Malaysia
project lead : Doris Quek
project co-lead: Ker Chwing Lim
Colllab is an independent architectural research, innovation, and fabrication lab established in 2020 at UCSI University, Malaysia. Guided by the motto "collect, collate, collective," Colllab stands at the intersection of academia, industry, and local communities, driving innovative architectural solutions through partnerships and collaborations. Colllab's vision is encapsulated in three C's:
Collect: Collect, archive and enhance existing crafts and technologies
Collate: Fabricate and assemble innovative prototypes
Collective: Foster collaboration among designers who values sustainable architectural initiatives that honor cultural traditions
Over the past four years, Colllab has collaborated with over 12 communities, designers and partners across multiple time zones to research and reinvent architectural solutions for community development. While Colllab’s interest lies in innovating traditional crafts and technologies, each project is deeply rooted in community engagement and the dynamic partnerships between local community, advocates, NGOs, architects, designers and students.
instagram: @colllab.my
REEL LIFE
ARCHIVAL
The Reimagining Charcoal project is part of Colllab’s ongoing Reel-life Archival research initiative. In 2022, Colllab, in collaboration with Platzstudio and other local partners, launched Reel-life Pangkor—a project documenting the fading industries and traditional livelihoods of Pangkor Island, including anchovy fisheries and boat-making. The Reel-life initiative stems from a critical question: "Should preservation only begin once things cease to exist?" In response, Colllab established a living museum model to celebrate and sustain living heritage.
Building on the success in Pangkor Island, Look PortWeld invited Colllab to expand the documentation efforts to Kuala Sepetang’s historic charcoal industry. This collaboration marks the beginning of the Reel-life Sepetang project, aiming to capture and revitalize the narratives of another vital industrial heritage trade.
website : creative archival
The Reimagining Charcoal project is proudly supported by the students, lecturers, lab technicians, and alumni from the School of Architecture and Built Environment (SABE), under the Faculty of Engineering, Technology, and Built Environment at UCSI University, Malaysia. Leveraging one of Malaysia’s leading engineering laboratories, the university provided critical facilities for workshops, material explorations, and lab testing, helping to drive innovation at the intersection of design and science.
This initiative also marks one of the first cross-disciplinary collaborations between UCSI’s Architecture and Engineering departments in material research, setting a precedent for future partnerships. Through this pioneering effort, UCSI University strengthens its commitment to fostering sustainable innovation, bridging creative design thinking with scientific rigor to reimagine the possibilities of local bio-based materials.
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UK
project lead : Keita Tajima
project co-lead: Charlotte Harris
UEL Degree Architecture Unit H, focuses on rethinking materials from the land and city to express specific spatial sensibilities and experiences. This approach enriches our architectural perspective on both urban and rural landscapes while revealing the complexities of place memory. Addressing the urgent global issue of urban decarbonization, we examine the city and its buildings at a micro scale, evaluating their material performance, spatial quality, and architectural merit. Our goal is to uncover their potential by integrating new architectural elements.
Currently, UEL Unit H is studying the Atlantic coastal communities in Portugal, Ireland, and Spain. Together with students, we explore the impacts of climate, agriculture, and industry on the landscape—effects that resonate not only in the physical environment but also in the daily lives of residents. Students investigate these themes through the lens of everyday interactions with the landscape, focusing on the interplay of land use practices, spatial strategies, and vernacular architecture.
Regeneration in rural and urban settings presents complex challenges. In rural areas, factors such as timeframes, economics, land pressures, and social organization differ significantly, providing a framework for developing new forms of settlement that balance existing physical, social, and ecological contexts.
UEL has gained international recognition for its material innovations, particularly with the development of Sugarcrete®. This low-carbon construction material, created in collaboration with the Sustainability Research Institute (SRI) and supported by Tate & Lyle Sugars, combines sugarcane fibers left over from sugar production with sand-mineral binders, resulting in bricks with a carbon footprint six times smaller than conventional clay bricks. Sugarcrete® has received numerous accolades, including being a finalist for the Green Gown Awards UK and Ireland in 2024, and winning the Built by Nature Prize 2024, EU Worth Partnership 2024, Edie Innovation of the Year and Climate Positive Awards 2023 and received commendation at the Harvard Material Symposium.
In short, UEL Unit H is dedicated to creating sustainable architectural solutions that honor cultural heritage and promote environmental stewardship. Through projects like Sugarcrete®, we aim to contribute to a more inclusive and regenerative built environment, fostering positive change in communities worldwide. We believe that by integrating research, creativity, and community engagement, we can address pressing global challenges and enrich lives and landscapes alike.
Re:imagining Charcoal Team:
Associate Professor EUR ING. Ts Dr Yeap Swee Pin . Nicholas Ng . Foo Hsiang Hsien .
Gwendolyn Chan . Angeline Kang . Miao Annan . Joanne Tong . Gasten Gan . Shivaani A/P Raj Kumar .
Andrew Yong . Lee Yong Jia . Oon Wu Han . John . Kim . Thivia Sri . Wong Suet Yan .
Dr Wong Leong Yee . Gue Yan Ting . Assistant Professor Teoh Chee Keong . Adam . Chan Chiew Chuen
This project involves architectural educators, ecologists, and community members. In collaboration with UK partners, the project will commence by exploring charcoal's architectural potential with studies of charcoal-making facilities in the UK from October to November. In December, the UK team will visit the mangrove forests, factories, and the local community in Malaysia for archival. Discussions and forums will be held to explore potential applications. After April, the Malaysian team will collaborate with UK partners to synthesize findings and conduct lab work to develop greener production methods. All research outcomes will be shared through comprehensive online archives, ensuring knowledge dissemination.
The Reimagining Charcoal project, led by Colllab UCSI and Unit H UEL, brings together UK and Malaysian research to explore sustainable innovations in Kuala Sepetang’s charcoal industry.
By comparing vernacular practices in Malaysia with sustainable approaches in the UK, the project investigates new uses for charcoal and its by-products, incorporating local materials like mangrove bark, dye, vinegar, shells, and algae.
Through experimental workshops, forums, and archival research, the project focuses on reducing export reliance and localizing the use of charcoal materials to empower communities, preserve heritage, and promote sustainable solutions.
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RE:IMAGINING
CHARCOAL
Our diverse team of architects, environmental researchers, and community advocates is dedicated to localizing the charcoal usage in Kuala Sepetang for sustainable design and community development. By documenting the full lifecycle of charcoal production, we aim to uncover innovative applications for charcoal and its by-products, such as biochar and vinegar, and integrate these into architectural designs. We also seek to repurpose existing charcoal factory spaces for community engagement and use local materials like mangrove bark and algae to create an architecture that prioritizes sustainability and reflects the local context.
The project aims to serve as a catalyst for revolutionizing Kuala Sepetang’s traditional charcoal industry, laying the groundwork for a sustainable model that prioritizes and actively engages the local community. Kuala Sepetang, a coastal town in Malaysia, is renowned for producing some of Southeast Asia's finest charcoal from mangrove wood. This industry has long supported the local community and generated global exports, particularly to Japan and Korea. However, its export-oriented focus has led to a significant carbon footprint and limits the direct benefits to the local population. In collaboration with local environmental and community organizations, this project seeks to realign the charcoal trade with its roots, enhancing local usage and ensuring the industry directly benefits the community. By reimagining charcoal's role, the project aims to address environmental and ethical challenges while fostering sustainable growth.
