Theories of Architecture and Urbanism

THEORIES OF ARCHITECTURE & URBANISM [ARC2224] PROJECT: THEORIZING ARCHITECTURE PART I - ANALYZING SELF

Group members : 1. Boedi Satria

Tutor : Ms. Ida

0311503

2. Feiven Chee

0312004

3. Lee Min (Andy)

0308860

AR. David Chan Weng Cheong

Biodata Personal Details

Full Name: David Chan Weng Cheong Occupation: Architect Birth Date: 1963 (51yrs) Place of Birth: Bentong, Pahang, Malaysia.

Nationality: Malaysian Name of current Firm: Design Collective Architects (DCA), founded in 2002 Correspondence Address: 57, Jalan SS 22/19, Damansara Jaya, 47400 Petaling Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia. tel: +603 7727 0199 fax: +603 7722 3199 Email: david@dca.com.my

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AR. David Chan Weng Cheong

Education 1976 – 1979 Sekolah Sultan Haji Ahmad Shah, Kuantan 1980 – 1981 Taylor’s College, Kuala Lumpur 1982 – 1983 Swinburne Institute of Technology (Swinburne University of Technology) – Bachelor of Engineering (Civil Engineering), incomplete.

1984 – 1988 Curtin University, Perth, Australia – Bachelor of Architecture, 1988

Working Experience / Career History 1988 – 1990

Worked in Australia

1990

Returned to Malaysia

1990– 1991

Worked with Ar. Jimmy Lim Cheok Siang

1991 – 1993

Worked with Ar. Haji Hussein Hamzah

1994 – 2001

Part time lecturer in LimKokWing University College, Kuala Lumpur.

2002 – Present

Set up his architecture firm, Design Collective Architects (DCA) in Damansara Jaya, Selangor.

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AR. David Chan Weng Cheong

Projects Private Houses 

Big Window House, Kuala Lumpur, 2002-2005

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Communal House, Nilai, 2003-2005

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White Cocoon House, Kuala Lumpur, 2002-2006

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Two Long House, Kuala Lumpur, 2003-2005

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Courtyard House 1, Kuala Lumpur, 2003-2005

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Sunken House, Kuala Lumpur, 2004-

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Double Courtyard House, Kuala Lumpur, 2004-2006

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Two Cube House, Kuantan, 2004-2006

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Three Pavilion House, Kuala Lumpur, 2005-2007

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Viewing Deck House, Kuala Lumpur, 2005-2008

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Tree Trunk House, Kuala Lumpur, 2005-2008

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Private Resort House, Kuala Lumpur, 2005-2008

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House on Stilts, Kuala Lumpur, 2005-2008

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Party House on a Hill, Kuala Lumpur, 2005-2008

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Upper Verandah House, Kuala Lumpur, 2005-2008

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House on a Hilltop, Guangdong, China, 2005-2008

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Gallery House, Kuala Lumpur, 2006-2009

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See-Through House, Kuala Lumpur, 2006-2009

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Poolside House, Kuala Lumpur, 2006-2009

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Black and White House, Selangor, 2006-2009

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Black Box House, Kajang, 2006-2009

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Garden Pavilion House, Kuala Lumpur, 2006-2009

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House on Slope, Kuala Lumpur, 2006-2009

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House with no Windows, Kuala Lumpur, 2007-

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House with 1000 Trees, Kuala Lumpur, 2007-2012

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Big ‘O’ House, Selangor, 2008-2010

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Sloping Garden House, Sentosa Cove, Singapore, 2008-2010

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House Over Pool, Kuala Lumpur, 2008-2011

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Multi-Family House, Kuala Lumpur, 2008-2011

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Inverted ‘L’ House, Kuala Lumpur, 2009-

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Roofer’s House, Tropicana, 2009-2010

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One Room Bungalow, Selangor, 2009-2010

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House on a Cliff, Kuala Lumpur, 2009-2011

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Banker’s House, Kuala Lumpur, 2009-2011

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Three Generation House, Kajang, 2009-2011

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AR. David Chan Weng Cheong

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House on Slope 2, Kuala Lumpur, 2009-2011

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House with Floating Pool, Kuala Lumpur, 2009-2011

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Brick Villa House, Kajang, 2009-2012

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Semi-Detached House, Kuala Lumpur, 2009-2013

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V-Courtyard House, Tropicana, 2010-

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Mediterranean House, Kuala Lumpur, 2010-

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Steel House, Kuala Lumpur, 2010-

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Timber Box House, Singapore, 2010-

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Timber Louvre House, Selangor, 2010-2012

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Timber Screen House, Kuala Lumpur, 2010-2012

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House for Lion’s Den, Kuala Lumpur, 2010-2012

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Big Garden House, Kuala Lumpur, 2010-2012

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House with a Bridge to the forest, Ipoh, 2010-2012

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Linear Box House, Kuala Lumpur, 2010-2012

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Double House, Kajang, 2010-2012

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Twin House, Kuala Lumpur, 2010-2012

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Roof Top Garden House, Selangor, 2010-2012

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Engineer’s House, Kuala Lumpur, 2010-2012

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House with Upper Garden, Selangor, 2010-2013

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White Mansion House, Kuala Lumpur, 2010-2013

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Box on Box House, Selangor, 2010-2012

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Column House, Singapore, 2011-

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Panoramic House, Astrid Hills, Singapore, 2011-

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House Facing Forest, Setia Ecopark, 2011-

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Aluminium Fin House, Kuala Lumpur, 2011-2012

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Timber Roof House, Selangor, 2011-2012

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House for Outdoor Dining, Selangor, 2011-2012

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Four Houses in a Garden, Kuala Lumpur, 2011-2013

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House to View Parks, Selangor, 2011-2013

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House Behind Vale, Kuala Lumpur, 2011-2013

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Rooftop Garden House 2, Kuala Lumpur, 2011-2013

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270 Degree View House, Kuala Lumpur, 2005-

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AR. David Chan Weng Cheong

Multiple Housing / Commercial                   

Carrefour, Penang, 2008 11 Bungalows Country Heights, Kuala Lumpur, 2009 Monier Malaysia Town Showroom, Kuala Lumpur, 2009 20 Bungalows Ukay Springs, Kuala Lumpur, 2010 8 Bungalows Development, Kuala Lumpur, 2010 15 Bungalows Shalam, Selangor, 2010 Nanning Eco City, China, 2010 Methodist Church, Kota Kemuning, 2010-2013 Mandarina Food and Beverage Tower, Kuala Lumpur, 2010-2013 Precious Time Kindergarten, Kota Kemuning, 2010-2013 ARR+TQCC Labs and HQ, Selangor, 2011 Technology and Quality Control Centre (TQCC) Labs and HQ, Selangor, 2011 WingTai Asia Show Gallery, Penang, 2011 Mixed Development (PJD), Cheras, 2011 IJM Office Tower, Kuala Lumpur, 2011-2014 Semi-Detached and Terraced Development, Bukit Jalil, 2011-2014 UOB Bank Tower 2, in association with Tange Architects Tokyo, Kuala Lumpur, 2011-2014 WingTai Asia Jesselton, Penang, 2011-2014 WingTai Asia, Penang, 2011-2014

Hospitality + Resorts 

U-Hotel, Kuala Lumpur, 2008-2012

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Nomad Service Suites, Kuala Lumpur, 2010

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Eco-Resort, Bukit Tinggi, 2010

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Klapsons Ballroom, Singapore, 2010

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Farm Stay, Kuala Kubu Baru, 2011

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Malayan Flour Mill Corporate Retreat, Lumut, 2011

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Ezra Holiday Ltd, Singapore, 2011

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AR. David Chan Weng Cheong

Awards 2014 Category: Detached/Semi Detached - HONORARY MENTION – My Dream Home Awards 2013 THE GOLDEN EMERGING ARCHITECT – Architecture + Design & CERA Awards 2012 Category: Single Residential - GOLD - PAM Awards Category: Showroom – COMMENDATION - PAM Awards Category: Detached/Semi Detached - HONORARY MENTION – My Dream Home Awards Category: Residential – GOLD - International IIDA InteriCAD ID Award 2011 Category: Alterations & Additions – SILVER - PAM Awards

References 1. Design Collective Architects. (2011). Homes: Issues + processes. London: Black Dog Pub. 2. Star Publications (M) Bhd. (2006, September 3). Archives | The Star Online.

Retrieved from http://www.thestar.com.my/404.html?item=%2fstory%2ffile%3d%2f2006%2 f9%2f3%2ffocus%2f15118180%2f&user=extranet%5cAnonymous&site=TheSt arOnline

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AR. David Chan Weng Cheong

Childhood

By Boedi Satria 0311503

Childhood is one of the basic element which could influence someone on how he wants to run his life. In this case, somehow the influence of a childhood is seldom discussed on how it affected some personal in terms of design and build environment. Architecture were built from set of skills that’ve been learn from particular major of schooling within architectural environment.

However, it began much early through memories, emotion, or experience of a childhood. Ar David Chan Weng Cheong has his own childhood experience which influenced him and that experience has become a great foundation and philosophy throughout his architecture career.

Ar David Chan Weng Cheong was born in a small town called Bentong on 1963. It was never his intention to pursue with architecture during his childhood, as a matter of fact as he quoted “It was an accident” nothing in his childhood has really influenced him in order to pursue architecture, in a small town like Bentong very few have ever really pursue anything related to architecture, mostly they’re all wanted to become either doctor or an engineer.

Bentong was very much a town with generally small community, only few housing which has brick walls and concrete at that time. He lived in terrace house but before that it was a shop house, he lived at that house until he was 12 years old, it’s the first terrace house in Bentung. His house was set slightly higher than the normal ground, the house is slightly unusual and not like other terrace house nowadays, whereby the driveway is on the slope and the car is parked in the veranda, for terrace house that’s pretty unusual. A great mountain view surrounding his living environment at that time had influence him nowadays in his architecture theory which he called aperture, it means views, because he enjoys it greatly throughout his life, in fact it has influenced him when he wants to buy property, views are his top priority, he enjoys it very much.

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AR. David Chan Weng Cheong

Growing in a small town, he was used to low rise building, houses in Bentong at that time are mostly 2 storey house at maximum, he spotted wonderful elements on most of the houses in Bentong at that time, people back there, they didn’t really have rules in building their houses, they built it randomly as long as it suited their needs which means most people at that time in Bentong build their houses as whatever as they like. Through his perspective, this is what makes it interesting, because of that attitude, it has created spaces which he doesn’t usually see it in architecture nowadays, the spaces have their own unique elements, for example some people built their house with different ceiling height, sometimes 8 feet or even 15 feet in height. That kind of casual spaces which he found special.

In a small town like Bentong, people prefer to be outdoor, so the whole idea of gathering outside and doing outdoor activity was very significant at that time. Sometimes, his grandmother would ask him to accompany him for a walk, and after that he gathered at his friend’s veranda and talked for 2 hours or more.

So that become the space, that kind of community sharing and which he found very interesting and actually has always been part of his memory as growing up. According to him, spaces nowadays are too functional, for example kitchen, bedroom, living room, they’re all very specific to particular function. At that time, even the veranda was used for a place to cook and to eat, there’s a lot of thing happening. As he grows up as an architect, he always wanted to implement that kind of spaces back if he can because nowadays it’s very difficult to get that particular quality of a space. The childhood itself has provided him with a great foundation through memories, emotions, and experience which Ar David Chan Weng Cheong used as one of his philosophy throughout his career as an architect.

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AR. David Chan Weng Cheong

Childhood Diagram

CHILDHOOD

Born in small town called Bentong on 1963, not used to a high rise building

FAMILY

His father was a business man

MEMORY

Used to live in a very good views surrounded by mountains. Influenced him to put views as one of his top priority

EMOTION

People at small town love outdoor activity, he tries to embed that kind of emotion to his design

EXPERIENCE

Contidition of his house which has special unique spaces that are not often to be seen in contemporary house

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AR. David Chan Weng Cheong

Education

By Lee Min (Andy) 0308860

“Life is full of accidents and surprises.”

Mr. David Chan came from a very small town, Bentong, Pahang where architecture was not commonly known back in the 60’s and 70’s. “At that time, every single Chinese boy from such a small town would either think of only being a doctor or an engineer”, said Chan. In 1976, as a young boy of only the age of 13, he left his hometown to further his education.

For lower secondary, he went to a government boarding school, Sekolah Sultan Haji Ahmad Shah in Kuantan for 3 years under the aid of scholarship.

Surprisingly, the school happened to be the first year to convert and educate in the national language after English education. Living in a place where majority of Malays stayed, Chan mastered the national language of Malaysia and still speak fluently till now, aiding him in his career.

In 1980, he decided not to continue government school and headed to Taylor’s college in Kuala Lumpur for his upper secondary education. He took the Victorian A-level, knowing the next destination would be Melbourne, Australia after completing it. Chan confessed that he didn’t do well in his studies and exams but still managed to pass at a minimal rate required in college.

Knowing very well of his results and limits better than his fellow classmates, he chose and registered an average school rather than the best ones in Australia.

Showing his first choice in registration, there was probably a higher chance for him to get into the institute due to appreciation, said Chan. Therefore, he got into the Swinburne Institute of Technology, Melbourne in 1982 for the course in civil engineering.

Somehow, he kept working as a part-timer in restaurants instead of attending lectures. He confessed that he has not put much thought in studying because civil engineering wasn’t what he wanted. “I initially chose engineering because it was something a small town boy could do to make his parents proud

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AR. David Chan Weng Cheong

then”, said Chan. Towards the end of the year, he started realizing that what he was doing wasn’t good in many ways, especially towards his parents who supported him for his studies. “Even though I could have stayed there and continue earning money, but the time eventually came, it was like an awakening call”. Chan later convinced his father with one reason to allow him to change to architecture, saying that architects could control engineers.

“I also did not know much about architecture but it was a course that I could enroll myself in,” he admitted. Chan rated his scores for about 60% and strictly applied to about a hundred universities in Australia that offered architecture course during that time. At first, Chan was keen to stay in Melbourne because he was doing so well by then, referring to living environment and earning money. Hence, he was looking forward to the approval of the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT) in Australia.

Chan thought that he could get into RMIT because the institute was known for having ‘working adults’, generally looking at half of your academic and the other half of your working experience at that time. Unfortunately, he didn’t get the approval from RMIT for the first round. Instead, he got into the Western Australia Institute of Technology in Perth which is called Curtin University these days.

He packed everything he had and left for Perth. Going to Perth was partly a mistake for him, said Chan. First of all, it was because the city wasn’t as lively as Melbourne. Second, he got an approval letter from RMIT after 5 days staying in Perth and it was too late as he had already admitted to Curtin University.

During his architecture studies in Curtin University, the lecturer that most affected him was Mr. Duncan Richard. He was a theorist in architecture and also was a part historian. He loved to tell Chan and the other students about the connections between architecture and culture, expressing the idea of genius loci, or else site specific. He liked Mr. Duncan a lot and got along well with him because both of them liked to talk and write instead of drawing.

Therefore, his design project always came with a book, fully written with all of his thoughts and ideas. “From that point of view, Mr. Duncan gave rise to my method of doing architecture – ‘narrative architecture’, which is talking and

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AR. David Chan Weng Cheong

having conversation to understand every single stories behind before or during designing”, said Chan.

During his study on architecture, the famous Japanese architect Tadao Ando had greatly inspired and influenced him in doing architecture design.

Chan got to know about Ando mainly because the architect just came into prominence outside of Japan in the early 80’s. He also added that there were a lot of Ando’s information and design that could be found in many of the books from the library of Curtin University. “Partly because as far as concern in the field of architecture, there you will have Japan in Asia during that time”, said Chan.

Chan admires how the famous architect delivers his work creatively using natural light and for structures that follow natural forms of the landscape by making it conform to the constructed space of the building. The idea and inspiration can be seen and reflected in some of Chan’s designed building, the ‘aperture architecture’ which it emphasizes on great views and selective natural lighting introduction to create a poetic indoor environment and at same time relating to or coherence with the outdoor site context.

“When you like and inspire by someone, you will kind of admire the quality in details and every aspects of the building he or she designed”, said Chan. Even though he admired Ando’s work, he soon realized that these buildings weren’t suitable for human beings to live in unless people are trained to live in prison cell like environment since born. “Actually very good images in book or magazines are not good places to live in”, he added. He strongly suggested that students should see and design in different perspectives rather than driven by the wrong messages translated only through these pictures.

Chan said that he still felt like an average student and only started to improve magnificently in drafting and crafting skills when exposed to internships in Australia for his lecturer, Mr. Duncan. Eventually, he passed all his exams and finally obtained his Bachelor in Architecture from Curtin University, Australia in 1988 when he was 25 years of age.

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AR. David Chan Weng Cheong

Chan replied that he wouldn’t do architecture if he had the chance to go back time to change. He would actually want to pursue commerce or business during his study years. “Architecture is an adventurous accident for me and it also allows me to enjoy life better”, said Chan. Architecture affects him a lot, where he can live with less, but tend to gain more out of life than other people of other profession simply because architects would notice and appreciate smaller things in life.

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AR. David Chan Weng Cheong

Education Background Diagram

Small Town Bentong, Pahang

Traditional mindset: doctor or engineer

Left hometown at 13yrs old

1976 Lower secondary school Sekolah Sultan Haji Ahmad Shah, Kuantan

Mastered Bahasa Melayu

1980 Upper secondary school Taylor’s College, KL (Victorian A-Level) Passed exam at minimal rate required

1982 University Swinburne Institute of Technology, Melbourne (Civil Engineering) Worked part time in restaurants Failed Engineering course

1984 University Curtin University, Perth (Architecture)

MOST INFLUENCE Lecturer, Mr.Duncan Richard “Narrative Architecture”

Architect, Tadao Ando “Aperture Architecture”

1988 Graduate Bachelor of Architecture

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AR. David Chan Weng Cheong

Working Experience

By Feiven Chee 0312004

David Chan’s career has been colorful and vivid, to say the least. He has worked for numerous firms in Australia as well as Malaysia, and has experienced almost all aspects of architecture throughout the years from the small details to the bigger picture. He treats his working life and experience as an extension of his education – always striving to learn and better himself.

His first experience of architecture in the real world was in his fourth year of studies in Perth. He had to take part in an internship program and was fortunate enough to be able to work under one of his lecturers. It was a small and intimate family practice which focused on projects such as churches, renovations and small houses. David Chan was given the honor of working in between the lecturer and the lecturer’s father. This direct contact and close proximity to two very experienced practicing architects allowed him to brush up his skills in terms of drafting and understanding construction drawings. Anything Chan was unsure of, he could just nudge either one next to him. Taking full advantage of the opportunity, Chan eavesdropped whenever he could to soak in all the new knowledge around him. The office was small, and housed several different practices under one roof and shared a reception which is where the clients would meet the architects. Listening in to these conversations was “a wonderful way to learn”, Chan says. After the internship period, Chan went on to continue working part-time alongside his studies right up until he graduated.

David Chan fell in love with Perth. He found comfort amongst the low rise, sprawling of architecture due to the bountiful land. He decided to stay on after his studies and found a job with two different firms over the course of approximately three and a half years. The firms both specialized in private residential and interior architecture. They worked on projects such as custom fittings and furniture. Through this, Chan developed his skills in carpentry construction details and a love for good craftsmanship. He commented that at that time, Australia had plenty of good and skilled craftsmen and his experience

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AR. David Chan Weng Cheong

of dealing directly with them deepened his understanding and furthered his design skills on small scale projects.

Due to personal family reasons, David Chan returned to Malaysia in 1990. However, whilst he was still in Australia, he had heard of two prominent Malaysian architects – namely Ken Yeang and Jimmy Lim. Looking at Ken Yeang’s work, Chan didn’t feel inspired as it was mostly high-rise within an urban context. Jimmy Lim’s work, however, was more comforting to Chan and so a day after he arrived back in Malaysia he contacted Jimmy Lim’s office and asked for an interview. The interview was arranged for the following day. And he was hired by Jimmy Lim himself on the spot during the interview. Chan’s working experience in Australia proved to be appetizing and appealing to Jimmy Lim. However, David Chan only stayed on in the firm for a short year.

He disliked the fact that strict working hours were not established (such as back in Australia) and although he was hired as a design architect, the work was not what he expected.

At the time, Jimmy Lim was the deputy president of the Malaysian Institute of Architects. The president was Hussein Hamzah. Working under Jimmy Lim, Chan found himself frequently visiting the Institute’s office and came to know Hussein Hamzah by doing so. Eventually, Hamzah offered Chan a job at his firm as a design architect and he gladly accepted, partly due to wanting a fresh start. His experience with Hussein Hamzah’s practice was completely different and unexpected.

A week into starting the job, most of the other employees quit as the chief architect had decided to open up his own firm and invited most of the employees to join him. David Chan found himself in a predicament. He had just started the job and would feel uncomfortable leaving so early on but if he stayed on his role wouldn’t be a design architect but rather towards project management. He was unsure whether or not he was the right man for the job, having no experience on site or in dealing with documentation and bureaucratic matters. However, he would be guided by a 65 year old, extremely experienced clerk and decided to approach it as such. The next two and half years proved

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AR. David Chan Weng Cheong

to be gratifying, or “a fantastic learning experience”, according to Chan, as he learnt the ins-and-outs of an architecture firm, gaining a holistic view and soon came to digest that design is just a small part of architecture. Chan believes that this was essential in enabling him to get his professional license easily and open up his own firm.

During his last week in Hussein Hamzah’s office, he coincidentally met his lecturer since his Curtin University days. The lecturer was in town to set up an establishment between Curtin University and Lim Kok Wing. Subsequently, David Chan was offered the Second Year Degree Program leader at Lim Kok Wing’s architecture school. Chan decided to take on this exciting opportunity and in retrospect found it to be very influential in his design work. One of the subjects he taught was model making and he found it extremely significant in his own design process, and eventually became the basis of developing designs in his own practice. Although he was a part-time lecturer, Chan managed to get a room which acted as his office on campus. The students under him would act like his employees but his clients would only come in on the weekends to ensure a clear boundary between the school work and his professional work. He continued being a part-time lecturer for about six years which amounts to roughly 900 students, and few of them eventually became his partners.

After his lecturing stint, David Chan ventured out and started up a few personal projects – such as establishing an internet company. In the early 2000’s, he focused again on architectural works and started up his own firm named Redd Design with two of his ex-students. The firm mainly focused on installation and commercial projects – the most prominent being works for Haagen Dazs in Malaysia and Singapore. He could then apply everything he had learnt since his first job in Perth. He had to deal with clients, but still needed to be creative in problem solving. However, due to a conflict in personalities, he left the firm which is now run by one of the ex-partners and named Redd Design Office later on.

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AR. David Chan Weng Cheong

His current firm, Design Collective Architects, was established in 2002 with Chan Mun Inn (one of his ex-students). Since its establishment, the practice has rapidly expanded and has done numerous high-rise as well as lowrise projects. The collective experience from his student days as well as working experience has shaped how he deals with his own firm today. Learning to work in detail, an understanding of construction drawings, dealing with contracts and documentation as well as working on various typologies of projects has eventually led him to build up a strong architecture firm in the Malaysian scene.

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AR. David Chan Weng Cheong

Working Experience Diagram

Worked with his lecturer during internship period

Drafting skills + construction drawings

Worked with Australian practice

Craftsmanship + carpentry construction

Worked under Jimmy Lim’s firm

Work was not what he expected – unhappy with Malaysian working conditions

Worked under Hussein Hamzah’s firm

Learnt the ins and outs of a firm (contracts, documentation, on site, submissions etc)

Program leader of 2nd year degree LimKokWing University

Model making class – influential to his design process + thinking

Redd Design

Installations, quick thinking + problem solving, networking

Design Collective Architects

Used everything he learnt to set up a successful firm

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