Talk Architecture

Send us Fan Mail A 5 part series starts with the 1st episode discussing what is the New Architecture Curriculum, focusing on the Point of View (POV) of a student. Hypothetically, the architecture student in the first year will be introduced to designing a 200 units of housing focusing on 4 design problems only, guided by the tutor (mentor).  The listener will start to be acquainted about the desig...

Send us Fan Mail "A prequel is a work that forms part of a backstory to the preceding work." (quote) This episode comes before revealing the New Architecture Curriculum in the much awaited episode. Taking the BSc in Architecture (Part 1) and Master of Architecture (Part 2) curriculum, this episode presents an analysis of the existing architecture curriculum that I had previously been inv...

Send us Fan Mail Special Feature: A personal account on what is the architect's identity and what happens when one has it and at what age - 20,25,30,35 or 40? If you are not practicing architecture, can you still identify as an architect? This episode was created in series 12 and was part of a special feature for paid subscribers but now it's free for everyone. ©️Talk Architecture 2023,...

Send us Fan Mail This is the start of a series [episode 17] on reflections on the well-being and sensibilities in the every day to create a habit of creative expressions for the architect's mental well-being. How was 'creativity' being approached in architecture education and practice later on? Even in architecture schools, the problem lies in the 'production oriented' app...

Send us Fan Mail The conversation in the second part focused on the decision to do film making after graduating from architecture school, with stories recollected when Gogu was developing his interest while still practising architecture after his first degree and lessons he learned from this important time in his life. Gogu is a filmmaker based in Kuala Lumpur, developing his first feature film Ka...

Send us Fan Mail This is a break or intermission in between the 1st and 2nd part of the chat with Gogu! A number of people including Micah Bowers, said that: "Art solves problems. "Good design" is simply one path to a solution". Meaning that the Art Process and the Design Process is the same. What I wanted to find out from my conversation with Gogu, who is a film-maker that gra...

Send us Fan Mail Gogu is a filmmaker based in Kuala Lumpur, developing his first feature film Kaali. "Teaming up with the esteemed Eve Baswel, Gogularaajan has co-written and co-directed the short film 'Walay Balay'," featured at the Cannes Film Festival in May 2024. I interviewed Gogu to find out how architecture school education influenced his current success as a film-maker....

Send us Fan Mail "Architecture (education) disrupted" or false alarm? You decide. Are we facing the tip of the iceberg (of the bigger problems) when it comes to architecture education? Further deliberations are needed to set out on how to look or approach in understanding the New Architectural Curriculum. Second part to the previous discussion delving deeper into the subject matter. © 20...

Send us Fan Mail Architecture can be disrupted, like any other old and obsolete systems from the last century.  In the new world, architecture entrepreneurs in whatever form, such as academics or professionals, have in their minds, the idea of 'simplifying' the contrived and complicated systems of university accreditation and rankings among other things, obviously stifling the profession...

Send us Fan Mail After this episode, I will propose a New Curriculum for the Education of the Architect, a simplified and stronger version by proposing a framework to create the optimum learning experience for the future architect. If the graduate do not want to follow the path to be a professional architect, they do not have to be contented to be "half an architect" or an "architec...

Send us Fan Mail A more detailed description of how the tutors structured and run the architectural design studio programs for 2 semesters with the 2013-14 batch and how we managed the learning experience of the students. We believe that year long program not only created a decisively effective outcome for future architects but also any other pathways like film-making and art. It fulfil the learni...

Send us Fan Mail In 2013, we decided to have better control on the running of the second year studio and created an architectural program that was a springboard for success of many of the students then.  There were a number of students that came to my mind some 11 years later such as artist Lis Lequin, film-maker Gogularaajan, graduate architects Joo Yin, Hui Xin and Adam and others. For example, ...

Send us Fan Mail Since 2021, ARB proposed that the Part 1, 2 & 3 Architecture course be discontinued and just have an 'academic course' and 'practical course'. Certainly that would be the right move!  From the ARB report: One stakeholder interviewee said, “When people qualify, there is a disconnect between professional practice and design. It should be more integrated.” Ano...

Send us Fan Mail The future scenario is "you don't need Part 2 / Masters of Architecture course" as the students of the future will not want to follow the traditional route of being an architect. This is an opener to the discussion on architecture education in the future. Listen to previous podcasts to find out how this proposition came about. Let us have this conversation! © 2024 T...

Send us Fan Mail Part 2 discussion combined 2 topics discussed earlier on "architecture students missing skill set" with " the architect entrepreneur, design thesis and hypothesis".  Further analysis on the 2 other students who dealt with the eco-system (system thinking) using their architectural project showed an entrepreneurial aspect - please read about these: Wong Chiang He...

Send us Fan Mail Based on a Facebook post by an architecture student who asked about the skills that they need apart from 'copying', I made clear suggestions on what are the missing skill set that consists of : 1. Observational (sketching) 2. Critical thinking  3. Analytical thinking (Both number 2 & 3 are to do with reading and understanding concepts apart from architecture, and thr...

Send us Fan Mail This topic on "disability and architecture / architects", an intersectionality / inter-disciplinary, will be a regular feature in Talk Architecture. This episode provides a picture of how a personal journey began and why it will be an important aspect to the aging population issue in Malaysia, and who are the main proponents for this to happen, for example the architects...

Send us Fan Mail An Extended Introduction to explain further thoughts about the relationship of the Architect Entrepreneur to Artificial Intelligence and how this will be a good thing when specialisation will help to bring back the important role of architecture in society. A series is dedicated to this topic based on research with Facebook group comments, articles, and YouTube videos that spanned...

Send us Fan Mail A 2 part discussion where in this first episode we discuss the 5 design thesis hypothesis / problem statement identified and challenged and how Raymond Bu had provided the solution for them. A few students dealt with the eco-system using their architectural project showed an entrepreneurial aspect of their work. This also proved the complexity and completion of a commendable proje...

Send us Fan Mail An Introduction to a new series on Artificial Intelligence and Architecture to start the conversation and current development on architecture education and practice. "With the emergence of AI-powered design tools and techniques. The need for traditional architectural education is rapidly diminishing. And this is not inconceivable that it may disappear entirely. " (ChatGP...

Send us Fan Mail ESG business models impact society's aspirations when focused on creating eco-systems and not just ticking boxes to look good. Have businesses considered the 'social' in ESG enough? " The Social in ESG covers 'human rights, community involvement, diversity, and customer satisfaction'" (https://www.thecorporategovernanceinstitute.com/insights/guid...

Send us Fan Mail Are architects and designers neuro-divergent or have traits that are neuro-divergent? Google says that: neurodivergent (adjective) means "differing in mental or neurological function from what is considered typical or normal (frequently used with reference to autistic spectrum disorders); not neurotypical ". We often think of ourselves as special or have special skill se...

Send us Fan Mail Part 2 and the concluding episode of this discussion were inspired by the architect, Mitch Moss's post on Facebook on 18 February 2024. Some discussion includes the design of high-rise buildings and identity. The argument is that when we propose that the context (people) is at the core of the design decision, we will design more of an inside-out building rather than merely fo...

Send us Fan Mail The first part of a two-part series is the first reaction that was discussed after reading the architect, Mitch Moss's Facebook post on 18 February 2024. Readings of what Mitch had posted interspersed with Naziaty's Talk Architecture host's opinion on Concepts, Context, and Content in Malaysian Architecture Identity, take forward last December 2023 discussion based...

Send us Fan Mail “Don't Take Things Personally”, is one of the Four Agreements that Don Miguel Ruiz wrote in his book. People at the office, be it a co-worker, your boss, a consultant or the contractor may state their opinion to you. At that moment you could say something back but you don't have to. One could feel threatened at that instant feeling less worthy or being insulted even. But...