Five teams from UTAR Lee Kong Chian Faculty of Engineering and Science (LKC FES) shined at the 7th Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area-ASEAN International University Bamboo Design and Construction Competition (Malaysia Level). Showcasing their sensational bamboo designs, the teams of Bachelor of Science (Honours) Architecture students won a total of seven awards, namely Champion, First Runner-up, Second Runner-up, two Honourable Mentions, Design Innovation Award, and Most Popular Design Award.
From left: En Abd Muluk, I Made Pagarat, I Made Gde Adisatya Ardikabawa, Ruby Ong (third from right), Cho, and Chow receiving the prizes during the prize-giving ceremony
Supervised by LKC FES Specialist I En Abd Muluk bin Abd Manan, Team 7018 was crowned as one of the Champions of the competition. The team consisted of Architecture students Ruby Ong Sook Yong, I Made Pagarat, I Made Gde Adisatya Ardikabawa, Chow Yuen Ting, and Cho Chi Kei. They also secured the Design Innovation Award and the Most Popular Design Award (most like on Facebook), walking away with cash prizes of RM5,000 and RM500, a trophy, and the eligibility to represent Malaysia at the international competition.
Team 7018’s Reminiscence: Breeze of Memory was crowned the Champion with its innovative fusion of Peranakan heritage
The team’s award-winning design was titled Reminiscence: Breeze of Memory. It is a wind-driven structure inspired by the Peranakan culture, which originated from the shared histories and cultural legacies between Malaysia and China.
“The installation acts as a contemporary time capsule, with the wind representing the passage of time and the shifting shadows symbolising the memories that remain in its wake. At the heart of the structure is a turbine designed to catch wind. The turbine, rotating in a counter-clockwise direction, powers the entire structure and sets the kinetic wave structure in motion, mirroring the fluidity of the sea’s waves and representing the voyages that once carried goods, ideas, and cultures across the sea. Within the structure, a Wayang Kulit screen acts as the storyteller, depicting the deep connection between the Malay and the Chinese cultures through shadows that animate the narrative of interwoven traditions. Meanwhile, the intricate Baba-Nyonya patterns symbolise the rich blending of two heritages into a unique and enduring identity. Together, these elements create a poetic expression of history, culture and memory, carried forward by the winds of time,” the team said as they explained the concepts behind the design.
Team 7018 looking forward to their future architecture journey
By integrating the elements of Peranakan culture, the team created a design that not only encapsulates traditional art, but also the diplomatic relations between Malaysia and China. On behalf of the team, Ruby Ong said, “Our team realised that we could create a stronger connection and bond between Malaysia and China through the shared culture and legacies that our ancestors passed on. This is a story that depicts the strong connection and bonding between Malaysia and China. It is our pleasure to create this art installation that recalls the history of Malaysia and China, which helps in fostering a stronger bond and connection between the two economies. We feel lucky to be able to compete at the international level of this competition. We look forward to the announcement of the final results, which will be released around December this year.”
From left: En Abd Muluk, Wong, Cheah, Choo (third from right), Tee, and Chua receiving the prizes during the prize-giving ceremony
Team 7001 comprised Architecture students Choo Ying Hong, Cheah Tian Yow, Chua Juan Xia, Tee Shu Teng, and Wong Tong Jie. Under the supervision of En Abd Muluk, they were awarded First Runner-up at the competition, walking away with a cash prize of RM2,000 and a trophy.
Team 7001’s Echoes of Wind’s Embrace won First Runner-up with its unconventional fusion of cultural elements
Titled Echoes of Wind’s Embrace, their award-winning design, while embracing the beauty of the traditional Malay craft of Anyaman, especially Kipas Mengkuang, also paid homage to the cultural significance of the sunbird, viewed by the ancient Shang Dynasty as the symbol of sun’s dynamic light.
“Our wind-driven art installation draws inspiration from these rich cultural narratives. By analysing the graceful flight paths of sunbirds, we shaped a simple spiral form reminiscent of their movement and the whirlpool patterns they create. This spiral seamlessly integrates with the triangular elements of Kipas Mengkuang, creating a design that spirals upward and invites a sense of expansiveness and discovery. Our installation’s facade honours the sunbird’s motifs, which gradually blend into traditional anyaman patterns. This fusion represents the harmonious blending of two cultures, both celebrating the elements of nature. This design tells a story or a dialogue between nature and culture. Just as the sunbirds of the Shang Dynasty once guided agricultural life, our Kipas Mengkuang captures the essence of the wind. We hope that the winds we have conjured here remind us of our shared heritage, the wonders of creation, and the continuous flow of life,” the team shedding light on the inspirations behind their design.
From left: A memorable evening for Team 7001 as they celebrated their innovative story
Choo, representing the team, also shared the factors that made their team’s design unique even among the other outstanding designs. These factors included an unconventional approach to design, meticulous craftsmanship, meaningful integration of cultural and historical values, and a compelling narrative.
From left: Han, En Abd Muluk, Chan, Chong, Chee (second from right) and Goh receiving the prizes during the prize-giving ceremony
Consisting of Architecture students Chan Zheng Han, Chong Sheng Onn, Goh Shien Hung, Chee Kai Meng, and Hang Wei Ming, Team 7016 was awarded Second Runner-up at the competition, under the supervision of Mr Lim Yekey. They received a cash prize of RM1,000 and a trophy.
Team 7017’s Voyages won Second Runner-up with its graceful design inspired by countless maritime expeditions harnessing trade winds
The team’s award-winning design was titled Voyages. The design was mainly inspired by Zheng He’s expeditions to Malacca, which formalised a lasting trade relationship between Malacca and China. Chan, the leader of the team, explained, “Zheng He’s fleet followed the monsoon winds, which propelled them to Malacca and back to China. Known as the trade winds, these winds were instrumental in facilitating diplomatic and trade relations. Even today, despite advancements in transportation, the symbolic trade winds continue to represent the enduring trade activities between Malaysia and China that began during the era of Malacca Sultanate.”
He added, “The design development began with a wave, generated by the winds, propelling trade ships to neighbouring countries. The splash of the wave forms an arc of bamboo structures, signifying the relationship between Malaysia and China. The base represents the large wave pushing the art piece, much like winds propelling a ship’s sail, symbolised by the bundle of acrylic at the centre. Two circular structures at the centre symbolise a time portal linking the past and present of the two economies. Between these circular structures, the ‘corak’ pattern is interpreted to represent the Peranakan culture.”
Bagging an award in this prestigious competition was a meaningful moment for the team, as they were able to create invaluable memories together while brainstorming for various concepts of design. Chan enthused, “I enjoyed collaborating with one another throughout the competition. As a leader, it was essential to effectively manage and guide the team towards our shared goals. Not only was this experience an opportunity to learn from one another’s designs and techniques, but also an opportunity to strengthen both our individual skills and the team’s collective expertise.”
Hang, one of the team members, enthused, “This may be the first and the last competition I participate in. I do not want to leave any regrets in my university life, so my team and I decided to involve Malaysian elements by utilising the legend of Zheng He and the maritime Silk Road as our design concept. I was happy to learn of our achievement in this competition. I feel proud not only in showcasing our Malaysian design to the world, but also in doing so at the ideal moment to wrap up my university life.”
Mr Lim, the supervisor of Team 7016, also shared his words of joy. He said, “I want to express my heartfelt gratitude to UTAR for offering diverse platforms that allow students to showcase their talents through competitions. It has been inspiring to witness the team’s growth and celebrate their achievements together. The friendships formed along the way have been invaluable to their success, which ultimately helped them to secure the position in this competition.”
Meanwhile, Designs such as A Loong Story and Floating Symphony received Honourable Mentions at the competition. Each of the teams received a cash prize of RM500 for their achievements.
The team members of A Loong Story comprised Architecture students Poh Yen Zi, Jacky Soo Li Heng, Kee Jia Ke, Lim Wanjing, and Tang Ying Hui. They were supervised by LKC FES Specialist I Ar Sam Chin Sing.
The team members of Floating Symphony comprised Architecture students Khoo Ke Xuan, Candy Chan Teng Min, Leong Shin Yee, and Lew Wen Rui. They were supervised by LKC FES Specialist I Ar Ong Hun Boon.
The Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area-ASEAN International University Bamboo Design and Construction Competition
Held annually, the prestigious competition aspires to build an international platform for innovation and creativity with global influence. Through the combination of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and the talents of ASEAN universities, the competition is committed to exploring a new mode of innovative collaboration, attracting all universities to exhibit the same understanding while forming deep cooperation between China and ASEAN under the Belt and Road Initiative. The results of the Malaysian level competition were announced at the 35th PAM Architectural Student Workshop, held in October 2024 at UTAR Kampar Campus. It aimed to choose the best designs from Malaysian institutions to represent Malaysia at the international level competition. Themed Shadow Following the Wind (风动影随), this year’s international competition will be held at Haxinsha Asian Games Park, Guangzhou, China.
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