i. Prominent Architect
Ar. Hj Abdul Aziz Bin Mahfar
ii. Date of birth
iii. Date of graduation (Architecture degree)
iv. Date of licensure
- Registered Architect’s Board of Western Australia (November 1966)
- Registered Associate Member of Royal Australian Institute of Architects (December 1966)
- Registered with Sabah Public Work Department (1972)
- Registered Associate Member of Royal Institute of British Architects (Oct 1973)
- Board Member of Architects Malaysia (September 1974)
- Board Member of Lembaga Akitek Malaysia (1985)
v. Member of PAM since
1974 (Board Member of Architects Malaysia)
vi. Fellowship year (if applicable)
–
vii. Practice Name
viii. Prominent projects (top 10)
- Hyatt Kinabalu International Hotel (1976)
- Forestry Headquarters, Sandakan, Sabah (1982)
- Perkasa Hotel, Tenom, Sabah (1983)
- SESB Headquarters, Kota Kinabalu (1985)
- Central Post Office, Kota Kinabalu (1986)
- Telekom Exchange Building at Penampang, Sabah (1993)
- Petronas Office Building, Kota Kinabalu (1994)
- Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka HQ, Kota Kinabalu (1997)
- Masjid Bandaraya, Kota Kinabalu (2000)
- Institut Pendidikan Guru Malaysia Kampus Kent, Tuaran, Sabah (2014)
ix. Summary of contribution to PAM
- PAM Member since 1974
- Council Member, PAM Kuala Lumpur (1982-1983)
- Chairman PAM Sabah Chapter (1981-1983)
x. Summary of other contributions to society
- Provided architectural training to at least 8 local
- President, Rotary Club Kota Kinabalu (1993–1994); active in community service
- Designed various community-centric buildings: schools, clinics, and Islamic centres.
- Strong proponent of vocational and practical integration in the industry
xi.Summary of awards
- Yayasan Sabah (1986)
Architectural Competition for the Design of Timber Buildings - Pertubuhan Akitek Malaysia (Joint Winner, 1986)
PAM Logo Design - Pertubuhan Arkitek Malaysia (Runner-Up Prize, 1986)
New Club House at Lake Garden Kuala Lumpur - Petronas Carigali Office at Kota Kinabalu (Limited Competition, 1994)
- The Sculpture Design of Kota Kinabalu Centennial Time Capsule (Winning Entry, 2000)
xii. List of close affiliates (references)
Dato Ar. Ruslan Khalid
QUESTIONNAIRES – PROMINENT ARCHITECTS PROFILING PROJECT
1.
How did you come to study architecture?
Inspired by an early interest in design and construction, further encouraged during secondary school at English College Johor Bahru, I then pursued studies at Perth Technical College, Australia.
2.
What were your architectural influences?
My foundational influence came from working with Dennis Silver in Australia. Later, my exposure to multicultural contexts in Brunei, Singapore, and Sabah shaped my design thinking.
3.
Could you tell us about a project you are proudest of?
The first is the Masjid Bandaraya in Kota Kinabalu, which has become both a spiritual sanctuary and a civic symbol for the city, uniting faith, culture, and identity in a single landmark. The second is the Hyatt Hotel in Kota Kinabalu, which set new standards for hospitality architecture in the state and positioned Kota Kinabalu as an international destination.
4.
What would you consider yourself a pioneer of?
5.
What do you consider the greatest changes in the profession from the time you began to the present day?
From hand-drawn blueprints to BIM, the pace and precision of design have changed drastically. However, the core challenge remains designing for people and the climate with purpose and sensitivity.
6.
What is your approach to mentorship?
Mentorship should be hands-on and based on real project involvement. I’ve always encouraged young architects to learn through direct experience, especially in site supervision and client interaction.
7.
What is your advice to young architects starting their journeys today?
Stay grounded, be pragmatic, and uphold professional integrity while adapting to technological and societal change.
8.
Where do you see architecture heading in the future?
More sustainable, technology-integrated, and community-focused, responding to climate change and urban growth.
9.
What is your architecture/design manifesto?
Natural cultural and physical environmental considerations and functio
To pursue a lifetime architect profession with integrity, pragmatism, and sustainability for all times in terms of the built environment
ns must be prioritized before any design or projects.
10.
Architecture: form and function, which one comes first?
Function must always come first; buildings must respond to climate, cost, and community needs. But function alone is not enough; it should be expressed through form that uplifts, inspires, and gives meaning to the spaces we inhabit.
11.
What is your thought on current Malaysian Architecture?
It reflects a maturing national identity, balancing international modernism with local cultural and climatic responses.
12.
What do you see in the future of Malaysian Architecture?
A stronger emphasis on sustainability, heritage integration, and locally relevant modernism, ensuring resilience against climate and economic challenges.
