Pamela Tan. Image courtesy of Pamela Tan

Studying architecture is a challenging yet rewarding transdisciplinary nature, according to Malaysian architectural designer Pamela Tan. Through her work, she explores architecture as a celebration of diversity and narrative. After receiving her architectural education from Taylor's University and the University of Greenwich, Tan set out to explore various ways the discipline of architecture can intertwine within other disciplines such as art, philosophy, social science, literature, and poetry. Blending the speculative with ethereality, movement, and patterns, Tan has used her multi-dimensional approach to design in ways that highlight community and alternative perspectives. 

Challenging Malaysia's perspectives on the importance of art, architecture, and design culture, Tan has pursued these interests by merging these fields in order to recreate opportunities for architectural narratives in Southeast Asia. This week Archinect chats with Tan for an in-depth interview discussing influence and mentorship, community building through design, here TEDx Talk on Soil Cities, and reimagining Eden. 

Where did you study architecture?

I have Bachelor of Science in Architecture from Taylor's University and Master of Architecture from the University of Greenwich.

At what point in your life did you decide to pursue architecture?

When I was young, I liked to use structure and form making as an approach and medium for most of my representation related projects. My parents were aware of these little traits and noticed that I was consistent with it. Later on, when I was in secondary school, they advised me to check out the architecture field as a possible college degree to pursue. So I did and went for it.

Will you be pursuing your architecture license?

Not at the moment.

How would you describe your work what you currently do?

I’m an Architectural Designer that explore various fields in art, architecture, and design. My work blurs the boundaries between disciplines that embody narrative and values in all forms. 

My work does not lie in any specific category or discipline. However, it mediates seamlessly between art, design and majorly in the architecture field. I am interested to work in a range of scales, from product design to public installation. I believe in the collaborative nature between these disciplines and that it could contribute to one and another in practices and processes.

Do you normally work on your own or do you collaborate with a team?

I have been working on my own for my past few projects. However, I sense that I may need to form a team if my projects grow bigger.

Do you have a favorite project? Completed or in progress?

I think Eden is my current favorite project because it is my latest form of work that is both realized and spatially immersive. 

What skills did you gain from architecture school, or working in the architecture industry, that have contributed to your success in your current career?

I never knew the transdisciplinary nature of architecture until I pursued my master degree in London. In a sense, they celebrate diversity. I believe diversity is the essence of education. The best part about architecture is that it has the most comprehensive field of knowledge. It engages the public and society and informed by its values, knowledge, and practices. During my two years in the master's program, I was blessed to have tutors that acted more as my mentors and advisors. They believed in my project proposals — ‘Mappa Mundi’ (year 4), and ‘Soil City'(year 5). They have made every effort to provide a broad range of insights and research materials in order to achieve a certain level of in-depth outcome. It was during that period I began to fully understand the many ways of integrating philosophy, social science, literature, poetry, narrative, and art into a project framework. 

The realms of art, architecture and design culture are not very celebrated and embraced here in Malaysia. I think it's because we are still a developing country, therefore, it may take a while for the society to realize the value of it. 

You're originally from Malaysia. Has the country influenced your work?

The realms of art, architecture and design culture are not very celebrated and embraced here in Malaysia. I think it's because we are still a developing country, therefore, it may take a while for the society to realize the value of it. However, the near absence of it has resulted me to have the need to produce my own transdisciplinary work approach. At first, I did it during my spare time just to keep my sanity [in] check while I was working full time in architecture practice. Eventually, I decided to pursue it as a full-time thing. So, I would say the only thing Malaysia has influenced me to do is challenge to work diversely in Art, Architecture, and Design disciplines. 

I think murals play a significant role in a manner that brings art into the public realm and as a catalyst for community. It can establish or strengthen a sense of place and integrate social values enhancement within the neighborhood.

Murals are a very interesting design outlet, you've worked on two now. What's your process when creating these artistic designs? Do you plan on doing more?

I think murals play a significant role in a manner that brings art into the public realm and as a catalyst for community. It can establish or strengthen a sense of place and integrate social values enhancement within the neighborhood. The past two mural projects I did was mainly community driven projects. The process requires the community themselves to be engaged with the change they want to happen within their own neighborhood. I find this exciting and challenging at the same time. The exciting part was getting them involved and participate in the whole paintwork process. The challenge was to execute it and ensure they do it in a proper manner. At the end of the day, the outcome of it was satisfying because in a way their effort was significantly embedded to the mural itself. I would be delighted to do more if the opportunity arises. 

Much of your work is this beautiful blend of architecture and art. What inspired you to create such works like Footprints and Vase?

Footprints was the first project I received in Malaysia after completing my master degree in the UK. It’s an architectural bare-boned sneaker design that was produced in celebration of Air Max Day. Air Max 1 — the first edition of Air Max sneaker series — was inspired by the designer’s visit to the iconic Centre Pompidou building in Paris. Thus, the project aims to produce a medium that expresses the marriage of architecture and sneaker to commemorate Nike's annual ‘Air Max Day'. One of the main reasons why I took up this exciting project was because Air Max 1 and The Centre of Pompidou were both respectively radical in their own period of time and in a way both revolutionary to architecture and sportswear.

Most of my work often has to do with expressing strength, movement, and pattern in the most delicate manner. In this project, I was keen on the idea of architecture and design from bare bones. I started off by exploring and dissecting the axonometric blueprint diagram of an Air Max and then extract the main structural form. The Footprints plan was exploded in 8 layers that interprets 8 different movements. The only fixed element was the sneaker shell lattice structure. In a sense, what holds within was meant to express change and constant movement.

The vase series embodies the same methodology as well. Most ordinary vases were built and designed in a solid or enclosed form. To me, I think the act of revealing the water body and roots of the plants unveils the visible process of the plants. Thus over time, one could observe the growth of roots, change of color in water within.

In 2016, you presented Soil City at TEDx. Can you talk to us about how you came up with this project and what led you to using soil as the main subject.

It was some time around summer before my final term started, I visited this exhibition about archaeology and landscape at New Castle, UK. I can’t recall the exhibition name but [what] I remember is that the exhibition curated the type of soil they extract from the excavation site along with the objects that they have found there. I find the relation of soil and object and the whole act of digging in the process of discovery all together captivating. Eventually, I started to pay closer attention to soil and its substance. I begin to realize that soil is often under looked even though it is one of the most important resources on Earth. Thus, that led me to the idea of exploring soil in various contexts and studies and pursue it as my architecture design thesis for my final year. 

After looking through your projects, elements of arches and skeletal structures seem to be a common theme. They seem to be a very distinct trademark of your design aesthetic. What drew you to this type of structural design?

I think in most of my projects, I prefer expressing forms and elements that reveal what was normally hidden or unnoticed. Sometimes it reveals movement and strength. Other times the linearity and simplicity of a singular line itself enable me to highlight and outline a certain particular pattern or distinct network of the subject and form. Often times the highlighted forms were composed in a lyrical manner, thus my preference of curves and arches. 

Your most recent project Eden has received amazing responses and quite a bit of buzz these past few months. How did this opportunity to create Eden come about? Did the idea automatically come to mind after 163 Retail Park reached out to you or did it slowly develop?

When I was approached to produce an installation that reflects nature, I just knew right then and there that I wanted to design a strange garden of delight. The clients were initially slightly nervous and surprised with my proposal because they were expecting to see some elements of green foliage plants in it. However, after briefing them the meaning and intention of Eden, they felt as excited as I did and so we went full speed ahead with the project.

Lastly, Pamela if you could describe your work and design process in three words what would they be?

Speculative, experimental, narrative.