KUCHING: Southeast Asia’s biggest annual architectural event – the 18th International Architecture, Interior Design & Building Exhibition (Archidex) opened on Wednesday at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre.
The four-day event features over 550 local and international exhibitors representing leading brands from Malaysia, Australia, Austria, China, Germany, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, United Kingdom and Vietnam, as well as Hong Kong (SAR).
Among the highlights of this year’s exhibition are four country pavilions featuring the best designs and latest advancements from Austria, China, Singapore, and South Korea.
More than 36,000 visitors from around the region and beyond – including industry professionals such as architects, interior designers, property developers, engineers and quantity surveyors – are expected to visit the exhibition halls to discover the latest innovative solutions in the field. Building on previous successful outings, this year’s instalment is expected to see an increase of transactions to over RM1 billion.
This year also sees the inaugural Architalent, an architectural student competition in search of talented and inspiring personalities from the schools of architecture in Malaysia. Themed ‘Social Architecture’, the competition calls on entrants to work in teams to generate thoughtful and provocative ideas for densely populated cities, like Kuala Lumpur, which underwent rapid population growth and increasing urbanisation.
Other activities are the Focus Forum@Archidex, which will look at Regulating Construction Materials and Products Under CIDB Act 520 (Amendment 2011) and the Certificate of Standard Compliance (PPSi); and Biz@Archidex, featuring a selection of exhibitors sharing invaluable information and experience on the latest trends, designs, and technicalities of the building industry.
All registered visitors, including Datum delegate tag holders, stand a chance to win one of eight Tag Heuer watches.
Jointly organised by the Malaysian Institute of Architects (PAM) and CIS Network Sdn Bhd, a leading Malaysian trade and lifestyle exhibitions organiser, Archidex is a key component of the annual Kuala Lumpur Architecture Festival (KLAF) – an annual celebration of architecture and design open to all demographics beyond the architectural fraternity from July 4 to Sept 30.
“Through constant improvement, strategic growth and a strong vision, Archidex consistently delivers its promise to support and grow this industry beyond borders. And today, what was once a local exhibition has today transformed into one of Malaysia’s largest and most successful trade exhibitions, and a recognised exhibition in the Asean region,” said Public Works Department deputy director general (specialised sector) Ratna Mahyuddin, who represented Deputy Minister of Works Datuk Rosnah Abdul Rashid Shirlin at the official opening.
Archidex is endorsed by the Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (Matrade) and supported by the Ministry of Works, Ministry of Tourism and Culture, Malaysian Conventions and Exhibitions Bureau, and Malaysia Green Building Confederation.
Malaysia Airlines is the official airline, with Roca as principal partner, and strategic partners Artwright, Intersit, Blum, Nano-G, Ebac, VSP and Abus.
For more information and updates on the exhibition, go to www.archidex.com.my or download the Archidex App from the Google Play Store or Apple’s App Store.