The following news video from TheStar again made me sick, and what follows after the video is the Shanghai World Expo website showing Malaysia Pavillion making no references whatsoever to 'Minangkabau-inspired' roof/architecture.
It seems childish to link our nation's architecture with only one type of hut. Yeah, Minangkabau houses are all over in Minang (Indonesia) and also Negeri Sembilan(Malaysia) but to what extend should we copy and paste and with no articulation at all exhibit this particular style at the World Expo?
Why not Kutai house? Why not Kelantan/Terengganu houses? Why not go for a Sarawakian long house? Dato Seri Ng said, she wanted the pavilion to be 'eye-catching' to the visitors as they come into the site. Well, are other types of huts/houses not 'eye-catching' enough? I am pretty sure if you put a big steel box and colour it with glossy silver or gold paint, it will be indeed VERY 'eye-catching'.
Plus, the design of the traditional hut does not reflect this year's World Expo theme anyway, which is Better City Better Life. Ideally, at least to me, it has to show what our Malaysian architecture has come into terms with latest design and technologies. Yeah, recylable plastic wall is fine but the principle and gist of the pavillion itself has gone to dust.
Great architects like Ken Yeang, Hijjaz Kasturi, Jimmy Lim, and some others should stand up to this great shame! In one month time, we will be unveiling the pavillion for the eyes of the world to see. I'd say, Good Luck!
Read on and click on these articles. If you are a Malaysian, you will be ticked. *wink*
1. World Expo Shanghai 2010 - Malaysia Pavillion
2. Some Political Relations
3. Final Design Proposal - Spatial Organisation and 'Translation'
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