SAMARAHAN: A soaring green roof—set to be Malaysia’s largest—has won MOA Architects, led by Sarawakian Hung Ing Sing, first place in the AIR Architecture Competition.
The winning design, co-created with Tan Ling Rong, was chosen for a 13.6-acre site near Kuching International Airport.
Organised by the Malaysian Institute of Architects (PAM) and developer Hock Seng Lee (HSL), the competition drew 11 finalists.
MOA’s proposal came with a RM120,000 prize.
Hung said the concept prioritises environmental sensitivity, with the site’s river left untouched and the layout designed to minimise visual and ecological disruption.
Low-rise buildings anchor the front, while taller blocks sit further in.
“From the front, it’s all low and single-storey. We wanted to avoid the usual car park-first experience,” said Hung, who hails from Sibu.
He added that the project is designed for gradual development.
A commercial zone fronts the site to support small local businesses, with residential apartments behind—allowing flexibility in build phases.
“In Kuching, you can’t build 1,500 units and expect immediate sales like in KL. Phasing is necessary,” he said.
Second place went to Azwan Othman for a hexagonal, longhouse-inspired, prefabricated design to minimise site damage.
Third place went to TR Hamzah & Yeang and Aki Media, led by Datuk Ken Yeang, whose masterplan preserves 76 per cent of the site’s mangrove and river.
HSL managing director Datuk Paul Yu praised the diversity of sustainable ideas, while PAM president Adrianta Aziz said the competition’s anonymous first round ensured fairness.
“The real winners are the people of Kuching and Sarawak,” Adrianta said. “They’ll benefit from open public spaces, clean air above—and clean water below.”
