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 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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 nec...
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. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy informati...
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 ...
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. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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 Arch...
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 Band...
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. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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. Image credit: 123rf.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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. See omnystudio.com/listener fo...
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.Image credit: 123rf.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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 coun...
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. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy informa...
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. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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. See omnystudio.com/liste...
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. Photo credit: Mozakim @ 123rf See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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.Photo Credit: richie070...
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. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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 ...
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. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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...
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 cu...
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. Image Source: Goodolga, 123rf.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
