As with all architecture students and sholars around the world, we are not exempted from any field trips conducted by our studio masters and lecturers, or are we exempted from any practical training and research. With these trips and visits in mind, they surely hold fond memories and valuable experiences in our hearts.

One of these memories locked in my mind was of the measured drawings practical training done by every 5th level studio architecture student in UTM. Its sole purpose is to preserve our architectural heritage, buildings 50 years or more, masterbuilded by natives or by colonialists in Malaysia. I, with my group consisting of 7 members including myself, were required to measure and draw in precision a traditional Malay Melaka house in Jasin, Melaka.

Furthermore, we were also required to do research on the owner, and his/her family and also the history of the house, the masterbuilder who created the house, and also a little bit about its architectural influences. To make it short, we were required to do research on an old worn out house and its impact architecturally, socially and culturally towards the built environment and its surroundings. Throughout the whole two months of in-field work, we were all left on our own besides a measly rm100 bucks  each sponsored by UTM to get the work done. Luckily, we were taken into the care of the grandmother and father of one of the group members in Merlimau, 30 km’s from Jasin Melaka.

So off we went, day by day on my dad’s beat up trooper to the stated house. One of the most sacred and valuable memories that  I will always have of this practical training, is the part where I had to measure and climb the overall structural system.  Very threatening and scary indeed, because the house could collapse anytime, due to excessive weather and poor treatment. I still remember the time where I nearly fell from the roof.

To cut the story short, we continued our measured drawings in campus and submitted extra work such as audiovisual footage(done by myself) and also a model of the stated house. And we all got good marks…heheheh… all in all for the hard work and sleepless nights we had to endure.
sorry that there arent any pictures of me and my buddies in melaka but ill make sure itll get in here by my next coming update.