What do you wish you
could or could have learnt in architecture in the last 4 semesters or in
diploma (for diploma students) that would improve your understanding in architecture?
(So something we have provided less of)
Thinking back, my first contact with architecture is in
my secondary school era. After taking PMR result, students started to think
what kind of subject they want to take in Form 4. Students will divide into
science class, accounting class, art class and mechanical class. Because of my
PMR result, I have successful to enter science class. For science class
students, we can choose between either biology or engineering drawing class
according to personal preferences. Because I dislike to study and memorize those
biology scientific name such as amyloplastic (starch grain) and chloroplast.
All these words will make me very confusing because my English is poor.
Otherwise, the subject name of the engineering drawing (Lukisan Kejuruteraan)
sound easy for me.
So after SPM, I become a diploma student in UCSI
University and taking architectural studies. For me, architecture drawing this
subject is easy for me because I had learnt basic during in my secondary
school. But for Introduction to Design Principle this subject, I was lost and
do not know what I am doing actually. In that class, we were asked to make
forms with any materials. We have no idea what we doing and why we need to do
this.
At first, I though architecture studies are not like that, it should be
all like AutoCAD drawing.
The model is just based on the concept, principle and
organization without building form and anything that related to building. That
time I keep asking myself, did I choose a correct subject to continue my study?
How it relates to architecture? What can we learn from doing this model?
After that only I realize, architecture
is not only about the building, the
term architecture is also used metaphorically to refer to the design of
organizations, software, and other abstract concepts. Architecture is both the process and the product of planning, designing, and constructing buildings and other physical structures.
Design Studio
In
our Design Studio class, we always require to have a concept before we start to
design our building. This is the thing make us confusing because we still could
not really understand what is that.
For example, The Capers designed by RT+Q
Architects and it inspiration from the soft billowing ‘lalang grass’ and weeds
that grow wild in the area. The vision was to
create a new designed urban environment to stimulate urban revival and to
provide about 500 units of mid-cost housing in Sentul. The construction
of the tower supported modest building methods, materials and structural
design.
The twist and turn of
the tower is a result of simple laws of physics as the floor slabs are pushed
out every floor to create the slanted profile of the tower.
Building Construction
During
Building Construction class in my diploma study, I had learnt a lot about the
detail of a building and different type of materials. I also learnt how a
building construct for example foundation first, columns, beams, walls, roof….
When I get into higher semester, we were asked to draw a building detailing
such as roofing, wall section, piping system and electrical system. Our
semester is very luckily because they just hire Mr. Denise who having more than
ten years’ industrial experience to teach us Working Drawing. We learn a lot
during that semester.
Internship
The
school provide a six months’ internship for diploma students. I remember when I
first time internship in diploma time, I was very nervous and excited because
everything was so different from what I expected. I am very luckily to become a part of Jim Hong Architect in Sri Petaling for 6 months. During the internship time, I
learn a lot from my seniors and my boss also give chance to let me design a
villa. Besides that, I also went site visit and authority during my working
time. Everything was so new to me.
Conclusion
In
my opinion, I think as an architectural student, we should expose more to
outside world because we can learn extra things that we unable learn during our
study time. Working experience is important for architectural studies. Architecture
can change a person’s life and the way of thinking. I think before student
choose this subject, they really need understand what is about architecture
before they step in. For our intake in diploma, our class got 10 students but
only 3 students can persistence until now.
Reference
My diploma project