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Asian Architecture A
12 min read
Long post ahead. Only for archis to read, other people won't have a clue what's going on (and it'll be a waste of time)
--- Mosques ---
The traditional Javanese form of a mosque was a tall, multi-roofed, open hall space supported by timber columns. The heirachy of the roof depended on the purpose, the types of rituals and activities carried on there and the social status of its occupants. During a ritual, the position of a moment of pause or an object held in veneration should be marked with a centralized superstructure. The superstructure forms the peak of the mosque. It is supported by four timber columns (saka guru), occasionally six. These columns are said to channel spiritual energy. The ceiling is usually carved as a lotus blossom.
During the sixteenth century, mosque towers began to appear in the old pilgrimage town of Kudus. At the top of these towers was an open space with a double roofed pavilion, which could be reached by a steep brick stair on the west side.
There was no major change in the seventeenth or eighteenth centuries.
Towards the end of the eighteenth century, the Dutch East India Trading Company collapsed, and there was a greater resistance to the Netherlands government. As a result, new additions to the mosque were seen. The most important was the addition of the freestanding menara (minaret). A minaret is a tall spire with onion shaped crowns. Also, the traditional Islamic domes began to appear. The mosques came in three standard sizes - 15, 17, 19 metres square. The timber columns which were so spiritually significant in the traditional Javanese mosque were omitted.
--- Rural Thailand ---
Housing in Thailand is greatly influenced by local soap operas and idealized housing advertisements. Brochures were given out to people who visited housing estates and advertisements were published in Bangkok magazines and newspapers. The money spent on advertising housing by the government is greater than any other product.
The set in soap operas usually depict an idealized European styled house. There were elaborate staircases, classical column, arches, porticoes; all of which are lavishly decorated, generous interior spaces, external decorations included Grecian columns and marble statues.
Thailand is the only south east Asian country not to be colonized. Yet, the housing in Thailand have a strong European influence. This was due to the trading done between the Thailand and other European countries. For example, the Krisda Marina housing estate. It consists of 15 housing models all of which have European names rather than Thai names. The gardens were also given European names such as "Maple" and "Violet", palm trees used replicated those from the west coat of America. In advertisements, the streets were clean, children were playing, people were talking and the landscape was manicured. This is in stark contrast to the common images of pollution and congestion present in Bangkok.
A typical house in Thailand beginning from the entry consisted of the "sala", internal living space, "deep space" bedrooms, bathroom and garage. The "sala" is an outdoor living space shared by members of the family and extended family. Cooking is usually done there as well. Thai people spend most of their time in the sala as the interior of the house gets uncomfortably hot during the daytime.
--- Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya ---
There was a problem of flooding and congestion in Kuala Lumpur; something had to move out. The Federal government was officially moved out of the city centre in June 1993 to form a new city midway between Kuala Lumpur and the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (designed by Kisho Kurokawa). The location was chosen as it had good infrastructre and it was an all-in-one landholding. The new city formed was Putrajaya (and Cyberjaya). A competition was held to design Putrajaya, and Kun Lim from BEP Architects won. His design had a central axis, as he believed all major cities should have an axis. He then tried to "get organic" to relieve the formality of the axis by creating a lake. His stage one plan in 1995, from north to south, consisted of: government house, grand bridge, commercial precinct, civil and cultural precinct and a sports and recreational precinct. The stage two plan, from north to south, consisted of: the royal palace, prime minister's office, commercial and administrative precinct and the convention centre.
Post modern hyperspace is the stretching of space and time to accommodate the vastly accelerating flow of capital, people, information, ideas and design which have characterized the present time. The hyperspace comprises the space of jetliners, international airports, hotels, shopping malls and their franchise, billboards and logos. This enables cities to compete for new users of the city; the international tourists, the business travellers, the entrepreneurs, the innovators, the investors.
Hyper-tradition is the exaggeration of traditional motifs to accentuate the identity of a particular place.
--- Shop houses ---
Guangzhou shop houses
The space inside the shop house is a flexible space. There are no glass or columns. The width of the shop house is so narrow, no internal columns are necessary. There is communal bathroom. Shop houses are so small as they require no plumbing. Five foot ways are present. A five foot way is the footpath which shop owners use as part of their shop to sell their goods. It is sheltered from wind and rain by the verandah of the 1st floor of the shop house. There is a hole in the internal ceiling of the ground floor - this is to pass a certain product from the storage upstairs to the shop front downstairs. Likewise, there is a hatch on the ceiling over the five foot way, to haul up stock from below. Storage space is formed from a rebate in the wall and in the unused gable space in the roof.
Hanoi shop houses
Also known as "tube houses", as they are remarkably narrow. The reason behind why they are so narrow is because the tax charged on the shop house is dependent on the width of the property. They are typically six to seven stories with a prayer room on the very top level. Often a net is put up in the stairwell to act as a safety net for babies. Many families share one shop house, as many as 20 people. There is no five foot way present in Hanoi shop houses.
Sinaiwan shop house
Many other shop houses in Singapore have been burnt down due to the burning of incense add candles. Any type of burning is prohibited in this region now. Typically they are 5 x 36m and double storey, with the shop area taking up the front 5 x 10m. From the front to back of the shop house, the spaces include: shop front, bathroom, living, kitchen, garage and toilet. On the first floor (stairs from the living room), the spaces consisted of three bedrooms, living, another bedroom and the verandah. This verandah provided shelter for the five foot way below. During opening hours, the shop front are completely open, and during closing hours, wooden planks are erected to block access. The shop name usually had no reference the the purpose of the shop. A highly decorated facade differentiated each shop house. Like many other Chinese buildings, feng shui principles are applied. For example, one shop owner drew a swordfish in the wet cement to deflect and sha qi that would enter his shop.
--- Tropical House ---
After Singapore gained independence in 1965, several architectural outcomes were established. They were: shop houses, kampong (a village made up of stilt houses), HDB apartments and condominiums.
To live in a "house" in a land scarce city is very fortunate, only affordable to the few wealthy Singaporeans and Western expatriates. A typical house is located against the landscape with a pure geometric form with a pristine interior which reflected the trend in minimalistic Japanese architecture. The houses are climate orientated (as they are located in the tropical region) and are naturally ventilated. Living by the waterfront is also very popular. The first floor is raised on stilts which cover the void deck. The void deck is used for processing raw materials, storage and shelter for any livestock. In the evening, aromatic fires are lit to fumigate the house of mosquitoes. This void deck element is carried into the modern condominiums. For example, One Moulmein Rise, designed by WOHO Architects, has an empty ground level, with pools.
--- Arthur Purnell ---
Arthur Purnell studied architecture at Gordon College, now known as Deakin University, and studied drawing at Geelong School of Arts. There are several theories as to why Purnell went to China. One of which was, he met his idol, the American architect Frank Lloyd Wright who said he was inspired by the "Ho-o-den" pavilion at the 1893 Chicago World Fair. Hence, he encouraged Purnell to travel to Asia to study those types of architecture. Another theory was, Purnell read the book "An Australian in China" by Ernest Morrison. That too may have influence Purnell to go to China. Either way, he worked for a Hong Kong firm - William Danby, Architects & Engineers in the early 1900s. He impressed his employer so much, Purnell was sent to work at Guangzhou at an island named Shamian. Shamian was an island set aside by the Chinese government for foreign settlers.
In 1904, he left William Danby and formed Purnell & Paget, partnering Charles Paget. Together they submitted the winning design for the H.M. Customs Building in Guangzhou, which saw them off to a flying start. They worked on all sorts of projects, no job was ever too small. At first, most of their works were renovations. A typical example is the East Asiatic Trading Company, which Purnell and Paget renovated in 1905. Like many other renovations they did, they simply extended building into the verandah and up to the external colonnade. Purnell was a member of the Canton Club. He designed a new entrance for that club in 1906. Their most significant work was the design of the South China Cement Factory in 1907. It was a pair of Italianate styled buildings. In 1917, the cement factory became the Presidential Palace for Sun Yat Sen; one building was used for administrative purposes, the other for accommodation.
Purnell had lost interest in Purnall & Paget when he arrived back in Melbourne in 1910, due to his wife's decision. His reputation in Guangzhou was useless in Melbourne, he had to start from scratch. As he was familiar with working with the Chinese, Purnell began to work in Chinatown and its proximity. He designed several shop houses and houses. Two of the houses he built for himself, he named them "Shameen". One of his last works was the design for the grandstand at the MCG.
--- Walter Burley Griffin ---
Griffin was influenced by many sources. James Fergusson's book "History of Indian and Eastern Architecture" revealed the stupa and golden gate of the sun forms to Griffin. Furthermore, William Lethaby's book - "Architecture, Mysticism & Myths" recalled studies from Fergusson's book with the addition of the ziggurat form. Griffin's designs were all influenced by these three forms: the ziggurat, stupa and the golden gate of the Sun.
His design for the Capitol Building in Canberra in 1911, was a "modern manifestation" of the ziggurat form. It was a central stepped pyramidal mass on a cubic base, flanked in the four cardinal directions by gable-roofed wings. The ziggurat form was sourced from the Anada Temple in Burma.
Griffin was interested in the architectonics. The ziggurat form had the architectonic of the platform mass, the stupa had the dome dynamics, and the gate of the golden sun had the pier and lintel. In some of Griffin's work, he uses square sectioned piers or posts, capped with a single overhanging square block. Griffin frequently worked with the architectonic of "feeling the weight of the building".
Other common motifs present in Griffin's works is the raked gable roof. The source is from a 1898 National Geographic magazine, it displayed a building with a telescoping roof series and buffalo horn at ridge ends. Griffin also preferred to use reinforced concrete.
The dessin was the conception of a design in terms of horizontal and vertical planes subjected to modular measurement and dimensioning. This mood was opposite in effect to the conception of a building as a series of views that flow together. This difference in design conception, between the dessin and the picturesque, distinguished the expression of structure found it the work of Griffin, in contrast to the painterly and pictorial approach in Frank Lloyd Wright's work.
His design for Newman College at Melbourne University, was a pronounced square lantern enclosure, inspired by the ziggurat form, and the pueblo adobe. The rotunda dome with exposed ribs supported a central mast, in the form of a fleche. 12 pinnacles radiate from the central fleche to represent Christ and his twelve disciples. The cloister space was sourced from Angkor Wat in Cambodia and Rameswaram in South India. The battered base in the cloisters are influences from the Japanese Buddhist Bell Tower. Typical Chinese temple elements were also used at Newman College - the base element, the midway roof, the triple windows and the triangulated roof.
Finished. That took ... 4 hours. By the way, my mood is not "screwed". I put it there coz I liked the animation.
--- Mosques ---
The traditional Javanese form of a mosque was a tall, multi-roofed, open hall space supported by timber columns. The heirachy of the roof depended on the purpose, the types of rituals and activities carried on there and the social status of its occupants. During a ritual, the position of a moment of pause or an object held in veneration should be marked with a centralized superstructure. The superstructure forms the peak of the mosque. It is supported by four timber columns (saka guru), occasionally six. These columns are said to channel spiritual energy. The ceiling is usually carved as a lotus blossom.
During the sixteenth century, mosque towers began to appear in the old pilgrimage town of Kudus. At the top of these towers was an open space with a double roofed pavilion, which could be reached by a steep brick stair on the west side.
There was no major change in the seventeenth or eighteenth centuries.
Towards the end of the eighteenth century, the Dutch East India Trading Company collapsed, and there was a greater resistance to the Netherlands government. As a result, new additions to the mosque were seen. The most important was the addition of the freestanding menara (minaret). A minaret is a tall spire with onion shaped crowns. Also, the traditional Islamic domes began to appear. The mosques came in three standard sizes - 15, 17, 19 metres square. The timber columns which were so spiritually significant in the traditional Javanese mosque were omitted.
--- Rural Thailand ---
Housing in Thailand is greatly influenced by local soap operas and idealized housing advertisements. Brochures were given out to people who visited housing estates and advertisements were published in Bangkok magazines and newspapers. The money spent on advertising housing by the government is greater than any other product.
The set in soap operas usually depict an idealized European styled house. There were elaborate staircases, classical column, arches, porticoes; all of which are lavishly decorated, generous interior spaces, external decorations included Grecian columns and marble statues.
Thailand is the only south east Asian country not to be colonized. Yet, the housing in Thailand have a strong European influence. This was due to the trading done between the Thailand and other European countries. For example, the Krisda Marina housing estate. It consists of 15 housing models all of which have European names rather than Thai names. The gardens were also given European names such as "Maple" and "Violet", palm trees used replicated those from the west coat of America. In advertisements, the streets were clean, children were playing, people were talking and the landscape was manicured. This is in stark contrast to the common images of pollution and congestion present in Bangkok.
A typical house in Thailand beginning from the entry consisted of the "sala", internal living space, "deep space" bedrooms, bathroom and garage. The "sala" is an outdoor living space shared by members of the family and extended family. Cooking is usually done there as well. Thai people spend most of their time in the sala as the interior of the house gets uncomfortably hot during the daytime.
--- Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya ---
There was a problem of flooding and congestion in Kuala Lumpur; something had to move out. The Federal government was officially moved out of the city centre in June 1993 to form a new city midway between Kuala Lumpur and the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (designed by Kisho Kurokawa). The location was chosen as it had good infrastructre and it was an all-in-one landholding. The new city formed was Putrajaya (and Cyberjaya). A competition was held to design Putrajaya, and Kun Lim from BEP Architects won. His design had a central axis, as he believed all major cities should have an axis. He then tried to "get organic" to relieve the formality of the axis by creating a lake. His stage one plan in 1995, from north to south, consisted of: government house, grand bridge, commercial precinct, civil and cultural precinct and a sports and recreational precinct. The stage two plan, from north to south, consisted of: the royal palace, prime minister's office, commercial and administrative precinct and the convention centre.
Post modern hyperspace is the stretching of space and time to accommodate the vastly accelerating flow of capital, people, information, ideas and design which have characterized the present time. The hyperspace comprises the space of jetliners, international airports, hotels, shopping malls and their franchise, billboards and logos. This enables cities to compete for new users of the city; the international tourists, the business travellers, the entrepreneurs, the innovators, the investors.
Hyper-tradition is the exaggeration of traditional motifs to accentuate the identity of a particular place.
--- Shop houses ---
Guangzhou shop houses
The space inside the shop house is a flexible space. There are no glass or columns. The width of the shop house is so narrow, no internal columns are necessary. There is communal bathroom. Shop houses are so small as they require no plumbing. Five foot ways are present. A five foot way is the footpath which shop owners use as part of their shop to sell their goods. It is sheltered from wind and rain by the verandah of the 1st floor of the shop house. There is a hole in the internal ceiling of the ground floor - this is to pass a certain product from the storage upstairs to the shop front downstairs. Likewise, there is a hatch on the ceiling over the five foot way, to haul up stock from below. Storage space is formed from a rebate in the wall and in the unused gable space in the roof.
Hanoi shop houses
Also known as "tube houses", as they are remarkably narrow. The reason behind why they are so narrow is because the tax charged on the shop house is dependent on the width of the property. They are typically six to seven stories with a prayer room on the very top level. Often a net is put up in the stairwell to act as a safety net for babies. Many families share one shop house, as many as 20 people. There is no five foot way present in Hanoi shop houses.
Sinaiwan shop house
Many other shop houses in Singapore have been burnt down due to the burning of incense add candles. Any type of burning is prohibited in this region now. Typically they are 5 x 36m and double storey, with the shop area taking up the front 5 x 10m. From the front to back of the shop house, the spaces include: shop front, bathroom, living, kitchen, garage and toilet. On the first floor (stairs from the living room), the spaces consisted of three bedrooms, living, another bedroom and the verandah. This verandah provided shelter for the five foot way below. During opening hours, the shop front are completely open, and during closing hours, wooden planks are erected to block access. The shop name usually had no reference the the purpose of the shop. A highly decorated facade differentiated each shop house. Like many other Chinese buildings, feng shui principles are applied. For example, one shop owner drew a swordfish in the wet cement to deflect and sha qi that would enter his shop.
--- Tropical House ---
After Singapore gained independence in 1965, several architectural outcomes were established. They were: shop houses, kampong (a village made up of stilt houses), HDB apartments and condominiums.
To live in a "house" in a land scarce city is very fortunate, only affordable to the few wealthy Singaporeans and Western expatriates. A typical house is located against the landscape with a pure geometric form with a pristine interior which reflected the trend in minimalistic Japanese architecture. The houses are climate orientated (as they are located in the tropical region) and are naturally ventilated. Living by the waterfront is also very popular. The first floor is raised on stilts which cover the void deck. The void deck is used for processing raw materials, storage and shelter for any livestock. In the evening, aromatic fires are lit to fumigate the house of mosquitoes. This void deck element is carried into the modern condominiums. For example, One Moulmein Rise, designed by WOHO Architects, has an empty ground level, with pools.
--- Arthur Purnell ---
Arthur Purnell studied architecture at Gordon College, now known as Deakin University, and studied drawing at Geelong School of Arts. There are several theories as to why Purnell went to China. One of which was, he met his idol, the American architect Frank Lloyd Wright who said he was inspired by the "Ho-o-den" pavilion at the 1893 Chicago World Fair. Hence, he encouraged Purnell to travel to Asia to study those types of architecture. Another theory was, Purnell read the book "An Australian in China" by Ernest Morrison. That too may have influence Purnell to go to China. Either way, he worked for a Hong Kong firm - William Danby, Architects & Engineers in the early 1900s. He impressed his employer so much, Purnell was sent to work at Guangzhou at an island named Shamian. Shamian was an island set aside by the Chinese government for foreign settlers.
In 1904, he left William Danby and formed Purnell & Paget, partnering Charles Paget. Together they submitted the winning design for the H.M. Customs Building in Guangzhou, which saw them off to a flying start. They worked on all sorts of projects, no job was ever too small. At first, most of their works were renovations. A typical example is the East Asiatic Trading Company, which Purnell and Paget renovated in 1905. Like many other renovations they did, they simply extended building into the verandah and up to the external colonnade. Purnell was a member of the Canton Club. He designed a new entrance for that club in 1906. Their most significant work was the design of the South China Cement Factory in 1907. It was a pair of Italianate styled buildings. In 1917, the cement factory became the Presidential Palace for Sun Yat Sen; one building was used for administrative purposes, the other for accommodation.
Purnell had lost interest in Purnall & Paget when he arrived back in Melbourne in 1910, due to his wife's decision. His reputation in Guangzhou was useless in Melbourne, he had to start from scratch. As he was familiar with working with the Chinese, Purnell began to work in Chinatown and its proximity. He designed several shop houses and houses. Two of the houses he built for himself, he named them "Shameen". One of his last works was the design for the grandstand at the MCG.
--- Walter Burley Griffin ---
Griffin was influenced by many sources. James Fergusson's book "History of Indian and Eastern Architecture" revealed the stupa and golden gate of the sun forms to Griffin. Furthermore, William Lethaby's book - "Architecture, Mysticism & Myths" recalled studies from Fergusson's book with the addition of the ziggurat form. Griffin's designs were all influenced by these three forms: the ziggurat, stupa and the golden gate of the Sun.
His design for the Capitol Building in Canberra in 1911, was a "modern manifestation" of the ziggurat form. It was a central stepped pyramidal mass on a cubic base, flanked in the four cardinal directions by gable-roofed wings. The ziggurat form was sourced from the Anada Temple in Burma.
Griffin was interested in the architectonics. The ziggurat form had the architectonic of the platform mass, the stupa had the dome dynamics, and the gate of the golden sun had the pier and lintel. In some of Griffin's work, he uses square sectioned piers or posts, capped with a single overhanging square block. Griffin frequently worked with the architectonic of "feeling the weight of the building".
Other common motifs present in Griffin's works is the raked gable roof. The source is from a 1898 National Geographic magazine, it displayed a building with a telescoping roof series and buffalo horn at ridge ends. Griffin also preferred to use reinforced concrete.
The dessin was the conception of a design in terms of horizontal and vertical planes subjected to modular measurement and dimensioning. This mood was opposite in effect to the conception of a building as a series of views that flow together. This difference in design conception, between the dessin and the picturesque, distinguished the expression of structure found it the work of Griffin, in contrast to the painterly and pictorial approach in Frank Lloyd Wright's work.
His design for Newman College at Melbourne University, was a pronounced square lantern enclosure, inspired by the ziggurat form, and the pueblo adobe. The rotunda dome with exposed ribs supported a central mast, in the form of a fleche. 12 pinnacles radiate from the central fleche to represent Christ and his twelve disciples. The cloister space was sourced from Angkor Wat in Cambodia and Rameswaram in South India. The battered base in the cloisters are influences from the Japanese Buddhist Bell Tower. Typical Chinese temple elements were also used at Newman College - the base element, the midway roof, the triple windows and the triangulated roof.
Finished. That took ... 4 hours. By the way, my mood is not "screwed". I put it there coz I liked the animation.
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Short Post
1 min read
*Looking for a social life*
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Sudden Unmotivation
2 min read
So here I was working hard today on my house construction model...
I decided to put in some glazing for the windows and glass doors in my model. I had bought some thick perspex from Bunnings yesterday for this specific purpose. Perfectly cut ... well not quite. Good enough. All was good until...
FREAKING GLUE MARKS DO NOT COME OFF PERSPEX.
Uhu glue is very messy. A bit of glue smudged here, a lil bit there ... and the whole piece of perfectly transparent (yes, it really is a stunning looking piece of plastic) turns into quite literally... a piece of shit.
I stuck three of them on, and knowing me (if you do), I do not tolerate "pieces of shit".
So I ripped them out. No glazing. Blair can go cry if he doesn't see any glazing. I don't give a crap.
On another note, the model is coming along nicely. Due on Thursday. Bit stressed for time, but I should be alright with it. Still to complete:
- Purlins
- Roof cladding
- External cladding
- Minor touch-ups to make it look pretty
After working on that model, I tell myself "Oh I'll work on some design now."
*Unrolls trace with drawings*
*Stares for 15 minutes*
*Rolls up drawings*
Intense.
Happy upcoming dates
End of semester - 29th May.
End of exams - 17th June.
Let's talk about life outside uni. Or whatever is left of it.
Umm... ummm o_O
._.
I want to play badminton? Any sport in general?
Gawd. What has life become...
I decided to put in some glazing for the windows and glass doors in my model. I had bought some thick perspex from Bunnings yesterday for this specific purpose. Perfectly cut ... well not quite. Good enough. All was good until...
FREAKING GLUE MARKS DO NOT COME OFF PERSPEX.
Uhu glue is very messy. A bit of glue smudged here, a lil bit there ... and the whole piece of perfectly transparent (yes, it really is a stunning looking piece of plastic) turns into quite literally... a piece of shit.
I stuck three of them on, and knowing me (if you do), I do not tolerate "pieces of shit".
So I ripped them out. No glazing. Blair can go cry if he doesn't see any glazing. I don't give a crap.
On another note, the model is coming along nicely. Due on Thursday. Bit stressed for time, but I should be alright with it. Still to complete:
- Purlins
- Roof cladding
- External cladding
- Minor touch-ups to make it look pretty
After working on that model, I tell myself "Oh I'll work on some design now."
*Unrolls trace with drawings*
*Stares for 15 minutes*
*Rolls up drawings*
Intense.
Happy upcoming dates
End of semester - 29th May.
End of exams - 17th June.
Let's talk about life outside uni. Or whatever is left of it.
Umm... ummm o_O
._.
I want to play badminton? Any sport in general?
Gawd. What has life become...
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Obsessions
3 min read
I love doing anything BUT homework. Don't we all? Cept I feel this problem's been getting worse...
I have a few things to add to my list of "useless skills in life".
- Solving a Rubik's cube to a satisfactory time *check*
- Folding 1000 paper cranes *check-ing*
- <NEW> Solving the Rubik's cube blindfolded
- <NEW> Create some of Satoshi Kamiya's masterpieces
I have a sudden obsession with his works. He is a Japanese origami master. 3 of his works which I want to (eventually) learn are:
- Ancient Dragon - www.folders.jp/g/2002/0207_1.j…
- Phoenix - www.folders.jp/g/2002/0231.jpg
- Wizard - www.folders.jp/g/2002/0229.jpg
- Bahamut (aka Divine Dragon)- img444.imageshack.us/img444/47…
Hopefully I will complete AT LEAST one of them within a year or two. The Divine Dragon ... eheh... well.. I'll give myself another few more years for that one.
But here's the problem.
The instructions to Satoshi Kamiya's creations are only available in a book.
Works of Satoshi KAMIYA
Model Design and Diagrams : Satoshi KAMIYA
Editor : Makoto Yamaguchi / Transrator : Koichi Tateishi
Bilingual (Japanese and English)
And seeing that I live in a country where origami is not very popular, getting my hands on this book will be a bit of trouble. Yes, I can buy it online... but still undecided about whether I should actually get myself into another gigantic pit of procrastination.
Oh and there's also the technicalities of paper type and sizes I have to worry about. I wouldn't think the standard stationery shop would sell the type of paper suitable for this kind of origami. Looking into forums, many people use "foil paper". It looks like paper, thinner, and with a layer of foil on top.
I guess...even if I don't end up folding any of this insane origami models, it'll be a nice book to have.
On more origami news, I have embark on a terribly exciting [/sarcasm] journey to fold 1000 paper cranes. Inspired by ... Mary. Currently at 130/1000 cranes folded. I will myself to fold 10 a night ... let's see how long that will last. Worse still. They're tiny. Folding with 4x4cm coloured paper, the finished crane body is 6mm wide (including wings then ~40mm) and 20mm high. I'm generally not a patient type. I have "odd patience".
I was read that story about the 1000 cranes and the sick Japanese girl back in primary school. How does it go again?
I have a few things to add to my list of "useless skills in life".
- Solving a Rubik's cube to a satisfactory time *check*
- Folding 1000 paper cranes *check-ing*
- <NEW> Solving the Rubik's cube blindfolded
- <NEW> Create some of Satoshi Kamiya's masterpieces
I have a sudden obsession with his works. He is a Japanese origami master. 3 of his works which I want to (eventually) learn are:
- Ancient Dragon - www.folders.jp/g/2002/0207_1.j…
- Phoenix - www.folders.jp/g/2002/0231.jpg
- Wizard - www.folders.jp/g/2002/0229.jpg
- Bahamut (aka Divine Dragon)- img444.imageshack.us/img444/47…
Hopefully I will complete AT LEAST one of them within a year or two. The Divine Dragon ... eheh... well.. I'll give myself another few more years for that one.
But here's the problem.
The instructions to Satoshi Kamiya's creations are only available in a book.
Works of Satoshi KAMIYA
Model Design and Diagrams : Satoshi KAMIYA
Editor : Makoto Yamaguchi / Transrator : Koichi Tateishi
Bilingual (Japanese and English)
And seeing that I live in a country where origami is not very popular, getting my hands on this book will be a bit of trouble. Yes, I can buy it online... but still undecided about whether I should actually get myself into another gigantic pit of procrastination.
Oh and there's also the technicalities of paper type and sizes I have to worry about. I wouldn't think the standard stationery shop would sell the type of paper suitable for this kind of origami. Looking into forums, many people use "foil paper". It looks like paper, thinner, and with a layer of foil on top.
I guess...even if I don't end up folding any of this insane origami models, it'll be a nice book to have.
On more origami news, I have embark on a terribly exciting [/sarcasm] journey to fold 1000 paper cranes. Inspired by ... Mary. Currently at 130/1000 cranes folded. I will myself to fold 10 a night ... let's see how long that will last. Worse still. They're tiny. Folding with 4x4cm coloured paper, the finished crane body is 6mm wide (including wings then ~40mm) and 20mm high. I'm generally not a patient type. I have "odd patience".
I was read that story about the 1000 cranes and the sick Japanese girl back in primary school. How does it go again?
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A New Beginning ... sounds cliche.
6 min read
Cliche? It'll do.
One word I've used to sum up my 4 month holiday - productive.
Not in any biological way. Don't want any questions about that.
Productive as in, earnt some cold hard cash, made/making a few models (optional of course), purchased a new wardrobe and maintained a half decent social life. Oh and not to mention my wonderful incident with my splendid left ankle.
In chronological order (merely coz I really can't be bothered thinking...much), HK holiday popped up first. No need to repeat what I said in my earlier journal.
Oh man, the first 3 weeks in January was a real drag. Went to my parents' aged care centre to mainly to help design a brochure and a little bit of other design work (so minute I didn't even know what I was doing). Those were 3 emotionally painful weeks. 3 days a week, 9am - 6pm. Pay was decent I must admit, but just too draining.
A "miracle" stuck me on the last week of January. I applied a job at Kumon (a tuition centre for mainly primary school kids), who returned my call...finally! I applied in July 07 and they call me in Jan 08. I would have thought my resume had been shreaded and put into one of those dog kennel things. But apparently not.
Anyways, the lady on the phone spoke to my brother and basically said, "Come in for an interview tomorrow. Start working whether you pass that or not. Oh and you can come too (referring to my brother)." Desperate much?
Kumon was a wonderful job. Teaching school kids how do do maths and English. Not really teaching...assisting. Kumon have their "theories" on independent learning...blah blah blah. I'm just glad to help people. Apparently, the centre I assisted in (Ivanhoe) was one of the best, if not the best, in Victoria? Or so the boss claims. Not that I really care. But the students there were actually working oddly independent. Can you imagine sitting yourself down at a centre for around 2 hours, twice a week, and do maths and English? No talking, no mucking around. Just work. On top of school homework.
However, Kumon didn't end up being the little gem that it was. I quit. Mainly coz of three reasons. 1) There just isn't enough time for an Architecture student to have a job like this; 2) Pay was so low it could have been illegal; 3) The boss (and her husband) weren't the most considerate people in the world. I quit a week before Uni started again. Too bad for them. Too bad for me.
Let's move to a slightly brighter side of the remainder of the holidays.
Build/made two origami models. Folding a few hundred of triangle pieces and building it together to form a shape. I've uploaded them on DA already, just browse my gallery if you haven't already done so. And thank you do the people who have left all those positive comments.
A random note I feel like shoving in here. MY TETRIS SCORE DIED! THE DS BATTERY DIED ON ME ONE NIGHT. SCORE OF 46 MILLLION. GONEEEEE~! 3 WEEKS OF HARD WORK.
Ok.
Getting late. Last story.
Once upon a time, on the day before Valentines Day, my ankle decided to do funny things to me. Badminton at MSAC and 10min into the session I jumped. Either I landed funny and twist my ankle. OR. I landed on a feather, slipped, and rolled my ankle. Either way, I ended up having a really screwed up ankle. Silly of me to keep playing for another 2 hours. Oh wells...don't cry over spilt milk.
So, there was I limping home on the train. With my wonderful brother taking good care of me by...walking ahead and happily skipping along. Probably hoping I'd fallen over a few blocks back and rolled into the ditched and never to see sunlight again. Who knows.
I actually did my ankle really good this time. Really good as in...really bad. By the time I got home, it was swollen that it barely fit in my shoes. And somewhat blue.
Off to see some Chinese massage/acupuncture dude later that evening.
Oh yes. He is the true meaning of a SADIST.
I'll let your personal experiences describe it for you. If you haven't ever tried, I hope you have a pleasurable time.
That "dude" prescribed some Chinese medicine patch to put on my ankle and wrap it up everyday. The suddenly he throws a line at me, "Acupuncture. Now. Usually I do 35min, today, you new, I do 25min."
If he wasn't my Dad's friend, I would have kneed him in the face. And bailed.
Being a real man (no, I did not wear pink), I laid there and copped a new experience.
Two needles into the ankle, not as painful as injections, but definitely noticeable. Set up some generator, and ran an electric current through my leg. No idea about the voltage or amps. I'm alive. That's all that matters.
25 minutes later. And 10 minutes more of sadistic massage therapy. Just as I was about to leave, he said, "Tuesday. Again. Acupuncture. 10am."
I bailed.
So there I was, limping around at home for a week. In fact, unable to walk on Valentine's Day. And my wonderful brother...omg I forgot to say...
NO SPORTS FOR 6 WEEKS! *dies*
Back to my wonderful brother. He cares for me so much that within that first week of me and my bad ankle, he goes and attempts to organize THREE badminton session with friends.
Is spite love?
Lol, please don't take that question too seriously! ^^"
One word I've used to sum up my 4 month holiday - productive.
Not in any biological way. Don't want any questions about that.
Productive as in, earnt some cold hard cash, made/making a few models (optional of course), purchased a new wardrobe and maintained a half decent social life. Oh and not to mention my wonderful incident with my splendid left ankle.
In chronological order (merely coz I really can't be bothered thinking...much), HK holiday popped up first. No need to repeat what I said in my earlier journal.
Oh man, the first 3 weeks in January was a real drag. Went to my parents' aged care centre to mainly to help design a brochure and a little bit of other design work (so minute I didn't even know what I was doing). Those were 3 emotionally painful weeks. 3 days a week, 9am - 6pm. Pay was decent I must admit, but just too draining.
A "miracle" stuck me on the last week of January. I applied a job at Kumon (a tuition centre for mainly primary school kids), who returned my call...finally! I applied in July 07 and they call me in Jan 08. I would have thought my resume had been shreaded and put into one of those dog kennel things. But apparently not.
Anyways, the lady on the phone spoke to my brother and basically said, "Come in for an interview tomorrow. Start working whether you pass that or not. Oh and you can come too (referring to my brother)." Desperate much?
Kumon was a wonderful job. Teaching school kids how do do maths and English. Not really teaching...assisting. Kumon have their "theories" on independent learning...blah blah blah. I'm just glad to help people. Apparently, the centre I assisted in (Ivanhoe) was one of the best, if not the best, in Victoria? Or so the boss claims. Not that I really care. But the students there were actually working oddly independent. Can you imagine sitting yourself down at a centre for around 2 hours, twice a week, and do maths and English? No talking, no mucking around. Just work. On top of school homework.
However, Kumon didn't end up being the little gem that it was. I quit. Mainly coz of three reasons. 1) There just isn't enough time for an Architecture student to have a job like this; 2) Pay was so low it could have been illegal; 3) The boss (and her husband) weren't the most considerate people in the world. I quit a week before Uni started again. Too bad for them. Too bad for me.
Let's move to a slightly brighter side of the remainder of the holidays.
Build/made two origami models. Folding a few hundred of triangle pieces and building it together to form a shape. I've uploaded them on DA already, just browse my gallery if you haven't already done so. And thank you do the people who have left all those positive comments.
A random note I feel like shoving in here. MY TETRIS SCORE DIED! THE DS BATTERY DIED ON ME ONE NIGHT. SCORE OF 46 MILLLION. GONEEEEE~! 3 WEEKS OF HARD WORK.
Ok.
Getting late. Last story.
Once upon a time, on the day before Valentines Day, my ankle decided to do funny things to me. Badminton at MSAC and 10min into the session I jumped. Either I landed funny and twist my ankle. OR. I landed on a feather, slipped, and rolled my ankle. Either way, I ended up having a really screwed up ankle. Silly of me to keep playing for another 2 hours. Oh wells...don't cry over spilt milk.
So, there was I limping home on the train. With my wonderful brother taking good care of me by...walking ahead and happily skipping along. Probably hoping I'd fallen over a few blocks back and rolled into the ditched and never to see sunlight again. Who knows.
I actually did my ankle really good this time. Really good as in...really bad. By the time I got home, it was swollen that it barely fit in my shoes. And somewhat blue.
Off to see some Chinese massage/acupuncture dude later that evening.
Oh yes. He is the true meaning of a SADIST.
I'll let your personal experiences describe it for you. If you haven't ever tried, I hope you have a pleasurable time.
That "dude" prescribed some Chinese medicine patch to put on my ankle and wrap it up everyday. The suddenly he throws a line at me, "Acupuncture. Now. Usually I do 35min, today, you new, I do 25min."
If he wasn't my Dad's friend, I would have kneed him in the face. And bailed.
Being a real man (no, I did not wear pink), I laid there and copped a new experience.
Two needles into the ankle, not as painful as injections, but definitely noticeable. Set up some generator, and ran an electric current through my leg. No idea about the voltage or amps. I'm alive. That's all that matters.
25 minutes later. And 10 minutes more of sadistic massage therapy. Just as I was about to leave, he said, "Tuesday. Again. Acupuncture. 10am."
I bailed.
So there I was, limping around at home for a week. In fact, unable to walk on Valentine's Day. And my wonderful brother...omg I forgot to say...
NO SPORTS FOR 6 WEEKS! *dies*
Back to my wonderful brother. He cares for me so much that within that first week of me and my bad ankle, he goes and attempts to organize THREE badminton session with friends.
Is spite love?
Lol, please don't take that question too seriously! ^^"
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