A tale of three mosques

By Mohamad Tajuddin Mohamad Rasdi

In the bones of buildings, political agendas can be discerned.

THE main intention of this week’s column is to show that there is no one view of Islam and, therefore, of architecture. I hope to show that architectural “language” must be understood within its own political framework and must be read in context of the agendas of those who command it.

Once this is understood, perhaps this country can begin a healthy discourse on ethnic and religious symbolism that is so important in a multicultural society.>>> Read More

Sticks and Stones

­A new public library tries to heal a war-torn Colombian town.

By William Bostwick

Villanueva, Colombia, a small town 130 miles east of Bogotá, has long been caught in that country’s bloody 44-year civil war. It is known for its oil and its frequent spasms of violence; in 2001, right-wing guerrillas kidnapped 200 local farmers. Unsurprisingly, the town’s school system is in shambles. In an effort to right Villanueva’s sinking fortunes, the Colombian government turned to architecture. It’s a formula that has worked here before: Medellín, in the west of the country, sloughed off its reputation as one of the world’s most dangerous cities with an aggressive program to build more public spaces, including five libraries. So in 2005 the Ministry of Culture and the Colombian Society of Architects launched a contest to bring new libraries to three underserved cities in the oil-rich Casanare region: Yopal, Paz de Ariporo, and Villanueva. >>> Read More

Award-winning architect Nithi Sthapitanonda urges his Thai peers to promote their work.
By Kanana Katharangsiporn

Nithi Sthapitanonda has achieved a special place in the ranks of the world's architects, and he says global recognition from their peers is not a distant dream for Thai architects to achieve if they try. >>> Read More

"Thais in the past did not share their work when they created things, probably because they did not want their work to be copied. Many destroyed their designs when they completed the work. Don't forget, we also copy others' work. Copying is part of the development of the professional..."

Authentic architecture addresses social and economic differences

By Andrew Wach, FRAIC RAIC Architecture

In a world that has accepted the concept of globalization, it is now necessary to consider whether the notion of authentic architecture continues to be valid.

The world has adapted many of what have become the archetypes of design, the tall glass office building, shopping malls, franchise stores, residential developments, low end motels and high end hotels to the point that it is difficult to tell by architecture alone the regional context a project may have. >> Read More

(Above: A typical Malay Village House)

ConstructionSkills says sorry for 'sexist' advert

By Joey Gardiner

ConstructionSkills has been forced to apologise for an advert in The Sun newspaper that was accused of promoting a sexist view of the sector.

Mike Bialyj, advisory services director of ConstructionSkills, said the advert, which ran on 15 April and depicted a woman in a provocative pose, was “something we won’t be doing again”. >> Read More

Branding Strategy #1 - Make a controversial statement or try coming up with something really offensive. The aim is to get the message across and make a public apology later. It's as simple as that. Any publicity is good publicity!

Here's a video clip of the Aeroturbines. It's about time we look into renewable energy.

Designing a house begins with the site it sits on

Each has its own look and feel, which dictate the design, developer Satinder Garcha says

By Joyce Teo, Property Correspondent

AN AVID polo player - he is the captain of the Singapore team - Mr Satinder Garcha, 37, is also a landed property developer, albeit a relatively new one.

In the three years since his first Singapore property was completed, he has built up a sizeable portfolio of 22 properties, many of which are being developed. He will build more on a $78.7 million strip of land at Sentosa Cove.

Mr Garcha, a New Delhi-born Singaporean, came to the Republic after selling his Silicon Valley information technology services company, People.com, in 2000.

FAMOUS BAGHDAD-BORN ARCHITECT ZAHA HADID was persuaded to design Mr Satinder Garcha's two Nassim Road bungalows and they will feature her radically modern approach to design. Note the houses' cast-iron shells. -- PHOTO: ZAHA HADID ARCHITECTS

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