KUCHING: Architects in Sarawak have been told to lead the charge against climate change by focusing on the creation of more sustainable and environmentally friendly buildings.
Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Dr Sim Kui Hian said this can contribute to minimising negative impacts on the community and natural environment, adding that the state’s transition toward a green economy provides for vast opportunities in the realm of green architecture.
“Even though I am not an architect, I already see this (green architecture) as a potential area. Thus, I hope the experts here will explore and venture into green architecture that promotes the use of renewable energy and reduces energy consumption,” he said.
“In the past, we looked for a house as our home; but now we need more than that, we need a structure that can also contribute towards addressing climate change as it is a pressing issue, affecting every one of us,” he said.
Architects, he said, must design buildings that adapt to local climates and employ energy-efficient technologies and renewable energy sources.
Dr Sim, who is also the Public Health, Housing and Local Government Minister, was speaking at the launch of the Design Forum held in conjunction of the Pertubuhan Akitek Malaysia Sarawak Chapter (PAMSC) Design Festival 2023 at the Kuching South City Council (MBKS) Community Hall here today (Nov 18).
As global warming worsens, he said, buildings and community spaces need to be constructed to increase resilience to climate change.
“In the future, we will need houses and buildings that are resilient to various factors, such as heat waves, flooding due to rising sea-level, among others,” he said.
He said while the whole world is embracing Artificial Intelligence (AI) to increase productivity and efficiency, architects should look into the possible challenges and threats in the long-run.
“If AI can do all the designing and planning for a building, what are our architects going to do?” he questioned.
Apart from that, he cautioned on over-reliance on AI, leading to a decrease in critical thinking and exploration of alternative design solutions.
“In the past, I could remember the contact numbers of most of my family members, but today, I don’t even know what my son’s number is as I just saved it in my phone. This is due to technology and – is this good or bad?”
Therefore, Dr Sim urged architects in Sarawak to recognise and address the risk of AI in the industry, to prepare for the future.
Earlier, organising chairman Wee Hii Min said the event aimed to nurture the seeds of design thinking and social engagement in the local community.
PAMSC, he said, sees it as their role to initiate such events; a catalyst for architects practising in Miri, Sibu, Bintulu and Sarikei to visit Kuching to foster relationships with their peers and earn CPD points over one weekend.
The Design Forum featured six speakers from Australia, Vietnam, Japan, Taiwan, Indonesia and Sarawak will present their lectures on the topic of ‘REDEFINING PRACTICE’ which touches on the evolution of the architectural practice in the past ten years.
It demonstrated how firms of various sizes are adapting to stay ahead of rapid technological change and other challenges by venturing into new areas of services and practice beyond the boundaries of traditional practice.
Also present were the MBKS Mayor Datuk Wee Hong Seng, PAMSC Chairman Noraini Narodden, deputy chairman Wong Ming Ming and other committee members and participants.
