PENANG BAY

INTERNATIONAL
IDEAS
COMPETITION BRIEF

YEAR TWENTY TWENTY

N
REIMAGINING
THE GEORGE TOWN AND
BUTTERWORTH WATERFRONTS
as a new economic zone
 Technological disruption has accelerated and magnified. Just
as the car transformed cities in the 1930s and the smartphone

00.
spawned the digital economy, a convergence of advances in AI,
energy, food production and material science is poised to
radically alter societies and economies.

These transformations will affect everything from how we work,

where we work and even if we need to work. They will change
how we get about, how we interact with one another and how we
interact with technology. These transformations might change
what we eat, where our food is produced and how it is grown.
It is an opportunity to rethink, reset and restore.

Few cities have grasped or prepared for these shifts. Penang,

a mid-sized city in northern Malaysia is using the pandemic
downtime to scale up its efforts to prepare for the future.
It has a multitude of natural, built, cultural and economic
advantages that position it well to not only recover but
thrive in a world defined by disruptive technologies, new
social norms and radically different work practices.

Key to this future is a renewal of Penang’s urban core to bring

life back into its historical and natural water-orientated
assets and enable people and capital to invest in a new city
form. One where culture, nature, businesses and technology are
organised symbiotically.

As part of its strategy to catalyse recovery and uplift the

economy, the Penang State Government is asking innovators to
help us rethink the future and apply this to reimagine the
waterfronts of the island and mainland in a manner that builds
social, economic and environmental resilience.

George Town Conservation and Development Corporation.

August, 2020
www.penangbaycompetition.com 3
 01.
01 03.
03
02.
02 04.
04
OVERVIEW PRINCIPLES
Challenges & PROCESS
Competition Goals SDGs

p8-16 Competition Process

Timeline
PENANG BAY SUBMISSION
p26-30
COMPONENTS Eligibity

Major Projects in Motion Guidelines

p17-25 Deliverables

Jury

Evaluation Criteria

Awards

Rules

p31-37
 Crafting the Future of a City
Penang Bay is an ambitious programme to
rehabilitate, regenerate and rejuvenate
the water-based assets of George Town
and Butterworth into a seamless and
dynamic space aligned with the United
Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals
(SDGs).

The Penang Bay Ideas Competition is

an invitation to local and global
innovators to generate inspiring ideas
and concepts that will help reimagine
the way the people of Penang can
leverage their water-based assets in
order to drive prosperity and build a
photo credit: fanjianhua/Freepik
resilient city-state over the next 20
years.

It is a unique opportunity to take part

in a milestone project at a critical
moment and help craft the future of a
city.

www.penangbaycompetition.com 6
 01 Pearl of the Orient
OVER- The state of Penang is located on the northwestern coast of

VIEW
Peninsular Malaysia. Strategically positioned in the Bay of
Bengal, it sits at the apex of the fastest-growing region in
the world. Dense, highly urbanised and multicultural, the
area comprises Penang Island, and a strip on the peninsular
called Seberang Perai, separated by the Penang Strait.

Unearthed megalith inscriptions indicate that Penang was

part of the 2,000 year-old Hindu-Buddhist Bujang Valley
civilisation. Penang was ruled by the Sultan of Kedah from
1136 till 1786 when the island; and then mainland were ceded
to the British East India Trading Company to establish a
trading port. Following Malaysia’s independence, Penang’s
declining fortunes were revived by an endeavour to create
a free trade zone. It is now home to a large innovation
ecosystem centred around high-tech manufacturing - notably
electronics, medical devices and solar technology. With the
presence of major tech companies -Intel, Osram, B.Braun and
Hewlett-Packard, to name a few -it is known as the Silicon
Valley of the East.

Penang is often mentioned in ‘must visit’ lists. Its

multiculturalism and history is reflected in its world
renowned street food, traditional trades and architecture.
In 2008, George Town, Penang’s capital, was listed by UNESCO
area: 1,046 KM2 as a World Heritage Site. This spawned a rejuvenation of the
inner city, and a surge in tourism.
population: 1.8 million
The Penang State government, through its Penang2030 vision,
is committed to being a ‘family-focused green and smart
GDP/capita: USD 12,560
state that inspires the nation’
nation’.

www.penangbaycompetition.com 7
www.penangbaycompetition.com 8
OVER-
VIEW

Penang Bay is a concept-

...an idea about connectivity, resilience,
technology, transformation and
sustainability.

Spatially it is defined by an hourglass-shaped

area stretching from the first Penang Bridge
in the south, through the Penang Strait to a
northern boundary.

A decade of analysis concludes that the future

of Penang rides on a new spatial economy,
based on the rehabilitation of its natural
core, waterfronts and most connected areas. It
also needs to build capacities in its economy
and urban form to absorb future shocks.

While a few foundation projects are underway,

new innovations and provocations are needed
to propel ideas further and to rethink the
impact of technological, climatic and cultural
disruptions.

www.penangbaycompetition.com 9
 Territorial Context

www.penangbaycompetition.com 10
 CHALLENGES
OVER- Penang is at a crossroad. It has

VIEW
all the ingredients to prosper. But
Climate change there are challenges.
Even under the most optimistic scenarios, Penang
will experience an increase in extreme weather The competition challenge is to take
events, leading to more frequent floods and heat account of emergent disruptions
waves. Sea-level rise is also expected to inundate and convey a set of inspirational
lower-lying areas particularly on the mainland. ideas on how Penang’s core urban
areas and water-based assets can be
rehabilitated and transformed into
an integrated and resilient new
Technological disruption economic zone.
The convergence of advances in AI, precision
biology, sensors, energy production and storage, Waterfront redevelopment is a
blockchain, robotics and material science will privileged realm where planners and
disrupt existing industries and transform city stakeholders have been faced
economies. Penang is well-positioned to ride these with crucial challenges, which have
transformations and build a new economic future then redefined a city’s character.
around them. Urban waterfronts worldwide have
evolved significantly in the 20th
century, shifting from industrial
Social transformation and transportation-focused land use
Climate crises and technological change will drive to cultural and recreational uses.
social transformations – from the way we work to
how we interact with one another and technology. To all these challenges we now
Some places will be more utopian than others. add the impact of climate change,
Putting inclusivity at the centre and shielding particularly sea level rise. What
the most vulnerable will be a major challenge for will the waterfronts of the 21st
Penang. century look like and how will they
incorporate people and technology?
This is the competition challenge.

www.penangbaycompetition.com 12
 Penang Bay

www.penangbaycompetition.com 13
 Penang Eco-Urban Region

www.penangbaycompetition.com 14
www.penangbaycompetition.com 15
OVER- COMPETITION GOALS

VIEW
The goal of the competition is to generate
ideas, stimulate discussion and help
engage Penangites and other interested
parties in the Penang Bay concept.

Participants are encouraged to bring

innovation and originality to their
proposals. However they should address
the following project goals:
01 Create viable opportunities for
environmental rehabilitation,
minimising carbon emissions and
preparing for the possibilities of
climate change

02 Generate opportunities for equality

and the democratisation of space in
the face of social transformation
associated with technological and
demographic shifts
03 Lay the foundations for new economic
activity that leverages emerging
technology and Penang’s unique
qualities

04 Enhance the ‘stickiness’ of Penang

for talent and capital by enhancing
its liveability and investment
opportunities

05 Showcase ways in which cities can be

planned to deliver the SDGs through
the collective actions of government,
private sector and civil society
www.penangbaycompetition.com 16
 02
PENANG
BAY
COM-

Bu
tt
t
PO-

er
on

wo r
T ow n W a t e rfr
NENTS

t h W a te r f r on
e
rg

t
eo G

Penang Strait

www.penangbaycompetition.com 17
PENANG George Town Waterfront Penang Strait Butterworth Waterfront
BAY To the north, a reclamation The Penang Strait is A large industrial estate
project opposite the historically a busy and port infrastructure

COM- island’s premier shopping

district – Gurney Drive
shipping route. It is
divided into a northern
stretches from the Penang
Bridge in the south to

PO- - is almost complete. To

the east is a mix of
and southern channel. At
its widest, it is 11km,
the Perai River mouth.
North of the river is

NENTS
residential, retail and 2km at its narrowest. the Butterworth Wharf
commercial developments, Two bridges and a ferry and the vehicle ferry
which converge onto an open service run across it. terminal which is primed
esplanade on the corniche Tidal currents run at for redevelopment. They
of the George Town World 2 to 3 knots. Shipping sit adjacent to Penang
Heritage Site, adjacent routes from the north Sentral – an integrated
to a historic fort and a have a depth of least 10 mixed-use transit-
cruise terminal. The area metres, while entry from oriented development
is undergoing a major the south is limited to with interstate rail
regeneration. The eastern smaller vessels. With and bus services.
seafront hosts historic multiple port facilities, Immediately north to
warehouses, Clan Jetty dredging is regular. Penang Sentral is a
communities, a vehicle Some aquaculture exists petroleum storage site,
ferry terminal and a and nearshore fishermen a tin smelting plant,
planned transit-oriented still pry the waters for (due for relocation),
development. shellfish. The Straits and the Penang Container
are fed by 3 rivers on Port. The yet-to-be-
The southern-most sections the island and 5 on the commenced Rayston
comprise new waterfront mainland. A number of Reclamation Project
residential developments smaller islands can be extends to the Container
and publicly accessible found in the Strait. Port’s immediate north,
coastal promenades such as The Strait’s ecological which is currently
Karpal Singh Drive. The system is in need of a popular seaside
former Jelutong landfill rehabilitation. dining destination and
site sits between them. fisherman’s wharf.

www.penangbaycompetition.com 18
George Town
Photo by David ST Loh

Penang Bay - Island

Photo credit: Think City Sdn Bhd
www.penangbaycompetition.com 19
Butterworth
Photo by David ST Loh

www.penangbaycompetition.com 20
 MAJOR PROJECTS IN MOTION

Gurney Wharf

Rayston Reclamation

Northern Connector
George Town World
Heritage Site Seafront

Jelutong Landfill Butterworth Waterfront

The projects described

here are at varying stages
of evolution, with degrees
of planning certainty.
Participants should take
note of these realities
but not be bound by them.
www.penangbaycompetition.com 21
PRO-
JECTS
IN
MOTION

George Town World Butterworth Gurney Wharf

Heritage Site Seafront Harbourfront

www.penangbaycompetition.com 22
 George Town World Butterworth Gurney Wharf
Heritage Site Seafront Harbourfront

The northern seafront, The Penang Sentral transit- Gurney Wharf and Seri
comprising government oriented development Tanjung Pinang Phase 2
buildings, an esplanade has a fully-functioning encapsulate land reclamation
promenade and Fort integrated bus terminal (53 hectares) and island
Cornwallis, is undergoing and interstate rail development (300 hectares)
various public realm station. Foundation works projects off Penang’s
upgrades. The eastern for a mixed development, prime shopping district.
seafront, with its including a mall and a The reclaimed land will
warehouses and port and hotel, are now underway. facilitate a new major
pier infrastructures, has Plans for the repurposing road and linear coastal
received proposals for and redevelopment of the parkland, with a seaside
cruise terminal expansion, Butterworth wharf and retail and food component,
restoration of warehouses, a vehicle ferry terminal new mangrove, beach and
maritime museum, an aquarium, are being conceived. The facilities for youth
a public promenade, and existing petroleum storage activity. The reclamation is
redevelopment of the vehicle area and smelting factory mostly completed.
ferry terminal. The urban are envisaged to be
areas immediately adjacent rehabilitated.
are being considered for
a creative and technology
precinct.
www.penangbaycompetition.com 23
PRO-
JECTS
IN
MOTION

Northern Connector Jelutong Landfill Rayston Reclamation

www.penangbaycompetition.com 24
 Northern Connector Jelutong Landfill Rayston Reclamation

The Northern Connector is a The Jelutong Landfill site First conceived in 1999, the
proposal to link the Gurney was opened in the 1970s and Rayston Reclamation project
Wharf project to the George has predominantly managed is an ambitious plan to
Town World Heritage Site using construction and green reclaim some 650 hectares
the coastline. Currently, waste. The 40-hectare site of land on the Seberang
most of the waterfront is was closed in 2010 and has Perai coast. A third of
under private or institutional mostly stabilised. The state the land is reserved for
ownership, with limited public is keen for the site to be the extension of the port.
access. The plan envisages a rehabilitated and converted In 2018, the developers
public promenade along the into an eco-friendly announced that they were
coast with intermittent piers development with publicly restarting the project,
strutting out. When complete, accessible waterfront hoping to complete the
it will allow the public to amenities. Once complete, reclamation before 2030.
walk, cycle or run from Gurney it will connect the Karpal Alternative proposals for
Wharf to the eastern seafront, Singh Drive Foreshore to the site include a series of
continuing south towards the the north, with The Light smaller islands to preserve
Bayan Lepas Free Industrial development to the south. the current shoreline.
Zone. It forms part of a
larger plan for a network of
blue and green connectors

www.penangbaycompetition.com 25
 03
PRINCI-
PLES
&
PRO- SDGs
CESS
The Sustainable Development Goals comprise 17 global
goals established in 2015 by the United Nations General
Assembly to be a "blueprint to achieve a better and
more sustainable future for all".

The key SDGs for the Penang Bay Project are:

Goal 3: Health & Wellbeing

Goal 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
Goal 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure
Goal 10: Reduced Inequalities
Goal 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
Goal 13: Climate Action
Goal 14: Life Below Water

Submissions will be judged on how they take into

account SDGs.

www.penangbaycompetition.com 26
www.penangbaycompetition.com 27
PRINCI-
PLES
&
PRO- COMPETITION PROCESS
CESS
The Ideas Competition is an invitation to propose ideas, designs
and concepts for the three component areas. The competition process
is as follows:

01 Register details and pay a nominal entry fee of USD 25

02 Participants will have until 19 October 2020 to prepare their

submissions

03 Within 2 weeks, a maximum of 40 submissions will be selected by

a technical committee for the judging panel’s consideration. The
shortlisted submissions will be posted online with opportunity
for community voting.
voting Community sentiment will be separate from
the official judging process which will be solely based on the
evaluation criteria

04 The judging process will take 3 weeks

05 Winners will be announced, accompanied by a public exhibition

06 The First Prize winner(s) will be invited to present their ideas in

person if possible or virtually, if not.
www.penangbaycompetition.com 28
 19 OCT
TIMELINE 23:59 GMT+8
submission
deadline JAN 2021
winners
31 OCT presentation
shortlisting and
exhibition

DEC
announcement
of selected
15 AUG 2020
entries
>
launch announcement
> of winners
registration
opens

www.penangbaycompetition.com 29
 04
SUB-
MIS-
SION
ELIGIBILITY GUIDELINES

While the competition is Submissions must:

open to all, professional
collaborations and Be in the formats indicated and
multidisciplinary teams arranged so that they can be
are encouraged. Projects readily uploaded to a website and
that are non-original presented in a public
or have been made public exhibition
prior to the results will
automatically be excluded Consider how the Penang Bay Project
from the final selection. could unfold over the next 20 years

Address the challenges outlined and

consider the projects and proposals
already in motion

Address the relevant SDGs (3, 8, 9,

10, 11, & 14) and competition goals

Focus on the 3 project components,

their complementary nature and
seamless integration

www.penangbaycompetition.com 31
SUB-
MIS- DELIVERABLES
SION
A1

x3 O R

3 x A1 panels in PDF, JPEG

or PNG (max. total 300 mb)
submitted via the website
that includes: 2.5 minutes

Master plans for the Penang

Bay area A 2.5-minute video in .avi,
.mov or .wmv (max. 50 mb)
Concept plans, renders, that illustrates:
cross sections, elevations
for critical components to Visual representation of
illustrate ideas ideas for the Penang Bay
area
Justification for the
designs against the SDGS. Images and narration of
critical components

Justification for the

designs against the SDGS

www.penangbaycompetition.com 32
 SUB-
MIS- JURY
SION

CO nt
D eo nt EX e d ge a g er d e s ide
h
ing vernm
e ad ary now
l Man ct Lea , P
r
S A rsh cret d K
er a l
u r e i t e i v e t a r
d eep te Go H aji te S
e
, Hea Gen C ult A rch i t iat or M okh rs
g a o t , e n t l e
Ja
YB ang S
ta
A
r
zha ty S
t
o r en
a b ita nreal t for lzer dscap a , I
n c uba Z a i na
P l ann
z M s o r I
Pen o’ epu N-H is Mo Tru Lenzh l Lan i
idz ment bin te o
f
Dat ng D L ope n, U L u a n a t s p n u
a rdo vati
o
a K
h a on a
i K evel
o a
Ihs nsti
t
Pen u a o A g S and nati d z D j I
Ed r a H
d Inn Int
e W
o bal TPr ysia
n
a n G l a
Mal

*A committee of 4 people including architects, landscape

architects and urban planners will be nominated by the
George Town Conservation and Development Corporation (GTCDC)
to verify entry compliance with competition regulations and
requirements in order to eliminate non-compliant submissions
prior to the jury’s evaluation. The committee will select
a maximum 40 entries for online publication and the jury’s
consideration.

www.penangbaycompetition.com 33
SUB-
MIS- EVALUATION CRITERIA
SION
Originality
30 and innovation
of ideas

Consideration of the key

30 SDGs

Economic potential of
30 the proposals

10 Clarity of ideas

*The chairman of the jury will prepare a Jury Report, which

will be made available on the website upon the announcement
of results.
 
As this is an ideas competition, entrants are not allowed
to raise objections to the evaluation results. Judges’
decisions are final.

www.penangbaycompetition.com 34
SUB-
MIS- AWARDS
SION
FIRST PRIZE USD 20,000

SECOND PRIZE USD 8 , 0 0 0

THIRD PRIZE USD 4 , 0 0 0

x5 HONOURABLE MENTION USD 1 , 0 0 0 EA

www.penangbaycompetition.com 35
 Copyright
SUB- All entries must be original

MIS- RULES works. Entrants shall take

responsibility for all

SION Anonymity
liabilities arising from the
infringement of any copyright.
If an entry is found to have
infringed the copyrights of
Authorship should not be others, it will immediately be
disclosed in submission materials disqualified.
and communications, and should
not be displayed on social media The Entrant (individual or team)
or any other form of public will retain all rights to the
display or platform prior to submitted materials but will
the announcement of competition fully cooperate for exhibitions,
results. social media postings and
  publications; the organiser will
No logos or symbols which may be be free to exhibit and publish
identified with the Entrant can all submitted entries.
be used in the submission, as
they will be considered grounds Any dispute arising under or in
for disqualification. connection with the competition
  will be arbitrated under
The entry identification number Malaysian law, by the court with
assigned to the proposal upon jurisdiction over the district
submission will be used in all where the organiser is located.
communications prior to the
announcement of results.

www.penangbaycompetition.com 36
SUB-
MIS-
SION Some Questions You May Have
Will base maps and CAD drawings be available?

Base cadastral and GIS files will be available to registered

participants via the project website www.penangbaycompeti
www.penangbaycompetition.com
tion.com

Who do I contact if I have a question?

Clarification can be sought by emailing the Penang Bay Secretariat

at [email protected]

An FAQ page will be established on the project website and updated

regularly.

www.penangbaycompetition.com 37
 Organised by

Penang State Government

Partners

Seberang Perai Penang Island

City Council City Council
www.penangbaycompetition.com 39
contact us
George Town Conservation and Development Corporation (GTCDC)

Penang Bay Secretariat : [email protected]

Level 1, UAB Building,

No.21-35,Gat Lebuh China,
10300, George Town,
Penang, Malaysia.