This is an invitation into the very first edition of Pilot Pass

by Aisha Capulong

The SAIDS committee members spent a magnetic weekend touring with us in Kuala Lumpur to reconnect with fellow designers and network with award-winning brands

An affair that took the SAIDS committee members around KL across five days, the inaugural installation of Pilot Pass received a charismatic welcome by both the designers in attendance and brands in line. Venturing through showrooms and material factories to even an art gallery in the heart of the city, the programme’s itinerary packed a punch and gave the group of 18 Sabah-based designers a well-rounded look into the design scene in the nation’s capital.

The Pilot Pass programme was created to bring a sense of travel and exploration to the design process, all while presenting designers with copious opportunities to link and socialise — ultimately planting a seed for future cross-border collaborations. Exclusive brand experiences come as a bonus for designers to discover the very best on their adventure through the city.

An immersive journey of design

The first installation of Pilot Pass took off with an exclusive tour through Hyatt Centric City Centre Kuala Lumpur, guided by the architects and designers of the spaces themselves. Behind-the-scenes access paired with direct concept storytelling from the creators proved to be a strong and inspiring start to the programme. Next on the itinerary was a visit to the Matthew Lim Associates – MLA headquarters, where its first-class team shared industry insights behind some of Malaysia’s leading projects.

Hyatt Centric City Centre Kuala Lumpur

MLA

Forest Furniture then invited Pilot Pass on a voyage through its expansive show gallery on Jalan Maarof that boasts an entire universe built around luxury brands like Roche Bobois, Saba and more. The last stop for the day, Nextrend Systems led the group of designers on an intimate session illustrating its cutting-edge sound solutions, built with architectural forms in mind that create stunning visual and acoustic atmospheres.

Forest Furniture

Nextrend Systems

Practicing curated materialism

The Pilot Pass programme alongside SAIDS‘ committee members continued with a drop by at the new Guocera Malaysia showroom, an alluring museum of tile and surface options that is a feast for the eyes. Thereafter, a world of high-quality claddings, ceilings and all multitudes of customisable metalwork awaited the entourage at the DML headquarters. As one of Malaysia’s leading metal solutions manufacturers, DML prides itself on its precision and model flexibility for bespoke applications. On-site, Pilot Pass’ designers were able to acquiant themselves with the versatility of metal through first-hand exposure.

Guocera

DML

The itinerary later moved to +n by UR-MU, a must-visit contemporary art gallery in central KL with a private collection exhibit. Ending the night with a bang, Pilot Pass’ final harbour of the day was a warm and inviting Peranakan dinner by Warong Old China. Surrounded by a nostalgic colonial-era charm, the designers wined and dined ’til late into the night as they conversed about their discoveries of the day.

Warong Old China

A day of elegant fineries

Pilot Pass’ closing day featured two premium boutiques carrying some of the finest brands available in the Malaysian market: KLOT and Tekni Furniture. KLOT, famous for its incredibly innovative space organisation systems, serves luxurious functionality that comes with a modern touch. Built to last, KLOT products can be tailor-made for your space, no matter how narrow or oddly angled.

KLOT

The entourage then went on to the very last stop in the itinerary: Tekni Furniture’s comprehensive showroom. What lied ahead was a guided walkthrough highlighting select collections by internationally renowned labels like Ligne Roset, Qeeboo and Misura Emme. Through an evening amongst refined fittings, the Pilot Pass programme concluded with a relaxed dinner within the walls of an exceptionally chic and sophisticated space.

Tekni Furniture

We’d like to express our heartfelt thanks to SAIDS for participating in our Pilot Pass programme and here’s a major shout-out to all our brand collaborators for joining this journey:

Hyatt Centric City Centre Kuala Lumpur
MLA
Forest Furniture
Nextrend Systems
Guocera
DML
+n by UR-MU
Warong Old China
KLOT
Tekni Furniture