Design Network bags another gold award

by Philip Wong.

ANOTHER GOLD AWARD: Wong (left) hands over the Malaysia Architecture Association 2011 gold award to Tiong.

SIBU: Design Network Architects (DNA) gathered another feather in its cap when it won the prestigious gold award for Category 8 of the Malaysia Architecture Association Award 2011 in the Conservation section.

The award winning design was for the unique architectural renovation of the Sibu Heritage Centre that served as the office for Sibu Urban District Council and earlier Sibu Municipal Council (SMC).

It was the third golden award for architecture design scooped by DNA, following an earlier two awards for the renovation to the Pansar showroom office and The Ark Café in Maju Road.

DNA’s director Wong Kiong said much of the existing features of the former SMC building were preserved to give the people here a better perspective of what the building looked like before.

He said the original round shape of the building that was completed in 1963 was preserved to give the people here a better remembrance of the past.

“The new building has become not only a Sibu showpiece but the centre of cultural attraction for both locals and tourists alike,” he said at the handing over of the award to the SMC yesterday morning.

Among those at the function were council chairman Datuk Tiong Thai King, his deputy Daniel Ngieng, secretary Hii Chang Kee and the managing director of Uniquewoods Holdings Sdn Bhd, Datuk James Tai.

SMC is the client for the RM5 million project while Uniquewoods Holdings is the main builder.

Both of them also received the gold award by virtue of being partners in the project.

After the renovation, the first floor of the building now accommodates an exhibition of the history of Sibu while the ground floor is rented out for commercial business.

Residents here, especially students, have visited the centre to gather first-hand knowledge about the history of Sibu.

“Hopefully, in the near future, the building will be able to generate income and sustain itself.

“All along, we have put a special emphasis on our projects to ensure that it remains people-oriented and employs green technology,” Wong added.

He also said this had always been a concept practised by DNA and was to ensure that all its projects would consume minimal electricity.

Later, Tiong commended Wong as a man full of creativity and unique ideas, calling other architects to emulate him (Wong) and work to put Sibu on the world map. Tai looked forward to the long-term development plans for the building.

“This is a very educational project and hopefully, in future, we can set up a speaker’s corner so that people from the different communities will be able to stand here and tell their stories.”

[Source : Borneo Post Online posted on August 13, 2011, Saturday]