Balancing Design And Nature For A Sustainable Outdoor Living Environment

Date: 9 April 2016
Company Name: Institute of Landscape
Architects Malaysia (ILAM)

The 8th Malaysia Landscape Architecture Awards (MLAA), organised by the Institute of Landscape Architects Malaysia (ILAM), was held on 9 April 2016 at One World Hotel, Kuala Lumpur.

The MLAA, along with ILAM’s Gala Night, were part of a range of activities organised in conjunction with the World Landscape Architecture Month celebrations that aimed to introduce the profession to the public and celebrated by landscape architects around the world in the form of various activities, seminars and conferences, awards and public awareness campaign.

This year’s MLAA had seen a record number of 130 entries from within Malaysia as well as projects from Singapore, Indonesia and Vietnam. The submissions vied for awards across seven categories, including Professional (Landscape Design, Landscape Analysis and Study, and Landscape Innovation); Landscape Contractor; Developer; and Researcher. The Government & City Council category consisted of the Green City Awards, the Student category aimed to award the best student designs, while this year’s newly introduced Young Professional category recognised professionals with less than 10 years’ industry experience. All winners competed for the most prestigious award—Project of the Year. Other awards included Green Achievement Award, Excellence Award, Special Honour Award, Honour Award and Merit Award.

In the current world environment where climate change and global warming are real and looming threats, the importance of combining modern, functional building design with balanced and sustainable landscape planning and design cannot be underestimated. ILAM President, Assoc. Prof. LAr. Dr. Osman Mohd Tahir, stated that recent international endorsement of the MLAA raised the profile of the local landscape architecture industry and hoped the awards brought all stakeholders of the built environment together to appreciate the importance of a quality outdoor living environment.

In conjunction with the awards ceremony, ILAM released the MLAA 2015 Yearbook, a showcase compilation of the awards’ official entries.

The Yearbook features some of the most a e s t h e t i c a l l y pleasing, creative and groundbreaking designs to be seen in the region. The introduction of award categories focused on environmentally sound, sustainable designs was also in line with our Platinum Sponsor, SP Legoland Malaysia, designed by Veritas Landscape Sdn Bhd, won the Merit Award for Landscape Design Professional Category Royal FLORIA Putrajaya won the Green Achievement Award 2016 for excellence in organising the biggest annual flower and garden festival in Putrajaya Breezeway, Desa ParkCity, designed by Praxcis Design Sdn Bhd, won the Honour Award for Landscape Design Professional Category A group photo of ILAM Council Members 2014/2016 with the guest of honour YB. Datuk Halimah Mohamed Sadique, Deputy Minister of Urban Wellbeing, Housing and Local Government (KPKT) SK Landscape Sdn Bhd walked away with this year’s Excellence Award for Landscape Construction for the Philea Resort & Spa project in Malacca Setia Berhad’s commitment towards safe and eco-friendly developments, as emphasised by Acting President and CEO, Dato’ Khor Chap Jen. SP Setia has carved a reputation as an industry leader with its FIABCI awardwinning eco-townships.

This year, MLAA Award was endorsed by the International Federation of Landscape Architects (IFLA) and the MLAA Gala Night was sponsored by SP Setia Berhad (Platinum), Gamuda Land SB (Silver), UEM Sunrise Berhad (Bronze) and Tropicana Innovative Landscape SB (Supporting Sponsor). It was also jointly supported by Playpoint Malaysia Sdn. Bhd., Design 218, Star Sanctuary Sdn. Bhd., Park Games Equipment (M) Sdn. Bhd. and ISOFU – Modern Living Concept. For more information, please visit www.ilamalaysia.org.