Young designer finalists determined for IJM Land Designer Award 2016

The final judging of IJM Land Designer Award 2016 (iLDA 2016) had recently concluded, bringing forth two young and aspiring interior designers who will now compete in the final round of the contest.

Leo Wong Kwan Theng and Goh Sow Yee came out on top with their interior design proposals for two different types of Penduline houses in IJM LAND’s own Bandar Rimbayu township.

The award was launched by IJM Land, with the aim to give young interior design graduates a chance to showcase their talent in a competitive environment and learn from an experienced jury about what it is that matters in terms of interior design and clients’ needs.

The theme of the contest “Reliving Nostalgic Memories” required contestants to understand nostalgia and transform their ideas into interior design concepts that can be realised in an actual showroom in the township of Bandar Rimbayu.

Submitted designs had to comply with the allocated budget of RM150,000 and potential customers’ liking.

“The designs have to reflect the target market and the things our customers like. Based on the value of the house we know exactly who our potential audience is and what requirements they impose on their lifestyle and ultimately their dream property,” illustrated Santa Fe Interior Architecture director and chief judge Fendarie Su.

Lim Ai Tiong Design principal architect and chief designer Lim Ai Tiong explained that a lot of the designs were very personal, reflecting individual memories that were tailored too much towards the designer instead of the customer.

“We cannot, with a clear conscience, judge a design concept that is too flamboyant or out of this world because the risk of building the showroom with too extravagant furniture, that in the end no one is willing to buy, would be very high,” Lim said.

“What really made the difference in the final two contestants was they were able to look at the whole picture from the interior design point of view and were able to convey a message with their ideas,” Su said.

Lim added: “They achieved a certain aesthetic maturity in their designs, but we as the judges had to try to be a little more stringent and look for a design that could really tell a story.”

The jury for the contest was deliberately assembled with judges from Malaysia, Singapore, Hong Kong and even Canada. Bandar Rimbayu chief operating officer Shuy Eng Leong explained that the Bandar Rimbayu township is not only targeted to a local market, but to overseas customers as well.

While Goh won the judges over with a clean and simple look based on a rural yet classy concept, Leo’s design is very much inspired by the concept of traditional Malay batik, showing the audience how this part of the Malay culture could be implemented into interior design and create a feeling of nostalgia through historical art.”

The two finalists now have to work closely together with the judges and the sponsors, factoring their comments and ideas into the process of fully equipping and decorating the Penduline houses in Bandar Rimbayu.

Both showrooms tentatively will be open for public viewing on two weekends in May. Visitors will also be able to vote for their favourite design on site, directly influencing the outcome of the contest.

Besides that, the public also may vote on IJM Land Designer Award’s Facebook page for the most liked and shared design. The winner of the iLDA 2016 will then be announced during the award ceremony at the end of May 2016.

The Gold Winner will receive a cash prize of RM18,000 and a Mac Book Pro for the Gold Winner, while the Silver Winner will receive a cash prize of RM12,000 and an iPhone 6.

Sponsors of the inaugural iLDA2016 include Signature Kitchen Sdn Bhd, Urban Culture Sdn Bhd, Fella Holding Berhad, Philips Malaysia Sdn Bhd, Jotun Paints (M) Sdn Bhd and Inovar Resources Sdn Bhd.

For more information, please log on www.rimbayu.com or www.facebook.com/ijmlanddesigneraward