Talk Architecture

Send us Fan Mail The current practice of architecture may not be of concern with the theory of architecture, but more than 2,000 years ago in Rome, the theory of architecture was regarded the same as the practice of architecture. Quoted by Vitruvius on "Utility, Strength, and Beauty" as the fundamental principles of architecture, the architect, builder, and engineer in the Roman times in...

Send us Fan Mail In series 6, we continue with the discussion of how the theory of architecture includes the human perspective in terms of "function". Based on the Bloomberg City Lab article written by Anna Zivarts, on April 23, 2021, entitled "The ‘15-Minute City’ Isn’t Made for Disabled Bodies", we discussed how urban planners are not having the conversation to include disabl...

Send us Fan Mail In the second part of a recent podcast in series 6, we continue with the discussion of how the theory of architecture includes the human perspective in terms of "function". Based on the Bloomberg City Lab article written by Anna Zivarts, on April 23, 2021, entitled "The ‘15-Minute City’ Isn’t Made for Disabled Bodies", we discussed further how it is important f...

Send us Fan Mail This is a podcast outlining the questions and discussion points that will be addressed in this session: “Session #1 - School of Architecture ” the topic of "Can Malaysian Architecture Schools be like the AA School?" The host of Talk Architecture, Naziaty Mohd Yaacob will be discussing with Amna Emir, Cheah Ee Von, Huat Lim and moderated with Nur Izzati among others. You...

Send us Fan Mail Concluding part of the journey: Amna A Emir on "Can Malaysian Architecture Schools be like the AA School?" (Part 2) Amna related her Part 2 Diploma years unit journey as a student at the AA school of architecture and concluded skeptically on whether Malaysian Architecture Schools can be like the AA.  It is notable that the AA student even in the first year considered the...

Send us Fan Mail Special Guest 2: Amna A Emir on "Can Malaysian Architecture Schools be like the AA School?" (Part 1) Amna takes us on a  journey as a student at the AA school of architecture, in this podcast episode, bringing us, close to her experiences, from Year 1 to Year 3.  Some points discussed include - Amna using her intuition to find and fit into a unit, appreciating the total...

Send us Fan Mail Teaser: Our guest for the next interview session on  "Can Malaysian Architecture Schools be like the AA School?" will be: Amna A Emir, designer, architect and mother, and a director at Neuformation, and we shall have a really good insight on what happens to the student as Amna will take us on a  journey as a student at the AA school of architecture. Amna did say earlier...

Send us Fan Mail "The concluding part, with Huat Lim, AA Dip . The 3rd in our series on "Can Malaysian Architecture Schools be like the AA School?" In this conversation, Huat argues further on the need to "ask deeper questions", such as probing more about nature, when the topic is "bio-mimicry". We need to cultivate a questioning mind and not assume things. Other...

Send us Fan Mail Special Guest 1: Huat Lim, AA Dip . The 3rd in our series on "Can Malaysian Architecture Schools be like the AA School?" All the questions asked, including 'what is the difference between AA grads and non AA grads', 'is designing a kitchen as complex as designing a building', 'how AA school teaches you to think', and many more right here in...

Send us Fan Mail A teaser on the upcoming interview and conversation with Huat Lim, Managing Director of ZLG Design on the topic of "Can Malaysian Architecture Schools be like the AA School?" We will unpack a lot of stuff on the learning experience as Huat graduated from the AA school in the early 80s. Huat Lim contributed as a part-time tutor in my 3rd-year design studio back in 2000 an...

Send us Fan Mail Concluding part: Conversation with Nur Izzati Mohd Khairan "Can Malaysian Architecture Schools be like the AA School?" (Part 2) Izzati and I continued with the agenda of learning 'theory' in the design studio programs and whether Malaysian graduates can compete globally. We found out that in the Part 2 MArch course, learning theory is an option, and in an elect...

Send us Fan Mail September Specials: Conversation with Nur Izzati Mohd Khairan "Can Malaysian Architecture Schools be like the AA School?" (Part 1) Izzati and I discussed further "prickly" issues that need to be addressed from our experiences and what we have learned from previous discussions. Recollecting important points that were not fully addressed, we also reflected on Izz...

Send us Fan Mail Coming soon. The second guest on this topic: "Can Malaysian Architecture Schools be like the AA School?" We will continue to frame and reframe the questions as Izzati is my partner in crime, who forages with me in clubhouse events on architecture education to dig up some nuggets of insights.  Izzati graduated with a degree in Bachelor of Science in Architecture from Inte...

Send us Fan Mail Interlude: The importance of theory in architecture design studio curriculum. This is my reaction to what had been said by Cheah Ee Von, wherein conclusion she said “Malaysian Architecture schools can be like the AA school”, and as for me, I have always believed that theory can be better assimilated in the architecture studio curriculum and in particular the Masters of Architectur...

Send us Fan Mail Selamat Hari Merdeka Malayans!  The Malayan 64th Independence Day Special: A Conversation with Cheah Ee Von "Can Malaysian Architecture Schools be like the AA School?" - Part 2 We continue where our conversation delved deeper into the questions asked before, on the importance of "theory", crits, reviews, and juries in the AA School, where Cheah Ee Von went for...

Send us Fan Mail The Malayan 64th Independence Day Special: A Conversation with Cheah Ee Von "Can Malaysian Architecture Schools be like the AA School?" - Part 1 We start off to know about the AA School unit system at the Diploma (Part 2) level. Ee Von takes us through her motivation and desire to will herself to get to the AA. She then describes what and how she chose the Diploma units...

Send us Fan Mail Coming up will be a series of conversations between the host and a number of guests talking on the topic of "Can Malaysian Architecture Schools be like the AA School?" We start next week's chat on the Independence Day Special with Cheah Ee Von, who recently graduated from the AA School in London, and did her first degree at Taylor's University in Malaysia. Do c...

Send us Fan Mail Introduction: Reasons Why Malaysian Architecture Graduates Cannot Compete Globally Continuing from the discussion in other clubhouse events MSIARCHIREVIEW club (which I attended as an audience member) notably on the 7th and 14th August 2021, the guest speaker said that, “The reason why I suggested that we talk about architecture education is that I want our graduates to be among t...

Send us Fan Mail This is a commentary on the design thesis of the MArch course based on what has been discussed in the MSIAARCHIREVIEW Club session at 9 pm on 7th August 2021. At the University of Malaya, we had conducted the design thesis course based on what the students proposed for their own individual self since 2002/2003. (It was B Arch then). The protagonist and others supported this approa...

Send us Fan Mail Fresh from listening in to the Clubhouse event on “Better Design Critiques” with moderators, Petrula, Leon, and Evan of the Design Career Masterclass, we were exposed to ideas on the criteria for design critiques; The designer will 1) Provide the context of whatever (design) he/she is showing (with the objectives and goals / talking to the brief; 2) Explain project goals to the au...

Send us Fan Mail Exclusive Interview: Khoo Salma Nasution suggested 'urban farming' as the way forward to resolve problems of access to edible and nutritious food in the cities and as a reaction to problems with pesticide-laden food and on the other problem, eating instant noodles by those living in urban poverty.  Talking about local government, developers, architects and society's...

Send us Fan Mail What does an urban and environmental activist has to say about architects and architecture? Khoo Salma Nasution graduated with a Liberal Arts degree from Duke University, U.S.A.  She is a friend to many of us, an activist who is multi-talented, campaigner, mother of three children and wife of Abdur-Razzaq Lubis, her partner in crime with Areca Books and Zero Sugar. Her activism st...

Send us Fan Mail In psychology, the sense of self concept is one of the important primary understanding for self growth and awareness. 'Being present at the moment' and aware of the situation we are in, is the phenomenological thinking principle, from the human being perspective. Establishing from a meditative state we can begin to unravel the complexities of phenomena in relation to our...

Send us Fan Mail We traced back some ideas on the future of design education. The context of the conversation is that architecture may relate more to the construction courses in some universities, but in this case some conversation was caught on a Clubhouse app chat hosted by the Design Careers Masterclass clubroom, hosted by some really good moderators, focused on the design courses and in this c...

Send us Fan Mail The second and concluding part interview with Ar. Ch'ng Sao Inn of Saoinn Architect. Architecture is a process of discovery. In this session we continued on the subject of the importance of some learning in school that would be carried on into practice. Insights on Sao Inn's approach managing a design team in JDW a design and built company was explained in Part 1. Discus...