Three students from the Asia Pacific University of Technology & Innovation’s (APU) School of Architecture and Built Environment (SABE) — Dorcas Rutendo Shoko, Kaung Nanda Kyaw and Chin Yumin — received Honourable Mention Awards at the Future Design Star Awards 2026, a national-level competition organised by ACG Media Sdn. Bhd., for their innovative architectural and design projects that impressed the judges and highlighted APU SABE’s commitment to nurturing creative and industry-ready future architects.

Three students from the Asia Pacific University of Technology & Innovation’s (APU) School of Architecture and Built Environment (SABE) were recently recognised with Honourable Mention Awards at the prestigious Future Design Star Awards 2026.

The awards were presented by Mr Alvin Chang, Chief Executive Officer of ACG Media Sdn. Bhd., in the presence of SABE academicians and students who attended the event to celebrate the winners’ achievements, marking the school’s first award recognition.

The national-level competition, organised by ACG Media, aimed to discover, celebrate, and elevate emerging design talents among students across Malaysia, while bridging the gap between academic learning and professional practice in architecture and interior design.

According to Mr Alvin, 12 universities participated in the competition, and the judging panel was highly impressed by the creativity and quality demonstrated by APU students. He also congratulated all three award recipients for their outstanding achievements.

The three students who received the Honourable Mention Awards were, Dorcas Rutendo Shoko, Kaung Nanda Kyaw, and Chin Yumin each of whom submitted innovative entries for the Future Design Star Awards 2026. 

All three of them were supervised and mentored by Dr Shah Rizal and Ms Davina Farhana Dave Irwan Shah.

Among the highlighted projects is Dorcas Rutendo Shoko’s project, The Sloping Daun, which transforms the sloping terrain of Bukit Jugra into a timber pavilion for recreational and educational spaces.

The design reimagined the landscape as both an interactive environment and a learning tool, reinforcing visitors’ awareness and appreciation of the site.

In addition, Kaung Nanda Kyaw’s project, White Stream, impressed the judges with its bold and expressive sculpture-architecture form. 

Inspired by Zaha Hadid, the design captured the dynamic movement of wind and waves, translating fleeting natural energy into a striking solid structure. 

Its flowing arches and sculptural lines powerfully reflected the momentum and fluidity of nature.

Meanwhile Chin Yumin’s Bukit Jugra Project, which featured an in-depth analysis of the Bukit Jugra site and its surrounding potential. 

Inspired by the the works of famous architect Sou Fujimoto, the proposed Jugra Heritage Lodge seamlessly merged human experiential learning spaces with the natural landscape, capturing the judges’ attention through its thoughtful and immersive design approach.