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Archasia heralds a new era in the history of ARCASIA. After 16 years ARCASIA Council at its annual meeting in Beijing 1991, concurred that an Architectural magazine transcending national boundaries to bind the works and views of Asian architects under the banner of ARCASIA be produced. The Malaysian Institute of Architects (P.A.M.) was entrusted with the task. It was to be self-financing with no funding from ARCASIA. Malaysia’s head of delegation, the President of the Institute was appointed the Editor in Chief and Coordinator of Archasia.
Archasia will be published on a quarterly basis and out of Pam Secretariat in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The Editorial Board regrets that this 1st inaugural issue is late in coming out, due to delay in securing the KDN number (Kementerian Dalam Negeri Malaysia) from the Ministry of Home Affairs. This problem was solved last week and it is “all systems go”.
For Archasia to be successful, support from member nations is essential. Without which all is in vain. For architecture to continue maintain its position of relevancy, meaningfulness and necessity to our respective societies, constant, regular and sustained effort at reminding the general public and our government about it, is essential. This can only be done through promoting architectural, competence and excellence. Archasia provides the vehicle for this media exposure and promotion.
Continued support from member-nations must be in the form of projects submitted for publication. Sustainable support from subscribing members becomes a necessity to provide financial assistance for the publication to survive. Member-nations are to urge their members to subscribe to Archasia.
Every issue will attempt to feature works from every country. Shortfall in materials provided will be substituted by other projects on the discretion of the
Editorial Board.
Architectural co-operation covering such diversity in culture, tradition, religion, political and social values had no previous precedents. A diversity of such magnitude and background provides the challenge and excitement for architects to response. The exchange of ideas, experiences, technology, etc; strengthen each and every one of the 15 member nations to tackle problems peculiar to their nation. Collectively ARCASIA members have the task and responsibility of serving 41% of the World’s population. Of this 91% is within the classification of under-developed country status.
Within the context of ARCASIA, almost all the countries were sometime or other, under some Colonial dominance – Colonial dominance came about only after the Industrial Revolution of 1850. Most Asian architects were trained, bred and fed European architectural concepts and philosophies originated from the teachings of great European teachers from the 1920’s. Art values appreciation and perception was guided from the west. It is to the Asian’s credit and good-fortune to have such models for study purpose. The shift of economic dominance and importance is towards the growth area of the Asia/Pacific basin. With this shift there would be more resources to be injected into art and architecture. There ought to be a “new crop” of connoisseur and patrons from whom the architects could source important commissions and together forge for a new art and architectural value, sprouted from the roots and tradition of the Asian context. This task is easier said than done. Asian architects must emulate European values and ethics, without losing the Asian-ness of their architecture in order to overtake and replace traditionally accepted western standards. It will not be an easy task. Once achieved, will establish a new order of architectural appreciation never seen before in the history of the world. Everything mover in a cycle. Asian traditional history and development were established thousands of years ago, due to decadence and misrule, fell into decline and were very often subjugated by Colonial powers. For more than two hundred years the Colonial powers had held Asian by the tail.
ARCASIA looks forward to a shift in the globe time clock to the next notch, where hopefully the realization of a new art architectural value based on the cultural and traditional roots of Asia may sprout forth.