We are just the puppets in developers show “How to make money - preferably quickly”. As they, true to their role, hit the table with their uneducated fist, shouting “I’m the one that pays you!”, just close your eyes and pray: “Karl Marx please make it stop…”.

This is a plea to anyone educating future development control officers.

1. Will you please instil in them that ‘time is money’! This is not just a nice catch phrase, it is actually applied in the real life and market economy (from which I understand they feel detached).

There are many instances where weeks if not months were taken to reply to queries, make decisions, consult. These are weeks of interest payments to developers, fees to consultants, all eating away profit and (more importantly for us) the budget that will eventually result if not in an abandoned project than a compromised design.

2. Could the planners take pride in a good design and act as enablers of the same?
M&E (Mechanical and Electrical) consultants traditionally have a limited input in the concept design but are very keen to aid finalising of schemes that they can advertise as ‘theirs’ as part of the design team.

3. Bringing out endless ‘policies’ does not enhance the design. They, as Planning officers, need to sift through the same in order to advise the developers and agents and assist them to get to mutually acceptable or even better, exciting developments.

4. ‘Cul-de-Sacs’ are not an urban design tool of choice, but are sometimes necessary, as much as are high - rised buildings. Blank policies/ rules don’t work. There needs to be a flexibility in the assessment approach.
Some cul-de-sacs are more desirable as they provide quieter streets, residents feel more secure as they can monitor visitors.
Not all cul-de-sacs are burglars havens. We design urban forms and architecture, not people!
Also send the students to Holland for their study trip, not to saviour Amsterdam’s relaxed attitude to drugs and exploitation of women but to appreciate what can be done in terms of housing and urban design whilst worrying about rising see level (much more than we have to worry about).

Nobody understands us!
Planners can’t see further then their policies. Which grow day by day.
Planning committees are run by people who think ‘in keeping with existing’ means exactly the same.
Structural engineers are over engineering everything.
M&E always need a duct at least 2m2 bigger than available.
Green Guide doesn’t cover most materials architects use.
Clients want profit.
Contractors want profit by diluting designs as they got the job by undercutting everyone else.

I’m the only one who cares about how the building will be used, look like, its integrity….

No wonder I lost hair before my time

I can’t decide which route to take. Is architecture a service where I do what the clients want me to do? Or is architecture an expression from a single creative mind?

dear gods, who let the architects on the singapore national museum paint heritage window frames in SILVER PAINT? and mismatched polished brass hinges! where has the honesty of materials gone? respect?

I am confused. I don’t believe in architecture. It is not the saviour of the designers’ soul. I want to design for humanity, for usability. To be functional but beautiful. Inexpensive but not tardy. Why is it so hard? Why do you feel so ugly, unfriendly and superficial everytime someone speaks of a ‘green’ building. Why does it feel so fake?

Alcohol is a great friend to keep being creative or uncreative as an architect.. hic!

I just dont get myself sometimes. I think I am trying my best, doing what I can.. but I am just not happy with the results. I am just unable to keep up to my imperfections, my wrong-doings, my flaws. Why must i be such a perfectionist especially to myself?

i have been slacking. not doing any work i’m suppose to..ut slacking…i am a terrible person..it’s like i can’t bring myself to do any work..i keep telling myself tomorrow, i will the mojo..tomorrow then tomorrow..someone help me..save my soul from the fires of the procrastinating sin…

I want to shoot people who paint their buildings in vile colours! ORANGE AND GREEN! What the F*** was the MCST thinking?