Smart use of space wins design award

KUALA LUMPUR: A design using an intelligent grid system to determine the future (and affordable) needs of a growing family has won the top prize in the PAM-Lafarge Architecture Student Competition 2013.

The winning entry was submitted by Choong Wei Li of Limkokwing University of Creative Technology. The competition, aimed at encouraging affordable housing designs, among others, was organised by the Malaysia Institute of Architects (PAM) and Lafarge Malaysia Bhd.

Choong’s design of “intelligent spaces” to promote long-term sustainability in neighbourhoods allows an initial 1-bedroom 850 sq ft house to expand into a 3-bedroom 1,100 sq ft home.

The second prize went to a team comprising Wan Mei Zhen, Lee Bin Li, Alian Chan Yin Vui, Tan Boon Kuan and Niragira Lysette from UCSI University, Kuala Lumpur. In third place was Ang Zhi Ming from Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia.

The prize presentation was held yesterday with Datuk Abdul Rahman Dahlan, Minister of Urban Wellbeing, Housing and Local Government, presenting the awards.

“Our collaboration with Lafarge on this competition ... reflects our commitment to architectural design excellence, innovation and cost, among others,” said Chan Seong Aun, PAM president in a press statement yesterday.

“[We are pleased] about the potential displayed by [our] aspiring architects,” added Chan.

“We are delighted [about] the calibre of entries [submitted for] this inaugural competition — they [showed] design excellence, creativity and innovation.  Moving forward, we will be looking to see how ... winning entries can be ... developed further [to implement] these ideas. [The] competition has reaffirmed Lafarge’s commitment to the nation ...,” said Lafarge president and chief executive officer Bradley Mulroney. PAM-Lafarge Architecture competition was also aimed at challenging students to come up with innovative, sustainable designs that take advantage of thermal cooling and energy efficiency for quality communal living.

It saw 69 entries from students from both local and overseas institutions. The top three winners were awarded RM10,000, RM5,000 and RM3,000 respectively. An additional 10 submissions were awarded honorary mentions with prizes of RM500 each, with another five receiving RM300 each. — by Zatil Husna Wan Fauzi


This article first appeared in The Edge Financial Daily, on February 21, 2014.