 Hijjas bin Kasturi visited Australia in March 2008 to lecture at his two alma maters, the University of Adelaide and the University of Melbourne. He was later featured in the alumni magazines of both institutions.
Renowned architect is visiting professor
from Adelaidean, the monthly magazine of the University of Adelaide, April 2008
Celebrated international architect Hijjas Kasturi has been appointed Visiting Professor in the University of Adelaide's School of Architecture, Landscape Architecture and Urban Design.
Professor Kasturi made his first official visit as Visiting Professor over three days in March, spending time with students and giving an evening lecture on the latest projects in South-East Asia and the Middle East of his international practice, Kasturi Architects, Malaysia.
"The School is honoured to have this noted designer in our midst," said Professor Nancy Pollock-Ellwand, Head, School of Architecture, Landscape Architecture and Urban Design.
"He spent one-on-one time with the students, providing valued studio criticism, and gave an inspiring lecture on his recent projects.
"The presence of such a venerated architect in the School is immensely instructive to students and staff alike, and we look forward to many more visits over the coming months and years."
Professor Kasturi also visited the University of Adelaide in December when he was awarded the title Doctor of the University (honoris causa) in recognition of his service to society and the profession of architecture.
His distinctive architecture includes some of Kuala Lumpur's iconic skyscrapers and his work has received many honours, including the Tokyo Creation Award in 1998 and the Malaysian Architects Institute Gold Medal in 2001.
Hijjas Kasturi Visits Melbourne School of Design
Cover story of Atrium, the annual newsletter of the Faculty of Architecture, Building and Planning at the University of Melbourne, 2008
Hijjas Kasturi, distinguished alumnus of the Faculty, launched an exhibition Concrete, Glass, Steel which showed highlights of his practice Hijjas Kasturi Associates (HKAS) in the Atrium of the Architecture building on Monday 17 March. In launching the exhibition he described the path he took from studying in Australia to being an academic in Malaysia and then setting up the successful practice of HKAS.
Mr Kasturi then gave a public lecture titled ‘In Search of Identity in Architecture’ outlining significant buildings designed by HKAS. He categorized the development of the buildings by HKAS spanning Concrete – characterized by the initial buildings completed in Malaysia, followed by the Metal influenced designs of prize winning buildings in Riyadh, then the more recent Glass constructions.
Hijjas Kasturi studied at the University of Adelaide and the University of Melbourne (Bachelor of Architecture 1965, Graduate Diploma of Town and Regional Planning 1966). “Those were the golden years of Australian architecture to me. The times of Robin Boyd, of Roy Grounds and Peter Muller. It was the time when the Olympic Swimming Pool had just been completed - magnificent vanguard buildings, breakthroughs in architecture - such as the beginnings of Sydney Opera House, when the whole world was looking at it. It was a really fantastic time to be a student. He returned to Singapore in 1966, then moved to Malaysia in 1967, where he founded the School of Art and Architecture at MARA Institute of Technology. He went into partnership in 1969, and then formed the practice Hijjas Kasturi Associates (HKAS) in 1997. Characterised by the major concerns of architecture, town planning and building, plus the arts-oriented influences of industrial design, graphic and textile design, and fine arts, the practice of HKAS has a unique vision.
Major buildings in Kuala Lumpur such as Menara Maybank (1989), Tabung Haji (1986), Putrajaya Convention Centre (2003) and the 4G11 Tower (2008) currently being built in Putrajaya are a small sample of the influential buildings designed by HKAS.
Mr Hijjas Kasturi’s work is recognised internationally. In 1998 he received the Tokyo Creation Award and in 2001 the Malaysian Architect’s Institute Gold Medal. He was also awarded an Honorary Doctorate from the Universiti Malaya in 2005.
Distinguished Architect Visits the Melbourne School of Design
By Michelle Burder
Hijjas Kasturi, distinguished alumnus
of the Faculty of Architecture, Building
and Planning, launched an exhibition
Concrete, Glass, Steel which showed
highlights of his practice Hijjas Kasturi
Associates (HKAS) in the Atrium of
the Architecture building on Monday
17 March. He also gave a public
lecture titled In Search of Identity
in Architecture outlining significant
buildings designed by HKAS. He
categorised the development of the
buildings by HKAS spanning Concrete
– characterised by the initial buildings
completed in Malaysia, followed by
the steel-influenced designs of prize
winning buildings in Riyadh, then the
more recent Glass constructions.
Mr Kasturi’s work is recognised
internationally. In 1998 he received
the Tokyo Creation Award and in 2001
the Malaysian Architect’s Institute
Gold Medal. He was also awarded
an Honorary Doctorate from the
University of Malaya in 2005. Mr Kasturi studied at the University
of Adelaide and the University of
Melbourne (Bachelor of Architecture
1965, Graduate Diploma of Town
and Regional Planning 1966).
“Those were the golden years
of Australian architecture to
me,” Mr Kasturi said.
“The times of Robin Boyd, of Roy
Grounds and Peter Muller – it was the
time when the Olympic Swimming Pool
had just been completed – magnificent
vanguard buildings, breakthroughs in
architecture such as the beginnings
of Sydney Opera House, when the
whole world was looking at it.
It was a really fantastic time to be a
student.”
Mr Kasturi returned to Singapore in
1966, then moved to Malaysia in 1967,
where he founded the School of Art
and Architecture at MARA Institute of
Technology. He went into partnership in
1969, and then formed HKAS in 1997.
Characterised by the major concerns
of architecture, town planning and
building, plus the arts-oriented
influences of industrial design, graphic
and textile design, and fine arts, the
practice of HKAS has a unique vision.
Mr Kasturi will also be the keynote speaker at the University of Melbourne, Malaysia Alumni reception on Saturday 24 May 2008.
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