I GOT A NEW CAR ?

I got an email from one of the directors at my office. A memo to inform me that they've finally located my car! Yes my new elegent Saab93 with my nick name on it FAZ 873 (my nick in UK). An unknown photographer had captured my car during my travel in Europe. I was on my way back from a ski trip (can you see the snow on top of the mountains). I always display the humble side of me, a low profile kind of personality so that it would not be a competition to the directors. Well I've tried my best, but they've finally spotted me.

Funny though cause none of above is true (but I would like it to be true). It was just a coincidence that they saw a poster in some site hording featuring a car with my nick on the plate number. What a lucky picture! The reality is that I don't own a luxury car; not even any kind of car in UK, I walk to the office, use public transport to town and rent a car for travelling.

Talking about lucky picture I try to find the meaning for the plate number which is 873. Could it be a lucky number? It might sound superstitious but there are certain cultures that believe in lucky numbers. I do have my own lucky number which has a great meaning in chinese culture. But as a muslim, I don't depend my fate on numbers but only in God. However I still use the lucky number for a certain reason..for a good blessing. It's like your name which has certain meaning, and by having that meaning when people always call your name it will be a blessing from others to you.

So, driven by curiosity I try to find out what is the meaning of the number in chinese culture. Basically it means:

The word for 8 in Chinese (Pinyin: bā) sounds similar to the word which means "fortune", "prosper"

The number 7 often considered divine in Chinese astrology. It also symbolizes "togetherness".

The number 3 is considered a good number because of its association with San Cai, a collective term for heaven, earth and human. In buddhism it is associated with triple states of past/present/future

source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Numbers_in_Chinese_culture

Therefore 873 would mean PROSPER TOGETHER FOREVER . I guess...I should try to ask my chinese friends about its true meaning but I'm still waiting for an answer. Anyone?

Anyway, although it was just a joke for the day, I do appreciate the trouble my collegue had gone through to snap a picture and email to me. Next time I do hope it's going to be for real!

BINLEY SHOPPING PARK, COVENTRY - Development 2

This is another design development for the project. As usual I was given the responsibility to produce the presentation material. Apart from that I need to produce a basic 3d visualisation of the project. The massing of the model will be shown to the planner on the impact of the development towards the surrounding neighbourhood. This is like one of the days back in the university years; making a study model/massing model out of cardboard. I miss the feeling of holding a real building model. Even though advance rendering software could make a realistic visual it somehow does not really capture the sense of touch. Maybe in the coming future!

Among the requirement for planning submission is to provide a "Design and Access Statement " of the proposed project. This document however is prepared by one of my colleagues and it shouldn't prevent me from learning the needs of it. The basic contents of the document are :

1.00 Introduction

2.00 Assessment & Physical Context

3.00 Social and Physical Context

4.00 Site Evaluation and Layout

5.00 Building Design

6.00 Accessibility

7.00 Sustainable Design

8.00 Landscaping & External Works

By the end of the day, I only rendered a simple animation based on the modelling I had. It was just for my own amusement. I believe that the animation part is the next joy of making 3d. It is one way to make your model alive and take the full advantage of the modelling effort made.

3D modelling is like sketching a potrait of a family...you illustrate it with your own hands.When it is rendered in a photo realistic mode, it is like taking a photograph of a family...It brings a selected wonderful memories to life. Then the next limit of joy is animation...it feels like watching a family video when everyone has grown up...It captures everything!

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.

RETIREMENT 02

Special super-imposed advertisement-like card made by Adam Pridgeon and all of us signed at the back . Now everyone can fly!! , she does look young to be retired.


Today on 08 July 2007, it's the day to celebrate another very long serving RGP family member's retirement day. She has become more than a staff; a family member who has served the family for more than 20 years!

Again I'm really touched with how the family members appreciate the work done by others. I'm so amazed with so much love and care that they display for each member. Do we really deserve to be celebrated like this?

I'm not sure when will I retire. I'm not supposed to think about it that much in my late 20s; I should focus more on strengthening my skills. Maybe when the time comes I may not retire at all. Maybe I prefer to work for the rest of mylife (but at a more flexible time and place). I may even be spending my senior years giving lectures to students regarding architectural journey. But I know for sure I don't want to spend my golden age by resting and sitting and doing nothing, decaying with time that passes by. Mostly, I do hope Allah will invite me to witness the most sacred places in the world (hajj) before moving to the eternal world. Amin.

HEVEA HISTORICAL PARK

Back in November 2001, this is another earlier work of 3d visualization and animation during my study years. However, this project was totally unrelated to the school requirement and it was done during my semester break. It was also not a freelance job. So, if it was not a requirement and not requested by anybody why did I do it? Simply just an effort to learn and sharpen my skills. It was hard to just learn something from the manual without doing any exercises and practice of a real work. I would also equip me with a better start for the next semester. If I could master the tools faster and earlier I would have more time on design and creative process...keep learning.

DESIGN 7511 - HOTEL & CONFERENCE CENTRE alternative 2

Contemporary Scheme

Revised scheme

The clients already agree with the previous scheme. It suits the current design trend and should stand out as a new landmark for the area. The argument that the building will impact the surrounding vegetation is well noted and preserved since day one. It will go into the planning application anytime. Regardless of the good development there is one vital design point that had missed out during the first design stage thus called the design for revision.

The nearby old mills

What is the missing point? The point is that the design lacked in capturing the history of the surrounding building. This is a common problem that happens in designing new buildings within historical neighbourhood. The failure to identify how strong the historical context of the location that demanded the building to be executed within the same scale and language of the surrounding district soon would influence the design decision. There are less possibilities that city council would allow development that is so striking and outstanding from its current heritage area eventhough it already responds to the site and its natural environment.

Therefore, a revised version of facade should be able to :

a. preserve the historic feeling and at the same time highlight the boldness of the new building.

b. Improve the surrounding area.

c. Blend the old and the new design seamlessly.

d. Compose in harmony with the original historic material.

Diagrammatic massing

Hopefully by having this facade transformation it would put the new building into a place that is pleasant, strengthen and enrich the surrounding area. Most of all it would receive planning approval without much criticism!