Dear readers,

This is the last issue for 2014 and the penultimate issue for me as editor.

In March 2015, we hope to publish a bumper issue in conjunction with my going away / stepping aside / putting out to pasture, and in time for the AGM. So, if you are interested, or know of anyone who is interested in getting involved in this newsletter - nominate them during the Annual General Meeting.

In the issue, we meet Tina Lau, one of the directors at IDC (Integrated Design Consultants) to talk about their practice and to feature their key projects. We also interviewed four local firms who were involved in the implementation of public spaces in Sarawak; we discuss the meaning of useful and relevant urban spaces for the local population.

Our chapter have been busy preparing for next year’s events; PAMSC Gala Dinner and Design Forum are previewed. The Education sub committee hosted students from UCTS (University College of Technology Sarawak) by organising talks and building tours, while Ivy (Graduates) met with Tay Tze Yong to discuss the recent Archiprix Student Competition in KL. Mike (Conservation) recently gave a talk in Penang and found time to submit two articles for this issue.

It is little wonder that our ‘little’ chapter is the envy of many; often described as energetic and cohesive - capable of organising many events and activities such as study trips, WAD and BTS.

For that, I am grateful for the teamwork that make these quarterly ‘projects’ so satisfying and fun.

Thank you.

Min, with invaluable help of Ivy, Si Yong and Hui Joo

Pertubuhan Akitek Malaysia

Sarawak Chapter

EDITOR’SLETTER

2nd Floor, Sub-Lot 56, Jalan Wan Alwi, Lot 7915 Queen’s Court, 93350 Kuching, Sarawak. Tel: 082-457182 Fax: 082-451180 E-mail: info@pamsc.org.my www.pamsc.org.myIN

TERS

ECTI

ON3/ 2014-15 Dec

The Notorious Baldy min-linesonpaper.blogspot.com

Public Spaces

Profile : Integrated Design Consultant

Archiprix S.E.A. 2014

Recording Local Heritage

CHAIRMAN’S REPORTPAMSC ChairmanAr. Stephen Liew

Please contact the secretariat at 082-457182 (Melinda) or mail: pamscintersection@gmail.com should you wish to contribute.

Greetings to all PAMSC Members,

This quarter has been very busy and fruitful, in particular the work that has gone into organizing the upcoming PAMSC Building Trade Show (BTS) 2015, Design Forum 2015 and the various CPD Events. We extend our gratitude to local speaker, Ar. Wee Hii Min whose recent lecture ‘Draw, Build; Learn’ recorded the highest attendance in PAMSC Lecture Series; well done!

It has also come to my knowledge that our PAMSC’s candidates have not done well in the recent PART III Exams, and the national passing rate has dropped to below 10%. This is not a healthy situation; PAMSC will be stepping up our initiative by inviting all graduate members to come forward to air their views, concerns and apprehensions. To this end, we have nominated Past Chairman, Ar. Desmond Kueh to reach out to graduate members and to mentor those sitting for their exams. The Graduates and Education sub-committees headed by Ar. Ivy Jong and Ar. Felix Wee respectively have also been instrumental in obtaining video recordings of the relevant lectures that took place in PAMKL.

I finish by encouraging all members to take part in PAMSC’s activities and events. May the coming holiday seasons and festivities bring you all good fortune and happiness.

Best wishes,

Ar. Stephen Liew

Public SpacesRecently, I set an assignment for my students to design a space in the city that the public can use without spending money – spaces that are accessible and open to members of the public; ‘a public space’, which prompted me to feature some of our local ‘public spaces’. And to raise the question,

What is a public space?

There are many definitions, some architectural, others social; most are scholarly and lengthy – but they share the view that public space must have the following attributes:

1. It must be accessible to the public regardless of race and gender, social status and ideology.

2. It must allow freedom of action within the space, and freedom to enter and depart as one pleases.

3. Finally and perhaps most importantly (to me) it should reflect the beliefs and practices of the people it serves.

As cities grow denser and living conditions become more compact, the public space becomes more important – here are some of the characteristics of successful modern public spaces:

a. Pedestrian priority – this does not mean the complete exclusion of vehicles, at times it is adequate to simply widen the walking lanes. Walking increases the opportunity for interaction and un-planned encounters and diversions; making public life more interesting.

b. Mixing uses and activities – this could mean allowing the public to take over and ‘invent’ their own activities; an open air market during the weekend, performances in the evening, etc.

c. Human scale – there should be spaces for various levels of interaction; from public (> 4.0m) to social (1.2 – 4.0m) to personal (0.5 – 1.2m) to intimate (0 – 0.5m).

d. Location and accessibility – since cities are run by commerce and

politics, location of public spaces are not always based on accessibility and need. Many Olympic Parks are in this category.

e. Culture and Identity – in many instances, we remember and identity a city by its public spaces, especially ones that are deeply rooted in the city’s past and culture. Often one of the most effective ways of linking a public space to the city’s past is the renewal and re-use of an old historical precinct which is imbued with historical meaning and identity.

Another school of thought would argue that the public realm has evolved into other forms; the shopping mall and the digital realm for example. But in my mind, this argument is flawed – the mall is part of private enterprise and one is politely told to leave at closing time while the media lacks the richness of human interaction and chance encounters.

So, to echo my students at the end of semester – ‘did we pass?’ did we satisfy the criteria for attractive and useful public space? I am aware that the featured projects may have been designed with other objectives in mind. Nonetheless, they will be regarded as public spaces by the community and used as such, so I think the self-assessment is crucial if we were to improve the quality of our urban life.

Public spaces must allow freedom of action within the space. (Forecourt of the M.o.C.A., Barcelona,)

The old Satok Market has the human verve characteristic of organic urbanscapes.

The old Zhongshan-shipyard lends cultural identity as new public park.

Project Title: The Damai CentralArchitect : Arki Sigat Sdn. Bhd.Design Statement: The Damai Central project is located in the heart of the Damai Tourism Area facing the South China Sea. The brief from the Ministry of Tourism called for the creation of Public Beach Facilities for the relaxation and recreation needs of both local and foreign tourists.

Project Title: Telaga Air WaterfrontArchitect : JH Bong ArkitekDesign Statement: Telaga Air Waterfront Promenade is located at the riverbank of Sungai Sibu, Kampung Telaga Air with the aim of promoting tourism and sport fishing.

Our design capitalizes on the scenic riverbank which it revitalizes with the introduction of the Marina Plazaria and the two rows of Lock-up Shops while many of the existing facilities such as the gazebo and foot paths are upgraded. The existing landscape and trees are largely preserved in the new scheme.

The Plazaria is highlighted by a prominent tensile roof, this gathering point is connected to the floating jetty and the Lock-up Shops by a pedestrian walkway along main axis that is perpendicular to the riverbank. The Lock-up Shops and seating area are similarly sheltered with tensile roofing.

Other features under the same development include rebuilding of Library, Public Toilets and a Gazebo; these have been given a strong colour scheme in keeping with its new identity.

Project Title: India Street Covered MallArchitect : Arkitek Nurina MatnorDesign Statement: India Street is one of the oldest streets in Kuching; best known for its textile shops and interesting buildings such as the Indian Mosque, and like most historical streets, it has grown organically over time resulting in a streetscape of different building styles and heights. Since it was turned into a pedestrian street, it became a popular landmark for locals and tourists.

Our client, DBKU wanted to capitalise on this advantage by shading the entire pedestrian street with canopies. We decided on a series of canopies with varying heights of 8, 9 and 11.5 metres to match the existing shop house elevations. These canopies were designed with a butterfly roof profile supported by a central column support that collected rainwater. There are 11 of these tree-like sculptures with hexagonal truss webbing that form geometric patterns for the canopies. We worked closely with the engineers to ensure that the columns are as slim as possible so as not to impede the frontage of the existing shops.

Construction has started and we to contribute fruitfully to Kuching’s urban rejuvenation.

The design concept is based on a ‘Village’ setting of commercial activities that includes the essence and charm of our local culture and architecture. The focal point provided by the Multi-purpose Lawn is strategically surrounded by various local built forms such as a ‘barok’ style open amphitheater cum stage, two seafront restaurants and bar, open-air food court and various low rise retail and service outlets. These are connected by a covered walkway that is a reflection of the communal ‘ruai’ - a sheltered street that wraps around the inner side of the ‘Village’ and allows visitors to view the various scenes and activities that takes place on the Lawn.

Outside the centre of Damai Central, a cultural promenade links the Sarawak Cultural Village to the beach, at its end a hornbill sculpture watches over the activities at the cascading lawn of the beach front promenade.

Project Title: Sibu Town Square Landscape Upgrade and New Waterfront PromenadeArchitect : Kumpulan DesignDesign Statement: This 3.3-acre park comprises of new landscaped gardens and a waterfront promenade on reclaimed land; complete with public amenities and recreational facilities. It is presently under construction and is expected to be completed in December 2014.

The newly completed riverwall and promenade doubles the existing water frontage of the town square to half a kilometre with a 8m wide promenade along the whole waterfront. The landscaping works, now in progress, includes pocket gardens with shady trees so that locals can jog, cycle or simply enjoy Sibu’s riverine sunsets.

The existing Town Square has been given an upgrade with new sub-soil drainage works so that it remains dry for outdoor activities such as kite-flying and other outdoor activities. The completed park will be laced with lush green trees with dense foliage to provide shade while some seasonal flowering trees have been included to bloom with colorful blossoms. Thoughtfully planned activity areas include a skate park and sculpted landforms as children’s playground, surrounded by meandering scenic jogging tracks.

PROfILE : INTEGRATED DESIGN CONSULTANTOur Practice Integrated Design Consultant (IDC) was established in June, 1990 as a multi-disciplinary practice, dedicated to provide original and effective design solutions in the built environment.

Our broad base of expertise enables us to experiment and cross-pollinate ideas in order to arrive at design solutions.

We are currently a 20-person team dedicated to our craft. While we enjoy design for our clients, we also value a cohesive work environment with a strong sense of community. We believe that happy architects instill positive energy in our projects. We have taken many office trips together and organise ‘Masterchef’ breakfasts each fortnight; an event everyone looks forward to.

Design PhilosophyWe believe that the primary purpose of Architecture is to accommodate our human activities. It is therefore imperative to serve the client and the end user; to design for the intended function, to perform efficiently and to provide a positive environment for the users.

We work closely with the client to establish the objectives and requirements of the projects in order to formulate the project brief and form the basis of our designs.

We believe that Architecture has a bigger and even more significant role in society; that it is part of our pursuit of artistic expression and excellence, which is an important part of human endeavor. It serves as a Collective Expression of the society by helping to create symbols which reflect and project its existence and status. The role of the Architect in such a context is one of a Cultural Mediator, studying and absorbing the qualities and characters of a particular culture and then giving it form and substance.

In our design process we adapt a total, integrated approach; looking at the problem from an overall perspective, reaching beyond the immediate surroundings into the broader environment. We believe that a building exists within and is influenced by its surroundings. The solution is found when the building fits harmoniously within this existing fabric.

Like the old saying “no man is an island”, a building is not a fortress; it should be open to interact with the surrounding elements of the place. The spaces between buildings can become connections and social spaces; successful urban spaces arise from this sensitive and thoroughly considered approach.

In Malaysia, the tropical weather is an important consideration in the design of buildings, factors such as heat gain, rainfall and prevailing winds determine the siting of a building. The visual aspects of a building such as the form, proportion, colour, voids and scale are also influenced by the weather. In our designs we try to explore the inter penetration of internal and external spaces, to bring the outdoors in and vice-versa. We work with the weather rather than against it.

The concept of ‘Tropical Living’ is an important aspect of our architecture. It is embedded in our traditional cultures and offers continuity between the past, the present and the future, for example in the adaptation of traditional forms and technology for modern needs. We believe that this evolutionary, forward looking Regionalism is the most appropriate approach to Architecture in a dynamic and developing society.

Office Trip to Sematan.

At Datum KL 2014.

The architecture which results from this process becomes physical entities in the environment which have meaning and importance for the community.

Palm Residences, Jalan Stapok, KuchingThis housing development consists of two and three storey semi-detached and terrace houses that explore the possibilities of departure from the standard housing typology by several methods. With the terrace houses, the front and rear setback are swapped in adjacent units; the staggered layout gives rise to a more interesting form. The upper floors are detached from its neighbour allowing more natural light and ventilation into the centre of the unit.

The semi-detached houses also explore a departure from the norm - by inserting a 2-storey atrium in the middle of the house and by the introduction of a double-height living room which is accentuated by a steel and timber staircase. The upper floors are similarly detached from the adjacent unit – reducing the overall massing and creating a more permeable feel to this housing development.

P&S HouseInterior Design for a Double Storey Detached Bungalow, Jalan Crookshank, Kuching, SarawakThe house is nestled within a residential neighbourhood close to the city centre, surrounded by mature trees and natural vegetation. We were approached to design its interiors, which called for a cosy living environment that complemented the house’s architecture with ample storage for their vast book collection. The house utilises passive climatic controls such as metal screens and timber louvres to promote natural cross ventilation and natural lighting in all the habitable spaces of the house. A distinctive feature of the house is a ramp that connects the ground and first floors – providing a bird’s eye view of the natural surroundings as they travel along the ramp.

The communal dining table, designed around a central column is one of the most popular tables in the dining space.

KTS Anniversary Park & Function HallThis project started as a corporate responsibility initiative to convert a vacant property into a public space for the benefit of Kuching residents, while waiting for the right opportunity to be developed. It consists of a landscaped public park, a multi-purpose function hall with capacity for 600 persons, carpark and restaurant.

The main structural steel frame of the function hall was salvaged from a disused warehouse in Kuching. Due to its temporary nature, the construction method and most of the materials were selected based on their ability to be recycled or relocated. The designers view this project as an example of how unused structures and buildings can be re-used in a different context and re-born in exciting new ways.

This project was completed in 2013.

PAM Awards 2013 For Excellence in Architecture – PAM Award Commendation for Sports and Recreation Category.

The feature wall is inspired by old billboard signs.

Humble materials are used to create sophisticated spaces.

Café Café at Brighton Square, KuchingThe second outlet of the popular eatery in Kuching, Café Café, was given an industrial-chic aesthetic tied with a ‘school canteen’ concept for diners to reminisce about the communal and playful spirit of their school-days. It is centred on the idea that food brings people together; as a way to combine playful design elements with humble, unexpected materials to create interiors that are both sophisticated and cosy at the same time.

Paper planes made from recycled metal plates add to the ‘tongue-in-cheek’ atmosphere of the restaurant.

Raw plywood and teak floorboards are used to create a striking contrast with the white-washed walls.

The Function Hall has a river frontage.

The steel structure is salvaged from a disused warehouse.

A departure from the standard housing typology.

Inspired by the ramp and the usage of screens, we designed the wall between the ramp and living space as custom-designed book shelves which, double as screens and room dividers with divans for reading. We decided on a restrained palette of materials in order to complement the sleek modern lines of the architecture, chosen to harmonise the architecture with the interiors with minimal maintenance for the house.

Eden-on-the-Park Residences, Kota SamarahanThis is an active retired living development in a resort environment, consisting of a 14-storey luxury apartment tower with single-storey villas and upmarket nursing home; set amidst lush landscaping.

The apartment tower consists of units that are dual-key, where a portion of the 2-bedroom apartment can be occupied by a different inhabitant with their own private entry; making the living arrangements very flexible. Our design also focuses in providing communal spaces to assuage loneliness; planned to create opportunities for the residents to ‘run-in’ to each other for informal encounters.

This project is under construction and expected to be completed in 2016.

Integrated Design Consultant (IDC) OfficeOur office was carved out of two adjoining top-floor units of a 1960’s shop-house; converting its original long deep floor plan of small rooms into a spacious, light-filled space for a design firm with extensive views of the Sarawak River.

Due to the tight budget and the relatively large floor area, we decided to a limited palette of materials such as raw plywood, oxidized steel, poured concrete floors and recycled elements, which allude to the industrial nature of the locality and challenge us to craft sophisticated spaces from these humble materials.

Chan HouseThe owners of this existing 1970s detached house wanted to add extensive entertaining areas, as well as sufficient living space for 3 generations.

Drawing on the idea of a matrix with notions of duality – light/heavy, open/closed, solid/void, our design divides the living spaces into a series of open pavilions with views of the garden. Ideas were borrowed from the traditional ‘kampung’ house; using screens as walls to promote natural ventilation and provide sun-shading for the house.

This project is currently under construction and is expected to be complete in 2015.

There was extensive use of recycled elements, such as cardboard tubes for the entrance feature wall, oxidised steel for the reception desk, an old industrial steel screen for a ceiling light fixture in the meeting room. Simple materials were chosen over more refined ones; exposed brick wall is used in the waiting area as backdrop for our collection of art objects, while fixed and loose furniture were built from raw plywood – this is in keeping with the industrial aesthetic and honesty of material expression.

We view our office as an example of how run-down existing structures (especially difficult-to-rent top floor units) can be adapted and re-used in exciting new ways.

Ng Chee Wee (B. Arch, Hons) graduated from Melbourne University, specializing in Urban Design and Architectural Philosophy. Since his academic years, he is keenly interested in Architectural Design in an Asian Context, he was on the editorial board of Pro-Arc - the newsletter of PAM Sarawak Chapter which was later on renamed as Intersection. He is also a Past Chairman of the Chapter. After graduation, he joined Malaysian Associate Architects (Sarawak), during which he was involved in many cultural and tourism projects before joining Integrated Design Consultant in June 1990. He considers himself a local Kuching boy and takes pride in what his hometown has to offer in terms of culture, history and hospitality. He tries to incorporate these unique characteristics in his designs and these manifest themselves in the modest and practical choice of forms and materials, and the welcoming and open nature of his projects.

Alan (B. Arch, Hons & B. Environmental Design) has had extensive design experience in prominent Singapore-based firms in both architectural and interior design projects. He has worked on many residential and hospitality projects both in Singapore and in the region. He strongly believes in the prominent role that design plays in shaping our lives and our wellbeing.

Alan is also a trained singer, loves photography, and is an ardent collector of beautiful, unwieldy objects.

Tina (B. Arch, Hons & B. Environmental Design) has had extensive architectural and interior design experience while working in Melbourne and Singapore, on a wide variety of projects including tertiary and research facilities for prominent universities in Australia. She firmly believes that architecture and interior design should express our local and global culture, and create spaces that are meaningful to live, work and play better.

Tina is a new mother to twin baby boys and is juggling nappies and singing lullabies with work.

Jeffrey (B. Arch, First Class Hons & B. Environmental Design) is constantly finding similarities between architecture and food. He believes that good design like a good dish; it must appeal to the senses while being affordable to the general public, it combines international know-how with local ingredients and is rooted in local culture. Above all, it must be something worth experiencing over and over again.

Jeffrey is a new father to twin baby boys and has started to appreciate the importance of 7-hours of uninterrupted sleep.

Directors’ Profile

Ng Chee WeePrincipal - Integrated Design Consultant

Alan LauSenior Architect

Tina LauSenior Architect

Jeffrey YeungSenior Architect

The entry foyer. Landscaping is a key component of this scheme.

The vaulted ceiling over the work space. Single storey villas.

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CPD (Continual Professional Development)Sub-committee ChairmanAr. Peter WongCo-opt member : Ar. felix Wee

The PAMSC Design Forum 2015 will be held on 28th March 2015 to coincide with the Building Trade Show. For the convenience of PAMSC Members – the Forum will be held at the BCCK together with BTS. Due to the overwhelming response to last year’s Forum, the venue for the event will be extended next year to accommodate up to 300 participants.

PAMSC DESIGN fORUM 2015

Next year’s forum will again feature 5 speakers from the region. To date 4 of the invited speakers have confirmed. The confirmed speakers are:

Ms Kelly Rattigan – Formworks Architecture, PerthFormworks is a Western Australia based practice which has built a reputation for innovative design especially in aged care and community care facilities. Ms Kelly Rattigan is the founder of the practice and a recipient of the Australian Institute of Architects National Emerging Architect of 2012.

Mr Pok Kobkongsanti - TROP terrains + open space, BangkokTROP terrains + open space is a landscape architectural design studio based in Bangkok, of which Mr Pok Kobkongsanti is the principal. This award-winning practice has completed many landmark projects including most notably the landscaping for the Hilton Pattaya which won the Thailand Property Award for landscape design and was shortlisted for Hotel of the Year 2012 by World Architecture News.

Mr Ying-Chao Kuo - Bio-Architecture Formosana, TaiwanBio-Architecture Formosana is one of the foremost practitioner of sustainable architecture in Taiwan. They were the principal architect for several of the main pavilions at the Taipei Flora & Horticulture Expo 2013 – including the Pavilion of Life, Pavilion of Dreams and Pavilion of the Future.

Ar Yap Yew Peng - Y Architects, Johore BahruAr Yap Yew Peng is one of the 2 co-founders of Y Architects which was started in 1995. Their designs aim to use sustainability as a core creative design generator and consistently produce works that respond to climate, place and time.

Additional information on the Design Forum will be announced by early February 2015. Members are urged to register for the Forum early to avoid disappointment.

RECORDINGS Of TALKS / LECTURES IN CPD SERIES The PAMSC CPD subcommittee has been trying to obtain the recordings of the CPD seminars that were held on PAMKL, so that they can be screened at our local chapter. The Chapter made this request through the Graduates and Education subcommittees as many of the CPD lectures and seminars are particularly relevant to those graduates intending to sit for LAM Part 3 exams.

Unfortunately, our earlier proposal to install video-conferencing facilities at PAMSC and had to be aborted due to high installation & running cost and poor broadband connection at our premises. As such, the recording of CPD talks has taken a new urgency for us. Many other chapters have also made this request, so hopefully we can receive good news from PAMKL in the coming months.

The following is an excerpt of our communication with PAMKL:

The recorded lectures would benefit our members tremendously;

1. In particular with the graduate members, to help them with their preparation of LAM Part 3 exams;2. To encourage members to participate in local chapter’s activities through the screening of these

talks/lectures;3. As a tool for membership drive – to encourage graduates to join PAM so that they can enjoy the

free CPD privileges.4. It minimise cost of travelling to KL for lectures/talks that are only available in KL.

In November and October – we have several CPD lectures, namely;

We will keep you posted.

Date Title Speaker Attendance18.10.14 CIPAA + Architects Ar. David Cheah Ming Yew 28

1.11.14 Draw, build; learn. Ar. Wee Hii Min 66

15.11.14 Designing Sustainable Facades Ms. Ayca Ozcanlar 27

13.12.14 Recent Works Ling Hao 65

Formworks Architecture TROP terrains + open space Bio-Architecture Formosana Y Architects

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“Contributing to Architecture in Sarawak”

One Tree House, Kuching

Steven from Atelier Timur sharing his work experience at UTC.

Interns from DNA shared their work and experiences with UCTS students.

UCTS students admiring urban sketches at the old courthouse.

Mike Boon gave an in-depth lecture about design narrative amongst other issues.

Printer: WISMA PRINTING SDN BHD No. 1949, 1st Floor, Jalan Tekad, Pending Industrial Estate, 93450 Kuching, Sarawak. Tel: 082 338 131 Fax: 082 333 002 Email: wisma@po.jaring.my

Publisher: PAMSC Publication and Information Committee

H/P: (HJ Chen) +6017 850 3683 (Lee) +6012 895 1334 Email: alephtavart@gmail.com FB page: Aleph Tav art Blog: (Eng)alephtavart.com (Chi)alephtavart.blogspot.com

Aleph Tav Enterprise (92250)Designer:

Back Row - Ricky Hong, Andy Ngu, Tan Kiat Soon, Ivy Jong, Peter Wong, Desmond Kueh, Chai Si Yong And Felix WeeFront Row - John Lee, Lim Kim Hin, Elizabeth Loh ( Deputy Municipal Secretary), Lo Khere Chiang (MPP Chairman), Stephen Liew, Phillip Chang, Bong Joon Hin

PRACTICESub-committee Chairman: Ar. Bong Joon HinSub-committee Vice Chairman: Ar. John Lee

A) Joint Technical Consultative Committee (JTCC)

The minutes of meeting dated 25/2/2014 were finally officially endorsed by Permanent Secretary of Kementerian Kerajaan Tempatan dan Pembangunan Kommuniti and were circulated to all Councils for action. The minutes also endorsed on the issues previously agreed but not formally endorsed which includes interpretation of ‘habitable room’, submission of repetitive building plans, interpretation on refuse bin chamber and bin centre, low cost housing requirements, disabled toilets requirements for hotels, etc.

B) Amendment on the Housing Development (Control and Licensing Ordinance 2014)

The amended ‘Ordinance’ was enforced on 1st November 2014 where some of the issues affecting architects’ practice include the following:

• TheArchitectwillbefinedRinggitMalaysiaFiftyThousandiffoundguiltyofwrongfullycertifyingStageCompletion.

• TheScheduleonStageCertificationwasrevisedandbrokendownintomorecomponents,especiallyinrelationwithroofingi.e.lower and upper roofs amongst others.

• TherevisedOrdinanceNOWallowstheQuantitySurveyortocertifyStageCertificationwhichallowsforthewithdrawalofmoneyfrom Housing Development Account. Many of our members have expressed concern about this as our roles and responsibilities are being eroded under this new Ordinance.

• MembersareurgedtoobtaincopyofnewOrdinancetotakenoteonallothersclausesaffectingourpractice.PAMSCwillbelookinginto this matter further in the upcoming months.

C) Courtesy Call to Padawan Council (Majlis Perbandaran Padawan)

On the the 25th November PAMSC made a courtesy call to MPP for the purposes of a dialogue with their Councilor and members. The following are discussed and clarifications were made:

• MPPtargetedtimeframeofthree(3)daysforthesubmissionandregistrationofnewBuildingPlans;consultantsmayassistwiththe registration.

• MPPnormallytakes2weekstoprocesstheapplicationforEarlyCommencementofWork.ConsultantsmayfollowupwithMPPifno reply received after that time frame.

• MPPagreedtolookintotheminimisingofdocumentsfortypicalsubmission/resubmission/amendments.

• MPPhasnoobjectiontoprintthetitleblockintheammoniaprintinordertoexpediteregistrationtoreplacestamping.

Members who have issues relating to local authorities are encouraged to write to info@pamsc.org.my

EDUCATIONSub-committee ChairmanAr. felix Wee

On the 27th November (Thursday), 16 Year 1 architecture students and 2 of their lecturers from University of Technology Sarawak (UCTS) travelled to Kuching from Sibu for a 3-day visit. Their aim was to expose their students to local architecture through interaction with local architectural firms.

As such, PAMSC offered to assist them by ‘connecting’ them with PAMSC members who were able to host them and show them some samples of their work. Three local firms offered to help, namely; Design Network Architects (DNA) – Min offered up his interns for a ‘5-o’clock talk’ during which, the young people exchanged ideas and work-samples in a series of mini-talks at DNA’s office; Ar. Mike Boon who gave a design lecture about green design and design narrative over lunch at his award winning house; and Ar. Sia Peh Swee and Steven Yap from Atelier Timur Sdn. Bhd. conducted a tour of their latest project, the Urban Transformation Centre (UTC); which is a ‘One-Stop’ centre for Federal and State agencies for the convenience of the public.

The UCTS students also visited the Sarawak Cultural Village and the Old Courthouse in their pursuit of local culture and heritage. They were in luck as there was an exhibition of sketches depicting local buildings of heritage conducted by the Sarawak Heritage Society and Urban Sketches Kuching at the Courthouse at that time.

Our subcommittee sees this type of engagement as an important part of our mission to reach out to our young “pillars” of the architectural community and aims to do more in the coming months. Those who are interested to participate, please contact PAMSC.

In the pipeline, a drawing workshop in Kuching and a 24-hour design studio in SIbu !

UCTS VISITS KUCHING

Group photo at the UTC with members of local colleges and Atelier Timur.

GRADUATESSub-committee ChairmanAr. Ivy JongCo-opt members : Noraini Narodden, Peggy Wong B K and Kevin Phua

following the inaugural Archiprix S.E.A. 2012 held at National University of Singapore (NUS), the second edition was held on October 2014 at Taylor’s University; organized by NUS. Architecture universities and colleges within the South East Asia region were invited to submit their best two graduation projects.

17 Entries from Vietnam, Philippines, Indonesia, Singapore and Malaysia were shortlisted, they travelled to Kuala Lumpur for the 4-day event sponsored by Hunter Douglas. This year’s jury comprised Professor Dr. Erwin Viray, the Deputy University President of Kyoto Institute of Technology and Professor Eko Agus Prawato, Vice Dean of Duta Wacana Christian University headed by Jury President Professor Dr. Ar. Jimmy Lim. Out of 17 shortlisted projects, two were from my design class - ‘Penan (E)scape’ by Jocelyn Yap, Vivian Kuan and Ileana Quiroz, and ‘8B Habitat’ by Sim Ching Cheng and Yvonne Chong who won the 1st runner up prize. This is an admirable achievement if one considers that they are diploma graduates competing against university students – however, they were not intimidated as they battled with the best of them. Perhaps it is the water we drink in Sarawak.

This was my second experience at the Archiprix SEA (we won the First Prize in 2012) - although we enjoy our success, I feel that this is more than a competition, it is a meaningful ‘gathering’ of young minds from the regional architectural schools to share ideas and discuss collaborations. It is also a venue for their educators to address issues of cultural and architectural identity, to make observations about design approaches and compare teaching methods. Or simply to be aware of one another as colleagues in the same vocation. I agree with Professor Wong Yunn Chii, Head of Department of Architecture (NUS) who summed it up succinctly by saying that – ‘…we are sharing the similarities while celebrating our differences in this special event.’

I record my thanks to Alan Goh from LICT for motivating the students; Min for his advice as a former Archiprix judge; Ar. Moh, Si Yong and my wife, Suan for their constructive input to the students. Suan has been most understanding, taking charge of our three children while I was busy with the students.

I am motivated by Professor Dr. Jimmy Lim who congratulated me for putting the students on the right track, and contributing towards the future of our Sarawakian students. To that end, I will continue to encourage my students to be appreciative of our ‘local delights’; the unique qualities that describe Sarawak’s landscape, architecture and culture.

by Tay Tze YongINTODESIGN Lab, Part-time lecturer at LICT

A r c h i p r i x S . E . A . 2 0 1 4

Winner: Borderless, Van Lang University (Vietnam) 1st Runner Up: 8B Habitat, Limkokwing Institute of Creative Technology (Borneo Campus) 2nd Runner Up: Contracting the Common, National University of Singapore Merit#1: Seasons of Water, Van Lang University (Vietnam) Merit#2: Petronas Motorsport, Universiti Putra Malay sia

Finalists: Universitas Bina Nusantara, Jakarta, Indonesia; H o Chi Minh City University of Architecture, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam; Limkokwing Institute of Creative Technology, Borneo Camp us, Malaysia; National University of Singapore, Singapore; Saint Louis University, Baguio City, Philippines; Taylor’s University, Kual a Lumpur, Malaysia; Universitas Gadjah Mada, Yogyakarta, Indonesia; Universita Katolik Parahyangan, Bandung, Indonesia; Univer siti Putra Malaysia, Selangor, Malaysia; University Tunku Abdul Rahman, Petaling Jaya, Malaysia; Van Lang University, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

Ileana Balan Quiroz Dip. Arch (LICT) calls herself a great ‘fan of minimalism’. She hopes that in the future, sustainability will be an integral part of architecture, so that more buildings are able to give back to the environment. Ileana is working before continuing her studies in order to explore the other aspects of architecture and to broaden her perspective for designing buildings in the future.

Vivian Kuan Dip. Arch (LICT) is interested in the preservation of historical buildings so that they can exhibit the beauty of human craft. She is presently taking time off to work and explore more about the strength of architecture. She enjoys taking part of design competitions especially the collaborative effort that results in a good scheme.

Jocelyn Yap Kui Ling Dip. Arch (LICT) loves nature and spends many hours observing the little lives around her. She thinks that architecture should work harder in preserving the environment.

Yvonne Chong Hui Joo, Dip. Arch (LICT) loves different styles of architecture, and believes that good architecture can be very simple; doing enough to provide comfort and sense of belonging to the users without harming the environment. Her interests in design isnot limited to architecture but includes every little creative thing in life, even if it is just a quote. Though typically reserved, Yvonne is in her element when talking about her design ideas to others.

Sim Ching Cheng Dip. Arch (LICT) was born and grew up in Kuching, Sarawak. He enjoys taking part in design competitions and was involved in the various installations of the PAMSC World Architecture Day (WAD) Urban Installation competition from 2011 to 2014. Recently, he became interested in Tropical Modernism and is exploring the idea of infusing rural architecture in the the urban environment.

(from left) Ileana, Vivian, Tay Tze Yong (tutor), Sim Ching Cheng, Yvonne, Jocelyn.

Foo Residence Central Market Kuan Ti Temple

Winner : Van Lang University 1st Runner Up : LimKokWing Inst.

Day 1: Architour Students’ Bio

Day 2 & 3 : Presentation; Judging

Day 4 : Workshop with Dr. Erwin Viray; Award Ceremony

For more details and photos about Archiprix SEA, visit the Archiprix SEA website at www.archiprixsea.com

FINALIST : PENAN (E) SCAPE - Ileana Quiroz, Jocelyn Yap, Vivian Kuan.1st RUNNER UP : 8B HABITAT - Sim Ching Cheng, Yvonne Chong.

CONSERVATIONSub-committee ChairmanAr. Mike BoonCo-opt member : Ar. Ng Chee Wee

Departing from Kuching’s waterfront in the early morning of the 26th of July, Ar. Mike Boon led a small group of scouts from a local secondary school, SMK Kuching High, to embark on a journey to the historical Fort Margherita that had just been conserved.

Taking a “sampan” unique to Kuching, we began our journey across the river to the gathering point for a briefing before proceeding to the Fort.

Having to walk approximately 15 minutes through ‘Kampung Gersik’, a Malay village, we passed-by many traditional wooden houses on stilts which are still inhabited. It was a refreshing view that drew an immediate contrast to the developing city of Kuching.

Arriving at the site, we were enlightened about the history of Fort Margherita, how it came about from the Brooke’s Era, the role the Fort served for defence, and how it even turned into a Police museum before it was eventually vacated. The wives and children of Brooke’s officers were relocated to a memorial in front of the Fort. The ashes of Anthony Brookes was also buried there.

Background

In October, USK (Urban Sketchers Kuching) were approached by the Sarawak Heritage Society (SHS) to share their sketches of heritage buildings in Kuching in an exhibition. The exhibition was organised as a membership drive for the SHS and to heighten awareness of our local heritage buildings. The launching was officiated by the Chief Minister’s wife; Datin Patinggi Datuk Jamilah Anu.

As this was the first time that we are collaborating with SHS, they had a few questions for USK in an interview with Peggy and I.

SHS: What is your personal view on the urban heritage of Kuching and its conservation?USK: * We don’t think enough is done. We think too many people in powerful positions make all the important decisions to

retain or destroy historical buildings. Not only listed buildings should be preserved, any building that is significant in its era is worth retaining. This means that the Batu Lintang Teacher’s Training College, the Scouts HQ, the RTM buildings are worth retaining, as was the Satok Market and the government houses along Ong Tiang Swee Road that were recently demolished.

SHS: What do you think about the future of the conservation movement in Kuching?USK: It is important that new uses are found for the restored buildings or else they do not

earn their keep, which makes convincing argument to destroy them and wipe the slate clean.

For example, the wet market could have been easily retained in total as part of the Gambier Street Waterfront, instead of retaining part of the building as a mockery of the conservation effort. The cultural heritage that was destroyed at the same time was more extensive, because a valuable venue of social, culture and financial interaction between the two sides of the river were removed together with the buildings.

SHS: What stands out to you about the urban heritage of Kuching? What does it mean to the inhabitants?

USK: We should now think beyond architectural heritage and consider our cultural heritage as well and not just Kuching but the State. There are buildings worth preserving throughout Sarawak.

SHS: How important do you think it is for us to conserve the architectural heritage of

Kuching? USK: Instead of advocating the preservation of certain ‘key’ buildings – we should instead

ask the government to table development plans for historical part of our towns for public review and debate before the development plans can be approved.

SHS: I’d like a nice quote from you to link your goals and our goals if possible !!USK: I do not have a quote – except perhaps to say that as far as conservation in Kuching

is concerned it is already late in the afternoon, but it is still not too late.

(* reflects Peggy’s and my opinion and not necessarily those of the USK members)

on the morning of 23.08.2014, Ar. Mike Boon took 22 teachers from SMK St. Joseph for a heritage walks to provide the teachers with a better understanding of the history of Kuching.

The day started off with a short presentation on the contribution of the Brooke’s in terms of the development of the Old Kuching City. He used the surviving Brookes buildings to point out the different approaches to building construction adopted by the three Rajahs during their reign.

During a short tour of the shophouses around the Old Kuching Courthouse, where tips on estimating the age of the shophouses by observing the designs of the windows were introduced. Following that, they were brought to visit a traditional shophouse on Upper China Street, which was conserved through private initiatives. Ar. Mike Boon highlighted the traditional detailing of the shophouse and provided a brief outline of the conservation process.

A site visit to fort Margherita with 5th Kuching City Scout Group

Recording Local Heritage – one sketch at a time

Heritage walks with teachers from SMK St. Joseph

No.44 is the only shop that retains the traditional shop front unique to Upper China Street.

Conservation of No.59 at Upper China Street in progress.

As we entered the fort, we were able to see samples of old rotten timber taken down during restoration. We learnt that timber was coated in oil to protect it from moisture damage. The walls were restored by removing salt from the bricks, re-plastered with lime and sand, and then finished with lime wash. During the restoration, as the weak plaster was removed, it was revealed that a section of the fort was actually an extension from the original fort. Everyone was able to explore the Fort, glancing at the surrounding landscape through the guns and cannon holes, and of course, climbing the spiral stairway to the top of the Fort to a breath-taking view of the Sarawak River, the historical part of Kuching City and also the Square Tower – the sister fort to Magherita.

(Reported by Amanda Chua, an aspiring future Architecture student now studying A-Levels in Concord College, UK)

Our sketching ‘tools’ on display.

The exhibition was well attended by members of the public.

Aurelia, Peggy and Gabrieline spent several afternoons coordinating the exhibition.

Peggy, Gabrieline Lim and Helena Goh setting up the sketches.

Photos by Jee. www.jeephotography.com email: jee@jeephotography.com

Urban Sketchers are an international ‘organisation’ with contributors and groups world-wide, their aim is to ‘show the world, one drawing at a time’. USK is simply the Kuching group of Urban Sketchers; started by Peggy Wong, Azie Mornie and Min in 2012 to record our hometowns a sketch at a time. Our excursions have grown from half dozen to about 20 people, there is a ‘sketch-crawl’ on the first Sunday of every month.

News clipping from The Borneo Post.

Special thanks to Ar. Tan Kiat Soon and team for organizing the Gala Dinner, Yeeeehaw !

DATE : 27/2/2013

1HONG

Gordon

Didi

NIP 1602013 Momento_PSM BrochureFA size: 21cm (W) x 29.7cm (H)