Principal in practice since 1993 — Projects across Malaysia, Singapore, China & Australia
From architectural design to construction delivery and China supply chain — ARCO is the only consultancy you need, from concept to completed building.
The Practice
ARCO Design Group was founded on a single conviction: the best buildings come from a single accountable team — not a fragmented chain of consultants who each own only part of the outcome.
We are a full-scope development consultancy. We design, manage construction, source interiors, and coordinate furniture — including direct supply from our China manufacturing network.
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Our founding principal carries over three decades of uninterrupted practice across housing, hospitality, commercial, and high-rise residential sectors in Malaysia and Australia.
Clients who engage ARCO do not need to find anyone else. From the first concept sketch to the final furniture placement, we own the outcome entirely.
We now accept a limited number of new commissions each year from developers, institutional owners, and hospitality operators who require a principal-level engagement.
Founding Principal & Director
Qualification
Diploma of Interior Design
Institute PA Sem of Art, Singapore
Experience
30+ years — hospitality, commercial
& residential. Malaysia & Australia
Years of principal’s
practice since 1993
Completed projects across
Malaysia & Australia
International branded
hotel commissions
Full development scope
design to delivery
Full Record — 1993 to Present
Nexus Resort Sabah
Hospitality
Capri by Fraser
Hospitality
JBCC Holiday Inn
Hospitality
DoubleTree by Hilton Northbridge
Hospitality
DoubleTree by Hilton Perth Waterfront
Hospitality
AmanSari Hotel (Seri Alam)
Hospitality
Nusa Height AmanSari Hotel
Hospitality
Express AmanSari Budget Hotel
Hospitality
KOHO Hotel
Hospitality
Fives Hotel Johor City Centre
Hospitality
Fives Hotel DNP Plaza
Hospitality
Asteria Hotel
Hospitality
Skudai Villa Apartment
Residential
D. Larkin Apartment
Residential
Larkin Height
Residential
Pandan 1 & Pandan 2 Apartment
Residential
M. Tiara Apartment
Residential
M. Condo Apartment
Residential
Sky Habitat Apartment
Residential
Pinnacle Tower Apartment
Residential
Twin Danga Apartment
Residential
Perling Height Apartment
Residential
Tri Tower Apartment
Residential
Tiara Desaru Seaview Residence
Residential
D Suite Apartment
Residential
Nusa Height Apartment
Residential
Zara Foodstuff Office & Factory
Commercial
Johor Polo Club
Commercial
Alpha Austin Industrial Park Sales Gallery
Commercial
Austin Heights Office
Commercial
Berjaya Waterfront Department Store
Commercial
Gama Department Store
Commercial
Poh Heng Jewellery
Commercial
KLIA 1 Duty Free Department Store
Commercial
Full project record from 1993 to present. Hover each card to reveal full project details.
Who Trusts Us
SKS Group
Principal Engagement
Full portfolio — hotels, retail, residential. Malaysia & Australia.
Marriott International
Brand Partner
Four Points by Sheraton Desaru. Design to Marriott brand standards.
Hilton Worldwide
Brand Partner
DoubleTree Northbridge and Perth Waterfront. Western Australia.
Fraser Hospitality
Brand Partner
Capri by Fraser, Johor Bahru. 316 units to Fraser global standards.
IHG Hotels
Brand Partner
Holiday Inn JBCC. 308-key full-service hotel in Johor Bahru CBD.
AmanSari Hotels
Development Client
Multiple AmanSari properties across Johor. Architect of record across 5+ projects.
DNP Group
Development Client
Budget hotel and head office. Johor Bahru.
Prinsip Alpha Group
Development Client
Johor Bahru developer. Residential and commercial projects across Johor.
Why It Works
“We have spent thirty years learning that the greatest risk in any development is fragmentation — too many consultants, too little accountability. ARCO exists to close that gap entirely.”
How We Can Help You
Spatial strategy, massing, facade language, and material direction resolved before documentation begins.
All consultants coordinated under architectural leadership to preserve design intent.
Planning and building permit submissions across Malaysia and Australia. Full regulatory compliance.
Delivered to Marriott, Hilton, IHG, and Fraser brand standards. International brand compliance with no compromise.
3-star and 4-star hotel design and conversion. Office-to-hotel conversions and budget hotel formats.
Coastal resort masterplanning, club houses, sales galleries, and leisure destination design.
Retail mall planning, shopfront typology, and anchor tenant coordination for long-term commercial performance.
Podium and tower integration. Retail, office, hotel, and residential stacked on complex urban sites.
Corporate offices, departmental stores, and commercial head offices from brief through to fit-out.
Premium and mid-market tower design. Unit planning, amenity design, facade, and sales gallery delivery.
Complete furnished apartment delivery from design specification to China-sourced furniture installation.
Landed housing, semi-detached, and integrated township development across all market segments.
Programme, quality, cost, and design compliance managed on behalf of the client.
On-site coordination, drawing management, and consultant instruction across the full construction period.
Defects inspection, practical completion certification, and post-handover support.
Guestrooms, lobbies, dining, corridors coordinated with architectural shell and brand standards.
Show unit design, common area fit-out, and fully furnished apartment packages for developer sales.
Lobby areas, dining, corridors, wall finishes, floor sections, and material specifications.
Direct relationships with certified Chinese manufacturers. No middlemen — quality at a fraction of retail cost.
Full furniture, fittings, and equipment tied to interior design — sourced from our China factory network.
Import logistics, customs, delivery scheduling, and on-site installation from China to Malaysia or Australia.
Most developers pay retail or distributor prices for hotel and residential furniture. ARCO gives clients direct access to China’s manufacturing base — the same factories that supply international hotel brands.
For large-scale hotel and residential projects, this alone can reduce FF&E costs by 20–30% while maintaining international brand standards.
Beds, wardrobes, desks, seating — full guestroom FF&E from certified manufacturers.
Feature furniture, custom millwork, decorative lighting, and statement pieces.
Full apartment furniture packages for developer sales and bulk unit supply.
Cabinetry, vanities, and bathroom fixtures from certified manufacturers.
Workstations, boardroom, reception fit-out, and storage systems.
Bespoke joinery and furniture to design specification — manufactured in China, delivered to site.
Our Process
Every ARCO project follows the same rigorous sequence. No compressed phases. No delegated decisions. No commissions we cannot resource fully. This is how 40+ projects have been delivered on time and on standard.
Site analysis, massing potential, regulatory framing, and programme validation before a concept is committed to.
Architectural concept, spatial hierarchy, facade, and material direction resolved before documentation begins.
Construction documents and authority submissions built to be built — not interpreted by contractors.
Contractor management, site oversight, and quality assurance from groundbreaking to practical completion.
FF&E procurement, China supply chain, installation, and final handover. We stay until it is done.
Track Record
Delivered to four of the world’s most demanding hotel brand standards — Marriott, Hilton, IHG, and Fraser — across Malaysia and Australia.
Delivered major projects for SKS Group in both Malaysia and Australia within the same engagement — two distinct regulatory systems, one standard.
Principal architect for SKS City Mall JBCC — a landmark mixed-use development incorporating retail, office, and the Sheraton hotel tower.
Established direct supply chain relationships with China’s leading hotel furniture manufacturers — delivering international-grade FF&E at 20–30% below retail.
Ten hotel and resort completions spanning budget, mid-scale, and five-star branded categories across Malaysia and Australia.
Having completed our engagement with SKS Group, ARCO now accepts commissions from new clients globally.
Journal
Hotel Refurbishment
Hotels between 10 and 20 years old face a pivotal decision. We break down the cost triggers, brand PIP requirements, and ROI case for each path — with real numbers from Malaysian projects.
Read Article →Market Insight
The Johor Bahru–Singapore RTS Link will bring an estimated 10,000 additional cross-border visitors daily. Here is why hotel quality will determine who captures that demand — and why 2026 is the last window to prepare.
Read Article →Start Your Project
Johor Bahru
Principal Studio
Johor, Malaysia
Kuala Lumpur
Associate Office
Malaysia