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Explore every episode of the podcast Talk Architecture

Dive into the complete episode list for Talk Architecture. Each episode is cataloged with detailed descriptions, making it easy to find and explore specific topics. Keep track of all episodes from your favorite podcast and never miss a moment of insightful content.

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TitlePub. DateDuration
The Undervalued Architect: How Education Fuels the Profession's Misunderstanding - Part 216 Dec 202500:24:40

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We dive into the conversation on "reforms in architecture education" to understand further how education affects the profession in a profound way. The principles from Mark Alan Hewitt's 2020 reforms explained in arch daily —emphasizing embodied cognition through hand drawing, physical model-making, haptic engagement, and sensory-rich practices—can absolutely be integrated into both the ARB Competency Outcomes Framework and the RIBA Themes and Values framework. Both are deliberately outcomes-based and flexible, allowing schools to innovate in how they deliver competencies without prescribing specific methods. This openness creates space for embodied approaches as effective pedagogical tools to meet required outcomes. 

Link here: https://www.archdaily.com/941809/12-ways-to-reform-architectural-education

© 2025 Talk Architecture, Author: Naziaty Mohd Yaacob.

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The Undervalued Architect: How Education Fuels the Profession's Misunderstanding - Part 115 Dec 202500:27:30

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Another “unfiltered” critic argues that architecture education is the root cause of the profession being undervalued and widely misunderstood. The defense of the profession, we contend, must begin in academia, where the core problem lies in situating architecture schools to comply with—and be dictated by—non-architects who neither understand nor uphold the profession’s essential competencies. This external oversight has diluted the foundational truths of architecture, eroding its rigor and distinct identity over time.

By allowing administrators, accrediting bodies, and university structures dominated by non-practitioners to shape curricula and priorities, schools inadvertently prioritize bureaucratic compliance, interdisciplinary trends, and measurable outcomes over the deep, tacit knowledge and creative judgment that define architectural expertise. This shift not only weakens the training of future architects but also sends a broader signal to society that architecture is a generic design discipline rather than a profound synthesis of art, science, ethics, and cultural responsibility—further contributing to its undervaluation in the public and professional spheres.

Part 2 will be about the "reforms in architecture education".

© 2025 Talk Architecture, Author: Naziaty Mohd Yaacob.

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The Use of Sensory-driven Architecture Principles to Achieve Inclusive & Therapeutic Spaces [Part 1]15 Sep 202500:29:26

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A new season on Sensory-driven Architecture principles and ideas.

The first part of this proposition of using sensory-driven architecture principles to achieve inclusive and therapeutic spaces as explained by Naziaty Mohd Yaacob, started on a research to combine 'architecture', 'disability' and 'phenomenology'. Definitions and approach to how we could go about as architects go above and beyond accessibility and universal design is articulated in Part 1.

Reference to Juhani Pallasmaa's The Eyes of the Skin and Kevin Mark Low's small projects plus ideas on Universal Design principles.

© 2025 Talk Architecture, Author: Naziaty Mohd Yaacob. Image by Naziaty Mohd Yaacob.

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Pushing the Envelope in Architecture Design07 Jan 202400:15:50

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The idiom 'push the envelope' means "to surpass normal limits or attempt something viewed as radical or risky" (Merriam-Webster) and that is true about the design thesis topic choice and justification.

The discussion focuses on the need for architecture students who come up with design thesis topics to be more challenging and 'push the envelope' when it comes to justifying and defending their design. Finding the questions to ask themselves including the right questions is fundamental in the final year course.

© 2023 Talk Architecture, Author: Naziaty Mohd Yaacob
The image is downloaded from the internet - envelope icon.

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Museum is not recommended to be a design thesis topic - Part 207 Jan 202400:22:58

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Further explanation on why a museum is not a recommended topic for students of architecture, by deep diving into 2 hypothetical projects of a museum compared to a library design, describing the design development and processes and what it entails. 

© 2023 Talk Architecture, Author: Naziaty Mohd Yaacob
The image is downloaded from the internet - museum icon.

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Museum is not recommended to be a design thesis topic - Part 106 Jan 202400:10:51

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An opinion piece based on a comment on the Facebook group “Architectural Insurgency: Kuala Lumpur” that I said, “A student doing a museum project will ignore context”.

Definition of context: “understanding people and relationships, when the designer is empathizing with the user who is using the space”. 
Making a new context from an existing context, hence for a museum project for a design thesis topic is too specialized and will be more focused on itself and less on context.

© 2023 Talk Architecture, Author: Naziaty Mohd Yaacob
The image is downloaded from the internet - museum icon.

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Psychology in dealing with Clients in Architecture Practice30 Dec 202300:13:49

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"Educating the client" does not mean you will be 'schooling' them as notably they are 'above you' (as the paymaster). Education here means the ability to sell your service by using the psychology learned in sales and the ability to create a conversation with the client to maintain a healthy professional relationship.

What happens in a meeting is the following:
Ideas > Brainstorm > Solve problems

The client bought your services and as the architect, you give valuable insights (ideas) and the client has their ideas, therefore the conversation (even though your client at first seems to be 'talking down on you' (it is not personal) is hearing your valuable insights and considering them to make a decision. So there is a collaboration that happens which will only be a positive thing to the whole professional relationship. Architects need to learn the psychology of how to deal with clients, as explained in this episode.

© 2023 Talk Architecture, Author: Naziaty Mohd Yaacob
The image is downloaded from the internet where a group of people are having a meeting.




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Criticism on Malaysian Architecture Identity Debate29 Dec 202300:13:13

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If the Berita Harian news article is anything to go by, the use of the Malaysian identity debate is a poor strategy if it’s relegated to the patterns, embellishment, motifs, and decorations on skyscrapers.

Scraping at the bottom of the barrel in terms of ideas to debate about, it is disappointing in the least, that the debate on the Malaysian identity is actually to advocate for mega-big projects for local architects.

There is so much more to debate and discuss regarding Malaysian architectural identity and we need to be more critical to get the right attention from the Government or the general public. 

© 2023 Talk Architecture, Author: Naziaty Mohd Yaacob
The image is from Universiti Teknologi Petronas Library in 2023 (Taken by Naziaty Mohd Yaacob) 

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Malaysian Architecture Identity Issue Again: Perpetual identity or perpetual debate?29 Dec 202300:34:13

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Here we go again after we had that Search for Malaysian Architecture Identity debate in the 1980s, we are flogging the same issue... again. I am all for Malaysian architects being advocates fighting for their rights to get mega-big projects and not having the Government give them to foreign architects, but I don't understand when we talk about 'identity'. It invariably is about the lack of patterns, embellishments, and motifs of design that have old Malay architectural characteristics. In fact, on my last trip to Fosters' building in Tronoh, the UTP auditorium had songket-type patterns on the inside wall.  I don't want to be in the middle of the motifs and patterns debate (not identity, because this is a bigger debate), so I leave it at that.

The newspaper article that had several people debating and discussing: https://www.bharian.com.my/hujung-minggu/lain-lain/2023/12/1192854/rekaan-seni-bina-hilang-identiti

A podcast that dealt with this issue before Learning from Kisho Kurokawa: Asian public space is the street! (how to originate from past designs)  https://www.buzzsprout.com/1042819/episodes/7207186

© 2023 Talk Architecture, Author: Naziaty Mohd Yaacob
The image is songket pattern downloaded from the internet.

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Reflection on the 1st episode - Design Process in Architecture Studio Curriculum28 Dec 202300:30:54

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After almost 4 years since we first published the 1st episode called "Design Process in Architecture Studio Curriculum" which is the most listened-to episode in the Talk Architecture podcast, a reflection on the topic in terms of 'design methodology' and the studio curriculum is deliberated in this episode.

A methodology is a system of methods and principles for doing something (Collins, 2023).

The fact that different schools of architecture practice different methodologies as we have observed, shows that there is not one philosophy in architecture. Is that a good or bad thing for the profession? This is not a recent phenomenon as I recall in the 1980s we talked of the more theoretical school and the more practical school. The diagram in the thumbnail was a way to describe the attempt to have a balanced approach to the architecture curriculum, especially in the final year or design thesis year.

© 2023 Talk Architecture, Author: Naziaty Mohd Yaacob
The diagram is called the design process for all architecture design studios at a school of architecture © Author: Naziaty Mohd Yaacob, 2023

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Introduction to stress and burnout - similarities and differences - Part 119 Dec 202300:37:17

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This is an introduction to stress and burnout, the similarities and differences in the context of architects and building professionals. The article that is being referred to is in this LINK.

It is a complex situation if a person is experiencing either of these things, but the article with the reading and some interpretation helps to define the words and understand better, to be more aware, especially if you are experiencing it right now.

©️Talk Architecture 2023, Author: Naziaty Mohd Yaacob.  Photo credit: Fatigue architect (downloaded image) 2023.

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Design problem and design process in architecture studio curriculum - Part 319 Dec 202300:22:48

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A discussion on the diagram posed earlier in the first episode of Talk Architecture and discussed in this blog: Life is a design thesis. However, the 'design problem' is explained in more detail by referring to the diagram (shown in thumbnail) which is a flow chart of the design processes in 4 phases (for the design thesis) but much of the components and stages can be applied to any architecture program in 1-5 years.

© 2023 Talk Architecture, Author: Naziaty Mohd Yaacob
The artwork in the podcast is the diagram by Naziaty Mohd Yaacob called the design process diagram for all architecture design studios at UM School of Architecture Author: © Copyright: Naziaty Mohd Yaacob




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Design problem and design process in campus design projects - Part 219 Dec 202300:28:06

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A proposal for the school of architecture to have a university campus design project that includes a master-planning exercise in the beginning for design thesis students to engage in. It is crucial to have a good studio tutor team where they have a commonly understood philosophical approach and the complexities and expectations of the design thesis projects will be fulfilled as there will be a lot of design problems to be identified and solved by each student taking in different building types and in-between spaces issues.

©️Talk Architecture 2023, Author: Naziaty Mohd Yaacob. Photo (artwork): Site visit of Universiti Malaya campus in July 2020 by Unit 2, led by Kevin, Naziaty, and Lisa with the students.

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Conversation with Lillian Tay on Women Architect in Leadership Roles [Part 2]15 Sep 202500:37:09

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The Concluding Part [Part 2] of the series on Women Architects in Leadership Roles, Ar. Lillian Tay discusses a variety of issues from gender roles in taking care of children and the challenges to women architects who decided to start a family, how the local government can provide for nurseries in office areas and whether there is the glass ceiling for women architects.

Bio: Ar. Lillian Tay is the Vice President of Veritas Design Group, est. 1987. She was trained at Princeton University and worked at Kohn Pederson Fox in New York. Lillian returned to Kuala Lumpur in 1991. At Veritas Design Group, she provides the design direction  and was leading numerous award-winning projects. Lillian contributes to society as the Malaysian Architecture Institute (PAM) President from 2019-2020 and sits on the Board of Architects, Malaysia (LAM). Recently, she won the PAM Gold Medal for Design Excellence.

© 2025 Talk Architecture, Author: Naziaty Mohd Yaacob. Image from https://theveritasdesigngroup.com/

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Identity politics in architecture - Part 115 Dec 202300:23:19

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When a person identifies themself as an 'architect' even though they do not have a license or a professional qualification, it does not mean that they are confronting the status quo or wish to cause mischief to the profession.

It depends on the country whether the architects are stable in terms of the 'playing field' and would not be monitoring or mindful of words used, as the legitimacy is only from a personal point of view (POV). A person identifies themself as an 'architect' "having stuck to the profession, adapted, and flexible in one's career in architecture for 40 years" since one identified very earlier in the second year of architecture school. 

In this episode, the mention of two issues implies the professional architects' grouses on issues of 'identity', that is: projects given to foreign architects and; clients opting for non-architects in small projects.  Hence, the concerns become a debate on hierarchical terms, legitimacy, and the use of the word 'architect' to identify oneself.

©️Talk Architecture 2023, Author: Naziaty Mohd Yaacob.  Photo credit: Paradox design thesis 2018-19 exhibition at Universiti Malaya: when X marks the spot.

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Design problem and design process in architecture design studio - Part 115 Dec 202300:29:51

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The use of the 'design problem' to comprehend how it works in the architecture design studio process is crucial so that the school of architecture academics can communicate better with each other, in developing the architecture design curriculum. 

In this episode, Naziaty Mohd Yaacob explained "the difference between the use of the 'design problem' in engineering compared to architecture". The argument of using the 'house design' in the first year and even in the fifth year (final masters project) is contended when discussing the 'design problem', as well as the controversy of the issue of "complexities in 'lateral or horizontal projects' such as master-planning and site planning, resulting in low-rise buildings compared to high-rise complexes". As long as the design thesis projects have about 9-12 design problems, there are enough complexities at the design thesis level, regardless of it being low-rise. 

©️Talk Architecture 2023, Author: Naziaty Mohd Yaacob.  Photo credit: Wong Chiang Her's design thesis project: “Old Town Botanic Gardens” (2019-2020): Elevations.


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Viral video of the Professor falling off the ramp is wrong. 24 Nov 202300:13:18

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The viral video of the Professor falling off the ramp is wrong.  It should not have been viral or used incorrectly as the message conveyed is not helping at all and due to ignorance, the real matter of access audit training and disability awareness training take a step back / regressed from this viral video. No one will appreciate this and it’s of no laughing matter. 

©️Talk Architecture 2023, Author: Naziaty Mohd Yaacob.  Photo credit: X image (formerly twitter) taken from posts on this issue. 

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The Need for an Anti-Discrimination Act for Disabled and Older Persons in Malaysia - Part 218 Nov 202300:21:24

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This is a continuation of the Part 1 episode of the same title.

Quote at the end:
Tell the government that we do not want an act that is still discriminating against persons with disabilities. We want an anti-discrimination act. We want a Disability Discrimination Act, and we want the tribunal redress mechanism, the Disability Commission, and we want everybody to be protected under the act.

Whether they live in houses and housing environments, or on university campuses, we want reasonable adjustments. We want everything sorted so that disabled persons can make complaints and other people can make complaints when they see abuse, harassment, and bullying of disabled persons. And these people will be anonymously protected under the Act.

©️Talk Architecture 2023, Author: Naziaty Mohd Yaacob.  Photo credit [Anon] - image shows Naziaty giving a speech at Pusat Kecemerlangan Kejuruteraan dan Teknologi JKR (CREaTE) in 2018.


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The Need for an Anti-Discrimination Act for Disabled and Older Persons in Malaysia - Part 118 Nov 202300:13:12

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In the context of Malaysia, what is the root cause of the problems that disabled and older persons are facing in Malaysia? The problem lies in disabled and older persons being side-lined and unable to participate in life, be it in public life, economic life, learning, or cultural life, due to the fact that the legislation that was supposed to empower disabled and older persons is discriminatory and segregational rather than anti-discriminatory. It is evident in the planning and implementation of the PwD Act 2008 that real changes were not forthcoming as the focus was on projects rather than solving the bigger problems and how the power is in the hands of the Government and not in the hands of persons with disabilities.  This podcast explains exactly what that means.

©️Talk Architecture 2023, Author: Naziaty Mohd Yaacob.  Photo credit [Anon] - image shows disabled activists with local authority officers in Kuala Lumpur during a site visit.



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Barriers & Challenges in Mainstreaming Disability in Sustainable Development Goals Agenda 203017 Nov 202300:14:40

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I delivered a keynote speech at the SDG Summit event organized by the Northern Corridor Implementation Agency under the NCER at Universiti Teknologi Petronas, Malaysia yesterday and did a podcast on it. The title is Barriers & Challenges in Mainstreaming Disability in Sustainable Development Goals Agenda 2030.

I outlined 5 important points/strategies to overcome so that disabled persons and elderly (older) persons can have equal participation in life.
1. Legislation;
2. Planning;
3.  Implementation;
4. Consultation with Stakeholders and; 
5. Ageing Population.

©️Talk Architecture 2023, Author: Naziaty Mohd Yaacob.  Photo credit [Naziaty Mohd Yaacob] Universiti Teknologi Petronas's Auditorium (where the event was held).

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Reflections on the experience of collaborating in designing a campus 16 Nov 202300:17:58

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I was at an event at Universiti Teknologi Petronas, Tronoh, Perak in Malaysia, a recipient of the Aga Khan Award in Architecture in 2007. It was designed by Sir Norman Foster and GDP Architects the local architecture company collaborated to complete the design and got it built.

I am reminiscing about the time when I was a design thesis tutor at the last university I was employed in, where we had a studio collaborating with GDP's Kamil Merican and Ar. Loke Chew Ping in 2015-16 and how we discussed a future collaboration to get the students to design a university campus in Taiping, but it was not meant to be as eventually I collaborated again with Kevin Mark Low to do a site-driven and context specificity projects at Bukit Ceylon and Kampung Baru in Kuala Lumpur, and the rest was history until my last collaboration was the Universiti Malaya Alternative Campus Master Plan in 2020.

©️Talk Architecture 2023, Author: Naziaty Mohd Yaacob.  Photo credit [Naziaty Mohd Yaacob] Universiti Teknologi Petronas's Library reception area.

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Role of Architecture: Eisenman Vs Alexander debate [Introduction]12 Nov 202300:13:15

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Introducing a discussion on this question: if 'harmony' is the end goal, why do we need 'disharmony'? This is more of a teaser episode or at least an introduction to the topic.

Referring to the debate between Eisenman Vs Alexander in 1982, what is the purpose of 'art' in architecture? Later in Part 1, I will discuss the difference between the role of architecture from both perspectives)and the purpose of art in architecture (or urban design), with reference to the debate cited.

©️Talk Architecture 2023, Author: Naziaty Mohd Yaacob.  Photo credit Image from  Shutterstock: Abstract white tunnel interior background with wavy walls, 3D rendering illustration

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Millennials Vs Gen Zs : what is the difference in the context of architecture? (Part 1)12 Nov 202300:31:08

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Gen Zs are those under 27 years old, and I was involved in their education when they were 21 years old and it was tough learning an architecture course totally online during the pandemic for a year and a half. They missed out on visiting places and learning in a more hands on way. They now need to relearn architecture. Another factor that millennials have an advantage over Gen Zs is the fact that digital tools are not imposed on them early in second year and was optional. That to me is the greatest setback why many Gen Zs are confused about wanting to be an architect.

©️Talk Architecture 2023, Author: Naziaty Mohd Yaacob.  Photo credit Image from  Amin Zakaria’s Sketch ( Amin is a millennial)





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When and why did architecture isolate itself as a profession?: Eisenman vs Alexander [Part 2]24 Oct 202300:21:26

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When and why did architecture isolate itself as a profession?

We need to focus on asking better questions when it comes to the architecture profession. Although the Eisenman versus Alexander debate in 1982, seems so long ago, the relevance of what the latter has to say and his legacy influencing computer science, says to me the necessity for us to understand his work in terms of architecture. From my observation, UI/UX designers utilize 'universal design principles' much more than architects who have caught themselves in this 'form-making bubble' that makes the profession isolated. And now even more so with the Sustainable Development Goals, we need more generative, adaptable, and flexible concepts that the more linear and rectilinear forms can afford.

©️Talk Architecture 2023, Author: Naziaty Mohd Yaacob.  Photo credit Image from  Shutterstock: Abstract white tunnel interior background with wavy walls, 3D rendering illustration

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Conversation with Lillian Tay on Women Architect in Leadership Roles [Part 1]14 Sep 202500:26:13

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In Part 1 of the series on Women Architects in Leadership Roles, Ar. Lillian Tay discusses on a wide range of issues regarding women architects, starting out in the beginning, the role of women in general, whether there is discrimination in architecture and architectural practice in reality.

Bio: Ar. Lillian Tay is the Vice President of Veritas Design Group, est. 1987. She was trained at Princeton University and worked at Kohn Pederson Fox in New York. Lillian returned to Kuala Lumpur in 1991. At Veritas Design Group, she provides the design direction  and was leading numerous award-winning projects. Lillian contributes to society as the Malaysian Architecture Institute (PAM) President from 2019-2020 and sits on the Board of Architects, Malaysia (LAM). Recently, she won the PAM Gold Medal for Design Excellence.

© 2025 Talk Architecture, Author: Naziaty Mohd Yaacob. Image from https://theveritasdesigngroup.com/

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When and why did architecture isolate itself as a profession?: Eisenman vs Alexander [Part 1]22 Oct 202300:28:33

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When and why did architecture isolate itself as a profession?

As a profession, we took sides so that is easy for us as architects. To serve the client because that is what we do. 95% of the Malaysian Architect's Act is about contracts and serving the client.

Is the client also the society? Much of what we see now around us is shaped by developers and speculative development. It is not a surprise that we are drawn to glitter and gold, seductive and slinky forms, and expressionistic, and the more the building does that, the greater the pull to it.

Of course, if one can afford it. If one doesn't, then we will go to a lesser and smaller version or just put a glittery "feather on its cap and call it macaroni". 

Part 1 is literally a read on the topic, and it is interesting as we read it, we found the problem in our society.

Another article on this: http://sworegonarchitect.blogspot.com/2010/05/influences-christopher-alexander-peter.html

©️Talk Architecture 2023, Author: Naziaty Mohd Yaacob.  Photo credit Image from  Shutterstock: Abstract white tunnel interior background with wavy walls, 3D rendering illustration

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A Review on - The Nature of Order: Chapter 10 on Pleasing Yourself by Christopher Alexander12 Oct 202300:24:23

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An intriguing book by Christopher Alexander called "The Nature of Order", and a chapter that caught my attention: Chapter 10 on Pleasing Yourself, compelled me to review section 7 on "A group of architecture students who were not pleasing themselves". 

I thought Alexander's observation was very insightful and related to my own experience when dealing with students' design studio programs. It is also very relevant to the topic of how architects identify themselves.

©️Talk Architecture 2023, Author: Naziaty Mohd Yaacob.  Photo credit Image from the Paradox design thesis cohort 2018-19 exhibition.

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Job Burnout Symptoms for an Architect [Part 3]09 Oct 202300:21:12

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After listening to even 10 minutes of this podcast interview (YouTube link below) on the topic of :

Your Toolkit for Preventing Burnout and Improving Resilience In Tough Times| The Mel Robbins Podcast

 
We discover some phrases like "toxic achievements" and "toxic pressure"... and in this episode, I attempted to introduce these phrases in the architectural context of education and practice, I hope to delve deeper and interpret further in the next episodes as it is imperative to understand why we teach and practice as such.

©️Talk Architecture 2023, Author: Naziaty Mohd Yaacob.  Photo credit: Job burnout symptoms (downloaded image) 2023.

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Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) And Disability - Part 109 Oct 202300:20:32

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I would like to make the argument for all 17 Sustainable Development Goals 2030 to be disability inclusive in this podcast episode, although SDG goals 4, 8, 10, 11, and 17 are the obvious ones.  It is projected by 2040, that 17% of the Malaysian population to be 65 years and above, plus now 16% of the population in any country is estimated to be disabled persons. (US data states that 70% of older persons are disabled). Have we started to discuss Mainstreaming Disability In The Implementation Of The Agenda 2030 And Its SDGs, hence what and how is the way forward? This episode gives an overview of the link #Envision2030 (click below), and in later episodes, we will discuss in detail the SDGs and disability.

#Envision2030: 17 Goals To Transform The World For Persons With Disabilities


©️Talk Architecture 2023, Author: Naziaty Mohd Yaacob.  Photo credit: UN: sustainabledevelopment.un.org


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Job Burnout Symptoms for an Architect [Part 2]26 Sep 202300:29:33

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This is the concluding episode of a two-part series, where Part 2 discusses 'job burnout risk factors, ' the consequences of job burnout' and, 'handling job burnout'. We referred to 2 other articles from Architizer and Monograph, including the article found in the link below, "Job burnout: How to spot it and take action" by the Mayo Clinic staff.
In conclusion, some leadership is necessary to alleviate the problem of burnout among architects and designers. 

Link to Mayo Clinic article.
Link to Architizer article.
Link to Monograph article.

©️Talk Architecture 2023, Author: Naziaty Mohd Yaacob.  Photo credit: Job burnout symptoms (downloaded image) 2023.

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Job Burnout Symptoms for an Architect [Part 1]26 Sep 202300:31:41

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Job burnout for an architect and designer could be based on many factors and if not resolved or identified early could lead to depression. Part 1 episode discussed based on the article found in the link below, "Job burnout: How to spot it and take action" by the Mayo Clinic staff, is discussed in the architecture practice context. Content included: 'job burnout symptoms' and 'possible causes of job burnout'. Part 2 will deal with 'job burnout risk factors, ' consequences of job burnout' and, 'handling job burnout'.

©️Talk Architecture 2023, Author: Naziaty Mohd Yaacob.  Photo credit: Job burnout symptoms (downloaded image) 2023.

Link to article

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The Idea of Adaptability - Part 214 Sep 202300:19:00

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Continuing the discussion exploring the two subjects of 'adaptability' and 'visualization' in the context of architecture (education and practice) and mental health balance (human being and cognition from a psychological perspective). 

©️Talk Architecture 2023, Author: Naziaty Mohd Yaacob.  Photo credit Image from the internet of Stewart Brand's book "How Buildings Learn - What Happens After They're Built" (1995).

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The Idea of Adaptability - Part 114 Sep 202300:10:52

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Reading Stewart Brand's book "How Buildings Learn - What Happens After They're Built", for the first time in 1995, I see now the relevance of the idea of adaptability more than ever.  Whole attitudes can be changed with regard to architecture and education. 
This is the first thought in thinking about the importance of 'visualization' comparing architecture to mental health balance. 

©️Talk Architecture 2023, Author: Naziaty Mohd Yaacob.  Photo credit Image from the internet of Stewart Brand's book "How Buildings Learn - What Happens After They're Built" (1995).

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Proposal for a New Curriculum Idea in Architecture - Part 208 Sep 202300:26:18

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What is missing in the first degree of architecture course (Part 1) where graduates are confused? Example: I miss design but I cannot get work with an architecture company. It has been 2 years now, and I am working in an engineering company... 

A recent development where one of the oldest architecture schools in my country decided to do something about the lack of creativity in their programs, reinstating a retired academic who is from the arts and humanities to make sure that what it says on the tin will be what it will do to future students: architecture design is about being creative and we will provide that education for you, primarily. Will the return of manual drawings and more of the arts and humanities / liberal arts programs be adopted so that students gain more confidence in themselves as creative persons? 

©️Talk Architecture 2023, Author: Naziaty Mohd Yaacob.  Photo credit ©️ Drawing of the Universal Design Bus Stop by Kamelia Jambari, 2018.

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The Antidote for Addiction is Connection and Community- Part 122 Aug 202300:20:28

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This is the first part of a ‘common sense’ series on mental health and well-being for the architect focusing on “connection and community” as important factors to growth and development. 

(Disclaimer: I am not a therapist. I have 35 years of working experience in architecture education and practice)

Talk Architecture 2023, Author: Naziaty Mohd Yaacob.  Photo credit: Naziaty Mohd Yaacob; 'Fatigued Architect', 2023

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Teaser: Conversation with Lillian Tay on Women Architect in Leadership Roles03 Sep 202500:07:57

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A Teaser introduction on a conversation with Ar. Lillian Tay in the series on Women Architects in Leadership Roles. (Part 1 & 2 - coming soon.)

Bio: Ar. Lillian Tay is the Vice President of Veritas Design Group, est. 1987. She was trained at Princeton University and worked at Kohn Pederson Fox in New York. Lillian returned to Kuala Lumpur in 1991. At Veritas Design Group, she provides the design direction  and was leading numerous award-winning projects. Lillian contributes to society as the Malaysian Architecture Institute (PAM) President from 2019-2020 and sits on the Board of Architects, Malaysia (LAM). Recently, she won the PAM Gold Medal for Design Excellence.

© 2025 Talk Architecture, Author: Naziaty Mohd Yaacob. Image from https://theveritasdesigngroup.com/

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Proposal for a New Curriculum Idea in Architecture - Part 120 Aug 202300:24:24

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This is a serious proposal on how any architecture course in Malaysia especially, needs to be revised or create a new architecture curriculum in the higher institution of learning. The approach is based on the philosophical approach and from the point of view of Architecture's roots in Arts and Humanities, however able to assuage current needs and problems in architecture education and practice.

©️Talk Architecture 2023, Author: Naziaty Mohd Yaacob.  Photo credit ©️ Drawing of the Universal Design Bus Stop by Kamelia Jambari, 2018.

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Commentary on architects who suffer from stress and burnout symptoms 18 Aug 202300:09:38

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A topic that has not been recognized enough and a concern that needed to be raised. An architect can be triggered in the workplace environment by the lack of mental health balance. What are the underlying reasons for being triggered or feeling distressed or uncomfortable after receiving the sensation in terms of seeing, hearing, smelling, tasting, and touching? More often than not, trigger/s are just reminders of our discomfort and even fears about something. In the architectural context, fear of losing your job, not getting due increment, feeling injustice, being overwhelmed and fatigued due to overload, and many other things may occur in the office or from home as well.

Talk Architecture 2023, Author: Naziaty Mohd Yaacob.  Photo credit: Naziaty Mohd Yaacob; 'Fatigued Architect', 2023

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Missing ‘creativity’ in architecture: difference between education and practice16 Aug 202300:21:28

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Creative expression is more of an individual act rather than a collaborative one, hence 'creativity' does not happen as we think it needs to. So how do the architect deal with the lack of creative expressions in their everyday?

The big question: Is being an architect your destiny? 

However the topic explores the missing 'creativity' in architecture, reflecting on education and practice, and how it is different. Accepting the 'professional identity' of the architect in the industry, we know the architect in that context. What does 'creativity' play in that identity? Probably not a lot as it is no more just the individual creative expression but the focus is on building, which is just putting things together in collaboration. 

Talk Architecture 2023, Author: Naziaty Mohd Yaacob.  Photo credit: Design thesis studio interim crit, 2018-2019 session. Author: Anonymous. 

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Special Edition on the Work-Life Balance of the Architect 16 Aug 202300:12:52

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What is the work-life balance of the architect? 
This episode proposes what the architect needs to do in order to achieve work-life balance, changing attitudes and perceptions of the use of their time, to their advantage for growth and development. Knowing about that advantage means that there is a way the architect can take over and control their own destiny, rather than being stressed and having burnout symptoms.

Talk Architecture 2023, Author: Naziaty Mohd Yaacob.  Photo credit: Naziaty Mohd Yaacob; 'Fatigue Architect', 2023

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What has the intuition to do with architectural design? - Part 312 Aug 202300:35:37

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The subject of intuition in the architectural design process by the designer is explored further, by defining and interpreting in the architectural context using this reference: 

How to Develop Your Intuitive Decision Making

BY WINSTON SIECK UPDATED SEPTEMBER 21, 2021

LINK:
https://www.globalcognition.org/intuitive-decision-making

Talk Architecture 2023, Author: Naziaty Mohd Yaacob.  Photo credit: Naziaty Mohd Yaacob; 'Shine the light on a cube of staples on MacBook', 2023

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What has the intuition to do with architectural design? - Part 211 Aug 202300:17:33

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Part 2 of a series on what and how intuition works in architecture design. This episode takes us on a deeper understanding of the process intuition plays in architectural design. Focusing on architecture education and the defense of the design in the context of critique, the author proposes how intuition needs to be developed from architecture school even, as the basis for the 'design creator' to gain confidence in their belief.

Talk Architecture 2023, Author: Naziaty Mohd Yaacob.  Photo credit: Naziaty Mohd Yaacob; 'Shine the light on a cube of staples on MacBook', 2023

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What has the intuition to do with architectural design? - Part 111 Aug 202300:16:12

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Part 1 of a series on what and how intuition works in architecture design. This episode is the introduction with a cursory explanation of the process intuition plays in architectural design. Taking the idea that visualization and visioning a goal or outcome over and over again (like striking a ball into the goal, in football) and how detailed one needs to be to get the outcome one wants. 

Talk Architecture 2023, Author: Naziaty Mohd Yaacob.  Photo credit: Naziaty Mohd Yaacob; 'Shine the light on a cube of staples on MacBook', 2023

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The Reason Why This Podcast Exist06 Aug 202300:30:54

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This episode is an interlude and necessary broadcast on why this podcast "Talk Architecture" exists. It lies in 'righting the wrong' in architecture, starting with education and the link between what is wrong in architecture and the lack of proper 'architectural criticism' as the core learning component as well as a method of inquiry in schools of architecture.

Talk Architecture 2023, Author: Naziaty Mohd Yaacob.  Photo credit: Naziaty Mohd Yaacob; View of the Faculty of the Built Environment building taken from Universiti Malaya Medical Centre building.

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What architecture school did not teach you? (Part 2)13 Jul 202300:22:20

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The second installment to the 2 part episode entitled: What architecture school did not teach you?

DRAWING BY HAND IS A NECESSARY SKILL TO MASTER ARCHITECTURE

The argument is to make sure that architecture is rooted in the arts and humanities and not entirely a technology-driven endeavour.  The essential mastering of spatial experience drawn by hand, over and over again, developing the plan and section, space, volume, and detail is not only for houses and small-scale buildings but complex buildings. The architect would be taken out of the equation if they disregard the fact that architecture is designed inside out and not outside in. If architects are now solely fascinated by technology, the profession is no more different than engineers and building surveyors. 

Talk Architecture 2023, Author: Naziaty Mohd Yaacob.  Photo credit: Interim  Crit Kg Kerinci Elderly Day Care Centre project by Zi Shuang, from left, Lisa Foo, BC Ang (partly hidden), Chris Wong, Kevin Mark Low, Naziaty and Zi Shuang; Author: Unknown.

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What architecture school did not teach you? [Part 1]12 Jul 202300:29:38

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Discussing one important skill that architecture school did not teach you.

ASKING THE RIGHT QUESTION

This skill relates to other sub skills such as thinking strategically and tactically at the same time, seeing bigger picture and details together which is necessary in getting a good grounding before working and ease of becoming an effective project architect.

This is also imperative in the 21st century to have that entrepreneurial skill. 

Talk Architecture 2023, Author: Naziaty Mohd Yaacob.  Photo credit : Desk Crit Kg Kerinci TVET project by Amirul, assisted by tutors Kevin Mark Low and Lisa Foo; Author: Naziaty Mohd Yaacob, 2023.

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Conversation with Almaz Salma Abdul Rahim on Women Architect in Leadership Roles [Part 2]25 Aug 202500:32:05

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The Concluding Part [Part 2] of the series on Women Architects in Leadership Roles, Ar. Almaz Salma Abdul Rahim discusses on how younger women architects need to find that balance in their profession, flexibility arrangements with your boss, having empathy with your staff, the importance of "me time" and resetting your mind over the weekend, the importance of learning from one another in an office and the construction industry and learning how to market oneself with your various skills.

Bio: Ar. Almaz Salma Abdul Rahim, Managing Director of Almaz Architect Sdn Bhd.  Throughout her 41 years of experience in the industry, she has been involved in over 250 design works in Malaysia winning awards. She was the convenor of Singgah KL, a Pertubuhan Arkitek Malaysia (PAM) event in 2025 promoting the architecture profession. More details at the website: https://www.almazarchitect.com/

© 2025 Talk Architecture, Author: Naziaty Mohd Yaacob. Image contributed by Ar.  Almaz Salma

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The Purpose of Life - Why Architecture? 07 Jul 202300:41:33

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Why did you take 'architecture'? Because something in you, intuitively resonated with that idea of learning architecture. Whether you end up being a practicing and professional architect or an artist or filmmaker, you once learned architecture and that journey had you asking at least subconsciously the “purpose of your life” and here you are - listening and still wanting to know more about architecture by doing it.

Talk Architecture 2023, Author: Naziaty Mohd Yaacob.  Photo credit  Self-Portrait "Still in Love with Architecture", Author: Naziaty Mohd Yaacob, 2023.

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Chat with a former student on architecture [Part 2]06 Jul 202300:26:14

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Part 2 dives deeper into the aspects of the design process where the “feedback that tutors give” depends on whether it’s the 'coach', 'consultant', or 'expert' role in the studio program. I talked about what is a “well-run program” compared to a “not well-run program” with respect to the design and execution of the program and whether the different roles mentioned are in place,. This framework is essential to the success and completeness of the student’s learning experience. Some blogs on the design process are available in the 'Life is a Design Thesis' blog.

©️Talk Architecture 2023, Author: Naziaty Mohd Yaacob.  Photo credit ©️ Design Thesis Crit on the UM Campus Master Plan, Special Semester, 2020-21

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Chat with a former student on architecture [Part 1]06 Jul 202300:27:49

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Sometimes an opportunity unfolds itself and you need to take it. In this case, in the form of a chat with a former student. I took notes but I hope that in the future I could do a podcast with the ex-student for now, I concentrated on a couple of points: 1. Feedback that tutors give during the design process and, 2. Learning from doing academic programs (studio projects) and working outside (competition or office) at the same time. 

©️Talk Architecture 2023, Author: Naziaty Mohd Yaacob.  Photo credit ©️ Design Thesis Crit on the UM Campus Master Plan, Special Semester, 2020-21

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