1. It is ART。
BEYOND

2. Name: Ng Yu Lynn
Student ID: 0318677
Subject: Introduction to Construction Industry
Why architecture?Is it
for you? Take the
right step!
Interesting facts of architecture& being an
architect。
An interview sessionwith one of the most
respected female architectin
Malaysia, Ar. Tan PI。

3. What do architects do?
It all starts with a contract from a client. The contract or commission may involve designing a
single home, to a group of buildings. The client may be a single person, or it may even be a
government department! Usually, architects lead a team of structural, mechanical and electrical
engineers. They must also understand and complete projects abiding by building codes and
bylaws.
Architects keep everyone on time and on stuck on a budget. Not only is technical knowledge
fundamental, but good people skills and business sense is also very important. Architecture is a
business. Being creative and bringing the image in your mind onto paper is only the first step in
the road to bring designs from the ground up.
Is architecture for you?
In order to become an architect, you must be artistic and able to apply good use of
mathematical skills and computations. Also, you must have at least a fundamental
understanding of computers since designs are mostly done on computer programs. Having the
ability to visualize concepts in 3D is also very important. Below is a list of key aspects architects
should have, see if any of these apply to you!
 Good at model making
 Good communication skills
 Able to interact with clients
 Can work with specific guidelines
 Understanding and experience in building construction
 Enjoys attention to detail
 Has a slight OCD compulsion
 Self confidence
 Ability to learn (forever) since new structures and technologies in this area are being
discovered and developed daily
 Fundamental understating of finances
 Good management skills and aptitudes
 Bilingualism is highly recommended
 Technical problem-solving skills
 Good spatial visualization

4. Why Become an Architect?
People Respect You
They might not understand exactly what you do for your job, but there is an existing perception that
architects will endeavour to make the right decision on their own detriment. They are not often seen as
driven by financial rewards like doctors and lawyers may be.
Personally Expression and Creativity
Although architects are often given certain parameters that help guide the direction of their projects,
they are also given the freedom to pursue the artistic embodiment of those parameters. In other words,
5 different architects given the same parameters to work with will always come up with 5 different
results!
You Can Be Your Own Boss
You can be your own firm and still be a service provider for almost any size project. You can also win
commissions for major projects by yourself – very few existing vocations allow you to do this. A team of
only 3 people can organize the construction documents of a 1,000,000 square foot structure.
There Is No Right or Wrong
When exploring this career, experimentation is definitely expected. As long as you follow the parameters
given, the final product can never be "incorrect", simply because no two architects can possibly come up
with the exact same solution. Architects are expected to try different things, explore different structures,
and incorporate emerging technologies into every their projects.
Positively Impact People’s Live
It is always rewarding creating relationships and interacting with clients. By understanding the process,
clients learn to appreciate the ending product and by appreciating the product, they acknowledge the
role you played.
Incredible Variety of Options
Unlike other professions, once you graduate with your degree, you can float towards a wide variety of
different types of firms. You can assume the role of either a project architect, a designer, or a manager.
Of course, you can also work on building different types of structures from residential, to retail, to civic.
You can choose which type of architecture you enjoy and like the most! For example, would you rather
design homes or build extravagant Roman-style churches?

5. Ar Tan Pei Ing also known as PI Tan, is a registered architect in the Malaysian Institute of Architects (PAM). She is
the former president of the Malaysian Institute of Architects, reigning since August 2001. She completed her entire
course in architecture and currently holds a master degree from Melbourne University.
Ar PI Tan is currently the president of ARCASIA which is a council consisting of all the Presidents of the National
Institutes in Asia. She is also the principal of PI Architects, an architecture firm based in Malaysia.
Ar PI Tan is involved in many major projects. Some of her notable projects include the IOI Mall in Puchong, Marriot
Hotel in Putrajaya, IOI City and IOI Business Park. She has won several awards for her projects such as the FIABCI
Award under hotel category. Her firm was also awarded the BCI Top 10 Architects Award for Malaysia in 2011 and
2013.
Today, Ar PI Tan is regarded the Iron Lady by the media for her works and contributions in Malaysian architecture-
which she finds it quite amusing, stating “ People nicknamed me Iron Lady, but I perceived myself to be quite
feminine”, she said in an interview. She is the first female head of PAM in 90 years since its inception and elected as
president of ARCASIA 2013-2014, which she also holds the position as the first and only female president.
1. What made you interested in
studying architecture?
My interest started very much later into my
teens, when I finished my form five. When I
was young, I came from a very small town in
Kajang, so not much is happening there. But at
that time I always follow my parents to Kuala
Lumpur, and I see how buildings actually
transform the skyline. There are a lot of
excitement created, and every time when I
went down to KL, which is not a very frequent
occasion, there is something new to see, and I
told myself I want to be part of the process. I
also felt that staying in a small town with very
little things happening, you actually realize
how building transform the way that you live
and use the space, so I said I want to be part
of the process, but that was only the initial
interest. I didn’t really think much about it
until I had a very close friend whom I used to
visit after school, and the brother was doing a
course in PAM at that time, so every time I
went to the house, I see him putting up all the
perspective of nice buildings and I felt interest
in architecture and I started asking him about
architecture, so that was the second time I
was introduced to architecture.
2. Do you have experience with green
or sustainable design?
I am very involves with green and sustainable design.
Green Building Index was set up through collaborative
effort between PAM and the Association of Consulting
Engineers Malaysia (ACEM). We felt that there was lack
of awareness of sustainable architecture, and we felt
that with all these recent climatic change, as an architect
we should initiate and promote the awareness of green
buildings. So we started this green building reading tools
few years ago, and currently I’m one of the board
member of Green Building Index Sdn. Bhd., which is the
company that holds the green building reading tool,
ARCASIA is also promoting many sustainable
development because as architects, it’s our duty to be
aware of green designs. It should be implemented in
architectural education. When I was doing architecture,
we also start designing from basic; which are contexture,
the environment, culture, climate condition and etc.
Unfortunately over the years, because of all these iconic
western culture, we seem to have lost that awareness.
The International Union of Architects is promoting more
awareness of green architecture. We have a special
committee what we call the ‘Green and Sustainable
Committee’ to look at how we can promote this also to
general public. We hope that this will eventually become
a consideration in every design process.

6. No matter where you are and what you do, if you have passion, then success will follow.
- Ar. Tan Pei Ing, President, ARCASIA 2013-2014
3. What do you see as important issues,
challenges, or considerations in a project?
I think to do a project, it is actually a very long process; from
the moment you meet your client, to understand the design
briefly. Because however you design, you must be able to
meet the requirements that are given to you. For example,
designing a condominium, you have to know the targeted
market, the facilities you need to provide, the size of the
room and etcetera. So the first step is formulating a very
accurate design brief and do the design, then you have to
present the design to the client. So you must convince them
that your design works and it fulfils the requirements. That
process can stretch from a few months to a couple of years.
Sometimes even if they agree with the design but due to
market changes, the design brief will have to be revised. So
there may be a lot of design changes in between, and by the
time your design have been confirmed, you have to prepare
building planes. Then you have to submit to the authorities
for approval. Currently the submission process to approval
process is a long process. So by the time you get it approved,
you have to get your tender documentation to prepare all
your drawings for the tender. Then after that you go into the
construction stage, you will have to go to site meetings to
make sure the contractors do exactly what you have
prepared, and monitor the progress and quality of work. You
have to select all the materials and review the quality of the
materials that are supplied to the site. By the time the project
is completed, you have to check the building for defects and
then go through the CCC process. Sometimes things will go
wrong on the site, so it is a very intensive involvement.
8. What do you expect to see from the students who are learning architecture currently
impact future projects?
We feel that a lot of the fresh graduates are not being trained to actually meet the industry requirements.
There are a lot of frustrations going on. In certain ways I think the education has become much
commercialised. And now, one of the biggest problems we face with graduates is that they are so into
presentation techniques, they actually lose the skill to go back to basic. During my time, we design using a
board where you start doing plans. You conceive that entire design as a more holistic approach. But now
there are a lot of pretty pictures that technically cannot even be built. So we are hoping that in the
architecture education, they are being trained to look at architecture in a holistic manner. Architecture isn’t
just about drawing pretty pictures, but a combination of art and science. It is a very wide scope. When you
don’t understand about contracts, you will not be able to do the job. To become a registered architect, you
must have all the skills. We would like to see the new graduates to acquire all the skills during their training.
But unfortunately the entire curriculum has lost the aspects. The other thing is we also want more
awareness to be introduced on social responsible of architecture. Responsible in the means of every aspect;
responsible to your client, the climate, the society, and the environment.
4. How do you describe the
workload of an architect? How
busy can one architect be?
Throughout the so many years I’ve
practiced, we have the high period and low
period. It’s never constant. It all depends
what projects you have at that time. As a
principal of a company, of course we will
ensure that we don’t overstretch ourselves.
Because by overstretching yourself, you will
affect the quality of your service. But
whatever said and done, it also cannot be
anticipated because sometimes you think
that the project will go into construction
phase based on a certain time frame,
situation change, so you have to adapt. We
can be very busy where we have to rush
through many projects that start happening
at the same time. We will eventually be very
busy to the point where we don’t get
enough sleep. It is like doing architecture
during university period. Averagely in one
week, we don’t sleep for three to four
nights. But of course now you can get extra
staff to help you. My practise is lucky in the
sense that, because we have been working
with big developers, so the volume of work
is always there. But we do go through what
we call the “turbulence” period or the peak
period. It is always a cycle.