While landscape architecture encompasses the design of outdoor areas, landmarks, and structures, the ultimate aim of the landscape architect is to achieve environmental, social-behavioural, or aesthetic outcomes. Landscape architects are certainly not glorified gardeners for this vocation calls for the professional engagement with people, striking a beautiful balance between the natural and built environment for them. In this issue, Top 10 of Malaysia takes a brief look at its list of Malaysia’s top award-winning landscape architects whose projects range from private gardens to international landscape endeavours.
Malik Lip & Associates Sdn Bhd
A pioneering firm in consulting services for Malaysia’s landscape architecture and environmental planning since 1983, Malik Lip & Associates Sdn Bhd was founded by LAr Nik Malik bin Zainal Abidin and LAr Michael Lip Yoke Cheong, architects who graduated from Australia with a Masters of Arts in Landscape Architecture from Sheffield University, England. With experience for over 50 years, the firm offers landscape consultancy advice to public and private sectors and is involved in projects such as private gardens, residential development, resorts and hotels, institutional and commercial developments and overseas projects in United Arab Emirates, Vietnam and India. Malik Lip & Associates also won the Honour Awards for its project Verve @ Suites KL South under Professional Category Landscape Design Awards during the 10th Malaysia Landscape Architecture Awards MLAA 2017.
Verona Design Sdn Bhd
Founded in 2012 by LAr Wan Salamatul Juita Wan Hashim, Verona Design Sdn Bhd is a professional services firm which engaged in multi-disciplinary design practices, including master planning and landscape architectural consultancy. Besides being a former Young Landscape Architect Award recipient in 2015, LAr Juita also contributed significantly towards the development of the landscape architecture profession when she was an Institute of Landscape Architects Malaysia (ILAM) Council member from 2010 to 2014. Verona Design’s projects, the Suria Residence, was awarded the Best Residential Landscape Architecture in Asia Pacific Property Awards 2015 and the latest Help
University Subang 2 achieved the distinguished Honour Awards under Professional Category Landscape Design Awards by Malaysian Landscape Architecture Awards (MLAA) 2017. The project was led by Senior Associate, Ardy Zafuan Rahmat.
MDLA Design Sdn Bhd
MDLA Design Sdn Bhd is a design consulting firm in Shah Alam which was founded by LAr Fairouz Che Ani in 2008. The firm combines the disciplines of landscape architecture, ecology, urban design and environment. MDLA has designed and completed projects ranging from single residential units to thousand hectare units for private clients, community organizations and developers in Malaysia. MDLA has won several awards which include the ILAM MLAA – Excellent Awards 2016 for Elmina Township (Shah Alam), Merit Awards Laman MBPJ (Petaling Jaya) and Cyber Valley Entrance Signage Competition (Cyberjaya) and the Excellence Award under Professional Category Landscape Analysis & Study Awards for the Sungai Subang Bio-Remediation Master Plan, Elmina East during the 10th Malaysia Landscape Architecture Awards MLAA 2017.
LARZ Associates Sdn Bhd
LARZ Associates Sdn Bhd was founded and established in Setia Alam, Shah Alam, Selangor by its Managing Director, LAr Muhamad Zaedi Mohd Asri and his wife, Norain Mohamed Ayem, who is also the Creative Director of the firm. LARZ has worked on projects throughout Malaysia such as the Klang Valley, Kota Bahru, Seremban, Langkawi and Johor Bahru. LAr Muhamad Zaedi has also been awarded the Honours Award under the Professional Category Landscape Analysis & Study Awards for his project University of Malaya Master Plan during the 10th Malaysia Landscape Architecture Awards MLAA 2017.
Landart Design Sdn Bhd
Founded by LAr Phua Chin Eng in 1998, the international award-winning landscape architecture firm, Landart Design Sdn Bhd is one of the pioneers in the area of landscape architecture and design. Since its establishment in Penang, it has designed artistic landscapes throughout Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia and Abu Dhabi. Its project, The Light Canal Park won the Honours Award under the Professional Category Landscape Design Awards during the 10th Malaysia Landscape Architecture Awards MLAA 2017.
Tajul LandArt
Tajul LandArt was founded in 2000 by LAr Mohd Tajul Ashikin Tajuddin, a landscape architect and horticulturist with more than two decades of experience in the area of landscape architecture. The firm has created projects which are unique and creative as it strives to make the buildings outstanding. Its designs create a harmonious blend between the exterior environment and the buildings. It also won the Honours Awards under Professional Category Landscape Design Awards for its project, Retro Lifestyle @ EV2 during the 10th Malaysia Landscape Architecture Awards MLAA 2017.
Urbanscape Consultants Sdn Bhd
Founded by LAr Sharon Lee Chee Wee, a graduate of Universiti Putra Malaysia, Urbanscape Consultants Sdn Bhd specialises in designing award winning residential landscapes to large-scale township of 200 acres. Its winning design, Sibu Town Square Public Park won the Honours Award under the Professional Category Landscape Design Awards during the 10th Malaysia Landscape Architecture Awards MLAA 2017. Among the other awards achieved were the (Developer Category – Merit Award) for La Promenade under Malaysia Landscape Architecture Awards 2017 for La Promenade, (Professional Category – Honour Award) for Residence 8 under Malaysia Landscape Architecture Awards 2013 and Bronze Award Floria Garden Showcase (Designers’ Garden) organised by The Putrajaya Flower & Garden Festival 2012 ‘FLORIA 2012’.
Perunding Hijaureka Sdn Bhd
Founded by LAr Shahrul Radzi Mohd Yusof in 2003, Perunding Hijaureka Sdn Bhd is a Malaysian landscape architecture firm with professionals from multi-disciplinary backgrounds and it specialises in landscape architecture, landscape master planning, urban design and tourism planning. The team is also well versed with Malaysia and its regional environmental conditions and through its 13 years’ experience in landscape architecture, it has created vibrant, appealing and sustainable environments such as public places, public gardens, residential and commercial development, rehabilitation and development parkland, holiday areas plus government, corporate and residential spaces. Perunding Hijaureka also won the Honours Awards under the Professional Category for Landscape Analysis & Study Awards for its project, Eco Transit City – Gerik Landscape Master Plan.
PTA Design Sdn Bhd
Founded by LAr Peter Tan in 1991, PTA Design Sdn Bhd is an architectural firm that offers international quality landscape architectural services in Malaysia. Its designs for every project are based on the location, environment, product and positioning. One of its completed projects includes Sunway University and it has also won awards such as the Project of the Year 2017 for the Afiniti Medini @ Iskandar Puteri project during the 10th Malaysia Landscape Architecture Awards MLAA 2017.
Urban Design Group Sdn Bhd
Founded by LAr Michael Lim Chee Tuen, the award-winning Urban Design Group Sdn Bhd is now one of Malaysia’s most well-known professional landscape architecture firms that provide complete services from the initial planning stage to conceptualisation and the final successful implementation of projects. Among the awards won by Urban Design Group were the ILAM Honour Award (2014) for Nexus Bangsar South by UOA Development Bhd, ILAM Honour Awards (2013) for The Central Park @ Bangsar South by UOA Development Bhd and ILAM Honour Award (2013) for Mont’ Callista Entrance Gateway By Bunga Development Sdn Bhd and also the Honours Award under the Professional Category Landscape Design Awards for its project, Icon City during the 10th Malaysia Landscape Architecture Awards MLAA 2017.
