Future of built•environmentRECONNECT AND

RECONCILE: An annual

event for youngaspiring architectshelps them deepentheir understandingof the discipline,widen their" network

and prepare for theworking world

Chong Chun Jiat

Chuah Sock Kean

SUZIEANA UDA NACU

suzie@nst.com.my

FINAL-year Architecture studentChong Chun Jiat had not enjoyeda good night's sleep in days.

As the programme director of the24th Architectural Workshop - therecent instalment of the most antici­pated event among architecture stu­dents in Malaysia - Chong was under­standably under immense pressure toperform.

"It was not just me. The entire crewhad been working hard and skimpingon sleep to make this project a success,"says the 24-year-old Universiti PutraMalaysia (UPM)undergraduate.

Indeed, hosting some 800 partici­pants - from 24 tertiary institutionsincluding Institut Teknologi Bandung(ITB)and Universitas Katolik Parahy­angan (UNPAR)in Indonesia - was adaunting prospect for an organisingcommittee of only 130 students.

Chong admits that it was all worthit when the six-day affair, organisedjointly byUPMArchitecture and DesignFaculty and Malaysian Institute ofArchitects (PAM),ended on a success­ful note recently.

Themed PAD! - an acronym forPassive Active Design Intervention ­it had attempted to "reconnect Archi­tecture students to the root of the disci­pline" and to "reconcile the differencesbetween passive and active elementsof the built environment that trig­ger polarising changes to the study ofarchitecture".

"The word PAD!reflects the Malay­sian way of life. It is part of our tradi­tion and a source of sustenance," saysChong.

Bridging the conflict between pas­sive and active designs is crucial aspresent-day architects' obsession with"building iconic imagery" has resultedin "a loss of architectural sensibility andresponsibility".

Chong believes the solution is goingback to basics and examining the kindof construction that would truly servemankind.

"It is important to revisit history anddraw inspiration from basic designs aseverything wesee nowhad evolved fromsimpler times and ideas," he adds.

7

In keeping with the theme, UPM'sArchitecture and Design Faculty, thevenue for the workshop, was trans­formed into a festive village with par­ticipants as the villagers.

The itinerary was filled with activi­ties designed to promote teamwork, putyoung designers' creativity to the test,hone their soft skills and open theirminds.

"Weorganiseda photography contestin two categories - captured momentsand monochromatic - because weknow many students enjoy it as a hob­by. Wethink photography encouragespeople to look at things from differentangles," says Chong.

Participants also spent a day inPutrajaya putting themselves in theshoes of the disabled.

"Some were blindfolded and othershad to walk with their feet tied to theirteammates'. Wewanted them to experi-

Clement Cheam

ence the difficulties faced by the physi­cally challenged when moving aroundplaces that have no facilities for thedisabled," he adds.

Contests and talks were interspersedwith performances, karaoke sessionsand traditional games, which wereaimed at discovering hidden talentsamong the participants.

The message is that architecturestudents should live balanced lives byhaving diverse interests.

Chong believes participants cameaway with not only an enhanced under­standing oftheir discipline but also newfriends.

"Networking is important for stu­dents. Architects work in teams. Theindustry in Malaysia is not that big;we will end up collaborating with eachother in the future," he adds. University of Malaya will host the 25th

Muhamad Hakim Muhamad Edris,a final-year Diploma in Architecture

Contest and talks are interspersed with performances

COVER PICTURE: An award-winninginstallation and exhibition by UCSIUniver­sity Architecture students. Pictures cour­tesy of PADI organising committee andUCSIArchitecture and Interior Society.

to maintain my composure," he says.Chong and his team can get their

well-deserved rest now that the eventhas ended. But his commitment to theproject>isfar from over.

"Wewill provide the next host (UM]with feedback on the recent workshoJ:and suggestions on how to improve thE25th series, the same way that UTN(!lost of the 23rd workshop) had helpecus last year," he says.

leadership skills as reward for the hardwork that she had put as a commit­tee member. "Organising this event ismuch like being in aproject at work.Thearchitect is the team leader who guidesthe engineers and quantity surveyors inhis team. I took my responsibilities asa leader seriously by treating the crewwell in order to fulfil the participants'expectations," she says.

As for Chong, his biggest challengeas a programme director was keepinghis cool. "Although many of us werefunctioning on little sleep, we had toremain professional when things wentwrong. I can take this experience andapply it to times when I am busy jug­gling projects and deadlines, and have

student from Kolej Kemahiran TinggiMARAPasir Mas, Kelantan enjoyed histime at the workshop.

"I was inspired and impressed withthe level of work that some of the stu­dents had produced - their technicaldrawings and presentation skills wereexcellent. It is a project that studentsshould not miss," says the 21-year-old.

Clement Cheam, a third-year stu­dent from UPM, agreed adding that"the interaction with peers from otherinstitutions" is the highlight of theevent for him.

"This is the time to share ideasand look at what students from otherschools are doing," says Cheam, who ispart of the organising committee.

Patriot Negri, a final-year student atITB, Indonesia was happy to be part ofthe workshop.

"We had no idea that PAD! is a bigevent. Wehave forums and conferenc­es for practising architects in Indone­sia but nothing like this. We would behappy ifweget invited again. Wewill bebetter prepared next time," says Patriot,who is in Kuala Lumpur onan exchangeprogramme hosted by University ofMalaya (UM).

Christian Chia from UNPAR, Indo­nesia lauded the organising committeefor a job well done.

"It is great that all the universitiesare here and we get to share our ideas.We definitely need a meeting like thisforArchitecture students inAsean. Thiswill determine the future direction ofthe discipline in this region," he says.

Chuah Sock Kean, a final-year stu­dent from UPM, considered acquiring

The six-day event isftlledwith activities that putyoung designers'creativity to the test

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A place to learnfrom each otherTHE Architectural Workshop series was first introducedin 1987 and hosted by Malaysia's oldest architecturalschool in Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM).

The idea came about in the early Eighties after Malay­sian Institute of Architects (PAM)set up an educationunit to promote architectural education in local univer­sities.

The formation ofthe PAM-Education Liaison Com­mittee, which included representatives from UTM,Uni­versiti Teknologi MARA and Universiti Sains Malaysia,further reinforced the venture.

The committee metthree times a year with each uni­versity taking turns to host the meeting.

These then inspired the committee to organise astudent jamboree with the aim of fostering closer tiesbetween members of the architectural community.

After holding the first three workshops in six months'intervals, it was made into an annual event which wouldalso become the congregation venue forthe PAM-LiaisonCommittee.

Today, the workshop has been held 24 times and host­ed by seven universities, reflecting the rising number ofarchitecture schools nationwide.

Over the past two decades the architectural workshophas evolved into a platform for knowledge exchange;shaping views on various issues; networking betweenstudents and industry leaders; and honing soft skillssuch as nurturing self-confidence, creativity, commu­nication and organisational skills among students beforethey join the workforce.

Programme director for the recently concluded 24thArchitectural Workshop Chong Chun Jiat says: "It is goodexposure forthe participants as many ofthem are in theirfirst year. It is a place for them to mingle and see howtheir peers design or present their works, exhibition andinstallation. Here, juniors and seniors can learn fromeach other."

I

Evolution of the Architectural WorkshopI YEARHOSTTHEME

1987

UTM(no theme)

1988

ITM(no theme)

1989

USMPast, Present, Future

1990

UTMWarisan Kita

1991

ITMSquare One

1992

USMEnvironment

1993

UTMLegase

1994

ITMNew Horizon

1995

USMRealizations

1996

UTMEco-Tech

1997

ITMSymbiosis

1998

USM1, 2, 3 Univers

1999

UMRestrospective

for Perspective2000

UTMAlternative Realities

2001

UiTMAk.ar.Umbi-2002

USMConvergence

2003

UMUrban UQiquity

2004

UIAS.O.U.L

2005

UPMKey TAR

2006

UTMOIYlT)piarch

2007

UIABeyond Borders

·2008

USMTranXXit

2009

UiTMRUM I

2010

UKMArchustic

2011

UTMTerang

2012

UPMPADI

2013

UMDualisma

<\rchitectural Workshop