A platform for design and architecture from Borneo
This design reconfigures a Christian retail space with a central island service hub, fostering fluid circulation and tactile rosary engagement. An axial vista to a chapel-like rear wall instills sacred order. Perimeter walls form a gallery-like display envelope. Full-height glazing frames interior sculpture, enhancing street transparency and neighbourhood engagement. Zoned pegboards organise crosses, figurines, plaques, and jewellery. Curved rear elements soften the rectilinear shell, discreetly separating gilded supply displays and staff areas. The scheme synthesises commercial functionality with spiritual atmosphere, realising a faith-based retail identity that evokes ritual contemplation.
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In 2013, we developed a proposal for a temporary exhibition on Alfred Russell Wallace, focusing on his time and discoveries in Sarawak. The exhibition aimed to introduce Wallace’s work to the public, particularly younger visitors, through an engaging and immersive experience. Inspired by his moth nets, we designed a series of fabric rooms that transformed the gallery into a journey through his research and discoveries. The exhibition combined historical information, visual displays and interactive elements to create an accessible and memorable experience for visitors of all ages.
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. Philip Chang Foh Phing (1952–2023) was a pioneer architect in Sarawak whose career spanned public service, private practice, and professional advocacy. Educated at the University of Sydney, his formative years in Australia shaped both his political awareness and practical approach to building. After returning to Sarawak, he worked in JKR before co-founding United Consultants, delivering major public projects including the Kuching Waterfront. A committed mentor and advocate, Philip remained actively engaged in practice and professional institutions until his passing.
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.
The 2026 Taoyuan Land Art Festival brought together artists and architects from 14 countries to create site-specific installations along Taiwan’s 35-kilometre Pearl Coast. Through collaboration, community engagement, and a deep response to the coastal landscape, the festival demonstrates how art can foster cultural dialogue, strengthen local identity, and leave a lasting legacy beyond the exhibition itself.
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.
The longhouse in Kampung Melikin, Balai Ringin, demonstrates how modern building solutions can support the continuity of traditional Dayak architecture. Featuring ASTEEL Group Berhad's V-DEK metal roofing and lightweight steel truss systems, the project benefits from durable, low-maintenance materials designed for Borneo's tropical climate. These products provide long-term structural reliability while preserving the longhouse's distinctive communal layout and cultural identity. By combining trusted steel solutions with traditional construction knowledge, the project shows how contemporary materials can enhance the resilience, functionality, and longevity of vernacular architecture for future generations.