URBAN COFFEE 2.0

URBAN COFFEE SHARING SESSION
ORGANIZED BY: NEW SPIRIT WORKBASE SESSION 2017

AIMS
This program aims to provide an in depth understanding on urban issue. This is because New Spirit workbase of Master in Architecture is the unit which focuses on urban rejuvenation especially in city area. In general, this program is expected to help students especially those who are pursuing urban design to implement this knowledge onto their studio projects as well as to understand the school of thought for urban studies between UTM and UiTM as one of the most ideal medium in acquiring information in architectural field.

 

OBJECTIVES

  • To share knowledge on the urban study between the university.
  • To encourage participation of students in each of the activities organized by the architecture studio and student associations.
  • To share Space Syntax as a pioneer software in developing urban studies and analysis.

 

PARTICIPATION
The event is a collaboration between UTM Skudai and UiTM Puncak Alam by student of urban workbase from respective university. The event is organize by 14 student which assist the visitor school and the participant from other various workbase under architecture wing of UTM. The event is initiate by the studiomaster Dr. Sharifah Salwa Syed Mahdzar (Urban: New Spirit ).

 


Phase 1 : Introduction presentation by Dr Sharifah S S Mahdzar and Ar Chan
The event started off with a welcoming speech given by Ar. Chan Wai Lai to address attendees including the lecturer and fellow students from UiTM. Fellow lecturers and guests were introduced and warmly received with applause from the audience. It is then followed by an introductory presentation by Dr. Sharifah Mahdzar sharing about the urban design approach taken by the master students in UTM. The presentation briefly explains about how the urban workbase in UTM is conducted with insights on the different phases of the approach, such as site analysis, design conceptualization and so on. This presentation provides a basic understanding for the students of UiTM regarding the urban workbase in UTM and how they can take reference from these methods of studies for their own research purposes. It also serves as an opening for the urban studies sharing session.

Phase 2: presentation by Dr Sharifah S S Mahdzar on Segget Forum
The sharing session started with Oh Beloved Death and Life of Johor Segget River by Dr. Sharifah Mahdzar. The introduction was mainly focussed on the city centre and to introduce the main key feature of the city which is the Segget River. Segget originally came from the word Sea-gate, but it had been localized to Segget by the Johorean. Dr Sharifah explained the findings through space syntax in way to introduce the software as a tool for urban study to the students. Space Syntax helps to visualize some criteria that could be taken into design consideration. Numbers of questions arose from UiTM students as they are choosing Johor Bahru city as their urban study site for this year. Some were very intrigued and excited to know more regarding Space Syntax tools. They also shared and discussed some information and findings that they managed to get during the three days study.

 

Student’s work featured on The Star, Press Media 2015

Architecture students share ideas on developing communal side of Kuala Lumpur by by YVONNE T. NATHAN

The young people are concerned about excessive development and want to see the nation’s capital developed as a people-friendly city.

Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) Johor Baru Masters in Architecture students collaborated with Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) to bring fresh ideas for the city and kicked off with proposals on how to redevelop Jalan Ampang.

Around 50 students from the University who were divided into five groups shared ideas on developing the communal side of the mainly corporate area of Jalan Ampang.

The students who were accompanied by UTM senior lecturer Dr Sharifah Salwa Syed Mahdzar, created five “master plans”, detailing proposals to incorporate leisure and social activities in the bustling Jalan Ampang area.

Three of the master plans were displayed for public viewing at Menara DBKL from Oct 3 to 9 as part of the Jalan Ampang Great Street Forum.

The plans titled “Ampang Broadway”, “Corporate Concrete Jungle at Jalan Ampang” and “Walkable Street” focused on creating a pedestrian-friendly city.

UTM final year Masters in Architecture student and the forum’s operation director Amirul Hakim, 24, said one of the main issues Jalan Ampang faced were abandoned buildings.

He said this was mainly caused by the decrease of connectivity due to the construction of the Ampang-Kuala Lumpur Elevated Highway (AKLEH).

“The problem is Jalan Ampang is on the edge of the city centre, blocked off by the Klang River and visitors started bypassing the area when AKLEH was built.

“It is also separated from Kampung Baru.

“If we can connect Kampung Baru into the city centre through bridges or underpasses, we can then promote it as a tourist destination, “ he said, when elaborating about the Kampung Baru Pavilion idea.

“Corporate companies can do their part by providing social connectivity through public spaces that look corporate as these are lacking,” said Amirul.

Student Syed Izmir, 24, advocates to fully utilise the Bukit Nanas Forest Reserve by integrating and accentuating the city with its natural green surroundings.

“Jalan Ampang has a lot of history and nature is still preserved in this area compared to the Golden Triangle,” said Syed Izmir.

Fourth semester student Daniel Kan Xin Jian, 24, is in the early stages of addressing the need to beef up Jalan Yap Kwan Seng which is connected to Jalan Ampang.

“We plan to solve the contrast between corporate and residential areas by creating a smooth transition of development, infusing different buildings and activities with ‘human magnets’ such as shopping malls or food.

“But it boils down to walkability, so first the streetscape needs to be addressed because like Jalan Ampang, if there are too many abandoned buildings, the street will look like a ghost town,” he said.

Among the other proposals were one-stop bicycle centres, vendors’ square, electric vehicle power centre, reactivating backlanes and a modernised Malaysian Tourism Centre (MaTiC) to assist visitors.

Read more at http://www.thestar.com.my/metro/community/2015/10/22/architecture-students-share-ideas-on-developing-communal-side-of-kuala-lumpur/#PfUtdv08M8rRmDFi.99

 

Ampang Great Street Forum 2015

 

In conjunction with KL Design Month in October 2015, DBKL in collaboration with UTM & PAM was organising an annual exhibition and workshops for architectural and design related activities in the field of built environment. The aim of these participatory activities is to give opportunity for researchers, stakeholders, as well as the public, to be involved in the design decision making process for the growth and development of cities. Presentation of Research Development Incremental Structure And Infill System For Low Income Housing : Adaption From Traditional Malay’s House (UTM Scholars with University of Northumbria, UK)