SHAH ALAM (Aug 20): The Volvo Cars & Aurizn EcoDesign Challenge with duduk by EcoWorld concludes today with six design firms being declared winners and awarded more than RM4 million worth of contracts to bring their winning designs to life. 

duduk by EcoWorld is a new brand of EcoWorld which offers a fresh perspective on vertical living. Established in 2020, the brand offers easy entry, modern high-rise residential developments aimed at a younger generation of urban homeowners. 

Each firm is rewarded six-month use of a Volvo S90 T8 Twin Engine. (Photo by EcoWorld)

Following a judging process that also included an online vote from the public, the six winners of the Volvo Cars & Aurizn EcoDesign Challenge were A&A Concept Design & Contract Sdn Bhd, Forfar Design Sdn Bhd, IQI Concept Sdn Bhd, Kort Studio, Orb Group Sdn Bhd and Studio BEVD Sdn Bhd. 

EcoWorld divisional general manager Ho Kwee Hong said: “By giving local design firms a platform to showcase their creativity and strength, we have empowered them to think about the future of sustainable design in Malaysia. Evident from the creative designs we have received this year, we are truly encouraged and hope that through this collaboration with Volvo Car Malaysia and Aurizn that we can open up more avenues for creative Malaysians to put their talent on show and deliver high-quality, sustainable homes and communities for future generations to come.”

Jointly organised by Volvo Car Malaysia, Eco World Development Group Bhd (EcoWorld) and Aurizn, the challenge was a first-of-its-kind interior design competition offering Malaysian interior designers not only a platform to showcase their talent, but also the opportunity to win an actual project with a reputable developer to add to their respective portfolios.

The top three floors of two duduk by EcoWorld projects, namely Huni D’ Eco Ardence and se.Ruang D’ Eco Sanctuary, will be assigned to one winning design firm each. All units on these floors will be furnished according to the winning designs proposed earlier and available for sale to the buying public.

The EcoDesign Challenge kicked off on May 14 this year, with firms invited to post the best designs of their existing portfolios on their official social media channels. A total of 50 firms submitted their entries over a four-week period. 

Participating firms were given the task of furnishing the 1,000 sq ft layout of a duduk by EcoWorld unit in a manner that expresses the essence of Scandinavian design philosophy of eco-friendliness and minimalism with a budget of RM50,000.

Volvo Car Malaysia managing director Nalin Jain said: “Scandinavian design at its best is often understated, yet stands out for the mere presence of its simplicity. This functional, open and minimalistic design language can be seen in all Volvo cars. On the outside, we have clean and proportioned lines that look and feel just right, and inside careful craftmanship, attention to detail and quality, earthy materials that create an open, uncluttered space. The six winners today succinctly captured Volvo Cars' design philosophy and translated them into Malaysian homes, and for that, they have my heartfelt congratulations.”

Nalin also announced that Volvo Car Malaysia will be providing each design firm six-month complimentary use of a Volvo S90 T8 Twin Engine.

The evaluation process drawn out for the Volvo Cars & Aurizn EcoDesign Challenge included a judging panel with representatives of Volvo Car Malaysia, EcoWorld and Aurizn. Public feedback was also taken into account through an online vote which accounted for 20% of the overall score of each design.

Aurizn editor-in-chief Bobby Ang said: “We gave the design firms one month to apply their learning from Volvo Cars designers into an actual property. We then opened it up for Malaysians to vote, the judges then gave our scores for the aesthetics of the designs, and lastly the EcoWorld project team evaluated the feasibility of each project.”

“At the end of the day, these units are going to be future homes of Malaysians, which was why we opened up the final selection process to the public. The collaboration among Aurizn, Volvo Car Malaysia and EcoWorld really is an amalgamation of sustainability, Swedish sensibilities and Malaysian creativity,” Ang added.

Strategically situated near Setia Alam and Kota Kemuning, duduk by EcoWorld offers sizeable homes that are semi-furnished with basic home items, coupled with clubhouse facilities, at reasonable prices.