125 register for AIR Master Plan Design Competition, 80 pct from outside S’wak

KUCHING (July 17): The AIR Master Plan Design Competition has attracted 125 registrations from architects, town planners, and landscapers across Malaysia.

Organisers said the competition has seen significant interest from renowned Malaysian architects.

However, the Malaysian Institute of Architects (PAM) will not disclose participant identities to ensure the initial judging phase remains anonymous to uphold meritocracy.

“Of the total, almost 80 per cent of registrants are from outside Sarawak,” organisers said in a statement today.

With the registration phase now closed, organisers said the competition focused on a 13-acre site adjacent to Kuching International Airport and Saradise has entered the ‘Replies to Queries’ stage.

PAM and Hock Seng Lee (HSL), the competition promoter and landowner, are diligently reviewing participants’ questions and preparing detailed responses.

“These inquiries cover topics such as maximum building heights, Sarawak’s unique building guidelines, and surrounding land use. Responses will be provided by three parties: PAM, a co-convenor from PAM Sarawak Chapter, and HSL.

“Master plan competitions present numerous opportunities and challenges. We are committed to providing thorough answers and will publish a comprehensive FAQ by July 26 on airkch.com,” explained AIR competition convenor Amzar Ahmad.

He said the wide-ranging subjects of queries asked should result in exciting proposals.

HSL managing director Datuk Paul Yu Chee Hoe expressed enthusiasm about the number of registered participants.

“Compared to our first competition, Langit, in 2021, which received 112 registrations, AIR has drawn 125.

“This increased participation reflects the growing interest and awareness within the architectural community towards PAM’s initiatives and HSL’s role as a professional-led developer.

“This competition offers a significant platform for architects to showcase their innovative ideas,” he said.

Launched in May, AIR is Malaysia’s sole master plan architecture competition for 2024.

The competition offers a total prize pool of RM245,000, with HSL committed to constructing one of the winning entries.

This follows the precedent set by the 2021 competition, which led to the development of Langit Citadines Kuching, soon to begin construction.

The judging process involves a seven-member panel, which will shortlist the top 10 entries in a two-stage evaluation.

To ensure fairness, the initial shortlisting will be anonymous, giving young architects an equal chance against established industry figures.

Shortlisted participants will present their proposals to the jury in November, with final rankings to be determined subsequently. The results are expected by the end of the year.

Jurors will assess entries based on design innovation, eco-sustainability, and business feasibility.

For more information, visit airkch.com, hsl.com.my, or search #airkch on social media.