BY ANGIE NG
angie@thestar.com.my
MLAA 2015 brochure cover.
MALAYSIA’S tropical climate provides a rich landscape of natural fauna and foliage that can be nurtured and harnessed to spruce up the ambience and environment of our residential enclaves, recreational parks, commercial spaces, nature reserves and even villages, cities and town centres.
The role of landscape architects cannot be over emphasised when it comes to educating the public, developers and government authorities on the benefits of good landscape architectural design in adding value to the living, working and recreation spaces.
The Institute of Landscape Architects Malaysia (ILAM) has taken up the role as a crusader to help raise the awareness on the role of landscape architects in the country’s built environment for the past 35 years.
ILAM president Associate Professor Osman Mohd Tahir.
According to ILAM president Associate Professor Osman Mohd Tahir, since the establishment of the institute in 1981, the landscape architecture profession has progressed from its earlier perception of being associated with the mere planting of trees to having landscape designs appreciated in a broader sense, and now they are being highly sought-after by government agencies, city councils, developers, architects and property owners.
"We strive to add value to functional green spaces for people to enjoy and relax in to help boost productivity while reducing tension and stress. It has been proven that landscape architecture
can increase the value of properties by creating a conducive living environment and contribute to the economy as well
as the environment and biodiversity, especially in urban areas," Osman shares.
He further elaborates: "Green eco- tourism has also benefited through the landscape architectural planning that has evolved in the last 30 to 35 years."
MLAA honours the best of the industry
To further raise the bar for the profession, ILAM has introduced the Malaysia Landscape Architecture Awards (MLAA), an annual industry awards recognition, in 2007 that has achieved a number of milestones for industry practitioners.
The objective of the awards is to recognise outstanding achievements in landscape architectural works by the industry professionals, developers, government agencies, research bodies
and students. Organised by ILAM and endorsed by the International Federation of Landscape Architects (IFLA), the MLAA is part of the activities held in conjunction with the World Landscape Architecture Month Celebrations in April each year.
MLAA 2015 organising chairman Suhardi Maulan.
ILAM will present MLAA 2015 to outstanding Malaysian landscape architecture consultancy firms, developers, researchers, students, contractors, government agencies and individuals
for projects completed in Malaysia and abroad, to honour the best in landscape architecture from various aspects of the industry. The organiser has also added a new category, Young Landscape Architect Award, to the list of award categories for MLAA 2015, to recognise the achievement of outstanding individual young landscape architect.
According to MLAA 2015 organising chairman Suhardi Maulan, MLAA 2015 is open to all project submissions that have been completed for at least one year, and which have not won any previous ILAM Awards. The closing date for the submission is on Jan 14, 2016, before 5pm.
The award recipients will be honoured at the MLAA & ILAM Gala Night to be held on April 9, 2016, at One World Hotel, Bandar Utama, Petaling Jaya.
Suhardi says the number of submission has increased from 30 in 2007 to more than 100 in 2014, and this year more than 120 entries are expected to vie for the various awards that are up for grabs. He says the quality of submission has also improved over the years as the design evolved over the past eight years.
"Through the awards and recognition, more and more private and public sector practitioners have now put higher priority to provide more green landscaped spaces, improved on the landscaped quality and are conserving more natural reserves and open spaces. Indirectly the MLAA has contributed to the greening of the nation," he adds.
