Glass, steel and concrete are the 3 major construction materials for modern architecture. While glass has a 5000 years old history, its use in building is a relatively recent development. We learned in schools that glass is actually liquid in a solid state. It is therefore a peculiar and interesting material to be used for building. We use sheet glass in buildings for windows and doors for its transparency, and as partitions or finishing materials for its translucent and hardwearing quality and the ability to take on colours.  

While glass, steel and concrete are synonymous with modern architecture, it is the design of the glass facades, especially of high-rise commercial towers that defines the character and style of contemporary architecture. In the current concern for sustainable architecture, the way glass is being used in the building, the type of glass being used, the amount of glass being used will, to a large extent influence how green a building is.

This seminar is most timely in this regard as now the whole world is talking about green building and hence energy saving design. Safety and energy saving glazing for buildings is one of the important aspects of sustainable design.

In the Victorian era, Joseph Paxton gave us the famous Glass Pavilion for the World Exposition. Today, we are yet to witness any really great and significant buildings coming out of the World Expos. In the 20th century, 3 glass buildings stood out as groundbreaking for their use of glass in the building. They are Philip Johnson's glass house and Crystal Cathedral, and Mies Van de Rohe's Farusworth House.

Through seminars like this, and competition like the Kien glass competition, architects, contractors, suppliers and engineers would be better equipped and inspired to be more innovative in the use of glass in buildings. And hopefully, some significant buildings may emerge out these efforts.

The challenge for glass in the future, for me, would be the use of glass in the structural elements of building such as columns and beams. There have been small attempts to use glass structurally in a glass bridge and canopy, but I believe we will see more of structural glass being used in the very near future.

With that I wish you all the success in the seminar, and I hope you will have an enjoyable time learning from the experts about glass.

Lee Chor Wah
PAM President 2007-2008

My mission is to promote, strengthen, and champion the Architecture Profession, so as to bring it to greater heights. I have always been passionate about architecture and the Institute’s works. Even in my student’s days in Australia I was already a student member of both PAM and RAIA. I have benefited greatly from both institute’s publications and activities. As such, I always believe in contributing to the profession through the Institute, so that the profession and future students could continue to benefit from the practical and moral support of a strong and well-respected professional body.  

If there is ever a time we are proud and can say that PAM is heading towards stability and being united, this is it. Looking back at PAM’s recent achievements under the last 3 presidents’ leaderships, it is undeniable that PAM would not have accomplished so much, for example PAM Convention, Design Lecture Series, CPD programmes, ISO 9000, New PAM form of contract, etc. and accomplished them so well, if there were no stability and continuity within PAM. Continuity and stability are the cornerstones of any good governance. PAM currently has the most united, committed, and capable Council members of diverse opinions from practices of different backgrounds and sizes. And with this and your continued support, a lot more can certainly be done for the architecture profession and the construction industry.

There has been a rise in building jobs in Malaysia. It has grown by 4.2% this year, while the value of projects awarded to go up to RM57 billion this year. Of this, RM33 billion was expected from the private sector and the balance of RM24 billion would be from public spending. This is good news to architects. The better news is that these figures do not include potential projects to be rolled out under the five economic corridors such as the Iskandar Development Region and the Northern Corridor Economic Region.

There are also tremendous growth in other countries such as the UAE, India, China, Vietnam and Singapore. This world-wide boom has benefited many Malaysian architects and architect firms. With so much work both in Malaysia and overseas, we are now facing the problem of acute shortage in human resource. We are losing many good people in this brain drain.

There is much to be done to take the profession and PAM through this period of unprecedented growth to the next level of excellence and distinction so that we could stand out from the rest. Apart from continuing with the current policies of programmes, I plan to address the myriad of issues surrounding the profession with the following five visions or strategies:

One, Architecture Re-branded or the rebranding of Architecture as a profession. Our immediate past President had often referred to architecture as the oldest legal professions in the world. It is also one of the oldest professions in Malaysia. In fact the history of PAM goes back before Merdeka. Branding is now the buzzword for all businesses. As our nation has just celebrated its 50th birthday, it is perhaps timely for us to reflect on where we came from, where we are today, and how far we could go by re-branding PAM and the architecture profession.

With a renewed image, our works as architects would then be better appreciated by the clients, the public and the government. We can then be better respected and even better remunerated with the impending revised fee scale. When this happens, more young and capable people may then be inspired and attracted to join the profession. Additionally, the importance of quality education in the training of Architects will also be emphasized.

Two, Architecture Excelled or Excellence in Architecture Practice.

That is, to strengthen our profession by regaining our leadership role in the construction industry through capacity building such as programmes for Malaysian architects to excel in business, marketing, computing, and other skills so as to be on par to compete with international architects, and also to provide networking opportunities with the emergent markets such as Vietnam, India and the UAE through PSDC and MATRADE.

Three, Architecture Published, that is, to publish more books on Malaysian architecture.

It is very sad that there are no books on even some of PAM’s gold medallists such as the late Dato’ Kington Loo and Dato’ Hisham Albakri. I therefore plan to facilitate the publications of more books on Malaysian Architects and Architecture for posterity, so as to promote Malaysian Architects and Architecture - locally for the public to better appreciate and understand the contributions of Malaysian Architects, and globally to show case Malaysia’s Architectural talents, for the export of services.

Four, Architecture Delivered It is indeed gratifying for the government to have so much faith in us, in entrusting us with self-regulation and self-certification. As such we need to work with the Government and local authorities on CCC and OSC for a more efficient delivery system so as to bring about better quality buildings in a faster manner to the homebuyers and developers, and in the process making Malaysia internationally competitive. Even the cheapest car in Malaysia, say a thirty-odd thousand ringgit Kancil enjoys better maintenance than any buildings. There seem to be a common misconception that buildings are either maintenance free or they have some kind of built-in programmes to maintain themselves. We must help correct this misconception. We must therefore promote systemic asset management as an essential on-going concern especially for public buildings not only for health and safety but also for enhanced value of the properties and lower long-term running costs. And by so doing, the profession can take pride in its contribution and involvement towards shaping our environment.

Lastly, Architecture Recognised, that is, giving due recognition to architects. We spend more time in a building than in a car. Yet the public in general know more about cars than buildings. We need to educate the public about architecture. Therefore we need to promote Malaysian Architects and Architecture through both local and regional media and to acknowledge the creative contributions of architects to the society by encouraging developers and the media to give due credits to the architects. One of which is the listing of architects’ names when their designs are being launched or featured. Such recognition has also been done through many of PAM’s Awards, such as the one to be announced later tonight. In addition, we need to actively communicate architects’ views and concerns on issues affecting the profession, the built environment and the public through the media.

Ladies and gentlemen, you and I know that the work of PAM cannot be accomplished by a single person. Therefore, I need all your support, and together with a dedicated Council, supported by an efficient secretariat, to promote our profession in serving the public, the building industry, and the architecture profession.

Please enjoy the rest of the evening which has been specially prepared by the Organising Chairman, Ar. Abu Zarim and his hardworking team. Thank you.

It has often been said that Architecture is the oldest profession in the world. Thus it is the genesis of professionals. Having lasted so long it would also mean that it has stood the test of time and the pressures of different world systems through the centuries. Challenges have come and gone but the profession has stayed almost intact throughout. Technologies and methodology for delivery have changed but the role of the Architect Professional has remained.  

The Architect possesses a special skill and ability that sets him apart and lives by a set of rules and ethics bound by honour and integrity. The special skill that he possesses and his ability to succeed in delivering on his promises afford him the opportunity to offer his services for a fee. It is always the professional and not the amateur, apprentice or pseudo hitman that you call in each time if you need to get the job done properly and correctly. 

In many aspects, he is like the classic hero in westerns, war and even kung fu movies. The professional man with a specialised skill that needs to be called in, to save the poor besieged pretty girl, family, town, city and even the world. And because he is the hero that saves the day, he also has a heart of gold and lives by a Godly set of ethics totally different from the greed, lust, jealousy and hatred of the people that he has to sort out. Unfortunately, and as in the movies the professional is a rare and unusual breed. But when he shows up, the action starts and things get sorted out and the world is left a better place when he rides off into the sunset. He reappears only when things start falling apart again or for another “no-one else can do-it” project often known as the sequel. 

In recent days I have had opportunity to reflect on the differences between the Professional and the Corporate Man. Much of the pressures today on the Professional can be attributed to the rise of bad corporate culture and the bad Corporate Man. The Corporate Man unlike the Corrupt Man who is a clear-cut baddie (the villain in movies) is often like a chameleon and is not as easily identified and tackled. In addition he is often cloaked with goodness, stature and of course some power. The Corrupt Man is often an individual loner whilst the bad Corporate Man has a whole rat race, cronies and Yes-men behind him.  

The rise of corporate culture and corporations is putting new pressures on the remnant of Professionals serving the country. They often offer higher salaries, enticing packages, glitzier office environments and the promise that you can get more from doing less. Needless to say, these offers are often far too tempting and have convinced many to hang up their “light sabers” and leave the professional fraternity for a better dream life with more time for family and self. Some even promise that you can hire back your old boss and give the vintage professional a hard time.  

There is however often a great clash of cultures and values. It would not be unfair to say that you would lose a lot of freedom as you are now under pay-roll. You can’t come and go as you please. You can’t walk away if you disagree and know that you are right and the road taken leads to disaster. You can’t start your sentences with “But” anymore. You find yourself nodding even when you disagree. And often you find yourself working and surrounded by a bunch of others who are totally sold out as Corporate Men where politics overtake skills and ability. What place has a moral professional with SWAT skills got in a place where the lowest common denominator is often considered excellence? All the time living under the threat that if you do not toe-the-line you will promptly fall out of favour and be removed. Pretty soon you will feel the “force” leave you. “Light saber” skills will be lost and what was once obviously wrong is now acceptable. 

In contrast, the Professional Architect lives almost by faith. When called upon he can do the job without fear or favour. He possesses a specialized skill and lives by a code of ethics cloaked in honour and integrity. He is expected to speak his mind and give his views. When faced with absolute wrong, he can resolutely disagree and walk away. 

The Professional has lasted through the centuries. He is still the main character of many fables, stories, comics, movies and blogs. He is still as relevant and as needed today as ever before. The temptation of the corporations will come and surely go away. A new Indiana Jones sequel is also coming soon with Harrison Ford in the lead role again.

Australia’s national anthem Advance Australian Fair includes the declaration “For we are young and free”.

The “young and free” heroic period of post merdeka architecture is well documented in the rather rare black and white PAM publication “30 years of Malaysian Architecture”. Malaysian architects then had a profound influence on architecture in the region and many of the well known personalities were already plying their skills and creativity outside of the country from Singapore right up to Ceylon. They not only practiced their trade but also promoted professionalism through forming and leading regional Architectural associations including ARCASIA.

In contrast, Malaysia’s recent architectural influences only become evident when seen from outside the country. Without much fanfare some recent works became examples and typologies that others locked unto and followed. The Petronas Twin Towers gave iconic a new meaning and caused a resurgence in the race for the tallest. The KLCC Park, Suria and surrounding tower blocks refreshed the passion for planned urban centres and parks. KLIA reminded all serious economies of the importance of the global hub and connectivity. Cyberjaya was an idea ahead of its time about how the world would network and work. Putrajaya, the master-planned administrative centre would provide the typology for many new cities including Astana, Kazakhstan. A proliferation of Architect planned townships such as Setia Alam, Setia Eco Park, Bandar Botanic and Kota Kemuning seemed to be mirrored in many new townships on drawing boards from Vietnam to Dubai. Ar Lawrence Loh’s meticulous works in Penang set new international standards for heritage and conservation.

2007 marks 50 years of Malaysian independence. It’s a time to celebrate a milestone. It’s also a good time to reflect on the past and where we are today. Architecture is about more than just buildings. It’s about persons and personalities who possess the inspiration and tenacity to transform dreams into reality. In this aspect, we have had good men who built a firm foundation for the profession through steadfast character, integrity and selflessness. The late Dato’ Kington Loo was one such foundation stone. A Merdeka era Architect, he was the epitome of the all-rounder with incredible sketching, design and detailing skills right up to a sound and firm understanding of contracts and the provisions of the law. He was a Professional and a gentleman He gave of his time, treasures and talents without complaint, not just to PAM and the Board of Architects (LAM) but to many other worthy causes. He together with others of his generation left a firm set of footprints for the profession to follow. Fifty years after independence, the Architectural profession has kept along that same trail of footprints left by a pretty good bunch of fellows.

As we look forward into the future and ponder the question of “advance Malaysia where?” we wish to be able to retort “for we are young and free” even in the current midst of a greying and diminishing generation. The baton clearly awaits the emergence of a new generation of visionaries and dreamers with steel in their backbones, compassion in their hearts and who will be prepared to put their hands to the plough.