Ready to transform housing design
THE Malaysian Institute of Architects (PAM) signed a collaboration agreement with Gamuda Industrial Building System Sdn Bhd.
The collaboration, code named Housing 4.0, will include an open architectural design ideas competition and digital innovation labs towards transforming housing design and construction in Malaysia.
The project, led by Ang Chee Cheong from PAM and Tan Ek Khai from Gamuda IBS, involves innovation in building future homes by harnessing digital tools, including the use of Industrialised Building Systems (IBS) and Building Information Modelling (BIM).
At the signing ceremony, PAM president Ezumi Harzani said, “PAM welcomes this strategic cooperation between Gamuda IBS and PAM, and we look forward to the noteworthy milestone as Gamuda IBS is a pioneering IBS solutions provider that will help us attain our ambition of advancing architecture for the betterment of society.
“In this rapidly changing world, we are now talking about Industry 4.0, the Internet of Things (IoT) and big data. We need to make sure architects are up to speed with technology as well as developing innovative designs for future housing needs,” Ezumi said.
Gamuda deputy group managing director Mohammed Rashdan Yusof said, “Digital IBS make up the components of the building, similar to how limbs are to the body of a person. Similarly, the architect is the brains who will come up with the designs to fulfil Malaysia’s goal of delivering affordable housing, up to 100,000 units a year.
“With currently two Digital Robotic IBS plants, we can deliver fully functional homes, which can then be customised to the specifications of any developer.
“With full Digital BIM technology, costs and wastage are minimised and yet artistic creativity can flourish with maximum delivery efficiency as well as ensuring the quality of the delivery would be world-class,” he said.
On the competition, Mohammed Rashdan added, “I am very excited about this competition and hopefully, it will be the first of many where we will bring the best and brightest of the industry through PAM.
“We look forward to building new homes of the highest quality, of assured reliability, quickly delivered and yet are affordable to many.”
Details of the competition and digital innovation labs will be released next month.