Sarawak firm shines at premier interior designer awards

KUCHING (Dec 29): Sarawak-based IDC Architects Sdn Bhd has brought the state into the national design spotlight after winning the Gold Award in the Public and Institutional category of the Malaysian Institute of Interior Designers (MIID) REKA Awards.

The company earned the recognition for designing the interiors of the Sarawak State Legislative Assembly (DUN) Complex, covering many public areas including the media room and the cafeteria.

The award was presented to IDC Architects director Alan Lau at the awards gala in Kuala Lumpur on Dec 12 this year.

“We sent in a few projects, but they told us that this (DUN Sarawak project) was the one selected for consideration.

“When they announced the Gold Award, we were genuinely surprised.

“There’s not a lot of representation from East Malaysia at these awards, so we’re really proud to be able to fly the Sarawak flag,” said Lau when met by The Borneo Post on a Monday.

He said the project was submitted under the ‘Public and Institutional’ category, which he described as ‘under-represented’ compared to private residential and commercial projects.

“Not all good design would end up in public buildings, but this was an opportunity to show that meaningful design can be made for everyone.

“This is a space that belongs to the people – anyone can come and experience it.”

Lau said the design was intentionally rooted in Sarawak’s identity, drawing inspiration from its natural landscapes and communal traditions.

“It wasn’t enough for it to be a nice place to take photographs; it had to be something truly representative of the people of Sarawak.”

Among the key references for the designs were the rainforests, forested river gullies and limestone caves of Mulu, as well as the traditional practice of communities gathering beneath large trees.

In the media room, a central column was transformed into a symbolic ‘tree’, with a layered-design approach meant to reflect Sarawak’s diverse cultures.

The space also featured a custom textile backdrop developed with Tanoti Crafts, weaving together motifs from Dayak tradition, Malay songket, and Chinese textile patterns.

“We’re not interested in doing pretty spaces. We wanted to create spaces that have meaning and that speak to different cultures in Sarawak,” said Lau.

He added that the design was kept intentionally open and inclusive.

“We wanted people to feel a sense of familiarity without being able to point and label it.”

Lau said the café area was inspired by the limestone formations of the Mulu caves, particularly the contrast between enclosed cave spaces and the forest beyond.

“We imagined the forest flowing into the cave, and that idea guided how the space was shaped.”

He said the project went beyond the original brief, as the client had provided minimal design direction.

“That gave us the chance to think about what public architecture in Sarawak could be,” he added.

This project was the result of the collective effort of the IDC Architects team, led by Lau and his sister Tina, with the support of interior designers, architects and trainees involved throughout the design and implementation process.

Reflecting on the growing conversation around artificial intelligence (AI) in design, Alan said technology could not replace human creativity and cultural understanding.

“There’s a lot of talk about AI being able to do design, but to do really excellent work, it still takes human brains, human passion and human inspiration.

“AI can only work with what has already been done before.

“It cannot create something rooted in lived experience, memory and identity.”

On the award’s significance, Alan said such a recognition would challenge outdated perceptions about Sarawak.

“Quite often, Sarawak gets left out of the national conversation.

“There is a perception that nothing much happens here, but this shows there is talent, creativity and a strong design culture in Sarawak.”

He said the achievement should serve to encourage young architects and designers in the state to ‘believe in their own abilities’.

“My advice to young designers is to be brave.

“We sometimes underestimate ourselves and think that we should stay quiet and just follow others.

“You can only do interesting design work if you are willing to push boundaries.

“If you just repeat what has already been done, you’re only designing for survival, not for passion.”

According to Alan, IDC Architects plans to continue submitting projects to MIID REKA in the future, hoping to take on more public-sector works.

“For good design to happen, you need not just good designers, but also clients who are willing to support and believe in the vision,” he said.

To date, IDC Architects have clinched six awards in total from the MIID REKA Awards, reflecting the firm’s consistent presence and recognition at the national level.