Archi and Me

Major Project

2012-02-12T22:27:00.003+11:00

Hey folks, I'm so sorry about the lack of update here since September as I was busy with my major project and then graduation and finding job after that. Everything was a mess and I finally got them all under control so here I am again, to keep you guys update about the stuffs that I've been doing for the last few months. First of all is the long awaited outcome of my major project, I have compiled them into my portfolio so what I'm posting up here is the add-on sheet for my portfolio :)

Park and Beach

2011-09-05T17:04:00.002+10:00

I had a very progressive Saturday last week because I woke up at 7.45am! For house inspections in Western Suburbs, around Brunswick and Fitzroy area. There were 5 inspections and it stretched out to around 2pm. There was free time in between that so I went over to Carlton Park to relax on the grass. I was pretty much free after the house inspection. Not wanting to just stay home as it was sunny and nice, I decided to take the tram down to St. Kilda Beach! It was the first sunny afternoon that I got to hang out on the grass without freezing my ass off! Yay to spring :D

On the Way to Pope Joan Coffee Shop

2011-09-02T13:10:00.002+10:00

Spring is coming to Melbourne, wee!! Last Sunday was a really sunny day and I woke up early and went to Pope Joan for breakfast and it was a perfect breakfast (half-boiled eggs and flat white) for people like me who don't really eat much in the morning. I took some pictures of the things that I encountered and thought fascinated to share, especially the huge laundry factory.

Typical Young Australian Share Household (Part 2)

2011-08-30T15:50:00.002+10:00

A Typical Australian Household (Part 1)

2011-08-29T14:10:00.003+10:00

A typical young adults' Australian rent house will usually be furnished with boozes, guitars, some potted plants, vinyls, and a compact stove with some decorative tiles

Australian Football Match

2011-08-28T14:03:00.003+10:00

I went to MCG last weekend to watch the match between Collingwood and Brisbane and it was my first time going to a stadium to watch a football match, it was a really amazing experience and I was totally intrigued by the gigantic size of the stadium, just magnificent!

I'm Zombie Boy!

2011-08-25T22:01:00.004+10:00

I'm always intrigued by the famous Zombie Boy's tattoos but too chicken to have them on my body so I figure I'll just tweak it with my photoshop technique instead :) the result is pretty good :) It'll be my next look for Halloween Party

Re-analyzing Map

2011-08-25T01:53:00.004+10:00

I'm currently taking a step back from my design to re-analyze the map and stuffs that revolved around my proposed building. Events and public spaces are taken into serious consideration as they will serve as one of the connectors to my building and its surrounding and programs.

Winter Festival

2011-08-24T11:47:00.004+10:00

I bumped into this Winter Festival by accident as I have no idea what's been happening around the city most of the time. I was taking a tram down to Gertrude Street the other day and I saw a huge crowd gathered between Royal Melbourne Exhibition Building and the Melbourne Museum, so as curiosity truck, I went there and had a look. Whoa! an ice skating rink and some drinking tents were set up on that empty space, fun!

Alleys At Gertrude Street

2011-08-23T13:51:00.002+10:00

Nic was getting his car back from his brother who worked at Birdman Eating, and the car was parked at the alleyway off Gertrude Street. So while waiting for him to get the engine started, I took a few snaps around the interesting combination of elements of the surroundings, such as graffiti on brick walls, exhaust outlet, and wrought iron gates.

South Melbourne Market

2011-08-22T15:01:00.002+10:00

I went to South Melbourne Market last Saturday and it was like a mini Victoria Market but with nicer neighbourhood :) and theres also a Mexican music band performing in a small bar!!

A Walk In The City

2011-08-21T11:27:00.004+10:00

Week 5 Presentation Board

2011-08-20T11:11:00.001+10:00

I'm interested in discovering the tension and connection created between programs within architecture and response of its surrounding environment, a highly responsive site (with multiple infrastructure, leisure, arts, culture, natural environment, business buildings), an empty lot beside Federation Square Car Park Building is chosen to test the immediate tension and relationship with a series of programs (Public Space, Library, Exhibition Space, and Research Lab). the play of programs and surroundings as connectors for the architecture also allows the inspection on creating spaces with public driven programs narrowing down to specialized programs that for specific individuals and professions. The result is a Research and Design Media Lab with multiple vision and physical access from every level and narrowing down from general public interest spaces to specific spaces for professional indivisual. The co-existence of programs and surrounding is constantly being challenged within the architecture to maximize performance of the building and its contribution towards the surrounding cityscape, creating a symbiosis environment.

Week 5 Presentation

2011-08-19T17:12:00.004+10:00

As I mentioned earlier, I'm taking Major Project this semester, which is the final thesis studio project and there are 3 presentations to go throughout the entire semester. I've just finished the first of the 3 presentations, I have a lot of stuffs to reconsidered in my design which is good but i was just a little bit unhappy about the confusing way I presented :(

P/S : The presentation board will be uploaded in the next post

My most favourite coffee shop in Melbourne

2011-08-19T00:02:00.002+10:00

This coffee shop is called 1000 £ Bend, and the reason I love it is because it looks like a rundown warehouse with a cafe at the front and gallery at the back and all the retro furnitures and decorations are randomly put together, not to mention the flat white is awesome too!!

P/S : the only thing I'm fussy about most coffee shops is that they don't usually have brown sugar, and this coffee shop has :D

Pride March on August

2011-08-15T09:06:00.003+10:00

I decided to attend the pride march two days ago at the State Library, which would be marching along Swanston Street towards Collins Street and finished at the Parliament House. It's amazing to be part of the crowds to fight for the marriage rights in Australia!

Spring is coming very soon

2011-08-14T13:06:00.003+10:00

So winter is almost coming to an end this month and spring time is not far away!! Flowers along the streets start to blossom and garage sale starts around this time of the year as people are doing some spring cleaning and throwing out old stuffs. Everything seems extra cheerful and happy :D

Disco Food

2011-08-14T01:08:00.004+10:00

I went to this weirdly decorated hybridised japanese restaurant called Disco Beans, at Northcote on Friday night dinner

I ordered the dish called sukiyaki udon, and although it looks really simple, but I like it, taste very homey

Then, I had this dessert that taste like strawberry sorbet with kiwi fruit toppings, it was brilliant! :)

Sketch Preview of My Major Project

2011-08-12T01:43:00.003+10:00

I'm proposing a Design Research Media Lab with major focus on connectivity between programmatic activities and its physical site

Watching GaGa's Concert On My Mac

2011-08-12T01:30:00.002+10:00

I Wanna Fly!

2011-08-10T16:02:00.002+10:00

My another doodle for today :)

The Umbrella n Wet Public Space

2011-08-10T15:40:00.002+10:00

It's been raining all morning in Melbourne and the streets are wet and yucky :(

The Society of Birds

2011-08-08T21:36:00.003+10:00

Ok, I'm getting obsessed with the doodling stuffs I need to stop...just for the day

The World of Windows

2011-08-08T18:03:00.003+10:00

I did some doodling on doole.ly just now, the site is pretty cool :)

I Said Maybe and that's Final

2011-08-08T14:55:00.004+10:00

The vintage and secondhand stuffs at Camberwell Market, it was a huge effort for me to get up in the early freezing morning to go there but its worth it!

Design Studio Exhibition Part 2

2011-08-07T21:50:00.002+10:00

Cool idea on using book's cutouts to form contour study

Nic

A building with a shark head

Design Studio Exhibition Part 1

2011-08-06T11:55:00.007+10:00

My presentation board!

My physical model!

Other students' works

Transtopping Competition Design Studio Part 2

2011-08-02T11:16:00.012+10:00

The Presentation Board

This is the second train hub, Armstrong Creek Train Hub

Transtopping Competition Design Studio

2011-08-01T16:05:00.010+10:00

Presentation Board

Blow Up Axo on Each Floor
Section

This studio consisted of designing 2 train hub at once for a competition and this is the first train hub, Oakleigh Train Hub, the second train hub will be featured in the next post

Colourful Celebration

2011-08-01T11:23:00.002+10:00

Someone's taking bath at the window display :D

The queens

And the hottie

Biggest Pride Celebration

2011-07-31T22:33:00.009+10:00

I'm lucky to be able to be a part of the crowd of Mardi Gras in 2011 to enjoy the world's biggest pride celebration in Sydney :D i'll make sure i attend this every year from now on haha

old times part 2

2011-07-31T13:36:00.002+10:00

old times

2011-07-31T01:59:00.003+10:00

I went to the "Ramen Museum" in Yokohama and its literally a freaky man-made old japanese town, it just feel like im back to the World War 2 period

Chinatown, Yokohama

2011-07-30T16:36:00.002+10:00

The chinese vampire! :D

Retro Yokohama

2011-07-29T16:16:00.003+10:00

"The" Ferry Terminal

2011-07-28T16:31:00.002+10:00

Shibuya

2011-07-28T00:18:00.013+10:00

Disney night!

2011-07-25T22:10:00.007+10:00

Pirate ship from Peter Pan

Winnie The Pooh!

Nemo looks stoned!

Teapot and Candle from Beauty and The Beast

The classic dancing scene in Beauty and the Beast

Monster Inc.

The prince with the glass high heel in Cinderella

Bye bye Disney Tokyo!

To the Future, Fantasy, Western and Primitive Lands in a day

2011-07-21T11:45:00.003+10:00

The Future Land reminds me of 'Back to the Future' coz its the old school type of futuristic perception

Guess whats inside the castle

A gift shop, thats all! haha, and if I am to choose to get one of the item I'll definitely get the rose in the jar from Beauty and The Beast

This is the guy that work on the glass and porcelain stuffs, he himself is the window display

I prefer the Western Land in late evening time coz it feels more romantic than 'dusty' compare to day time

This is the imitation of either Balinese or Hawaiian style of architecture and the stuffs that featured inside are of course related to Lilo and Stitch

Disney's Character's Houses

2011-07-20T14:14:00.003+10:00

Goofy's House wasn't opened for inspection :(

Minnie's House

Everything's plasticky in Minnie's house

Didn't check out Mickey's house coz there was a crazy long queue

I didn't know that Donald lives in a boat house

Goofy's house from another angle

Chips and Dale's tree house!!

Architecture in Disneyland

2011-07-19T16:07:00.003+10:00

The haunted house :)

Alice in Wonderland Entrance, decorated with beautiful flower bed

Winnie the Pooh's House is my favourite coz its actually a book!

Gas station with the Air and Water Pump filled with fish

The local town hall

The bank! This architecture in Disneyland reminded me of Robert Venturi's idea :D

Disney Carnival!

2011-07-18T13:17:00.004+10:00

Cinderella and her prince charming and sleeping beauty standing at the side

Tigger and his other friends in umbrella!

The jungle theme merging Jungle Book and Lion King

Hawaiian theme with Lilo and Stitch

Pinocchio and Jumbo at the back of a whale

Three pigs! :D

Monster Inc team

My all time favourite cartoon! Toy Story!!

The original and classic Disney characters

The Land of Cowboys and Red Indians

2011-07-17T13:41:00.003+10:00

No i wasn't at the outback of America, just the Western Land in Disneyland Tokyo

This is the biggest tree house I've seen!

Western Land is not fun without a roller coaster ride on the crazy coal mine train

The Place Where Everyone Lives Happily Ever After

2011-07-15T11:40:00.004+10:00

Tinker Bell!!

Its a good luck sign to be kissed by fairy :D

The food in Disneyland is quite tasty

Donald duck on the run!

This boat reminds me of the Mississippi's Steam Boat and the boat existed in the swamp scene of 'The Rescuers'

Izakaya (居酒屋) and Capsule Hotel (カプセルホテル) at Asakusa (浅草)

2011-07-14T14:20:00.006+10:00

Asakusa seems like a quiet place at night but if you are adventurous enough you can walk around the area and discover that it offers a lot more than you think (a place with temple and train exchange to outer parts of Tokyo). There are quite a number of izakaya around Asakusa.

Since this is a backpacking trip to Japan, we figure its best that we stay at capsule hotel for a night at Asakusa area. I always heard about the idea of capsule hotel, but to be able to experience it on my own for the very first time, it just so amazing! Nothing like what my other friends told me (which is very uncomfortable to sleep in), the capsule hotel offers a tiny space filled with futon and small tv (but if you want to watch tv you'll have to pay and put on earphone as one capsule is very near and next to the other so the noise tolerating level is very low :) but anyway its amazing and I seriously recommend anyone who's going to Tokyo to stay at least one night in a capsule hotel.

Snowing in Edo Village

2011-07-13T23:58:00.003+10:00

It was actually snowing during the play, epic!

Fell Into Edo Period

2011-07-11T14:06:00.004+10:00

This is the Edo Village in Kinugawa!

Time to kill some ninjas!

The distorted house

Hanging Out At The Hotel

2011-07-10T10:57:00.003+10:00

These are the views from the windows and sliding door of my deluxe room

Breakfast is provided by the hotel

These dolls reminds me of the ghosts in 'Fatal Frame' aka 'Project Zero' game

To The Kinugawa Onsen (鬼怒川温泉)!!

2011-07-09T11:48:00.003+10:00

Settled for lunch after visiting the temple while on our way to Kinugawa Onsen

This is how a japanese small town looks like :)

We stayed at a deluxe traditional jap room overlooking the kinugawa river!! :D

Getting changed into yukata for onsen session!!

This is how the sleeping time looks like :) good thing is that the maid did this while we were out having dinner

Still Hanging Out At The Temple In Nikko

2011-07-08T17:53:00.004+10:00

Off To Nikkō Tōshō-gū (日光東照宮)

2011-07-08T11:29:00.002+10:00

out to the rural part of Japan

2011-07-07T14:06:00.003+10:00

Heading off to.....

Nikko (日光)!!!

field of the autumn leaves, but not so much about the leaves, more about the electronics

2011-07-06T15:41:00.005+10:00

I'm at the best electronic town on earth! Akihabara (秋葉原)

Human traffic never stops flowing over here

I almost got myself a naruto wig! but didn't end up getting it coz im not much of a cosplay person

Rows and rows of toy vending machines are located in the Sega building

I had the best time watching this pro drummer playing perfectly (according to the scores) in from of the drum game machine

I love the Labi shopping complex! they have all the intricate stuffs in there!

Something Fishy!

2011-07-05T12:58:00.003+10:00

Guess where ive been to? its the biggest wholesale fish market in the world! Tsukiji Market (築地市場)

Having Dinner At Buzo (鍛冶屋文蔵) Near Tokyo International Forum & Picked Up Chestnuts & Tokyo Campanella (東京カンパネラ) Along The Way

2011-07-04T17:10:00.006+10:00

Buzo is a sort of Izakaya where the Tokyo business men and women like to hang out after work for drinking and a lil bit of snacks before heading home

An old man pushing out the cart selling chestnut in the middle of winter

These choco cookies (Tokyo Campanella, 東京カンパネラ) are amazing! and there're abit expensive too but I managed to buy them when they're on sale, at one of the underground shoplots at Ikebukuro Station

The Breathtaking Tokyo International Forum (東京国際フォーラム)

2011-07-03T16:24:00.003+10:00

I don't think the photos did the judgement to this building, its really amazing and u'll have to be there to experience it

Walking Around Tokyo Taking Photos Of Interesting Building

2011-07-03T14:30:00.006+10:00

Ha! :D

These flower balls reminds me of Salvador Dali's painting of the girl with flower ball head

I personally think that the light installed walkway is very interesting coz its usually built in a small-scale indoor environment

The Imperial Palace and The Royal Family

2011-07-01T16:24:00.005+10:00

The Imperial Palace is surrounded by water channel

I went there on the wrong day so it wasn't open for visitors :(

But at least i get to see the Japanese Royal family! They were attending an event I suppose :)

Kite Museum And Its Surrounding

2011-06-30T21:24:00.003+10:00

Octopus Kite!

The Geisha Kite!

Can't believe that Malaysian's Wau is in the kite museum too!

On The Way To Nihonbashi (日本橋)

2011-06-29T12:41:00.003+10:00

Morning can't never be better without the milk from Hokkaido :)

Ramen time!

Walking around and got lost in the city but found this building with interesting large-scale graffiti

You're not in Japan if you haven't tried out the sticker photo booth!

Arriving Tokyo CBD where Nihonbashi supposed to be at but can't seem to find it coz there are quite some old bridges situated at the area =.=

Omotesandō (表参道) and Cat Street (キャットストリート)

2011-06-28T21:56:00.004+10:00

Neil Barrett Store with really nice curvy interior wall

World's famous Prada Aoyama designed by Herzog de Meuron

The worker in a restaurant demonstrating how to make Japanese New Year's Rice Cake

From Harajuku (原宿) to Omotesandō (表参道)

2011-06-28T16:48:00.003+10:00

Passing-by Shinjuku (新宿) at Night

2011-06-27T23:49:00.001+10:00

Ginza (銀座) at Night Part 2

2011-06-14T17:05:00.002+10:00

Ginza (銀座) at Night

2011-06-12T23:38:00.002+10:00

Off to Ginza (銀座)

2011-06-11T21:14:00.003+10:00

Ikebukuro (池袋) Street Dance & Taking Train to Ginza

2011-06-10T19:45:00.002+10:00

Back to Kyoto Station and Off to Ikebukuro (池袋)

2011-06-09T22:13:00.004+10:00

Making My Way Down From The Hills of Fushimi Inari Taisha (伏見稲荷大社) To Have An Oily Ramen

2011-06-09T00:47:00.004+10:00

Up The Hills of Fushimi Inari Taisha (伏見稲荷大社)

2011-06-07T16:19:00.002+10:00

Fushimi Inari Taisha Part 2 (伏見稲荷大社)

2011-05-29T17:29:00.003+10:00

Fushimi Inari Taisha (伏見稲荷大社)

2011-05-26T14:54:00.002+10:00

Fushimi Inari Taisha Mae (伏見稲荷大社前)

2011-05-26T01:40:00.002+10:00

Nice Little Restaurant Run By Jap Family

2011-05-22T01:01:00.002+10:00

Sanjūsangendō (三十三間堂)

2011-05-20T15:54:00.003+10:00

Exiting Ryōan-ji (竜安寺)

2011-05-14T23:08:00.003+10:00

Ryōan-ji Rock Garden (竜安寺石庭)

2011-05-05T16:30:00.003+10:00

Ryōan-ji Forecourt (竜安寺)

2011-04-19T00:52:00.004+10:00

Pontochō (先斗町) at Night

2011-04-18T01:48:00.002+10:00

Dinner and Hanamikoj-dori (花見小路通)

2011-04-09T22:28:00.004+10:00

Magnificient Night at Otowa-san (音羽山)

2011-04-09T01:21:00.003+10:00

Verandah of Kiyomizu-Dera (清水寺)

2011-04-07T14:04:00.003+10:00

Forecourt of Kiyomizu-Dera (清水寺)

2011-04-05T23:53:00.003+10:00

Streets Before Kiyomizu-Dera (清水寺)

2011-04-05T21:44:00.002+10:00

up and down the hill of ginkakuji

2011-04-03T14:44:00.003+10:00

ginkakuji's surrounding

2011-04-01T16:46:00.004+11:00

Internal Courtyard of Ginkakuji

2011-03-31T14:29:00.003+11:00

In Front Of Ginkakuji

2011-03-31T00:49:00.004+11:00

Jap Trip: Day 3 Part 1

2011-01-29T10:33:00.002+11:00

Jap Trip: Day 2 Part 5

2011-01-26T19:33:00.002+11:00

Jap Trip: Day 2 Part 4

2011-01-21T00:04:00.002+11:00

Jap Trip: Day 2 Part 3.2

2011-01-19T23:29:00.002+11:00

Jap Trip: Day 2 Part 3.1

2011-01-19T01:08:00.003+11:00

Jap Trip: Day 2 Part 2

2011-01-18T00:58:00.002+11:00

Jap Trip: Day 2 Part 1

2011-01-13T00:19:00.002+11:00

Jap Trip: Day 1 Part 2

2011-01-11T19:25:00.003+11:00

Jap Trip: Day 1 Part 1

2011-01-10T22:33:00.003+11:00

st kilda music fest...

2010-11-20T01:53:00.005+11:00

february 14th this year was the music festival, held in st kilda and yes, i was lucky to be there to witness the festival! :D i went there with audy and james, we had a great time once again as expected! :D

P/S: i've included a video that i've taken during the event :)

hailing from sydney...

2010-11-18T13:50:00.003+11:00

James, my bestie in Sydney, paid me a visit last February, so as a host in Melbourne i had the responsibility to take him around the city :) so we went to different places like Brunswick Street, Smith Street, Gertrude Street and of course the commercialised Swanton Street...we've had some really great fun

P/S: if you're visiting Gertrude Street, please try the Crepes in a Southern French restaurant called Breizzoz coz I personally think that its one of the best crepes in town! as its crispy compared to other crepes that is soft n chewwy

Chinese New Year's Eve and Chinese New Year...

2010-10-19T21:44:00.003+11:00

this year was the first year that i spent my Chinese New Year away from my family as i was working (and still working now) and wasn't able to take leave to fly all the way back to Malaysia, but even if I'm back i wouldn't be at Malaysia as my family travel every year during Chinese New year and the top places that they'll head off to is Thailand (*its the nearest and the cheapest and its still counted as foreign country lol)

tho i didn't get to go back, i still fortunate enough to be able to spend my CNYE with my beloved friends in Melbourne! not too bad after all :) I quite enjoyed it and it was a potluck get-together dinner so each person has to cook something, guess what i cook :) no, not the prawn, not the sambal fish either, but the one under the lid, its kong poh chicken! :D was quite a success except it was over spicy but Ruth (the girl who likes every food that comes with chillies topping!) loves it so i guess its still alright lol

headed off to little bourke street in the city (just a few mins walk frm my place as i live in the cbd :D ) the next morning to check out what locals do to celebrate CNY... luckily i wasn't expected much as you know, its Australia, still a western country so its not like its a huge things over here compare to Malaysia, but i managed to get what i want, food of course! :D pork jerky and mixed fruits dipped in hardened sweet sauce! haha as you can see i was wearing red that day to bring out the celebration mood in me ;)