Why do I want to pursue this course?

How My Love for Architecture Influenced My Academic Pursuit

Throughout my life, I have come to the realization that architecture is truly something that permeates all aspects of life. The philosophy, symbolism, and idea of architecture are echoed in the smallest details and the grandest events of our lives and the world around us. Growing up in Johor Bahru, Malaysia has made me appreciate one of the most basic and intrinsic human needs that architecture strives to provide: shelter and provide a lifestyle. It was this realization that forged in me the desire to become an architect to help design, develop, and build structures that will provide shelter and different commands of spaces which create a way of life.

As my journey through life continued, my understanding of and outlook on architecture was enriched, and these began to take on even deeper meaning. Coming from a family of educators, my parents would always emphasize the importance of education and how it was a golden ticket to the continuation of a sustainable lifestyle. This helped to forge in me a strong work ethic that was not only driven by circumstance, but also by a sense of responsibility toward my family.

After secondary school, my parents had plans of sending me abroad to study in Australia, but being from an architecture background himself; my father thought it would be a much better foundation to do my diploma in architecture in a local university to truly understand the architecture that is already present in Malaysia. I kept my hopes up throughout my diploma programme (and even to this day) that I would be able to study in Australia. Not only did I want to make a good means of livelihood to help my family, but I also wanted to gain exposure and a better understanding of the world, its people, and how to use architecture to benefit those around us.

I decided to continue in pursuing my dreams of becoming an architect, taking up three years of study to complete my Diploma in Architecture. Throughout those years, my appreciation, understanding, and love for architecture continued to grow. Amongst my favorite architectural concepts were site context, building orientation, spatial design, and climate factors. I would see reflections of these concepts in the different aspects of the Asian, Islamic, and colonial architecture that lined the streets of Kuala Lumpur and the rest of Malaysia. Art tells detailed stories of people’s lives and living conditions, and this is even more apparent in the art and science of architecture.

One of the most reflective and eye-opening experiences of my life came when the school gave our Heritage and History Study class the opportunity to visit Jogjakarta, Indonesia. It was amongst the age-old, awe-inspiring architecture of India that I would really start to comprehend the importance of architecture. From the Borobudur Temples, the Perambanan temples to the magnificent active volcanoes of Mount Bromo, I got to experience firsthand what it felt to be a part of timeless architecture. My time in Indonesia made me realize the

importance of building a strong foundation in life — a fundamental principle of architecture. Part of building a strong foundation is broadening your knowledge and understanding of people, life, and one’s self through experiencing and interacting with different people. I believe that it is only in enriching one’s self that a sturdy foundation can be established to build upon.

Standing in the open spaces of terraced Borobudur Temples, I was reminded of one of my favorite quotes from Frank Gehry: “Architecture should speak of its time and place, but yearn for timelessness.” It brought me back to my original desire to become an architect: the idea of giving back to society by designing and building the places that will shelter the people in the society. Gehry, however, expressed a sentiment far deeper than my own. The idea of timeless architecture that spoke both of its time and its place made me realize that the architect, himself, must have a good grasp of time, space, history, culture, and place in order to make architecture that truly captured the essence of “sheltering”. One of the reasons why I want to take up undergraduate school in Australia is to gain an education that focused more on Western learning and culture. My aim is to enrich what I have already learned and experienced from the East with the contemporary culture and education of the West. In doing so, I would be able to strengthen my foundation, my understanding of contemporary architecture, and my experience with different places and cultures.

Architecture should not only be thought of with regard to the project at hand, but the context and environment within which the architecture will stand is also of equal importance. Green architecture can be challenging at times, but it is this challenge that makes me want to pursue the field further by taking up an undergraduate course in this university. Furthermore, eco-friendly architecture has made me realize that part of making timeless architecture is to understand the concepts of “time” and “place” as they relate to our existence here on earth.

I feel that this is the right university for me, not only because of its excellence in the field of environmental architecture, but also because I strongly believe that this university can properly equip me to pursue my ultimate goal of giving back to the society through architecture. Architecture should not only be thought of with regard to the project at hand, but the context and environment within which the architecture will stand is also of equal importance. Green architecture can be challenging at times, but it is this challenge that makes me want to pursue the field further by taking up an undergraduate course in this university. Furthermore, eco-friendly architecture has made me realize that part of making timeless architecture is to understand the concepts of “time” and “place” as they relate to our existence here on earth. By hoping to build living spaces that are environment friendly and ecologically sustainable, I aim to make people feel a strong connection with their environment, and the world that we live in. The culmination of my education from Malaysia and the education that I receive from this university will build the strong foundation that I need to give back to society and to build architecture that is not only timeless, but contributes to lengthening our own time here on earth.

Written by: Elisya Shazana Ramli