Name: Jillian JomininStudent ID: 1007P79636

What is the reason behind a design? What is the truth that lies within the crevices of the concrete walls? What is the message encrypted beneath the creaking floorboards that stands witness to every passerby, who watches in awe at something that was once just scribbles on a piece of paper?

If somebody would have asked me, why I design in such a way, I would always answer in a professional manner and tell them how my design responds to the context surrounding it. This would include existing structures, conditions of the site as well as the socio-economic situations of the area. All this, however, entails in every project to assure the feasibility of the building. But any educated architect can build a fully functioning building that fits in the site. What makes every architect different from one another?

There are quite a few things that I deem to be of utmost priority when it comes to designing. I always envision how a passerby would experience my buildings from their point of view. At eye-level, you must engage with more than just the sense of sight. I try to design a building that can evoke a change of feelings by playing with the scale of the spaces. I try to design a building that can provoke the user to caress the walls by playing with the texture of the materials. In other terms, I try to design with intimacy.

Another thing that I strive to achieve when designing is the collision of the exterior and the interior. Taking inspiration from the late Geoffrey Bawa, I praise his use of courtyards that does not only brings the nature into the building, but also effectively cools down the building and providing a better atmosphere in the building. Such design strategies amaze me, as it is fairly simple to do but not really utilized in Malaysia even though we have the right climate for it.

Ultimately, I try to design for the comfort and spectacle of the immediate user. I do not try to design something that would urge the masses to stop and stare, instead I try to design something that would connect with the user. Residential buildings are something I look forward to be working on in the future, as it is the most personal building that can be built. This choice is based on my experiences throughout my degree, where I have had the opportunity to design various types of buildings from retreat homes to multi-purpose multi-levelled buildings. I have learned how to design for a small group of users as well as for the masses. Through these projects, I have found my solace in building homes.

“A great design is something that is not only beautiful from the outside, it must also be beautiful within”