Local talent is being harnessed…

Local talent is being harnessed by the developed nations as multi-specialised professionals seek overseas employment. What is there to compensate for the loss of local talent?

The following interview concentrates on two Sri Lankan architects practicing overseas, their exposure, achievements and lessons learned whilst taking on the international arena.

By Chiranji Abeywickrema

Archt Athula Amarasekera (AA) is a Director of ‘Architects Team 3’, Singapore, also operating in Chennai, Bangalore, Bahrain and Melbourne.

He is an Associate Member Sri Lanka Institute of Architects, Singapore Institute of Architects, a member of the Royal Institute of British Architects, and Singapore Institute of Planners. He studied architecture in the University of Moratuwa and further pursued Urban Design obtaining M. Urban Design (Hong Kong). Archt Amarasekera is the Honourary Treasurer, Singapore Institute of Planners and a Council Member for the past 6 years. Architects Team 3 Singapore has won many awards which include over two dozen competition winning designs, BCA -Singapore Construction Excellence Awards, 4 Green Mark Certified Buildings and 3 Cityscape Awards.

Archt Athula Ranasinghe (AR) is Architectural Director, Chief Design Architect for Larsen, A&CE, COWI-Larsen Joint Venture, Sultanate of Oman. He is also Principal Architect for Cynthia & Athula Ranasinghe Chartered Architects, Sri Lanka and Chairman/CEO, ATR Holdings Pvt. Ltd., Sri Lanka. He is a Fellow Member of Sri Lanka Institute of Architects and a member of Royal Institute of British Architects.

He is a graduate of the University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka.

They’ve made it to the top, carefully analysing how best the expectations of the employing nation should be met. The discussions explain their approach to the profession of architecture, their confidence in handling specialised tasks, management aspects of projects and their work experience in multi-national environments. Rewards are many so are the challenges and draw backs in cross-cultural collaborations.

‘The purpose of architecture is to create diverse, innovative and exciting environment for human beings’ says Archt Amarasekera ‘Architecture is a multi-disciplinary investigation of emerging forms in the context of ecology, social, physical infrastructures and electronic technologies’. The architect therefore should be well geared with a sufficient knowledge base and training to maintain his role as the leader of the project team, whilst overcoming any lack of specific country experience by cultivating multi-specialisation skills.

Archt Ranasinghe explores the idea of ‘behaving’ within a specific locality; it’s culture and climate, use of appropriate material and technology, whilst expressing his concern in repaying his motherland for the free education obtained. ‘I assume that I have contributed a lot to the Sri Lankan architectural community by exposing young and experienced talent alike to the world and I am fortunate to fund several development projects in rural Sri Lanka where I can share my knowledge and experience of practicing abroad as an architect.’

What is your approach to architecture?

AA: We take each project as a challenge and try to find unique design solutions that are appropriate. In our approach, we seek to create environments that bring in at least one breakthrough idea to each project.

We base our projects on the philosophy that the spaces we create are for ever evolving knowledge based society and try to utilise every nook and corner effectively. We tend to provide more terraces, more open spaces, more roof gardens as increasingly knowledge based societies become complex and need breakout spaces for creation of ideas and rejuvenation.

AR: In most of the projects which I have been involved in otside the island, the reflection of a strong reaction to social, cultural and environmental constraints have been the visible and key generator of architecture. The conscious reaction to these key constrains have become my approach.

In a competitive overseas environment what were the challenges in establishing yourself as a practicing architect? Can you describe the opportunities and constraints experienced as an architect seeking employment overseas?

AA: Whilst countries will offer employment, few countries open the door for “registration for foreigners”; countries like Australia, UK, Middle East etc,. To overcome lack of local exposure, it is always good to project yourself as a multi talented and multi tasked professional, preferably with a second specialisation such as Conservation, Urban Design or even specific rendering skills. One must not forget that the employer has a responsibility to his client to deliver a good design on time, whilst also having a social responsibility to upgrade the profession through patient coaching of staff.

AR: In most of the countries in the Middle East, expatriates play a major role in shaping up the economies as well as in overall management of many affairs. In fact, most of the Architectural Consultancies are international practices. Our approach simply was to behave properly within the architectural limits which are socially, culturally and environmentally sustainable to this part of the world and to create an identity within the architectural tradition. We have invested on research during the past 20 years to educate the clients while continuing our architectural practice here. This has created a niche for us in the industry and today we have more than 80% of the market share in Architectural Consultancy.

What are the highlights in your career?

AA: We have won many awards, but nothing is more satisfying than a repeat client telling you “ what we did together in my city 4 years ago is still the best in the city and lets better ourselves with a new landmark”. On a similar personal note, when I took my then 2 year and 8 year children, a year ago, to one of our public buildings where they flew kites on the roof and said “this is wonderful…. and Daddy this is your building”. We then know we have created spaces that people enjoy and that makes your efforts worthwhile.

AR: As a young architect I had the chance to work on the Ragama Teaching Hospital as an assistant to the principal Architect. That was my very first project involvement and now I am responsible for two international airports as the Chief Design Architect and the Architectural Director.

Being a director of a multi national company, catering to a vast clientele is undoubtedly a demanding task. What is your role in office management and project management aspects of the organisation to improve the quality of architecture?

AA: As someone once said “in God we trust.. in human we check..” Thus being an architect internationally is an extremely demanding, 24/7 job, where the phone rings at odd hours to suit the time zone of the local client. We employ techniques like bi-weekly review of team assignments, target dates and schedules, whilst design review and briefings are an on-going process. Delegation is important so that your team members grow in capability and gain confidence. As the principle you need to set the design philosophy and direction and constantly review progress to be of a high standard. One need to be hands on in every aspect, as normally it is you who end up presenting the design and always you are liable contractually and legally at the end of construction. In other words, ‘the buck stops at you’ and a hands-on approach is essential.

In most of the countries in the Middle East, expatriates play a major role in shaping up the economies as well as in overall management of many affairs. In fact, most of the Architectural Consultancies are International practices.

AR: I always consider myself as a strategist and I have a very clear vision of what we want to achieve as an architectural practice. I learnt how to delegate my responsibilities and to make sure the team achieves the goals that are set for them. One of the reasons for our success is the ability to grasp the inbuilt talent of the recruits and burden them with responsibilities to harness that talent which helps the individual and the organisation a lot.

Do you think that the architects should be involved at the policy making level for effective development of the country? Have you held any responsible positions in the development sector?

AA: The development process is a multi-disciplinary task of infrastructure, town planning and architecture. Singapore is a good example, where most projects are carried out only after adequate reviews and inputs of all concerned.

I still cherish the times, I spent as the consultant’s representative in the Cultural Triangle of Sri Lanka from 1990-1995 where the architectural community participated as functional directors and steered national projects at 1/3 the regular fee. We need to see such concepts revived and also see more private sector architects holding advisory roles in UDA, tourism, wildlife, irrigation, BOI and other agencies dealing with the built environment.

As a Council Member of the Singapore Institute of Town Planners, I have seen the profession’s intervention where administrators and planners in government practice have modified their approach to the better of the built environment.

In most of the countries in the Middle East, expatriates play a major role in shaping up the economies as well as in overall management of many affairs. In fact, most of the Architectural

Would you say that the architectural education in Sri Lanka is geared to produce competent new generations of architects who are able to meet international practice standards? How would cross cultural exposure help the development of the profession in Sri Lanka?

AA: I believe that we rank well amongst best in South East Asia. The difference is in the exposure of the student. This can be bridged by local new generation architects working with well known foreign architects for concept development and retaining the foreign architect for Peer Review thereafter.

As the saying goes “doctors bury their mistakes” but we architects have to live with ours. Our firm brings to the team a system flow designer or a concept architect from USA, Japan or Australia as appropriate where complex projects are prevalent. This approach of collaborative experience can upgrade the skills of the local architects in a faster way, whilst enhancing the standards of design through a collaborative effort.

AR: Architects must have the versatility in design and at the same time they must be able to adapt to any conditions if they are to take the international arena. Emphasis on inter-cultural exposure of students at an early age, similar to the programmes undertaken by CSA, will equip future talent with enough courage to become internationally renounced architects.

Will the role of the architect experience change in the next twenty years to come?

AA: It is always changing. Practices have to be adaptive, whilst principally retaining our role as the Lead Designer.

In Sri Lanka, I see a far greater role where we have to intervene and guide rapid development and protect what we call “Sri Lanka” from loosing its pristine glory and rejuvenate areas that are already lost to rapid and uncontrolled development.

AR: The society is changing rapidly due to globalisation and the challenge will be to behave locally to achieve sustainable project solution for day to day problems in the society without destroying the heritage that we boast of for 2500 years as a nation.