Sometimes, great execution begins with very little time.

For International Sustainability Week (ISW) 2026, held on 10-11 September at MITEC Kuala Lumpur, KB Colour was approached with a last-minute challenge: to design and fabricate a sustainable interpretation of one of Malaysia’s most recognisable landmarks – Merdeka 118.

The timeline? Just 72 hours.

From Brief to Build

With the clock already running, our team moved quickly from concept development to material planning, fabrication and final execution.

The objective was to create a recognisable interpretation of Merdeka 118 while keeping the structure aligned with the sustainability focus of the event. The result was a sculptural piece constructed using paper-based material, translating the tower’s distinctive silhouette into a lightweight, dimensional form.

Photo caption : From fabrication floor to exhibition floor – the Merdeka 118 structure taking shape at KB Colour.

72 Hours. One Team.

A short turnaround leaves little room for hesitation.

Design decisions, structural considerations, fabrication and finishing had to happen almost simultaneously. What would normally allow for a longer development process became a focused 72-hour effort involving close coordination across the KB team.

It was a reminder that execution isn’t only about having the right equipment or materials. It’s also about having people who can respond, adapt and find solutions when timelines change.

Photo caption : Sustainably fabricated by KB Colour – a close-up of the finished installation and project credit.

Sustainability Made Tangible

At an event centred on building a more sustainable future, the installation became a simple demonstration of how creative fabrication and material choices can work together.

Rather than treating sustainability only as a message to be printed on a wall, the Merdeka 118 piece turned that idea into something visitors could experience physically – showing how paper-based materials can be transformed beyond conventional print applications.

It reflects an approach KB continues to explore: thinking beyond printing to find new possibilities in materials, fabrication and execution.

Photo caption : The completed Merdeka 118 installation at International Sustainability Week 2026.

From Challenge to Exhibition Floor

Within 72 hours, an urgent brief became a completed installation standing on the exhibition floor at MITEC.

For us, the project wasn’t simply about working fast. It was about bringing together ideas, materials, craftsmanship and teamwork to deliver when it mattered.

Because sometimes, thinking beyond printing also means being ready to turn an unexpected challenge into something real.

Photo caption : The finished installation on the exhibition floor at MITEC Kuala Lumpur.

KB Colour – We Think Beyond Printing.