AN unprecedented two-year global lockdown has resulted in businesses being disrupted and jobs affected with no industry being spared from the COVID-19 pandemic – including that of the architecture profession.
However, now that the world is moving from pandemic to endemic stage, recovery is definitely on everyone’s mind. And with that, people are hopeful of the pivot towards regaining prosperity once again should the political landscape also improve.
Associate Professor (Industry) Ar. Sarly Adre Sarkum who just assumed the role of President of the Malaysian Institute of Architects or Pertubuhan Akitek Malaysia (PAM) identified one of the positive aspects of the lockdown being the “forced adoption of technology”.
“Many firms which were hesitant to plunge into technological change have found themselves inadvertently forced to adopt multiple new technologies to enable themselves to function optimally,” he told FocusM.
Counted among these are collaborative communications software, collaborative design software and remote management infrastructure, etc.
“I believe as a profession we will need to keep updated with new developments in these technologies to improve our resilience in the event of a similar economic disruption in the future,” he observed.
Fundamentally, the pandemic has changed the eco-system of the construction while reduction in projects and demand for projects have forced architects to improvise and adapt.
Expressing the view that leaner times have made many firms assess their efficiency of delivery and their internal cost structures, he added that firms that have leveraged on technology have not only to increased their efficiency but have manage to diversify their income streams as well.
Perhaps it’s too late to plan our future cities
Acknowledging that gone are the days when cities used to “grow by accident” save for a few planned cities such as Paris and Rome, Sarly opined that it is not too late to try and start planning for future cities. And, while traditional cities had the luxury of “growing organically” – the current times we live in are so characterised by “a vast spectre of population growth” with growing global pressures for housing and construction” that “creating slums on a global scale” would likely be the resulting effect.
He added that according to Architecture 2030 – a non-partisan, solution-oriented research organisation founded in response to the energy and climate change crisis in 2003 – an estimated that 5,000 houses are needed to be built daily just to keep up with the global population growth with global building stock likely doubling up by 2060.
“We are expected to add 2.48 trillion sq ft (230 billion sq m) of new global building stock. That is equivalent of adding an entire New York City every month for 40 years,” Sarly said adding that to manage this humongous growth, serious planning and careful thinking about a practical approach to liveable, sustainable and resilient future cities is key.
He advised young architects to be cognisant of the undercurrent shifts in the industry and glean as much knowledge and experience from firms and architects that came before them while learning about cost structures, strategies, and business approach.
They should also account for mistakes while adapting to their own respective style of practice while bearing in mind that the amount of effort invested into the work is sustainable as the endeavour of practice is a marathon rather than a sprint.
Elaborating on his mission as PAM president, Sarly said he is committed to have the genesis of a strategic direction for the whole institute which will be carried forward not just by the current council but by future incoming presidents and council members based on seven key pillars namely:
- Unity: Creating a unified council and PAM membership adopting the culture and spirit of camaraderie is key with architects needing to stand united on a common front to face incoming challenges so that the unified voice is better heard.
- Engagement: Ensuring that PAM remains relevant to its members, to create more opportunities for engagement with members on institute matters other than the Annual General Meeting (AGM) by way of organising Town Hall meetings every quarter.
- Inclusiveness: Creating a more inclusive PAM which also continually engages students, youths and graduates to turn the tide of membership attrition.
- Practice Impact: Putting real effort into resolving long standing practice issues such as stakeholder fees, export of services and fee parity.
- Equality: Promoting fair competitions as the main method of procurement in major projects.
- Well-being: Exercising greater concern for the welfare of members and the institute as a whole.
- Re-defining responsibility: Gathering data through research while pursuing a statute of limitation for architects.
ARCHIDEX 2022 which is jointly organised by PAM and C.I.S. will be held from June 29-July 2, 2022 at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre with its DATUM:KL Conferences running concurrently.
ARCHIDEX Online, the event’s digital platform, will be going live from June 29, 2022 onwards. Registration is required for entry. For more information, please visit https://ARCHIDEX.com.my/.
Yvonne Yoong is FocusM contributing Property & Lifestyle Editor seasoned in covering the property beat and other industries.
The views expressed are solely of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Focus Malaysia.
