"Yas and her team go above and beyond to discover solutions that optimize material, budget and design. Their dedication to their craft is unique in the industry."
Ahmed Zareh
Client Kumpulan Syed Kechik
Client
Ohr / PRACTICE
Ohr is a structural engineering consultancy founded in Malaysia, working to bring a different perspective to the design of buildings. We believe good engineering begins with understanding what matters to each project. Through sound judgement, creative thinking and responsible use of resources, we seek solutions that make buildings better to design, construct and use.
INSIDE Ohr / EVERYDAY DESIGN DISCUSSIONS
OUR BEGINNINGS
Ohr was founded in 2014 out of a conviction that structural engineering in Malaysia could be approached differently.
We began without a single commission or any employees, but with a clear vision of the kind of practice we wanted to become.
VISION
MISSION
PRINCIPLES
We act with honesty and independence, taking responsibility for our engineering solutions, the advice we give and the decisions we make. Integrity means understanding what matters to each project, considering the consequences of our decisions and having the conviction to do what is right, even when the easier path lies elsewhere. We believe integrity and commercial responsibility go hand in hand. Good engineering must be safe, practical and mindful of cost, making the best use of resources to achieve outcomes that serve the project well.
We bring knowledge, curiosity and sound engineering judgement to every project. We question assumptions, explore possibilities and develop solutions grounded in a thorough understanding of the problem.
We develop solutions that respond to the needs of each project, making intelligent use of materials and resources to achieve the right balance of safety, performance, cost and long-term value.
Better structural choices. Measurable outcomes.
An alternative structural scheme for a 31-storey residential tower above a four-storey podium and two basement levels demonstrates how considered engineering can reduce material use, construction cost and embodied carbon while improving buildability.
Based on the structural optimisation of the residential tower, excluding the podium and basement works. The RM4.74 million estimate covers direct concrete and reinforcement savings only; it excludes potential further savings from simpler formwork, podium, foundation and substructure, and a shorter construction programme. Estimates use prevailing rates at the time of study.
Read more ↗FOUNDATION
Written before our first employee was hired or our first commission secured, The Vision is Ohr's DNA statement.
The Vision defines the beliefs, values and behaviours upon which Ohr was founded. It calls us to practise engineering with creativity, knowledge and excellence; to work with others through trust, openness and mutual respect; and to uphold high ethical standards in all our dealings.
It also shapes the culture we seek to build — one that values people, encourages continuous learning, embraces responsibility and gives individuals the freedom to contribute, grow and do their best work.
Read The Vision ↗LEADERSHIP
Founder and Director
PEng CEng MIEM MICE MRes BSc (Hons)
Yasotha Chetty is the founder of Ohr. Her professional experience spans the United Kingdom, Europe, the Middle East and Malaysia. She worked in England for nine years with Buro Happold and Ramboll (Whitbybird). Returning to Malaysia in 2011 under the government's Returning Expert Programme, she joined AECOM, heading the civil and structural discipline within building engineering.
Her experience includes concrete, steel, timber and masonry structures, work with existing buildings, and complex architectural projects. She also contributes to professional and academic bodies.
Professional Engineer, Board of Engineers Malaysia; Chartered Engineer, Engineering Council UK; Member, Institution of Engineers Malaysia; Member, Institution of Civil Engineers UK.
MRes, Computational Modelling and Numerical Analysis in Engineering Mechanics, University of Wales; BSc (Hons), Civil Engineering, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia.
Director’s full profile and previous experience ↗COMMITMENT
As a member of the Unashamedly Ethical campaign, we are committed to a clean and ethical living. By this we are committed to being honest and ethical in all our dealings; to provide efficient, economic and effective products and services in an impartial manner; to provide all stakeholders with timely, accessible and accurate information; to refuse to elicit, accept or pay any bribes, and to report those who do; to negotiate all contracts with the utmost integrity; to pay taxes, and to pay all creditors on time; to pay reasonable salaries and wages; to submit ourselves to just and ethical governing authorities; to remember the poor by investing generously and sacrificially in the broader community; to collaborate with our peers to impact our community and nation.
Unashamedly Ethical is a global campaign by individuals and organisations seeking to transform society by taking a stand for ethics, values and clean living.
Visit Unashamedly Ethical ↗TESTIMONIALS
“Best part of having Ohr on our team was their attentiveness and ownership. and they are inspired, committed and detailed.”
Huat Lim, Managing Director, ZLG Design
“They have a very good understanding of structural design, which saved us large sums of money from having not to strengthen columns on a high rise.”
Lim Tee Keng, Managing Director, Mentari Berseri
“Cost is the biggest concern as we have a very tight budget and i was worried if Ohr wasn't interested. the project's key concern is optimization of resources to achieve the maximum returns. obviously this necessitated much time and effort to brainstorm solutions. Ohr came through time and again with innovative ideas and solutions and they managed this within our limited budget.”
Lee Wing Wei, Owner
OHR TRANSFORM
We believe our responsibility extends beyond our commissions. Through Ohr Transform, we put this belief into practice — sharing knowledge, challenging established thinking, supporting our profession and contributing to the wider community.
Explore Ohr Transform ↗"Yas and her team go above and beyond to discover solutions that optimize material, budget and design. Their dedication to their craft is unique in the industry."
Ahmed Zareh
Client Kumpulan Syed Kechik
Client
“Best part of having ohr on our team was their attentiveness and ownership. and they are inspired, committed and detailed.”
Huat Lim
Architect ZLG Design
Client
“They have a very good understanding of structural design, which saved us large sums of money from having not to strengthen columns on a high rise.”
Lim Tee Keng
Contractor / Client Mentari Bestari
Client
“Cost is the biggest concern as we have a very tight budget and i was worried if ohr wasn't interested. the project's key concern is optimization of resources to achieve the maximum returns. obviously this necessitated much time and effort to brainstorm solutions. ohr came through time and again with innovative ideas and solutions and they managed this within our limited budget.”
Lee Wing Wei
Private Client
Client
“We wanted to build our dream home from scratch; a three-storey concrete cantilevered house on a slope that would be as strong as ever and could last more than 100 years! In order to do so, the engineering of the house had to be flawless and precise, with exact measurements carried out by someone who knew exactly what they were doing. We were very worried as the land was on a slope, and we really needed an engineer who was highly intelligent and skilled, able to come up with the right engineering details according to the architect's design to ensure the house would be safe and secure. We were so thankful when our architect told us that he knew just the right engineers, whom he highly recommended as he had worked with them before, and who would be perfect for our project, which was on a difficult site with a complicated cantilevered design.
The first time we met Yasotha Chetty, founder of Ohr, we knew she was the right person for the job by the way she spoke with such integrity and honesty, her strong convictions and her passion for doing the right thing in engineering. We really appreciated her no-nonsense and uncompromising work ethic when it comes to engineering calculations and were very impressed with Ohr. Ohr had worked on countless beautiful homes and buildings, as shown in their portfolio, and we had full confidence that they were capable and trustworthy enough to take on our home project as well.
In all our meetings with Ohr, they have always been sincere and friendly, taking the time to carefully explain the process to us step by step, helping us understand what is going on with the engineering of our house. They would never do anything to compromise the safety and structure of the house by cutting corners. They are extremely careful and firm in their work ethic, always striving to deliver the best and ensure the safest and most efficient engineering solutions for our house.
We feel 100% safe knowing that the engineering of our house is being done by Ohr, that they have carried out all the accurate calculations for our home and put in place all the necessary safety measures and precautions while considering the design. Our home project is halfway through, and Ohr is still very actively involved, giving us honest feedback. Even when there have been a few design changes here and there along the way, they have always remained engaged with us, willing to listen and understand our needs, give good advice and even recalculate to accommodate the changes. Yasotha herself continues to be actively involved in the project.
We are so thankful to God that we have Ohr as our engineer. We have full confidence and trust in their work on our house and highly recommend Ohr to anyone wanting an engineer they can trust wholeheartedly to do a fantastic job without any worry or stress.”
Sue
Private client
Client
“We engaged Ohr Engineering as the civil and structural engineer for our new family home in Kuala Lumpur, and I am very glad we did.
Our design asked a lot of the structure. The cantilevers were ambitious, and some engineers would have pushed back or tried to cut them down. The team at Ohr took them on and made them work, and the finished result is fantastic. They also delivered a large, open-span flat slab concrete roof, with the beams concealed above so the spaces below remain clean and uninterrupted. That gave us exactly the look we wanted without compromising on the engineering.
Beyond the technical work, the team at Ohr has been consistently professional and conscientious. They were always willing to go the extra mile and help with matters well outside their scope, which made a real difference on a complex build. They have also been a pleasure to work with. What began as a professional engagement with Yasotha has become a friendship I expect to last well beyond this project.
I would recommend Ohr without hesitation to anyone looking for a structural engineering consultancy that can deliver bold design with care and good humour.”
Han Phoa
Private Client
Client
“Having collaborated with Ohr on numerous projects, I have always valued their ability to support adventurous and, at times, experimental architectural ideas with innovative and creative structural solutions.
Their willingness to explore unconventional structural systems, materials and construction methodologies demonstrates a rare combination of engineering ingenuity, technical expertise and architectural sensitivity.
Under Yasotha’s leadership, Ohr is more than a structural engineering consultant. They are true design collaborators who understand and embrace the architectural vision, constantly challenging conventional approaches to make ambitious ideas possible. This spirit of exploration and collaboration has been instrumental in pushing architectural boundaries and realising designs that are both expressive and structurally compelling.”
Lim Chiun Wee
Architect HIJJAS Architects + Planners
Client
“Yasotha comes from a deep and sophisticated background having designed complex and impressive timber structures in England. We worked together on our glulam pavilion structure. Ohr as a practice are open minded, passionate and very detailed. That’s what Malaysia needs.”
Susanne Zeidler
Architect ZLG Design
Client