No_3_October_1962 — Page 104

(Continued from Page 83)

Malaysia gives greater scope for local architects to create and de- velop this expression.

Local architects, like all good citizens, are proud of their country. In the same context. they are giving expression to their national sciousness in their work.

National

consciousness

con-

induces

one to think in terms of the nation.

One of these avenues of thoughts is culture and culture

embraces architecture as the quotation from Morgan so amply proves.

Today, there are hundreds of trained local architetcts who have returned from schools of architecture abroad. They will soon be bolster- ed by products from our own schools

of architecture in Kuala

Lumpur and Singapore.

These local architects know what is good for the country in the way of architecture. They have many sources of inspiration. both in the land of their birth and in neigh-

bouring countries such as

the edifices in Bali, Prambanan, Boro- budur and Mindut in Java, Ankor Wat in Cambodia, Ayudhia in Thailand and Amarapura in Burma.

Strange but true these sources of inspiration blend with the culture that is Malaya today and Malaysia

tomorrow.

I have often heard this question: "How do we derive a Malaysian style of architecture?" Architecture like art cannot have a set formula. Obviously, there cannot be formula for the creation of shapes and forms. All planning must be free and given full encouragement.

a

What we must await is the arrival of our own "masters", and we must be liberal in our search for them.

From these Malaysian masters will evolve the true Malaysian school of architecture that will break into into various groups.

This will be a process not unlike the evolution of schools of archi-

tectural thought by the disciples of Gropius, Wright. Le Corbusier. Mies Van der Rohe, Kenzo Tange and others.

a

Just as in the more advance countries of the West, and in Japan. there has been a distinct tendency to create a new trend in architectural expression. similarly in Malaya in recent years there has been also distinct tendency to

break away from the colonial type of architec ture and to create a Malayan trend in architectural design more parti- cularly in the public sector. This is especially evident in Kuala Lum pur and to a certain extent in Singa pore.

This leads one to hope for the early establishment of a Tropical School of Architecture in either Kuala Lumpur or Singapore.

Why should all Malaysians. aspir ing to be architects, undergo the colossal expenditure involved in getting their qualifications overseas.

!

100

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THE HONG KONG & FAR EAST BUILDER-VOLUME 17. NUMBER 3