Ch’ng Wei Ying (right) and her teammate Raapbhorn Sriyuthakrai (left) accepting the First Place winner’s cheque for the CTBUH International Student Tall Building Design Competition at the CTBUH 10th World Congress in Chicago.
TAR UC alumna Ch’ng Wei Ying stole the limelight at the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat (‘CTBUH’) 10th World Congress, thanks to a visionary idea that won her team First Place in the CTBUH International Student Tall Building Design Competition on 29 October 2019.
Wei Ying and Raapbhorn Sriyuthakrai’s – her teammate and classmate at Tsinghua University – design project titled “Baga Sola Future Oasis” was one of the five finalist projects selected and presented at the CTBUH 10th World Congress held in Chicago, USA, from 28 October – 2 November 2019, where the winning project was announced.
Inspired to revitalise the ecosystem in Baga Sola (located in Chad, Africa), the project proposes a sustainable skyscraper modelled after the local Baobab tree to promote sustainable use of available natural resources while providing shelter and livelihood to the local community.
Held annually since 2012, the CTBUH International Student Tall Building Design Competition attracts numerous aspiring students across the globe to redefine tall buildings’ value and meaning in modern society through innovative, sustainable, and creative architecture designs.
“I can still remember receiving the email around midnight in September notifying us that we are one of the finalists and will be travelling to Chicago to attend the World Congress. It was kind of funny; I was so happy I couldn’t sleep that night because I kept thinking of what to do next!” said Wei Ying.
On her reaction after being named as the First Place winner, she said: “I felt great, happy, excited, and blessed – all at the same time on that stage! The eight weeks of gruelling hard work paid off thanks to the love and support from my family, friends, professors and my teammate Raapbhorn.
After her STPM examinations, Wei Ying enrolled in TAR UC for the Bachelor of Science in Architecture (Hons) programme in 2014. Following her graduation in 2017, the 25-year old chose to further her studies in Masters in Architecture at Tsinghua University.
“I knew about TAR UC through my dad who is also an alumnus of TAR UC and I chose to study here because I wanted a tertiary education that encourages a student’s growth through well-rounded education, training and vast resources.
“Through TAR UC I’ve learned to thrive in a collaborative environment and relish the opportunities to engage with my classmates while working towards a common goal during projects. Plus, I’ve become more confident as a person thanks to my TAR UC journey!” she added.
So, what’s next for the ambitious Wei Ying?
“I am looking to explore the possibilities in architecture as I work towards completing my Masters. After that I plan to work abroad and test my abilities at the global level. My dream is to eventually start a professional practice in my hometown of Penang.”
The artist impression of the “Baga Sola Future Oasis” project depicting sustainable skyscrapers modelled after the Baobab trees in Africa.
