By Aisyah Suwardi

From left: PT Design Sdn Bhd associate Ainol Najwa Asmuni and director Peter Tan receiving their Project of the Year award at the Malaysia Landscape Architecture Awards (MLAA) 2017 night. With them are (next to Tan) Ministry of Urban Wellbeing, Housing and Local Government secretary-general Datuk Seri Haji Mohammad Mantek and ILAM president LAr. Dr Osman Mohd Tahir.

TEN years after the first award in 2007, the Malaysian Landscape Architecture Awards (MLAA) continues to transform the landscape architecture industry in Malaysia.

The MLAA is an annual event organised by the Institute of Landscape Architects Malaysia (ILAM) along with its Gala Night.

In his opening speech at this year’s awards night, Ministry of Urban Wellbeing, Housing and Local Government secretary-general Datuk Seri Haji Mohammad Mantek applauded the efforts taken by ILAM to develop the industry.

“The ministry has observed over the years how the landscape industry has bloomed and prospered under the initiatives from the institute, parallel with our vision of making Malaysia a more beautiful and green country,” he said.

Mohammad emphasised the need to have more landscape architects in the future.

“With the important role that they play in the development of urban areas, the number of landscape architects must be dramatically increased.

“We estimated that in the future there should be one landscape architect for every 15,000 people in Malaysia,” he added.

The awards comprised 11 categories with 67 recipients. The highlight of the night, however, was the coveted Project of The Year awards where nominees were selected from the recipients of the Excellence awards in the six earlier categories.

PT Design Sdn Bhd bagged the Project of The Year award after receiving Excellence in the Professional Category: Landscape Design Award for the project Afiniti Medini@Iskandar Puteri.

The winning project was designed with an oasis as the centre of the development. “The Oasis is a green sanctuary that connects the project’s five components.

“If you look at it from above, it is like a hand at the centre holding the development and the landscape together,” said PT Design Sdn Bhd director Peter Tan.

The gala night was organised in conjunction with the World Landscape Architecture month in April.