Cover The curators of Malaysian Architecture Week ‘Suara’ exhibition from left to right: Ar. Yong Leng Chee, partner, LCSC Architects; Ar. Beh Ssi Cze, partner, LCSC Architects; Ar. Firadaus Khazis, Principal, Firadaus Khazis Architect; Ar. Cheryl Quan, Principal, Cheryl Quan Architect; Choong Wei Li, Director, Futurground Design Sdn Bhd
The curators of Malaysian Architecture Week ‘Suara’ exhibition from left to right: Ar. Yong Leng Chee, partner, LCSC Architects; Ar. Beh Ssi Cze, partner, LCSC Architects; Ar. Firadaus Khazis, Principal, Firadaus Khazis Architect; Ar. Cheryl Quan, Principal, Cheryl Quan Architect; Choong Wei Li, Director, Futurground Design Sdn Bhd
1 / 1
A self-funded travelling exhibition brings together established and emerging Malaysian architectural practices under the theme ‘Suara’, aiming to elevate the profession's profile and foster public dialogue about the built environment
Malaysian Architecture Week 2025 is structured as a travelling exhibition featuring 34 local practices, representing an unusual experiment in professional self-organisation. Entirely self-funded by participating firms, the initiative emerged from what organisers describe as an open call on social media that attracted 40 initial expressions of interest before settling on its current lineup.
The exhibition’s grassroots origins distinguish it from typical institutional showcases. As the organisers explain, “we didn’t know if anyone would respond” when launching their appeal to the architectural community. What they discovered was “a generous and open community of architects and designers willing to contribute, trust in the potential of this exhibition, and believe in the impact it could have.”
Read more: Father’s Day 2025: 10 indomitable father-child architect duos
Above Models incorporate varied materials and scales, reflecting the diversity of Malaysian architectural responses from conceptual explorations to completed projects across the five SUARA categories: Space, Urban, Adaptation, Resilience, and Avant-Garde.
Models incorporate varied materials and scales, reflecting the diversity of Malaysian architectural responses from conceptual explorations to completed projects across the five SUARA categories: Space, Urban, Adaptation, Resilience, and Avant-Garde.
1 / 1
This bottom-up approach reflects broader challenges facing Malaysia’s architectural profession. Public awareness of architects’ roles remains limited, contributing to what organisers term the profession being “undervalued in the marketplace.” The exhibition aims to address this disconnect by creating opportunities for direct engagement between architects and the public through “Borak-Borak” sessions—informal dialogues scheduled for selected weekends.
The projects on display reveal the diversity of contemporary Malaysian practice. Visitors can examine designs ranging from a home for an Orang Asli family to a neuro-robotic rehabilitation centre, from adaptive reuse of heritage buildings to a durian pavilion. One participant has created a bamboo structure with recycled materials; another interprets Malaysian design elements through Lego-inspired models. The range spans “conceptual explorations to completed projects,” according to the organisers.
See also: How Lego sets are reimagining home decor with nostalgic designs
Above The curators of Malaysian Architecture Week Suara exhibition from left to right: Choong Wei Li, Director, Futurground Design Sdn Bhd; Ar. Firadaus Khazis, Principal, Firadaus Khazis Architect; Ar. Beh Ssi Cze, partner, LCSC Architects; Ar. Yong Leng Chee, partner, LCSC Architects; Ar. Cheryl Quan, Principal, Cheryl Quan Architect
The curators of Malaysian Architecture Week Suara exhibition from left to right: Choong Wei Li, Director, Futurground Design Sdn Bhd; Ar. Firadaus Khazis, Principal, Firadaus Khazis Architect; Ar. Beh Ssi Cze, partner, LCSC Architects; Ar. Yong Leng Chee, partner, LCSC Architects; Ar. Cheryl Quan, Principal, Cheryl Quan Architect
1 / 1
The thematic framework—Suara, meaning “voice”—divides architectural responses into five categories: Space, Urban, Adaptation, Resilience, and Avant-Garde. This typology encompasses everything from housing affordability in dense urban environments to architecture’s responsiveness to climate and cultural change. Half the participants are recipients of the Malaysian Institute of Architects’ ‘40 Under 40’ award, indicating strong representation from emerging practitioners.
The exhibition’s intellectual lineage traces to 1985, when seven Malaysian architects mounted ‘Houses: 7 KL Architects’ in Tokyo’s Ginza district. That earlier effort brought Malaysian architecture to international attention during the country’s post-independence architectural emergence. The current organisers explicitly position their work as building on that legacy, seeking to “expand its reach both locally and globally.”
Don’t miss: Inside Louis Vuitton’s New York spectacle: Where art deco meets avant-garde design
Above Sectional models illustrate the exhibition’s concept of transforming architectural models into "dynamic instruments that connect conceptual ideas with tangible architectural expression" through strategic cuts that reveal spatial relationships.
Sectional models illustrate the exhibition’s concept of transforming architectural models into "dynamic instruments that connect conceptual ideas with tangible architectural expression" through strategic cuts that reveal spatial relationships.
1 / 1
What distinguishes the contemporary effort is its emphasis on process over product. The exhibition features sectional models that slice through buildings to reveal internal spatial relationships. This curatorial choice reflects the organisers’ stated intention to focus “not solely on completed projects, but on the thoughts and ideas that shape Malaysian architecture.”
The collaborative preparation involved what organisers describe as “peer review, feedback exchange, and collective effort”—embodying the gotong-royong spirit of communal work. This process appears to have strengthened professional relationships, with organisers noting that participants “have found space for meaningful conversations, renewed relationships, and stronger community ties.”
Read more: 11 contemporary artists from Malaysia worth following on Instagram
Above The exhibition showcases diverse architectural models representing the range of projects from the 34 participating practices, spanning from residential designs to specialised building types as outlined in the SUARA thematic framework
The exhibition showcases diverse architectural models representing the range of projects from the 34 participating practices, spanning from residential designs to specialised building types as outlined in the SUARA thematic framework
1 / 1
The touring format reflects Malaysia’s geographic and cultural diversity. Architecture suitable for Kuala Lumpur may not be suitable for Penang or Kota Kinabalu, and the exhibition's movement across cities acknowledges these regional differences. Plans include eventual international venues, following the precedent set nearly four decades earlier.
The initiative's four stated goals are ambitious: uniting Malaysian architects, exposing local architecture to international audiences, creating learning opportunities, and elevating architectural standards. Whether the exhibition achieves these objectives remains to be assessed, but its existence demonstrates the profession's capacity for self-organisation and collective action.
See also: 7 designer dining chairs that you’ll recognise from restaurants and dining rooms
Above The Malaysian Architecture Week 2025 exhibition displays sectional models on wooden stands, demonstrating the organisers’ approach of slicing through silence to reveal hidden architectural narratives through cuts in the models.
The Malaysian Architecture Week 2025 exhibition displays sectional models on wooden stands, demonstrating the organisers’ approach of slicing through silence to reveal hidden architectural narratives through cuts in the models.
1 / 1
The organisers position architecture as “a medium for cultural exchange on a global stage” and emphasise its potential for “the betterment of society.” Such aspirations reflect contemporary Malaysian architecture’s engagement with broader social and environmental challenges, from urban housing shortages to climate adaptation.
In gathering diverse voices under a single conceptual framework, Malaysian Architecture Week 2025 offers both a snapshot of current practice and a platform for future dialogue. Running until June 22nd at UR-MU@Toffee in Jalan Raja Chulan, Kuala Lumpur, the exhibition will then travel to Archidex from July 23rd to 26th before beginning its broader national tour.
NOW READ
Explore a small art gallery with big ideas in Kuala Lumpur
Malayan shophouses: The architectural heritage of Singapore and Malaysia
Mid-Century Danish Rattan: How iconic designs became Southeast Asia’s everyday furniture
Topics
Best of Tatler Asia video highlights
Featured videos from around Tatler Asia: Get exclusive behind-the-scenes look at the interviews we do, the events we attend, the shoots we produce, and the incredibly important people who are part of our community
Jennifer Choo is Regional Managing Editor of Tatler Homes, covering architecture, interior design, and art across Asia. Based in Malaysia, she oversees regional content on luxury residential design and contemporary art collections. Legally trained but choosing to pursue her passion for design, she previously led notable design publications and worked as an interior stylist and art consultant for property developers, design firms, and private clients.
