BUILT IN THREE DAYS: AN ALUMINIUM STORY IN THE HEART OF KL

A Rapid Collaboration with LCSC Architects for KLAW 2025

It was a quiet afternoon when we received a call from CIS Network, inviting us to take part in a city revitalisation initiative in Petaling Street, Kuala Lumpur, an event held in conjunction with the Kuala Lumpur Architecture Week (KLAW) 2025.

The programme featured four selected locations across Petaling Street, each transformed through architectural interventions by appointed architects, while building material suppliers were invited to contribute products that would both beautify the streetscape and engage the public.
 

Figure 1: Sources from (https://architecturemalaysia.my/2025/12/02/twist-potato/)

For us at Space Products, the initial intention was simple: to place our aluminium systems in the public eye and strengthen brand awareness among designers, so that when aluminium screens or louvers are considered at the schematic stage, Space Products comes to mind. What we didn’t expect was how quickly the challenge would escalate.

 

From Concept to Crisis — in Just Days

One of the four locations was helmed by LCSC Architects, who reached out to us shortly after the event briefing. Their original concept envisioned an aluminium profile screen sculpture, a four-sided enclosure located at a busy restaurant spot along Petaling Street.

The idea was poetic: visitors could step into the sculptural screen, take photos, and catch a framed view of Kuala Lumpur’s iconic skyline, Merdeka 118, hidden within the narrow alleyways of the old town.
 

Figure 2: A family spotted taking photos of the sculpture right after eating at Pik Wah

We were immediately drawn to the concept. It aligned perfectly with our belief that architectural screens are not merely functional elements, but tools that shape experience and atmosphere. However, reality soon set in.

Due to tight and last-minute permits issued by DBKL, the entire fabrication and installation timeline was compressed into one to two days, a duration that would normally take weeks.

 

A Design Pivot Under Pressure

Recognising the constraints, we proposed an alternative solution, Aluminium Sun Louvers, using slender C-panels cut to length, clipped onto our proprietary 545-P85 aluminium holder system.
 

Figure 3: Aluminium Sun Louvers fixed to proprietary 525-P85 Holder

This system allowed the louvers to be installed onto a pre-prepared, removable scaffold structure, achieving the desired visual impact while remaining constructible within the limited timeframe.

After an intense hour of technical and design discussions, the direction was agreed. The challenge was no longer if it could be done, but how fast.
 

All Hands on Deck

We immediately placed our ongoing orders on hold and redirected our production line to fabricate the aluminium sun louver panels. At the same time, our powder coating line was engaged for urgent approval and scheduling.

Against the odds, everything aligned.

Within a day, fabrication was completed. The materials were dispatched to site, where our trusted subcontractor, LKH Construction, mobilised immediately for installation.

On-site, our team worked closely with both LKH Construction and LCSC Architects, ensuring that every detail was executed as intended. The most demanding part was alignment, each louver edge had to be trimmed perfectly straight, despite the scaffold existing in a complex three-dimensional condition. It was meticulous, time-consuming work, but essential to achieving a clean architectural finish when viewed from afar.
 

Figure 4: Installation of 'Twisted Potato' underway
 

Three Days That Changed the Narrative

And then, just like that, it was complete.

What typically requires at least two weeks, from factory fabrication to site installation, was achieved in three days.

But the real success wasn’t speed alone.

The installation transformed the restaurant frontage into a vibrant urban moment once again. It drew attention, invited interaction, and reframed how a narrow alleyway could connect people to the city skyline.
 

Figure 5: KLAW Festival 2025
 

A Four-Way Win

This project became a rare four-way success:

• Space Products showcased how aluminium systems can be rapidly adapted for design-driven urban interventions

• LCSC Architects realised their vision under extreme constraints

• Restaurant Pik Wah gained renewed visibility and foot traffic

• Petaling Street took a step toward modernisation, without losing its soul

For us, this was more than a product installation. It was a reminder of why we do what we do, to support designers, respond under pressure, and use aluminium as a medium to shape better urban experiences.
 

Figure 6: LCSC Architect, Space Products and LKH Construction