Ever wondered what Architecture in the Metaverse is like?
Meet Ar. Qhawarizmi Norhisham – the dynamic and innovative COO of Seetizens Plus, a strategic digital agency that pushes the boundaries in the AR, VR, Metaverse, Web 3.0 and NFT space. This tech industry leader doesn’t stop there – in addition to heading up Seetizens Plus; he also runs multiple successful practices, including Qhawarizmi Architect and Praktika Architects Sdn. Bhd, and serves as a partner at the Manifesto of Design and Research in Architecture (MDRXA). This research think tank is at the forefront of cutting-edge design and architecture. As if that weren’t enough, Ar. Norhisham is also the Malaysian representative in the ARCASIA Committee on Young Architects (ACYA).
He has been recognized for his outstanding work with numerous awards, including the coveted Khazanah Design Residency, the PAM Chan Sau Lai Award, and the PAM Johnson Suisse Scholarship Award. With his impressive professional achievements and an unyielding dedication to excellence, there is no doubt that Ar. Norhisham is a force to be reckoned with in the tech industry.
We sat down with this visionary to understand more about his accomplishments, architecture, and the future it holds:
You began from residency to associate architect, lecturer and now a founder and partner in several companies. How did your passion begin?
Mr. Q: I believe it is an ongoing process; what you need is action. I wanted to be an architect ever since I was a child. It was not a passion I stumbled upon during my days in university; it was a lifelong dream. From dreaming of it to becoming one, it took me 20 years to be an architect. There were ups and downs, but studying architecture for 6 years shaped my personality into the person that I am today. There’s still more to improve on, and I am eager to thrive and establish more stepping stones by coming up with more significant projects.
It all began when I was 7 years old — I saw an empty land build into something out of nothing. Through the lens of a child, the idea of creating a space from scratch intrigued me so much that it sparked this lifelong interest of mine. This interest was amplified through a simple set of yellow construction vehicle toys I played with as a child.
At what point in your career did you deem it successful? How did it change your life?
Mr. Q: There is always room for improvement, therefore, I can’t possibly say that I am satisfied with my current status; I always say that “My best building will be my next building”, which helps me stay curious and hungry for passion.
That said, “self-praise is no praise” — I can’t possibly declare my own success, it has to be from others. The journey will be long in the field of architecture; it requires time, patience, and a lot of endurance. Many say that only in your 40 years of experience will you finally be an architect.
I believe this career journey left an imprint on my life as architecture is a great vehicle to venture into many other industries. Simply put, there are no specific buildings meant for architecture; they manifest in schools, police stations, and corporate or public facilities. Architecture is about becoming one with society.
It is beyond liking the shape and colour of a building, it’s about becoming one with everyone. Architecture is malleable — the idea of having financial and social values will reflect on the architecture more eloquently.
What inspired you to become a lecturer? How did it contribute to your career and success?
Mr. Q: I find engaging with younger people detrimental as we can shape how they view architecture. They may originally think that architecture is about creative expression and finding solutions to real-life problems. Students are teachers, too; they give a sense of the trends of the world and what the upcoming generation expects towards architecture.
What was the inspiration behind your Metaverse Architecture-based company, Seetizens Plus?
Mr. Q: Ultimately, we want to help businesses and society adapt to and thrive in the digital world, particularly within the Metaverse, by bridging the gap between the physical and digital worlds and encouraging exploration and imagination.
It boils down to the same values of serving businesses and society. Though some of these are moving to digital, we moved to digital, going with the times. We aim to bridge the link between the old and the new. Our advantage is that we can translate the needs of service providers and the public, which helps us understand how we can improve things through the metaverse. We provide the interactive element by bridging the gap between the physical and digital worlds.
In the Metaverse, there are fewer boundaries and setbacks regarding legal ownership (other than digital land). It is very malleable and fairly free. We want to encourage this place to be a place to explore, just like how kids use Roblox to unleash their imagination.
Architecture isn’t just about building physical space; we also want to bring real life into the metaverse. This way, people can relate the physical world to the digital one. The Metaverse allows for curiosity and creativity, but as architects, we understand the need for a sense of reality to make the world feel more familiar. Our goal is to help society as a whole transition smoothly into the digital world and take full advantage of its potential.
Ideally, we believe that architecture is progressive, so this initiative is aims to bridge the gap between the digital and physical world.
Is Metaverse Architecture more complex than traditional architecture?
Mr. Q: Firstly, the Metaverse Architecture gives you more liberty — there aren’t many legal and regulatory challenges. As things are not precisely tangible in the digital world, there are no boundaries, so you can explore as much as you want.
Having said that, the possibilities of architecture in the Metaverse are endless. I like using Roblox and Minecraft as examples — kids play these games to unleash their imaginations. We want to channel this idea into reality; newcomers to the Metaverse, especially business owners who wish to manage their risks, can do so in a way that may not create as much damage as traditional architecture.
That said, Metaverse Architecture is more complex than traditional architecture. It is a progressive and exciting way to celebrate something that has been around for so long. Besides, it is much more convenient to execute decisions online than physically. The Metaverse also allows us to be as malleable and creative as we like; I can be whatever I want to be – a cloud, smoke, or even a bear.
How will Metaverse Architecture become more revolutionary?
Mr. Q: It is highly dependent on the younger generation’s perception of how rapidly evolving the internet gets. For example, many young people believe that TikTok is the prime social media platform; previous generations deemed Facebook their go-to app. My children stated that in the coming future, they think the ultimate platform will be Roblox, where you can get anything or learn anything.
This shift in perspective could pose problems in the future, as younger generations may expect more advanced and engaging experiences regarding serious matters like banking. The recent issuance of five digital bank licenses, which do not have physical branches and only exist online, highlights this issue.
While these digital banks may have websites that can translate their services into a 3D environment will have a more significant advantage because it would be more personal and efficient. Overall, the younger generation will greatly benefit from this technology in the future.
Having said that, architecture falls under the same opportunities as banking; it’s up to the younger generation and how they choose to use the internet to create more progressive architecture.
Lastly, do you have any advice for the younger generation?
Mr. Q: Try your best to understand how the world works. Always stay hungry and curious for knowledge. From there on out, you can choose how you want to shape your career and the way you want your life to play out. Lastly, studying is essential, but so is experience. So, be sure to go out there and live life and find different passions along the way; you’ll learn more about yourself than you think!
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