NON-DOMESTIC ENERGY PERFORMANCE

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Energy_Performance_Certificate

http://www.communities.gov.uk/planningandbuilding/theenvironment/energyperformance/publiccommercialbuildings/energyperformancecertificates/

JUWITA CITRA TERINDAH

bagaimanakah aku gambarkan
rasa yang membakar jiwaku
tiada kata yang tak klise
bagai habis bahasa bermutu

sedang engkau
teristimewa buat diriku
ilham tugu Taj Mahal didirikan

barangkali kita perlu
melihat di sebalik materi
kau wanita aku lelaki
ayuhlah kita mengikat janji

yang kau juwita
menolak segala dusta
citra yang terindah
cerita yang sakti

ku serahkan nasibku pada cinta murni
juga ku rasakan bukti
patahkan ku hancurkan badanku
kau tetap menjadi

oooh oooh pujaan
oooh oooh juwita
kau segala-segalanya

kau juwita
menghidupkan jiwa yang lara
menggoncang kalbu
yang lama membeku

ku serahkan nasibku pada cinta murni
juga ku rasakan bukti
patahkan ku hancurkan badanku ini
kau tetap menjadi

oooh oooh pujaan
oooh oooh juwita
oooh oooh pujaan
oooh oooh juwita
sempurnakan cintaku

Title: Juwita Citra Terindah
Artist: M.Nasir

Juwita Citra Terindah - M. Nasir

"Acapkali dalam hidup kita akan tempuh kepayahan dan kesukaran. Biar apa pun kesukarannya, selagi kita dicintai dan mencintai (tuhan, manusia, makhluk lain). Hati yang dipenuhi kegembiraan kasih-sayang akan menyakinkan harapan esok pasti ada..dan mendung ini akan pergi. Kerna mentari sedang menanti disebalik awan. Cahayanya sinari kehidupan." Fadzlan Rizan Johani

BENEFITS AND ADVICE ON BLOCK PAVING & LARGE ELEMENT PAVING

http://www.tobermore.co.uk/index.cfm/website_type/2

http://www.acheson-glover.com/documents/pdfs/enviroperm.pdf

MEDAN PASAR

1. Option A1

This one of the projects that I had on during my stay in MOCA and Quill back in 2004. I was assisting one of the Directors to design a new facade for an existing building. It would be transformed and given a fresh contemporary facade appearance. The interior of the building would also be re-designed to meet new needs.

2. Existing Site Photo

The original intention is to apply similar architecture profile that we had used in other completed building and re-applied it again in different composition. Perhaps, it would create a new look and at the same time, keeping it as an "economical" architecture. Because by using the same profile you could re-produce some unique design shapes without creating a new mould or set of production line to make it.

Personally, I didn't have the opportunity to meet with the client. I simply designed the facade under the directors' supervisions. While assuming that the contemporary style is the theme for the client, I was carrying out several options within design approach.

3. Early design
4. Rendering study

By then, I was assuming that the design I made was the right approach for the client as in the next stage I was instructed to refine the initial design and superimpose the visuals into its existing urban environment photo. This project had pushed my skill up a notch towards advance level in using 3D Vectorworks. Thus, with a little fine-tuning on the design and refining the quality of visuals I believed it would be the ultimate solution for the client.

5. Option B1

6. Option C1

7. Option D1

I was wrong! I didn't know what exactly happened but the next thing I know a totally different approach was introduced. A more traditional approach of post-modernism. This a massive re-design exercise as it didn't adapt any of the previous contemporary design. A clear signal that the client had never intended to change the typical taste for building design but just to refine that typical look.

8. New design option

So, what went wrong here? If we had listened to the client's needs in the first place, the next design development should had only been refining the design not to re-design. Or did the client just change their mind? If the client doesn't really know what they want (usually they do) it is obvious that the project would be a chaotic one when only one design approach (contemporary) is presented for them to choose. These are the crucial questions that we need to ask and seek answers for to indicate whether we are able to lead our client for better or worst.

Perhaps we need to listen to the the story of Piano's unique interview: LINK

I might not had been given the privilege to deal with client during those early years (maybe because of inexperience), but I still had the opportunity to learn something out of it. The most important thing is to be initiative by constantly learning from any resources within our reach even when we could only participate in the project from behind the scenes.

the story of Piano's unique interview

Sketch courtesy Renzo Piano Building Workshop

the story of Piano's unique interview will live on in architectural lore for, well, probably forever. In either an act of brazen hubris or absolute humility, the story goes as follows:

"...the final architect to interview, Renzo Piano, arrived with one ­associate—his daughter, Lia—and took just ten minutes to set up. When the committee members entered the room, they were surprised to see that he had no presentation materials with him. He had used the ten minutes to pull a table from the corner and rearrange all the chairs into a circle around it. Piano told them that he didn’t know how he would design a new California Academy of Sciences. He would need to hear from them before he could answer that question. “If you go into a meeting and you already know everything,” Piano says, “you lose the capacity to understand."

http://www.calacademy.org/

RGP- CDM Design Manual

A CUP OF MY LIFE

"We drink in a different cup every day, but we still drink the same thing...water." Fadzlan Rizan Johani still life sketch on dining table 07/12/08

THE ASCENT OF MONEY

The Ascent of Money adalah antara siri TV yang aku dok layan sekarang nie. Bukan cerita fiksyen tapi dokumentari sejarah institusi kewangan.

“In this six-part series, historian Niall Ferguson tells the story of money and the rise of global finance. Bringing context and understanding to the current economic crisis, he reveals how the history of finance has been punctuated by gut-wrenching crashes. Each episode shows how a big bang in the ascent of money has changed the course of history.”

LINK: http://www.channel4.com/history/microsites/A/ascent-of-money/index.html

Walaupun ia hanyalah sebuah dokumentari, namun cara olahan dan penyampaian yang jelas serta padat menjadikan dokumentari ini berbaloi untuk ditontoni. Ia memberikan penerangan tentang sejarah kewujudan bebeberapa instrumen kewangan (duit kertas, emas, bond, saham, insurance, dll). Menceritakan tentang kejayaan dan kegagalan instrumen tersebut di masa lampau. Kemudian beliau membuat perbandingan dan analisa dengan senario instrumen tersebut di dalam ekonomi semasa.

Secara kebetulan kebanyakan kegawatan ekonomi kini merupakan kegagalan yang sama dihadapi berulangkali tetapi didalam versi yang berbeza. Ternyata kita gagal mengambil pengajaran dari sejarah bagi “menyediakan payung sebelum hujan”.

Sepanjang siri ini ia telah membuka ruang minda yang lebih jelas tentang apa sebenarnya wang. Nilai dan persepsi terhadap semua instrumen kewangan ini berubah sama sekali. “Money is about trust” hinggakan emas pun sebenarnya bukanlah instrumen yang selamat seperti yang diwar-warkan jika hilang kepercayaan terhadap nilai sebenarnya. Begitu juga dengan membeli saham ketika harga murah juga tidak memastikan pulangan yang besar.

Aku dah mula faham serba sedikit agenda disebalik instrumen kewangan ini. Dan bagaimana dengan mempelajari sejarah dapat membantu kita dari membuat kesilapan yang sama di masa depan. Selepas menonton siri ini, tidaklah pulak membuatkan aku pakar macam mereka yang benar-benar mendalami ilmu kewangan. Tetapi cukuplah sekadar menambah panduan dalam pengurusan kewangan diri sendiri.

Antara panduan kewangan diri yang aku dapat simpulkan setakat ini adalah (banyak lagi sebenarnya):

1. Mempelbagaikan portfolio kewangan bagi menangani pelbagai kemungkinan.

2. Pada masa sama perlu mengimbangi simpanan/pelaburan di dalam pelbagai portfolio.

3. Elakkan terlalu fokuskan hanya satu jenis portfolio kewangan sahaja seperti membeli terlalu banyak rumah atau terlalu banyak simpanan di dalam sesebuah bank.

4. Sentiasa berhati-hati dan tidak hanya mengikut nafsu dan trend semasa dalam membuat keputusan.

5. Semua instrumen kewangan ini bersangkut-paut secara tidak langsung. Kesan terhadap satu instrumen mungkin membawa kesan kepada yang lain.

6. Mempercepatkan pembayaran hutang (loan rumah, kereta, pendidikan dll) atau elak dari berhutang.

7. Menyediakan simpanan tunai yang mencukupi.

8. Mendapatkan maklumat yang betul dan sahih tentang struktur perniagaan/saham sebelum membuat pelaburan.

9. Sentiasa mengemaskini perbelanjaan semasa bagi mengimbangi inflasi dan keperluan semasa.

10. Janganlah kita menjadi orang yang tamak kerana pastinya bukan sahaja “orang tamak selalu rugi” malah merugikan orang lain.

11. Lebih utama dari itu adalah penting bagi kita berjimat-cermat dalam berbelanja mengikut kemampuan diri tanpa mengorbankan keperluan asas.

Mungkin ilmu ini tidak dianggap penting bagi kebanyakan orang. Hanyalah masalah orang yang kaya dan banyak duit saja. Tapi kebijaksanaan menguruskan kewangan peribadi (biarpun sedikit) merupakan perkara asas dalam menguruskan kewangan yang lebih rumit dan besar. Setidaknya ia dapat digunakan dalam menguruskan kewangan rumahtangga.

Jika jumlah yang kecil kita gagal menguruskannya apatah lagi dengan nilai yang lebih besar dari itu.

Masih teringang-ingang cerita dari seorang kawan; “Ada sebuah keluarga datang ke UK untuk belajar. Tetapi kerana terlalu mahukan kereta mewah untuk dibawa balik ke Malaysia, beliau sanggup mencatu makanan keluarga dengan hanya makan telur (hanya kekadang makan ayam) serta menambah air kosong di dalam susu cair anak-anak”

Alangkah bagus jika pengorbanan berjimat–cermat tersebut digunakan untuk simpanan pendidikan anak-anak di masa depan.

Sesungguhnya wang sukar dicari, menghabiskannya mudah sekali.

Nota: dialu-alukan kawan-kawan yang pakar dalam kewangan untuk memberikan panduan dan pandangan dalam pengurusan kewangan.

INCLUSIVE DESIGN

The main topics covered in this RIBA Assessed CPD are:

• DDA Part III - the aims, requirements and scope
• AD M 2004/BS8300 - the difference between compliance and best practice
• Implications - the duty owed by specifiers and service providers
• Architectural Hardware - innovative solutions towards Inclusive Design

NHS HEALTH CENTRE

This is quite a different design proposal from my usual commercial design; a Health Centre for our National Health Service (NHS). This centre is specialised for treating mental illnesses but it doesn’t mean we are building an asylum! The term mental health is much broader. Believe it or not, every one of us might have experienced it once in our life time.

Mental health is about how we think, feel and behave. One in four people in the UK have a mental health problem at some point in their lives, which affects their daily life, relationships or physical health.

Reference: http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Mental-health/Pages/Introduction.aspx?url=Pages/What-is-it.aspx

Basically, the design is to exploit the slope on the site. This would allow more space for emergency entrance, services and parking lots on the lower ground.

My senior designer insisted on creating a simple architectural box shape for the NHS building. However in making this simple box design it will be difficult for client to see the beauty of it without the assistance of 3d illustrations. Fine detailing is also a crucial factor to enhance the beauty of the design.

The design reminds me of the brutalism concept which heavily rely on concrete as the main material. Brutalism might work well to symbolise the nature of the building as a Mental health centre.

The term Brutalist Architecture originates from the French béton brut, or "raw concrete", a term used by Le Corbusier to describe his choice of material. The Brutalist style of architecture spawned from the modernist architectural movement and which flourished from the 1950s to the mid 1970s
Reference : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brutalism

I would disagree in certain aspect of the design. I've always believed that the surrounding environment plays some parts in helping one to quickly recover from one's illness. So, the brutalism shouldn't be used as the architectural style instead "architecture with nature" may promote healing and looks more appealing and calming to patients.

The building should be set in a park to create an inside-out experience through the calm nature. Although it is located in the middle of a town, the building should be invisible yet accessible to the public. I should introduce an interior garden and parameter green screen. Once you get inside the building it should bring you into a very different calming place...a peaceful sanctuary, far away from the bustling town, thus slowly ease the pain.

This several idea on the aspect of the natural healing in the design would be considered in the next design development. Maybe I could make a research paper about it.

Our environment (our home and business) often reflects our current psychological and spiritual state. Because we spend so much time inside these environments, they influence our efficiency, health, relationships and prosperity. Environment is stronger than will power. It is important to acknowledge these influences and create a balanced, harmonious place for ourselves, our family and friends.

Believe it or not, it's always true that people are influenced by the environmental magnetic resonance which has a great impact on the body physically or psychologically. Researches have been proved that people live next to power lines or mobile phone transmitters are at great risk of getting cancer or leukaemia clusters. Why? It's because of the bad environmental magnetic resonance from the power line or mobile phone transmitters outside.

Bad environmental magnetic resonance might also be caused within our room inside by the misplacement of the room or any object. When our living and work environments are out of balance, it may bring in disease (including cancer) and prevent those who live in the environment from responding to treatment.

Changes in the environment may help prevent disease and promote healing. For example, simply placing the bed of a person with cancer, or at risk of cancer, in a new position is thought to prevent the development or progression of the disease.

Reference: http://www.ehelps.org/about.htm

http://www.rgp.uk.com/ RGP have an innovative approach to architectural design. We have no dogma, no standard answers and we are spirited and fun to work with.

SWEET BRIAR RETAIL PARK, NORWICH

This is just a very simple A3 retail unit type located in an existing retail park.

The challenge on this tight-budget, functional and simple building is to make it interesting.
In this design the building's interestingness is created through:

1. Exposing the end detail structure of the building.

2. Installing a unique gutter shape

3. Composition of materials

4. Keeping rain water down-pipe (RWDP) in between the feature wall which will break the monotonous of a long wall thus turns RWDP into a feature detail.

This simple design creates more character and to a certain degree of detail towards making a simple building looks interesting without using a fancy, complex and expensive solution.

"We tend to feel as a highly creative designer in solving complex design, however in daily simple life we also actively solve simple design problem yet still makes you a creative designer."

http://www.rgp.uk.com/ RGP have an innovative approach to architectural design. We have no dogma, no standard answers and we are spirited and fun to work with.

BERITA SEDIH DARI KAWAN

Kawan: nak bagitau ni..
Kawan: we are leaving soon

Pak Lan: leaving gi mana?

Kawan: balik tanah air

Pak Lan: kenapa? nie pasal UK recession ker? ...

Kawan: begitulah

Pak Lan: emm...Pak Lan pun tgh depressed jugak nie..sebab ada 2- 3 org member yg keje kat city dah kena berhenti dah...ofis Pak Lan pun tgh dlm process re-structuring
Pak Lan: alhamdulillah so far Pak Lan dlm kategory yg selamat lagi..
Pak Lan: bebudak yg keje bahagian teknikal yang byk effect
Pak Lan: really sad to hear this news...
Pak Lan: dahlah bukan ramai pun member kat UK nie..

Kawan: time is really bad la Pak Lan..

Sedih...kata yang belum dapat mengambarkan perasaan bila mendengar seorang lagi kawan yang terpaksa dibuang kerja. Ini bukan berita yang pertama kali saya dengar; sudah banyak...berat mata memandang berat lagi bahu yang memikulnya.

Dari Abdullah bin Umar r.a Rasulullah s.a.w bersabda,:”Orang Islam itu saudara orang Islam, ia tidak menganiayanya dan tidak pula membiarkannya teraniaya. Sesiapa yang menolong keperluan saudaranya, Allah akan menolong keperluannya pula. Siapa yang menghilangkan kesusahan orang Islam, Allah akan menghilangkan kesusahannya di hari akhirat kelak. Siapa yang menutup rahsia orang Islam, Allah akan menutup rahsianya di hari akhirat kelak.”
(Bukhari)

Bulan-bulan mendatang ini merupakan bulan yang amat mendebarkan semua. Kebanyakan syarikat sedang melaksanakan proses penstrukturan semula syarikat. Ramai yang akan dibuang kerja dan statistik kerajaan UK sendiri membayangkan angka pengangguran akan meningkat sehingga 2 juta orang!

Yang lebih menyedihkan lagi untuk pekerja asing seperti kami, tiada bantuan yang akan diterima oleh kerajaan UK seperti pelbagai "allowance" dan "income support" kerana status kami sebagai pekerja asing. Penyelesaian terakhir bermakna pulang ketanahair. Maka makin kuranglah kawan-kawan yang masih tinggal, sudahlah memang sedia tidak ramai.

Walaupun ini bermakna negara Malaysia akan kembali menerima kepulangan tenaga kerja tetapi amat malang sekali jika tahap pengalaman dan kepakaran masih belum mencapai kematangan maksimum.

Berita-berita ekonomi amat merisaukan. Mungkin ada yang tidak mahu mendengarnya kerana "stress", tetapi adalah baik untuk mengetahui keadaan semasa bagi kita membuat perancangan yang sebaiknya. Rentetan kisah kegawatan ekonomi kali ini dapatlah saya saksikan sendiri serta menimba pengajaran dan pengalaman yang amat berharga.

Hakikat bagaimana ketamakan manusia membinasakan negara.Ternyata amalan riba (yang diharamkan oleh Islam) yang menjadi pegangan kapitalis barat boleh membawa kemusnahan. Sikap rakus manusia mengejar kekayaan yang mudah dan cepat melalui jual-beli rumah dengan harga yang berlipat kali ganda menyaksikan ia memakan diri. Mereka yang membeli rumah semata-mata untuk "investment" menyaksikan harga rumah mereka menurun hingga ketahap "negative equity". Serta pengajaran bahawa cara hidup yang melampaui kemampuan dan budaya berhutang boleh menjadikan negara bankrap.

RGP ( firm akitek tempat saya berkerja) juga sedang melalui proses penstrukturan semula. Ini bagi mengimbangi kelembapan ekonomi semasa. Walaupun telah diberikan jaminan bahawa perkerjaan yang saya lakukan sebagai "architectural designer" akan terjamin, saya tetap melaksanakan langkah-langkah perlu bagi menghadapainya jika ditakdirkan nanti. Umpama menyediakan payung sebelum hujan...

Doa saya agar teman-teman yang menerima kesan dari krisis ini akan dipermudahkan jalan keluar dari kemelut tersebut. Dan bagi mereka yang akibat ketamakannya telah mengheret membinasakan orang lain, bersedialah menerima doa dari insan yang tertindas dan teraniaya ini. Moga apa yang berlaku menjadi perkara yang terbaik diberikan oleh Allah.

Dari Mu'adz Bin Jabal R.A: "Aku telah mendengar Rasullulah SAW bersabda: "Takutlah kepada doa orang-orang teraniaya kerana doa mereka adalah yang paling mustajab. Sesungguhnya tidak ada hijab antara doa mereka dan Allah SWT."

Teringat saya tentang sebahagian isi email klien lama saya:
"Anyway take care and be optimistic leave it to GOD ALMIGHTY and don't be moved by matters around."

WORKINGTON - Unit 5

This post is a continuation of series of my previous 3d visualization and design that I did for a simple design Retail Park.

RELATED LINK

UNIT 6 http://jalakmas.blogspot.com/2008/10/workington-unit-6.html

UNIT 7 http://jalakmas.blogspot.com/2008/10/workington-unit-7.html

UNIT A http://jalakmas.blogspot.com/2008/07/workington-unit-a1a2a3.html

The whole design proposal includes several new units located in existing development. There are units to be re-furbished, extended and even some new units to be added and built. The vast variety in the development stage gives the project a unique experience.

One of the precious knowledge I gained while working on this project is how we need to advise the client in re-structuring their development which meets the demand for expansion. The process involves relocating existing tenants in the right sequence so that all the business in the existing retail park can operate their business as usual despite the new development work progressing on site just like putting all the jig-saw pieces together.

It is also important to show the existing tenants the exact visual on how the future development will not leave a negative impact on them but increase their profitability and interest. For example the proposed development will be kept out from blocking their customers view.

This project may not be an extravagant piece of architecture but the process involved has provide me an awareness on turning a tight budget proposal into a profitable architecture.

http://www.rgp.uk.com/ RGP have an innovative approach to architectural design. We have no dogma, no standard answers and we are spirited and fun to work with.

WORKINGTON - Unit 6

The existing photo
Visual 1-superimposedVisual 2

This is the second option for the proposed project in Workington. It is called Unit 6 whereby the whole site would be treated as newly built and not a re-refurbishment project. The existing building will be demolished and replaced with a new building.


RELATED LINK
http://jalakmas.blogspot.com/2008/10/workington-unit-7.html

http://jalakmas.blogspot.com/2008/07/workington-unit-a1a2a3.html


http://www.rgp.uk.com/ RGP have an innovative approach to architectural design. We have no dogma, no standard answers and we are spirited and fun to work with.

WORKINGTON - Unit 7

View 1

View 2

This entry is a continuation to one of my previous posts regarding a project located in Workington. Images shown above are some of the perspectives of the new building that would be built as a temporary unit for an existing tenant while their permanent location is being refurbished. Once the refurbishment is completed, this unit will later be rented out to a new tenant.

LINK
http://jalakmas.blogspot.com/2008/07/workington-unit-a1a2a3.html


http://www.rgp.uk.com/ RGP have an innovative approach to architectural design. We have no dogma, no standard answers and we are spirited and fun to work with.

HOTEL CONVERSION 2

It's quite a while since I last posted anything on my design works. So, these are some updates on RGP projects which reflect the office's skills on conservation developments.

The first entry on the project has been posted in this blog.
http://jalakmas.blogspot.com/2008/08/hotel-conversion.html

I feel fortunate to be given the opportunity to be a part of this special project. I've also learnt and got a better understanding of the process beneath the design. This project has opened up my mind on the perspective of old building; how one still manages to respect the old by introducing the new.

The following is one part of the design analysis done for the project.

1. CIRCULATION

Our approach has been to create a contemporary “feature” link at first and second floor levels with secondary links to the different levels at the front and rear of XX Street.

We have produced a number of 3D design sketches for the link to explore the design options. The link provides a contemporary contrasting structure when measured against XX Street and the Y building, but only touches the two buildings with the minimum of structure and minimum of interference with the building fabric.

http://www.rgp.uk.com/ RGP have an innovative approach to architectural design. We have no dogma, no standard answers and we are spirited and fun to work with.

AKU YANG DEMAM

Dari Abdullah r.a katanya:”Aku datang mengunjungi Rasulullah s.a.w ketika beliau sakit, lalu kusentuh baginda seraya berkata:”Ya Rasulullah! Demam anda bertambah teruk.” Jawab baginda,”Memang demamku sama dengan demam dua orang kamu. Kataku pula, “Semoga anda mendapat pahala berganda pula.” Jawab baginda:”Semoga!” Kemudian sabda baginda pula:”Tidak ada seorang muslim yang ditimpa cubaan berupa sakit dan sebagainya melainkan dihapuskan Allah Taala dosa-dosanya, seperti pohon kayu menggugurkan daunnya.”
(Muslim)

Sumber: http://www.islam.gov.my/portal/e-hadith.php

INSPIRING STUDIO

This is my recent working studio at home. It's not quite a proper room where it is just a small portion at the corner of our living area. I managed to squeeze everything nicely in this small studio with the help of a few compact furniture.
I had always love to have a studio at home house. I started to have this idea of a studio kind of environment since I was in form 1. For as long as I can remember I used to occupy the empty maid's room at the back of our bungalow quarters. I would put all my art equipments and material in it. It was sometimes filled with lots of junk which were mainly all the rubbish that I think could be recycled and later re-used in making artworks.
Sometimes I don’t know why I love to be in a studio. There is always something to do. It some how makes me feel more creative and become more focus on doing something. Maybe the studio environment makes me believe that I'm a creative person. It give me a sense of creative affirmation and the belief that I am a creative person. What I imagine to be true in fact becomes true. When I got the opportunity to study architecture, my course mate and I were introduced to the life in studio. I just loved it. With the set of drafting table, drawer, partition boards it felt like a dream come true. I would spend hours doing work and studying in the studio. Like most of my studio mates, I always thought our studio as our second home. We worked, slept, and ate at the same place. Studio life is one of my best memories. But during my final bachelor degree years I started to have a family and couldn't spend so much time in the studio at the university as I used to. Instead, I managed to create a better studio right at home.
In my little studio at home, I love to paste all my idea on the wall or a board. Although sometimes it will look messy during my work, most of the time I'd always keep it tidy and properly arranged. I don’t really like to start working in a messy condition; it'll only make my mind miserable. In my studio I also love to arrange all books and transform them into a mini library. Sometimes I'd just spend times reading books over and over again.

Now days, my two boys are starting to like the idea of having this studio too. They know where to find their material for their art work and also when it's time to keep it tidy. We also make some art projects together. The book in my small library also consists of my children's books. Today, the studio is not just for myself but for everyone in the family to indulge together.

These are some key points I found in the Internet about working in studio.

1.For many artists, creativity is stagnated if there is no place to work. A great remedy for this is an in-home art studio. Such a studio needs to be equipped with the necessities to allow you to work smoothly and effectively on your craft. It should also be a peaceful and tranquil space to work.

2. create an atmosphere conducive to creating works of art

3. hang work of artist that inspire you as well as your own work

4. to have mood improving abilities

5. improving the quality of your work

6. The idea is to make whatever items you use completely accessible while you are working

SELAMAT HARI RAYA AIDILFITRI 1429 Hijrah

Esok atau lusa kita semua umat Islam bakal menyambut kedatangan Syawal dan merayakan Hari Raya Aildilfitri. Ramadhan yang pergi harap dapat bertemu lagi.

Pasti ramai yang sedang sibuk dengan persiapan untuk pulang beraya di kampung. Ramai juga yang dah "shopping" raya. Membeli baju baru, kuih-muih dan barang hiasan rumah.

Anak-anak pulak sedang sibuk menghitung hari untuk mengumpul duit raya. Duit poket "extra" yang diberi setahun sekali. Sekolah pun mungkin dah mula bercuti.

Ramai juga pasti dah takda "mood" bekerja atau sudah pun balik beraya.Inilah masa yang ditunggu-tunggu untuk menziarahi sanak-saudara dan kawan-kawan yang jauh.

Di kampung, persiapan sudah sedia menantikan orang kota pulang beraya. Pelita telah sedia dipasang. Kampung yang sunyi kini kembali hingar-bingar dengan pelbagai cerita dari orang bandar yg pulang ke kampung. Ketibaaan seorang demi seorang ahli keluarga menambahkan lagi kemeriahan.

Segala suasana itu amat kami rindui. Masa kanak-kanak kita yang telah lama ditelan arus kedewasaan. Masih ingat bagaimana sibuknya Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman dengan terpaksa diheret berjalan dari satu kedai ke satu kedai untuk membeli hanya sepasang kasut.

Teringat bagaimana aku sibuk membantu arwah Tok Long membakar kuih sepit di bawah beranda rumahnya.Tok pula dulu masih kuat membuat ketupat dan rendang.

Terkenang rasa gembiranya pulang kekampung berhari raya. Semangat untuk mengumpul duit raya sehingga menjelajah keseluruh rumah dari hujung ke hujung kampung. Hinggakan terpaksa membuat beberapa "round" demi mengosongkan poket baju yang makin sarat dipenuhi duit siling.

Ketika ini Wardina sedang seronok menyanyikan lagi-lagu raya. Mungkin dia cuba mengubat kerinduannya dan menghidupkan suasana menjelang hari raya. Aku memahaminya. Ini kali ke-3 buat aku dan kali ke-2 buatnya tidak pulang berhari raya.

Anak kami Azhan dan Zulkarnain masih belum dapat merasai suasana hari raya di Malaysia. Masih belum dapat bersama kawan-kawan sekampung "meronda" berhari raya. Tidak berpeluang bersesak-sesak membeli belah baju raya. Belum dapat merasai suasana balik berhari raya di kampung. (dulu balik masih kecil lagi)

Inilah antara harga yang perlu dibayar dalam perjalanan kami. Perjalanan untuk mengubah nasib dan memberikan harapan baru buat anak-anak. Sedang kita tidak mahu mereka melalui kesusahan masa lampau kita, seperti mana ayah kita juga tidak inginkan kita melalui kesusahan mereka; kita juga terpaksa mengorbankan detik manis dalam kepayahan itu.

Namun disebalik segala ralat di Aidilfiri nanti, kad ucapan, SMS, panggilan telefon, email dan pelbagai lagi ucapan telah diterima.Terima kasih juga buat kawan-kawan yang mengirimkan ucapan hari raya. Tanda ingatan semua amat kami hargai.

Sedang aku terkenangkan masa-masa lalu, sebuah bungkusan telah tiba. Bungkusan yang membuatkan Azhan dan Nine begitu teruja dan seronok...sangat gembira. Segala ole-ole dan kuih-muih yang terkandung didalamnya mengubat sedikit kerinduan kami... terima kasih tidak terhingga kami buat mak dan ayah. Moga Allah sentiasa melimpahkan rahmatnya keatas mereka.

Dan buat semua, terimalah poskad raya yang "poyo" sebagai tanda ingatan kami. InsyaAllah kalau ada umur panjang boleh kita berjumpa lagi...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/jalakmas_photography/