Series description
This seven-floor residential haven was built in the heart of Kuala Lumpur in 1962, by the famed architectural firm T.Y. Lee and Sons. Named Blue Boy Mansion, it was the epitome of wealth and success. In stark contrast to sterile modern structures, the building encourages interactions between its residents, with an open design that enhances the coexistence of people and living spaces. These images reveal the quotidian moments of the people living there and their environment, which harks back to an era that has stood the test of time. Blue Boy Mansion may be a shadow of its former glory, but its rich nostalgic design has a continued presence in contemporary Kuala Lumpur.
Biography
Nick is a passionate photographer with a passion for social documentary and travel photography. Nick is currently Sony Malaysia's Ambassador and Sony South East Asia's Alpha Professional Photographer. He prefers the unbeaten path and believes in connecting to the people he meets. Seeing the world as a living canvas, he believes photographs are a way to unite the world, bringing untold stories from one part of the world to be shared among everyone.
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A narrow, rectangular courtyard separates each side of the building, with a common lift area at either end. The courtyard allows air to ventilate from within the building, creating a natural cooling effect. It had started to drizzle lightly, but I waited for someone to walk along the courtyard before I took this photograph.
© Nick Ng, Malaysia, Shortlist, Professional competition, Architecture & Design, 2024 Sony World Photography Awards
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A shared corridor surrounds the courtyard and connects all the units. I took this image of a shirtless man walking along the corridor as he stepped into an illuminated part of the walkway. This image reminds me of scenes from decades ago, when being shirtless was a norm among men.
© Nick Ng, Malaysia, Shortlist, Professional competition, Architecture & Design, 2024 Sony World Photography Awards
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Each corner unit in the building has a smaller side balcony. I took this image of a lady sitting on her side balcony with a multi-storey car park – part of a modern hotel in central Kuala Lumpur – in the background.
© Nick Ng, Malaysia, Shortlist, Professional competition, Architecture & Design, 2024 Sony World Photography Awards
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Each unit opens onto the shared corridor. Blue Boy Mansion is just a stone’s throw away from Kuala Lumpur’s more contemporary high-rise buildings, which can be seen in the background.
© Nick Ng, Malaysia, Shortlist, Professional competition, Architecture & Design, 2024 Sony World Photography Awards
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The corridors on both sides of the building connect to a stairway that zig-zags from the ground to the uppermost units. The open stairway is not protected from rain or sun.
© Nick Ng, Malaysia, Shortlist, Professional competition, Architecture & Design, 2024 Sony World Photography Awards
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From the courtyard looking up, sharp lines and shapes pay tribute to the architect’s bold visual design. I took this photograph to include a man standing in the shared corridor, looking into a handheld mirror.
© Nick Ng, Malaysia, Shortlist, Professional competition, Architecture & Design, 2024 Sony World Photography Awards
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Laundry drying out in the open is a daily norm at Blue Boy Mansion, but is something we don’t see in more modern apartment blocks , as they have their own private laundry areas. The lift – which has been out of service for the past 20 years – now serves as a reminder of Blue Boy Mansion’s high status in the 1960s.
© Nick Ng, Malaysia, Shortlist, Professional competition, Architecture & Design, 2024 Sony World Photography Awards
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The living area in each unit opens out via four floating doors onto a small balcony. In the 1960s, folding wooden doors with colourful patterned glass panels were typically found in high-end residences, and they have made a comeback in recent times. I took this image of a man standing casually on his balcony while I was talking to his wife.
© Nick Ng, Malaysia, Shortlist, Professional competition, Architecture & Design, 2024 Sony World Photography Awards