A platform for design and architecture from Borneo
The English Tea House, designed by Sim, Odita & Muhammad Architects and located along the Kuching Waterfront near Fort Magherita, was completed in 2023 as part of a waterfront beautification project begun in 2017. ASTEEL Group contributed significantly by supplying its ASHIN steel roofing and CCP-100 Strip Panel ceiling system, combining traditional aesthetics with durability, heat resistance, and corrosion protection suited to the riverbank environment. These envioSERIES materials are sustainable, made with 70–90% recycled content, and offer flexible, lightweight, and visually appealing design solutions for both interior and exterior applications.
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A renovated Balinese compound style villa, consisting of three seperate volumes for living, working and sleeping. The property is sited on a tiered landscape, facing Westward over paddy fields to Mount Batukaru in the horizon. The characteristic rectangular hip form terracotta tiled roofs of the existing structures were retained, whilst interior spaces were extended, opened up, and internal courtyards were inserted within. The spaces between the blocks define a series of gardens.
The proposed Serian Government Office Complex (GOC) serves as a centralised hub for key administrative departments within the newly established Serian Division. Inspired by the Bidayuh Longhouse and Baruk, the design reflects community, unity, and shared purpose. Multiple building blocks are arranged in a clustered layout, connected by curved corridors around a landscaped courtyard. At its heart, a Baruk-inspired structure functions as a social and civic focal point, housing a multi-purpose hall and exhibition space for public engagement.
Ar. Andrew Tan Boo Seng, born in Sibu in 1938, grew up in Kuching and trained at KL Technical College before earning a diploma and certificate in tropical architecture in the UK. One of the first Sarawakians at the Architecture Association, he began his career at P.W.D. Kuching before joining Norman Lehey in private practice. As director at Konsortium Malaysia, he contributed to landmark projects like Kenyalang Park housing and shopping centre, BDC housing schemes, and Council Negeri buildings. He values thoughtful design, pedestrian-friendly spaces, and adapting architecture to context.
Nippon Paint is used in the SAMA Square project in Setapak, Kuala Lumpur, enhancing its community-focused design. The project features Nippon Paint® Weatherbond (Quartz) and Nippon Paint® 9000 Gloss Finish, offering long-lasting protection and vibrant finishes that keep the spaces visually appealing and resilient.
The Moon Pavilion, a temporary installation at Palmerium Park for World Architecture Day 2022, aims to inspire creativity and celebrate local traditions. Made from bamboo, it blends architecture, art, and community engagement, offering a platform for cultural events and fostering sustainable urban development.
Designed by MinWee Architects, the former 1980s car showroom was transformed into a new office for a logistics company with minimal demolition. Most existing structures were retained, while new additions—mainly lightweight steel—were introduced for speed and cost efficiency. A steel mezzanine creates an open-plan office, and the old dealership rooms now house back-of-house functions. A new single-storey, container-inspired conference block fronts the site. Completed in nine months, the project relied on on-site decision-making and close client involvement, serving as valuable training for the young team.
In the Malaysia-China Friendship Park, Kuching, the Red Ribbon Pavilion connects past and present, recalling a pivotal chapter in global history while celebrating the lasting connection between Sarawak, Yunnan, and beyond. Inspired by the contours of the 24-Turns Road, the pavilion honors the Nanyang Mechanics Volunteers who braved the Burma Road during World War II. More than a solemn monument, it embodies resilience, sacrifice, and the ongoing flow of life.
Returning to my middle school after twenty years, I came back not as a student but as an architect. What began as casual conversations evolved into small proposals—refurbishing spaces and improving circulation. These modest interventions reflect a thoughtful approach, where sensitively introducing new elements supports and reinvigorates the existing. Good architecture does not need to be flamboyant to work well. In schools, it becomes the quiet backdrop where everyday life unfolds and new memories are formed.
IM-EUROSHINGLE™, IM-SEAM™, IM-EUROPANEL™, ALUMINIUM PANELS, and IMETAL FACADE were used for the dome, roof, façade, and ceiling of Masjid Al-Madinah Al-Husna respectively. These high-performance materials, with finishes like COLOURCOIL® PVF2 and selected colour coating, offer durability, corrosion resistance, sleek designs, and easy maintenance.
Min envisioned Open House II as a multi-generational extension that draws on the synergy between Iban longhouse traditions and Chinese shophouse typology, blending communal living with contemporary spatial flow.