘Processing the City’ exhibition, featured in the Star, the New Straits Times
and d&a magazine September 2007.
2007 Off The Edge • May 2007 Off • Interview with Ulrich Lehmann, curator, BMW Art
Cars Exhibition at the Petronas Art Gallery, Kuala Lumpur
2006 Off The Edge • September 2006 • art without walls • Unrealised Projects •
collaborative contribution with Abdul Multhalib Musa
2004 Publication of 2 no.s final year (diploma in Architecture) collages illustrating final
design projects in ‘Architecture in the Age of Divided Representation’ by Dalibor Vasely.
The MIT Press, 2004.
1997 Third-year dissertation on Tengku Putri Palace edited for publication in Editions Didier-
Millet Encyclopedia of Malaysia : Architecture : traditional palaces

Academia
Sept – Dec 2004 Centre For Advanced Design, Kuala Lumpur. Part time tutor
Responsibilities include determining course content and individual tutorials for the Design Thesis as required by the final year Interior Design course.
Guest Critic Centre For Advanced Design – department of interior design – final year
University Malaya, Kuala Lumpur – department of Architecture – Part 11
University Institute Teknologi Mara (UiTM), Shah Alam, Selangor – Part 11
University College Sedaya International, Kuala Lumpur – Part 1


Recognition & Awards
2001 New Architects 2001 . Design competition entry under Lisa Shell Design, London.
1997 David Robert Memorial Prize for distinction in thesis for third year(BA in Architecture),
Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge. Dissertation entitled ‘The Role of the ‘Mother
House’ within the Regenerative Meaning of Tengku Putri Palace, Kota Bharu, Malaysia’
was selected for the RIBA student Essay Competition.
1997 Bentham-Green/Swindells Prize for performance in Part II of the Architectural Tripos,
Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge
1997 Shortlisted for the Tun Ismail Ali Award by the Malaysian-British Society
1995 The Sir Arnold Hall Prize for outstanding student, awarded by the Malaysian-British
Society.




2008 - present
Adela Askandar designs, Kuala Lumpur
TOWNHOUSE
Conversion of 2 interlocking townhouses into on dwelling and guest apartment Sri Hartamas, Kuala Lumpur ongoing

MARAN POOL 
New pool and deck to existing 50’s house Titiwangsa, Kuala Lumpur ongoing

TMAS HOUSE

2003 - 2005
Unit One Design Sdn Bhd, Kuala Lumpur
LOVE LANE, PENANG
Conversion and adaptive re-use of Grade II listed pre-war shophouse into a private residence, Georgetown, Penang. Internal re-modelling of key spaces, fitted joinery works and management of construction.

BATU UBAN SHOW BUNGALOWS, PENANG
Interior fit-out to 3 no. show bungalows, Penang. Extensive joinery works, co-ordination of finishes, selection of furniture and soft furnishings.

LEISURE FARM RESIDENCE (Kid’s Villas)
Private residential complex in Leisure Farm gated community, Johor, Malaysia. Family residential estate comprising of several linked units within orchard surroundings

HOUSE IN BUKIT DAMANSARA
selective private design competition

JALAN MADGE
low-rise luxury strata development consisting of 8 units.

JALAN CALANMASI
private residence in Sentul,, Kuala Lumpur

UTRT
Private residence in Kuala Lumpur, following Feng Shui principles




2000 - 2002
Lisa Shell Design, London
ST CUTHBERT’S ROAD
Internal re-modelling of 1 bedroom flat; extensive joinery works and new kitchen.

RICHMOND AVENUE
Refurbishment including new kitchen/dining, wc in listed building.

COLVILLE MEWS
Reconstruction of front / rear wall and complete internal re-modelling of 2-storey Georgian mews.

BULWER STREET
Refurbishment, rear and attic extension to 2-storey Victorian terrace house.

CHANCERY LANE
Office fit-out for new law firm, including furniture design and bespoke joinery & fittings