Public Lecture
Dreams & Memories of Places by Kun Lim
From a Kedah village to the world, Kun Lim shares how people, places and lived experiences have shaped his vision of architecture.
Speaker: Kun Lim
Event Information
Event: Dreams & Memories of Places
Date: 19 August 2026
Time: 7:30 PM – 9:30 PM
Speaker: Kun Lim
Admission is FREE. Attend in person or watch the livestream on Penang Institute’s Facebook and YouTube channels.
About the Talk
This talk traces Kun Lim’s journey from his childhood in a humble farming village in Kedah, Malaysia—living in a house built by his late father, an immigrant from China—to his professional and academic experiences in Europe and the United States. Through studies at the University of Houston and international travels for projects, forums, and conferences, Lim explores how memories, encounters, and observations across diverse landscapes have shaped his approach to architecture, urban design, and planning.
He believes that architecture is rooted not only in buildings, but in people, places, lived experiences, and dreams.
“Architecture is rooted not only in buildings, but in people, places, lived experiences, and dreams.”
Biography of Speaker
Kun Lim
Kun Lim is the Design Principal of Kun Lim Studio LLC in Seattle and Kun Lim Architect in Kuala Lumpur. A University of Houston graduate, he leads an international practice with a diverse portfolio, including mixed-use developments, athletic facilities, places of worship, healthcare, multifamily housing, and township planning.
His master plan for Putrajaya, Malaysia’s new administrative capital, won a design competition in 1994 during his tenure at BEP Architect. He later served as Lead Planner and Designer for two and a half years with Kumpulan Perunding Kota Bistari, overseeing the master planning of Putrajaya.
Kun’s work has been featured in architectural publications and mainstream media. He frequently speaks at conferences worldwide, including DATUM: KL International Architecture Conference (July 6, 2024, Kuala Lumpur) and the American Institute of Architects Conference on Architecture & Design (June 4, 2025, Boston).