The rainforest-themed, world-class Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK) project developed by Cahya Mata Sarawak (CMS) and designed by Arkitek KDI has won the prestigious regional real estate MIPIM Asia Awards 2010 for Best Business Centre.
The award win is the first international recognition for both Main Market-listed conglomerate CMS and Arkitek KDI, and particularly significant as voting was carried out by the 1,900 real estate professionals attending MIPIM Asia in Hong Kong from 10 – 12 November 2010.
MIPIM, which stands for the International Market of Real Estate Professionals, originated in France, and celebrates its 5th conference edition in Asia this year. As the leading business-to-business real estate market and conference in Asia Pacific, MIPIM Asia is attended by property developers, property management companies, asset managers, investors, architects, hotel groups, and professionals from the real estate sector. This year, over 1,900 delegates from 42 countries attended MIPIM Asia 2010.
Speaking in Hong Kong after receiving the MIPIM Asia Best Business Centre Award yesterday, CMS Group Managing Director Dato’ Richard Curtis said, “We are greatly honoured that real estate professionals from Asia and beyond have recognized the high standard of building and design in went into the planning and development of our convention centre in Kuching, Sarawak. Winning against world reknown projects in China and Korea has motivated us to go for even higher benchmarks.”
Pitched as an architecturally unique rainforest-themed, environmentally sustainable, world-class and functional convention centre located in Sarawak, the BCCK’s giant leaf-shaped roof attracted much interest of voting delegates. Many agreed that using the local rainforest as the BCCK’s central architectural inspiration was the correct choice to enhance the ‘sense of place’ within Sarawak and its ample greenery.
The BCCK was pitted against South Korea’s NHN Green Factory building and the Shanghai International Financial Centre (IFC) – HSBC building in the Best Business Centres category, one of 10 awards presented at MIPIM Asia Awards 2010.
Recognizing outstanding real estate projects in the region for their innovation, technical, environmental and architectural qualities, over 100 projects entered the Awards this year. This number was short-listed to 79 projects by an independent international jury that chose only 3 projects as finalists in 8 categories. From there, selection of the winning project in each category was done by the MIPIM Asia delegates.
Apart from business centres, the other categories were best Chinese project, futura projects, green buildings, hotel and tourism resorts, mixed-use buildings, residential developments and shopping centres.
According to Dr Robert Lie, Real Estate Investment & Development REDEVCO Asia Ltd Managing Director and President of the MIPIM Asia Awards 2010 Jury, this year’s project finalists continued to represent an uptrend in high quality of thought and planning, innovation and design in real estate projects across Asia. For the Jury, this gave much reason to be optimistic about real estate in Asia.
Christophe Chupot, Real Estate Director of Reed MIDEM, organizer of the MIPIM events, gave more insight into the BCCK’s short-listing as a Finalist and eventually winning of the Award.
“As a world-class building, you expect all the standard features to be included. However, to go further into bringing innovation in design that enhances your project and ensures its sustainability in a place such as Sarawak on the island of Borneo sends a very positive message on the future of real estate standards”, said Mr Chupot.
Located on The Isthmus, Kuching, the BCCK is Sarawak’s first purpose-built world-class convention centre. Easily recognized by its distinctive giant rainforest ‘Ririg’ leaf-shaped green roof, the BCCK was developed for the Sarawak State Government by CMS’ construction subsidiary, PPES Works (Sarawak). It was designed by local architectural firm, Arkitek KDI.
Fully completed earlier this year, the BCCK’s pillar-free 10 metre high Great Hall and 14 additional meetings rooms have been the preferred venue in East Malaysia for events large and small, local and international.
