Learning is a two way process. The lecturers are meant to be guides and facillitators to the students, and the only difference between the lecturers and the students are years of experience. The students will need to erase any myths and misconceptions about the lecturers and how the studio will be run, particularly if these have negative connoctations.
Every student has a chance to get an A this semester and the next. Based on the CGPA or GPA, the students will need to increase their chances of securing a place in the 4th year. Alternatively, they could opt for more experience or study abroad. The lecturers will support all career development decisions by the student. I for one will support any career development by the student even if they do not want to be an architect at the end of the day. Just look at Tony Eusoff! (or our Anthony Joseph). When I met him one day after he decided to go into showbusiness, to me he looked a bit nervous about meeting his ex lecturers and their expectations of him. I said to him, "Congratulations! I hope you will succeed as a businessman!" Yes, of course, he is currently projecting himself to be more of a model cum actor, but as we know at the end of the day, besides the fame which will eventually wane off, he will need to excel as a businessman, and that to me is the clue to how a student could be successful in life, and we have to acknowledge that in our teaching and creating a learning environment to help the students gain confidence and this in turn would help the student achieve more in life. He is one example and there are many others.
I would like to comment on what had transpired so far in the Studio, based on my observations and hope that this will help to develop a better understanding of the lecturer's expectations (as I not only will provide my own opinion but hope to summarise the opinions of other lecturers' as well in this blog, although I am sure they will add to what I say later on). I hope to do so soon enough.
Sunday, July 30, 2006
Thursday, July 27, 2006
Interim Crit 27 July 2006
Interim Crit
27th July 2006
Venue: Studio 3
The following comments are purely my own based on the notes and observations taken today during the interim crit session. Alvin and Mastura were also present.
There are two sites in Seremban town. Two groups of students for each site presented the urban analysis on Monday, the site analysis on Tuesday and today, the summarized analysis and the three proposals for each site.
Interesting to note that our expectations of the student’s work (visually and verbally) were being met today, although we still feel that the work could be sharper and better prepared.
On Monday, the Site 1 group held the edge, but on Tuesday the Site 2 group managed to present better than the former. As a whole, what one group lacked, the other group compensated, in both the urban and site analysis.
Comments on what were discussed today are as follows:
Site 2 group started the ball rolling by presenting aspects of the responsive environment principles in their site analysis. It could have been a tighter presentation as we would have liked to discuss more on the proposal. Nevertheless, we managed to discuss as much as we could before the students proceeded to attend Dr Ken Yeang’s talk.
SITE 2
Proposed by the group:
1. Taman Warisan Seremban
2. Community Centre
3. Performance Art Centre
In my opinion the proposal for this site could make a statement about what Seremban inspires to be. The planner whom we met last week mentioned the idea that Seremban represents Negeri Sembilan. Will that literally mean that we should relocate an old Minang house and place it on the site? If Negeri Sembilan is about the Minangkabaus or the Minang people, then how could we use this approach in the conceptual design?
If there ever is a site to do it, then I agree, this IS THE SITE. Should the proposal be a gallery or museum then? We discussed today that it could be an Information Centre and yet serve the community. There are two things here. If we create two objectives for the site, will it be “rojak”? Serve the visitors (introducing Seremban) and also serve the community (community facilities). Could we do both successfully or will the impact be watered down?
SITE 1
Proposed by the group:
1. Martial Arts Centre
2. Health Care Centre
3. Tea House
Referring to the discussion, the safe bet is the Health Care Centre, but the “Tea House” could be a radical proposal in which we asked the group to re-propose again.
( I will continue with the discussion later.)
27th July 2006
Venue: Studio 3
The following comments are purely my own based on the notes and observations taken today during the interim crit session. Alvin and Mastura were also present.
There are two sites in Seremban town. Two groups of students for each site presented the urban analysis on Monday, the site analysis on Tuesday and today, the summarized analysis and the three proposals for each site.
Interesting to note that our expectations of the student’s work (visually and verbally) were being met today, although we still feel that the work could be sharper and better prepared.
On Monday, the Site 1 group held the edge, but on Tuesday the Site 2 group managed to present better than the former. As a whole, what one group lacked, the other group compensated, in both the urban and site analysis.
Comments on what were discussed today are as follows:
Site 2 group started the ball rolling by presenting aspects of the responsive environment principles in their site analysis. It could have been a tighter presentation as we would have liked to discuss more on the proposal. Nevertheless, we managed to discuss as much as we could before the students proceeded to attend Dr Ken Yeang’s talk.
SITE 2
Proposed by the group:
1. Taman Warisan Seremban
2. Community Centre
3. Performance Art Centre
In my opinion the proposal for this site could make a statement about what Seremban inspires to be. The planner whom we met last week mentioned the idea that Seremban represents Negeri Sembilan. Will that literally mean that we should relocate an old Minang house and place it on the site? If Negeri Sembilan is about the Minangkabaus or the Minang people, then how could we use this approach in the conceptual design?
If there ever is a site to do it, then I agree, this IS THE SITE. Should the proposal be a gallery or museum then? We discussed today that it could be an Information Centre and yet serve the community. There are two things here. If we create two objectives for the site, will it be “rojak”? Serve the visitors (introducing Seremban) and also serve the community (community facilities). Could we do both successfully or will the impact be watered down?
SITE 1
Proposed by the group:
1. Martial Arts Centre
2. Health Care Centre
3. Tea House
Referring to the discussion, the safe bet is the Health Care Centre, but the “Tea House” could be a radical proposal in which we asked the group to re-propose again.
( I will continue with the discussion later.)
Wednesday, July 26, 2006
Testimony of Competence
We were discussing about the architectural programme the other day. What we had agreed since the inception of the BSc in Arch course for University of Malaya, was that at the end of 3rd year, the students intending to graduate would need to produce work both visually and verbally as a testimony to their competence.
What does that mean?
For sure, the quality of work needs to be there. So who judges the quality?
We need to look at the bodies that accreditated our architectural programme, both the Part 1 and Part 2. Let's look at the RIBA website.
Quoted from the website:
"Society looks to architects to define new ways of living and working, to develop innovative ways of using existing buildings and creating new ones. We need architects(with) understanding of the complex process of design and construction to build socially and ecologically sustainable cities and communities. Architects can be extremely influential as well as being admired for their imagination and creative skills. " (Link source)
The core skill of a future architect is to develop as a designer. The architect does not work alone, hence other skills are needed, such as how to manage his / her design team, the other consultants, work with the client, work with the local authorities and work with people in the communities.
Further quote from the RIBA website:
"The skills that architects possess are relevant to all aspects of the built environment, from constructing new buildings to conserving old ones. The range of work they are required to undertake is so varied that each architect could give you a completely different description of what they do. The one thing that is constant in architectural work is that it is concerned with people. "
There are a set of core skills, where becoming a designer is crucial. Learning how to draw and create presentations to express your ideas is the most important skill. Learning how to verbally present is equally essential. Knowing how to manage the project and deliver on time shows how professional and competent you are.
The BSc Arch course at University of Malaya is the "foundation" course of being a future architect. A graduate would at the very minimum shows he or she have mastered the core skills, and would be viable to pursue further in the B Arch course, be employed as a desiner or enter into specialization courses to learn in depth more advanced learning in architecture or related subjects in planning, management and advanced architectural design subjects such as urban design and conservation.
What does that mean?
For sure, the quality of work needs to be there. So who judges the quality?
We need to look at the bodies that accreditated our architectural programme, both the Part 1 and Part 2. Let's look at the RIBA website.
Quoted from the website:
"Society looks to architects to define new ways of living and working, to develop innovative ways of using existing buildings and creating new ones. We need architects(with) understanding of the complex process of design and construction to build socially and ecologically sustainable cities and communities. Architects can be extremely influential as well as being admired for their imagination and creative skills. " (Link source)
The core skill of a future architect is to develop as a designer. The architect does not work alone, hence other skills are needed, such as how to manage his / her design team, the other consultants, work with the client, work with the local authorities and work with people in the communities.
Further quote from the RIBA website:
"The skills that architects possess are relevant to all aspects of the built environment, from constructing new buildings to conserving old ones. The range of work they are required to undertake is so varied that each architect could give you a completely different description of what they do. The one thing that is constant in architectural work is that it is concerned with people. "
There are a set of core skills, where becoming a designer is crucial. Learning how to draw and create presentations to express your ideas is the most important skill. Learning how to verbally present is equally essential. Knowing how to manage the project and deliver on time shows how professional and competent you are.
The BSc Arch course at University of Malaya is the "foundation" course of being a future architect. A graduate would at the very minimum shows he or she have mastered the core skills, and would be viable to pursue further in the B Arch course, be employed as a desiner or enter into specialization courses to learn in depth more advanced learning in architecture or related subjects in planning, management and advanced architectural design subjects such as urban design and conservation.
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