USM, PENANG, 2 March 2017 - The School of Housing, Building and Planning (HBP) Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), more specifically the Design Cluster, was delighted to have a courtesy visit from Ar. Azim Tan Sri A. Aziz recently, to present a talk relating to his profession to approximately 220 architecture and interior design students entitled “Challenges in the Architecture and Interior Design Practice in Malaysia”.

Ar. Azim Tan Sri Aziz, 52, is the Director of Atsa Architects Sdn Bhd, an established Malaysian Architectural Firm specialising in Architecture, Urban Design, Master Planning, Interior Design and Project Management.

In his talk, he emphasised on how students should have a firm understanding on design philosophy, learning from the great masters like Frank Lloyd Wright, Mies Van Der Rohe, Walter Gropius and others.

"Mosque architecture should evolve from just copying and replicating the examples from Turkey, Iran and India among others, to contemplating what should the Malaysian mosque be like.”

"Designs of the minaret, ‘mimbar’ and ‘mihrab’ for example, can be given different unique touches but which would still comfortably fit for their purposes, and the ATSA idea for the Cyberjaya mosque is one such example," he said.

He also reminded students to not forget CSR in the renovations and delicate transportation works involved in the Memali mosque, which was also done by ATSA.

"And most importantly – the future of architecture and interior design in facing globalisation, liberalization, Brexit, TPPA and others - that maybe there is no longer a need for any architects or interior designers any more, when all are dependent on sophisticated software and computers, robots etc, and when the world population is expected to decrease," he emphasised.

Delighted students were shown a showcase of ATSA’s winning projects and designs and the talk concluded with Ar. Azim presenting valuable tokens to HBP which comprised of ATSA’s own published architectural books, especially on MOSQUES.

Meanwhile, according to the Dean of HBP, Professor Dr. Aldrin Abdullah, he has ensured that the school would constantly have continuous visits by prominent industrial players and distinguished local and international visitors or examiners.

He mentioned that HBP will continue to invite professionals from the industry to maintain the relevancy of all its programmes and to be at the same pace with present challenges that are facing the professionals in the built environment.

Text: Hafiz Meah Ghouse Meah