I Love KL

Step into the whimsical realm of tufting as we sit down with the founder of Toui Studio, Jenna Loo Xin Xuan in this week's episode of I Love KL. Join us as we delve into the intricacies of this mesmerising textile art form, exploring the local tufting scene and inspiration behind Jenna's studio. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of I Love KL, we check out Urban Museum (or Ur-Mu), Bukit Bintang’s hidden museum that’s contemporary, eclectic and thought-provoking. Join us as its manager, Munira Huda leads us through the museum's history, its captivating collections, and its vision, offering a deeper insight into the cultural significance of this unique museum in the heart of Kuala Lumpur. See omnystudio.com/l...

Hazazi Hamzah, one third of E9A Architecture, which I Love KL has featured before, joins us for an introspective look at the local architecture scene and the conversations that are happening (or not) over here. How do architects here look at design, and are we collectively doing a good job in conveying its supposed meaning to the public? We explore these themes and more in this episode. See omnyst...

Sometimes, in trying to aspire for a unifying narrative, we might forget to pay close attention to the smaller narratives from the less mainstream communities. Which is why maybe it’s a good time for us to consider including these narratives, via a more granular approach of cultural mapping? That’s what heritage conservation expert, Elizabeth Cardosa is proposing, inspired by what the Philippines...

Kuala Lumpur Design Festival returns for its second year, with the intention of making design at the forefront of everyone’s thoughts. Co-founders of the festival, Razif Nasruddin and Shafique Badril join us on the show to walk us through the philosophy behind the festival, why we should prioritise design and the potential that it has in contributing to the nation’s growth, as well as why design,...

Recently, the government announced their intention to table an urban renewal act by next year, to make sure that future urban renewal efforts can be done in a more systematic and efficient way. Currently, the country does not have a specific act in place, and any redevelopment attempts fall under nine different laws and legislations. Is this a step in the right direction for our city and Kuala Lum...

In the present time, buildings such as Sultan Abdul Samad, Carcosa Seri Negara and Central Market are considered heritage buildings and have been gazetted as such. But if we were to look into the future, 100 years from now, what other contemporary buildings, monuments and landmarks will be part of that elite group? Will the buildings we know and love now, like the KLCC Twin Towers and the upcoming...

Immerse yourself in the captivating world of anime, comics, and gaming as we explore the vibrant tapestry of Animangaki 2023. Join us for an engaging conversation with Yvonne Sing, the founder and director, along with Jo Lynn Lim, the co-director of Animangaki. Together, we'll uncover the true essence of ACG culture and its significance, especially now that these conventions happen more frequently...

E9A Architecture is a research practice that tries to go against the grain. Not for the sake of it, but to truly reflect on the state of contemporary architecture and produce counter narratives, all while acknowledging the realities of modern urban fabric and architecture. The folks behind the practice, Alia Ahamad, Hazazi Hamzah and Nazmi Anuar join us on the show to share what inspired them to s...

Pertubuhan Akitek Malaysia (PAM) is celebrating their 100th year anniversary this year, and to mark that momentous occasion, 2023’s edition of Kuala Lumpur Architecture Festival (KLAF) has decided to set its sights on the next 100 years with 100 events and programmes around architecture planned throughout the calendar year. We speak to the director of the festival, Norzaini Mufti about his ambitio...

I Love KL decides to venture out slightly and talk about Gombak, a place where we actually struggle to characterise due to its size and various landmarks, natural and otherwise. We end up ruminating about the area, its distinct qualities and why it’s crucial in shaping Kuala Lumpur’s identity. Image Credit: 123.RF See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Art of Speed zooms in again this year for its 12th iteration, and ahead of the event happening at the end of this month,  the brainchild behind this annual Kustom Kulture convention, Asep Ahmad Iskandar drops by our studio to share what it’s been like to create a space where this unique community can gather every year to exchange ideas and geek out over their love for custom cars, motorcycles and...

The world of tabletop games is diverse, distinctive and wonderful, if you’re willing to go down the rabbit hole and spend enough time. Any Games Con 2023 is a perfect place for you to discover, and perhaps embark on the journey, if you haven’t already! We speak to the event organiser, Lai Chung Sen to discuss the scene’s relevance, especially now, and how vibrant the local communities and creators...

Despite the plethora of hobbies that exist these days, trading card and board games, once thought of as relics of the past, especially in this digital age, are still pretty much relevant, and in fact, continuing on, strong as ever! What’s the scene like these days? I Love KL paid a visit to Invictus Forge, a trading card and board games cafe in Tropicana Gardens Mall to speak to its director  and...

Hamdan Abdul Majeed, Managing Director of Think City joins us on the show to talk about two grants that they are currently offering to revitalise Downtown Kuala Lumpur. The grants - Creative KL Grants Programme and Think City Urban Challenge - will hopefully encourage potential applicants to come forward and help think of ways to breathe new life into the part of the city that has seen better days...

The various development projects (especially the mega ones) taking place across KL has got us wondering - is that the only approach that should be taken when it comes to utilising heritage spaces? Should we take a slightly different approach that is perhaps more subtle, sustainable and sensitive to the local nuances? Heritage conservation expert, Elizabeth Cardosa joins us to reflect on this. imag...

Rumah Minangkabau is synonymous with Negeri Sembilan, Sarawak has Rumah Panjang while traditional Malay houses in Melaka have concrete stairs that are decorated with marble tiles. These are some examples of regionalism in architecture that essentially not only showcase distinctive aesthetics, but also functional features that respond to the local climate, geography and topography. Have we adopted...

15-minute cities gained a bit of attention recently among conspiracy theorists that argue that this is another attempt by the powers that be to control people and restrict their movements. But beyond that noise, what is a 15-minute city and is it actually a very practical solution to the kind of problems we have been seeing with our cities and the way they’re designed, especially here in Malaysia?...

The recent fire incident at KL’s popular shopping destination, Mid Valley Megamall has got us wondering about the history of the mall and its surrounding areas, before it became what it is now. Our resident heritage conservation expert, Elizabeth Cardosa reminisces about that area prior to the mall’s existence, and charts its growth throughout the years. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy inf...

This week on I Love KL, we chat with the organiser of Malaysia Diecast Expo 2023, discussing the world of diecast models, local collecting scene, and the upcoming expo happening this weekend. Discover the cultural significance of these miniature marvels, the passion and the artistry behind the local scene, as well as what you can look forward to seeing at the event. Image credit: 123rf.com See omn...

A sad incident in Fabian Fernandez’s life has made him reflect on the importance of chasing your dreams, and after ticking off some items from his bucket list, he finally decided to embark on the most ambitious one yet - circumnavigating around the world - a feat no Malaysian has attempted yet. He joins us on the show to share what it’s like to prepare for this audacious long date with Destiny (hi...

In this episode, we shine our spotlight on KL’s most iconic and recognisable field, Dataran Merdeka. Our resident heritage conservation expert, Elizabeth Cardosa recalls the field’s history, when it was once a vegetable garden, and the journey it went through to become what it is today, and what it stands for, for the people and for Kuala Lumpur. Image credit: 123rf.com See omnystudio.com/listener...

Kuala Lumpur’s cultural vibrancy has always been around, but it exists within pockets of communities and spaces, rather than permeating throughout the city. Can this be changed to make it more all-encompassing and part of our everyday lives as urban dwellers? Joining us on the show is Joe Sidek, a man of many talents, but more commonly known in his role as the former Festival Director of George To...

In conjunction with International Women’s Day this week, I Love KL looks at gender-sensitive architecture and how our built environment can be designed to be sensitive to women. Where are we with regard to this, and how can our public and private spaces be improved further to be more inclusive? Alice Sabrina Ismail, Director of Architecture from the Faculty of Built Environment & Surveying, Univer...

Heritage conservation expert Elizabeth Cardosa responds to the retabling of Budget 2023 and the allocations made for heritage preservation. According to her, while allocations of any nature are always welcomed, we should also monitor how the rollout would be like. She also elaborates on the importance of knowing how to utilise buildings that have been restored. See omnystudio.com/listener for priv...