Reflection in Action

It's 2 am in the morning, and I'm having my writing in 5th gear. Why procrastinate when u can do it now?

Yesterday I had a discussion with fellow lecturers about my PHD topic, and this came out

REFLECTION-IN-ACTION (RIA)

Reflection-in-action is defined by Schon as the ability of professionals to 'think what they are doing it'(source)

Architecture students (and architects, or designers) always do RIA when designing. When they draw a plan, they will think, "Oh I must have stairs here", "the window should be here so you can see the view","it will be difficult to walk if I put the wall here" and so on ( I guess this is why architecture students couldn't finish their drawing for every class). They practice this every time they're designing which is why they have to learn about culture, history other than structure and graphic. It's because architect always (and should have) put themselves in others' shoes.

 RIA is not only practiced by designers, but also parents, teachers, and the most important, a skill that EVERY MUSLIM SHOULD HAVE. 

that's why we have something like these in our culture:

"Ketam mengajar anaknya berjalan lurus"

"Paku dulang, paku serpih, mengata org..."

" Cikgu kencing berdiri, murid kencing berlari'

aaa...oopps, although all of the above have negative notions; i couldn't think about positive one right now, this show that our culture don't have much RIA. haha, bzzzt! (let's learn from mistakes).

We should think about our actions - every single bit of them.

"21:47 We shall set up scales of justice for the Day of Judgment, so that not a soul will be dealt with unjustly in the least, and if there be (no more than) the weight of a mustard seed, We will bring it (to account): and enough are We to take account."

”Kami akan memasang timbangan yang tepat pada hari kiamat, maka tiadalah dirugikan seseorang barang sedikit pun. Dan jika (amalan itu) hanya seberat biji sawi pun pasti Kami mendatangkan (pahala) nya. Dan cukuplah Kami sebagai Pembuat perhitungan.” (Anbiya, 47)

RIA would be translated as hisab (calculating) and driven by Iman and taqwa.

Meaning of Taqwa

The root meaning of Taqwa is to avoid what one dislikes. It was reported that `Umar bin Al-Khattab asked Ubayy bin Ka`b about Taqwa. Ubayy said, "Have you ever walked on a path that has thorns on it'' `Umar said, "Yes.'' Ubayy said, "What did you do then'' He said, "I rolled up my sleeves and struggled.'' Ubayy said, "That is Taqwa.' 


Academician just started to research on Reflection-in-Action, but we are doing it to keep our eeman in checked. So put RIA in our daily life. Ask yourself what will you get from your action in this world and the hereafter. "If I do this maksiat, it will be shameless of me to ask Allah for something" "If I help my mother, not only she will be glad, Allah will reward me as well" " If i practice fasting in Shaaban, it will be 'kacang' to puasa in Ramadhan, dapat pahala lagi" Oh yeah guys, Ramadhan is around the corner. See you next time

Permenant Head Damage ?

Bismillah Ar-Rahman Ar-Rahim

Alhamdulillah, nearing the end of my contract of my first job - I wonder why didn't I do practical training during my student years; oh, my parents forced asked me to be the stand-in maid during my 3 months summer breaks. But what's done is done. Let Bygone be bygone. (Bygone is also a mosquito spray brand). No use of regretting how you spent your time in the  past. Just work for a better today and tomorrow.

So getting to the present. While working as a research officer in KALAM,  I've got in touch with many knowledgeable individuals in architecture realm. I'm having different thought on history of architecture now (why just now?!). After I spent 5 years of architectural studies, I decided that being an architect is not my thing. being an architect means you won't be your own boss for the next 10 years after graduating. I'm not that patient to wait for the time I'm my own boss. i also realize that I'm a 'teacher' person rather than a 'professional' person. I can teach people to get better, but I'm always incapable to get the best out of myself (or it's just due to my procrastination and laziness self).

So people, I'm going to further my study to PHD. In hoping to become a lecturer, with the idea of re-positioning from KRIM to PEMBINA in 5 years time insyaAllah (although I might be sent to WANITA section at that time, haha) So PRAY FOR ME, DEAR FRIENDS AND FAMILY. 

The topic? I've got lots of topic in mind that I feel I wanna do. Can I do 3 PHDs? - of course not at the same time. I haven't done any serious reading for so long and the color of my Master result was not really flying :P . So it won't be a smooth ride. So again PRAY FOR ME, DEAR FRIENDS AND FAMILY. 

Okay, this is a reminder for me actually; topics in discussion:

1. How to implement architectural heritage/traditional architecture to contemporary design? [tag: design, design formula]

2. Teaching History in Architectural Course/Studio? [tag:education, history]

3. How to implement the values of traditional village into modern housing estates? [tag: design, urban,planning, housing]

Ya Allah, please guide me to the straight path. 

So, if you have any comment/idea about which topic should I do, it is most welcome.

WEEK 1 Reflection

 Certainly the 1st week of school in RMIT is not the time to be relaxed, slow-mo, enjoying uni scenery...ney...if we compare rmit with how we drive a car, this school always immediately accelerate without bothering to heat up the engine 1st. myb that's just for architecture tho..not sure if it's good for the heart (or the brain) . but sure the stress is piling up !!

Kim's note on major project

While many architect polish their skills on high-end project with big budget, there are so many  potential in under-develop places with lots of circumstances and tight budget (or maybe none at all). I don't say they are less fortunate (fortune is not something human could tell actually).  Just think about those who have less opportunity to have good architecture that may open up to more opportunity.


key words:
third world country
shigeru ban
low budget
unwasteful
mengukur baju di badan sendiri

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

Adabtable

I am at lost on where to head to in my career...you see..

being an architect never been on in the list of my report cards since standard 3(alaa..like the future planning yada yada). I've written doctor, scientist and even a tailor - and at one time a teacher becoz my teacher always get presents during teachers' day (xikhlas btol)

I've sort of discussed about architecture before...and here I quote a respond to that;

"to me, what i look for in an architect is their ability to design/build to people's needs. The aesthetic value comes second"- u know who u r

 I, for a long time have the same reasoning which have quite a negative impact in my learning - a cup must be empty to be filled, desho? 

I need your help

Salam n Good Day,

If u would be kind enough to answer the poll on the left hand side, it would be great.

Thanks for your time!

Budding fruit

Salam,

it's been a while, and all I've posted in this blog are just announcements and copy-paste stuffs.

I've been thinking to write things about architecture - just to show the result of 4 years of study. But never work on it.

So just wait for a while until I settle down, and I'll give u a glimpse of architecture through Kim's eyes.

And I got 4 to boot to that :P - joke!

sharing what I think in architecture insyaAllah will help me with my major project next year

My 'HyperComplex' project with tutors:NHArchitect