Lolcats

Oh my goodness, this is hilarious. FYI, ceiling cat is "God" and basement cat is the devil...








More at http://icanhascheezburger.com/

My Little Pony turns 25.

Just because I think they are cute.
Link: http://www.smh.com.au/news/photogallery/design/my-little-pony-turns-25/2008/09/30/1222651043704.html

London 2012 - I think it's shit.

Check out the logo for the London Games, 2012. I think the logo is shit. Honestly.

Apparently it cost 400,000 pounds and some people actually got epileptic fits just looking at it.

I think my gag reflex just kicked in.

One Mile Beach

It's late now, but I thought I'd better write this before I forget...

We went up for a site visit to One Mile beach today, it's about an hour North of here near Port Stevens.

We waited for the bus at an early 8am, while the chilly wind whipped about our feet. So unlike yesterday's nice warm weather. Of course I slept on the way and when I got up I asked the girl sitting next to me "Did I drool?" To which another girl behind me burst out laughing.

I didn't drool.

One Mile beach was beautiful. Though I must admit it took awhile for the beauty of the place to really sink in. I saw sand so fine it moved like water; different coloured sands that made patterns that appeared like black fire.

It's the whole place in general. Serene. Secluded. And untouched by man. Except for this piece of architecture sticking out like a sore thumb.

I saw sharks' eggs too, for the first time. I once came across (in writing) of a mermaid's purse. This is actually the egg sac of a dog fish/shark. The eggs sac was something truly remarkable. Such curves, and it was opague too - which had an amber colour. There were urchins, and sponges and corals washed up on the beach. All weird, contorted and came in all sorts of vibrant colours.

(BTW, the first two pics are the sharks' egg sac)










So this is our last, and longest assignment. I expect that means it's gonna be critiqued more strictly. This one is titled BeachBox, and we have to design a lifeguard house. After all this boring computer work and my history assignment, I'll definately be looking forward to exploring this assignment.

Bloody hell, it's Spring.

Well, it is warmer. And I can finally wear my shorts again, and finally sleep in the nude with the window open.

But bloody hell! There are insects EVERYWHERE! If the small ones don't get in the big ones buzz about outside the mosquito net, the sound annoying me.

Oh listen to me, the Singaporean.. Complaining about everything. I wouldn't last ten seconds back in the army. (Don't you laugh Chris.)

Test you colour IQ

Ok, I didn't score too well on this, but I'll say I don't know if time is a factor - I left my computer for awhile to help a coursemate with the assignment. Really. Honest!
http://www.xrite.com/custom_page.aspx?PageID=77

Irked

I'm a little irked.

Got back my results for the semester so far and these are how they are.

Well, yeah.. Good and all... But the two assignments I received a 75% for were done in pairs. Aren't two heads supposed to be better than one? Argh. I suppose what irks me a little more was that this other pair got higher than me for the Skin & Bones assignment and I thought theirs was crap.

Does this say I don't work well in pairs?

And my final grade is currently about one mark shy of the high distinction. Will have to make sure the last assignment gets the high distinction.

Left pic is the Skin & Bones assignment...

Onion Tarts

Oh, I made some onion tarts tonight... A fantastic, easy to prepare small bite.
1. Prepare tart shells - either bought, or made. I use pre-made pastry sheets which I cut into cup-sized circles, put into a muffin tray and blind bake at 170 degrees for about 10 mins.
2. Saute some sliced onions, red is best. A tray of 12 tarts requires about 3 medium-sized onions.
3. Spoon about a tablespoon of onions into your tart shells.
4. Add about a teaspoon of fig paste. I had no idea where to get this from, so I just made a very simple chunky fig jam. Cut figs into smaller pieces, boil with about 1/4 cup of water with some sugar, I used brown. Reduce till thick.
5. Top with a small piece of goats cheese and bake. Remove when you start salivating... Ok, about 10 mins should do it.

The recipe didn't call for it, but some thyme would go beautifully. Really. Just top with a couple of small pieces.

Yum. My mouth is watering again.

A very long overdue post.

I actually typed the below post on the 18th of August, but was too lazy/tired/cold/hungry to post:

It is Monday again and I can’t help but feel some Monday Blues.

The last assignment, Urban Box, was due just last Thursday and this morning, cold and sleepy, I slumped into the lecture theatre for the next assignment brief: Eco Box.
I’m a tad apprehensive about this project (at least I am now) because unlike the previous assignments, this has quite a lot to do with sustainability, something I know little about.
My lecturer, JR, is amazing. We have this supplementary lecture at 3 in the afternoon. Normally feeling lethargic after a lunch, I still try to attend because when JR speaks, his words are like liquid poetry. The way he describes objects and scenes, it’s like you could almost reach out and grasp the object. Anything from an architectural sketch to a detailed photograph of a leaf caught in the swirl of a river.

I don’t know if I’ve mentioned, but with all this talk of sustainability, I can’t help but question my own ecological footprint. And with that thought, and quite a number of people around me being vegetarian, I’ve been trying it out. Well, every meal but dinner.
But that said, I still love my meat! I was stuck in the library today and ended up spending $10.90 on lunch! (Goodness… No wonder I only eat on campus once a week. And that’s without a drink) But I was hungry… And that roast pork did look, smell and taste good! (Mum, I miss your prune-stuffed roast pork with that brilliant apple cabbage!)

So, back to Eco Box… I am getting a little excited, the juices starting to churn… But it’s cold and hopefully it won’t take too long. I borrowed a book on treehouses.. Can’t wait to look through that one! (The site has plenty of trees, and we can’t cut down too many of them… So gotta think of building around them!)

6th September: Here's how my finished model looks like (along with the mess in my room. :P)

It was also the Cultural Awakenings week which is very much like a Racial Harmony week.. It ended with a food fare at the bar on campus. Food was pretty good... I think my fav was the Korean stall. In case you were wondering.. Singapore made bandung and chin chow.. along with some kueh. At least I think that was made by SIngaporeans... Their stall was so close to Malaysia's and Brunei's. Indonesia's cehndol had jackfruit in it.. not used to nanka in chendol. Also below are the ladies from the Pacific Islands.

Cool designs

What if there was an instrument which would change the world into something that we find strange? And better, what if this instrument can also change it back?

I worked with the refraction of light as a basic principal for a new form language. I designed a different world, a strange world. In this world there still is a possibility to go back to the world we know.

With the instrument it is possible to reshape objects, spaces and architecture. Designer: Nathan Wierink (Netherlands)
Manufacturer: own atelier (Netherlands)

A red table that seems to flow down on the ground.

Designer: John Nouanesing (France)

Sonnet 141 - 10 Things I Hate About You

I hate the way you talk to me. And the way you cut your hair.
I hate the way you drive my car. I hate it when you stare.
I hate your big dumb combat boots And the way you read my mind.
I hate you so much it makes me sick — It even makes me rhyme.
I hate the way you're always right. I hate it when you lie.
I hate it when you make me laugh — Even worse when you make me cry.
I hate it that you're not around. And the fact that you didn't call.
But mostly I hate the way I don't hate you — Not even close, not even a little bit, not even at all.

Christian the lion

Uber cool sink

Sooooo cool! Link to HighTech Designs

Dove Chocolate: Em Ocean

I love this ad. May take awhile to load though...

Dolphins Blow Bubble Air Rings

Bated breath

So, it's been pouring today.

I decided I had to go down to the studio today to remove my work since Thursday was the last day we could leave it there. Plus I had to submit the hardcopy of another assignment I handed in last week.

So, when it looks like the rain's about to let up, I leave for the studio, and along the way it really starts again. I decide I have to buy an umbrella. The only one was 21 bucks. Oh boy. But I really need it since I would be carrying my drawings and my model back...

I get to the studio and I can't find my work anywhere! Sure, my model is there, But the drawings! Nowhere to be found... After searching high and low, I make my way back... And call my groupmate, whose work I had pinned mine up next to.

Then he tells me that during the lecture in the morning (I missed because of the rain) JR, the lecturer, took some drawings! And I find out later that he took them to make copies.. To show future 1st years. Oh my gosh. It feels great, and I try not to gloat, but for the first time it seems that I'm doing well in something!

But, the coin always has two sides. And the other side is rusty. Very rusty. I think I suck at Construction Technology. Honestly. It was VERY bad. I am very scared how I will do. And it's not the "I'm scared I don't get distinction". It's the one subject I am so bad at because I have no interest! Sigh. I really hope I can clear it. Really, I just want to clear it.. That's how bad I am at it.

So, with this serious contrast in subjects, I actually think I know what fear is. Poly never made me feel like this.

Bated breath.

Little Red Riding Hood

Little Red Riding Hood
by Roald Dahl

As soon as Wolf began to feel
That he would like a decent meal,
He went and knocked on Grandma's door.
When Grandma opened it, she saw
The sharp white teeth, the horrid grin,
And Wolfie said, "May I come in?"
Poor Grandmamma was terrified,
"He's going to eat me up!" she cried.
And she was absolutely right.
He ate her up in one big bite.
But Grandmamma was small and tough,
And Wolfie wailed, "That's not enough!
I haven't yet begun to feel
That I have had a decent meal!"
He ran around the kitchen yelping,
"I've got to have a second helping!"

Then added with a frightful leer,
"I'm therefore going to wait right here
Till Little Miss Red Riding Hood
Comes home from walking in the wood."

He quickly put on Grandma's clothes,
(Of course he hadn't eaten those).
He dressed himself in coat and hat.
He put on shoes, and after that,
He even brushed and curled his hair,
Then sat himself in Grandma's chair.

In came the little girl in red.
She stopped. She stared. And then she said,
"What great big ears you have, Grandma."
"All the better to hear you with,"
the Wolf replied.
"What great big eyes you have, Grandma."
said Little Red Riding Hood.
"All the better to see you with,"
the Wolf replied.
He sat there watching her and smiled.
He thought, I'm going to eat this child.
Compared with her old Grandmamma,
She's going to taste like caviar.

Then Little Red Riding Hood said, "
But Grandma, what a lovely great big
furry coat you have on."

"That's wrong!" cried Wolf.
"Have you forgot
To tell me what BIG TEETH I've got?
Ah well, no matter what you say,
I'm going to eat you anyway."

The small girl smiles. One eyelid flickers.
She whips a pistol from her knickers.
She aims it at the creature's head,
And bang bang bang, she shoots him dead.

A few weeks later, in the wood,
I came across Miss Riding Hood.
But what a change! No cloak of red,
No silly hood upon her head.
She said, "Hello, and do please note
My lovely furry wolfskin coat."

Three Little Pigs

The Three Little Pigs
by Roald Dahl

The animal I really dig,
Above all others is the pig.
Pigs are noble. Pigs are clever,
Pigs are courteous. However,
Now and then, to break this rule,
One meets a pig who is a fool.
What, for example, would you say,
If strolling through the woods one day,
Right there in front of you you saw
A pig who'd built his house of STRAW?
The Wolf who saw it licked his lips,
And said, "That pig has had his chips."
"Little pig, little pig, let me come in!"
"No, no, by the hairs on my chinny-chin-chin!"
"Then I'll huff and I'll puff and I'll blow your house in!"

The little pig began to pray,
But Wolfie blew his house away.
He shouted, "Bacon, pork and ham!
Oh, what a lucky Wolf I am!"
And though he ate the pig quite fast,
He carefully kept the tail till last.
Wolf wandered on, a trifle bloated.
Surprise, surprise, for soon he noted
Another little house for pigs,
And this one had been built of TWIGS!

"Little pig, little pig, let me come in!"
"No, no, by the hairs on my chinny-chin-chin!"
"Then I'll huff and I'll puff and I'll blow your house in!"

The Wolf said, "Okay, here we go!"
He then began to blow and blow.
The little pig began to squeal.
He cried, "Oh Wolf, you've had one meal!
Why can't we talk and make a deal?
The Wolf replied, "Not on your nelly!"
And soon the pig was in his belly.

"Two juicy little pigs!" Wolf cried,
"But still I'm not quite satisfied!
I know how full my tummy's bulging,
But oh, how I adore indulging."
So creeping quietly as a mouse,
The Wolf approached another house,
A house which also had inside
A little piggy trying to hide.
"You'll not get me!" the Piggy cried.
"I'll blow you down!" the Wolf replied.
"You'll need," Pig said, "a lot of puff,
And I don't think you've got enough."
Wolf huffed and puffed and blew and blew.
The house stayed up as good as new.
"If I can't blow it down," Wolf said,
I'll have to blow it up instead.
I'll come back in the dead of night
And blow it up with dynamite!"
Pig cried, "You brute! I might have known!"
Then, picking up the telephone,
He dialed as quickly as he could
The number of red Riding Hood.

"Hello," she said. "Who's speaking? Who?
Oh, hello, Piggy, how d'you do?"
Pig cried, "I need your help, Miss Hood!
Oh help me, please! D'you think you could?"
"I'll try of course," Miss Hood replied.
"What's on your mind...?" "A Wolf!" Pig cried.
"I know you've dealt with wolves before,
And now I've got one at my door!"

"My darling Pig," she said, "my sweet,
That's something really up my street.
I've just begun to wash my hair.
But when it's dry, I'll be right there."

A short while later, through the wood,
Came striding brave Miss Riding Hood.
The Wolf stood there, his eyes ablaze,
And yellowish, like mayonnaise.
His teeth were sharp, his gums were raw,
And spit was dripping from his jaw.
Once more the maiden's eyelid flickers.
She draws the pistol from her knickers.
Once more she hits the vital spot,
And kills him with a single shot.
Pig, peeping through the window, stood
And yelled, "Well done, Miss Riding Hood!"

Ah, Piglet, you must never trust
Young ladies from the upper crust.
For now, Miss Riding Hood, one notes,
Not only has two wolfskin coats,
But when she goes from place to place,
She has a PIGSKIN TRAVELING CASE.

En pointe

I feel kinda like I'm on the top of the world now.

Today marked the end of one of my four courses, Architectural Design, and it ended with a presentation of our assignment. If you recall, this is the one where we had actual clients come in and talk to us. the lovely ladies from High Tea with Mrs Woo were back again and this time to see the final work. Yeah, like all presentations I was feeling a little jittery, but confident that I had done a good job.

We were being assessed by two student tutors, one being my own tutor and the other from another group with whom I've had no interaction with. There are twelve groups in total, each divided into groups of ten. Through this time the lecturer (ie person-in-charge of this course) walked around sitting in for various presentations. The two clients did the same.

It so happened the lecturer and one of the clients was there for my presentation. (I was secretly pleased they were, because they were the best critiques, and were not obliged to be "nice" in any way) Halfway through presenting I realised both clients were there. And they liked my work! Apart from my assessors complimenting me on my technique, idea and flow of the work,(this was sufficient) the clients were interested enough to com up to where I was to look at my work more closely. The feeling was indescribable. JR, the lecturer was complimenting me on my drawings and saying things like far better for a first year student's work. The clients took up my model to hold and look at. Haha. JR commented on the form of my building saying it was pleasing to look at as well.

So, with that, he now knows my name. Watch for it, John Siow architects. (Insert REALLY big grin) I still know that my work is not perfect and it'll take awhile before I reach perfection. But that is why it's so fun, the journey.

But, what goes up must come down and I have to quickly ground myself for the reaming three assignments.

Speaking of highs, check out what I came across: Heels to kill

I think they look stunning, in a morbid kinda way... Every step a torture.

Links to the site: http://members.fortunecity.com/tchb1/balletboots.htm

Sight

It is a terrible thing to see and have no vision.
-Helen Keller

Apple tunrover

So, I tried my hand and baking pastry. The first batch was a tad burnt... But tasted ok.

Apple with mixed berry turnover

Apple turnover

Ok, I cheated.. The pastry was premade and frozen... But baby steps.

Wednesdays

Wednesdays make Tuesday nights worth staying up for.

Reflections@Keppel

I was browsing the net and came across Daniel Libeskind's work. I was actually looking at his Jewish Museum (He's of Jewish descent.)


I quite liked his concept and went to browse his site... And what do you know, I found a piece of architecture in Singapore designed by him! It just goes to show how much more I have to learn.

I'm not sure I like all his work though.

Lindt’s Excellence Chili Chocolate

I've been having this habit of purchasing a bar of good, dark chocolte from the supermarket whenever I do my grocery shopping. (With the exception of two weeks ago when they ran a promo for buying two bars. How could I resist?)

I found Lindt’s Excellence Chili Chocolate and had to try some. What caught my eye was actually the bright red chilli. It pretty much stood out in the sea of chocolate-coloured packaging. I first heard about the fantastic chilli / chocolate combination from Joanne Harris's Chocolat, which went to be made into a film. Judi Dench's character was initially surprised at the mention of the combination but on first taste, fell in love with it.

The initial taste of this chocolate is creamy and even though it's dark chocolate, perhaps is a tad sweet. The chilli taste doesn't hit you till after you swallow, when the superb flavour of cocao dissolves to give way to this gentle warmness, more so around the back your throat. A very delicate balance of falvours. I try not the eat too much. Oh I try.

Jessica Alba The Stare Response

For those who don't know... Jessica Alba made a video response to Kevjumba's challenge to the stare. I thought it was cool that she actually responded. Eventually it was posted to youtube (originally from ibeatyou.com) and a whole lot of men started posting very lewd comments. I think it's just sad that some men are like that. And it also made me think (for a short while) on the wonders of technology - how it bridges people from different walks of life.

And then as I was watching the video I thought the track was pretty darned catchy. Very nice beat to it and made me wanna dance! After some searching I found it. So, here it is, Tribulations by LCD Soundsystem. Didn't quite like the rest of their tracks though.

Uber cool wine decanter

This one's for all the wine lovers out there. I suppose Nadia would love this.. Coz I do.

http://the-strange-decanter.blogspot.com/

Bad weather

Oh, love this one.

http://www.raindropsto.com/product/Adult_Umbrellas/Unique_and_Novelty/index.html

Hole-y cow. This is sick

No camera tricks here - that's a hole in each cow. The holes, called fistulas, allow scientist to perform experiments on the cow's digestive system.

I think it's sick.

Missing

'missing' by nobody & co., is a set of seven uniquely designed yet similar chairs.

Cool Word clock

Designed by Simon Heys: http://www.simonheys.com/wordclock/

Word Clock is a typographic screensaver for Mac OS X. It displays a fixed list of all numbers and words sufficient to express any possible date and time as a sentence. Word Clock displays time by highlighting appropriate words as each second passes.

Church of Santa Monica in Madrid, Spain

Posted by TrendInsights

3rd URBANbuild House

Oh man, the lucky students! I wish I were there!

From http://lifewithoutbuildings.net/

Just last January, The Tulane School of Architecture broke ground on their 3rd URBANbuild house. Now, barely 5 months—5 months!—later, the new home is almost complete and it's their best one yet. Designed by students over the course of a semester, each URBANbuild house has been an investigation into a new building technique, with this most recent home utilizing Structural Insulated Panels (SIPs).



Besides gaining experience in construction and a more practical sense of materials, students are also learning what it's like to leave the computer and their own private, design headspace and actually work together as an office. And yes, that means there's a client. In this case, it's the Neighborhood Housing Services, who obtain the lots, set the size and budget restrictions, and eventually find familes to occupy the complete homes.



Students were given the difficult task of fitting a comfortable 3 bedroom home in only 1200 sq ft of space. In the above photo, an interior stairwell is programmed for both circulation and storage while it also separates the living space from the kitchen.



In a city that's still very much suffering in the aftermath of Katrina, the URBANbuild program truly serving an important purpose in the community by creating in-fill housing in neighborhoods where it sometimes seems like every other home is still abandoned. It's helping to bringing back a density and sense of community while teaching students and introducing contemporary architecture (informed, of course, by the vernacular) to an area that's never really seen anything like it. This is really just a terrific program that keeps getting better every year.

That's sick!

I’ve come to want to hear those words uttered by my group members when it comes time to show each other our progress in our archi work.

You see, the guy who says this is a pretty good student, and when he says it, he means “wow”.

So, this was the fruit of my labour: 9 plans, select three and produce models of 1:50 scale. I chose three main themes - “T” for 2, Journey and Heaven meets Earth - and expanded each three times.

“T” for 2 because the clients’ name is High Tea with Mrs Woo and it’s a simple concept of stacking two letter T’s on each other and oscillating one of them to a slight degree. The overlapping areas create sense of void and space which define the rooms required. This was initially my favourite design, and I thought there was no question that I would choose this.

This was the last concept to come to mind. The clients seem
to have a great liking to nature and a private garden space. Hence the idea of a rooftop garden came to mind. As a bonus, since I designed the 1st floor almost like a glass house which equals a very hot space, the rooftop garden actually helps ease this problem. I don’t know if I got too carried away with the design process and perhaps certain aspects have become excessive.

What started as the more difficult one to work with became the most interesting model/process. The concept here is a journey, (The essential brief being two rooms, and how they connect) So basically you enter from the smaller end, and because of the curved interior, can’t see the other end of the room. When you come to the curve near the end do you see garden. The general idea is the room is closed, and the window at the end is completely open, in contrast to the lack of big windows in the room itself.


It is difficult because the walls are curved and this makes functional uses a challenge to plan for. But I think I will use this plan as this has a stronger concept (the other being “T” for 2)
The submission model is to be made only with greybox board – the material these models are made of, but no plastic sheets are to be used to represent glass, meaning I doubt the models would look as impressive.

But then again, my lecturer was saying it’s about the form. And that is something I try to go back to – not to be too distracted with anything else. Oh, I try.

Chinese eyesight test

If you cannot decipher anything, try pulling the corner of your eyes as if you were Chinese.

It works.

Of quiches and palaces.

Ok, first the boring stuff. I made another quiche, the best one so far I think! Smoked salmon, spinach and mushroom. I always put too much milk in them I think and end up baking it longer than I hope to. Nonetheless, turned out great.

Ok, now, it's 4.41am and I've been up doing models. It's so fun! Haha. Maybe I won't be saying this next year. But for now I am enjoying it.

A couple of years ago I received an email with picture attachments. I have always been fascinated with it. Pictures like this:

So I tried it out. It honestly looks like crap now, but it is my first. And to me, it looks like a palace. Haha. But I suppose I can only get better no?