I Love KL

Sin Sze Si Ya Temple, the oldest Taoist temple in Kuala Lumpur, was established in 1864 by Kapitan Yap Ah Loy. This historic temple honours the deities Sin Sze Ya and Si Sze Ya, who have guided Yap during the civil wars back in the day. In this episode of I Love KL, we delve into the temple's evolution from being a place of worship for the Hakka Chinese community to a vibrant cultural heritage site and tourist attraction today. Tune in as we discuss how the temple remains a symbol of resilience and faith in Malaysia today, in line with Yap Ah Loy’s statement, “Kuala Lumpur will continue to thrive as long as the temple stands”.

Photo Credit: Shutterstock

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Prominent theatre producer and the Chairman of Persatuan Angkatan Seni Lakon Interaksi, Kuala Lumpur dan Selangor (ASLI) Goh You Ping joins us as we delve into the history of modern Chinese theatre in Kuala Lumpur, exploring its evolution from a nearly non-existent scene in the 1990s to the vibrant community it is today. Goh shares his personal journey as one of the few students who dared to pursue theatre during its formative years, recounting the challenges he faced such as juggling a day job in television to support his passion for theatre at night. We discuss the early struggles of the theatre community, from limited venues to the lack of stage equipment, to the current challenges they face in the scene. From passing the baton to the younger generation and the future of performing arts in KL, join us to listen more about Goh You Ping’s inspiring journey.

Pameran Teater Cina will be running from October 10th to November 10th, 2024, at GMBB KL, an exhibition that showcases the history of modern Chinese theatre culture.

Photo Credit: Pingstage on Flickr

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The Urban Redevelopment Act proposed by the Housing and Local Government Ministry (KPKT) aims to inject new life into the city, especially into the areas deemed dilapidated and worn down. While the intention is great on paper, it has received opposition from some quarters, especially among home owners. They’re against the proposal to lower the consent threshold for the redevelopment of old buildings, which is currently set at 100%. Professor Ainul Jaria Maidin joins us to unpack the conversations surrounding this act and its importance and impact to various stakeholders.

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For more than 20 years, local studio Canvas Art has been restoring old photographs through digital techniques - fixing discoloration, damage and even editing people in and out of photos, such as the inclusion of a deceased loved one. Managing Director Faye Lim joins us on I Love KL today, sharing her journey in the field of photo restoration. Focusing on the intersection of art, technology and nostalgia, today’s episode highlights the meticulous process behind restoring images and the impact of artificial intelligence on her craft, as we explore how it affects her practice and the importance of preserving human touch.

Photo credit: Canvas Art Malaysia

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In this episode of I Love KL, we recall the late Loke Yew’s contribution in developing KL, and the legacy that he left behind, including his rubber estate in Wangsa Maju, the Hawthornden Estate. He was buried in this estate, which was then acquired by the Ministry of Defence in the early 80s. The whole area then grew to become what we now know today as Wangsa Maju. Heritage conservation expert Elizabeth Cardosa walks us through the whole story.

Photo Credit: Publisher Zamilyn Sdn Bhd, F.M.S. Survey Department, 1929

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Architects’ role in developing communities cannot be understated, and at Shift 2024, an international conference that gathers architects from around the world, this point will be reemphasised again. This two-day event will gather creative architects from different contexts and perspectives to unpack this year’s theme - Rebuilding Communities - a theme that’s more relevant than ever now, post-pandemic. Veronica Ng, Head of School of Architecture, Building & Design, Faculty of Innovation and Technology at Taylor’s University joins us to share more.

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Kembara Stories and Food Trail returns for the second year, after a successful outing last year. Project coordinators Kevin Bathman, David Tneh, and Swagata Roy, together with Bangladeshi storyteller Nadia join us on I Love KL to share the journey of bringing this walking tour to life, and the importance of sharing the stories of these migrant communities to the larger public. They also speak about the collaboration process with these communities, and the blindspots that we might have missed or overlooked when it comes to interacting with the migrant communities. Oh, there’s also a quick chat on food from these communities and their role in uniting us!

Photo Credit: FMT

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The recent sinkhole incident at Jalan Masjid India has raised concerns about urban safety here in Kuala Lumpur - Dr. Lim Choun Sian, Chief Research officer at UKM joins us to share his insights on the situation, discussing our capital city’s topography along with its susceptibility to sinkholes. From the geological factors such as limestones potentially being the cause, to the complexity of our underground piping system and the preventive measures we can take as citizens to mitigate future risks, today’s episode not only addresses the concern regarding the Jalan Masjid India situation, but also the wider implications of KL’s urban planning and geological safety.

Photo Credit: The Star

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Stadium Merdeka opened its doors to the public again recently, marking the stadium’s next chapter in its life serving the nation. In conjunction with Malaysia’s National Day, I Love KL goes back to the beginning to chart the stadium’s explosive beginning as that iconic location where the country marked and celebrated its independence, as well as the journey it went through afterwards, including hosting a plethora of sporting events, concerts and even grassroots-level activities. Heritage conservation expert Elizabeth Cardosa walks us through these moments, and shares the story of her involvement in the restoration of Stadium Merdeka in the mid 2000s.

Photo credit: BaniHasyim / Shutterstock.com

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Filled with loads of tradition, Petaling Street has been regarded as a heritage site with its historical buildings, traditional trades and rich history. Taking note of the clash of modernisation and inhibitors maintaining their traditional practices, arts-and-culture initiative Project Future Malaysia (PFM) introduced its latest project - “Traditions in Transition”, a book and video series featuring the stories of these traders. Joined by project manager Kevin Bathman, local author Francis Nantha and the producer of its video series Daniel Lim, we’ll be exploring all aspects regarding this project, as it gears up for its launch this weekend.

Photo credit: Unsplash

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The Forest Learning Centre, the latest addition in Perdana Botanical Garden, was set up recently to make learning about our forest more accessible and approachable. They do that by offering guided tours, focusing on our local plants, trees and fruits, as well as exhibitions that are meant to bridge the gap between art and creativity with technical knowledge and jargon. Joining us to talk more about The Forest Learning Centre and what they plan to achieve to make our forest more accessible for all are its curator, Syarifah Nadhirah and its project manager, Ain Umairah.

Photo Credit: The Star

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Human Edition is Shi Han’s attempt at deconstructing people and peeling away that veneer that we sometimes simplistically latch on to when it comes to perceiving others. Human Edition came to be amidst Shi Han’s struggles with her own career and life, and using her own experience as a reference point, she aims to tell the stories of others from a more empathetic point of view. She joins us on the show to share the behind-the-scenes challenges of running Human Edition, her thoughts on the technicalities of storytelling on social media, and her grand plan for Human Edition and her own life moving forward.

Photo Credit: studio hu.ed.

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Popa Nota is David Ho’s attempt at expressing his creativity and love for design in multiple shapes and forms. Combining typography, origami and paper engineering, he produces pop-up art that looks at alphabets and letters from a perspective that’s not only three dimensional, but also very tactile. David joins us on the show to share the story behind Popa Nota, his experience with multidisciplinary design, and the mathematics and intricate artistic processes behind pop-up art, as well as his future plans to spread this form of art to more like-minded individuals.

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Documentary filmmakers UNI Gallery are committed to capturing the stories and people behind Malaysia's traditional trades. Also known as 有你, or "Together With You", the team have created a vast library of documentaries, shining a spotlight on over 150 businesses and traditional practitioners - many of whom are "uncles and aunties" keeping generations-long traditions alive. UNI Gallery producer Daniel Lim shares the editorial and production process behind documenting these untold stories and their quest to uncover the uniqueness of every individual.

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Inspired by the waste found on the beaches of Langkawi, Rebecca Yau, founder of social enterprise Ekha Langkawi wants to make upcycling fun through arts and crafts by turning waste - primarily plastic bags and discarded cotton t-shirts - into sustainable fashion. With the launch of the Ekha Hub in Central Market earlier this year, they're aiming to conduct upcycling workshops, community programmes, and sustainable fashion retail to kickstart the movement towards sustainability. We speak to Rebecca to find out what it takes to turn trash into fashion, empowering communities with craft skills, and how you can do it at home.

Photo Credit: Ekha Langkawi

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We head to Putrajaya and Cyberjaya to reflect on the history, growth and future trajectory of these two places with our resident heritage conservation expert, Elizabeth Cardosa. We start the conversation by reflecting on what Kuala Lumpur was like in the early 90s and the catalyst to move our administrative capital over to Putrajaya, as well as unpack how these two places are designed to project Malaysia’s aspiration.

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Generally, kindergartens are the first few public spaces where children will get to explore the world and mingle with the larger society outside of their families on their own. Therefore it’s extremely crucial for this educational institution to be designed accordingly to facilitate their growth and development properly. In this episode,  we look at the types of kindergartens that are generally available in Malaysia and whether we’re doing enough to create a conducive learning and growing environment for our children.

Photo credit: Kiddy123.com

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Last month, a number of incidents involving trees being uprooted due to bad weather and heavy storms led to various conversations surrounding trees and greeneries and their place in the overall city landscape. There were many suggestions and perspectives on the matter, and in this episode of I Love KL, we’ll be looking at the issue from an urban design perspective, emphasising on the importance of trees in our cities and proper upkeep and maintenance as part of the solution to the problem.

Photo credit: Bernama

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This episode of I Love KL looks at heritage conservation efforts and buildings and wonders whether there are “expiry dates” to them. Is there an end period where heritage buildings would eventually have to be demolished? Likewise, do we stop conserving these buildings once they’re no longer relevant, especially to the younger generations? We explore this with our resident heritage conservation expert, Elizabeth Cardosa.

Photo credit: sconzani.blogspot.com

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How do you turn food waste from one of KL's busiest wet markets into natural dyes for art to tackle the city's perennial food waste issue?

That's what DuniaMotif hopes to answer through its project and exhibition, the Kuala Lumpur Colour District. The exhibition, held earlier this month at the New Chow Kit Market, had visitors experience firsthand the process of collecting food waste from Pasar Raja Bot and repurposing it into materials for art displays by participating artists in an effort to reimagine the waste we create and empower individuals to take action towards building more sustainable communities.

We speak to the team behind the project to dive into the colourful world of transforming waste using traditional methods, the unique possibilities that our food waste and environment can offer, and what it takes to bring together art and advocacy.

Photo credit: Kuala Lumpur Colour District

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KitaBina is a community-powered DIY and woodworking makerspace in KL that wants to furnish individuals with DIY skills by helping them realise their woodworking potential. We speak with KitaBina co-founder Jon to find out more about the space, how they're tackling the prevailing stigmas that DIY skills might still carry, and how they're getting people bitten by the woodcraft bug through Pesta Bina - their woodworking festival that promises to equip you with the basics in just one hour.

Photo credit: KitaBina

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Bike Commute Malaysia (BCMY) is a grassroots NGO made up of architects, commuter cyclists, and urbanists, advocating for safer street design and low carbon mobility across Malaysia. The group aims to make streets more safer and inclusive to serve the needs of diverse mobility modes.

Earlier this year, a pilot project was implemented in SK Danau Kota 2 to make streets around schools safer. The project was carried out by DBKL in collaboration with the Global Designing Cities Initiative & Bike Commute Malaysia as a Local Liaison under the Bloomberg Initiative for Global Road Safety.

BCMY Initiative director Justin Lee shares how the well-received road safety pilot project is making an impact, how they're advocating for Malaysian changemakers and the public to reimagine our streets so they can be friendlier for all, and how creating safer streets starts with design.

Image credit: @bikecommute.my (Instagram)

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In conjunction with the upcoming by-election happening this weekend, I Love KL decides to travel out of Klang Valley slightly, to pay a figurative visit to Kuala Kubu Bharu. We look at the history of the place, what it’s known for now, and whether the negative aspects of development will ever come to this quaint little town.

Photo credit: Selangor.travel

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The Force is strong this month as Star Wars Malaysia Fan Club commemorates Star Wars Day on the 4th of May in the best way possible! It’ll be a month-long celebration full of events organised by the club and many of its associates. Expect screenings of Episode I: The Phantom Menace in conjunction with the film’s 25th anniversary, flea markets, and many more. Lau Chee Kin, the President of Star Wars Malaysia Fan Club, and Sanjiv Indran, its honorary secretary, join us to share the various events that they have in store, as well as geek out over the franchise, the Malaysian Star Wars fandom, and the direction Star Wars is heading under Disney moving forward.

Photo credit: Star Wars Malaysia Fan Club

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Over the past four years, the Borneo Laboratory has woven together artists of diverse backgrounds and practices through their art. Aiming to bridge divisions and rekindle our shared roots through the ancestral wisdom drawn from Borneo's craft practices, Malayan communities, and global communities, the Lain Lain Project unveils these narratives through an evocative, thought-provoking exhibition, The Lain Lain Project. This trilogical exhibition features "Serumpun", which explores the endeavours of 12 Bornean-based craft communities and their commitment to preserving ancestral wisdom in the face of eroding traditions due to extraction economies, "Big Trip", which looks at how ancestral wisdom and rooted practices cultivate broader global connections, and "Lain-lain in Kuala Lumpur" that initiates an ongoing dialogue to unravel the intricacies of lain-lain within the Malayan landscape.

On the show to tell us about the stories and experiences from which the exhibition grew, contextualising the Lain-lain narrative for a KL audience, and what we can expect at the exhibition is curator Wendy Teo, Director of the Borneo Laboratory.

The Lain Lain Exhibition is open to the public now until 20th October 2024 at GMBB. 

Image credit: Borneo Laboratory | Facebook

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We might be tempted to believe that to set off some of the city's best pyrotechnic nighttime spectaculars, you just gotta ignite the light and let it shine.

But what happens before the fuses are lit?

This week on I Love KL, we're joined by fireworks programmer Jeffry Bahary, the man behind the 2017 SEA Games fireworks and countless more firework spectacles around the world. From inspiration to ignition, Jeffry enlightens us on what it takes to put together a firework show, getting into the industry, the not-too-worrying growing popularity of drone shows filling our night skies of late, and some tricks of the trade.

Photo credit: khairi ahmad / Shutterstock.com

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Part of the tradition of commemorating Hari Raya Aidilfitri is to get fresh attire in the form of Baju Raya. Traditionally, Baju Melayu is the go-to outfit for men, but these days, people look for other options too as alternatives. Then, there are also those that modernise the Baju Melayu in various different ways. Sometimes, to mass approval, and other times, to deafening criticism. In this episode of I Love KL, we go back to basics and break down the traditional Baju Melayu attire, from top to toe, as well as explore the evolution of this long-worn attire and ponder whether it’s always necessary to modernise them?

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Our conversations on heritage buildings have always had a mix of everything and is pretty even in its distribution, but for some people out there, their notion of heritage might tend to skew towards focusing on British colonial buildings, rather than vernacular or rural architecture. So, in this episode, to play a bit of a devil’s advocate, we decided to explore that question - do we focus too much on British colonial architecture?

Photo credit: gumbao / Shutterstock.com

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Somewhere In The Kuala is an illustrated children's book that follows two kids, Han and Mina, on their whimsical, curious, sometimes even treacherous, adventure as they run around KL. The book, written and illustrated by Lisa Goh and William Chew, features no words or dialogue, but paints a wondrous picture of our city, its iconic buildings and areas, and the people that make up the city's unique vibrancy - all seen through the eyes of kids.

Lisa and William join us in the studio to talk about how exploring cities themselves inspired the book, why they chose not to shy away from portraying the harsher realities of the city, their hopes for the book to advocate for a KL that is better connected and easier to navigate, and the endless eye-opening interpretations the book can inspire across ages and language barriers.

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Pertubuhan Cahaya Hawwa, or Percaya, is an NGO dedicated to uplifting and empowering women in need. Despite still being in its infancy, the three women behind the organisation are no strangers to community work, having organised the Sebalang Kasih initiative annually since 2016, which aims to ensure the poor and the less fortunate have kuih raya during the festive Raya period.

As we look to "Invest in Women, Accelerate Progress" this International Women's Day, we listen to the stories of Percaya's co-founders on their mission to make a difference. We explore the importance of helping communities in need, no matter how small, working with and supporting single mothers in KL, and their upcoming Cherita Kasih Kita fundraising event that will look to purchase 1000 balang of kuih raya from single mothers to distribute to underprivileged kids around Klang Valley.

Photo credit: Jed RT / Shutterstock.com

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If you’re looking to learn more about the many architectural gems in KL, consider dropping by Singgah KL 2024! This third edition of guided tours organised by Pertubuhan Akitek Malaysia (PAM) will explore 20 built environments in Kuala Lumpur, from high rise condominiums to contemporary office buildings, event spaces and even a mall! We speak to its convener, Almaz Rahim, to learn more about the curation process, as well as why it’s important to connect architects to the public, in order to make architecture more accessible and engaging for all.

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The recently completed Merdeka 118 and The Exchange 106 continue Kuala Lumpur’s trend of developing buildings that are meant to be the tallest in the country, region and the world. It’s interesting to note that once upon a time, Bangunan Sultan Abdul Samad was the tallest building in KL. It’s inevitable that progress and development have to happen a certain way, but that does not stop us from reflecting on the scale of iconic and monumental buildings, then and now. Tune in to hear more.

Photo credit: Mila Larson / Shutterstock.com

Photo credit: Jasni / Shutterstock.com

Photo credit: Donald Yip / Shutterstock.com

Photo credit: muhamad mizan bin ngateni / Shutterstock.com

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This week on I Love KL, we immerse ourselves in the fantastical world of "Piying Dream", a brand-new immersive art exhibition at REXPERIENCE KL. The immersive exhibition, created by China-based immersive digital art exhibitor Temple of Light, is a digitally animated showcase of Chinese shadow puppetry that weaves together over 3,000 shadow puppet artefacts to create an audio-visual experience audiences can interact with and fully immerse themselves in.

We speak to Jean Borie de Varine, co-founder of Temple of Light, to find out what it takes to create immersive art experiences around the world, translating the traditional Chinese shadow puppet art form into a 4D 360-degree experience together with traditional folk art practitioners and artists from around the world, and what audiences can expect at the exhibition.

Piying Dream is open now till 6th September 2024 at REXPERIENCE KL.

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From the outside, the world of bodybuilding might look very masculine, intimidating and vain, focusing on only aesthetics. But the truth is far from that as it’s a world filled with determined individuals that are very consistent, disciplined and meticulous in their routine. Joining us in this episode to dispel myths and misconceptions about bodybuilding and strength training is Kumareswarren Ramasamy, bodybuilder and winner of Mr. Malaysia 2023. He reveals what it’s like to be a bodybuilder, looking at it from the perspective of nutrition, training, lifestyle and many more.

Photo credit: Citizens Journal

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In a move that’s considered pretty regressive, the Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur Land Executive Committee is planning to degazette the land around Sungai Bunus flood retention pond, less than 4 years after gazetting it as an impounding reservoir. Despite claiming that the degazettement will be done purely to amend the land status to “Flood Retention Pond and Open Area” from solely “Flood Retention Pond”, the revision might open up the risk of potential development taking place around the area in the future. President of Pereka Bandar, Shuhana Shamsuddin joins us to highlight the importance of flood retention ponds, and why they must be protected, alongside taking other measures to ensure that the city is able to cope and mitigate flash floods.

image credit: Auniuzair / Shutterstock.com

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Explore the fascinating history and complex narratives of Malaysia's new villages on this week's episode of "I Love KL." Join us as we ponder and navigate their origins, evolution, complexities and larger relationships with our society, then and now.

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Five-foot ways, known as 'kaki-lima', refer to five-foot-wide covered walkways extending along the fronts of shop houses or buildings. They serve as pathways for pedestrians and spaces for various transit activities. This week on I Love KL, we engage in a discussion with Camelia Kusumo and Lee Sze-ee, the authors of 'Kaki Lima Stories - Life In The Five Foot Ways of Downtown Kuala Lumpur', exploring the uniqueness of these walkways, their role in fostering 'sticky' businesses, and the ongoing debate regarding whether this area should be private or public.

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When our Tugu Negara was bombed by the Communist in 1975, the government enlisted the help of an Australian sculptor, Christopher Carney to help restore it back to its original state. Christopher was a lecturer at UiTM then, and he decided to get three of his students - Abdul Mansoor Ibrahim, Abdul Mufti Jantan and Zolkeply Maulana - to help him out. They worked on the project for a year and managed to restore the monument successfully. Soon after that, they parted ways. 46 years later, they decided to finally reunite to reflect on the scale of their achievements, as well as reminisce about their contributions to Malaysia’s iconic monument. They dropped by our studio to share their stories, as well as their role in preserving a treasured national symbol.

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To some, twirling pens comes subconsciously and more of a way to kill time or to just fool around. For Marcus Ling, it became more than that, as his competitive edge of wanting to be better than his friend led him down the path of becoming very skillful at it. Joining us in his capacity as a moderator of Malaysia Pen Spinning Community (MYPSC), he shares the journey of getting into the hobby, what the community is like and what it takes to be good at it.

Image credit: YouTube @WorldXM

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Rumah Tangsi, nestled at Lot 10 on Jalan Tangsi in Kuala Lumpur, stands as a heritage building steeped in history. Once the residence of Loke Chow Kit, a prominent entrepreneurial figure in early 20th-century Kuala Lumpur, this mansion boasts a bright yellow exterior and embodies European architectural styles. Its name, "Rumah Tangsi," reflects its location on Jalan Tangsi, previously known as Barrack Road, hinting at its past connection to police barracks. Over time, it underwent various transformations, serving as a pioneering modern hotel and later becoming the esteemed PAM Centre. Today, under DBKL's ownership, Rumah Tangsi stands as a thriving community hub and heritage event space, ideal for hosting a diverse range of events. We spoke with the director of Rumah Tangsi, Ar Ridha Razak, and senior architect of DBKL, Ar Noor Fazlina Rosley, about its history, restoration and conservation efforts, as well as its current use as one of KL's premier event spaces.

Image: Rumah Tangsi's Instagram

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In this episode of I Love KL, we ruminate about Bukit Jalil and its status as KL’s sporting hub and whether they’re able to outgrow that identity moving forward. According to Elizabeth, it might be difficult as a lot of us vividly remember the Commonwealth Games back in 1998 and its close association with the National Stadium Bukit Jalil and the area. Tune in to hear more of our thoughts!

image credit: Bartosz Sakwerda @ Wikipedia

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Step into the whimsical realm of tufting as we sit down with the founder of Toui Studio, Jenna Loo Xin Xuan in this week's episode of I Love KL. Join us as we delve into the intricacies of this mesmerising textile art form, exploring the local tufting scene and inspiration behind Jenna's studio.

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In this episode of I Love KL, we check out Urban Museum (or Ur-Mu), Bukit Bintang’s hidden museum that’s contemporary, eclectic and thought-provoking. Join us as its manager, Munira Huda leads us through the museum's history, its captivating collections, and its vision, offering a deeper insight into the cultural significance of this unique museum in the heart of Kuala Lumpur.

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Hazazi Hamzah, one third of E9A Architecture, which I Love KL has featured before, joins us for an introspective look at the local architecture scene and the conversations that are happening (or not) over here. How do architects here look at design, and are we collectively doing a good job in conveying its supposed meaning to the public? We explore these themes and more in this episode.

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Sometimes, in trying to aspire for a unifying narrative, we might forget to pay close attention to the smaller narratives from the less mainstream communities. Which is why maybe it’s a good time for us to consider including these narratives, via a more granular approach of cultural mapping? That’s what heritage conservation expert, Elizabeth Cardosa is proposing, inspired by what the Philippines has recently done. Tune in to hear her thoughts on it.

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Kuala Lumpur Design Festival returns for its second year, with the intention of making design at the forefront of everyone’s thoughts. Co-founders of the festival, Razif Nasruddin and Shafique Badril join us on the show to walk us through the philosophy behind the festival, why we should prioritise design and the potential that it has in contributing to the nation’s growth, as well as why design, creative and functional, should be celebrated. Kuala Lumpur Design Festival 2023 is happening on the 6th to the 15th of October 2023.

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Recently, the government announced their intention to table an urban renewal act by next year, to make sure that future urban renewal efforts can be done in a more systematic and efficient way. Currently, the country does not have a specific act in place, and any redevelopment attempts fall under nine different laws and legislations. Is this a step in the right direction for our city and Kuala Lumpur, specifically? President of Pereka Bandar, Shuhana Shamsuddin shares her thoughts and potential concerns.

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In the present time, buildings such as Sultan Abdul Samad, Carcosa Seri Negara and Central Market are considered heritage buildings and have been gazetted as such. But if we were to look into the future, 100 years from now, what other contemporary buildings, monuments and landmarks will be part of that elite group? Will the buildings we know and love now, like the KLCC Twin Towers and the upcoming Merdeka 118 be considered as heritage buildings in the next 100 years? Heritage conservation expert, Elizabeth Cardosa chimes in with her own speculation.

image credit: 123.rf

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Immerse yourself in the captivating world of anime, comics, and gaming as we explore the vibrant tapestry of Animangaki 2023. Join us for an engaging conversation with Yvonne Sing, the founder and director, along with Jo Lynn Lim, the co-director of Animangaki. Together, we'll uncover the true essence of ACG culture and its significance, especially now that these conventions happen more frequently across the Klang Valley. How do they keep things fresh, and make sure that Animangaki is still relevant among fans? Tune in to hear their thoughts, perspectives and reflections on the ACG scene.

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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

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Pertubuhan Akitek 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.

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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

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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When the authorities decided to move Selangor’s administration away from Kuala Lumpur, they picked Shah Alam. The city was then developed to be the state’s capital. Our resident heritage conservation expert Elizabeth Cardosa joins us on the show to trace back the city’s history, growth and appeal.

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In this episode of I Love KL, we hone in on architecture and how it’s taught here in universities. What are the areas of focus and how does local context and culture influence the teaching and learning of architecture for students? We delve deeper to get a contextual overview of a field that’s important in shaping our built environment.

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Our resident heritage conservation expert Elizabeth Cardosa returns for our first monthly episode of the year to walk us through her work and how they assess how heritage buildings should be managed. Should they be renovated to accommodate contemporary use? How should they be dealt with if they’re planning to repurpose these buildings? And what if these buildings need to be demolished? She elaborates on the considerations that needed to be taken, and more, on this episode.

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In this first episode of I Love KL for the year 2023, we speak to Pereka Bandar to find out more about townscapes. The president of Pereka Bandar, Shuhana Shamsuddin breaks down what it means and why it’s important to create cities with character, and not fall into the trap of making our cities too utilitarian for its people.

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We speak to a regular guest of the show, Alice Sabrina Ismail for the final time this year to get her thoughts and reflections on the conversations that we’ve had this year on urban design and architecture and how these chats can be made more accessible for the larger public.

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Street names play a huge role in creating a sense of identity and attachment to places, but we may not reflect or think about them enough. In this episode, we look at how streets in KL get their names, how these names then evolved, and what we can do to make sure we stay connected to the identity of these streets and areas, despite the constant changes.

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Parks are generally seen as public spaces for people to use for recreational and social purposes. But despite that general perception, parks too can be susceptible to accidental segmentation that somehow make them inclusive to some, but not inclusive to others. We explore that in this episode with Lim Sheau Yun, who wrote an article dissecting this issue and her observation of it.

The article can be read here.

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Politics can be pretty exciting for those who love it, but intimidating and confusing for those who are not as invested in them. Therefore, it’s crucial to find a more unique way to make it more accessible. This is what the Center to Combat Corruption and Cronyism or C4 is doing ahead of the upcoming GE15 with Build My-Town, a new card game that teaches players about the role of MPs, and the importance of reforms. We talk to them to learn more about how the game is played and why it’s important to find creative ways to engage with the public when it comes to politics.

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Murals are pretty prevalent in our surroundings and have become more common these days, in the form of graffitis. But historically, they have also appeared on a lot of formal institutions as well, albeit in slightly different forms. In this episode, we look at the close relationship that our buildings have with murals, and how they’ve evolved. Our resident heritage conservation expert, Elizabeth Cardosa joins us to reflect on the topic.

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The conversation surrounding the development of smart cities may not be as prominent these days, but it has always been there or thereabouts in our collective consciousness. Should we strive to develop a smart city, especially in an age where technological advancements are more prevalent in our lives? Or are there other things that we should prioritise first, while being wary of the potential pitfalls that are there when it comes to creating smart cities? Joining us to unpack this is Ong Kar Jin, Chief Strategy Officer at Nought Labs.

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Have you ever felt frustrated choosing a perfume that does not have the exact scent you’re looking for? Have you ever thought about making your own perfume that has all your favourite ingredients? Ark Workshop & Lifestyle might be able to help you achieve that dream, as they provide workshops specifically on that very tricky but satisfying craft. Co-founders Shawn Wong and Mandy Onn share their knowledge on perfumes and scented candles and how empowering it can be for you to make your own custom fragrances and candles.

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We’ve spoken about the importance of preserving heritage buildings many times on the show, but how do people actually go about doing it? Our resident heritage conservation expert, Elizabeth Cardosa joins us on the show for a candid conversation on her experience working in her field and convincing building owners and authorities on the importance of preserving heritage.

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Kedai KL, an artisanal marketplace, is the latest hip spot in town that champions local entrepreneurs and artisans by providing them with spaces to showcase their products and services. We speak to the co-founders, Dato’ Sharon Haniffa and Datin Christine Bong to find out the thought process that goes into curating the marketplace, as well as what they plan to achieve with Kedai KL moving forward.

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According to the World Bank, Malaysia can now be considered an ageing nation, with more than 7 percent of our population belonging in the age group of 65 years old and above. This number is expected to double by 2044, making our society an “aged society” by then. How can we accommodate this segment of the population in the design of our cities? Alice Sabrina Ismail, Director of Architecture at the Faculty of Built Environment & Surveying, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia joins us on the show to discuss the topic.

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We catch up with Kenneth Ch’ng, founder of Malaysia Origami Association to find out how the origami enthusiasts and his association and academy coped with the pandemic and continued their passion for folding papers during those trying times, and what the scene will be like moving forward. We also ask Kenneth about some of the new trends that he observed in the origami world.

Image Source: Kenneth Ch’ng, Malaysia Origami Association

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In this episode, we look at Chin Woo Stadium, located on Petaling Hill and accompanied by other iconic sporting monuments around the vicinity. While it may not be as well-known as Stadium Merdeka and Stadium Nasional, Chin Woo Stadium continues to serve the community for sporting and cultural events and is very much still relevant, despite its old age. We unpack the story behind the stadium.

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Last week, the Ministry of Housing and Local Government launched Indeks Daya Huni Malaysia or Malaysia’s Liveability Index. What makes a city or a place liveable and how does good urban design lay a solid foundation for places to be considered liveable? We speak to Shuhana Shamsuddin, President of Pereka Bandar, who attended the launch of the index, to find out more.

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The recent plan by DBKL to encourage the culture of walking by closing Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman every Sunday has got us wondering about whether our cities are designed to be walkable. The walkability of a city goes beyond just having pedestrian pavements, and involves a lot more other factors. Shuhana Shamsuddin from Pereka Bandar joins us on the show to explain how good urban design is crucial in ensuring walkability for the people living in the city.

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Tokosue, an indie bookstore, started its life during the pandemic, as a way for its owner, Sue Ahmad to sell her self-published book. It soon grew into a reliable sanctuary for indie book lovers out there to get their books. Not satisfied with that, and feeling the need to fulfil her lifelong dream of owning a real bookstore, its owner, Sue Ahmad opened the brick-and-mortar version of the bookstore in Wisma Central earlier this year. She joins us on the show to share her journey, from self-publishing DIY zines to opening Tokosue for the community.

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After years serving its neighbourhood, the work to demolish Plaza OUG has finally started to make way for a new development. As people reminisce about the time they spent there and the memories that they have of the place, we look at how malls, especially neighbourhood malls, serve a bigger function to our lives than just for their intended purpose.

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Have you ever wondered how our residential and housing areas in the city and in the country were conceptualised and designed? How did we arrive at the kind of houses that most of us live in today? From terrace houses to bungalows and low cost apartments to high end condominiums? We unpack all these questions and how our housing developments affect our relationship with each other in this episode of I Love KL.

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Society's thirst for a more sustainable way of living has contributed to the popularity of veganism, but what about other more niche diets and lifestyles, such as raw food diets? We caught up with a proponent of raw food lifestyle, Raw Chef Yin after her last appearance on the show in 2016 to see whether raw food diets have received the same exposure and take up rate as veganism, as well as the new things that she has learned from fellow chefs and practitioners of raw food diet.

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Our resident heritage conservation expert, Elizabeth Cardosa joins us in this monthly special to talk about Malaysia’s iconic and regal museum, Muzium Negara. But before that, she also shed some light on the old Selangor Museum, built on the spot where Muzium Negara is currently located, and whether the development surrounding Muzium Negara affected the museum's accessibility and visibility.

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As a veteran cartoonist, Ahmad Hilmy Abdullah or Mie took the opportunity to fill the free time he had during the pandemic by documenting how it all went down. The result is a collection of humorous sketches compiled in a book called Pandemie. Mie joins us on the show to share what it was like to sketch and observe society from the comfort of his own home.

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We look back at some of the conversations that we had on the show in the first half of the year. This episode includes snippets from our chat with the representative from Kwai Chai Hong to hear how they’ve coped with the pandemic, founder of MinNature Malaysia, a museum that showcases Malaysia in tiny sizes, a photographer who converted an ambulance to be his mobile darkroom, and a collective that archives Wawasan 2020 materials and analyses them.

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In this episode of I Love KL, we explore the theoretical concepts of semiotics and structuralism in architectural design. How important are these concepts for architects and designers when it comes to designing buildings and spaces? How will this help them convey certain messages or ideas to the end users? We explore.

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Independent urban mobility researcher, Aziff Azuddin had a chance to check out the new MRT Putrajaya line before it was officially launched, and we spoke to him to hear his thoughts on this new line and some of the things that he observed at the stations.

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KL Sketch Nation is a collective that promotes urban sketching as an accessible entry point to the art scene. We speak to its founder, Ahmad Hakym Ahmad Helmy about how he juggles between his love for urban sketching and his academic ambition, his plans to continue promoting the activity to more urbanites during this endemic phase, as well as his personal thoughts on the city and why he was so inspired by it.

Image Source: Ahmad Hakym Ahmad Hilmy

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Is Kuala Lumpur a city that’s well known for its creative spaces? Elizabeth Cardosa joins us on the show to look at the creative offerings that we have and our relationship with these spaces, and whether we can engage with them more often.

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In this episode, we look at placemaking, a concept that’s gaining more popularity in urban design. Placemaking prioritises input from all stakeholders, especially occupants and daily end users, to make spaces more liveable in a sustainable and more wholesome way. President of Pereka Bandar, Shuhana Shamsuddin joins us on the show to elaborate more.

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