Despite a drop in the number of submissions for this year’s Pertubuhan Akitek Malaysia (PAM) Awards due to Covid-19 disruptions, there was no compromise in terms of design ingenuity.
“This year’s overall quality is better than last year, especially in the multiple residential, commercial, and public and institutional building categories.
“We also introduced a master planning category this year for which we received submissions that deserved the Gold award.
“Nevertheless, we observed a slight drop in the quality of submissions for the single residential category this year,” said PAM president and architect Datuk Ezumi Harzani Ismail in an email interview.
Established in 1990, the PAM Awards recognises Malaysian architects who pursue excellence in design, promote the advancement of a quality built environment that creates a positive impact (socially, physically or culturally) in Malaysia, as well as highlight the diversity of Malaysian architecture.
The 2021 Awards ceremony was held at the PAM Centre in Kuala Lumpur on Oct 2, attended by the winners only. The event was then live-streamed on Facebook.
Submissions were based on actual completed projects, so this year’s awards were given to projects submitted by PAM members at the end of last year.
Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the number of entries received was significantly lesser compared to previous years.
Since 2018, PAM has been receiving an average of 139 submissions a year. However, there were only 95 valid submissions for this year’s Awards, approximately a 30% reduction compared to the previous year.
All entries vied for the highest recognition across 13 different categories, which is the PAM Gold Award for Architecture, considered the most prestigious architecture award in Malaysia.
Projects are carefully selected and assessed by a panel of judges, led by Ezumi, based on the judging criteria.
“Any project awarded with Gold is expected to be of outstanding architectural design or innovation and which inspires others to achieve similar or higher design quality,” he said.
This year, out of 13 categories, only eight deserved the Gold Award, with the winner of the Public and Institutional building category - the AICB building in Kuala Lumpur by GDP Architects - also taking home the prestigious Building of the Year title.
“Two buildings were carefully considered for the Building of the Year award during the final judging. Both reflect modern dynamism with some degree of differences in architecture detailing.
“(With the AICB building) judges were fascinated by how the architect achieved a balanced composition between the complexity of needs, function and context for the building.
“The design of the building promotes internal exploration with a play of space, light and materials while at the same time designing outside of the banking institution formality,” explained Ezumi.
He added that the building exterior’s composite aluminium polygons work towards creating the third dimension of the façade.
“The intricate louvre patterns of the entrance lobby facade not just filter the sun’s rays into the building but also reflect traditional songket weaving.
“The internal atrium space, designed with break-out room, niche break area, feature staircase and link bridges, provides higher levels of space quality that emphasises wellness elements in the building design.
“It also sets a clearer path for how future interior office spaces need to be designed,” said Ezumi.
Another project that stood out is Kondominium Kapas by Domaine Architects.
“It catches my eye with its assembly of cladding that makes the façade of the building look dynamic.
“The thoughtful design, which features a porous exterior and extended overhang using a combination of aluminium cladding and ventilated concrete blocks, allows a free flow of natural ventilation. It makes the building cooler without compromising its elegant appearance,” he said.
In future, Ezumi hopes to see more young architects and the emergence of new generation firms participating in the Awards and winning the Gold titles.
“This year, the Gold Awards for residential high rise and commercial high rise building categories were won by two young firms. I hope this will motivate more young architects to deliver high quality buildings to our society,” he said.
The Gold Award winners of the 2021 PAM Awards are:
Eco Ardence Aeres
Setia Alam, Selangor
T&T Architect
Mellowood, Eco Majestic (Precinct 7)
Semenyih, Selangor
DTLM Design Group
Kondominium Kapas
Bangsar, Kuala Lumpur
Masyerin M.N. Architect/Domaine Architects
AICB Building
Jalan Dato’ Onn, Kuala Lumpur
GDP Architects
Gravit8 - Pier8 Street Retail & Offices
Klang, Selangor
GDP Architects
KYM Tower
Mutiara Damansara, Petaling Jaya, Selangor
Dexter Koh Design Architect
The Kasturi Resort
Cherating, Pahang
Hijjas Architects & Planners
Eco Forest
Semenyih, Selangor
DTLM Design Group
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Gravit8 - The Pier8 Street Retail & Offices in Klang, Selangor won the Gold Award in the Commercial Low Rise category. Photos: Courtesy of PAM
The KYM Tower features a modern, chic exterior.
The entrance to the restaurant at The Kasturi Resort.
Kondominium Kapas features a porous exterior which allows a free flow of natural ventilation.
Eco Ardence Aeres in Setia Alam won the Gold Award in the Multiple Residential Low Rise category.
Mellowood Eco Majestic (Precinct 7) is the Gold Award winner in the Multiple Residential Low Rise category.
The KYM Tower in Mutiara Damansara, Petaling Jaya took home the Gold Award in the Commercial High Rise category.
A beach front family villa at The Kasturi Resort in Cherating, Pahang.
Judges described Kondominium Kapas in Kuala Lumpur as a thoughtful and elegant design that promotes natural ventilation.
The Gravit8 - Pier8 Street Retail & Offices in Klang by GDP Architects.
Eco Forest by DTLM Design Group took home the Gold Award in the Planning & Master Planning category.
The Eco Forest entrance: The project in Semenyih took home the Gold prize in the Planning & Master Planning category.
The internal atrium space of the AICB building, designed with break-out room, niche break area, feature staircase and link bridges, provides higher levels of space quality that emphasises wellness elements in the building design, says Ezumi. The AICB building in Kuala Lumpur was named Building of the Year at the 2021 PAM Awards. - PAM
The AICB building in Kuala Lumpur was named Building of the Year at the 2021 PAM Awards.
