Six Malaysian projects shine at Fiabci world awards

PETALING JAYA (May 31): Six Malaysian projects bagged three World Gold awards and three World Silver awards at the Fiabci World Prix d’Excellence Awards 2015 gala night held at One World Hotel here last night.

The Malaysian projects were among a record 85 submissions from 15 countries worldwide in the competition, which comprised 12 categories – environmental (rehabilitation/conservation), heritage (restoration/conservation), hotel, master plan, office, public infrastructure/amenities, purpose-built, residential (high rise), residential (low rise), resort, retail, and sustainable development.

"From the projects of all winners, we can recognise that excellence in quality in our property industry deserves our admiration and appreciation for the successful combination of creative professional skill and talent,” said the International Real Estate Federation (Fiabci) world president Robyn Waters in a speech.

The World Gold winners from Malaysia were Aloft Hotel Kuala Lumpur Sentral (hotel category) in Kuala Lumpur, Verve Suites Mont’Kiara (residential - high rise category) in Kuala Lumpur, and Lost World of Tambun (resort category) in Perak.

Aloft Hotel is owned and operated by Iringan Flora Sdn Bhd – a subsidiary of Ireka Corp Bhd’s associate company Aseana Properties Ltd – while Verve Suites was developed by Al Batha Bukit Kiara Holdings Sdn Bhd, whereas Lost World of Tambun is owned by Sunway Integrated Properties Sdn Bhd, a unit of Sunway Bhd.

Meanwhile, the World Silver winners from Malaysia were IJM Land Bhd’s The Light Waterfront (master plan category) in Penang, Tujuan Gemilang Sdn Bhd’s Menara OBYU (Point 92) in Selangor (office category) and Perdana ParkCity Sdn Bhd’s Casaman Parkhomes at DesaPark City (residential low rise category) at Kuala Lumpur.

“Visionary architectural design, when blended with state-of-the-art construction materials, creates both efficiency and a higher quality of life with positive consequences for the environment and the sustainability of mankind…. These property icons raise the standard and provide us a vision into the future of our real estate industry,” said Waters.

“Tonight’s winners are the best of the best… I believe the competition has helped to increase the benchmark level of excellence in projects. There is a marked improvement in the design, use of material, and innovative use of space,” said president of Fiabci Malaysia Yeow Thit Sang.

Over 1,000 guests gathered to celebrate the 25 winners last night in a gala dinner that was graced by Yang di-Pertuan Besar Negeri Sembilan Darul Khusus Tuanku Muhriz Ibni Almarhum Tuanku Munawir and Tunku Ampuan Besar Negeri Sembilan, Tuanku Aishah Rohani Tengku Besar Mahmud.

The Fiabci World Prix d’Excellence Awards 2015 is the biggest event of the three-day Fiabci 66th World Real Estate Congress 2015 that was held from May 29 to 31.

The congress participants include real estate practitioners involved in brokerage, management of properties and assets, developers, financiers and other experts in the sector.

Some of the speakers at the congress were partner of Pretam Singh, Nor and Co Malaysia Datuk Pretam Singh Darshan Singh; chairman of Springfield Land Corp Australia Maha Sinnathamby; director of Professional Standards, RICS and chairman of the Trustees, International Property Measurement Standards Coalition (IMPS), Ken Creighton; vice-president of marketing and international affairs for the Building Owners and Managers Association International, Lisa Prats; and president of CLGE and secretary general of IPMS Coalition, Jean-Yves Pirlot.