SABD CONCEPT THE DUTCH EXPERIENCE: ENJOYING ARTS, CULTURE AND ARCHITECTURE IN AMSTERDAM SABD Activity Week 2011, Oct. 2-9 Mention Amsterdam and many people inevitably think of liberal drug laws and red light districts. But there’s a lot more to this charming old city, as discovered by a group of 21 SABD students during their exhilarating study trip there with their lecturers, Pn. Nurul Anida and Pn. Delliya Mohd Zain. It was a busy itinerary for the students from the time they arrived in Amsterdam until they departed. In less than a week, they experienced the richness of Dutch arts, culture, history and architecture. Among the highlights were: 1. Getting to Know Amsterdam The students enjoyed the beauty of the city by going on a 45-minute canal ride through its historic canals. They also explored the city further on foot, visiting famous places, such as Raadhuisstraat Street, Amsterdam Royal Palace, Nieuwe Kerk, Dam Square and the National Monument. CONCEPT 2. Enjoying the Arts and Culture of Amsterdam It was a thrill for the students to immerse themselves in the city’s arts, culture and lifestyle during the trip. They visited impressive windmills, toured around museums like Rijksmuseum, Van Gogh Museum and Stedelijk Museum to see amazing collections of artwork from the Golden Age to the contemporary era, explored Java Island and Borneolaan on bicycle, strolled through Amsterdam’s most popular park known as Vondel Park and watched Social Media Circus, a stand-up comedy show at the popular Boom Chicago. 3. Discovering Amsterdam’s Contemporary Architecture Amsterdam has some cool contemporary architecture and the students had the opportunity to see some of them. First was the WoZoCo’s Apartments for elderly people in Osdorp by MVRDV, a group of young Dutch architects. The building is known for its distinctive cantilevered features. They also saw the Science Center NEMO designed by famous architect Renzo Piano; the futuristic-looking ARCAM (Amsterdam Architecture Center); the Amsterdam Central Public Library, the largest in Europe; and the NDSM-Wharf, a former shipyard on the banks of the river IJ that is being transformed into a cultural complex. 4. Roaming Around Rotterdam Venturing beyond Amsterdam, the students took a train into House), a series of 45-degree houses that rest upon a Rotterdam, the second largest city in Netherlands. The day trip hexagon-shaped pylon. included visits to several key places, such as the Euromas Tower that offered a panoramic view of the city, Kunsthal Museum, This Amsterdam study trip was filled with adventure, exploration, Netherlands Architecture Institute (NAI), a cultural institute for excitement and many memorable moments. The students architecture and urban development, and Kubuswoningen (Cube returned home with a deeper understanding and appreciation for all things Dutch, as well as a closer bond with one another. ARCHITECTURE DEGREE GAINS STAMP OF APPROVAL SABD achieved yet another significant milestone when its Bachelor of Science (Hons) (Architecture) recently obtained the Lembaga Arkitek Malaysia (LAM) accreditation. The accreditation signifies that the degree meets LAM’s stringent standard in quality education on architecture, and most importantly, provides graduates exemption from the LAM Part 1 Professional Examination. Taylor’s University Vice Chancellor and president Prof. Dato’ Dr. Hassan Said said he was proud of SABD for being among the few institutions of higher learning in Malaysia to receive this accreditation. “The demand for registered architects in Malaysia is very high. We need around 15,000 architects by the year 2020 to match Britain’s architect to population ratio of 1:1,860. To do that, Malaysia needs approximately 1,325 architects to be registered every year until the year 2020,” he explained. “With the LAM accreditation, we at Taylor’s University are honoured to be able to contribute to the needs of our country by providing a quality architecture programme for our future architects.” SABD Dean Mr. Tony Liew dedicated the achievement to his academic staff, who are always committed to give their best to students. It means a lot to us to receive such recognition from a professional “government body. It’s never an easy task to get accreditation from LAM so I must thank LAM for believing in us. We promise to continue enhancing our programme,” he said. “Most importantly, I want to thank the academics and students for their hard work over the years. They’re the backbone of our success in earning the accreditation. ” The LAM accreditation refers to the official acceptance and endorsement that a particular programme has been assessed and accredited to have attained the approved standard required by the Council of Accreditation and Architectural Education Malaysia (CAAEM). Assessments include the study modules, academics’ qualifications, facilities, students’ work and other factors. ACHIEVEMENT 2012 SABD graduate Wan Kamarul Azri was feeling emotional as he witnessed the grand opening of ‘The Nostalgia of Kampung China’ exhibition at Muzium Negeri Terengganu recently. While he was a Taylor’s student, he and 84 Invited guest ADUN Bandar Kuala Terengganu other SABD students and academics spent YB Dato’ Toh Chin Yaw said the exhibition time at Kampung China, Kuala Terengganu in revealed the nostalgia of the quaint, yet vibrant 2009 to measure and document in detail the Chinese village. “It brings to light the memories, village’s history and architecture, including the the yearning for the past and the attachment of renowned 200-year-old Ho Ann Kiong Temple. the local community to the place and the The temple burned down in 2010 and the showcase of its diverse and rich architectural students’ sketches were used to rebuild it. palette within the backdrop of our contemporary urban developments.” It was a proud moment for all of them when their work, along with some old photographs SABD Dean Mr. Tony Liew said he was amazed and artefacts, courtesy of Kampung China with the entire project. “I’m truly proud of the residents, were amassed and exhibited at the students’ and lecturers’ achievement as I THROUGH ARTS THROUGH Muzium from February 20 to March 18 this year. understand it took a lot of hard work to document and communicate the research findings to the “It means so much to my former classmates stakeholders and public. What they’ve done at and I who were involved in the project,” Kampung China eventually turned out to be a Kamarul said. Never in our wildest imaginations vital source of information in helping to rebuild did we expect that our assignments would be the Ho Ann Kiong Temple.” exhibited at one of the biggest museums in South East Asia!” Once known as one of the most thriving trading posts in the Malay Archipelago, Kampung China Organised by SABD and the Centre for Modern is a significant heritage in Malaysia’s history. It is Architecture Studies in Southeast Asia one of the oldest Chinese settlements in the (MASSA), in collaboration with Lembaga country and has been the backdrop for countless Muzium Negeri Terengganu and Jawatankuasa important events that took place in Kuala Kemajuan & Keselamatan Kampung Kuala Terengganu even before the official beginning of Terengganu (JKKK), the exhibition gave visitors the Terengganu Sultanate. an opportunity to learn more about Kampung China’s history and cultural background. This meaningful research project was also honoured with an Honourable Mention Award by Badan Warisan Malaysia at this year’s Mubin KNOWING KAMPUNG CHINA Sheppard Memorial Prize ceremony. SPOTLIGHT ON MS. NOORIDAYU AHMAD YUSUF Since her arrival at Taylor’s, Ms. Nooridayu has devoted most of her time to research and develop research work on traditional marketplace and socio-cultural identity – Pasar Payang and Kampung China, Kuala Terengganu; and Pasar Siti Khadijah, Kota Bharu. For the Kampung China project, she was awarded Taylor’s Research Grant Scheme (TRGS) to conduct a study on the site and produce an inventory of all the shophouses there. She presented a paper about the project at the International Conference on the Preservation and Promotion of Heritage in the historical city of Malacca, which was subsequently published as a chapter in a book titled The Multifaceted Aspects of Asian Ms. Nooridayu joined Taylor’s University Heritage by the School of Social Science, Universiti Sains in 2009 as a Research Executive at the Malaysia. Most recently, together with the MASSA team, she Centre for Modern Architecture Studies organised an exhibition titled “The Nostalgia of Kampung China” at Muzium Negeri Terengganu. Currently, she is working on a in Southeast Asia (MASSA) and a tutor coffee table book project of the same title with To’ Puan Rosita at SABD. Abdullah (Author of Kulit Manis) as her mentor. Among her ongoing research projects are Architecture in A graduate of Universiti Teknologi MARA with a Master of The Humanities with fellow colleague Prof. James Potter and Science in Heritage and Conservation Management, her thesis Dr. Veronica Ng, and Architects and the National Heritage Act was on the significance of traditional marketplaces as a 2005 (Act 645) with Aidatul Fadzlin Bakri of UiTM, Shah Alam. manifestation of socio-cultural identity. She studied the physical attributes of traditional marketplaces and how the qualities of “Research should always go hand in hand with teaching these attributes form the identity of the people and the place. and learning as it gives both lecturers and students a strong She obtained her Bachelor of Architecture from Cardiff foundation in any subject matter,” said Ms. Nooridayu. University, Wales, in 2004, under the tutelage of Prof. Simon “My goal is to continue elevating MASSA to a respected and Unwin, author of Analysing Architecture, and Rachel Sayers of renowned position as a research centre focusing on Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios, London, England. scholarly activities and dissemination of knowledge on modern architecture in Southeast Asia.” 4.