In this second issue of Volume 38, we once again celebrate the culmination of the PAM Awards. Each year, this publication serves as a record of the evolving maturity, resilience, and ingenuity of the Malaysian architectural fraternity. Before we delve into the triumphs of the victors, it is essential to acknowledge the sheer courage it takes for any architect to submit their work to rigorous peer review. That vulnerability — the willingness to open one’s process and outcomes to scrutiny — is the bedrock of our collective growth.
This year’s Gold Award winners beautifully illustrate the vast, dynamic spectrum of our built environment. At one end, we have the Canopy House by Formzero Architecture Sdn Bhd — a profoundly intimate 130-square-metre dwelling thoughtfully nestled amid lush greenery. At the monumental other end stands Merdeka 118, the world’s second-tallest tower, brought to life by RSP Architects Sdn Bhd in collaboration with Fender Katsalidis Pty Ltd. These two projects, though drastically different in scale and ambition, share a common thread: an uncompromising dedication to design excellence.
Yet, it is the Building of the Year that truly grounds this year’s narrative in the human experience and the delicate context of our shared history.
ARCHITECTURE OF HUMILITY
The Building of the Year was awarded to Astaka Kota Selera by EA Architects Sdn Bhd. Tasked with relocating a food court to reinstate the historic Western Moat of Fort Cornwallis, the architects navigated rigorous constraints to preserve vital sightlines to the heritage site. The resulting culinary hub is a refined, context-sensitive civic intervention that revitalises Penang’s communal dining culture without imposing on the delicate historical landscape.
Astaka Kota Selera is a profound example of magnanimous design. It is an architecture of humility that touches the hearts of the community it serves. As architects, we are inherently visionary dreamers. We leverage our spatial sensibilities to craft enriching canvases—environments where people can live, work, thrive, and simply be. Ultimately, we do not just design isolated buildings; we create the backdrop upon which life occurs.
CULTIVATING A GENEROUS CULTURE
Just as we must design with magnanimity for our communities and historical contexts, we must also cultivate that same generosity within our professional culture. Last week, I had the pleasure of hosting my friend and former colleague, Dr John Ting, an architectural historian of Sarawakian origin now based in Canberra. While walking around Chinatown, we stopped at a building I am personally fond of. Serendipitously, we crossed paths with the very architect who designed it, who graciously invited us to join him for a beer. For a few hours, the three of us — architects by training — were momentarily united in a passionate discussion about the public role of architecture, how placemaking strategies must go hand in hand with built forms, and how we can better engage the public.
This spontaneous exchange of ideas reminded me that the conversation surrounding design is equally as important as the awards themselves. When we consume only glossy photographs of finished projects, we miss the vital lessons embedded in the journey — the designer’s intent, the regulatory hurdles, and the innovative solutions that brought the project to life.
In 2023, I noted the distinct aversion within our community to public criticism. Today, I would argue that this hesitance sometimes extends to public praise. In a competitive market, there can be a reluctance to openly admire a peer’s success. We must actively dismantle this mindset (perhaps starting with work where we are not direct competitors!).
At our workplaces, our casual industry gatherings, and across our social media feeds, we must actively celebrate our peers and give due credit where it is earned. By adopting a more generous perspective and moving away from professional silos, we elevate the entire fraternity. I invite you to utilise the pages of Architecture Malaysia and our digital portal to foster this discourse. We welcome your reviews, your essays, and your shared lessons. Tell us why a peer’s work moved you; articulate why it ought to be celebrated.
When we openly celebrate good work, we also become better advocates for our profession. Communicating the value of design to the non-architects we interact with daily helps the broader public appreciate how thoughtful design impacts their lives. It demystifies what we do. Through a simple economic lens, when the public understands the difference between a building built with minimal thought and effort and one that was thoughtfully designed and crafted, demand for good design outcomes exceeds supply, and market forces correct upward. But that demand begins with education, conversation, and a generous spirit.
On behalf of the team at AM, I extend my warmest congratulations to all the winners of the PAM Awards 2026, and my sincere gratitude to everyone who participated. May the projects in the following pages inspire us to design with greater magnanimity, to share our knowledge more freely, and to build a legacy that enriches the communities we serve.
Ad maiora!
Ar. David Teoh
Editor-in-Chief,
Architecture Malaysia
