The Taiwan Excellence “Sustainable Innovation Challenge” embarks on a journey to inspire the next generation of architects and designers, urging them to champion sustainable design in their creations.
The prestigious competition encourages students to unleash their creativity and envision a world where award-winning environmentally responsible materials, energy-efficient systems, and cutting-edge smart technologies converge seamlessly into architectural wonders.
The renowned Taiwan Excellence, known for representing the highest quality products from Taiwan, returned with a special focus on “Green Living” during Asia’s leading architecture business event: The 22nd International Architecture, Interior Design & Building Exhibition 2023 (Archidex), an event of Kuala Lumpur Architecture Festival 2023 in Malaysia.
This significant event took place at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre from July 26 to 29, 2023. Over the course of these four days, ten exceptional award-winning brands were presented, featuring intelligent and environmentally-conscious products.
In conjunction with the Archidex 2023 exhibition, the “Sustainable Innovation Challenge” organized by Taiwan Excellence aims to inspire a new generation of architects and designers to pursue a path of environmental stewardship.
By incorporating sustainable practices, the organizers, who are co-hosting the competition together with UTM Architecture School and UTAR Architecture And Sustainable Design Department, envision a future in which buildings and structures coexist harmoniously with nature, minimizing their ecological footprint and maximizing their positive social impact.
The timeline for the Sustainable Innovation Challenge is as follows:
- 22 May: Announcement of the competition / Online briefing to students
- 5 June: Closing of registration
- 26 June: Closing of submission of Design Concept Statement in Digital Format
- 28 June: Announcement of Shortlist (select 10 finalists, while Top 5 will attend the presentation stage)
- 24 July: Closing of Submission of Presentation Boards
- 28 July: Oral presentation & result announcement
On the first day (July 26, 2023) of Archidex 2023, The Taiwan Excellence Pavilion hosted the “Green Living” Press Conference and launching ceremony, beginning at 2:30 pm. The event was inaugurated by Mr. James Wong, the Director of the Economic Division at the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Malaysia.
This was followed by insights shared by Associate Professor Ar. Dr. Lim Yaik Wah, Director of Architecture at the Faculty of Built Environment and Surveying, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, and Ts. Dr. Tan Kok Hong, Head of the Department of Architecture & Sustainable Design at Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman. The ceremony ended with a group photo session and a tour of the Green Pavilion.
The final judging session for the Top 6 finalists happened on July 28 at 2:30 pm in the Green Pavilion KLCC. During this session, the students presented their final designs based on the concept boards from the initial stage to the judges.
The judging panel was led by Ar. Abu Zarim bin Abu Bakar, The Chief Judge of the Taiwan Excellence Sustainable Innovation Challenge and President of the Malaysian Institute of Architects (PAM).
Based on the competition brief, the students had the freedom to select a site (6m x 6m plot) based on their design brief. A key requirement was that the participants incorporate a Taiwan Excellence product as the primary design inspiration for their exhibition product at ARCHIDEX 2023.
The overall design had to include at least one product to be exhibited at ARCHIDEX 2023, along with five award-winning Taiwan Excellence products (2019-2023).
Representing UTM, Lam Xing Yan emerged as one of the standout finalists, winning the silver prize along with a cash prize of RM3,000 and an award certificate. The list of winners is as follows:
- Gold Award – Lim Zhi Xing (UTAR) | Project Title: Parasite
- Silver Award – Lam Xing Yan (UTM) | Project Title: Urban
- Bronze Award – Ang Yee En (UTAR) | Project Title: Tea-gather
- Best Design Award – Jeff Jee Wei Wah (UTAR) | Project Title: Seed
- Best Sustainable Award – Maadavan Jayakumaran (UTAR) | Project Title: Riverside Cottage
- Green Innovation Award – Ong Chun Yi (UTAR) | Project Title: Sustainable Innovative Home
By : Ts Dr Leng Pau Chung, Assoc Prof Ar Dr Lim Yaik Wah, Dr Mohammad Ezzad Abu Bakar, Dr Nor Izura Tukiman