Bfm :: I Love Kl

E9A Architecture is a research practice that tries to go against the grain. Not for the sake of it, but to truly reflect on the state of contemporary architecture and produce counter narratives, all while acknowledging the realities of modern urban fabric and architecture. The folks behind the practice, Alia Ahamad, Hazazi Hamzah and Nazmi Anuar join us on the show to share what inspired them to start this practice, what they’re grappling with in their field, as well as talk about their first project, Kisah Klasik Untuk Masa Depan: A Manifesto for Degrowth (which can be seen on their website, e9aarchitecture.com

Persatuan Arkitek Malaysia (PAM) is celebrating their 100th year anniversary this year, and to mark that momentous occasion, 2023’s edition of Kuala Lumpur Architecture Festival (KLAF) has decided to set its sights on the next 100 years with 100 events and programmes around architecture planned throughout the calendar year. We speak to the director of the festival, Norzaini Mufti about his ambitious plan and the various themes that he has picked to make architecture more accessible and resonate with the larger community.

I Love KL decides to venture out slightly and talk about Gombak, a place where we actually struggle to characterise due to its size and various landmarks, natural and otherwise. We end up ruminating about the area, its distinct qualities and why it’s crucial in shaping Kuala Lumpur’s identity.Image Credit: 123.RF

Art of Speed zooms in again this year for its 12th iteration, and ahead of the event happening at the end of this month,  the brainchild behind this annual Kustom Kulture convention, Asep Ahmad Iskandar drops by our studio to share what it’s been like to create a space where this unique community can gather every year to exchange ideas and geek out over their love for custom cars, motorcycles and the different subcultures around it. Asep also talks about how they’ve survived the pandemic, the necessity of innovating and offering something new every year, as well as how much the community he serves has grown and changed after more than a decade of Art of Speed.

The world of tabletop games is diverse, distinctive and wonderful, if you’re willing to go down the rabbit hole and spend enough time. Any Games Con 2023 is a perfect place for you to discover, and perhaps embark on the journey, if you haven’t already! We speak to the event organiser, Lai Chung Sen to discuss the scene’s relevance, especially now, and how vibrant the local communities and creators are, ahead of the event at the end of this month.

Despite the plethora of hobbies that exist these days, trading card and board games, once thought of as relics of the past, especially in this digital age, are still pretty much relevant, and in fact, continuing on, strong as ever! What’s the scene like these days? I Love KL paid a visit to Invictus Forge, a trading card and board games cafe in Tropicana Gardens Mall to speak to its director  and learn how well the trading card scene is currently thriving, how lucrative these cards are as a form of investment, and the intricacies of grading these cards for value preservation.

Hamdan Abdul Majeed, Managing Director of Think City joins us on the show to talk about two grants that they are currently offering to revitalise Downtown Kuala Lumpur. The grants - Creative KL Grants Programme and Think City Urban Challenge - will hopefully encourage potential applicants to come forward and help think of ways to breathe new life into the part of the city that has seen better days, due to many factors.

The various development projects (especially the mega ones) taking place across KL has got us wondering - is that the only approach that should be taken when it comes to utilising heritage spaces? Should we take a slightly different approach that is perhaps more subtle, sustainable and sensitive to the local nuances? Heritage conservation expert, Elizabeth Cardosa joins us to reflect on this.image credit: ©alexpunker/123RF.COM

Rumah Minangkabau is synonymous with Negeri Sembilan, Sarawak has Rumah Panjang while traditional Malay houses in Melaka have concrete stairs that are decorated with marble tiles. These are some examples of regionalism in architecture that essentially not only showcase distinctive aesthetics, but also functional features that respond to the local climate, geography and topography. Have we adopted this approach in modern architecture, especially in Malaysia? Alice Sabrina Ismail, Director of Architecture from the Faculty of Built Environment & Surveying, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia joins us in this episode of I Love KL to help break down this concept and reflect on where we are with regard to this.

15-minute cities gained a bit of attention recently among conspiracy theorists that argue that this is another attempt by the powers that be to control people and restrict their movements. But beyond that noise, what is a 15-minute city and is it actually a very practical solution to the kind of problems we have been seeing with our cities and the way they’re designed, especially here in Malaysia? We unpack this concept, its pros and cons, as well as its feasibility with president of Pereka Bandar, Shuhana Shamsuddin.

The recent fire incident at KL’s popular shopping destination, Mid Valley Megamall has got us wondering about the history of the mall and its surrounding areas, before it became what it is now. Our resident heritage conservation expert, Elizabeth Cardosa reminisces about that area prior to the mall’s existence, and charts its growth throughout the years.

This week on I Love KL, we chat with the organiser of Malaysia Diecast Expo 2023, discussing the world of diecast models, local collecting scene, and the upcoming expo happening this weekend. Discover the cultural significance of these miniature marvels, the passion and the artistry behind the local scene, as well as what you can look forward to seeing at the event.

A sad incident in Fabian Fernandez’s life has made him reflect on the importance of chasing your dreams, and after ticking off some items from his bucket list, he finally decided to embark on the most ambitious one yet - circumnavigating around the world - a feat no Malaysian has attempted yet. He joins us on the show to share what it’s like to prepare for this audacious long date with Destiny (his boat) and the actual reason why he really, really wants to do this.

In this episode, we shine our spotlight on KL’s most iconic and recognisable field, Dataran Merdeka. Our resident heritage conservation expert, Elizabeth Cardosa recalls the field’s history, when it was once a vegetable garden, and the journey it went through to become what it is today, and what it stands for, for the people and for Kuala Lumpur.

Kuala Lumpur’s cultural vibrancy has always been around, but it exists within pockets of communities and spaces, rather than permeating throughout the city. Can this be changed to make it more all-encompassing and part of our everyday lives as urban dwellers? Joining us on the show is Joe Sidek, a man of many talents, but more commonly known in his role as the former Festival Director of George Town Festival. We pick his brain to hear his thoughts on KL’s potential as a cultural hub for the country and its many different communities.

In conjunction with International Women’s Day this week, I Love KL looks at gender-sensitive architecture and how our built environment can be designed to be sensitive to women. Where are we with regard to this, and how can our public and private spaces be improved further to be more inclusive? Alice Sabrina Ismail, Director of Architecture from the Faculty of Built Environment & Surveying, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia helps break it all down.

Heritage conservation expert Elizabeth Cardosa responds to the retabling of Budget 2023 and the allocations made for heritage preservation. According to her, while allocations of any nature are always welcomed, we should also monitor how the rollout would be like. She also elaborates on the importance of knowing how to utilise buildings that have been restored.

We continue our adventure in Gombak again, this time around speaking to the founder of Lot 19 Skatepark, Nurfitri Ali Saleh. He’s a skateboarding veteran and coach that’s certified and has ambitious plans to revitalise the extreme sport and subculture to greater heights. We meet him at the indoor skatepark to hear the trajectory of his career in skateboarding, becoming a skateboarding coach, whether the scene is still thriving in this day and age and his plans for the future of Lot 19 Skatepark.

In this episode of I Love KL, we unpack the definition of smart cities and whether we should think of them solely from a more technocentric point of view, or a more all-encompassing perspective that prioritises the welfare of the cities’ residents. Rahmat Bayudi, Vice President of Pereka Bandar helps us get there.

Are you an anime fan who loves collecting anime merchandise and wearing anime shirts? Have you ever scratched your head looking for places to buy them, especially those rare collectibles? Anivintej is here to save the day! They sell anime and Japanese merchandise ranging from shirts, mugs, tapestries, music albums, towels, pillowcases and more! We speak to the owner of Anivitej, Daniel Abdullah to learn more about the business, anime, and Japanese merch collecting scene.