Experiencing – Yann Herng Yeow & Phuah

When talking about architecture, conversations often begin with buildings and design. Yet, other things also shape architectural practice, the environment, ways of learning, and relationships among the people involved.

Yann Herng Yeow @yeowyh and Phuah @pan0ing, a Malaysian architect couple currently working in Singapore, visited Guha during their holiday in Indonesia. After their visit, they planned to continue exploring bookstores across Jakarta.

Throughout the Experiencing, our conversations explored the architectural ecosystems of Malaysia, Singapore, and Indonesia. They shared their thoughts on the architectural profession in Malaysia and their experiences working at a Singaporean firm. At Guha, they were drawn to the smaller studio practice and its unconventional use of materials. They also noticed the designers’ daily routines, working, sharing meals, and spending time together. For them, this offered a glimpse of a studio culture distinct from corporate environments, where professional and social boundaries tend to be more clearly maintained.

Through their concept of “Communities of Practice,” Jean Lave and Etienne Wenger explain how learning also takes place through shared practices and interactions with others. Our conversation with Yann and Phuah reminded us that studio life is shaped not only by work, but also by the everyday lives of those within it. Sharing knowledge and working together are integral to the learning process.

The conversation then continued with one of the interns at our studio, who shared how their architectural education had prepared them for professional practice. They also reflected on aspects of the profession that only become clearer through direct experience.

Thank you, Yann and Phuah, for the conversations and exchange of experiences that afternoon. May there always be something new to discover, among buildings and between the pages of books.

#ExperiencingGuha #OMAHLibrary #LearningThroughSpace #GuhaTheGuild

(ty, fm)