With over three decades of experience under her belt, Serina worked at Foster Associates in London for three years, returning to Malaysia in 1991 to join Hijjas Kasturi Associates. And she hasn’t stopped: having been involved in Malaysia Green Building Council and the Green Building Index since their early years, she has played a significant role in pioneering the adoption of sustainability and energy efficiency in buildings in the country, even before they became buzzwords.

She recalls when her interest in sustainability was first sparked: “My very first project was set in Duisburg, Germany, while working from our London architectural office. This project considered the building façade’s heat gain and energy efficiency, investigated new technologies in cooling and insulating the building, all while remaining transparent to harvest daylight. There were numerous other projects of the same [type] in my first working environment, and they had a profound impact on how I would begin to practise architecture. All the buildings were form-driven, and all emphasised how people would experience the environment. These values deeply impressed the young graduate architect in me, and I came home with these ideas in my head that I didn’t know would later be called sustainability.”

This enduring influence shapes her approach to all her projects. Menara Telekom was the first green project on which Hijjas and Serina collaborated but equally importantly, it reflected a pivotal moment in the evolution of the firm. Built between 1997 and 2002, it was the first high-rise energy-efficient building featuring sky gardens, underfloor cooling, daylight harvesting and north-south orientation. Recognised as one of Asean’s foremost energy-efficient buildings in 2005, it preceded the surge of green buildings in Malaysia by five years. Subsequent projects, such as Menara Shell in Brickfields, Sasana Kijang on Jalan Dato Onn, CelcomDigi Tower along the Federal Highway, the Environmental Preservation and Innovation Centre (EPIC) in Port Dickson, and the Heriot-Watt University Malaysia campus in Putrajaya, would further exemplify this impactful approach.

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In recent times, Serina has noted a prevailing trend towards cost-cutting and efficiency over design innovation and creativity; many architects face the challenge of navigating between commercial success, creative aspirations and maintaining professional integrity. However, she says, “Professional integrity needs to be maintained regardless, as architects bear a responsibility much like doctors to their patients; in our case, it’s to the buildings we design. The real dilemma is commercial work versus creative expression. Lately, the efficacy of design and creativity has been tainted by cost-cutting and cost-efficiency, and the value of great design has been limited to a few bespoke works in the country. The value of good design extends far beyond aesthetics; it can create value across various aspects, and more importantly, ensure longevity.”

Working with a team of fellow trailblazers, Serina endeavours to be part of the building process and challenges her team to think outside of the box. This collaborative approach, coupled with the firm’s commitment to innovation, constant reinvention and environmental responsiveness, undoubtedly continues to drive their practice forward.

Much of Hijjas Architects’ work is necessarily forward-looking. Last August, Serina was on a panel of industry experts who shared their insights and perspectives at Tenaga Nasional Berhad’s (TNB) inaugural Energy Transition Conference, an event which also saw the launch of the National Energy Transition Roadmap 2030 (NETR) by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. Panel discussions revolved around the future of energy, green mobility, sustainable cities and digitalisation. At the time, Serina was involved in the development of a virtual reality demo of a futuristic smart city for TNB that was exhibited at the conference. Reflecting on that experience, she says, “It was most exciting to create a virtual smart city in just a month—I wish we had more time. It was a real learning experience: imagine a virtual walkthrough where everything is live, moving and in real time. Considering that gaming professionals take months to create the depth of experiences that you see, I have gained a newfound appreciation for the virtual gaming world and AI.”

More recently, Hijjas Architects developed a masterplan for TNB Nucleus City, embracing sustainable principles and incorporating IoT infrastructure, clean energy, smart mobility and nature-based solutions. This initiative aligns with TNB’s sustainable development goals, promoting low-carbon cities and national CO2 reduction targets to achieve a net-zero vision by 2050.

When asked about her take on the emergence of smart cities today, Serina says, “Smart green cities of the future should facilitate liveable and sustainable cities through digital technologies and solutions to meet dynamic urban challenges. Singapore’s Punggol Digital District and Japan’s Toyota Woven City are perhaps exemplary examples that encapsulate smart cities of the future. One of the big challenges is anticipating the impacts of climate change and the technological reliance of smart cities. The ideal scenario would involve environmentally conscious planning, smart building design, utilisation of green energy, promotion of green mobility, enabling technological connectivity, and the prioritisation of overall liveability.”

Serina says the role of an architect today is to focus the team of planners, engineers and performance landscape architects on designing sustainable buildings, creating green spaces, developing smart urban planning solutions, and coordinating support for mobility, water, energy and pedestrian infrastructure. She emphasises that most of our major cities already have existing blueprints for smart cities; however, garnering citizens’ support is necessary to facilitate implementation. She says, “All of us in the industry of greening Malaysia know it takes a whole-of-nation approach. We need to make sustainability intuitive to the nation, and that is the direction we must take. We have incredible resources, more than most nations in Southeast Asia, along with the means and knowledge, but we need to inspire our nation to understand that we are more powerful and resilient if we prioritise sustainability now or regenerate what has been lost. We are overspending what we have and our resource savings are depleting. Acting prudently now will prolong our resources and instil pride as we emerge stronger.”

Both Hijjas and Serina have always striven for excellence and professional integrity, always being mindful of the environment, nature, people and community. While Hijjas’s works embody bold architectural statements that contribute to our national identity, Serina’s generation prioritises movement, dynamism and meticulous attention to detail, scale and community engagement. Nonetheless, the legacy of Hijjas Kasturi lives on in the next generation of architects at the firm that bears his name. Reflecting on her experience working alongside her father, Serina acknowledges the invaluable lessons she has learnt. “The discipline and ethical standards inherent in working within the built environment—perhaps these are the most significant lessons imparted by ‘my boss’ to all of us at Hijjas.”

A proud patriot, Hijjas says, “If you have to do anything, all your energy should be towards building up your country and making it a better place. Show your country what you can do. I always question, why would people want to invest in another country, in terms of building? At the end of the day, you’re enhancing, making improvements and beautifying another country, not your own. Our country needs more of this.”

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