ASEAN Design Leaders Tour Australia for Collaboration
A select group of top architects from Southeast Asia embarked on an inspiring journey to Australia as part of the BlueScope Learning and Sharing Trip for ASEAN Delegates. These distinguished professionals represent the five winning firms from the inaugural BlueScope Steel Architectural Awards ASEAN, an initiative that aims to recognize and promote design excellence across the region.
The awards program was launched by NS BlueScope in collaboration with several prestigious regional institutions: the Association of Siamese Architects under Royal Patronage (ASA), Ikatan Arsitek Indonesia (IAI), the University of Architecture Ho Chi Minh City (UAH), Malaysia’s ACG Media Group, and AustCham Singapore. These partnerships underscore a shared commitment to architectural innovation and cross-border collaboration in the built environment.
A Celebration of Innovation and Collaboration
The award-winning architects embarked on a week-long tour through Sydney and Brisbane, visiting some of Australia’s most iconic architectural landmarks that highlight the use of modern steel in design and construction. The trip offered a unique platform to exchange ideas, explore advanced building technologies, and cultivate lasting professional relationships.
Among the highlights in Sydney were site visits to the Darling Quarter precinct, an acclaimed example of sustainable urban renewal, and the Australian National Maritime Museum, an architectural feat that combines striking aesthetics with structural ingenuity. In Brisbane, the group explored the Kangaroo Point Bridge, the Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre, and the UQ Sustainability Walk at the University of Queensland. These projects demonstrate Australia’s leadership in integrating steel solutions such as COLORBOND® steel and XLERPLATE® steel to meet complex design requirements while delivering durability and beauty.
The tour was made even more insightful through guided walkthroughs led by the renowned architecture firms behind the projects: fjcstudio in Sydney and Cox Architecture in Brisbane. These firms not only provided technical insight into their respective designs but also opened up valuable dialogues around architectural process, challenges in material specification, and the role of sustainability in urban development.
Knowledge Sharing Between Regions
One of the trip’s most meaningful aspects was the direct exchange between Australian and ASEAN architects. Richard Coulson, Chair of the Board of Directors at Cox Architecture and a judge for the ASEAN awards, expressed his enthusiasm about the visit.
“It was fantastic to host the delegation from ASEAN and present some of the latest design processes and advanced steel solutions used in Australia,” Coulson said. “We enjoyed productive and engaging discussions with our colleagues from ASEAN and shared many ideas and philosophies.”
The site visits provided fertile ground for exploring how design ideologies, materials, and construction approaches differ—or converge—across borders. This kind of cross-regional exchange is vital for growing the capabilities of the architecture and construction industries, particularly as both regions face shared challenges around climate resilience, urban density, and decarbonization.
At the Heart of Global Discourse
The trip also included participation in the Australian Architecture Conference 2025, held at the iconic Sydney Opera House. Here, the ASEAN delegates joined peers from around the world in attending talks, panel sessions, and networking events. The conference’s forward-looking themes included AI in design, low-carbon architecture, future-ready tall buildings, and rethinking urban centres—topics highly relevant to architects across Southeast Asia as cities grow and adapt to rapid change.
The experience provided a global stage for the visiting professionals to immerse themselves in emerging trends and strategies that are shaping the future of the built environment. It was also a rare opportunity to spotlight the groundbreaking work being done in ASEAN countries.
Strengthening ASEAN’s Architectural Identity
Ar. Melvyn J Kanny, principal of MJ Kanny Architect in Malaysia and one of the tour participants, reflected on the lasting value of the visit:
“This tour was the perfect opportunity to learn from the Australian and global architectural communities, and to share information on some of the great work happening in ASEAN. Our ‘Circle of Excellence in Steel Architectural Design’, which comprises the inaugural ASEAN awards winners, will grow as future editions take place. It gives us the perfect foundation to build a strong cross-region community that can contribute more to the collective learning of our industry.”
Kanny’s sentiment underscores a deeper ambition behind the awards and the learning trip: to create a pan-ASEAN network of design leaders committed to excellence, sustainability, and mutual support. As the “Circle of Excellence” expands in coming years, it is expected to become a vital forum for dialogue, peer mentoring, and continuous innovation in architectural practices throughout the region.
Participating Firms and Future Potential
The delegation included architects from a diverse mix of countries and backgrounds:
- Arkiskape Sdn. Bhd. (Malaysia)
- MJ Kanny Architect (Malaysia)
- Razin Architects Sdn. Bhd. (Malaysia)
- Ar. Naksit Wisetmora (Thailand)
- Studio Sifah (Thailand)
Each of these firms has demonstrated exceptional creativity and technical excellence in steel-based architecture. Their participation in the awards and the Australian tour reflects their leadership role within their local design communities and their potential to influence the region’s architectural future.
