Staff Directory


Norzalifa Binti Zainal Abidin

Academic Qualification

  • Doctor of Philosophy - Doctor of Philosophy, Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM)
  • Master of Science in the Specialism of the Built Environment - Masters Degree, Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM)
  • Bachelor of Arts in Architecture - Bachelor Degree, Birmingham Polytechnic

Norzalifa Binti Zainal Abidin (Dr.)

Assistant Professor
IIUM Gombak Campus

KULLIYYAH OF ARCHITECTURE AND ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN


norzalifa@iium.edu.my
3740


Expert Profile







Asst Prof Dr Norzalifa Zainal Abidin is born in Penang but mostly lived in
Kedah before joining MRSM Seremban boarding school in 1984-1985 and
undergone A level at Seremban in 1996-1987. She continued her first year
in Architecture under Northern Consortium United Kingdom (NCUK) programme
then pursued her studies and graduated for her part 1 and 2 RIBA from the
School of Architecture, University of Central England in Birmingham,
United Kingdom in 1994. She continued practicing architecture in the
United Kingdom and Malaysia till 1998. In 1998, she joined International
Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM) as an academician and researcher in the
Kulliyah of Architecture and Environmental Design (KAED). She then further
her studies in Master in Built Environment and Doctorate Degree in Built
Environment specializing in the Islamic Arts and traditional mosques and
graduated in 2012 from the Faculty of Architecture, Planning and Survey,
Universiti Teknologi Mara, Malaysia. Now she is an active academic member
in IIUM teaching interior design and her recent architectural and interior
design work is the Masjid Ara Damansara in Ara Damansara District,
Selangor. This mosque received a GBI gold certification for its green and
sustainable design approach. She is also currently and actively involved
in the community engagement works in helping the Orang Asli in Gombak,
Selangor, Malaysia. She was also the coordinator of Heritage Studies for
her Department of Applied Arts and Design, KAED between 2011 -2012 and
also involving as part of the coordinating team members whereby the
academic and research works involved visits and studies of arts and
architectural works in Malaysia and other parts of the world ie, Turkey,
China, Korea and Cambodia. Her focus of interest will be on the Islamic
Architecture and Heritage, Islamic arts and Nusantara arts, masjid or
mosque designs be it traditional or modern designs. Her keen interest is
also in charity works whereby she was the Assistant Secretary with Insaf
Malaysia ( an NGO) helping the needy and now actively involved as the
project coordinator for the Projek Warisan Hidup Orang Asli in Gombak
under Yayasan Warisan Negara. She is also actively in two non governmental
organizations which related to the preservation of environment which are
PEKA Malaysia (Pertubuhan Pelindung Khazanah Alam Sekitar Malaysia) as
Vice chairman and the PROTEM Secretary General for GERAK (Pertubuhan
Gerakan Alam Sekitar Rakyat Malaysia.). Her portfolio is more towards
education and advocating research towards the awareness of the heritage of
our environment. She has published a few books and book chapters which
amongst other as listed. For example, one chapter was in the book titled
“ Aesthetics in Built Environment , reconciling Culture, Sustainability
and Ecology” 2015. Others are related to her visit to Turkey which is
“Architecture as a reflection of social structure: A Reminiscence of the
Sulaymaniye Complex in Istanbul” 2010 and Islamic Arts and the
traditional Melaka mosques. Another example of book chapter in the book
titled “ Dimensions of Masjid Architecture, Perspectives and Writings on
Theory and Design” 2016. Her research are mainly focusing on related
issues such as “Eco public Art in pursuit of a sustainable green city
and public space”, “ The Innovative approach and values of the
application of Islamic Art decoration in Green Mosques: a Reflect to its
True Function”, and “the Cultural Heritage of Orang Asli in Peninsular
Malaysia to promote support for Educational, Social and Economic Needs by
the Community – A case study in Kg Orang Asli ( the aborigines) in Batu
12 Bukit Kala, Gombak, Selangor , Malaysia.” She has also under done
some additional training such as completed and graduated in Post graduate
Diploma in Islamic studies ( CERDAS) in Kulliyah of Islamic Revealed
Knowledge and Human sciences (KIRKHS, IIUM) in 2016 and also became a
Professional Enterpreneur Educator trained under the Ministry of Higher
Education in 2016.




Area of Specialisation


  • Humanities ~ Humanities ~ Arts and Culture ~ Other Arts and Culture n.e.c. - Islamic arts and decoration.
  • Engineering Tech ~ Applied Sciences And Technologies ~ Architecture ~ Building Design - Bulding design and interior, mosque design and interiors, heritage building, Islamic architecture.


Professional Membership


  • 2018 - 2018: Member of Profesional Body / Association: (member), Pertubuhan Perekabentuk Dalaman Malaysia


Teaching Responsibilities


AAD STUDIO 3 ( MAJORING) 2018/2019 2015/2016 2014/2015
AAD STUDIO 4 (MAJORING) 2014/2015
AAD STUDIO 5 (MAJORING) 2013/2014 2012/2013 2010/2011
AAD STUDIO 6 (MAJORING) 2020/2021 2013/2014 2012/2013 2011/2012 2009/2010
APPLIED ARTS & DESIGN STUDIO 2 2023/2024 2022/2023
APPLIED ARTS & DESIGN STUDIO 3 2023/2024
APPLIED ARTS AND DESIGN (AAD) STUDIO 3 2021/2022
APPLIED ARTS AND DESIGN (AAD) STUDIO 1 2020/2021 2019/2020 2017/2018 2016/2017 2011/2012
APPLIED ARTS AND DESIGN (AAD) STUDIO 2 2018/2019
APPRECIATI0N OF ASIAN ART AND DESIGN 2004/2005
APPRECIATION OF ART AND DESIGN 2022/2023
ARTS AND DESIGN METHODS 2023/2024
COMMUNITY PROJECT 2021/2022 2020/2021 2019/2020 2017/2018 2016/2017 2015/2016 2014/2015 2013/2014 2012/2013 2011/2012
CUSTOM CABINET AND FURNITURE DESIGN 2020/2021 2019/2020
DEGREE PROJECT 2021/2022 2016/2017 2015/2016
DESIGN METHODOLOGY 2019/2020 2016/2017 2015/2016 2014/2015 2013/2014 2012/2013 2011/2012
DESIGN THESIS 2022/2023 2021/2022 2019/2020
ENTREPRENEUR 3 (NICHE AREA) 2016/2017
ENTREPRENEURSHIP & COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT 2023/2024 2022/2023 2021/2022
HERITAGE AND CONTEMPORARY STUDIES 2016/2017 2015/2016 2014/2015 2013/2014 2012/2013 2011/2012
HISTORY & THEORY OF ARCHITECTURE II 2002/2003
INTEGRATED MULTI DISCIPLINARY PROJECT 1 2020/2021 2016/2017 2015/2016 2014/2015 2012/2013 2009/2010
INTERGRATED MULTI DISCIPLINARY PROJECT 1 2013/2014
INTERIOR DESIGN MARKETING AND MANAGEMENT 2022/2023 2021/2022 2020/2021 2019/2020 2018/2019 2017/2018
INTERIOR DESIGN PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE 2017/2018 2016/2017 2015/2016 2014/2015 2013/2014
ISLAMIC GEOMETRIC PATTERN 2021/2022 2018/2019 2014/2015
MARKETING AND MANAGEMENT 2023/2024
MULTI MEDIA TECHNOLOGY 2023/2024
PRACTICAL TRAINING 2018/2019
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY 2023/2024 2019/2020
SPACE PLANNING & ERGONOMIC 2021/2022
SPACE PLANNING AND ERGONOMICS 2018/2019 2012/2013 2011/2012
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT: ISSUES, POLICIES AND PRACTICES 2021/2022 2020/2021
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT: ISSUES, PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICES 2023/2024 2022/2023
USRAH IN ACTION 1 2023/2024 2022/2023 2021/2022
USRAH IN ACTION 2 2023/2024 2022/2023


Supervision


Formation Of Mural Arts In Contemporary Urban Scene Of Greater Kuala Lumpur.
Ph.D Completed 2023 Supervisor Supervisory Committee
Evaluation Of Heritage Colour Of The Naqsh-E Jahan Square, Iran.
Ph.D Completed 2021 Co-supervisor
Developing Green And Sustainable Interior Design Framework For Islamic Home Enhancement Through Culture And Spirituality.
Ph.D In Progress Supervisor Supervisory Committee
The Formulation Of Semantic Framework Of Malay Ornamentation Using Historic Building Information Modelling.
Ph.D In Progress Co-supervisor
The Application Of Social Integration Through Mosque Community Centres.
Master Completed 2017 Main Supervisor
Effectiveness Of Eco Public Art For Urban Back Lanes Revitalization.
Master Completed 2016 Co-supervisor
Application Of Sustainable Wellness In Coworking Space As Post Pandemic Solution For The Community.
Master In Progress Main Supervisor


Research Projects


Completed
2016 - 2020 Elements of Energy, Carbon and Climatic Characterization of Malay Architecture in the Tropics in relation to BIM-Linked Dynamic Environmental Simulation and Analysis
2013 - 2017 Urban Marketplace Qualities for Cultural and Economic Regeneration
2013 - 2016 New Model of Islamic Art in Public Spaces in Promoting the Concept of Al-Wasatiyyah for the IIUM Campus : Garden of Knowledge and virtue
- THE ANALYTICAL STUDY ON THE ARCHITECTURE AND DECORATION ELEMENTS WITHIN THE ISLAMIC HERITAGE BUILDING-A CASE STUDY IN SULAIMANEYE SQUARE, ISTANBUL, TURKEY
On-Going
2020 - Present Capacity Building and Empowerment of Orang Asli Gombak in Transforming the Illegal Dumping Site for Sustainable Community Use
2020 - Present Beyond Bins (in collaboration with Yayasan Hasanah)
2019 - Present TOWARDS ENLIVING THE INDIGENOUS HERITAGE AND SEMANTICS OF ORANG ASLI WEAVING ARTS AND CRAFTS IN MALAYSIA
2016 - Present Analysis, Compilation and Categorization of Modern Abstraction of Malays Traditional Motifs in Interior Archtecture of Commercial Buildings in Malaysia
2013 - Present Regenerative Islamic Heritage Research Unit(RIHRU)
2012 - Present A Study on the Impacts of the Current Curriculum Program Under Applied Arts and Design Department in Kulliyyah of Architecture and Environmental Design
2011 - Present RU 2011: An Adoption of Kampung Kling Mosque and Kampung Hulu Mosque, Melaka: A Wholistic Studies On The Interior Layout, Decoration Amd Sustainability of Traditional Mosque In Malaysia, Comparative Study With Masjid Agung Demak, Jawa, Indonesia


Award & Recognition


18 Nov, 2023 Special Award by Turkish Inventors Association (TUMM?AD) - PRIX EIFEEL 2023 International
18 Nov, 2023 - PRIX EIFFEL 2023 International
18 Nov, 2023 Platinum Medal Award - PRIX EIFFEL 2023 International
18 Nov, 2023 Special Award by Indonesian Invention and Innovation Promotion Association (INNOPA) - PRIX EIFFEL 2023 International
18 Nov, 2023 Special Award by World Invention Intellectual Property Associations (WIIPA) - PRIX EIFFEL 2023 International
29 May, 2023 Certificate of Excellence in Innovation - Toronto International society of Innovation & Advanced Skills iCAN 2023 International
29 May, 2023 SCIS International Excellence Special Trophy Award - Toronto International society of Innovation & Advanced Skills iCAN 2023 International
29 May, 2023 The Gold Medal of iCAN 2023 - Toronto International society of Innovation & Advanced skills iCAN 2023 International
27 Aug, 2022 GOLD AWARD - TISIAS ICAN 2022 International
28 Aug, 2021 BEST INVENTION VIDEO AWARD - ICAN 2021 Toronto International Society of Innovation & Advanced Skills (TISIAS) International
28 Aug, 2021 GOLD AWARD - ICAN 2021 TISIAS International
28 Aug, 2021 INTERNATIONAL SPECIAL AWARD - ICAN 2021 Toronto International Society of Innovation & Advanced Skills (TISIAS) International
28 Aug, 2020 special award - Toronto International society of Innovation & Advanced skills iCAN 2020 International
28 Aug, 2020 Committee choice award - Toronto International Society of innovation & Advanced skills iCAN2020 International
20 Aug, 2020 Gold Medal - toronto international society of Innovation & Advanced skills International


Publications


Article

2020 Sustainable resource based materials in food packaging design. Cultural Syndrome, 2 (2) pp. 138-149
2020 The attributes of 'Papan Meleh'-roof eaves decoration in Baitul Rahmah (Kuala Kangsar, Perak, Malaysia) with the historic building information modelling (HBIM) application. Planning Malaysia, 18 (2) pp. 181-192
2020 The attributes of ‘Papan Meleh’ - roof eaves decoration in Baitul Rahmah (Kuala Kangsar, Perak, Malaysia) with the historic building information modelling (HBIM) application. Planning Malaysia, 18 (2) pp. 181-192
2019 Architecture ecologised: nature’s patterns and abstractions in Malay built traditions. Cultural syndrome, 1 (2) pp. 107-116
2019 Multiculturalism as a reflection in the decorative motif in Malaysia traditional buildings. Borneo Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities, 1 (1) pp. 1-11
2019 The Balustrade and the ‘kekisi’: a strategy in infusing Malay identity through filters and railings in South East Asian urbanism and architecture: case studies in Melaka and Kedah, Malaysia. Cultural Syndrome, 1 (2) pp. 117-132
2019 The way to practice sustainability: wonders of upcycling products. The Design Ideals Journal, 1 (2) pp. 49-59
2016 Islamic-themed graffiti: potentials of public art with Islamic attributes. Middle East Journal of Scientific Research (MEJSR), 24 (2) pp. 366-371
Conference or Workshop Item

2014 Eco-public art in pursuit of a sustainable green city and public space. In: International Conference on Sustainable Urban Design for Liveable Cities (SUDLiC 2014),
2007 Virtual reality in heritage studies and historical reconstruction through animation – A case study of a 16th century university complex in the Ottoman world. In: 7th International Conference on Construction Applications of Virtual Reality: 0ctober 22-23, 2007,
2007 Virtual reality in heritage studies and historical reconstruction through animation – A case study of a 16th century university complex in the Ottoman world. In: 7th International Conference on Construction Applications of Virtual Reality: ,
Book

2018 Reminiscing the aesthetics and true functions of decoration in masjid. Noor Publishing, ISBN: 978-620-2-34358-9
2010 Architecture as a reflection of social structure : a reminiscience of the Sulaymaniye Complex of Istanbul. Kulliyyah of Architecture & Environmental Design, IIUM and Al-Bukhary Foundation, ISBN: 978-983-3142-12-5
Book Section

2020 The Orang asli living cultural heritage: the jungle school Gombak, Malaysia. In: IIUM Press, International Islamic University Malaysia, ISBN: 9789674910488, pp. 218-228
2015 Aesthetics expression of the Islamic art of a mosque. In: IIUM Press, ISBN: 978-967-418-330-1, pp. 56-72
2015 Aesthetics expression of the Islamic art of a mosque. In: IIUM Press, ISBN: 978-967-418-330-1, pp. 56-72
2011 An analysis of decoration elements in Masjid Al Azim, Melaka Malaysia . In: IIUM Press, ISBN: 9789674180416, pp. 104-112
2011 The Arabesque decoration with reference to the Malay arts, as applied in the traditional mosques in Malaysia. In: IIUM Press, ISBN: 9789674180300, pp. 157-164
2011 The concept of beuty in Islamic arts decoration : its importance and relationship to mosque interiors. In: IIUM Press, ISBN: 978-967-0225-74-6, pp. 53-92
Monograph

2017 Urban marketplace qualities for cultural and economic regeneration. In: ,
2016 New model of Islamic art in public spaces. In: ,