Hap Seng Star Mercedes-Benz Autohaus’ most prominent feature is the showroom’s glass facade.

HAP Seng Land Sdn Bhd has been awarded the World Silver Winner of FIABCI World Prix d’Excellence under Industrial Category with its Hap Seng Star Mercedes-Benz Autohaus @ Balakong, and the award-winning building also captured the hearts for community there.

As dealers of the Mercedes-Benz cars, Hap Seng has designed the building with green and sustainable features.

The “Autohaus” as it is called, showcases Mercedes-Benz cars and offers services and auto parts, hence a service centre is also attached. It also houses office areas for the Mercedes-Benz sales team.

It is located at Balakong, along the SILK highway, and it is on a 4.55 acres land, the build-up is about 190,900 sqft, making it by far the largest Mercedes-Benz 3S (sales, service, & spare parts) Autohaus in Malaysia at this time.

The design of the Autohaus was according to Hap Seng’s corporate policy, whereby its developments are fitted with green and sustainable features, in addition to Mercedes-Benz’s corporate identity.

One of the key green features Hap Seng has incorporated was the use of glass as a curtain wall. The curtain wall helps by reducing the use of electricity as it maximizes daylight penetration in the Autohaus building.

As the customer walk in, he will see a lot of space that allow natural daylight to penetrate through.

The workshop (located at the back portion of the building) is a good example - with louvers and openable top hung window, all naturally ventilated and have natural day lighting.

With the above green features, it has reduced the use of energy compare to the conventional design.

Atrium of the Main Lobby of the Balakong Mercedes-Benz Autohaus.

“We try to keep to a certain optimum width of the office space or building space usage so that they can have natural light from both sides,” said Allan Teh, General Manager (West Malaysia projects)

“With that, it also creates a different ambience,” said Teh.

At the centre of the building is the courtyard, where it located a 18m high green landscaped wall interspersed with louvred panes that allow sunlight and air to filter through.

The area behind the wall is where the workshop is located. The workshop is designed with natural ventilated system where air condition is not required. The green landscaped vertical walls will assist to absorb the heat as part of the natural ventilation design, as well as allow sunlight to penetrate through.

The offices and meeting rooms all look out to greenery, making it calming and conducive for work and meetings.

At the courtyard, surrounding the green wall are also water features that has a koi pond, to again cool the atmosphere and to provide a sense of Zen-calm to the bamboo-accented courtyard.

For such a vast ceiling height like the Autohaus, there is a need to for artificial lighting at night or when it is dim in the daytime. For that, Hap Seng uses energy-saving LED fittings.

The air conditioning is designed with a local control, only be switched on when there is a need to use a certain zone, which cuts down on excessive use of electricity.

Hap Seng also employs rainwater harvesting system with a large collection tank hidden away at the centre of the ramp that brings cars to the rooftop parking.

This rainwater harvesting tank collects the rain water to be used to irrigate the surrounding landscape of the Autohaus.

The Mercedes-Benz Autohaus at Balakong has become a landmark in the neighbourhood.

The 18m-high green landscaped wall interspersed with louvred panes that allow sunlight and air to filter through is located at the building courtyard.

It has created awareness in the local community with its branding and for Hap Seng Star.

During weekends the Autohaus is a popular hangout for families and the water feature with its koi fishes provides much attraction.

Besides the parking and showroom, Hap Seng’s intention was to build a place that is visitor-focused.

Visitors will feel not only that they are walking into a car showroom or a place to service cars, they can also be entertained by the different features that the Autohaus offers.

Hap Seng has installed massage chairs for customers and visitors to relax and enjoy and also workstations for customers to get their work done or just get online while waiting for their cars.

There is even a kids corner for children to play around as the parents spend their time enjoying the available facilities.

Its cafeteria has also been a draw for the locals with its local fares like its nasi lemak.

The neighborhood and even beyond end up spending quality time at the Autohaus besides just waiting.

Hap Seng believes for a service-oriented industry, the customer is the main focus so it will pull all the stops to provide what they feel is the best.

Similarly as a developer, Hap Seng is not only creating show units for viewing by potential home buyers as they would have experience what Hap Seng can offer and the Autohaus is one good way for them to flex their ingenuity and ability to build well.

“We are honoured to be part of this international award, the first for an industrial building from Malaysia into the international platform expressing something great about Malaysia’s property,” said David Khor, chief operating officer of Hap Seng Land (West Malaysia).

All Mercedes-Benz Autohaus that are fully owned by Hap Seng have been award winners.

Some of Hap Seng Land’s upcoming development include the Aria luxury residences near KLCC and the Akasa service apartments located opposite the Autohaus.

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