In the latest edition of our Sustainable Sunday series, we speak to an architect renowned for his innovative and sustainable building designs and how he is also leading by example in his personal life
In the last 30 years, Dr Tan Loke Mun has been paving the way in sustainable architecture. He is the principal of DrTanLM Architect, director of ArchiCentre Sdn Bhd, and founder of DTLM Design Group but you may be more familiar with his work. One that stands out his the S11 House in Petaling Jaya, the first house in Malaysia to receive a platinum rating Green Building Index (GBI) certification, the highest level on the GBI. Incidentally, Tan is also responsible for setting up GBI in Malaysia.
Constructed with recycled and repurposed materials, this award-winning house is shaded by the large canopy of existing trees on the site and designed to significantly reduce reliance on air-conditioning, one of the most common but energy-intensive home appliance in hot and humid Malaysia.
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However, his interests are not confined to green private residences. The sustainability pioneer is also behind some of the most recognisable hotels, shopping retail malls, convention centres, neighbourhoods and townships, from the colourful Nomaps hostel in Melaka to the lush residential area of Setia Ecopark.
"All our projects are green and tropical, designed with sustainability at the core," he says, "Buildings last a very long time and can be costly to run and maintain. Greener buildings can reduce the cost of utilities, upkeep and at the same time, our carbon footprint. It's an overall win-win for everyone."
Sustainability is not a trend or a passing fad. It's actually the right thing to do!
And if you're an avid fan of architecture, you may also be familiar with works released by Tan's publishing arm, Atelier International, which explore innovative and sustainable designs in tropical Southeast Asia.
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