Why Malaysia ?

The country of Malaysia, proposed for this year’s Architectural Field Trip, is a rapidly developing, multicultural country in which Islam is the official religion (60 percent of the population is Muslim). Within Malaysian society there is a Malay culture, a Chinese culture, an Indian culture, a Eurasian culture, along with the cultures of the indigenous groups of the peninsula and north Borneo.  The mélange makes Malaysia one of the most cosmopolitan places on earth, as it helps sustain international relationships with the many societies represented in Malaysia: the Indonesian archipelago, the Islamic world, India, China, and Europe.

Architecture, Urbanism and Landscapes of Malaysia

Aside many examples of outstanding Mosque Architectures, Malaysia is also home to Award winning contemporary architecture, namely the Petronas Towers in Kuala Lumpur by Cesar Pelli, the University of Technology Petronas by Foster & Partners, and the Menara Mesiniagi Tower by Hamzah & Yeang.  There are also interesting urban developments, for example the new city of Putrajaya, located 25km south of Kuala Lumpur, that serves as the federal administrative centre of Malaysia. The city is situated within the Multimedia Super Corridor, beside the also newly developed Cyberjaya. The colonial past of Malaysia can be experienced in the traditional old port city of Malacca.

University Putra Malaysia UPM

Qatar University College of Engineering is in the process of signing an MOU with University Putra Malaysia’s College of Engineering. Through the Head of Department of DAUP, Professor Ashraf’s long established contacts with UPM, we will be hosted by the Department of Architecture at University of Putra  for a day.

Students Outputs

Students were asked to create a blog website for the Field Trip and to produce a small film during the trip using Windows Live Movie Maker or other software on a selected site or theme, which would include video clips, photos, maps, plans etc. The film and blog will be presented to the DAUP faculty and students and posted on the website and the blog.

Detailed Programme