By UOW Malaysia 

UOW Malaysia’s Department of Built Environment showcased its students’ projects at the Interior Architecture Exhibition, “Beyond the Door: The Unseen Realms,” held from 1–2 August 2025 at Klippa Shopping Centre, Batu Kawan, Penang. The event attracted more than 500 visitors over two days, including industry professionals, secondary school students, parents, academic leaders, and members of the local community.

Officiated by YB Goh Choon Aik, Member of Parliament for Bukit Tambun, the exhibition provided a platform for final-year students of the Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in Interior Architecture and Diploma in Interior Design programs to present their innovative, research-driven, and socially impactful projects. Among the standout works were:

• Yeap Yan Xuan’s proposal for a community centre in Bukit Mertajam, designed to foster connections between local and refugee communities through arts and culture.
• Shima Balqis’ design for a women’s empowerment shelter, aimed at supporting dignity, healing, and growth for women in transition.

The exhibition also celebrated the recent achievement of full accreditation by Lembaga Arkitek Malaysia (LAM) for the Bachelor of Interior Architecture (Hons) programme, making it the only LAM-accredited interior architecture degree in Northern Malaysia.

In her remarks, Ts. Vanessa Serbastian, Head of Department of Built Environment, noted that the exhibition demonstrated the students’ ability to integrate design excellence with social and cultural responsiveness, reflecting UOW Malaysia’s commitment to producing industry-ready graduates.

The event highlighted the vital role of UOW Malaysia students in shaping inclusive and human-centred design solutions, especially as Batu Kawan continues to develop as a smart city hub.