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Sarawakian architects win ‘Langit’ architecture competition

Published on August 7, 2021

Sarawakian architects win 'Langit' architecture competition — Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg presenting a plaque to Langit winner Jacinta Yii of Yii KE Architect, as HSL Managing Director Dato Yu Chee Hoe (middle) looks on. Her design collaborator for the contest, Alan Kueh, attended virtually.

KUCHING: An eco-friendly 18-storey mixed-use commercial building design clinched Langit‘s top prize for Sarawakian architects Jascinta Yii and Alan Kueh.

Practising in Kuching and Melbourne respectively, Yii and Kueh’s joint submission included public spaces, offices, apartments, plant nurseries — all designed with inter-generational living in mind.

Judges called the entry “impactful, providing high-density, yet adaptable multi-generational living and
working units”. It was also praised for promoting ideas of sustainable living with urban farming as a
feature.

Langit: Reaching for greater heights in design and living

Langit is Sarawak’s first ever national architecture contest. Hock Seng Lee, in collaboration with Next
Phase (HSL-NP), intends to build one of the winners. The project site is a compact 0.78acres at a strategic
location within Kuching’s central business district.

Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg announced the results at HSL Tower here on
August 7.

“The Sarawak Government enjoys a close relationship with architects. This is clear to see in our urban
planning, public parks and institutional buildings. In Sarawak, we know cities are made for people and the
people make good cities. We know that development plans must start from the human level,” Abang Johari said.

“My friends at HSL-NP codenamed this competition Langit because in Bahasa Sarawak, ‘Lang’ means
door, and in Malay, Langit is the sky. We want to reach for greater heights together. I hope Langit will be
the prototype of, not only a new building, but a new way of thinking about development.”

Different strengths, different messages

Second place went to Just Architecture, third place to MOA Architects, and two honourary mentions to UT
Moh Architect and Arkitek LH Wong. Their designs ranged from futuristic vertical farms to 39-storey
skyscrapers.

The third-place winner, MoA Architects, uniquely, is a twin tower designed using a plot-ratio system. This
planning method is similar to those used in regional megacities like Kuala Lumpur, Singapore and
Bangkok.

The plot-ratio system allowed MOA Architects’ entry to have a large and meaningful public space at the
lower levels.

Cash prizes for the top five totalled RM200,000.

The judging process was anonymous. Jury members comprised Malaysian Institute of Architects (PAM) president Datuk Ezumi Harzani, PAM Sarawak immediate past chairman Ivy Jong, Veritas Architects director Lilian Tay, multi-award winner and conservationist Mike Boon, and developer HSL-NP representative Yu Ji.

Challenging convention in the heart of Kuching city

“Many of the design ideas challenge conventional expectations and demonstrated refreshing approaches
in place-making in the context of Kuching. A majority of the submissions displayed clear commitment to
social and environmental sustainability,” said Jong, who was jury chair.

“The shortlisted schemes pushed various aspects of design ideas thinking and juries were impressed by
the creativity, approach and thoughts demonstrated.”

In 2021, there have been just two architecture competitions in the whole of Malaysia. The first was for
design the facade of a train station between Johor and Singapore. That competition, which the Johor
Sultan was the patron, concluded in February.

Langit began in March. Participants comprised some of Malaysia’s best known firms, including TR Hamzah
& Yeang, Design Network Architects, Dr Tan LM and Form Zero — all winners of national design accolades.
HSL-NP is the project site land owner and and competition sponsor.

HSL’s current HQ is the first privately built Green Building Index certified office in Sarawak. Located at the
200-acre La Promenade, it is the only Sarawak development to win the trifecta of awards from developers,
landscapers and architects’ institutes.

For more info, visit langitkch.com, hsl.com.my or search #LangitKch and @hslcn on social media

11 entries shortlisted for HSL-NP design competition Langit

Published on June 3, 2021

News & Features

Picking the next best high-rise for Kuching city will be the Herculean task for the judges of ‘Langit’, a nationwide architecture competition organised by Hock Seng Lee (HSL), Next Phase (NP) and Malaysian Architecture Institute (PAM) Sarawak Chapter.

Out of 85 submissions from 112 registrations in total, the jury has shortlisted 11 entries. PAM Sarawak Chapter received 85 submissions out of 112 registrations in total, with almost two-thirds of its entries from outside Sarawak, including architecture firms in Kuala Lumpur and Sabah.

All entries are anonymous and only identified by a code number to ensure that judging is based only on merits.

Construction specialist, HSL, in collaboration with Next Phase, has also included six additional entries to be part of the free public exhibition at La Promenade Mall.

“The competition gives architects and the developer the opportunity to create the next best commercial high-rise in Malaysia. There has never ever been such a design competition before in east Malaysia. The project sponsors, HSL-NP, will get a great design for this strategic piece of land. More importantly. the people of Kuching will get a great building with some of the best design considerations put in. This is a big advancement for both architecture and real estate development,” said PAM Sarawak chairman Chai Si Yong, who is the competition convener.

The shortlisted entries range from 11 to 39 stories high. They include retail showcases, innovative home- offices and truly world-class serviced condominiums.

“The shortlist are the ones that are customised for the site. They are not generic buildings. They fit their site context. Almost all also offer very well-thought out public spaces. By and large, they are not the kind of development with a guardhouse in front, keeping the public out. Langit must be a building that offers community enhancement. Inner city living is important. Jobs, schools and even good public parks tend to be in the inner city,” said Yu Ji, a representative from competition promoters Hock Seng Lee and Next Phase.

Besides civic consideration and designs with good public spaces, other jury considerations include sustainable design, lessons learnt from Covid-19, and the economic feasibility of the designs.

HSL held this competition because the Group wants to reaffirm its status as a professional-led construction firm, which intends to build Kuching’s next icon.

“The competition will complement our existing projects, and is a signpost of where we want to be in a few years. We want to have the best ideas right from the start. For each of our current real estate projects, we try to make sure there is something outstanding. For La Promenade, it’s to be the best gated community. For Samariang Aman 3, it’s to be one of the most affordable while also making sure we can offer well planned open spaces. For Vista Industrial Park, we’ve started Sarawak’s first Rent-to-own scheme for entrepreneurs,” said Yu Ji, who is also the director of Next Phase.

Where is the future high-rise in Kuching going to be?

The site is a challenging and small 0.78acre at Jalan Tabuan, opposite the Inland Revenue Tax Academy.

It is near Kuching’s central business district areas, a stone-throw from Reservoir Park, the Kuching South City Council and some of Sarawak’s best performing schools. It is also within a kilometer to The Spring Shopping Mall and Sarawak Club.

11 entries shortlisted for HSL-NP design competition Langit

The project is named Langit because, in Bahasa Sarawak, ‘Lang’ means door, while in Malay, ‘Langit’ is the sky.

Langit’s results announcement and prize presentation (cash prizes for the competition total RM200,000) is scheduled for late June.

“A good design will mean sunpath, window placement, cross ventilation and natural lighting will be built better. Quality of life is better. Projects can actually become cheaper. Efficiency is higher. We want to try to build something that will be a relevant many years and decades from now. The best ideas are timeless,” added Yu JI, who will also be one of the five jurors for the competition.

For more info on the design competition ‘Langit’, log on to langitkch.com, hsl.com.my or search #langitkch and @hslcn on social media.

Fancy designing a building in Kuching’s business district? ‘Langit’ is the limit

Published on February 8, 2021

News & Features

KUCHING: Hock Seng Lee (HSL), Next Phase and the Malaysian Institute of Architects (PAM) are inviting registered architects to challenge their creativity in an architectural design competition called ‘Langit’.

Targeted for a prime piece of land in Kuching’s central business district, the plot measures about an acre along Jalan Tabuan and is within 1 km radius of Kuching Waterfront, Padungan, and tHe Spring Shopping Mall.

Fancy designing a building in Kuching's business district? 'Langit' is the limit — The architectural competition for #LangitKch — a commercial high-rise — is on a small but prime piece of land in Kuching’s CBD. It is a matured site with commercial developments including offices, condominiums, shopping malls, hotels and schools, all within a kilometre’s radius.

The competition is open to all PAM-registered corporate members with prize monies totalling RM200,000.

PAM members may collaborate with foreign architects and there is no limit to the number of entries submitted by an architect.

The first prize is RM100,000, second prize RM50,000, third prize RM25,000, and two honourable mentions. Registration opens Feb 8 and the competition closes on Apr 19.

Results will be announced in late May.

What to know about the design competition?

Hailed as the first of its kind in Sarawak, the design brief for HSL, Next Phase and PAM Sarawak Chapter’s competition calls for a commercial development for a max gross floor area of 30,000sqm. The design can be for a mixed-use commercial development, except for a hotel.

“This competition is an ‘ideas competition’. A great piece of land, in such a good location, should have a great building on it. Any commercial development is also an opportunity to do public spaces,” HSL properties development general manager Tay Chiok Kee said.

Judges will focus on community engagement to enhance both the public and users of the building, optimum building orientation and economic viability.

“We want the best ideas right from the start. Our judges will scrutinise all entries, and as the developer, we will build what is best for the location and for the people of Kuching.”

PAM Sarawak chairman Jong is thrilled with the design competition.

“This competition is forward-thinking and significant for property developers as well as architects. The industry I represent has long yearned for a competition. We want to be challenged and to be competitive,” Jong said.

“HSL will gain significantly from having the most innovative ideas and best designed plans. But, really, the ultimate beneficiary will be the public. The public stands to gain a new architectural icon, new business ventures, new job opportunities and a new public space — all at a location easily accessible to all.”

HSL’s marketing team has tentatively named the project “Langit”, which in Bahasa Malaysia is sky, while in Bahasa Sarawak, “lang” means door.

“This is an aspirational project,” said PAM Sarawak deputy chairman Chai Si Yong, who is director of PDC Design Group.

“We collaborate closely with HSL to make this skyscraper competition happen. It was over a year ago when HSL first spoke to us about a competition. As a developer, HSL is designer- and professional-led. We spoke a lot about challenges, goals and ideas. It only made sense for us to jointly organise a contest,” Chai said.

The judges include PAM Sarawak chairman Ar Ivy Jong, PAM Malaysia president Datuk Ar Ezumi Harzani Ismail, an eminent Sarawakian architect, an eminent Malaysian architect, and HSL representative.

Kuching is one of the best design cities in Malaysia. It is a city notable for many award-winning architects and unique buildings. Firms in Sarawak like Design Network Architects, Arkitek KDI, IDC Architects, Pu Architects and David Ong Architects have won national recognition for their designer mansions, hotels, convention centres and interior designs.

Kuching is also home to the iconic State Legislative building by Hijjas Kasturi, the restored Old Court House, Kuching Mosque, OCBC Building, Sarawak Syariah Court, Kuching South and North City Halls.

For the latest, visit langitkch.com and pamsc.org.my. Updates will also be available at hsl.com.my and @hslcn on social media.