http://placemaking-architects.com/

PMA - PlaceMaking Architects, 22/F, On Hong Commercial Building, 145 Hennessy Road, Wanchai, Hong Kong (2026)

07/04/2026

DONGHAE G.A.T.E.W.A.Y
Project Size: 10 ha
Location: Donghae, South Korea

The Donghae Gateway Hub reimagines a former steel industry site into a vibrant, multi-functional urban node. It is anchored by three interconnected pillars:
-. Creative Industry, leveraging the legacy of steel through adaptive reuse, art, performance, and lifestyle programming.
-. Innovation Ecosystem, cultivating a culture of creativity, startups, co-working, and tech-driven solutions with strong institutional and cultural linkages.
-. Community, ensuring inclusive, healthy, and active urban living through accessible services, public amenities, and lifelong learning.
This integrated vision positions Donghae as a leading coastal gateway of innovation, sustainability, and inclusive growth.

Reconnect and Elevate Donghae Industrial Legacy
Preserve the historic DB Metal Factory by transforming it into a living cultural landmark that honors its industrial past. Through adaptive reuse and cultural activation, the site will become a vibrant historical destination that reenergizes the district and reconnects it with the city’s natural and social fabric.

16/03/2026

JOIN OUR TEAM – PMA is opening internship programs to join our growing team in Indonesia. We are looking for curious and motivated students and junior designers/fresh grads with a passion for urban issues.

- Architectural/Urban Designer Intern (6 months)
The Architectural/Urban Designer Intern will be responsible for day-to-day tasks associated with urban planning, urban design, architecture, urban and landscape architecture, and social media. This is a hybrid role located in Surabaya, with flexibility for some remote work.

If you are interested, please send your CV and Portfolio (

19/01/2026

Brawijaya Exchange
Project Size: 2,2 ha
Location: Malang, Indonesia

Hotel landmark that become green namecard for UB and Malang City

The proposed hotel aims to be more than an accommodation facility — it is envisioned as a living landmark that embodies the spirit of Universitas Brawijaya (UB) and the ecological identity of Malang City. As the “green namecard” of both institutions, the hotel symbolizes UB’s academic excellence and Malang’s reputation as a cool, green, and culturally rich city. Its architecture merges innovation and sustainability through vertical greenery, shaded courtyards, and natural ventilation that reflect UB’s environmental consciousness while creating a welcoming urban gateway for visitors.

Rooted in UB’s culture of dialogue and collaboration, the hotel is designed as a space for exchange between academia, industry, and the public. Open courtyards, green lounges, and exhibition areas serve as extensions of the campus — places where discussions, cultural events, and research showcases can occur in an informal yet inspiring environment. This approach translates UB’s academic energy into an accessible civic experience, strengthening the connection between the university and the broader Malang community.

Architecturally, the hotel reflects Malang’s local character through the use of natural materials, contextual forms, and a balance between modern design and traditional warmth. It celebrates local culture and hospitality while advancing green innovation. As a result, the hotel stands as both an icon of sustainability and a symbol of identity — a space where nature, knowledge, and culture converge, representing the future vision of UB and the enduring charm of Malang City.

15/01/2026

Brawijaya Exchange
Project Size: 2,2 ha
Location: Malang, Indonesia

The new business district creates multi-level open spaces that connect Universitas Brawijaya and the community through dialogue, exchange, and collaboration.

Nestled within Malang’s lush natural landscape, the new business district is envisioned as a vibrant extension of the city’s ecological and academic character. The masterplan integrates a network of open spaces distributed throughout the site, creating a porous and accessible environment that invites movement, gathering, and interaction. These open areas—ranging from green courtyards and shaded promenades to community plazas—are designed to blend seamlessly with the surrounding tropical context, ensuring that the built environment coexists harmoniously with nature. This landscape-driven approach enhances environmental comfort while reinforcing Malang’s identity as a city known for its greenery and livability.

Across multiple levels, the development establishes a continuous spatial and social dialogue between academic life and urban enterprise. Elevated walkways, terraces, and green roofs connect educational, commercial, and public programs, forming an interconnected system that promotes collaboration and exchange. These layered public realms encourage everyday encounters between Universitas Brawijaya students and the wider Malang community, transforming the district into a living campus where learning, innovation, and culture converge. Through this integration, the new business district becomes not only a destination but also a nurturing environment that supports the growth of both people and place.

13/01/2026

Brawijaya Exchange
Project Size: 2,2 ha
Location: Malang, Indonesia
Honorable Mention at Sayembara Desain Hotel dan Pusat Kawasan Bisnis Universitas Brawijaya

Project Team:

Brawijaya Xchange represents a new urban catalyst that bridges the academic life of Universitas Brawijaya with the civic and commercial pulse of Malang. Conceived as a continuous ribbon, the development physically and socially connects multiple programs—university, hotel, business district, M.I.C.E and public realm—into a cohesive urban experience. This ribbon not only stitches fragmented edges but also activates them, transforming underutilized zones into vibrant nodes of learning, exchange, and entrepreneurship. Its dual role as both an academic and urban corridor allows it to serve students and citizens alike: fostering innovation within the campus while extending knowledge and economic opportunities to the broader community. As a new urban landmark, Brawijaya Xchange embodies the vision of an integrated ecosystem where education, business, and culture converge to shape the next chapter of Malang’s growth.

Eco-Education in UB Central Business District
The “X” in Brawijaya Xchange is more than a symbol; it represents the meeting point between academia and the city. This intersection is translated physically through a ribbon-shaped bridge that weaves across the site, crossing paths to form an iconic landmark. At this crossing, the university’s learning corridor meets Malang’s civic life, creating a central hub of activity where innovation, culture, and entrepreneurship converge.

”

01/01/2026

Sincere gratitude to our team, clients, and collaborators for their continued support and trust.
We look forward to another year of growth and meaningful collaboration in 2026.

29/12/2025

This year represents a meaningful evolution for PMA—one where our practice continued to expand across scales, disciplines, and borders. From large-scale masterplanning and commercial retail developments in China, to masterplan and architectural projects across Indonesia, our work increasingly reflects a regional dialogue rooted in Asia. Beyond geography and typology, this year challenged us to think more deeply about how places are shaped—by people, climate, culture, and time. Our approach continues to evolve toward more integrated thinking, where masterplanning and architecture are not separate disciplines, but part of a continuous design narrative that connects vision to lived experience.

As we look ahead to 2026, we remain committed to creating meaningful places through thoughtful design, cross-border collaboration, and shared ambition. We look forward to more impactful and fruitful partnerships in the year to come.

24/12/2025

Warm holiday wishes from all of us at PMA. 🎄✨
Thank you for being part of our journey and for shaping meaningful places together throughout the year.

We’ll be taking a short year-end break from Dec 25 and will be back on Jan 2.
We look forward to shaping thoughtful and meaningful places together in the year ahead. 🤍

27/10/2025

Rimba Senja Aruna
Project Size: 3,277m2
Location: Bali, Indonesia
Top 20 Finalist

Carefully integrated with the existing Acacia trees and the surrounding Jimbaran forest, Rimba Senja Aruna offers a unique living environment that emphasizes tranquility, promotes wellness, and provides a luxurious yet environmentally-sensitive lifestyle. The natural setting enhances residents’ health and well-being, inviting them to slow down, unwind, and fully immerse themselves in the rich beauty of the surrounding landscape.The building setbacks on the north side allow for the preservation of most existing Acacia trees. This zone is also designated for rainwater harvesting and filtration through a bioswale system. These bioswale ponds will be integrated into the overall water management strategy, while also creating opportunities for the community to reconnect with nature and water. The playground becomes a shared space where families gather, children play, and neighbors connect—gently nestled within the natural landscape. It fosters a sense of togetherness and encourages outdoor interaction, nurturing a vibrant and connected community.Exclusively reserved for residents, the ground-level plunge pool—paired with the adjoining fitness center—offers a private sanctuary of wellness and relaxation at the heart of the courtyard. It features natural swimming pool that filters overflow water using biological filtration and aquatic plants instead of chemicals, it blends seamlessly with the surrounding landscape, creating a lush, garden-like atmosphere

&Challenges

24/10/2025

Rimba Senja Aruna
Project Size: 3,277m2
Location: Bali, Indonesia
Top 20 Finalist

Growing from Existing Trees
The existing Acacia trees serve as a natural buffer, providing privacy for residents while also offering a serene view to be enjoyed from within the apartments. These trees provide shade for the ground-level playground and help create a communal space where residents can connect with nature and appreciate the area’s rich biodiversity.

The built form of the apartment is inspired by the terraced rice fields of Bali, gradually stepping upward to create a distinctive architectural silhouette that becomes a landmark unique to Natadesa. This terracing not only evokes local cultural landscapes but also maximizes sunset views from each unit through a thoughtfully oriented façade. At the southern edge, a signature lounge bar acts as a visual beacon for the development, enhanced by a rooftop pool that offers a premium leisure experience with panoramic vistas, seamlessly blending luxury with a deep sense of place.

&Challenges

21/10/2025

Rimba Senja Aruna
Project Size: 3,277m2
Location: Bali, Indonesia
Top 20 Finalist

The apartment is thoughtfully designed in harmony with the entire Natadesa complex, built with care and a sensitive scale that welcomes both visitors and residents. As the central landmark of the development, it sets the tone for the whole experience. Guests are greeted by a naturally ventilated grand lobby that showcases local art, offering a calming and immersive introduction to the spirit of Bali. This curated arrival experience leads seamlessly into the apartment’s public amenities on the ground floor. An organic dining hub promotes a farm-to-table concept, while a ground-level plunge pool and gym encourage wellness and an active lifestyle.

The co-working space is designed to preserve and highlight existing Acacia trees. Built to grow within nature, this semi-open space also serves as a viewing gallery, inviting art lovers to connect with creativity in a lush environment. A viewing deck allows guests to appreciate birdlife and the preserved tree canopy.

&Challenges

06/10/2025

Gemdale Shijiazhuang Mixed-use AR
Project Size: 5ha
Location: China

The design embraces a dynamic architectural form that blends sculptural fluidity with vertical clarity. The podium is envisioned as a fluid, organic volume — a cultural and retail hub wrapped in layered façades that create movement and light play throughout the day. In contrast, the towers rise as sleek, transparent forms clad in glass, their verticality softened by planted terraces that bring greenery into the high-rise environment. Together, they establish a dialogue between solidity and lightness, nature and technology.

Responding to urban density, the masterplan balances vertical living with activated ground planes. The towers maximize space efficiency while maintaining human-scale experiences at the street level, ensuring permeability, sunlight, and ventilation. By integrating green terraces and communal spaces across multiple levels, the development not only accommodates density but transforms it into an opportunity for connection, livability, and sustainability.

PMA - PlaceMaking Architects

07/04/2026

16/03/2026

19/01/2026

15/01/2026

13/01/2026

01/01/2026

29/12/2025

24/12/2025

27/10/2025

24/10/2025

21/10/2025

06/10/2025

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