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Shamsuddin Wahapis an
interior designer in Veritas Design Group since 1992. Veritas Design Group is a
multi-disciplinary consulting firm which provides integrated architecture , planning,
interior design, landscape design, quantity surveying and environmental consulting
services for innovative buildings and spaces throughout the Asian region and
beyond.
INTERIOR DESIGN was
not in Shamsuddin Wahap’s initial
plan. He had always been a creative
person. He liked to draw, paint and
built. He chooses architecture as a
career because of his interest in art
and that architecture is a profession.
He wasn’t inspired to choose
architecture. The inspiration hit him
during his journey. His mentors and
some architects, such as Frank Lly-
od Wright, have inspired him and
ignited the flame of passion in him.
“It becomes part of your
soul, heart and mind. It
becomes you.”
-Shamsuddin Wahap
He got a scholarship to study
A-levels in New York and complet-
ed Master of Architecture. After
graduation, he ventured into the soci-
ety and work as an assistant architect
in England. Due to his job require-
ment, he moved around a lot and
there were little personal time left.
He switched to interior design 3 years
ago. Switching profession was a very
bold action but he had a lot of sup-
port from his mentors in England.
They had been helpful and influential
“Architecture and interior
design are not so much different”,
Shamsuddin Wahap said, “It is about
how you experience and create spac-
es.” Both architects and interior de-
signers work with the surrounding
environment and applied the same
thinking process. However, interi-
or designing is more specific and
focus. The process for interior de-
sign is also much faster because it
doesn’t require the approvals from
government as architects needed.
MY WORLD
MY RULE
Shamsuddin pondered for a moment before he an-
swered “I’m not conventional. I’m creattive. Ido the
same thing in different ways.” Although Shamsud-
din described himself as creative, he admitted that
he repeats the same path when he is being creative.
“it is a habit, a signature, like how people pack
their luggage the same way everytime”, he said.
“How am
I different
from
others?”
With his experience as an architect, Shamsud-
din developed his own unique style when it
comes to interior design. When he was an archi-
tect, he get to built a lot but he can’t do that in in-
terior design because the space is limited. So he
“break it into a few
dimensions”
and come out with the idea of layering space. he
loved to create interconnected space and fluid space.
Even for his home design, he prefered a si-
miliar idea. he wants a free and simple space,
like an art gallery. He explained further,
“If you have a lots of
paintings, you will want a
large and simple space to
display it.
3. The Man You
Never Know
Despitehis busy work life, Shamsuddin can al-
ways find the time to spend on his hobbies. Fishing
is one thing that he enjoyed spending time on. Just re-
cently, he have been to Bosnia to fly fishing. Fly fishing
is different from the regular fishing. It requires more
skills. He explained briefly about the difference be-
tween fly fishing and the regular fishing. Fly fishing uses
insect bait that floats while regular fishing uses any bait
that sink. With an excited tone, he exclaimed that he
caught a trout, a kind of colourful fish. Both fly fishing
and trout are something that can’t be found in Malaysia.
Another thing that attracts Shamsuddin is cycling.
Shamsuddin often cycle at country side or more pristine
areas. He can spend days just to cycle. “It frees my mind”,
Shamsuddinexplained.Thesceneriesalongthejourneys
were so beautiful that he couldn’t help but got addicted
to it. The sceneries were simply inspirational. He ex-
pressedhisregretforbeingunabletoshowusthepicture.
Travelling has became part of Shamsuddin’s life. Due
in part to his work, Shamsuddin has been travelling
around for years. However, it was not a burden to him
as he enjoyed travelling. One of the most memorable
place he been to is Istanbul. The Sultan Ahmed Mosque
or more commonly known as the Blue Mosque has an
especially deep impression in Shamsuddin. He couldn’t
say anything more as his reminiscence about the fantas-
tic architecture work come into his mind. The fusion of
themodernandthepastwasonethingthatamazedhim.
The concept of this fusion is also a reason for his in-
terest in the renaissance buildings. The coexisting
modern and old community fascinates him. Italy, in
particular, piqued his interest. He describe these build-
ings as “plain on the outside, interesting on the inside.”
“plain on the
outside,
interesting on
the inside.” He showed us
the photo of
himself in the
Blue Mosque
At the end, Shamsuddin is just another common man.
Like everyone else, he fears. He fears of aging and that he
will grow too old to think. He fears of losing his job due to
economy crisis or country. He fears that he have to let go
of interior design one day and he is not ready for that day.
4. What I think?
Puduraya Bus Terminal
“We want to
make the wait-
ing experience
more like an
event”, he said in his in-
terview for this Puduraya Bus
Terminal project. Puduraya
Bus Terminal is one of Sham-
suddin’s work and one of his
pride. He was asked to refur-
bich the 30-year-old bus termi-
nalandhegladlyacceptedit.He
is proud that he can contribute
to the society and the people
is using the bus terminal well.
He has always wanted to con-
tribute to the society by giving
the people more public spaces.
When asked for his wish, he
selflessly says that he want to
have the power to change Kua-
la Lumpur. He criticized that
Kuala Lumpur has too few
public space and public trans-
port are poorly developed. He
wanted to change that aspect
of Kuala Lumpur. “Even the
riches in England use
public transports”, he recalled.
He would like to establish a building school here in Malaysia, fol-
lowing England’s example. “We have the right exposure and under-
standing but we don’t have the right people”, Shamsuddin confessed.
Malaysia’s building workforce are mainly foreign labours. They do
notpossestheessentialskillstoperfectthebuildingworks.“Thisisan
issue as they are the one whho make things happen” he emphasized.
Currently, he has no specific goal in his career. In term of work and
life, he is contented with what he has now and he just want to live in
themoment.Nevertheless,Shamsuddinsaysthathewillalwayspush
himselfformoreandnevergofortheeasycatchingeneratingideas.
Written by Eugene Peng, a student
