I think the possibilities of high-end solutions to common housing problems are endless. It is amazing to see how imaginative many architects could be when cost is not in question. But once we are confronted with low-cost developments, any unconventional ideas are quickly dismissed with "this is low-cost-lah". Unfortunately, more than half of the population could only afford these low-medium cost, which explains the incessant mindless visual copies of the victorian terraces & manhattan skyline.
It is exasperating & shameful that while malaysians are one of the most active users of the global network, it seems that nobody has learnt anything from the mistakes & success of the developed countries beyond the victorian & manhattan model
I agree...indeed the victorian & manhattan model are inventions out of the deeds of survival, but the malaysian model of victorian-manhattan quest is merely a discourse of taste. Outgoing arch students who bring back those western zeitgeist is the main problem. Others success of architectural evolution & struggle have been made become our fancy de-facto fashional default.
Despite the advanced network that we have, one simple fact remains - malaysian do not read..more specifically malaysian architects..they think they are too good provided with the ballistic vest of "this is low-cost-lah" hanging between lips..lets dont forget the great leap of modernism is the product of utilizing low cost industrial materials..Looking forward to bring our ideas and criticism to a broader audience
I like this sort of banter. I am stuck in the library writing my dissertation however I must say MS, the notion that 'these outgoing students' is not entirely encompassing, as I think it is a much more prevalent short-sightedness and tendency of uninitiated Malaysian Architecture student as a whole, and the apathy-riddled industry players... whom mis-identify western modules of development as progress. We definitely need to re-evaluate, be more aware and initiated in this identity crisis, which leads to short sighted application of designs.
L.G: The context of 'out-going architecture students' written here is directed to the pioneering batch of professional trained architects, for example the Malayan Architects Co-partnership during the 60's & 70's. It is clearly evident that their modernist work were a product of western training. For now it hasn't been any issue confronting any found imbalance of contextual understanding in the design both from local & overseas student since architecture programmes around the globe have undergone some crazy homogenization thanks to the ruthless reshuffling & sharing of digital information..this further render the term 'identity crisis' more irrelevent in an age where identity only last for 2 days...What is the title of your desertation btw?
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I think the possibilities of high-end solutions to common housing problems are endless. It is amazing to see how imaginative many architects could be when cost is not in question. But once we are confronted with low-cost developments, any unconventional ideas are quickly dismissed with "this is low-cost-lah". Unfortunately, more than half of the population could only afford these low-medium cost, which explains the incessant mindless visual copies of the victorian terraces & manhattan skyline.
ReplyDeleteIt is exasperating & shameful that while malaysians are one of the most active users of the global network, it seems that nobody has learnt anything from the mistakes & success of the developed countries beyond the victorian & manhattan model
I agree...indeed the victorian & manhattan model are inventions out of the deeds of survival, but the malaysian model of victorian-manhattan quest is merely a discourse of taste. Outgoing arch students who bring back those western zeitgeist is the main problem. Others success of architectural evolution & struggle have been made become our fancy de-facto fashional default.
ReplyDeleteDespite the advanced network that we have, one simple fact remains - malaysian do not read..more specifically malaysian architects..they think they are too good provided with the ballistic vest of "this is low-cost-lah" hanging between lips..lets dont forget the great leap of modernism is the product of utilizing low cost industrial materials..Looking forward to bring our ideas and criticism to a broader audience
I like this sort of banter. I am stuck in the library writing my dissertation however I must say MS, the notion that 'these outgoing students' is not entirely encompassing, as I think it is a much more prevalent short-sightedness and tendency of uninitiated Malaysian Architecture student as a whole, and the apathy-riddled industry players... whom mis-identify western modules of development as progress. We definitely need to re-evaluate, be more aware and initiated in this identity crisis, which leads to short sighted application of designs.
ReplyDeleteL.G: The context of 'out-going architecture students' written here is directed to the pioneering batch of professional trained architects, for example the Malayan Architects Co-partnership during the 60's & 70's. It is clearly evident that their modernist work were a product of western training. For now it hasn't been any issue confronting any found imbalance of contextual understanding in the design both from local & overseas student since architecture programmes around the globe have undergone some crazy homogenization thanks to the ruthless reshuffling & sharing of digital information..this further render the term 'identity crisis' more irrelevent in an age where identity only last for 2 days...What is the title of your desertation btw?
ReplyDelete