FUTURARC INTERVIEW
Strength does not come from soft or hard approaches. It comes with belief and conviction.
When asked whether she has ever experienced some form of sexism over her career, Serina says,
“As a female architect in an intergenerational architectural practice, I have felt the tougher challenge more on being recognised as a leading architect in my own right and less about gender equality. Brought up in an environment to be independent and strong, my perception of gender inequality has factored less. I see all challenges through the lens of it being more part of the course than actual sexism.”
However, Serina admits that discrimination has appeared outside her working life when her voice is occasionally circumnavigated just because she is a female. Learning from this experience, she advises women, in general, to always be more prepared, well-versed, and knowledgeable to support their stand.
GENDER DIFFERENCES IN SUSTAINABLE DESIGN FIELD According to Serina, there are fewer women in the sustainable design field than women in the conventional architectural arena. “I believe it’s only to do with the fact that women don’t believe in themselves enough yet. Their own self-expectations are too high that they may not believe themselves worthy enough,” argues Serina, going on to add that, “I once was criticised that I am not strong enough for this architectural field due to my softer or more yielding approach in this field. Strength does not come from soft or hard approaches. It comes with belief and conviction.”
In her own firm, Serina acknowledges a difference in her teams’ sustainable design approach and outcomes. However, she is reluctant to classify the difference as gendered attitudes as it may be due to different personalities. She elaborates by describing an example, “We sometimes run two concepts for the same project bid as a sense of competitiveness we have amongst ourselves. Team A thinks of a concept and immediately starts executing the drawings, plans and perspectives. Team B laments on the ideas, investigates options and opportunities, uncertain on the outcome and, at the very end, is the last team to finish the scheme. Is this personality or gender?”
Gender diversity has never been an issue in her firm. The only gap that currently exists may be cultural diversity. She believes that greater diversity in the architecture profession will improve its ability to meet complex, challenging and changing future needs. Indeed, diversity ensures a stronger profession that ultimately makes better architecture for society.
INSPIRING MALAYSIAN FEMALE ARCHITECTS Perhaps Serina is currently seen by many as a symbol of progress for women in architecture generally, and sustainable architecture in particular. Her humble reaction is best described in her own words: “I would be honoured to be recognised for the work we do, and that has been since my first day at work in London, which is in pursuit of sustainability. From energy efficiency to Green to sustainability, it’s been a journey for us.”
And for those young women out there who wonder how they can achieve the levels of success they are capable of in the sustainable design field, Serina has this final piece of advice:
“Now, the voices of younger women are being heard and celebrated across the globe, speaking out concerning our planet, sustainability and social equity. In sustainability, where we once may have found ourselves to be the only woman in the room, now more women contribute. Once afraid of our strong sense of intuition, women are now used to counter the global imbalances. We need to believe in ourselves and seize the moment, not to be dominant but to lead with humility.”
FUTURARC 49
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