ici magazine interview architect

1. Architect
Foundation in Natural &
Built Environment
January 2015
Ar. SW Lee
EXCLUSIVE
Detached Unit
favourite design
Roles & Responsibilities
of an Architect
SW Lee Architect
his company

2. Company Profile: SW Lee Architect
Interviewee Profile: SW Lee
Roles & Responsibility
Projects Involved
Project #1: Detached Unit
Project #2: Mini Convention Centre
Differences between Two Projects
Reflection
Ar.Lee formed his
own company - S W
Lee Architect with a
new approach which
i s t o d e v e l o p a
company which can
stay ahead in design,
suit the contextual
environment, and
based on a unique
c o n c e p t . H e
p e r s o n a l l y h a n d
picked his staffs with
a g o o d c r e a t i v e
q u a l i t y a n d
c o m m i t m e n t . H i s
company started out
with a team of 8
members and started
up a small office in
Taman Bukit Emas.
Content
SW Lee ArchitectCOMPANY
PROFILE
1
2
3
4
5
7
8
10
page | 1

3. Ar. SW Lee
Ar. Lee had been working for 25 years as an architect. He studied architecture in the
National University of Singapore (NUS) in 1982 and finished his masters in 1988. He then
worked as an architect for 4 years in Singapore. After 4 years of working experience in
Singapore, he started a partnership company in Seremban named Architect Saujana.
Finally, in year 1995, he started his own company named SW Lee Architect.
INTERVIEWEE
PROFILE
He have his own way of dealing with
different clients,. He is flexible in his
approach especially to those who are
extra fussy. Some of the clients do not
know what they want so it’s his
responsible to lead and advice them.
What keeps him going on his journey
as an architect was the satisfaction when
each project was completed and it is
appreciated by the clients. He will be
motivated to do better every single time
to fulfill the client’s requirements.
NEVER
say die
&
NEVER
give up
“
”
page | 2

4. Basically, an architect fulfill the
requirements of every clients based on the
types of projects offered. He will have to
come out with various conceptual design
sketches and put them into drawings for
submission and construction. In addition,
he will also have to help in preparing many
tender documents and work alongside with
contractors. During construction, he is
responsible to supervise the works on site
and check whether the works are done
accordingly to their drawings as well as
solving every problem that arise during
construction. He is also authorized to issue
the Certificate of Compliance and
Completion ( CCC ) when the building is
completed.
Roles & Responsibilities
S o m e o f t h e c o m m o n
problems faced are technical
problems that arise during
construction period for example
errors in the joints, the building
was not built accordingly to the
plan provided.
page | 3

5. Projects
Involved
He is in charge of various projects ranging
from the smallest to the slightly bigger ones
namely residential buildings, commercial
buildings, industrial buildings, educational
buildings and many more.
For the residential building, he was employed
to design bungalows, housing areas, semi-
detached units and detached units.
On the other hand, he had designed shop lots,
hotels and shopping malls which falls under
the category of commercial buildings.
For the industrial building, he was employed to
design a factory at Port Klang as well as
schools which are educational buildings.
He is also involved in many other projects for
example, hospitals, community blocks and etc.
page | 4
Residential Building
Commercial Building
Industrial Building
Educational Building
Hospital

6. One of his favourite project designing a
resort style detached unit. The design process
for the detached unit begins with analyzing the
site which includes a few main aspects
namely topography, microclimate, visual study
and character of the site. Then, a brief will be
given by the client and he will have to plan
accordingly to the client’s requirements. For
this project, he was requested to design a
resort style detached unit which blends the
inside and outside. The client also requested
that the detached unit must have good
ventilation , shade and comfort.
A conceptual design will be proposed
after combining all the ideas and
requirements of the client. After having an
overall idea of the design, he then draw out
the building using computer aided
software’s like AutoCAD and Sketchup.
A budget for the detached unit will be
establish as soon as the plans are ready.
He will get advices from other profession
about the building which includes the
suitability of design, and the estimated cost
and time of construction.
Detached UnitPROJECT
#1
page | 5

7. After the client has approved the outcome
of the design, it will be send to the local
authorities for approval. After the approval,
construction is able to start. During
construction, regular site visits are needed to
ensure the project is running on time and to the
building specifications as well as resolving any
problems that arise during the construction
period.
The legal and contractual procedures for
all the projects are quite the same which is to
prepare an award letter and a contractor
document to the successful contractor as it will
spell out all the terms and conditions for the
contractors to finish their work. Submission of
progressive reports on the progress of the
construction to local authorities are also
needed to keep them updated at anytime.
Next, he will propose the design to the
client for approval by using plans, sketched
and models. He will also answer every
question that the clients asked and make
changes if there is any.
page | 6
There are some problems met
during construction of this detached
unit. First is the retaining wall issues
because it is connected to the
neighbouring wall. In order to solve
this problem , they need to do it
carefully so the retaining wall will not
affect the neighbour’s existing wall.
Secondly, the swimming pool in the centre of the detached unit is a heavy structure which
cannot be connected to the other structure of the building. It will make the whole structure fall
apart due to its weight. Since it is a heavy structure, it should be built independently and not
tied back to the back of the main building structure. So, it won’t affect the main building if
there is any crack or sink.
This project takes around 2 to 3 years’ time to complete it.

8. Mini
Convention Centre
PROJECT
#2
The inspiration of design
concepts is implemented
from company’s
philosophy which stresses
on creativity in the
designs and also come
out with daring and bold
ideas. He said that we
should think out of box
and be creative in order to
get an attractive design.
The second projects which he was quite
satisfied with was the mini convention centre
which is still under the process of approval.
The chosen site for the mini convention
centre is located at Taman Seremban which is
surrounded by a commercial area with many
shop lots. It was designed with 49 units of
hotel rooms, a commercial block at the ground
floor, an event hall for functions to be held and
a mini theatre.
Site Location:
page | 7

9. For the detached unit, the site is chosen by the client beforehand. The client then look
for an architect ,which is me, to visit and analyze the site for further design process. As for
the convention centre, the site was no chosen. In fact, after I have been employed by the
client, I have to search for a site that is suitable for the construction of the convention centre
in consideration of the location, the needs of the community at that particular area, then
analyze a few chosen site and propose to the client. The client will then select from the few
sites that I have chosen through visitations to the sites and through my analysis.
Differences and
contrast between the
two projects
For the detached unit, I just need to
fulfill a small number of clients, for
example, the family members of that
particular detached unit as I just have to
fulfill their requirements. On the other
hand, for the convention centre, I have to
fulfill a large number of people, not just
the client but also the community.
Therefore, I will have to put the
requirements of the client and the
requirements of the community at that
area in consideration as the convention
centre is built for the community, not just
the client.
Landscape is one of the most important component for the detached unit where I have to
design and think where and how the landscapes of the house should be like. For example,
for this detached unit, there is an open space right in the middle of the house , which is the
grand living. I have designed an indoor landscape as one of the requirements of this project
is to blend the inside and outside.There are just minor consideration of landscapes for the
convention centre as the open areas should be car parking areas. There are just a small
area of landscape compared to the detached unit.
page | 8

10. Well, it’s obvious that the work load of the convention centre is far more heavier than the
detached unit as there are more details to be considered.
The budget for the detached unit is low and more flexible compared to the convention
centre as it is a private property with no business intention. The detached unit is their home so
the client are willing to pay more provided it is necessary to make their home a better place to
live in. As for the convention centre, the budget is higher as it is five times bigger than the
detached unit. Besides, it is a business based project so the budget is restricted as most of
the clients involved are business minded and will not consider to pay more if there is really not
necessary.
The legal process of the detached unit is slightly shorter compared to the convention
centre as the convention centre is a much bigger project which will have a bigger impact on
the community. Therefore, the process will take about 3 to 4 years for approval as the local
authorities will have to look very deeply in it.
page | 9

11. Madeline Liew Zhi Qi
Reflection
page | 10
Lee Yet Yee
Law Jia XinLim Woo Leon Lee Lin Hui
Koo Jian Xiang
Prepared by:
Throughout the process of interviewing the architect, we were able to have an in-depth
understanding of what an architect do in the construction industry. In addition, we
gained more knowledge on the roles and responsibilities of an architect which helped
us to have a clearer picture of what we are going to do in the future as an architect. We
also learned more about the design process of a building which will be a guideline for
us when designing any types of buildings.
Besides gaining more knowledge of architecture, we were inspired by looking at the
different projects done by our interviewee and his passion towards architecture had
motivated us to strive harder in becoming a successful architect in the future just like
him. We also gained some useful tips on how to deal with different clients in the future
which is an important skill for us.
In the process of making the magazine, we learned how to cooperate with different
type of personality and find the best solution to produce a good magazine. We also
learned how to interpret information from the conversation which is an important
aspect for us in our future studies.
Last but not least,
we learned how to
accept different
o p i n i o n s f r o m
each of our team
m e m b e r. T h i s
really helped us to
i m p r o v e o u r
interpersonal skill
a n d w e w e r e
h a p p y t h a t
everything went
out well till the end
of the project with
much satisfaction.

12. FNBE | January 2015 Intake | Introduction to the Construction Industry | Project 1B
Lee Yet Yee | Madeline Liew Zhi Qi | Law Jia Xin | Lim Woo Leon | Lee Lin Hui | Koo Jian Xiang
His target of being an architect is to leave behind a legacy as he will not be
around forever but there is something that was left behind to remember of.