As the Supervisor for Master of Architecture student Choo Hong Yu at Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM), I oversee research and teaching activities that integrate architectural design with urban sustainability and social engagement. The thesis project, Plastic Recycling Hub @ Jalan Tugu: Reframing Upcycling as Urban Infrastructure for Environmental Awareness, addresses the growing challenge of plastic waste pollution in Kuala Lumpur, particularly along the Klang River, where existing recycling facilities remain utilitarian and disconnected from public life. Grounded in urban placemaking theory, environmental psychology, and sustainable design principles, the research explores how architecture can transform recycling from a back-of-house process into a visible, inclusive, and experiential public infrastructure. Through design-led research, the project proposes a hybrid architectural model that combines recycling operations, upcycling workshops, exhibitions, and community-based learning programs within a transit-oriented urban site at Pasar Seni. The research and teaching approach emphasizes youth engagement, environmental awareness, and “hedonistic sustainability,” where learning, production, and leisure coexist to encourage long-term behavioral change. This supervision reflects UTM’s commitment to design research that links environmental responsibility, social cohesion, and innovative urban practice.
Pre-Thesis for this Master’s programme was successfully conducted under the supervision of Ar. IDR. Ts. Dr. Samsiah binti Abdullah in the Urban Design Studio, providing a strong foundation for the development of the subsequent thesis research and design exploration.
The Final Thesis Assessment at Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) is conducted in a professional, structured, and intellectually engaging environment that reflects the rigour of postgraduate architectural education. The atmosphere is both formal and collegial, where students present their final design and research outcomes before a panel of internal and external examiners. Critical discourse is strongly encouraged, with examiners offering constructive critiques, probing questions, and scholarly feedback aimed at testing the depth of research, clarity of design thinking, and integration between theory and architectural resolution. Despite the high academic expectations, the setting remains supportive and respectful, fostering confidence, academic maturity, and reflective learning, while celebrating the culmination of the student’s design-led research journey.
The Final Thesis Assessment at Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) takes place within the structured framework of the Master of Architecture programme, which emphasizes research-led design, critical thinking, and professional rigor. The programme is delivered through a progressive studio-based approach, beginning with the Pre-Thesis stage, where students develop foundational research, theoretical positioning, site analysis, and preliminary design investigations under focused studio supervision. This phase ensures that the design agenda, methodology, and architectural intent are clearly articulated before advancing to the final stage.
The Thesis stage builds upon this groundwork, requiring students to synthesize research, design exploration, and technical resolution into a comprehensive architectural proposal. During the Final Thesis Assessment, students present their work to a panel of internal and external examiners in a professional and intellectually stimulating environment. The assessment process encourages critical dialogue, where the depth of research, coherence of design thinking, and alignment between concept, context, and architectural outcome are rigorously evaluated. Overall, the process reflects UTM’s commitment to producing graduates with strong design intellect, academic maturity, and readiness for professional architectural practice. Selected student works from this assessment can be viewed at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vlW_79bKUnU
