Design contest for PPR mooted

Housing and Local Government Ministry is mooting a competition to generate design ideas for future People’s Housing Programme (PPR) developments.

Its minister Nga Kor Ming said the matter would be discussed with the aim of revamping the image of public housing projects in the country.

He said the idea came after witnessing the successful architectural design competition for the redevelopment of Pasar Awam Bukit Mertajam in Penang.

“We might organise an open competition to select the most pleasing, environmentally friendly and humane designs for the housing projects,” he said.

(From left) Nga and Seberang Prai mayor Datuk Azhar Arshad being briefed by Tan on her winning design for Pasar Awam Bukit Mertajam at MBSP headquarters. — Photos: ZHAFARAN NASIB/The Star

Nga was speaking to reporters after attending the prize presentation ceremony for the competition jointly organised by Malaysian Institute of Architects (PAM) and Seberang Prai City Council (MBSP).

He, however, said any new design proposals for public housing schemes would require feasibility studies to be done first.

“We need to consider safety aspects when designing stratified high-rise buildings.”

On the reconstruction of Pasar Awam Bukit Mertajam, Nga said the ministry approved RM24mil to MBSP in 2023 for the redevelopment.

“The work will cover five components, namely the main building, covered parking, pedestrian walkways, landscaping and safer and more sustainable infrastructure.”

He added that the market project must be completed in two years.

Pasar Awam Bukit Mertajam. — Filepic courtesy of China Press

Nga said the ministry would organise similar design competitions for all large-scale market projects nationwide.

“We want public markets to possess distinctive and attractive features so they can be developed into tourist destinations within the next 10 years.

“The ministry will allocate a special fund of RM110mil to upgrade public markets nationwide.”

Competition winner Beu Tan Architect principle architect and founder Tan Bee Eu said she and her team worked for about two months to come up with ideas.

The market reimagined in a design contest entry.

“Most of our team members are from Bukit Mertajam, so the ideas came very quickly.

“They are familiar with local needs,” she said, adding that they wanted to turn the market into an icon of the town.

She hoped her team’s design would give the old market a second life.