KUALA LUMPUR: Among eminent Malaysians who are the recipients of this year’s Merdeka Award is arhitect Datuk Dr Kenneth Yeang in the Environment Category. The award is in recognition of the recipient's' outstanding and lasting contributions to the nation and the people of Malaysia in their respective fields.
Yeang received the Merdeka Award in recognition of his outstanding contribution to the development of design methods for the ecological design and planning of the built environment. He has also recently been awarded the Malaysian Institute of Architects (PAM) Gold Medal in recognition of his lifetime achievement in Malaysian architecture. His other awards include the Aga Khan Award for architecture and the Singapore National Parks Skyrise Greenery Award. Furthermore, in 2008 he was recognised by the UK’s Guardian newspaper as one of the 50 people who “will save the planet”.
For more than three decades, Yeang has pioneered the application of ecological principles to passive, low energy, tall buildings, known as bioclimatic skyscrapers. His designs strive to integrate design systems seamlessly and gently within the natural environment.
Yeang’s landmark buildings include the Spire Edge Tower in Gugaon, Delhi, India; the National Library in Singapore; and the DiGi Technical Operation Centre and several buildings for Mesiniaga in Malaysia.
Yeang has authored several benchmark publications on ecological design for architects, academics and students of architecture. He also lectures and conducts teaching workshops at universities in over 30 countries.
The other recipients are Professor Datuk Dr Goh Khean Lee and Professor Dr Mak Joon Wah who jointly received the Outstanding Scholastic Achievement Award.
The 2011 Merdeka Award recipients will receive their awards from the Patron of the Merdeka Award, the Prime Minister of Malaysia, Datuk Seri Mohd Najib Tun Abdul Razak, at the 2011 Merdeka Award Presentation which will be held on October 10, 2011 at Dewan Filharmonik PETRONAS.
The Award is given to individuals and organisations that have truly gone beyond the call of duty and have in the course of their work, demonstrated the true Spirit of Merdeka – the liberation of mind and spirit and the pursuit of excellence.