WHEN I studied architecture, I was enthralled by the works of Frank Lloyd Wright and Louis Henry Sullivan who had wanted to develop a better architectural language of democracy for America.
I read about William Morris and john Ruskin struggling to educate the British about honouring their own art and craft heritage and creating a more humane environment instead of the soulless cookie-cutter environs produced by industrialised cities.
I read how Middle Eastern architect Hassan Fathi (who I mentioned in this column on Feb 17) shed his modernistic training, humbled himself to learn from the traditional craftsmen, and produced revolutionary housing for the poor literally out of the bare earth. Read More
- Universiti Teknologi Malaysia lecturer Prof Dr Mohamad Tajuddin passionately believes that architectural design that respects cultural values, religious sensitivities and the ideals of democracy is vital to nation-building and harmony.
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