Bedah Buku Part 1: Malaysian Architecture: Crisis Within

Salams to all muslim,

WARNING: this post is solely about architecture, you may or may not find it relevant to you. So if it gets boring or does not make any sense at all, seek an architecture/design-related person to explain it to you if you want to know more. I'll write points that interest me, it's not about the whole book though...Thank you


'...' = excerpted from the book
....  =  my own opinion

Author: Mohamad tajuddin Mohamad Rasdi
Publisher: Utusan Publication & Distributors Sdn Bhd

chap 1: the question of identity in malaysian Architecture
' it is hard to search for an identity for a multi-cultural country, yet the searching for one's identity is actually peculiar in nature as it implies that one has lost its identity or has no clue of who/what it is...'

"Identity" has always been a discussion among architects on what architecture to represent a nation and I though a country with tradition should have no problem with this as they can go back to their root, or best, relate to the nature of the land (climate, nature resources). Traditional construction has been tested through time, and i think that they best suited the nature of each places. Such as Malay house is elevated from the ground because flood always occur during monsoon, or forventilation from below, and some beliefs like the dwelling places are sacred compared to ground, etc. However the current time demand more than a simple construction as malay house...thus the need for high rises. Malaysia architecture has been driven by political power; just compare the building for the ruler and the peasant.

Then...

Now...

talk about huge difference eyh?. But great power/possession come with great responsibility -that's why i avoided being the head prefect in sek.rendah n DM during those golden years(??) ... :P

nway, resume to 2nd point...

'a building possesses true identity if it has both 'natural architectural identity:

1. spirit of time:    direct response to available technology, economy condition

2. spirit of place:  direct response to climate, geography and culture of particular society'

In this subtopic, the author also stated that even the colonial building (eg: colonial + malay hybrid mansion) has these 2 components thus became a new Malaysian entity. This is quite right as it also shows that the once upon a time, malaysia was colonized n then encounter new technologies where the colony builders try to adjust their technology n material to suit the climate through placement of spaces n etc...Unfortunately, current development use more air-cond n electric light to encounter the tropical hot n humid climate of Malaysia - which contribute to climate change...oh-so-not-tropical...

 Word describes to long on one point, maybe I'll make a diagram or illustration to excerpt this book, later  and I'm not good with word either...

If you prefer to discuss it in Malay tell me, and I'll do so, but I think this is my ultimate mean to practice my English literacy...and the book is also written in english - probably to reach international audiences... I better share this book with John Ting...

I think I've lost my focus...so...to be continued