By Ling Hui
KUCHING, Nov 26: Bus stops in Kuching South will soon become ‘Instagrammable’ spots with the new design from the hands of the PAMSC-MBKS Bus Stop Design Competition winners.
Kuching South City Council (MBKS) mayor Dato Wee Hong Seng said the new design while playing a part in beautifying public amenities, would definitely attract the attention of not only locals but also tourists.
“With the new bus stop design, it will become a place for people to take pictures like how the youngsters nowadays describe as ‘Instagrammable’ places.
“The first thing the tourists will use when in one place is public transportation and they will definitely look at the bus stops.
“Having a new look for our bus stops (in Kuching South) can help us to promote Kuching,” he said.
Since Kuching was awarded as the Creative City of Gastronomy, the freshly designed bus stops will also incorporate this title to boost tourism.
Jointly organised by the Malaysian Institute of Architects Sarawak Chapter (PAMSC) and MBKS, the PAMSC-MBKS Bus Stop Design Competition served to scout for creative, innovative, and sustainable architectural design ideas which will be later put into real action.
It was launched in April 2021 with the aim to realise the Council’s vision to enhance the quality of life of the people and to promote Kuching South as an attractive, safe, green, and smart city.
Meanwhile, competition jury chair Ar Ng Chee Wee noted a large number of outstanding design ideas especially in the Student Category which received over 100 entries.
He said one of the competition’s key criteria was sustainable design and the panel was surprised to see many entries putting in serious thoughts in this area which brought about numerous innovative and interesting solutions.
“Due to the large number of entries received especially in the Student Category, the jury decided to increase the number of honorary mentions from five to six prizes.
“Besides the top three, the jury also decided to award a special Mayor’s Prize to one of the top entries,” he said during the virtual prize award ceremony via Zoom here today.
As for the other Graduate Architect Category, Ng said the jury reached a consensus to only award the second and third prizes as there was not one design among the 20 entries that they deemed to have achieved the required excellency to qualify as champion.
He said, however, the honorary mentions were increased from five to seven prizes.
With that, he expressed his congratulations to all student and graduate winners on top of all other submissions that were also of high quality.
The first, second, and third place winners in the Student Category will receive RM1,500, RM1,000, and RM500 cash prizes respectively.
While the special Mayor’s Prize winner is entitled to a RM500 cash prize, the honorary mentions will receive RM400 each.
For the Graduate Architect Category, the second and third place winners will receive cash prizes of RM1,500 and RM1,000 respectively, while honorary mentions are entitled to RM500 each.
PAMSC-MBKS Bus Stop Design Competition Results:
Graduate Architect Category:
Second prize — Woo Jin Hwa
Third prize — Peh Ker Neng
Honorary mentions — Au Wei Jing, Yeo Khee Liang, Tan Chee Huey, Liaw Kheng Boon, Mark Eng Shang, Sim Shau Jiunn, Jason Chew Hung Nien
Student Category:
First prize — Jackson Lim Chen Hee
Second prize — Mohd Pirdaus Beddu
Third prize — Jackson Lim Chen Hee
Honorary mentions — Jane Lau Chi Ying, Chor Zhao Gen, Jackwin Lim Chen Hee, Tey Jin Hong, Yee Qiu Pang, Kelvin Tian Zi Hao
— DayakDaily
