Talk Architecture
Hosted by Naziaty Mohd Yaacob, Ph.D.
Malaysian Architect | Universal Design & Accessibility Expert (MS 1184 Specialist) | Former Associate Professor (28+ years) | Advocate for Inclusive Spaces & Women in Architecture
Launched in April 2020, Talk Architecture delivers intimate, reflective conversations on architecture education, practice, and human impact—hosted solely by Naziaty Mohd Yaacob. Rooted in Malaysia yet resonating globally, the podcast connects local insights with universal challenges faced by architects worldwide.
Every episode centres inclusivity, empathy, and equity, drawing on Naziaty’s expertise in universal design, ageing-in-place, sensory architecture, and professional well-being. Global listeners value candid critiques of education models, graduate employability hurdles, and practice realities.
Essential listening for architecture students, professionals, educators, and thought leaders everywhere who are shaping inclusive, resilient built environments in an era of technological and demographic change.
Subscribe on most available platforms, such as Spotify, Apple Podcast, Buzzsprout, Podcaster, Amazon Music etc.
Talk Architecture
Learning from Kisho Kurokawa: Asian public space is the street!
We proposed a study on whether Malaysian architects, urban designers and planners refer to precedents of urban shophouses in the inner city streets of Malacca and George Town when coming up with concept and ideas in their work. Based on Michael Gibert's doctoral thesis, Kisho Kurokawa said that: "the difference between Western and Japanese concepts of space is the difference between spatial confrontation and spatial continuity", so do we Malaysian architectural designers think about these theories and put into practice and further that "the Japanese concept of space, on the contrary, reaches out to embrace nature, and to achieve unity and harmony with it, with always a conscious effort made to allow inner and outer space to inter-penetrate", so is that similar to our streets? I believe that the Malaysian precedents mentioned provided this sense of scale, intimacy, sense of proportion and materiality when I walked on those five-foot way and entering in and out those shophouses. Kurokawa also said: Asian public space is the street (no spatial or functional clear demarcations), and I felt that too when walking around in, it's close up and personal, but does that inspire Malaysian designers at all?
© 2021 Talk Architecture, Author: Naziaty Mohd Yaacob
Do subscribe for premium content and special features which will help to support and sustain Talk Architecture podcast on a more in-depth explanation on design thesis and processes. These special commentaries and ‘how to’ explanations are valuable insights and knowledge not found elsewhere!