The SIA-Uniseal G-Architect Award is an honour that is bestowed annually on an Asian architect. A G-Architect is an individual who, through his/her body of as-built and/or theoretical projects of varied scale-ability, advances and advocates the theory and design practice of sustainable architecture.

G-Architect designs display integration between the natural and manmade systems, and craft and technology. In addition, he/she designs celebrate sustainable architecture and environmental performance.

• Have evidenced a broad and deep body of sustainable built works that advance sustainable architecture.
• Have contributed a significant pool of knowledge that advocates practice and eco-literacy of sustainable architecture.
• Have attained a wide recognition amongst the nominee’s fraternity.
• Other aspects of the nominee’s work or life experience deserving of recognition.

The jury panel comprises:

• Mr Theodore Chan (President, Singapore Institute of Architects)
• Mr James Lim (Chief Executive Officer, Uniseal Pte Ltd)
• Dr Uma Maheswaran (Vice President of Sustainability Unit, Jurong Consultants)
• Mr Ng Eng Kiong (President, Singapore Green Building Council)
• Ar Tan Pei Ing (Chairman, Architects Regional Coucail Asia, ARCASIA)

Facilitator: Mr Cheong Yew Kee (Chairman, SIA Sustainability Committee)

2014 Laureate: Mr Leung Man Kit, Director of Sustainable Design, Ronald Lu & Partners (HK)

LEUNG MAN KIT
HKIA, RIBA, LEED AP, BEAM Professional

LEUNG Man Kit (MK), from Hong Kong, is the first recipient of the inaugural SIA-Uniseal G-Architect award. A unanimous choice by jurors and a truly deserving recipient by all measures.

“Consistent”, “ever-evolving” and “place-specific” are some phrases the jurors used. MK’s body of as-built works displayed varied scale-ability, and through his active professional and academic works and institutional servant leadership, he has contributed to advance and advocate the practice and theory of sustainable architecture in Hong Kong.

MK’s body of work exemplifies a systemic thought process in project development and increasing sophistication and maturity in design and implementation. All jurors felt his sustainable journey is admirable. His portfolio demonstrated breadth and depth, culminating in his leadership in the first Zero Carbon Building in Hong Kong. A highly renowned sustainable project and well respected amongst the professional peers.

Breadth in projects spanned from sustainable master-planning to new buildings and regeneration of heritage buildings and sites. Depth varied from design to detailing, advocacy to research and initiating integrated dialogues with multi-stakeholders. Jurors praised the Siu Sai Wan Complex as an exemplary manifestation of an idea, with spaces well translated and urban planning challenges sensitively resolved by massing and façade treatments,

A few insightful remarks by jurors:

“MK’s body of work demonstrated scale-ability from planning to detail and design sensitivity from building orientation to façade”.

“MK’s response evoked attempts to raise the sustainability bar. Most often by his own measures and not by following a set of prescribed corporate or regulatory requirements”.

“MK’s design celebrated spaces and is a response to environment and place. Facade is tailored. Internal spaces with different volume are treated differently”.

“MK’s advocacy of BIM planning is evident and of pushing the green agenda is evident from intent to implementation”.

The juror is heartened MK’s architecture is future-driven and, by his rigor to initiate dialogues and persistence to explore design, serves as a useful tool and, certainly worthy to be emulated by his peers. A truly deserving recipient of the inaugural G-Award.