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.
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Episodes
421 episodes
From Commodity to Functionality: What Vitruvius Didn't Tell Us About Accessibility
Continuing the exploration of Vitruvius's Venustas, Firmitas, Utilitas, host Naziaty turns to Utilitas — usually translated as function or commodity — and asks what it really means in the 21st century. Drawing on a RIBA articl...
How architecture students study 'business' in school - similarities in practice and entrepreneurship
In this follow-up to the introduction on How Architecture Students Study Business in School, host Naziaty digs into the three skills the original Threads question raised: running a firm, pricing a project, and negotiating a contract, w...
How architecture students study 'business' in school - introduction
In this episode of Talk Architecture, host Naziaty tackles a question that's been making the rounds on Threads: should architecture schools teach business and financial literacy? After six years of study, many graduates step out into p...
How to analyse good design, from crafts to architecture - introduction
The Timeless Principles of "Venustas, Firmitas, and Utilitas" (Vitruvius, 1st century BC) is one way to analyse any product, may it be craft or architecture, in terms of the quality and how good that design is.In the history of architect...
Interlude: 2 months break and soon we will be back!
Welcome back to the Talk Architecture Podcast. I’m your host, Naziaty. After a difficult hiatus since our last episode on March 28—marked by a bout of illness and the heartbreaking loss of my mother last month—I’m slowly returning to t...
System thinking in Architecture and Disability
Naziaty will discuss on the need to address the intersecting sections of the sets of "architecture practice", "architecture education" and "disability". This is an introduction to the gaps that needs to be addressed. © 2026 Talk Arc...
A Review on the Balanced Education Model (2025 Interview with Kevin Mark Low)
A Commentary on the March 2025 episodes on the Balanced Education Model, an interview with Kevin Mark Low, with an eye towards writing thoughts on this to be published.Important core quotes and key statements from Kevin Mark Low:1...
Kevin Mark Low and Naziaty Mohd Yaacob Shared Views on Education
Kevin Mark Low and Naziaty Mohd Yaacob both sees Malaysian architecture education as deeply flawed, producing graduates who are technically competent but philosophically and ethically underprepared. Discussion on these sub-topics / key points a...
Designing from First Principles [Addendum on Safari Roof House]- Part 2a
This is an addendum to the second episode on how architects Kevin Mark Low design from first principles, discussing the Safari Roof House (2002-2005).How designing the Safari Roof House embodies First-Principles thinkingKev...
Designing from First Principles [Kevin Mark Low's Approach]- Part 2
Second episode of a two-part series we dive deep into how architects such as Kevin Mark Low design from first principles.Analysis from literature search shows that Kevin Mark Low has 5 main core elements to his first principles-inspired ...
Designing from First Principles [Introduction]- Part 1
The first episode in a two-part series on designing from first principles (as suggested by Kevin Mark Low). The concept of “first principles” in architecture can be understood in two main ways:1. The most fundamental, tim...
Designing for every citizen: Engineering inclusive urban landscapes (street environment and public transportation)
Designing for every citizen: Engineering inclusive urban landscapes(street environments and public transportation) for the Institute of Engineers Malaysia - Webinar Talk on March 10 2026 by Naziaty Mohd Yaacob, Director, Xiron Engineering Servi...
Formalism and Non-formalistic Approaches in Architecture - Part 1
The first episode of a two part mini series on - Formalism and Non-formalistic Approaches in Architecture - where the teaching of architecture and guidance inform how we approach architecture practice, where it needs to be more critical rather ...
The Architect as Leader
Four weeks ago I commented on the idea of collaboration, as if the ability to collaborate is necessary in order to have leadership skills. What are the essential qualities and why is it important that an architect have leadership sk...
The Power of Patterns: Revisiting Christopher Alexander's Notes on the Synthesis of Form [Part 1]
In the first episode of the series on design approach and methods, we discuss the Preface of Christopher Alexander’s 1964 seminal work, Notes on the Synthesis of Form, the 1971 paperback. The discussion highlights Alexander’s pivot ...
The Real-World Example: The Invisible Masterpiece
A scenario of the architectural design studio project for a community that would have made a better impact in terms learning for the students, when site-context specific rather than a project that objectifies for 'citation', ' data' and 'resear...
The Compass vs The Chart: Can Architecture Education Stay Noble in a World of Rankings?
Last 29 December 2025, the Vice Chancellor of Universiti Malaya in an article says “Let me be clear: rankings are not the goal; they are a means. The goal is, and has always been, to create knowledge and graduates that make the world a better p...
Educated but Unprepared: Who's Really at Fault? [Part 3]
The conclusive episode (Part 3) to underline the bigger picture of problems in architecture education where we need to deal with the following:1. Architecture design studio curriculum needs to be clear on the "design problem" identificat...
Educated but Unprepared: Who's Really at Fault? [Part 2]
Part 2 continues the discussion on the systemic problems where "the burden of education has quietly shifted from academia to practice", by referring to Seshan Design SB Handbook and points discussed in Part 1 of the same topic.Naziaty st...
Educated but Unprepared: Who's Really at Fault? [Part 1]
A frank discussion on a commentary based on Seshan Design's post in a Facebook Group. They highlighted on systemic problems where "the burden of education has quietly shifted from academia to practice", and later gave comments on the problems s...
Dialogic Studio Critique Methods in Architecture Education - Part 2B
We explain further in depth on the dialogic studio critique methods to explain how we can transform architecture education. In Part 2B, we delve into:Common Dialogic Critique MethodsRound-Table or Harkness MethodPeer...
Dialogic Studio Critique Methods in Architecture Education - Part 2A
Dialogic studio critique methods shift traditional architecture design studios from 'hierarchical, tutor-dominated feedback' (often called "desk crits" or juries) to collaborative, multi-voiced conversations. These approaches, inspired by Donal...
A Call for Transformative Architecture Education in Malaysia - Part 1
We frequently speak of students as "products" or "graduates"—metrics to be optimized for Lembaga Arkitek Malaysia (LAM) Part I and II exemptions, high QS subject rankings, graduate employability rates, and Key Performance Indicators (KPIs). But...
The Undervalued Architect: How Education Fuels the Profession's Misunderstanding - Part 2
We dive into the conversation on "reforms in architecture education" to understand further how education affects the profession in a profound way. The principles from Mark Alan Hewitt's 2020 reforms explained in arch daily —emphasizing embodied...
The Undervalued Architect: How Education Fuels the Profession's Misunderstanding - Part 1
Another “unfiltered” critic argues that architecture education is the root cause of the profession being undervalued and widely misunderstood. The defense of the profession, we contend, must begin in academia, where the core problem lies in sit...