A team of Architecture students from UTAR showcased their creative brilliance by clinching the championship at the 2024 Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area · Association of Southeast Asian Nations International Colleges and Universities Construction Competition held in Guangzhou, China, on 12 December 2024. The prestigious international competition, conducted online, aimed to foster innovation and creativity through collaborative efforts among ASEAN and Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area universities under the “One Belt and One Road” initiative.
The UTAR Lee Kong Chian Faculty of Engineering and Science (LKC FES) team comprised Ruby Ong Sook Yong, I Made Pagarat, I Made Gde Adisatya Ardikabawa, Chow Yuen Ting and Cho Chi Kei. They were mentored by Encik Abd Muluk bin Abd Manan, a specialist from the LKC FES Department of Architecture & Sustainable Design, and Ts Yeow Kah Niam, Head of Programme for the Master of Architecture. All third-year Bachelor of Science (Architecture) students, they excelled in creating a wind-driven bamboo art installation titled Reminiscence: Breeze of Memory.
The competition theme, Shadow Following the Wind (风动影随), called for innovative wind-activated designs that interact with nature. The UTAR team’s work was inspired by the voyages of Admiral Zheng He along the Maritime Silk Road. It symbolised enduring cultural bonds. The installation featured a kinetic wave sculpture powered by wind turbines, a Wayang Kulit screen narrating shared histories, and intricate Baba-Nyonya motifs representing cultural fusion.
The team expressed their decision to join the competition as an opportunity to enhance their architectural skills and gain valuable experiences beyond studio workshops. Representing Malaysia internationally, they felt deeply honoured and proud to win, describing the journey as both enriching and unforgettable. Their project, inspired by the shared histories of Malaysia and China, symbolised cultural bonds through the Baba-Nyonya heritage. They emphasised the significance of their wind art installation in fostering connections and preserving the legacies passed down by their ancestors.
The team’s victory earned them a prize of RMB6,000 (around RM3,679), a trophy, and certificates. Reflecting on the win, the team expressed gratitude for the opportunity to represent Malaysia and highlighted the competition’s role in fostering a deeper understanding of architecture’s cultural dimensions.
Their achievement is a testament to UTAR’s commitment to nurturing creativity and innovation in its students, making the university proud on an international stage.
Reminiscence: Breeze of Memory
The certificate awarded to the Champion
From top left, clockwise: Ruby Ong, Pagarat, Ardikabawa, Chow and Cho
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