Ellina Rahman

First introduced to the world of urban design and construct by her father who is a civil and structural engineer, Ms Ellina Rahman’s interest in architecture was sparked by the creative possibilities of a profession that combines art and science. Her passion for the craft deepened as she realised, through her work in detail design development, materiality, codes and project management in institutional, healthcare and residential typologies, the potential and purpose that architecture can serve towards the betterment of the human condition and experience.

Notable in her portfolio of works are the Alice Smith School Association in Sri Kembangan, Selangor; the International School Parkcity 2 in Kuala Lumpur (KL); Serini Melawati (received commendation at the 2016 Southeast Asia Property Awards – Medium Cost Apartment Design category) in Ampang, which she undertook from inception to completion; and the Park Royal Collection situated on a tight urban site in KL. The project – comprising refurbishment works of the existing Park Royal hotel, full architectural scope for the new Pan Pacific Suites annex tower and the alteration and conversion works of President Hotel – was highly complex and presented interesting challenges that involved extensive and deep collaboration with all consultant and contractor groups. This effective and successful collaboration with Singapore-based, Sunray Woodcraft & Construction on the President Hotel enabled DPA Malaysia to clinch the 2021 BCA (Building & Construction Authority of Singapore) Internationalisation Partnership Award.

Today, as director of DPA (Malaysia) and as a firm believer in the power of design to positively impact lives, Ellina is leading the firm’s advancement into mixed-use healthcare typology. Leveraging her expertise in complementary typologies and the capabilities of the DPA group, she is poised to advance healthcare design in Malaysia’s urbanscape.