A CAD operator without technical knowledge isn't worth much. Employers can employ interns (who are in abundance these days) at minimal cost to do the same job mind you.

If you are really keen on architecture, you have to think really hard. It's a long, tedious journey alright and lot of $$ involved depending on where you study - at least 5 years of study at univ and a few more years to get registered to be a full-fledged architect. You really have to have strong motivation and perseverance to last that long.

QS-ing and engineering are supporting roles in the building industry. Though related to architecture they call for different qualities/skills. One needs to be methodical and good at figures. Whereas architecture requires creativity, flair at drawings and more since the architect is the leader of the building team.

QS-ing is an alternative worth considering since you are good at figures. The course is shorter, not so demanding and job prospect is good. But you don't get to design things of course but you get to work closely with architects and engineers.


This post has been edited by tehtmc: Jan 21 2010, 11:10 PM

It could be that those involved in architecture are the most enthusiatic people in the forum or they are the most long-winded people.

azarimy
What is the status of LAM accreditation of UTM SPACE programme?

You mean learning architecture through self-study?

I have not heard of any architect who has done that before. There are architects who learned through apprenticeship in an architectural firm. The great American architect, Frank Lloyd Wright went through that route.

The thing about architecture is that you learn by doing rather than studying from books like other courses. You are given projects to work on and you don't work alone. Interaction with the lecturers and critiques are important.

In short, it is impossible to learn from books alone. Well, you can do that with subjects like architectural history, the building sciences, structures and other minor/supporting subjects but certainly not the core subjects which are design and construction.

Care to give some names?

Do you mean 1970's or 17th century? In the old days before there were universities and schools or architecture, of course the architects were self taught.

This post has been edited by tehtmc: Feb 19 2010, 03:05 PM

azarimy

Of those architects you mentioned, only Tadao Ando can be considered self-taught, a rare breed indeed. He started off working as a carpenter and travelled extensively.

Frank Lloyd Wright worked under Louis Sullivan, father of modernism who created the early Chicago skyscrapers.

Antonio Gaudi went through formal architectural training in Escola Tècnica Superior d'Arquitectura in Barcelona from 1873 to 1877 (ref: Wiki). Incidently, I have visited some of his amazing works in Barcelona - Sagrada Familia, Casa Mila, Casa Batlo, Park Guell, etc. Yeah, you can call this 'architecture as a hobby'.

Mies van der Rohe and Walter Gropius both apprenticed under the famous Peter Behrens.

Going through apprenticeship instead of formal training in university does not mean one is self-taught. Many of the great architects in the first half of the 20th century went through apprenticeship under well-known architects. And many of the successful architects in Malaysia today started their career working in established firms like BEP, MAA, Team 3, etc.

This post has been edited by tehtmc: Feb 19 2010, 10:12 PM

French-Malaysia firm, right?
They have done some major projects in Putrajaya, Shangrila Hotel being one of them.

I'd say working hours depends on the invididual rather than the firm, how well organized and how efficient you are. A deadline is fixed and it's how you plan your time to work towards meeting the dealine. Of course it's easier said than done. It's never easy to estimate how long you'd take to finish each part of the job especially when you are talking about design work.

This post has been edited by tehtmc: Feb 23 2010, 11:28 AM

Taylor's course is only a stepping stone for you to further your studies overseas in accredited unis. It is not itself accredited or recognized.

The science and maths involved in the study of architecture is not really of a high level. However, some architecture schools do put greater emphasis on the sciences. I know of a successful architect in practice who was even from the Arts stream in Form 5. In real life practice, there are other consultants such as the structural engineer, M&E Engineer that the architect works with and can fall back on.

Architecture is a combination of both art and science of building. I always maintain that it's more of arts than science (70:30) though azarimy thinks it's half-half.

Architects firms in Malaysia generally don't specialise though they get to do more of certain types of building. e.g. housing/factories/highrise buildings. The bigger firms would have separate departments for design, documentation/working drawing and contract administration where architects specialise in each area of work. However, this would be a disadvantage if the architect were to venture out on his own later in his career. For a small practice, you can't run away from the full scope of services covering the three areas.

This post has been edited by tehtmc: Feb 24 2010, 01:08 PM

500 graduates a year are you sure? Where did you get the figure from?
That figures would most probably include all other graduates i.e. those from the polytechnics, colleges, etc. Not just the degree graduates.
There are currently only about 2500 registered Architects (with Part 3) in the whole country.
My guess is, only about 100 graduate with Part 2 every year from both local and overseas unis. With so many new architecture schools locally, I expect to see a sharp increase within a few years.

---

Added on February 24, 2010, 1:05 pm

About Alpha College

You must have noticed the college's big billboard along the New Pantai Valley Expressway near SJ ...something about being No.1 in Malaysia.
All I know is that they are relatively new and yet to be proven. Best is to speak to the current students.

This post has been edited by tehtmc: Feb 24 2010, 01:06 PM

On second thoughts, 100 architecture degree graduates (Part 2) would probably be an undersestimate if you consider all the sources:

From local U's: UTM, Uitm, USM, UM, UPM, UIA, UKM (just started)
Overseas : UK, Australia, NZ (not all will return of course)

This is not taking into consideration those from unaccredited unis.
Looks like I have to revise my guesstimate to 150.

This post has been edited by tehtmc: Feb 24 2010, 03:41 PM

This post has been edited by tehtmc: Feb 24 2010, 05:06 PM

Bridges are considered engineering structures which are the domain of civil engineers. However, architects' input have been involved in the planning of the great bridges of the world e.g. the San Francisco Golden Gate Bridge and the Sydney Harbour Bridge.

Penang Harbour bridge was designed by a Malaysia engineer. Perhaps this expains why it doesn't have that 'wow factor'.

---

Added on February 27, 2010, 1:35 amDon't think it is available in Malaysia. Neither is there the demand for it. Doing a degree is long enough. You probably have to study for another 2-3 year in Malaysia and few more years to get registered.

There are not many great architects who are engineers as well. This is one of them:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santiago_Calatrava

This post has been edited by tehtmc: Feb 27 2010, 01:35 AM

This, undoubtedly, is one of the most frequently asked questions (FAQ) here:

How to determine one is interested in architecture? or
What does it take to be an architect?
Student would tend to ask : you wouldn' know what it is like until you get into it, right?
Well, there are signs (qualities) to look for in an individual. The interest in looking at and admiring buildings is not enough. You're not going to be just a spectator, you'll be a participant. In fact, you will be taking the lead role in the making of buildings.

Architecture is the art and science of making buildings. Based on a client's brief (list of requirements), the architect comes up with the ideas how a building would look, how the spaces are arranged. This is the 'art part' of architecture. To be able to do that, ideas have to be sketched out, developed, refined, fine-tuned. You go through a process involving a lot of sketches and drawings - from freehand pencil sketches at the beginning, to design drawings (coloured drawings, perspectives, visuals, 3D views, models, etc) for presentation to the Client. It is all about ideas. The 'coming up with ideas' calls for some artistic flair, something which some people have it, some people don't...though, to a certain extent, it can be trained and developed. A person's background and upbringing e.g. hobbies, interests from an early age plays a part.

Then, the next stage is to produce more accurate and detailed drawings for the building to be constructed, incorporating all the technical requirements - materials to be used, type of structure,finishes, how the various components are to come together, how to accomodate the building services, compliance with requirements of statutory authorities, etc. The technical competence - this is the science part. The ability to handle details, to be meticulous, is also important for this stage.

So, you will be dealing with drawings all the time. To be able to do this obviously calls for the ability to sketch and draw, the ability to come up with ideas. Drawing/sketching is an integral part of the design process - one should have the interest/love for it, or at least feel at ease doing it. Sure, drawing skills can be developed but you do need some innate talent to be able to do it well. This makes the difference between producing mediocre work to being able to excel in what you are doing. Of course you get better as you go along through experience. Now, this is the part that you cannot study from books.

It can be a culture shock to some who, after years of education in school and are so used to study from books and examinations (also based on books), are put into an environment where 'study' is about drawings, projects, presentatiion, critiques, appraisals, etc. which explains why the architecture courses have one of the highest drop-out rates.

---

Added on February 27, 2010, 12:11 pmThis is another architect-engineer, from a much older generation.
Just realise that he is 103 this year, and still active.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oscar_Niemeyer

This post has been edited by tehtmc: Feb 27 2010, 03:01 PM

No, there is no specific subject requirement. However, I'd say some Maths and Physics background is recommended. The course is open to students from the Arts stream.

---

Added on February 27, 2010, 6:53 pmchalach

People skills and communication are important in just about every profession. In the architecture profession, perhaps the biggest challenge is to to be able to sell your design to the Client and convince him to give you the job. Everything else is relatively easy.

This post has been edited by tehtmc: Feb 27 2010, 06:53 PM

Difference between architect and contractor

A architect designs the building and produces the blueprints/construction drawings and specifications for the building to be constructed. The architect is also responsible for the supervision of the construction.

In a building project, there are basically 3 parties involved - the owner/Client, the Architect(head of a team of consultants) and the Contractor/Builder.

A contractor is a builder who constructs the drawing based on the architect's drawings and specifications.
There are architect-turned-contractors but not many. I've only heard of one - Al-Ambia - a Class A contractor in KL who is doing a highrise building next to the KL Convention Centre. Most of the contractors seem to come from engineering background.
There are also architects who go into project management and development. The developer, MK Land is headed by an architect.

Architects and Travelling
Architectural design is about ideas. Of course you can get ideas from books and magazines but there's nothing like 'being there' and experiencing a building. Being in UK, it's so convenient and cheap to travel to other parts of Europe where most of the architectural gems are located.

Simple. One is exclusive to only one race.
Go figure.

Do you mean Architect's Instruction to the Building Contractor? Under the building contract, the Architect is the Superintending Officer and is empowered to issue various instructions which are provided under the different clauses of the contract (PAM Form of Contract for private sector). It is simple enough and goes like this:

ARCHITECT'S INSTRUCTION
To: Contractor
Project:
Instruction No:
Date:
Under the terms of the Contract, I issue the following instructions:

1.
2.
3.

Signed (Architect)
cc. Employer (owner), Q.S, Clerk of works, Structural Consultant, M & E Consultant

Of course the Architect can issue instructions to the Engineer. This is relatively informal, to do with technical aspects of the work and is in the form of letters.

This post has been edited by tehtmc: Mar 24 2010, 08:15 PM

It is very simple.
The Malaysian Board of Architect (LAM) only recognizes degrees from UK, Australia & New Zealand but not those from other overseas countries ( not even Harvard U). http://lam.gov.my/accreditationlist.html

Graduates with non-recognized degrees have to sit and pass the portfolio exam and interview to be considered on par with graduates with recognized degrees.

Same goes in other professions e.g. those with unrecognized medical/engineering degrees.

RIBA/RAIA are irrelevant if you want to practice architecture in Malaysia.

This post has been edited by tehtmc: Mar 28 2010, 01:59 PM

I am sure this note would be of concern to students doing architecture in the various IPTS's with twinning/credit transfer arrangements with foreign unis. I wonder whether they have been properly informed by the colleges and are even aware of what they are getting into. The twinning program at LKW with Curtin, Australia has been going on for more than a decade. Taylors program has been on the last few years with Australia/UK unis. There are others like Alpha College and now, like carrotmilk mentioned, another twinning course offered by KLIUC. I wonder about the status of the graduates (the number should be quite significant after so many years) from the accredited unis overseas who had done part of the course locally.
The best way to find out is of course to write direct to LAM.

As for the franchise program, the SPAN program under UTM which is available to working people comes to mind. I wouldn't think the portfolio and interview for LAM Parts 1 & 2 exam would be that difficult to pass, it's just another hurdle to overcome.

This post has been edited by tehtmc: Mar 28 2010, 07:17 PM