It is now the month of March, most likely to be the hottest month of a typical Malaysian year. Coincidentally, Denis Villeneuve’s Dune: Part Two is currently playing at a cinema near you. Amidst the harsh climate of the barely habitable planet of Arrakis, the fate of the galaxy is played out on the silver screen, where warring aristocratic families seek to monopolise a commodity called ‘spice’. Although set in a fictional future twenty thousand years beyond the present, I cannot help but think that humanity is indeed heading towards creating an Arrakis-like Earth sooner than we think.

So here’s the reality facing us today: building green is no longer an option. As part of our commitment to COP28, Malaysia has begun implementing policies towards reducing our carbon emissions. There is now an urgent need to increase our renewable energy capabilities while improving our overall energy efficiency. Annual energy audits have become mandatory for the industrial and commercial building sectors. Energy-inefficient buildings operating above the required maximum BEI would be forced to retrofit to improve efficiency and conserve precious energy. Businesses are forced to comply because rising energy bills are affecting their bo!om line. Inevitably, the new buildings we work on will have to be greener and more energy efficient as well.

Also in related news, the Urban Redevelopment Act is expected to be passed this year. The proposed Act seeks to address persistent challenges surrounding ageing, dilapidated buildings with multiple owners under the Strata Titles Act. A pragmatic solution of se!ing the en-bloc consent threshold at 75% for existing stratified buildings and a simple majority for abandoned projects will facilitate a more feasible path towards the revitalisation of our urban centres.

With buildings contributing to 40% of global carbon emissions annually, we will need to consider several things moving forward. Firstly, do we need to adopt the default position of almost always building anew, or could we rehabilitate and repurpose existing buildings in novel ways? Secondly, if we do need to build anew, how can we do so in a manner that would be both socially and environmentally responsible?

As architects, we occupy a strategically crucial role in advocating for be!er ways of doing things to meet the challenges of our time. Ideally, whether we are designing a single residential building or a megatall skyscraper, the outcome of our work will either be a net positive to humanity and the planet, or an ugly edifice to be torn down before the end of its intended lifespan. As a community, we should strive to stay ahead of the curve and become advocates and designers of thriving and healthy environments for generations to come.

In this issue, we feature articles and recent projects by members of our institute and the broader design community. Each article broadly encompasses different perspectives and approaches towards the creation of thriving urban ecologies.

Now, with 2024 in full swing, I am grateful for the dedication and efforts of the editorial team and contributors for the tremendous efforts towards bringing this first issue of Volume 36 of Architecture Malaysia to print. We hope the content will serve to be both thought-provoking and inspirational.

Yours,
Ar. David Teoh
Editor-in-Chief, Architecture Malaysia