Date: 12 October 2016
Company Names: Nextdor Property Communications Sdn Bhd, Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT University) and Medini Iskandar Malaysia Sdn Bhd (MIM)
The Malaysia Biennial 100 Years City (100YC): Medini 2017—a global research initiative—was launched on 12 October 2016 by collaborators Nextdor Property Communications Sdn Bhd, the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT University) and Medini Iskandar Malaysia Sdn Bhd (MIM). Datuk Ismail Ibrahim, Chief Executive of Iskandar Regional Development Authority (IRDA), officiated at the event that was held at MIM’s first office building Medini 6.
The Malaysia Biennial 100YC will research models for a future, driven, vibrant, sustainable urban development by bringing together visionaries, progressive international architecture schools and the world’s most recognised architects, urban planners, economists, engineers, urbanists and futurists. Its goal is to showcase research on the growth of Medini, from greenfield to a nascent Central Business District (CBD) of the region that will complement Singapore.
Medini Iskandar Malaysia will be Malaysia Biennial 100YC’s first destination partner, researching models for the vibrant and sustainable urban development of Medini, a new city of at least 350,000 people when it becomes fully developed in about 20 years.
Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Medini Iskandar Malaysia Sdn Bhd, Datuk Ir Khairil Anwar Ahmad said: “The master plan of Medini Iskandar Malaysia was meticulously planned and it includes diverse residential, commercial and retail activities with six main focus industries being promoted: health and wellness; creative industries; leisure and tourism; education; logistics; and financial services.”
Imran Clyde—Founder of the Malaysia Biennial and Executive Director for Nextdor Property Communications Sdn Bhd—announced the appointment of Professor Tom Kovac of RMIT University as the Artistic Director (Curator) of the Malaysia Biennial, which will open to the general public in November 2017. At the event, Clyde mentioned: “The Malaysia Biennial was built on the same premise as the internationally renowned Venice Biennale and Chicago Biennial. Our goal is to create a platform for city builders and managers to engage with global participants to identify potential development challenges and opportunities.”
The goal for these international participants in the Malaysia Biennial 100YC is to endorse the potential of Medini to become a successful CBD within Iskandar Puteri through the development of a qualitative design-led architectural procurement framework for the ongoing commissioning of built works in Medini.
