ARCHI tect

NURIN ABDULLAH 0318596

PREPARED BY

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH DR. AR. LIM TENG NGIOM

INTRODUCTION TO CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY PROJECT 2

FNBE 022014

The word ‘architect’  derives from the L a t i n   a r c h i t e c t u s a n d Greek  arkhitekton. An  architect  is a person who trained and licensed  to plan, design, and oversee the construction of buildings. Meaning to that, an architect is the person whom provide services in connection with the design and construction buildings and the space within the site surrounding the buildings.

An architect's decisions affect public safety, and thus an architect must undergo specialized training consisting of advanced education and a  practicum  (or  internship) for practical experience to earn a license to practice architecture. Practical, technical, and academic requirements for becoming an architect vary by jurisdiction. 

WHO IS AN ARCHITECT?

Design role •  Responsible for creating a design concept that meets the requirements of that client and provides a facility suitable to the required use.

•  Architects deal with local and federal jurisdictions about regulations and building codes. The architect might need to comply with local planning and zonin glaws, such as required setbacks, height limitations, parking requirements, transparency requirements (windows) and land use.

Construction role •  Architects typically put projects to tender on behalf of their clients, advise on the award of the project to a general contractor and review the progress of the work during construction.

•  They typically review contractorshop drawings  and other submittals, prepare and issue site instructions, and provide construction contract administration and Certificates for Payment to the contractor.

Alternate practice and specialization •  Many architects and architectural firms focus on certain project types (for example, health care, retail, public housing, event management), technological expertise or project delivery methods.

• Some architects specialize as  building code, building envelope, sustainable design, technical writing, historic preservation (in US) or conservation, accessibility and other forms of specialist consultant.

THE IMPORTANT ROLES OF AN ARCHITECT

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ARCHI

THE RESPONSIBILITY

tect

02

it’s a lifestyle, not a job

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____________________________________________________  03 BHP Award for Industrial Buildings (1996) – 1st Prize | PAM Award for Residential Buildings (2004) – Mention | PAM Award for Interior Design (2004) – Honourable Mention |

Steel Award for Residential Buildings (2005) – Winner | PAM Award for Residential Buildings (2008) – Honourable Mention

NAME

AGE

BIRTH DATE

FAMILY BACKGROUND

COMPANY NAME

STAFF

PAST EDUCATION

Dr. Ar. Lim Teng Ngiom

59 years old

5 November 1955

Married with 3 children

•  Bachelor Degree, North East London Polythechnic, UK

•  Masters Degree, University of Malaya, Malaysia

•  Doctoral Degree (PhD), RMIT University, Australia

Ngiom Partnership

6 staffs in the firm

THE arch

itect

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The interview was conducted in his office itself at Plaza Pekeliling in Kuala Lumpur on 16th April 2014, Wednesday.

the interview The decision of being an architect has something to do with your aptitude. So in my case, my decision was having interest in specific arts and being conversant with the science as well. I’d say, the course itself is not simple as you must have to be consistent. Architect is not an artist where you’re being hired away. Architects have to deal with so many things such as social issues, economy issues, dealing with other people amd basically with the world structure. It always has something to do with the economy and corporate environment. Over the years, you have to build up yourself through the learning process.

JOURNEY

Do you mind to share about your past education and the experience?

What inspired you to decide to become an architect?

W e r e t h e r e a n y p a r t i c u l a r influences since young? Your parents especially?

I did architecture in North London University, UK and it took me for about 6 years to complete the course (including 1 year working). I finish my schooling there and my first experience working was there as well. So in short, I have an European background, on how I see architecture in architecture perspective. In terms of experience - as for me, if you think you’re good enough here but when you go for the different environment, especially a country with creative culture among the students and you’ll realised that, you far behind. Architecture is different in a way that it required creativity where Malaysian students are not very good at. They need to learn the creative part. Of course, this has something to do with the culture as what we can see now, Malaysian culture becoming worst and a lot of protocol. As an example, the Malay has confusion kind of culture where you are always expected to always listen to the elders, it is an environment where you take it as it is so people don’t really create or

innovate something. You have to be exposed to a culture where creativity is encouraged. Architecture requires creativity, if not you won’t be able to grasp the essence of design.

It has nothing to do with the parents. When your parents ask you to do architecture, then you better don’t do it as you’re not willing to do it. To certain parents, they would think that architecture is a pleasing course as it will be very benefical in terms of income. Obviously, it is a wrong perception. I’d like to advice, if your parents ask you to do architecture, you better do something else.  

The North London University in United Kingdom, where he spent almost 6 years,

learning architectural studies.

By that, do you think that Malaysian students should explore and experience more?  Yes, of course. Definitely. But a lot of it caused an internal struggle for them. When you’re travelling and see the building and famous architects, you find nearly all of them came from cosmopolitan environment. Meaning that the environment that has a lot of interaction, basically an open society. so maybe there must be something in foundation year where you must be prepared to open yourself.

THE

BECOMING AN ARCHITECT

I think you have to get used to it, that’s all I can say.

What is your perception of those people who can and cannot draw and wants to be an architect? It is an advantage for those who can draw but I know many architects, famous architects, are actually can’t draw but they can visualize. So their ways of overcoming that thing, they train themselves to draw but it takes time over the years. If you have that problem, you just practice. If you have the chance, please keep drawing. Sometimes has the ability but they are just lack of exposure but those who has zero ability, don’t worry, you can learn.

In terms of your income, can you explain more about it? Can I make money if I become an Architect?

Okay, I give you some idea. Well, you want to practice properly, you won’t make a lot of money. Some people think that you can, your parents will probably think that you can, but only because a lot of architects are in great debts. When you come across very famous architects, big names like Frank Lloyd Wright for

example. When he died, he owed people a lot of money although he led sort of a glamorous lifestyle. Another big name like Louis Kahn also he left behind a lot of that as well, and then you look at Antonio Gaudi, very famous architect, really got no money at all and with his life. Even now people look at big cooperate practices, like Norman Foster’s department, he invests all his money back into the practice, actually. I think he owes banks a lot of money. That’s why he sells the shares and so on. You can be rich, but basically you owe people lot of money. You can live in that kind of lifestyle, depends on you actually.

How often you get new project within a month?

Depends, sometimes you it’s quite frequent, even sometimes you also have to wait.

How can you deal with the stressful?

B e a u t i f u l susta inable p r o j e c t o f House X1 in Sier ra Mas done by Dr. Lim.

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BEING

____________________________________________________  06 Having been in this career for many years, so how do you keep your ideas fresh and where do you get your inspiration from? When you are still learning, you are prepared to be opened to idea or whatever it is. You should always be fresh anyway. As long as you are prepared to be learning all the time, then there’s no reason you can’t come out with fresh ideas. For most creative people, they don’t like to stay in the same place, mentally. So they want to explore further all the time. I supposed this is why being an architect, they have super part in them in the way that they’ll be always challenging themselves.

One of successful projects done by Dr Lim Teng Ngiom, House X2 (above) and House 181 (below) in Sierra Mas, Klang Valley.

When a client comes to you and want to present something, how you can say ‘Yes’ and ‘No’ to that?

For us, we are quite clear with what we are doing. If something is wrong, then we will tell the client. Normally the client accepts what we say. But I do know that they struggle in that area. That is not very good because it doesn’t matter if you lose a project, at least you don’t get yourself into trouble. You do have client that is very forceful, especially big cooperates client. But you have to say no when something’s wrong. But there are also some professional parts where if you’re caught of conduct, it can be reprimanded, it can be de-registered and so on. So that is possible, it can happen as well and your reputation can go downhill if that happens. So, one has got to be capable to say no if something is wrong and surprisingly, many kinds of respect that. In fact they respect you less and say yes all the time. Sometimes they do it from the perspective. They do what they do. If the architect is able to respond as professional, many of the clients will respect and that is what we found actually.

AN ARCHITECT

Have you lost a project before?

Are you afraid if company’s name is going down?

Yes, for projects that we don’t want to go in because we’re not very comfortable with that kind of project. Architects can do any projects, but sometimes a client can be unreasonable. It can be very dangerous. So it’s your choice, really.

Yes, can be worrying when you want to practice in the manner where it’s correct but you find its possible that other architect don’t really care much. It’s something you have to weigh and decide.

Would you like to give your last words or an advice for students who are planning to pursue in architecture?

Basically having the passion is a good start, you have to continue. However if you don’t have the interest in architecture, the right time to drop is now, because it’s very demanding and your course will be very demanding as well. You design, you have to defend your projects and critical and so on, you got to be quite tough, communication is not just verbal but it’s also visual. You have to expect the ups and downs because sometimes you just want to explore something but you can’t quite get it and it can be quite frustrating.

Now that you have your own firm, is it necessary for you to come in to office everyday or can you work from home?

I come in seven days a week. I don’t believe in working from home. It’s either work or social or domestic things. I don’t think you can mix it. I know people say that with the internet age, you can work from home, but I don’t believe in that at al l because you can’ t concentrate.

House  X1  in  Sierra  Mas  -­‐  Clean  Colorbond  steel  is  lightweight,  flexible  and  available  in  a  wide  

range  of  colours.