Lau (standing front row, fourth left) takes one for the album with visitors and architects at the official launch of the ‘Celebrating Local Architects’ exhibition. — Photos by Muhammad Rais Sanusi
KUCHING: Members of the public who wish to get a glimpse into the minds of architects can visit the ‘Celebrating Local Architects’ exhibition, currently running until Oct 29.
The exhibition, held in conjunction with World Architecture Day on Oct 11, showcases the works of architects from all over Sarawak by featuring them in six locations in the city – Old Courthouse, The Ranee Boutique Suites, Lima.Tujoh Cafe and Guesthouse, The Granary Kitchen and Bar, Singgahsana Lodge and Location X (old Ting & Ting Supermarket).
IDC Architects managing director Tina Lau said the exhibition is an opportunity for the public to find out more about what an architect does.
“We want to engage the public with what architects do because they may not know what architects do, so this is a chance to show what our local architects have been working on.
Visitors to the Celebrating Local Architects exhibition launch look at the architecture projects being showcased.
“So the idea is that local architecture firms in Sarawak submit their works, and some of these works exhibited have actually won national awards such as the Borneo Mansion recently this year,” Lau, who is also Malaysian Institute of Architects Sarawak Chapter (PAMSC) member, said when met at the official launch of the exhibition on Saturday night.
She added that the amount of submissions for the exhibition had exceeded expectations.
“We were only expecting 10 submissions, but we received 37 submissions. This just goes to show that the body of work in Sarawak is a lot, and I’m sure that there would have been more people submitting.”
Aside from the architecture projects displayed at the various locations, Lau pointed out that there are two architecture workstations set up at the Location X exhibition site.
Visitors viewing one of the projects showcased at The Ranee Boutique Suites, during the walking tour.
“The idea behind this installation is as though there are two architects working here. Of course, nowadays architects don’t really use a drafting table anymore since they work on computers and 3D modelling, but we felt since this building is an old building, we thought of putting a side-by-side of how architects used to work in that context.
“For example, one of the stations here shows how architects used to draw by hand so members of the public can see how they would have communicated their ideas with clients, their creative process and frustrations they may have had,” she remarked.
Apart from the official launch at Location X on Saturday night, there was a walking tour to the other locations.
The ‘Celebrating Local Architects’ exhibition is a part of the What About Kuching Festival 2019, a festival that celebrates Kuching’s arts, culture and lifestyle.