Hi... this is totally unexpected but I got called up for Architecture interview in NUS too.

I have not the slightest idea of what architecture is about except for building design.

I am lost for words when I got the notice today

woah....

so many want to go for architecture. good2.

you're an ex-stpm student?

some video about architect. they do have some attraction in themselves.





This post has been edited by destroyer: Apr 26 2008, 01:59 AM

guys, i got some architecture book for sale....for to be uploaded...need money to buy more material for model making...please help ya...good price offering by me...just click on my signature..thanks..

This post has been edited by raymannlucas: Apr 26 2008, 02:05 AM

Yea, I'm ex-STPM. I thought I would be offered engineering instead.
Can anyone who went to such interview share your experience please?

Somehow the requirement of scotch tape, glue and penknife in the test tells me that building models are involved,no?

well, u kinda explained why UTM wants u to use 2B pencils urself. there are certain techniques to master the 2B pencil beyond what u often use in school. but that's just a small aspect they're gonna look for. just make sure u bring a sharpener or a cutter for the pencils.

well, we do ask some general knowledge or current issues, but only to warm up. whatever u answer wont affect the outcome of the interview, but how u answer it might. some people have a wealth of general knowledge that the interviewers would be astounded. in the UTM's interviews, we're looking for students who're outstanding. it doesnt matter if u cant draw if u can speak ur mind articulately. whatever it is, they're looking to be amazed, dazzled or to be blown away.

but to tell u the truth, we've never asked who the menteri besar or stuff like that, coz it doesnt do anything to calm u down or warm u up. asking those questions would make candidates even more nervous. so we usually asked more general questions, like "did u join the hindraf rally? what do u think about it?" or "do u drive? what car do u drive? how do u compare that to proton?". these questions have more than one answer, so u can just say yes or no and elaborate on ur answer. this will warm u up. questions like who the menteri besar of selangor has only one answer, and u will automatically be nervous if u dont know the answer.

personally, this is bad practice on behalf of the interviewer. if they were from UTM, they wont be interviewing anyone in the future .

+ i worked as a part time lecturer and a part time architect straight after degree. and after a year of doing part time, i was offered fulltime lecturer with UTM whom sponsored my masters in the bartlett, london a year after.

+ on average, starting salary is between RM2200 to RM2500 in the urban areas, and RM1600-RM2000 in sub-urban/rural areas. i'm not sure about ID. model makers can have a pretty high income, but it highly depends on their skills and how fast they could cook up a model. u can only earn on how quick u can produce them.

+ it's all the same. perhaps interior decorating is actually the act of beautifying the interior, but yeah, it's generally the same.

Hi
I would like to ask about the curve roof structure. I know technically it is harder to build building with curve roof compare to standard roof. Below is my sketch model about my design. My main materials for the exterior of the roof might be stainless steel and aluminium. I really like the way i layering the roof, however, my tutor told me it is really hard to build it and aspect me to come out with valid reason if i insist to keep my design. So I would like to ask all the pro here how can i able to make this roof stand up. I would like to know some key word to google and some building which have similar roof design to refer as well. Thanks



This post has been edited by yawhong: Apr 26 2008, 07:03 PM

thank you for your opinion

I'm condsidering their degree programme. do you know how is it there?

Congratulations to everyone who got the interview. All the best to you.

[quote=yawhong,Apr 26 2008, 07:04 AM]
Hi
I would like to ask about the curve roof structure. I know technically it is harder to build building with curve roof compare to standard roof. Below is my sketch model about my design. My main materials for the exterior of the roof might be stainless steel and aluminium. I really like the way i layering the roof, however, my tutor told me it is really hard to build it and aspect me to come out with valid reason if i insist to keep my design. So I would like to ask all the pro here how can i able to make this roof stand up. I would like to know some key word to google and some building which have similar roof design to refer as well. Thanks


yep its hard to make a curve roof structure, that is for sure...i did my final year project which the roof of the building creates the chimney effect and make the roof remarkable looking from far...u cant use stainless steel, its not practical becoz its expensive and again expensive...being an architect u shud think of the least cost of ur material to be put in the building..i would like to show u how i make my roof outstanding...below some picture attached..

p/s: the harder it is to build, the outstanding it is to shine...stick on ur goal..being an architecture student u hv to train urself to stay firm on ur decision making..like ur concept, find strong reson to support ur idea...



This post has been edited by raymannlucas: Apr 26 2008, 12:44 PM

i might be late here, but basically there is no need to scare or worry about the utm interviewers .
well , to be honest , utm interviewers are very kind aand friendly , that is what i have observed and know among my coursemates .
the thing over here is that utm interviewers are looking for talent.
if u look into my batch , different ppl has different talent , some might not be good in art, but communication , some are good in drawings , water colour ....

prepare yourself
-your drawings
-2 local architects u know , each with 2 of their famous building .
-2 foreign architects , 2 buildings for each architects .
-why u want to choose this course .

azarimy , Dr.Rashid is one of the panel for interviewing session this year. hahhaha

I am sorry, I do not know much about Taylor's Bachelor of Science [Hons] [Architecture] program, however, I have noticed that the degree students are together with the Diploma students in this semester.

You are welcome.

If I am not mistaken;

Whichever way you take, whether it is the diploma or the degree, you will still end up in the same destination later on; meaning, you will still get into your Part II and your Masters in the future.

Foundation >>> Three years Part 1 Degree program >>> Two years Part 2 Degree program. (Total: Six years.)

Three years Diploma program >>> Final year Part 1 Degree program >>> Two years Part 2 Degree program. (Total: Six years.)

thanks for the advice. I would like to stick on the plan as well. The sketch model is mainly for gathering idea. Haha, yeah i know stainless steel is expensive, but since we are first year students, the lecture ask us no need to think of the cost, just concentrate on the usage of the building and stuff. Some of my friends even want to have platinum roof. Anyway, i would like to know your suggestion of materials as well for the curve roof like that. Thanks for the advice anyway

Thanks. Another thing, is the interview conducted in malay or english? I must admit to having rather rubbish malay, having grown up mostly in an english speaking environment.

hmmm. it's been awhile since i've involved in crits. here we go:

first, i honestly dont think that ur solution is suitable for the shape u're going. i strongly URGE u not to do that roof as a solution. backtrack a bit, and rethink of ur form. the curved roof structure had almost one time banned in UTM bcoz it is the most simplistic solution u can have for a such a dramatic plan. students use it as an escapism. it's too easy, yet looks damn ugly!

it is pretty obvious to me that u've approach this design from plan. here's where i tell u to backtrack. now u've already know what to put in ur building (via plan). put that aside for a moment, and focus on form making. what do u think is the best form to house ur plan? think in 3D. dont think from plan, but think from section. u need a unified form to establish a character, a flare, a drive for ur design. u dont want to design something that indistinguishable from the next free standing building u see. my suggestion, if u cant find a suitable form of roof, detach the roof entirely from ur building. start looking into envelopes instead, where u can have a roof that totally separate from ur wall. i mean, u can design a dome covering ur building if u want, and it just stands free on the ground.

anyways,

if i failed to convince u to change, then lets go into the details of ur curved steel roof. first, for a curved roof, there's always a certainty that it will use a lattice frame or trust underneath it. work from top to bottom. to maintain the curve, u need curved frame. now design the frame. look at the span of the room to determine the depth and complexity of the frame. then move to the next one: u need to support the frames with columns. how do u do that? u have to locate specific points on ur building to put columns to support ur roof. here's the tricky part.

with one glance i already know u'd be propping up free standing columns that is not part of ur wall just to support the roof . if this is so, then u'd better off with my earlier suggestion to design a freestanding envelope instead .

it is usually conducted with emphasis to english. u need firm command of english for UTM architecture interviews in the last few years. back before then, most of the interviews were conducted in BM, with a small portion in english. but nowadays we start in english straightaway, unless the student struggles with the earlier questions, hence it will be asked again in BM. the best thing for u is, regardless of whether the question is asked in BM or english, u can always answer in english. but there will be time they'd just have to ask u to speak in BM for a brief moment just to test u out.

as bridgestone have said, there have been a multitude of talents applying to UTM lately, and his batch specifically has a number of experienced english debaters during 2ndary school. if the trend sticks, then u not only have to compete with some of the talented artists, but also debaters and other talents as well. not to mention those who can sing really well. oh yes, if u claim u can sing, we WILL make u sing during the interview. it's all about character!

for model making, how do the process begin?

they usually build it complete with miniature interior or just model the building with no interior?

how much time usually be given to finish 1 model?

normally, i diploma or degree years, how often we have to make model? for example, 1 model per sem?

we use our own money for the model am I right?

if we have alternative materials to build a model and tested more efficient & economical than the normal materials use, can we ude it in the model building?

that's all. tanx in advance.

+ depends on the requirement. u usually construct a model to communicate certain things that can be done efficiently in drawings or virtually. so it depends on what u wanna show others. if u wanna show form and solve roof problems (like yawhong's example), then u obviously dont have to do the interior. in other times, u might wanna show what ur interior really looks like, so u focus only on interiors. there's hardly any time for u to do everything.

+ it depends on the type of model, the scale, and the complexity/detail of it. model types such as conceptual, form making, rough or working models are very quick to do. i personally spend 1 to 2 hours on them. finished models, structural, visualization and so on are more complex with higher accuracy, so they take a lot of time to do. it can take between 2-6 days.

+ u do as often as u need to. 1 model saves u the time of doing plans, elevations and perspectives during idea formulation stage. so u might do that early on to quickly explain and establish ur ideas. personally i've done atleast 50 models during my diploma years, but mostly are conceptual models. but some design classes require u to submit a finished model, so that's a different story.

+ yes. and this is one of the parts where u will spend lots of money on.

+ yes. usually there's no restriction in what material u can use. most of the time my models came from discarded boards, boxes and crates from around taman universiti's factory area (near UTM skudai). so it's free. remember, it's not the material u use, it's how u use it to deliver the idea. u can spend literally hundreds of RM and still get a C, while ur friend spent only on glue and cutter and can score A.

ur model ? my experience in first year .
buy enough tools , learn to use materials . anything can be good for u .
for example , plasticine , not sure it is the right word or not , can be a good thing to make concrete .

use aluminium cladding for ur roof...as its used by frank gehry.its bendable, free form and durable. Or suspended roof with upvc fabric material..may i know what is ur building? haha...maybe my lecturer always want us to be realistic...so we always think about the cost also...

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Added on April 27, 2008, 12:02 amfor my course experience... architecture involved the interior and exterior..but for diploma course, usually only focus on the technical drawing, conceptual and exterior design... how much time? depends on ur model scale...my mega project took me a year to finish the model, still not sufficient time to finish... diploma course we did alot of model...3 models overall...but its time assuming...yeP! u used ur own money...and im hunger for money to complete my model...things like balsa wood and miniature human figure is very very expensive...and the man made grass.. actually the model represent the building in reality...so u need to think of the reality of applying material into ur building...for example liek stainless steel, u need to make the stainless steel in shining and chrome...for tinted glass, we used the car tinted to actually show the realness.. hope i did help...

This post has been edited by raymannlucas: Apr 27 2008, 12:02 AM

Haha, well our building is a community centre, there are meeting hall, kitchen, meeting room , toilet and lobby in the building.

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Added on April 27, 2008, 4:05 am@azarimy
thanks for the advice, i think the best way is to change the structure of the roof. and yes, i develop the exterior from my plan.

This post has been edited by yawhong: Apr 27 2008, 04:05 AM

@azarimy, i've checked USM website, and it stated that for diploma holder, if we enter USM architecture, it only 3 years. could you clarify on this matter. thanx in advance.

btw, if I reject an offer in a public uni, will the place be offered to someone else?