Architectural Prologue

Meor, Meor Mohammad Fared (2009) Architectural Prologue. Sustainable Tropical Environmental Design Exhibition (STEDex’09), 1. pp. 15-17. ISSN 2180-0685

Abstract

The Department of Architecture, Faculty of Design and Architecture, Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) was officially formed in the year 1999. The department’s main function is to develop multi levels architectural knowledge through teaching, research and consultancy. It offers two undergraduate programmes,Bachelor of Design (Architecture) which started in May 2000, and Bachelor of Architecture program which commenced in December 2004. Both programmes have received the Board of Architect Malaysia’s (BAM’s) Part I and Part II accreditation respectively. The Bachelor of Design (Architecture) at UPM is a three-year programme which stresses on mastering basic design principles, communication skills and architectural design process encompassing the understanding of design and technical requirements of various building typologies. The first year studio’s emphasis is on the integration of arts and architecture through explorations of different mediums, design understanding and real space involvement. During the second year, students will design small-scaled buildings within a suburban context and incorporate technological and theoretical aspects. The studio culminates into a comprehensive design project of high complexity during the third year. Meanwhile, the Bachelor of Architecture is a two-year programme stressing on opportunities to explore urban design aspects, sustainable design issues,advance building technology and architectural professional practice. Studio projects normally deal with community issues, heritage, town planning and integration of structural and building services. During the fourth year, student delve into housing, office building, museum, hotel and library projects. Each individual student then culminate his or her study with a thesis project during their fifth and final year. The Department of Architecture aspires to include sustainable development into the curriculum especially in the design studio. It has taken great stride with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Pertubuhan Akitek Malaysia (PAM) in developing Green Building Index (GBI) in a studio teaching. Exposure and awareness of sustainable issues are inculcated among students during their first year, application of natural ventilation and lighting in their designs during the second year, and effective site planning and energyefficient design during their third year. Students are expected to utilise their knowledge in sustainability during their fourth and fifth years design studios.

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