BY JADE CHAN
Teng (left) and Siti Maisarah with their Young Landscape Architect Award trophies. The award recognises budding talents who have been practising for less than 10 years, made significant contributions to the industry and demonstrated leadership qualities.
HOPING to give back to his beloved home state, Teng Pe Yang returned to Penang to set up his own landscape architect firm after graduating and working for several years in Melbourne, Australia.
The Permata Green principal’s area of focus is public projects, with the rejuvenation of Armenian Park in George Town being his proudest thus far.
“The project brief was to rejuvenate one of the few available green spaces in the city and to revive a previously rundown area,” said Teng, 37.
“Many challenges were involved – having to collaborate with many local and international stakeholders, as well as working through the project’s urban, social, heritage and environment complexities.”
He said Armenian Park was redesigned to relate to the area’s heritage buildings, and serve as a space for residents to interact and to hold social events.
On his design philosophy, Teng said he believes in “the power of small – that little steps could lead to big changes within ourselves and the built environment'.
While his current projects are located in Penang, he hopes to contribute to those in larger contexts such as Kuala Lumpur and other cities in South-East Asia.
Teng (left) and Siti Maisarah with their Young Landscape Architect Award trophies. The award recognises budding talents who have been practising for less than 10 years, made significant contributions to the industry and demonstrated leadership qualities.
Teng and Siti Maisarah Salahudin were honoured with the Young Landscape Architect Award at the recent Malaysia Landscape Architecture Awards (MLAA) organised by the Institute of Landscape Architects Malaysia (Ilam).
The award recognises budding talents who have been practising for less than 10 years and have made significant contributions to the industry and demonstrated leadership qualities.
Siti Maisarah, 35, said her most memorable project was G Tower, which was also her first project as a consultant.
“It has sentimental value for me as it was the first GBI-certified (Green Building Index) building in Kuala Lumpur. “It was the first of its kind then, so I had to put in extra effort and preparations to ensure the landscape designs met the GBI requirements.
“My working experience includes consultant firms and developer, with projects comprising residential, commercial, institutional and parks,” said the Walrus Design Sdn Bhd associate. For the mother of two, the challenge is to balance her responsibilities at work and family.
Siti Maisarah is also kept busy as the president of Universiti Putra Malaysia’s Department of Landscape Architecture alumni club.
“Landscape architects are not only professionals with expertise in landscape design.
“They also play a role in understanding and placing the project site in the right context, and enhancing the space for the community and providing value to the client,” she said.
Univ 360 Place
MLAA, which was staged during Ilam’s Gala Night, honoured the best and most outstanding projects in Malaysia and in the region.
MLAA 2016 saw 145 entries from within Malaysia, as well as Bahrain, Singapore, Sri Lanka and Taiwan.
Submissions vied for awards across eight categories, including professional, contractor, developer and GLC, government, researcher and student.
Three new awards were introduced this year: Green Product, Landscape Master Plan under the Developer and GLC Category, and Landscape Architecture Media.
Eight media organisations, including Star Media Group's StarMetro section, were presented the Landscape Architecture Media Awards for playing a vital role in disseminating information on the industry.
A total 62 awards were presented under eight categories.
The night’s highest honour – Project of the Year 2016 – went to Univ 360 Place.
Its landscape design was done by Engky Design Sdn Bhd, for the client and owner F3 Capital Group.
Ilam also launched the Landscape Architecture Agenda 2050 (LAA 2050) and MLAA 2016 Yearbook.
Dr Tam (second from right) and Dr Osman (right) presenting the trophy and certificate for MLAA's Project of the Year to the team from landscape design firm Engky Design Sdn Bhd and developer F3 Capital Group. They won the award for Univ 360 Place (pic below), a mixed commercial development in Seri Kembangan.
The agenda serves as a roadmap to shape the next 30 years of the landscape architecture profession in Malaysia, while the book featured some of the most aesthetically pleasing and innovative designs from the awards’ official entries.
“The 10 strategic focus areas in LAA 2050 are believed to be the pillar for the landscape architecture industry in Malaysia to grow towards a truly sustainable green city with clean technology and responsible action,” said the event’s guest of honour Urban Wellbeing, Housing and Local Government Ministry deputy secretary-general (policy and development) Datuk Dr Tam Weng Wah, who represented minister Tan Sri Noh Omar.
“The ministry, through the National Landscape Department of Malaysia (JLN), will fully support this agenda towards a better future for our nation.”
Dr Tam said the ministry, through JLN, would also strive to ensure that the Landscape Architects Act would become a reality in the near future.
“LAA 2050 is a 30-year roadmap with a mission to react, think creatively and find the best solutions for the betterment of our living environment,” said Ilam president Assoc Prof Dr Osman Mohd Tahir.
“As trends evolve to address issues and needs such as massive urbanisation, population increase, lack of space and climate change, landscape architects can play a vital role in the country’s development with innovative planning and design for a better living environment.”
The 10 strategies outlined in LAA 2050 include resource management, conducive living, economic return and best practice.
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