KOTA KINABALU: Malaysian architects are increasingly looking at environment-friendly designs. Persatuan Akitek Malaysia (PAM) Sabah branch chairman Sim Sie Hong said that local architects were taking the cue from architects in many other parts of the world who were working with scientists and researchers.
They were doing this to design buildings with environmentally-friendly materials that incorporate wind and solar power in their design, and which use renewable energy.
"I believe architects here are equally responsible in leading the way and creating greater awareness of the seriousness of this issue," he said at the 32nd annual dinner of the association, themed "Leaf a Life."
"In our tropical climate, we need to design buildings that use less air conditioning. This could be achieved by just extending the roof overhang in the right direction, so the building catches less direct sunlight," he said.
"Similarly, architects could orientate the building to catch predominant breeze for cooling effect in buildings," he said, adding that all architects should work towards achieving the best design for environmental-friendly buildings here.
He said the theme of the annual dinner "Leaf a Life" was apt especially with the current global debate on climatic changes that experts claim have reached alarming proportions.