Page 78 - AEI Insights 2019 - Vol. 5, Issue 1

AEI Insights, Vol 5, Issue 1, 2019

Firstly let us briefly introduce our narrators, both of whom were women. 1. Naziaty, at 53 years
old was suffering from stage 3 to stage 4 Osteoarthritis and traveling with the aid of a manual
wheelchair, and used her circumstances as a participant observer while traveling and visiting
places and also rediscovering her teaching roots at FAUP (Faculdade de Arquitectura da
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Universidade do Porto) School of Architecture at the University of Porto . The one-month
stint provided her a much-needed chance to reflect on her mid-career situation, seven years
before compulsory retirement. As a visiting scholar and researcher, Naziaty shared and learned
from her colleagues at FAUP, as well as from the architecture professionals whom she met.
She is sure that this knowledge and experience has enriched the contents and approaches to her
teaching and advocacy work in disability and accessibility of transportation and heritage
buildings. 2. Pacilia, at 27 years old had never been to Europe before. She previously did her
undergraduate architecture degree at Universiti Malaya and worked for three years after her
graduation. Understandingly, she grabbed the opportunity to do the two year course under
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Milan Polytechnic although based in Mantua , a small town surrounded by three artificial
lakes and rich with Renaissance Architecture, which is the backdrop of her studies, she entered
headlong into an experience that built her character, giving her much needed boost in her
confidence, which she struggled hard to gain within the context of far-off Italy, especially in
small-town Mantua, in contrast to her multi-cultural Malaysian background. Traveling alone
for most of the time, she delved into a world that forced her to engage, adapt and embrace a
foreign society in the heart of old Europe.

An academic’s journey in search of the roots of architecture
Naziaty deliberately chose Porto as the place to re-discover her architectural roots, even though
the new construction activity in the city is not as rapid and fast growing as in Kuala Lumpur
where Naziaty lives and works, Portugal’s favourite architecture school ties imagination,
innovation and identity consistently through the legendary work of Alvaro Siza and Souto de
Moura in this vibrant city. This is clear in the architectural heritage and education of FAUP,
which is definitely not old school but a fervent follower of the modernist tradition undeniably
appreciating the non-digital drawing skills and methodical architecture talents.
st
On the 21 of June 2015 was the day that Naziaty arrived at Porto, where she stayed at an
Airbnb residence and wheeled and walked at times 1.6 miles to and from FAUP. In learning
and teaching architecture history, she had heard of Alvaro Siza, a famous architect from the
modern movement era, but she did not know of his great influence on FAUP and
Porto. Professor Rui Fernandes Póvoas who was in-charge of CEAU (Centro de Estudos de
Arquitectura e Urbanismo) a research centre located at FAUP met Naziaty on the 23rd of June
with Maria, his ever-helpful assistant. Naziaty was given a room at FAUP and was assisted by
several tutors whom she met regarding the design studio content and program of the various
years. Her visit also included a trip to the north of Porto to various heritage sites and meeting
a local authority officer. Naziaty was doing research work on urbanism namely on ‘accessible
transportation’ and ‘accessible heritage’, but life in FAUP amidst the students and tutors and
focusing on ‘architecture education’ was a vital part of her staff mobility program. She
concentrated on doing research using observation techniques and interviews for all the themes
mentioned.

16 Today, Porto is the second largest city in Portugal, and one of the major urban centres in the Iberian
Peninsula. The city’s population (237,591 persons), is much larger than that of Mantua (48,353 persons).
However, Mantua (established in 2000 BC) is historically older than Porto (300 BC). Source: Wikipedia.

17 See 1 above.

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