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A marriage of skills
Architects belong to the rare breed of professionals who combine technical knowledge with aesthetic flair, writes Zawiyah O mar

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Arc h i te c t u re

ook about you and you will notice bewildering styles of architecture, each catering to a different need and using a variety of building techniques. Artistic flair and

technical expertise are working seamlessly together to inspire the eye-catching buildings and houses we see around us. Architecture is basically a mix of art and science, one of the few professions in which excellence in both subjects is required, because the vision for a building can only become reality with a strong foundation in mathematics, physics and design. Almaz Salma Abdul Rahim, who owns Almaz Architect, is testimony to this marriage of art and science. She graduated with a bachelor of science (Hons) (ARCH) in 1980 and a diploma in architecture in 1984, both from the Bartlett School of Architecture & Planning, University College of London, University of London. She has been a member of Lembaga Akitek Malaysia since 1990 and is a corporate member of Pertubuhan Akitek Malaysia. She has also been a corporate member of the Royal Institute of British Architects since 1996. Her ten-year professional career includes four years as an Associate of BEP Akitek Sdn Bhd and Director of BEP Interiors and Graphics. In mid

1994, she decided to venture out on her own and is currently the Principal of Almaz Architect. Almaz has seen her work published in Majalah Arkitek, Malaysian Tatler, Building Review Journal, Anjung Seri, Impiana, Nona and Concept, to name just a few. She has also spoken about her impressive portfolio of works on TV3s Wanita Hari Ini and RTM1s Gaya Kerjaya. Almaz Architects projects dot the landscape of the Klang Valley.They include Wisma Tani in Putrajaya, bungalows and semidetached houses in Taman Tun Dr Ismail Hills and Mutiara Damansara, and up-market residences in Bukit Damansara, Tropicana Golf and Country Resort, Sierramas and Bukit Tunku. As evident from the list above, Almaz Architects forte is residential homes. The company and the industry Almaz Architect was established on July 1, 1994, and is located in Desa Sri Hartamas, Kuala Lumpur.The mediumsized firm offers architectural consultancy services, concentrating mainly on

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Almaz Salma Abdul Rahim

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residential homes. Its staff of 16 comprises five architects, six draughtsmen and five administrative workers.The staff are close-knit and the atmosphere is more that of a family.Multi-tasking is expected and has become the norm. Almaz explains that contrary to what most people think, designing and building a residential home can be more complex than tackling a high-rise building or office block.This is because client requirements are very detailed and varied, and may include the integration of flexible power lines, internet connections, solar and electrical systems. Like most businesses, the local and global economy has a direct impact on the industry. The economic recessions of the 1980s and 1990s affected everyone involved in the building industry architects, developers, contractors and suppliers. The industry is currently going through major changes, foremost of which is the proposed Build First, Sell Later concept which will have a direct financial impact on developers because it may affect cashflows. Steps new graduates need to take Graduates with basic degrees are required to complete professional papers in order to be qualified under the governing board, Lembaga Akitek Malaysia (LAM). Graduates from universities accredited to LAM are exempted from Part I or II or both papers. The professional papers consist of three parts: Part I: First degree. Part II: Post-graduate diploma. Part III: Taken after at least two years working experience.

For Part III, a log book will be maintained during the first two years of working experience, followed by oral and written examinations. For those planning to venture out on their own, it is advisable to have completed a building or project first. Almaz says that architects should also be experienced in different aspects of the industry before setting up their own practice.These would include commercial buildings, houses, apartments and even interior designing. Interior designing involves looking into the finer details of a building to complements the aesthetics of the architectural structure. Qualities of a graduate Architectural qualifications aside, Almaz says what she looks for in a graduate applying for a job is good communication skills, both spoken and written, particularly in English. This is because you are required to clearly understand your clients needs and translate them into designs. She laments that many graduates make common grammatical errors and dont even include cover letters indicating the position applied for. You must also have patience when dealing with clients as you will be relating to them at the level of a layman, another reason why good communication skills are vital. Interpersonal skills, humility and a willingness to learn are also important personal qualities because an architect has to deal with a broad spectrum of people clients, consultants, contractors, suppliers and local authorities. Almaz finds that foreign graduates have better communication skills, are more

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Interpersonal skills, humility and a willingness to learn are also important personal qualities because an architect has to deal with a broad spectrum of people clients, consultants, contractors, suppliers and local authorities.

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self-confident and motivated, have greater initiative and require less supervision than fresh local graduates. Mature local graduates, she says, have also acquired the requisite communication skills and ability to deal with developers and contractors. Continuous learning process Fresh architecture graduates can expect a salary of about RM2,200 per month. At Almaz Architect, on-the-job training through the buddy system is given for the first year.You will be exposed to short-term projects, like the building of houses.You will attend meetings with a senior architect and be trained to eventually take over the whole process. The learning process is continuous as you attend meetings, trouble-shoot, and deal with consultants, contractors and local authorities. External training is required under the Continuous Professional Development (CPD) programme conducted by Pertubuhan Akitek Malaysia (PAM), which holds seminars once a fortnight. Self-development is also encouraged within the fraternity. An example would be obtaining regular updates from the Timber Board on timber grading, species and sizes. Site visits, seminars by suppliers and exhibitions on new technologies are all part of an architects training and development. Different types Graduates dont necessarily have to be absorbed by architecture firms. In fact, it is good for the industry if architects are employed by developers. Within the profession itself, there are different functions undertaken by architects. Project architects are responsible for an entire project, from its concept stage to completion. They are responsible for the

design, drawings, on-site supervision and problem-solving until the project is finished. Resident architects are usually not permanent staff and are mainly responsible for on-site supervision. They record the minutes during project meetings and give instructions to contractors. Design architects are mainly involved in design work within the confines of the office. They are usually at the junior level and are employed by bigger architectural firms. Architects with five to ten years experience are considered matured.

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Graduates can even apply their skills in website and jewellery design, landscaping and interior architecture.
Outside opportunities Asked if she has any advice for architecture graduates, Almaz has this to say:Use your creativity to complement your skills. Do not be choosy when seeking employment.There are direct and indirect ways of putting your skills and qualification to use. She gave various examples of where graduates can apply their architectural skills, citing website and jewellery design, landscaping and interior architecture. Architecture students may also want to specialise in building shopping complexes, hypermarkets or even venture into architectural journalism.The options, she says, are vast.

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