Catalytic megatrends have given rise to the need for a paradigm shift in the way future dwelling places are designed, built and delivered.
Sime Darby Property’s Concept Home 2030 initiative challenges architects to realise their visions of the future.
LET’S take a moment to examine the quintessential Malaysian home.
The most typical dwelling for Malaysian families is the double-storey terrace house, a design which dates back to the 16th century but came to our shores with the arrival of the British.
Modelled after London’s Victorian terrace houses, these homes generally had living areas at the front, sleeping quarters upstairs and the kitchen at the far back.
As we progressed as a nation, new lifestyle influences and design styles started transforming this concept.
Unlike the working-class design of closely packed shoeboxes of the inner cities in the past, terrace houses in recent years have wider frontages, airy interiors and modern design elements.
Fast forward to today – a pivotal time for change.
The global pandemic has affected almost every area of our lives – from how we work to how we socialise, entertain, shop, live, destress and work out – while climate and environmental changes have led to a necessary demand for better sustainability.
These catalytic megatrends have given rise to the need for a paradigm shift in the way future dwelling places are designed, built and delivered to the next generation of homeowners.
Sime Darby Property group managing director Datuk Azmir Merican: “We want to see the vision of tomorrow’s homes in-built with sophisticated technology and features.”
Concept Home 2030 initiative
Recognising these megatrends, Sime Darby Property quickly began to look beyond “business as usual” and to initiate new futureproofing strategies.
A young and dynamic task force was mobilised to look into how life could be in 10 years’ time and thus, the Concept Home 2030 initiative was born.
Concept Home 2030’s agenda is simple: it challenges how homes could be designed and built in the future, by allowing the best architects and visionaries in the nation to engage and exchange solutions with the industry, consumers and the public.
The desired result is the discovery of excellent ideas, which can be turned into great designs that are then turned into prototypes.
Sime Darby Property’s group managing director, Datuk Azmir Merican said, “Visionaries frequently return to the drawing board to develop radical designs that change the fundamental ideas of how a car should look and perform.
“So, why can’t the same be done for our homes?
Malaysian Institute of Architects (PAM) president, Datuk Ezumi Harzani Ismail: “Through this design ideas competition, we expect to see innovative ideas that will change the future trend.”“Concept Home 2030 is an opportunity for us to do this, to showcase what can transpire when great minds come together, and excellent ideas are brought to life.”
Reimagining terrace homes
As the first step of such an initiative is ideation and design-sourcing, Sime Darby Property partnered with the Malaysian Institute of Architects (PAM) in August 2021 to organise the Concept Home 2030 Competition, challenging visionaries throughout the nation to redesign the quintessential terrace home of the future.
Competitors are tasked to articulate their vision by stepping outside the box and produce game-changing ideas that shift the dynamics on how we live.
They are required to base their designs on four pillars - to use sustainable solutions, have modern construction methods, are modular or expandable and are tech-infused.
Datuk Azmir explained: “Some of the biggest challenges for Malaysian terrace home designs today include the cost incurred, lack of sustainable features as well as limited versatile spaces that allow diverse functions and uses.
“Through this competition, we want to see the vision of tomorrow’s homes in-built with sophisticated technology and features that can improve quality of life and enhance productivity.”
PAM president, Datuk Ezumi Harzani Ismail said, “Through this design ideas competition, we expect to see innovative ideas that will change the future trend, bringing in new interactive technologies that allow people to communicate with their homes and houses, which are responsive to the environment based on the needs and desires of Malaysian modern living.”
The competition received 171 registrants, the highest number to date for any competition organised by PAM.
Ten finalists have been shortlisted to move into the final stage of judging and the final winners will be announced on Jan 22 during a live judging event.
The public has a say
What is unique about this competition is that it is also a testing ground to gather public opinion and feedback on what design features people really want to see in their future homes.
The organisers are calling for the public from all walks of life, be they trailblazers and future innovators, design or sustainability enthusiasts, students, housewives or homeowners, to visit the concept home website and have their say by voting for their favourite designs among the top 10 finalists.
Voting closes on Jan 22 at 4pm. The submission with the most online votes will be announced as the winner of the People’s Choice Award and receive a prize of RM10,000.
Those who are interested to vote can visit the competition website at https://concepthome2030.simedarbyproperty.com or scan the QR code below.