IDC Architects Sdn Bhd, a Sarawak-based firm, has won the Gold Award in the Public and Institutional category of the Malaysian Institute of Interior Designers (MIID) REKA Awards for designing the Sarawak State Legislative Assembly (DUN) Complex interiors. The award was presented to director Alan Lau at the awards gala in Kuala Lumpur on December 12.
The project drew inspiration from Sarawak’s natural landscapes and communal traditions, featuring a ‘tree’ column in the media room and a limestone-inspired cafรฉ area. Lau said, “We wanted to create spaces that have meaning and speak to different cultures in Sarawak. It wasn’t enough for it to be a nice place to take photographs; it had to be something truly representative of the people of Sarawak.”
The design incorporated diverse cultural motifs, including Dayak tradition, Malay songket, and Chinese textile patterns, woven together by Tanoti Crafts. Lau emphasized the importance of human creativity and cultural understanding, stating, “AI can only work with what has already been done before. It cannot create something rooted in lived experience, memory and identity.”
IDC Architects plans to continue submitting projects to MIID REKA, hoping to take on more public-sector works. Lau encourages young designers to “be brave” and push boundaries, saying, “You can only do interesting design work if you are willing to push boundaries.”
Image Courtesy: Borneo Post online
