DISCOURSE IN UTAR 2019

Kota Bharu undergoes a relatively slow but steady development comparing to other big cities in Malaysia like Penang, Kuala Lumpur & Johor. Along with this development, it has brought a boon to a certain areas but at the same time also a bane to other areas; eg. old commercial zone. On the other hand, with its urbanization in progress, the city is expanding outward and causing stress to the old commercial area. Some of the aging shop houses owners chose to stop running business due to emergence of the much bigger players and new concept of hypermarket offering a "one stop" convenience to the younger generation. Hypermarket such as TESCO, MYDIN, PARKSON and many others are taking up the commercial lead in Kota Bharu. However, the core tourist zone in the town remain as an interesting visit to visitors especially from outside of Kelantan. This zone span from the Istana Balai Besar until the Tambatan DiRaja [Royal Jetty] at the Sungai Kelantan. The 'Padang Merdeka" which formed its center is surrounded by many historical building such as Istana jahar [now a museum], Masjid Muhammadi, etc. This tourist zone is linked to the Traditional Commercial zone where many local products are offered. The students shall take on the challenges to investigate and identify an issue which require an architectural solution within the three category of facilities mentioned in this project brief. develop an architectural design solution with appropriate integration of urban interventions which aims to strike a balance between its historical importance, local culture and its people. ​

DISCOURSE IN UTAR 2018

The name of the city came from the combination of two Malay words which is ‘Alor’ which means ‘small stream’ and ‘Setar’ which is a name of tree ‘Bouea Macrophylla Griif’.Alor Setar undergoes a relatively slow but steady development comparing to other big cities in Malaysia like Penang, Kuala Lumpur & Johor. Throughout the past decades of development, Alor Setar experiences a shift in its socio economy, urban development under its city planning initiative. Along with this development, it has brought a boon to a certain areas but at the same time also a bane to other areas; eg. some vacated and dilapidated buildings affected by the construction of new flyover to make way for KTM ETS, impact to business affected by upgradesand/ or re-route infrastructure. The development has also partly caused stress to one of its old town area like Pekan China which is in a dilapidating condition. This could be due to the aging shop houses owners who chose to stop running business due to many reasons. These shop houses are heritage which witnesses and paved the path to the city’s growth and success that shouldn’t be ignored. On the other hand, with its urbanization in progress, the city is expanding outward and reaching out to the rural areas. Influx of cars into city brings opportunities to the cities but started to choke certain artery roads. The students shall take on the challenges to investigate and analyze Alor Setar city’s current urban fabrics in oppose to its future demand. With that, students are to develop an architectural design solution with appropriate integration of urban interventions which aims strike a balance between architecture and its people.

DISCOURSE IN UTM 2016

As in many parts of the world, currently in Malaysia, there is a rising number of Elderly (Department of Statistics Malaysia). They are getting well financed, educated and independent (Ong, 2007). Therefore, there is an increasing demand for elderly care (Waters 2007). However, currently the housing development in Malaysia for elderly is ill suited (Chee and Barraclough, 2007). The elderly dilemma can be presented through various aspects (Dalila and Khan, 2013): 

  • Forgotten as part of community (Malaysian Institute of Economic Research)
. No specific policy to include elderly facilities in a private development
. National Policy for the Elderly 1995 and National Elderly Health Council 1997 only involve 
  governmental acts
  • Religious participation (based on common Malay culture)
. Needs for spiritual activity within capable distance like a mosque
  • Cultural expectation
. Expect children to take care
. Go against old folk home
  • To be involved in community activities
. Malay culture of being as a community rarely involve the elderly
  • Distant facilities from home
. Village settlement opted is far from city
. Urban area settlement is not elderly friendly
  • The need for companion
. Absence of busy working children
. Cherish for attention
 
There are four basic models for elderly care, namely, ageing-in-place, retirement village, Institutional care, and Supportive Housing. Considering the elderly dilemmas, Supportive Housing appears to be suitable for the broader group of elderlies in Malaysia (Lim and Khan, 2012). Supportive Housing is targeted mainly for the middle class, where different kinds of housing facilities are integrated with the community. Here, the basic requirement of assisted living is added with community participation. In addition, spiritual development is encouraged, and sustainable approaches are also considered. The students will come up with local and international case studies for the seminar. Then they will choose if they can focus on particular group of elderly in order to build up the program. That will be followed by site analysis, and eventually the design process.
 
Objectives
The objectives of this project are fourfold.
  • A building that systematically follows the norms of assisted living
  • A building that is integrated with public facilities to promote the community activities with elderly.
  • A building function that encourages spiritual development of the elderlies
  • A building that responds to other pillars of sustainability
 
Significance of the Study
  1. The study will be majorly beneficial to the Malaysian middle class elderly to give them a new alternative to spend their second half of life meaningfully by learning values (Spiritual, Religious etc.) and surrounded by the support of the community.
  2. The study will also imply the significance of elderly in a community and the importance to care for their needs.
  3. Minor significance of the study is to benefit the socially unprivileged people who has an option for a better living environment and at the same time can give back to the elderly community.
 
Client
Yayasan Dakwah Islamiah Malaysia (YADIM), or similar other non-profit organization can act as a client.

​Function: Mixed Use 
 
References:
Khan, T. H and Lim, P. L (2012). Designing Long Term Care Accommodation for Senior Citizens: The Need for a Design Code in Malaysia. British Journal of Arts and Social Sciences, 8, 1. BritishJournal Publishing Inc.
Perception Of Middle Class Retirees Towards Old Folk Home ( Dalila & Khan, 2013)
Mahalingam. E. (2012, March 17). World’s ageing population. The Star. Retrieved June 14, 2012, from http://biz.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2012/3/17/business/10813695&sec=business
Waters, R. (2009, 07 20). Elderly to Double to 14% of Global Population by 2040. Bloomberg. Retrieved December 4, 2012, from http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=newsarchive&sid=axV6K65QoAg8
http://www.yadim.com.my

DISCOURSE IN UTM 2015

MasterClass comprises of actors graduated from various schools of Architecture, now pursuing a Master of Architecture degree in UTM and the obvious significant displays from these actors are their ability to identify a critical issue to address via their design topic. Some went to the extend of proposing a full fledged institute of research such to be smacked upon a very small and delicate site surrounded by eco biodiversity landscapes of Tropical swampland. While, the better one would go for some very familiar proposal such as a wet market, without the unnecessary superfluous of complexities. Such is a display of the maturity of thoughts that the actors had inherited from their respective feeder schools.

DISCOURSE IN UM 2014

I stand dwarf among the Giants of Practicing Architects liked Lilian Tay, Suzanne,  Sonny Chan and the rest but I find the similarity of concerns that the programmes are too generic and not much gravity was given to addressing issues and how one use Architecture as a mean to address such issues. There are plenty of efforts on technical skills but as compared to other institutions, credit is given to the use of model, computer rendering and sketches as tools for design. 

DISCOURSE IN UTM 2014

The revisit shows a significant improvement in the product but lack the guts to go above the Brief. The Unit known as REFORM seems to be toned down to CONFORM. The presentations are very down to earth without any attempt to break through - the sky still look Blue and the Grass still look Green. The conceptualization through the abstract does not appear to be presence. Even the level of discourse are in the realm of the mundane. It truly lacks the aura of philosophical and sophisticated touch.
I am happy to be given the opportunity to be part of the academic circle. I am happy to have met a towering figure, Prof Tajuddin. I am happy to meet the actors in person. My observation is that there is a drop in quality across the board and the weakness stem from the inability of the actor to understand the issue sufficiently to enable one to formulate a scheme via the vehicle of architecture as a socio-cultural intervention. There is a sheer lack of maturity in thought and fear in presenting discourse confidently. It seems to me that these generations are locked up in a box of misguided democracy.  Their inclination to work with Computer Aided Drafting has resulted in a myopic approach diminishing the very important aspect of Architecture of understanding of 3D spaces, experiential with materiality, communicating ideas via sketches and endless discourse. For such, they are the “zombies” our University has created. A revivalism of the production model is urgently called for.