UTAR Alumni

OCTOBER 2014

Architecture, like a building, it is more about the people in it that matters than the outlook itself

TEOW HAI-P'NG

BACHELOR OF SCIENCE (HONS) ARCHITECTURE

Batch of August 2014

I would say, getting a degree with first class honors is never an easy thing in university level, make it worse, in a course in which the results is more of a coursework-based, whereby generally it depends on everything we came across and all the skills we ought to pick up throughout the 3 years of the course - Degree in Architecture (PAM Part 1).

Architect-wannabes accomplishing the first step of their dream: Hai-p'ng selfies with friends

Started my long journey of architecture after I completed my Foundation in Science at UTAR, I am quite surprised with myself for the achievement, and of course felt satisfied at the same time after all the huge amount of efforts I had put in. In fact, I should use the word 'we' rather than 'I', because none of what I had today is possible thanks to all my friendly coursemates in which we spent our 3 years of days and nights helping each other, encouraging each other, and learning from each other.

Do note that I mentioned 'days and nights' in the previous sentence, and yes, you are seeing it right, as we architecture students normally have less rest time, and we spent most of our time working in the studio ' from early morning to the end of the day, sometimes morning of the other day or a few days later. Sounds dead? Yeah, that's the truth of the life as an architecture student, but trust me, we had more fun than how it had been perceived. Working in the studio with bunch of friends had always been to best memories I had in my study, and I am seriously missing it right now after I started my new chapter as a working adult. We talk, we joke, we laugh, we had our meals together, we have friends that brought speakers and we have friends that sing along, we have friends that brought sleeping bag and pillow to overnight and we have friends that literally slept on any surfaces they found. All of these happened not in any other places else but the studio, a warm second home for us. Everyone knows it is not as productive as it can be to stay up in the studio working rather than having a good rest at home, but it is the fun that none of us want to miss, and this made up the best memories we had for the rest of our life.

Studio life is never strict and boring; we even had a BBQ party there after working out all the nights. Hai-p'ng at the middle

'Architecture = Architorture', this is a common phrase to be heard of in every architecture school, but is it really that torturing to study architecture? To me, it is a yes and no. Yes, when I firstly stepped into the world of architecture with zero background knowledge about it. Everything just seems so alien and so much hard to keep up the tempo of never ending workload; No, after I started to realize how much fun in it and how interesting it can be. The passions that I built up had always been one of the key that drives me through the process of self-motivating and self-exploring the unlimited world of architecture and eventually brought me to the success that I had today. Workaholic? I don't think so, because there is a quote that sound 'When you enjoy what you do, work becomes play.'

To further top up the fun, our learning process is never limited to just the campus, as we frequently travel to visit interesting places both locally and oversea, even now after we graduated. We do not take it as a holiday, but as a fun study trip that rejuvenates our minds for inspirations. And of course, what can be better than to travel with bunch of good friends that work almost like a big family which share the same interests.

Study trip to Singapore

The first Archi Night at PJ Trade Centre

A breakaway to Sekeping Serendah retreat

The funny thing about architecture, it is always both of a paradox: It is an art, but as well a science; it is a tedious course, but at the same time it is extremely fun. These I think, is what good about architecture for bringing balance to what a student need for his or her most important part of learning curve. Thanks to UTAR, for making all of these possible.

The last dinner with friends & lecturers Ar. Lee Chor Wah, Ar. Quake Huay Tin & Ar. Mel Soong, before everyone part on to their own journey of success. Hai-p'ng at the most left