Dr. Lai Chee Kien, Assistant Professor from Department of Architecture, National University of Singapore, delivered a guest lecture in the morning session on Monday, 22nd of July, to the teaching staff and students of School of Architecture and Built Environment. The Guest Lecture was on “Building Merdeka- Independence Architecture in Kuala Lumpur”.

 

The lecture covered basics about the historical context and the political background of post-war Southeast Asia, and discussed how these factors were used in imagining the national community that was to be. Dr. Lai addresses the public architecture and infrastructure employed produced around the time of Malayan independence and the formation of Malaysia and how these symbolic architectures around Kuala Lumpur were used for national purposes and represented the new spread-out territory.

 

Dr.  Lai, also the author of a book with the same title ‘Building Merdeka – Independence Architecture in Kuala Lumpur’ explained the ‘big histories’ of the projects and the people who play important roles in implementing the projects, including the first Prime Minister of Malaya/Malaysia Tunku Abdul Rahman, the Architect and former Superintendent of Public Work Department – Stanley Jewkes and the builders.

 

The lecture organized by School of Architecture and Built Environment, held at Function Room 1, audience of around 60, consist of SABE staffs and students, as well as graduated students and friends. Beside this, Dr. Lai Chee Kien has delivered a series of talks in July organized by Universiti Malaya and some local communities.