‘Brave’ river barrier city design wins architectural award

KUALA LUMPUR: A new barrier city concept in the form of a bridge that addresses the growing concern about the rising Thames River levels and generate returns through the generation of hydroelectric power has won the PAM-Tan Sri Chan Sau Lai Architecture Award 2015. PAM is the acronym of the Malaysian Institute of Architects.

Wong Guan Xiong of the Architectural Association School of Architecture in the UK beat 92 contestants to take home the award and RM25,000 for his design scheme, ‘The Living Thames Barrier’. The awards ceremony was held on Tuesday in Kuala Lumpur.

Wong’s design attempts to tackle some of the concerns facing London, such as the underdeveloped east side, the preparation of the estuary airport and the need for a new flood defence barrier due to the rising sea level and unexpected North Sea surges due to climate change.

Wong’s proposal for a bridge across the River Thames challenges the enormously costly conventional barrier typology. It looks into the possibility of using the area over the river to create a new ‘barrier city’ with residential and commercial components, which can possibly generate significant returns on investment by also functioning as a hydroelectric power generator for future developments in London.

According to the award benefactor, Tan Sri Chan Sau Lai, the winning entry is a visually dramatic structure and an exciting architectural solution. Chan, an architect, sits on the PAM Education Fund board of management and board of trustees, and is executive chairman of Beneton Properties Group.

Apart from Chan, the jury members for the award comprised the immediate past president of PAM, Chan Seong Aun; past president of PAM (2009-2011) and co-founder of the award Boon Che Wee; current PAM president Mohd Zulhemlee An who is also chairman of the education committee; Malaysian Institute of Interior Designers (MIID) council member and chairman of MIID Awards for Design Excellence 2015 Lim Pay Chye; president of Institute of Landscape Architect Malaysia Dr Osman Mohd Tahir and past president of PAM (2011-2013) Saifuddin Ahmad.

“The dynamic-looking structure for the dam is designed as a metaphor of the vibrant and energetic city of London and is imbedded with the energy of the River Thames. Living pods incorporated into the dam enhance the functionality of the structure, bringing the element of the residential into the mainly utilitarian structure,” Zulhemlee said.

Seong Aun said the proposal was a ‘big idea’ that attempts to resolve several challenges with an integrated solution that addresses the issues well. He hoped to see more of such thinking and solutions from architects in the future.

Although Wong’s scheme is neither the cheapest nor most buildable, Chan commended its far-sightedness, and noted that it is “a proposal for something that one day may happen” besides being “a very stylish, engineering architectural solution” on the whole.

Boon said Wong’s proposal bravely ventures beyond the traditional role of the architect as a builder and is encouraging for the profession, while Osman praised the designer’s rigour in solving complex issues while turning a problem into an opportunity.



This year’s award saw four commendation prize winners: Samuel Lee Chee Zin (Sibu Waterfront Redevelopment), Wong Yow Han (Reviving Kampong Phluk on Tonle Sap Lake), Mohammad Farhan Fahmie Mohd Radzi (Architecture Pedagogy: Penang School of Architecture) and Chua Khee How (Bario Cultural Village: S-Long House). They won RM5,000 each.

In addition, there were four finalists: Chin Kah Meng (entry: Ananas Park), Chia Shook Qing (Orang Asli Community Centre in Gombak), Sia Hong Rui (Kayu Ara Organic Farming Learning Centre) and Lee Sim Chuan (Living Market). They won RM1,000 each.

Prizes were presented by Kuala Lumpur City Hall executive director for project implementation and building maintenance, Juminan Samad.

Inaugurated in 2012, the PAM-Tan Sri Chan Sau Lai Architecture Award recognises outstanding achievements in design by PAM student members who have just completed their architecture course in the immediate preceding year, in Malaysia or abroad.

“The award also recognises that transition from architectural school to architectural profession can be very daunting and possibly discouraging, especially for the super sensitive and super competitive Gen Y and Gen Z,” said Boon in his speech. “The recognition conferred by an award such as this goes a long way in giving them the assurance and confidence as well as a head start in their career.”

This year’s competition attracted entries locally and from abroad, including the University of New South Wales, University of Sydney, University of Melbourne, University of Singapore, South China University of Technology, Taylor’s University, University of Technology Mara, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman, Universiti Sains Malaysia and Universiti Malaya.

This article first appeared in property+, a section of the digitaledge DAILY, on Sept 11, 2015. Download your personal copy of Property+ for free here.