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1. BACHELOR OF SCIENCE (HONOURS) IN ARCHITECTURE
THEORIES OF ARCHITECTURE AND URBANISM (ARC61303
SYNOPSIS: REACTION PAPER (August 2017)
Name: Anith Syazlin Binti Ramli ID No: 0325737
Lecturer: Mr. Prince Favis Isip Tutorial Time:
Reader/Text Title: Towards a Critical
Regionalism: Six Points for an Architecture of
Resistance
Synopsis No: 4
Author: Kenneth Frampton
Frampton’s writing on the six points for an architecture resistance highlighted few
issues on civilization and cultural resources. He focuses on the modern architecture
aspect and how regionalism is lost as he highlights that architecture shall encompass both
social value and the meanings of the past before linked them with futuristic qualities. This
writing has made me to come to realization that architecture doesn’t evolve in just a day,
instead it has a long list behind on what to consider before we start to design and build.
Some issues being highlighted includes the optimization of technology which has
minimized the chance of creating certain urban form as modern buildings can now be built
universally. In conjunction with that, civilization goes along with the concept of ‘for the
sake’ where the purpose is to cater for the demands of development and marketing; the
chain of ‘means and ends’ hence leads to increasing value. In contrasting with that, the
writer stated that emergence of avant-garde happened in the mid of 19th century was the
reaction to the tradition part to the modernization. Consequently, the art values deteriorate
during so-called post-modern era due to result of fragmentation and decline of critical
adversary culture. In his writing, he also highlighted on how the Critical Regionalism exerts
certain governing feature and maintains a high level of critic self-consciousness such as
range and quality of the local light, or in tectonic derived from peculiar structural mode or
even in the topography of a given site
In my opinion, such scenarios can be experienced in any urban cities nowadays. Kuala
Lumpur city for example, comprises of tall and modern skyscrapers to cater for the ever-
growing economical demands hence the usage of land is maximized. In this context, the
involvement of high technology has been very helpful to produce mass construction and
production which eventually follows certain standards, where buildings all look the same
and being placed at wherever areas available due to limited land available. To some

2. extent, modern practices place functions and technology above aesthetical requirements.
Similarly Ipoh which known as city with rich heritage, is being under the urban
development as well. In its old town, old buildings and shophouses are still being well-
preserved, however, tall alienated buildings have been garnering authorities’ interest as
well to cater for the needs of people and be placed just anywhere. It changes on how my
memories of what the old town looks like before, a nostalgic bell rings in me.
As conclusion, both ancient and modern cultures shall resonate together as they are
not the product of a single heritage but rather a collection of several cultures found in
region’s past. I’d agree with his writing saying that all sorts of considerations such as
geography, climate, environment as well as cultural background shall be taken before
recreating one’s place to strengthen regional identity as architecture shall be perceived as
a whole.
Word Count: 483 Mark Grade
Assessed by: Date Page No.