The final instalment of the 2024 Design x Dialogue series, moderated by IDr. Lai Siew Hong, Chief Executive Designer of the award-winning Blue Water Studio, explored the theme “Better Design, Better Community.” The session featured legendary landscape architect Seksan Ng, renowned for iconic projects such as the PJ Trade Centre, the Lot 10 rooftop, and the widely admired Sekeping Serendah, a popular forest retreat located less than an hour’s from Kuala Lumpur. Seksan shared his insights on how landscape design can shape society and positively impact communities. He also highlights the powerful role of social media in attracting volunteers and rallying the community to support his vision of creating more meaningful and accessible spaces.
(L-R) Seksan Ng and IDr. Lai Siew Hong at Design x Dialogue in Cosentino Showroom
Living in Harmony with Nature: Sekeping Serendah
Sekeping Serendah designed by Seksan Ng
Seksan began by discussing Sekeping Serendah, a project born from his desire to create a weekend retreat that harmonises with nature. Built on a steep, forested hillside in Serendah, the retreat was envisioned as a sanctuary that preserved the land. Despite initial scepticism from his partners about building on such challenging terrain, Seksan successfully completed the project while preserving the land and protecting the trees. This retreat embodies his belief that good design does not need to be ‘overdesigned’. As Seksan explained, by treating the land gently, it, in turn, nurtures us.
Designing for All: Dhammakiri Children’s Home
Dhammakiri Children’s Home designed by Seksan Ng
Next, Seksan shared the story of Dhammakiri Children’s Home, a project that emerged when he decided to retire from the corporate world and focus on making good design accessible to all. The initiative began after a friend introduced him to a Malaysian monk based in Thailand who sought to build a home for underprivileged children. The project included housing, a Buddhist monastery, a rice field, and a vegetable garden, constructed primarily from indigenous materials by local labour. Seksan assembled a team of landscape contractors, graphic designers, and filmmakers to complete the project in just 1.5 years, leveraging social media to raise funds and awareness, bypassing traditional funding mechanisms. This project underscored the transformative power of sustainable, accessible design in creating meaningful social change.
Dhammakiri Children’s Home designed by Seksan Ng
Fostering Community Spirit: Kebun-Kebun Bangsar
Kebun-Kebun Bangsar designed by Seksan Ng
One of Seksan’s most celebrated initiatives is Kebun-Kebun Bangsar, a community garden in Bangsar. The idea stemmed from his desire to address the underutilisation of reserved urban spaces and create a space that would benefit the community. The garden grows vegetables, fruits, and herbs, which are distributed to underprivileged groups, including refugees, orphanages, and the homeless. It also recycles kitchen waste from nearby households and shopping centres. Partially funded by Think City and through approximately RM35,000 raised via social media campaigns, Kebun-Kebun Bangsar thrives on volunteer efforts and community support, both monetary and physical. This thoughtfully designed project exemplifies Seksan’s belief that impactful design doesn’t need to be overcomplicated—it’s about problem-solving. As Seksan said, “We must find the courage to take risks. If you take enough risks, the result will be substantially higher.”
Images: https://www.cosentino.com/en-my/
