Art Printing Works
After Transformation
Before Transformation
WE ARE A CREATIVE INDUSTRIAL SPACE LOCATED IN THE HEART OF BANGSAR.
Our vision is to become a creative campus where arts, culture, business and technology converge to inspire and encourage new forms of innovation to spur the creative economy.
Repurposed from a commercial printing factory, the APW campus comprises a collaborative workspace, F&B outlets, event venues and pocket parks.
With exciting events held here regularly, we offer the community a platform for creative exchanges.
OUR STORY
APW was first established in 1952 as Art Printing Works, a commercial printing factory. Its original location was in Lebuh Ampang, before relocating to its present Bangsar location in 1965. From the 60s to the 80s, Art Printing Works was one of the most prolific printers in Kuala Lumpur.
In 2013, an idea was conceived to repurpose underutilised spaces within the printing factory – to convert the factory into an inspiring creative space. Various spaces have since been reimagined to create an urban campus for the community, by bringing together individuals and groups from diverse backgrounds through events, workshops, and programmes.
Since 2014, we have been used by corporations, entrepreneurs, educators, artists, small businesses, and non-profits for workshops, artisan markets, performances, private functions, and other events.
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printing factory
THE ORIGINAL PRINTING FACTORY Established in 1952, this is the original commercial printing factory, which still operates today. From the 70s to 80s, Art Printing Works was one of the premier printers in Kuala Lumpur, and had around 120 staff at its peak. The factory has printed many notable books and magazines, including the Gila-Gila comics, Lat comic books, Jelita, school textbooks, old telephone directories, and many more.
collaborative workspace
A UNIQUE COLLABORATIVE WORKSPACE At Uppercase, join a diverse community where you can make serendipitous connections and form new perspectives. Be inspired and inspire others.
www.uppercase.asiafood & beverage
SPECIALTY COFFEE PURVEYOR Pulp is the flagship store of Singapore’s Papa Palheta. Pulp supplies coffee equipment and roasted beans both at retail and commercial level. It is equipped with a cupping room, a service workshop, and a cafe which serves coffee and food.
www.papapalheta.comfood & beverage
NOUVEAU FOOD HALL Paper Plates is APW’s food-and-beverage belt. Featuring carefully curated eats and drinks, all under one roof, Paper Plates promises a unique dining experience. Among its first tenants is the critically acclaimed Breakfast Thieves from Melbourne. Agak-Agak, helmed by Dish by Ili’s Ili Sulaiman and Root Cellar KL’s Basira Yeusuff, has set up an eatery with a social cause, here at Paper Plates. Our latest curated additions include pizza parlour “Proof”, Japanese-Thai-fusion “Kaiju”, and cocktail bar “Case Study”.
event spaces
EXCITING, FLEXIBLE EVENT SPACES
Set within a utilitarian 60s modernist administration building, Bookmark is a 60s office turned into an exciting flexible event space.
AIR-CONDITIONED, WIFI, AV SYSTEM
A flexible open space for outdoor events, repurposed from its function as a paper storage area.
An industrial-style events hall converted from a print binding facility.
pocket parks
GREENED-UP URBAN SPACES A collaboration with Think City, Projek Poket Pokok is an initiative to rejuvenate urban spaces by creating pockets of greenery around the APW campus. The pocket parks, featuring a lighting installation by architect-artist Jun Ong, encircles Paper Plates to become an accessible public space where the community can relax and take respite.
Our Journey
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Happenings
Wine Fiesta 2016
Serving over 100 selections of wines, The Straits Wine Company won the hearts of many yet again with an experience that many won’t forget (or will they?). Representing the wine industry as Malaysia’s largest wine festival, Wine Fiesta 2016 brought in wines from various countries including France, Italy, New Zealand, Spain, South Africa and – […]
Urban Decay Vice Lipstick Launch
Inspired by the gallant madness that comes with the night, Urban Decay’s new line of Vice Lipsticks put into colour what we couldn’t put into words. Coming up with names such as Heroine, Pandemonium, Frenemy and Perversion, these lipsticks tell a tale about the mysterious youth of our gothic generation. Understanding that Urban Decay is […]
Tiger Translate 2015
A movement that is inherently creative, Tiger Translate took to APW to showcase their vision of collaborative art. It was hard to mistake the event for another, what with the 2.5 meter tall tiger head resting at the entrance, giving the audience a brief introduction of what was to come. The geometric sculpture designed by […]
Startup Grind with Tim Marbach
At any Startup Grind, as the name suggests, you can expect to get straight down to the meaty points of dialogue. Setting up in our Bookmark event space, the Google for Entrepreneurs initiative gathered the local startup community to hear from Tim Marbach – Founder and CEO of Asia Venture Group (AVG), the private internet […]
myBurgerLab Pop Up
We’d like to think that there’s not much else that can be done to APW to make it ‘better’ – but it turns out we aren’t always right (for once). The month-long addition of the myBurgerLab pop-up stand under our Canopy was the icing on the cake (or bun on the patty?) for both our […]
Makirio Pop-up Store 2016
Many of us would agree that as Malaysians, we are blessed to have Japanese food that is affordable and accessible. But many of us could also agree that the menu is getting a little old. You’ve got sushi and you’ve got sashimi, take your pick. The team at Makirito might have taken note of this […]
Go Fast or Go Home Screening
What happens when you take a professional racecar driver out of a racecar, and throw him into a series of traditional races around South East Asia? You get GoASEAN’s (Astro 737) latest travel/adventure series titled “Go Fast or Go Home”. Usually accustomed to racing purpose-built Formula 3 racing machines, Young Malaysian Daniel Woodroof steps out […]
