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The concluding part (Part 2b) of a conversation with Kevin Mark Low talking on Leaders in Architecture Education & Practice, with Naziaty Mohd Yaacob, Talk Architecture podcast host.

Topics include:
1. The problem in schools of architecture are teaching students to be a successful designer (not 'architect' - there is a difference!) "You cannot be half an architect" (quote)
2. How to become a more complete thinker, better manager, contractor, and human being.

©️Talk Architecture 2022, Author: Naziaty Mohd Yaacob. Photo (artwork): Kevin Mark Low.

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Keep on listening. The second part (Part 2a) of a conversation with Kevin Mark Low talking on Leaders in Architecture Education & Practice, with Naziaty Mohd Yaacob, Talk Architecture podcast host.

Topics include:
1. Architecture education is set by the "professional employability" factor - architects graduate to prove marketable to developers who create jobs for architects. 
2. What kind of architect do you choose to be (with some examples)?

©️Talk Architecture 2022, Author: Naziaty Mohd Yaacob. Photo (artwork): "Pre Thesis 2019 site visit PJ old town" (photo taken by a student).

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Listen in. The first part of a conversation with Kevin Mark Low talking on Leaders in Architecture Education & Practice, with Naziaty Mohd Yaacob, Talk Architecture podcast host.

Topics include:
1. Influencers versus Leaders - how influencers use soundbites, always changing their stand to follow fashion and trends, copy and paste and have no fundamentals. Whereby true leaders are teachers with the same values from beginning to end.
2. The biggest problem in our society is there is no culture of reading, the basics to create critical thinkers who can differentiate truth from lies.
3. Social media's only positive is to bring about awareness of a problem.

The conversation is an ongoing one, dealing with architecture and architects as well as society as a whole. 

©️Talk Architecture 2022, Author: Naziaty Mohd Yaacob. Photo (artwork): "Pre Thesis August 2020 online crit" by Naziaty Mohd Yaacob.

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Coming soon is a Special Feature Interview. 

Kevin Mark Low in conversation with the host of Talk Architecture on several issues such as architecture education, architecture practice, and also a general outlook on what's happening to society in terms of influencers and leaders. 

In 3 parts series, Kevin will touch on the importance of reading, critical thinkers, the idea of 'professional employability', and how the idea to be a designer (conceptual designer) is the driver of architectural education in Malaysia. The argument is this is not the only thing that architects need to be good at. This perception of how we think an architect 'should be' has skewered our thinking on architecture education but as we know it the developers dictate the expectations.  

Do not just take my word for it. Listen to the very precise and inspirational talk by Kevin.

©️Talk Architecture 2022, Author: Naziaty Mohd Yaacob. Photo (artwork): "Pre Thesis 2020 online crit" by Naziaty Mohd Yaacob.

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Relating to the topic of mental health in architecture, we refer to schools of architecture and architecture companies and offices as the things that one could look at in terms of personal boundaries and relationships. We found out after observing and speaking to individuals that the boundary settings are not that clear. The complexities arise from a multitude of relationships, especially in the workplace,  therefore accountability and negotiation in an open environment are essential where you could talk about things and allow things to be resolved that would make everyone happy. Power plays should be lessened in the hierarchic structure, and reduced so that there'll be more facilitation of healthy work-life balances in companies.  
©️Talk Architecture 2022, Author: Naziaty Mohd Yaacob. Photo (artwork): "Hurry Up!" by Naziaty Mohd Yaacob.

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We had a recent clubhouse event hosted by the clubhouse room Design Disability Access on 18 July 2022 on generally talking with those who are present on Architecture and Mental Health. Do check the replay available at the CH room. The topic includes personal boundaries which I am introducing here. Do reach out if you want to talk about the architecture profession and mental health. 

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What is the right definition of a community project? 
Firstly a community project needs to be authentic, genuine, and originally based on the needs of the people around it (in the vicinity), not just anyone in Kuala Lumpur city for example that would like to come to the area. 
Secondly, if we as designers in the built environment profession are not truthful in our intent, and in our service to the community, by not doing proper research on the needs of the immediate community, then we are just doing what we like. And the project will not be sustainable. Time will tell.

©️Talk Architecture 2022, Author: Naziaty Mohd Yaacob. Photo (artwork): "Talk Architecture" by Naziaty Mohd Yaacob; Bus Stop drawing by Kamelia Jambari.

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Another review ( this one is for 15 minutes) on advocating schools of architecture to consciously create design studio programs that deal with society’s problems. Like social housing and community buildings. School of architecture will be doing a better service when creating learning programs that innovate on real problems rather than regurgitating programs that are merely tourist oriented.  Architecture schools need to be more independent of the elitist agenda.

©️Talk Architecture 2022, Author: Naziaty Mohd Yaacob. Photo (artwork): "Talk Architecture" by Naziaty Mohd Yaacob; Bus Stop drawing by Kamelia 

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Special Review - this is a conclusion of the few recent episodes that we had published and emerging theme which could be dealt further in the future. 

The architectural profession serves the elite group or rich people and not others, the vulnerable and marginalized group. Everyone wants to be in the rich group of course but we are not being inclusive. However what is sad is that architecture schools serve the elites as well and maintaining the status quo is the priority. This is reflected in architectural design studio programs with emphasis on tourism projects and the approach / method of teaching, which relies on similar “bullish” approaches in the industry. 
I admit that this is an assumption but it is worth to explore this to find out the reality. 

©️Talk Architecture 2022, Author: Naziaty Mohd Yaacob. Photo (artwork): "Talk Architecture" by Naziaty Mohd Yaacob; Bus Stop drawing by Kamelia Jambari

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Do subscribe for premium content and special features which will help to support and sustain Talk Architecture podcast on a more in-depth explanation on design thesis and processes. These special commentaries and ‘how to’ explanations are valuable insights and knowledge not found elsewhere! 

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The concluding part of the conversation featuring two fresh graduates, Ee Von and Afaf, on Architecture Education, starts with discussions on:

Part 2 episode

• Architecture education approaches and methods;
• Other issues that are increasingly being emerging in architecture education and;
• The future of architecture education.

Cheah Ee Von tutor at UCSI in Kuala Lumpur, graduated from Taylor's and the AA School, whereby Siti Nurafaf Ismail is a recent graduate from Universiti Malaya and a recipient of the thirteenth RIBA Norman Foster Travelling Scholarship.

© 2022 Talk Architecture, Author: Naziaty Mohd Yaacob
Photo (artwork): edited photos of Ee Von and Afaf (Naziaty Mohd Yaacob)

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Do subscribe for premium content and special features which will help to support and sustain Talk Architecture podcast on a more in-depth explanation on design thesis and processes. These special commentaries and ‘how to’ explanations are valuable insights and knowledge not found elsewhere!