Wednesday, June 22, 2011

MORE CONTRACT AND LEGAL EXPOSURES TO STUDENTS OF ARCHITECTURE

I had a chat on contract and legal matters in building works with a number of soon-to-be graduates of architecture and some not-so-fresh graduates.   Mostly, they were waiting to enroll for their 5th year in a number of universities after completing 4th year a couple of months ago and a number have been working a few years.

What surprised me after the chat was the level of their comprehension on contractual matters.   I did not expect them to understand or even know the details of all contract details – actually quite a number of graduates and registered architects cannot say they understand the contract well – but I had expected them to know the basic matters concerning building contract and the uniform building by-law [UBBL].  


Afterall, an architect cannot actually design a habitable building, in accordance with the laws in Malaysia, without understanding the UBBL requirements - that is apart from understanding building construction methods - and other governing laws.   Furthermore, how can architects manage a construction contract if they do not understand the basics of a contract?   And what about design coordination meetings – a sit down with the engineers, contractors and QS to look at minutes of previous meetings?   I found out a number of these coordination meetings did not involve looking to coordinate drawings of the various disciplines; rarely plans were opened and gawk at in these meetings.


If the universities have been emphasising on the laws and contracts on their architectural students as well as the importance of being the chief designer cum coordinator cum the team leader, I am yet to see the results; may be the ones I had met were the exceptions rather than the norm students.  

But if the universities have been concentrating on design at the expense of the real world needs, we hope something would be done soon.   A balance of theories and the practical aspects of architecture need to be achieved.   At least before the graduates were let loose into the market, they should have the basic exposures to know that when they design, there are rules and regulations to be dealt with on top of the project brief.   And when they manage a construction work, they knew that the reference in managing the contract is the contract documents which include among others, the terms of the contract, specifications and drawings - which normally comprises architectural, civil & structural and mechanical & electrical drawings – and not just refer to architects drawings.   The architect must lead.


Otherwise, I am sure that I would still be meeting with soon-to-graduate and fresh architectural graduates who drew blank faces when asked why their designs did not meet the governing laws of Malaysia or why they managed the building contracts on the contrary to the provisions of the contract documents.   Or worst, were surprised that the building turned out to be different from their design because actually the structural engineers had designed the building for them since the structures would be constructed first and architects drawings did not match the engineers, hmmm...

Sunday, June 19, 2011

BHA FAMILY TRIP 2011 _ Bandung, Indonesia

2011, June 2 - 5 _ Jakarta - Bandung

For a project that we are currently undertaking we need to study what makes factory outlets work and how to manage the abundant natural resources God has created for us for a sustainable lifestyle.

Since quite a number of us had to go for the study trip, we turned the trip into a BHA Family Trip affair.
A bus load of us made the trip to Bandung via Jakarta.   KL - Jakarta via Garuda Airlines and by bus to Bandung.   

The trip turned out to be an eye opener how low tech solutions made architecture very pleasant [ and how cheap clothing were in Bandung factory outlets compared with KL! ].


CONTEMPORARY SHOPPING

Bandung do have the latest Shopping Centres in Paris van Java and CiWalk [Cihampelas Walk] Mall and a few others but the houses turned into shops were more interesting.
CiWalk Mall is a street mall which is good to emulate - with its interesting individual formed shops and the heavily landscaped malls.  





THEMATIC RESTAURANT _ KAMPUNG DAUN

Kampung Daun, a sprawling restaurant set along a forest stream next to granite hillside, was a dream.   The setting was surreal.   Might look for a natural setting here in Malaysia to turn into something like that.   It would be great!


Kampung Daun Restaurant


CULTURAL SHOW - SAUNG PAK UDJO

The trip to Saung Pak Udjo to watch a cultural show with the main feature on an Angklung orchestra was enlightening.   Preserving and presenting the local cultural heritage with all artists trained from the whole of the village [ I was made to believe as an effort to enable them to have something worthwhile to do, beats leaving them to turn into Mat Lepaks or Mat Rempits, I am sure ].

It was a noble cause and looked like a commercially rewarding venture. 

We could learn a trick or two from the cultural show, the architectural set up is basic but very vernacular and interestingly done.   The show is a must see.  

Sukajadi Hotel, Bandung

Kampung Daun, Bandung

Saung Pak Udjo
CULTURAL SHOW


The Angklung + Traditional Percussions Band


The Angklung Orchestra

Badrul Hisham Architect / June 2011

BHA Family Trip 2009 + Architectural Discourse _ Sg Klah, Perak

The team needed a short discourse session to rejuvenate their architectural senses.   So we organised a weekend discourse programme on 14-15 Nov 2009 in Felda Residence, Sg Klah Hotsprings with Ar Hj Ahmad Fadzil Mohamed and Ar Hj Nasharuddin Abdul Majid to give short talks on architectural practice.  

Ar Hj Ahmad Fadzil and Ar Hj Nasharuddin talks were the very refresher the team needed.   We hope to have the discourse sessions once in a while and next time hopefully we can invite other offices to join in these kind of sessions, God willing, inshaAllah.

Apart from the semi-serious talks that we had, we also organised games for the whole family.

The Family

The Team













Badrul Hisham Architect / Nov 2009

BHA Family Trip 2008 _ Cameron Highlands

We checked into Equatorial Cameron Highlands  20-22 December 2008 for a well deserved break from work.

It was a cool weekend to relieve stressed our muscles and mind.    But the period which was school holidays did not actually fully refreshed us all since the roads and attractions were a bit jammed-packed.

Despite the busy streets, we had a quite good break.

BHA Family 2008 @ Equatorial Cameron Highlands

Boh Tea - A Nice Piece of Work



Badrul Hisham Architect / Dec 2008

BHA Family Trip 2007 _ Pangkor Beach Resort

We made every effort possible that BHA team studies relevant examples before we design and document work we undertook.

This was the case when we made our Family Trip in 01-02 April 2007 into a Study Tour for our Felda Residence Resort, Tanjung Leman / Mersing, Johor project.

The Pangkor Beach Resort was of similar  concept to our beach-side proposal - isolated from mainstream infrastructure & tourist interests - and it had to be an attraction by itself.


Pulau Pangkor Island Beach Resort


Badrul Hisham Architect / April 2007