|
At this year’s architecture awards, CHIN MUI YOON discovers back-to-basics tradition honoured alongside high-tech artistry. News from The Star, Sunday September 17, 2006
MALAYSIA is a nation in transition: we are moving from an agriculture-dependent economy to an industrial one, from a Third World nation to a developed one. Architecturally, too, we are in transition: from a colonial past to a modern future, as last night’s Persatuan Arkitek Malaysia (PAM) awards underlined.
Single Residential: Kok Chi Kong’s Bungalow by GDP Architects Sdn Bhd
Citation: ‘Unassuming frontage belies rich spatial organisation in a simple plan with courtyard section and bare finishes. Contributing to innovation in tropical architecture that fired the designers to think culture rather than just walls and roofs when designing buildings. Excellent proof that nice houses can be simple and need not be ostentatious. Edgy, raw and nice use of materials.’
The bi-annual PAM Awards, the industry’s most prestigious event, revealed fascinatingly diverse winning projects. A mix of architectural languages is spoken through these buildings, yet each stays true to its concept, whether it’s an interpretation of modern tropical style or a contemporary translation of traditions.
Think high-tech, monolithic steel icons honoured alongside modest tropical bungalows built with local timber and stone?.
The Convener (ie, official spokesperson) for the awards, architect Wooi Lok Kuang, says the 227 projects nominated for the 11 categories are the most submitted for competition since the awards were first held in 1970.
 |
| Repetitive Residential: Damai 33 by GDP Architects |
“The jury found a high standard in the experimentation of ideas this year and an emphasis on quality detailing in the buildings,” he said in an exclusive interview.
“Some are humble and unpretentious but are viable projects because they are a delight for their occupants.”
This year’s awards allowed more flexibility as the jury was allowed to move projects from their nominated categories into another as it saw fit. Another change this year was the introduction of a new category, Alterations and Additions – and it’s about time, too, as so many Malaysians seem prone to renovating their homes!
“Because of this category, no project need be excluded on the basis of size or scale, as it’s the skill, design, creativity and viability of the alternation or addition that counts,” explained Wooi.
Some categories had clear-cut winners: the Overseas Project category, for in-stance. Dr Ken Yeang’s National Library of Singapore, which bears the trademark bioclimatic design principles he has practiced for 30 years, was the obvious winner.
Another clear winner was the KL Performing Arts Centre, winner in the Adaptive Re-use category for its beautiful blending of old and new architecture in Sentul.
 |
| Commercial: Quill Building 3: BMW Group Headquarters, Asia Pacific Group Data Centre by Datuk Michael Ong Leng Chun |
The popular Interior Design category saw winners embracing the contempo-rary urban look that is so in vogue today, with Hotel Maya leading the way followed by the PAM Centre in Sarawak and the swanky Alexis Bar & Bistro in KL.
Nominations for the Public and Civic Buildings category were impressive and finding the winner, Universiti Teknologi Petronas, was a tough job.
Some projects garnered “merely” Honorary Mentions but, to my mind, are worth high praise. Among them is the Boh Visitor Centre that is dramatically perched on a tea bush-covered slope in Cameron Highlands, Pahang. It earned a jury citation for being “a landmark that makes an elegant yet bold statement while sensitively responding to a challenging site.”
Judges for the 2006 PAM Awards were Universiti Putra Malaysia lecturer Prof Datuk Dr Elias Salleh, Australian architectural photographer Patrick Bingham Hall, and three architects, Look Boon Gee from Singapore, Ma Qing Yun from China and Malaysian Tan Hin Lin.
Note: no winners were selected in Category 9, Master Planning and Urban Design
|
