SHIN TSENG (MALAYSIA) Dedicated to Downtown KL’s urban renewal, beginning with the transformation of REXKL with fellow architect, Shin Chang, Shin Tseng has proven his mettle with REXKL’s success and influence on other urban renewal projects in an around the previously decayed inner city. With his design company, Urban Agenda Group, he has recently completed the revival Semua House, to become another magnet to alight another decayed area.

"EALRICH SJARIEF (INDONESIA) A relatively young Indonesian practitioner who started practice only in 2011, Realrich Sjarief has made a statement with crafts-based, grounded, innovative architecture that offers an alternative to the universal kind of architecture that currently prevails the architecture media in Indonesia. He comes from three generations of builders which explain his close bond with builders and craftsmen through his practice Realrich Architecture Workshop.

HO CHIN KENG (MALAYSIA) Penang-based architect who first made his mark on the aspects that characterizes Georgetown, that is heritage and conservation and an innovative solution to the backlane. The young practice, CKHO Architect continues to explore the boundaries of design in architecture with other building types.

FADZLAN RIZAL JOHANI (MALAYSIA) Architect Fadzlan has been transforming the more shabby side of KL with colourful murals planted on electrical boxes and decaying walls. The largest mural in the country at Old Klang Road was painted by Fadzlan, introducing iterations of wildlife into an otherwise heavily built-up part of KL.

MIOR AIZUDDIN (MALAYSIA) Architect-trained Mior has become a doyen in another related field, which is in landscape design. The crossover between architecture and landscape design creates interesting outcomes, especially with innovations. This is exemplified by the installation, “Temple of Togetherness” located in Taman Lake Titiwangsa, a community built, perishable installation that would degrade with time.

LUCAS LOO (MALAYSIA) Although bamboo has brought architecture to the cutting edge in surrounding countries like Vietnam, Indonesia and Thailand, bringing international recognition to the designers involved, Malaysia has yet to take bamboo structure to world-class status. Starting with bamboo cultivation in Perak, Lucas is well-placed to bring bamboo architecture to the fore at the international stage.

CHATPONG CHUENRUDEEROL (THAILAND) A reversal to the aspirations of the majority, Chatpong prefer to work on limited budgetarchitecture and make inspirational theses out of them. He works his creativity out with innovative and thoughtful architecture that is manifested in construction camps to roadside parlours. It is a rebellious and challenging worldview that only the most accomplished practitioners can master.

AZMAN ZAINAL (MALAYSIA) Architect Azman Zainal puts priority on the design aspect of architecture with emphasis on timber as main material. Green rating body in Malaysia uses the architect’s work to exemplify green architecture. The architect would provide a narrative of his journey as a design orientated “green” architect.

RASEM BADRAN (JORDAN) An architectural icon, renowned throughout the middle-east, and the recipient of many awards, including the 1995 Aga Khan Award for the Grand Mosque of Riyadh and the 2019 Tamayouz Lifetime Achievement Award, Rasem Badran is known for humanising living spaces and designing ethical buildings, with strong considerations for context and ensuring connections to the surroundings. Badran considers “Architecture is the mirror of the society”. He has been credited as the “inventor” of contemporary Islamic architecture.

PRAVEEN BAVADEKAR (INDIA) He approaches architecture strategically and intelligently which is reflected in the works that come out of Thirdspace Architecture Studio. His works are cosmopolitan which is reflective of his own architectural background, mainly learning from the modern masters. They are however, contextually derived and fit well in the Indian context despite their modernity. The works are meaningful in the modern sense, with several awards to show for them.

PRASANNA MOREY (INDIA) Prasanna Morey approaches architecture fearlessly, working and taking risks with structure and materials for the sake of beauty. Architecture is the vehicle through which he digs deeply into “self” where the source of originality and imagination dwell. His practice, “madhushala” implies the opportunity to dream and play, to discover and explore, to build and break. He also pays homage to history and culture in his work.

KUN LIM (MALAYSIA/USA) Kun Lim runs a practice in Seattle, USA: Kun Lim Studio LLC, and the office in KL is headed by his brother, Lim Kun San. The offices are known for their design attributes as well as being grounded in practice. For several decades Kun Lim has been providing visionary ideas on architectural design for his practices as well as those that had engaged him. He is also an engaging communicator on architectural theories.

KONG JIAN YU (CHINA) Kong Jian Yu is a global innovator with his research on “ecological design patterns” and “sponge city” models. His projects have influenced ecological civilization policies in China and garnered international attention. His design philosophy advocates for engaging with the natural environment, emphasizing solutions to environmental challenges such as flood management. He is a recipient of numerous international awards. Under Yu’s leadership, Turenscape has redefined the fields of landscape architecture and urbanism, emphasizing the “art of survival”.

JOHN K.S. LAU (MALAYSIA) Founder of Arkitek KDI, a highly regarded architectural practice originated from Sarawak with diverse variety of projects throughout the country. AKDI has been listed by BCI Asia as among the top 10 architects in Malaysia for six years between 2014 and 2020. In 1991 the firm won the PAM Gold Medal for the Bau Civic Centre Building. John Lau is active in the building industry and is moving beyond studio work into the field of construction, which he considers as part of the range of the architect’s work.

JO NAGASAKA (JAPAN) Based in Tokyo, Jo Nagasaka and the team from Schemata Architects are known for their flamboyant attitude toward architecture and interior design. They cherish the process of architecture with outcomes that are thick with details and subtleties, whole portraying elegance and control immersion of natural light. The works are consistently recognizably Japanese and modern.

CHEN XI (CHINA) Among an emerging new generation of Chinese architects, Chen Xi is an urbane, superlatively creative architect with a poetic touch to his works. The works are bedded in culture, history and context, yet have universal appeal and would tug the interest the universal onlooker. Architecture and art blends in the works, along with the provision of scale, function and immersive experience.

BAYEJID M. KHONDOKER (BANGLADESH) A renowned architect from Bangladesh, Bayejid M. Khondoker works with a team of innovative architects at Nakshabid Architects to create unique contextual architecture, which has a “dialogue” with history. The team believes in the relevance of architecture in particular time and place. Their works are highly experiential and immersive to the users. He was conferred two Gold Awards by Arcasia in 2023.

Jai is a celebrity in the art world with a large following. He is highly creative, exploratory and thoughtful in the creation of his art. He is also generous in spreading his ideas and empowering younger artists, especially in the universities he teach. His works have been acquired by the National Art gallery, Petronas Gallery, Ilham Gallery Malaysia, Khazanah National Gallery, ArtJog in Yogyakarta and the National Gallery of Victoria , Australia, as well as many private galleries.

Light and scale form the palette of Edric Choo’s creative process, applying these to even closed spaces through intelligent renovation. Having learnt the processes with some of the region’s renowned practices, he seek to apply the knowledge and experience through critical practice and teaching.

A UK registered architect, with bases in Sarawak and KL, Wendy is right at the fore of the wind of change blowing from Sarawak, drawing attention to the rising state, and empowering indigenous culture. An over-achiever with international accolades and publications, as well as exhibitions at various places, her work represents a future narrative of creative work by embedding local culture.

Janet Tee was Deputy Director of Muzium Negara and Director of the National Textile Museum, Kuala Lumpur. In 2014 she was made the Director of the Natural History Museum in Putrajaya. After spending 37 years in the museum sector, she retired in January 2015.

She was key to the redesign of the National Textile Museum galleries (2011-2012) as well as the conceptualization and design of the exhibition galleries at the Natural History Museum in Putrajaya (2014).

Janet is the Secretary for the Malaysia National Committee of ICOM, currently the Chair of *ICOM ICOFOM-ASPAC (2022 - 2025), a member of the Museums Association of Malaysia, also a Committee Member for *ICOM ASPAC (2013-July 2016), and was Honorary Secretary for the Crafts Council of Malaysia (2008-2015).

*ICOM International Council of Museums
*ICOM ASPAC International Council of Museums Asia Pacific Region
*ICOM ICOFOM-ASPAC International Council of Museums-International Committee of Museology Asia Pacific Region

Ar Ahmad Farid Baharuddin is the project director of Merdeka 118, having also completed a host of other notable buildings involving international projects in collaboration with Foster & Partners, Peli Clarke Pelli, SOM, Buroole Scheareen and others. Growing up in Kuala Lumpur, Ar Farid has witnessed and participated in Kuala Lumpur’s development growth. Together with RSP Architects Kuala Lumpur, he looks forward to spearheading the second phase of the Merdeka 118 development.

With talent honed by architectural experiences overseas, Shin Tseng returned to Malaysia to seek to transform old places into viable urban vibe spots. His iconic project thus far is the REXKL, which has become one of the talked about urban transformation in Kuala Lumpur, a project he worked in equal measure with Shin Chang, His office, located in the heart of downtown KL is set to make great impact around the city.

Shin Chang was already turning old buildings into hip F &B places before he got together with Shin Tseng to transform the former Rex Cinema into a vibe centre of Kuala Lumpur: REXKL. In the transformation, they performed a minor miracle in turning a once hopelessly dilapidated, dodgy place into a Kuala Lumpur hot-spot. He currently runs a design practice with Penny Ng.

A trained architect, Nani Kahar a doyen of the creative industry, successfully transforming places of urban ennui into viable creative magnets. She is hands-on in the various transformations and is often found working on the ground and interacting with the communities. She is well known in the artistic community for her support of their causes. The transformation of Central Market has made it into one of the vibe centres of the city.

A PAM Past President and the first recipient of the PAM Kington Loo Award, Ar Dr Tan Loke Mun interests are wide and is an influential figure in the architectural profession. Besides being a highly regarded practitioner and educator, and lately, a book publisher, he is also an avid art collector. He is also a known supporter of the visual arts. Many of his valuable art collection is housed in UR-MU a downtown art gallery with a dual purpose of rejuvenating the neighbourhood.

One of Malaysia’s leading woman architects, Ar Lillian Tay is a leading practitioner, a Past PAM President and a PAM Gold Medalist. She is also a protagonist of art and culture as well as a voice for the overall community. Her personal art and culture venue, TEMU House is a busy place for the engagement of art and culture. Ar Lilian often engage with friends and the external community at TEMU House.

A highly regarded practitioner and educator, Ar Pital Maarof connects with the visual art at a personalized level through his art gallery, Rumah Lukis, which is located at the outer fringe of Kuala Lumpur. His exhibitions usually carry a theme, which is often biographical. He collaborates with renowned artists who are often personal friends. Visits to his gallery is usually by appointment and, when available, he would personally narrate the exhibition to his audience.