Winners of KLAF Design Charrettes 2023, which was themed ‘Urban Canvas: Painting Places and Connecting Cities’.
UEM Sunrise Bhd collaborated with Kuala Lumpur Architectural Festival (KLAF) for KLAF Design Charrettes 2023, to cultivate meaningful interactions within built environment communities.
Participants included representatives from professional architectural bodies, city council members, architecture students, academics and placemakers.
The primary objective was to share ideas and develop innovative solutions for the industry.
Themed “Urban Canvas: Painting Places and Connecting Cities”, KLAF Design Charrettes 2023 took place at the Malaysian Institute of Architects (PAM) Centre.
The competition featured the participation of 66 students from a variety of universities, each guided by one facilitator, organised into 10 groups.
The goal was to scrutinise selected site locations with unique and unconventional challenges.
Subsequently, participants were tasked to propose innovative architectural solutions centred around community building, sustainability, technology and innovation.
Recognising that the built environment encompassed cities, buildings, community and transportation infrastructure and open space, among other elements, UEM Sunrise in a statement said it was committed to collaborating with like-minded partners to nurture both seasoned professionals and aspiring university students.
This commitment was exemplified through the organisation of workshops and knowledge-sharing sessions, which served as a platform to delve into innovative solutions and address contemporary challenges in urban planning and design.
UEM Sunrise chief executive officer Sufian Abdullah said, “The KLAF Design Charrettes 2023 provided UEM Sunrise with an excellent platform to champion sustainable and liveable concepts.
He said UEM Sunrise’s partnership with PAM empowered the young designers to showcase ideas that could seamlessly integrate as built environment solutions.
The closing ceremony was held at UEM Sunrise’s Kiara Bay Sales Gallery in Kepong, Kuala Lumpur.
KLAF 2023 Convener for Engage: Design Charrettes programme and architect Syah Kamaruddin said it was an initiative that orchestrated cross-disciplinary collaborations, promoted unconventional and creative ideas, community engagement and teambuilding.
“Anchored in an accelerated design process, this programme unites key stakeholders such as PAM, UEM Sunrise, Board of Architects and Kuala Lumpur City Hall.”
He said the architectural students and graduate architects, guided by mentors, participated in sessions that not only aimed to form immediate design-focused solutions but were also an opportunity for emerging practices and future architects to showcase their skills and services.
KLAF Design Charrettes 2023’s mentors, architects Jai Mahadi, Michael Tan and Razi Junaidi, said the collaboration offered engagement among stakeholders, architects and students, allowing the designers to be creative and show feasibility in their proposals.
The mentors said they were glad to participate in the one-week intensive design charrette, where architects shared their knowledge and experience, giving the students a chance to learn not just technical aspects but also designing outside the box and presenting their ideas to the public and stakeholders.
Organised by PAM, KLAF is an annual event on Malaysia’s architectural calendar.
