Friday 29 Mar 2024
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Judges’ citation

KLoé Hotel in Kuala Lumpur received the judges’ unanimous vote as the winner of this year’s award. The well-designed and well-thought-out modern-day tropical hotel on a brownfield site combines a clean-line modern architectural design with a highly tangible commitment to cultural and community sustainability goals.

The development was commended for its innovative use of traditional building materials and craftsmanship in its architecture and interior design work. The architect engaged local craftsmen from the Orang Asli community, further demonstrating its commitment to a more holistic, sustainable design approach, and consideration for sustaining local communities and cultural heritage.

Recycled cengal wood salvaged from the colonial-era bungalow that previously occupied the site of the hotel was used as a building material. Also, the use of ordinary concrete vent blocks create airy spaces with abundant daylight filtering in and occasionally creating geometric patterns.

The judges commented on the Building Energy Index of 140 kWh per cu m per year — outstanding for a hotel building, which typically has higher energy consumption. The green credentials alone make this a “must-see and must-stay hotel for an experience in true tropical living in the city centre”.

Meanwhile, Sia Boey Urban Archaeological Park Phase 1 in Penang received the honorary mention for its efforts to restore a historical landmark and revive it as a new centre for the community and for the commercial life of the city.

The old market structure has been meticulously conserved and refurbished while the restored and replanted surrounding gardens, trees and reinstated waterway help break up the heat island effect.

In addition, the master plan tries to integrate the future elevated light rail transit to recreate a more pedestrian-friendly urban environment to help relieve increasing traffic congestion in the old city centre.

The judges commented on the local authority’s commitment to spearheading the restoration of the old market area and look forward to its completion, with a sustainable programme of activities in revitalising this historical project.

Methodology

This award is open to all Malaysian property developers — both listed and unlisted — with projects in the country as well as corporate members of Pertubuhan Akitek Malaysia (PAM) with projects in Malaysia. The projects — of any size or type — must be completed.

One of the judging criteria for the green award is that the project must showcase innovation beyond the industry standard required by the Green Building Index, Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, Singapore’s Building and Construction Authority’s Green Mark or other recognised green-building certification.

The judging panel, comprising three representatives from PAM and two from The Edge, also deliberates on the design, sustainability, implementation, cost efficiency and relevance of the project to the community.

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