THEORY-2015

Old VS New : Adapt, Transform and Reuse

Old or New? The old and new reveals on everything, life or dead. People always argue about how important is the old that built the foundation for everything new to stand and develop firmly. Its not about how the old should be reserved totally or how the new should be developed and demolished the old totally, its about to achieve a balance, a maximum harmony and an equilibrium state where the old and new is 'adapted, transformed and reused' for each other. 

Why don't we just side to either old or new? Let's have an example of a imagination island, where the island have trees, chickens, fish, and a survivor. What if the survivor eat the chicken and fish for survive without control? The chicken and fish will end up being finish eating by the survivor. What if the survivors used the tree to build up a new shelter and to make fire? The trees maybe disappear from the island. Then, what will happen to the survivor? It is clearly seen that the survivor will be dying soon after all the resources is used up. In this example, the chicken and fish is to represent the old which is adapted to the island with tree which is the environment, and the survivor as the new which destroyed every balance found existed on the island.

 

The old Dionysus Greek Theater which blend with the nature?

(The old architecture which always respect the environment and the materials is locally available)

The modern Wuxi Grand theater without green?

(The new architecture which is so eye catchy but destroyed every natural things on site to be iconic) 

The Esplanade Theater which blend the new design into the nature environment and keeping the old architectures around?

To keep the old which to stop the development or to build the new which to demolish the old is much simpler than adapting both the old and new into the environment, it is as complex as we need to think about how the old design language can communicate with the new, how to blend and build the structure without or minimize to the maximum of the impact to the natural built environment, to consider the future trend, to full fill people's needs, to generate income for a country and so on.

A building have a lot of potential and direction, it is not about how it used to be, but how it may be, should be and can be. 

Sekeping Kong Heng is the best example to show how to adaptive reuse building where this old abandon old buildings in Ipoh, Malaysia was not demolished or hacked down but to be repurposed into a new use which is becoming a boutique hotel which become a landmark for Ipoh.

Look at how the architect of the Sekeping Kong Heng hotel, Ng Sek San respect the past while embracing the future to combine the use of new precast light concrete wall and clear glass with the exposed old (still in good condition) structures. Even the green is properly planned and kept as part of the living spirit of this place.

The action of trying of blending the new into the old also encourage the people to keep and deliver the history, memory and spirit of the origin of a city or town to the future generation. There is another idea where the facade and most part of the buildings was kept and remain and the others was demolished, and then reuse the building materials to redesign a new space within the others buildings which applied the same design concept. Besides, Juxtaposition is also workable to fit the new buildings on, beside or within the old without blending the design language but having with a harmony and peace relationship with one another and the environment.

The Royal Ontario Museum Crystal Building which over outstanding than the old building it attached or parasite on but yet did not harm any part of the existing building structure and the built environment.

Old an new are coexisted, without the new, there is nothing can be defined as old, and there will be no changes to be realized what we have done to the built environment; without the old, there will be no new and no new changes or future that we were and are always wanted to achieve and to create. Therefore adaption of old into new or vice versa and blend with the nature built environment is needed to maintain a city with soul, spirit, potential, energy and life.

THOERY MOVIE DAY - THE IMITATION GAME

HUMANITY AND SEXUALITY : IMITATION GAME

When I was first introduced to 'Imitation Game' by my friend telling how interesting it was, I thought it was a computer game. This mean that 'Imitation Game' was not popular and flavoured by my social circle, at least not 'before' I watched it. I always watched a random movie without knowing the storyline, but for 'Imitation Game' I insisted to watch the trailer the day before our movie outing day as I totally have a wrong impression on this movie! After watching the trailer, I was like 'Oh my god!', this maybe my new cup of tea! It turn out that this movie is about a extra ordinary brilliant guy named Alan Turing solving and cracking a 'puzzle' named Enigma Code which was used by Nazi during World War II. It maybe sound like a typical puzzle solving movie which will have a lot of talking, thinking, and Psychological monologue that make the whole movie quite boring to the public, but despite of all the above aspects, it discuss about issues like humanity, love, sexuality, politic, and etc which make the audience eagle to know what will happen next as it is what normal people like us always experienced and can understand.

On 11th February 2015, the movie day, we had shuffled all of our seats so the whole class would experience something different from the movie partners we usually had! The two movie partners I got is our dear lecturer Miss Sharmila and my class Dreaming Queen, Illin. Well, the actions of my two movie partners was having a big contrast as most of the time ms Sharmila understood too much and Illin was actually trying to catch the ball only... Several interesting experience during the movie is where Illin was get shocked by Alan came out as a gay and asking me 'Har?! He is a gay?! I just knew it!' when it was so obvious that he even write 'I Love You' code to Christopher in his flashback memory, and when I was still having a deep slow thought and enjoying my own touching moment towards the movie, Illin suddenly stand up and shout 'Okay! Toilet!' stun all my 'perceptual sensors and nerves' and successfullly stimulated my 'laughing cells'. Well, nextime, find the 'right person' to enjoy a 'touching moments' together. (Someone who need a people who is willing to explain the 'balls' you are trying to catch while the movie is still on going, you can come and find me, just remember to treat me a free movie ticket.)

Alan Turing, someone who was always tagged with unsuccessful and fail machine, was actually a hero who broke the Enigma code and end the world war earlier; a world war hero who was pressured by the 'government he served' and the 'world he saved' due to his sexuality then decided to commit a suicide, isn't that his whole life is so sarcastic? Speaking about how Alan broke Enigma code and brought the war to an end, I could only described it as another 'game or puzzle' for this genuine mathematician. It is liked the current war computer game which allowed you to plan a strategy and sending troops to fight others' camp and country, somehow we were the one who decide which 'troops must be sacrificed' in order to protect the bigger and more powerful army approaching which was quite similar to when he broke the code and they were the one who 'calculated the statistic and probability of war death' to stop Nazi army without letting the Nazi realized their Enigma machine was decoded. Many people had question his humanity towards the war fighter and their family when Peter Hilton found out that his brother was on the convoy which was going to be ambushed by the Nazi army forces and Alan decided not to stop the attack in order to keep this code breaking surprise from the Nazi. Alan believe in the rational of saving the world instead of using his selfishness to save Peter's brother and the 200 people on the convoy will keep their success in decoding Enigma machine so Nazi will not stop using Enigma code to communicate between their forces.

Sexuality was a bigger issue during the past; homosexuality was a crime during Alan's time; Alan Turing was committed as a homosexuality criminal after his efforts and glory in serving the country. This situation portrays how unacceptable homosexual was in the past society and law were set to against the homosexuality. Despite of how antipathy the society toward homosexual people, there was always party who could accept homosexuality for his benefit (John showing understanding not to reveal Alan's sexuality as to cover his spy identity) and because of love (Joan, the once to be his fiancee, accept his sexuality and even when he revealed his sexuality, Joan said 'So what? I had my suspicious. I always did. But we're not like other people. We love each other in out own way, and we can have the life together that we want. You won't be the perfect husband? I can promise you I harboured no ntention of being the perfect wife. I'll not be fixing your lamb all day, while you come home from the office, will I? I'll work. You'll work. And we'll have each other's company. We'll have each other's minds. Sounds like a beter marriage than most. BECAUSE I CARE FOR YOU, AND YOU CARE FOR ME. AND WE UNDERSTAND MORE THAN ANYONE ELSE EVER HAS.' Love is not about sex or sexuality, love is about 'you and me', the feeling of caring and sharing, and understanding. I had done an action which is coming out to one of my dear friends which same as what Alan had done but only his best friend Joan accept and understood him not the others in the society, I just want to test how will the modern society reaction and thinking towards homosexuality. The interesting part is my friends that i came out to accept who I am and they can understand that 'love is universal' and is not bounded to race or sex. One of my friends told me, 'It’s good that you came out to me, because I knew homosexual is human too, you can have female close friends like I can have Male close friends. Did you realise that you just share a secret star rated 5 stars tomne which actually strengthen our relationship and showing that you trust me? Well as long as you don’t fall in love with me then everything is ok!! Haha because I have my lovely husband already!' I am lucky I have a lots of friends who can understand homosexual and I think Alan Turing just born at the wrong era which the society reject homosexual and indirectly causing his suicide, but he born at the right time to save the world.

At the end of the movie, it was stated Alan Turing was forgave by the Queen Elizabeth as a World War hero 50 years after the war end. It takes time for people to understand and forgive others who hurt them before. I had some experience arguing with my friend for few cents during primary school and due to my immature thinking, I boycott her. Now both of us had forgiven each other, but we did not know how to restart our relationship. Forgive and forget, do not wait until we loses the one we love only we realise it is already too late. Luckily it was not too late for the British to forgive Alan and revealed his big contributions abd success in creating the first prototype for the modern computer.

There is still lot and lot of issues in 'Imitaion Game' which cannot finish discussing them in an article. The movie ranking no.1 in my heart is 'Saving Mr.Bank', which is another worth movie, the movie rank after it now is this brilliant 'Imitation Game'. Rumours and historians had critique that most of the storyline in the movie is not the exact and real history, but to me it is not much different whether the storyline is true truth or just something made out by the writer, the important part is this movie make me think, raise and discussing about the awareness and issues stated in 'Imitaion Game'. Well, enough reading, now its time for whoever is reading this article to grab a ticket (or bought a DVD) to watch the 'Imitation Game'!

MINOR : EXPERIENCING CULTURE 02 - IPOH TRIP

It's another experiecing culture trip during my study life in UCSI! Where we went? It's a small city full with heritage culture and treasures, humanity and arts, Ipoh Town, the proud capital of Perak! Throughout my 21 years, the furthest state that I have ever been to is Perak when I was still in Foundation. This time, same state but different places, this trip had given me so many different experiences from my last visit to Perak. No more talking, lets find out what me and all my friends had expereinced in Ipoh the happenning city in Perak! JOM!

Throw back photo in Ipoh Old Town!!

7th FEB 2015 * Saturday * UCSI Lobby

Today is the first day we will be depart from Cheras to Gopeng to start our frst day of Ipoh trip!! Well, everytime when there's a trip, there's always people who overslept and came later the gathering time stated (its a true truth). I even have to wake up two of my dearest classmate xDD haha! But luckily they didnt miss the chance to catch up the bus! *Bye Cheras! See you in another 4 days! :DD* I sat around Nana my classmate, Tahsin n Vevi who are all very hyperactive and crazy that most time travelling around with bus, I had stay awake and playing with them which is so much different from my previous trip which I was spent my time in sleep on the bus @@

 

Sometimes if you stay awake during the whole journey you will find something 'beautiful' through the journey! :))

First station, the Heritage Museum in Gopeng! This Museum was renovated from a heritage building which all the structure part of the buiding was remain and patly like the toilet and the small garden were mixed up with old and new elements. The museum exhibits most of the heritage daily used tools and furnitures of Gopeng people, like the antique camera, the basket used to lift items to higher floors, and etc (Some of the items I never seen before@@) The interesting part of this museum is that the Living room of this museum's height is two storey high which allow the hot air to rise and wont heat up the living space easily, then attics have been wisely used to create several spaces such as bedroom and living room 2 and one of the open space on the roof has been transformed into a open air resting area!@@ (This is very brilliant but when its sunny day, it is very hot = =)

So much memory have been kept in this museum, it may mean the history or something heritage to us the younger generation, but for the local people who grew up there, its what make them to be who they are now, its flashback of the growth of the town. Appreciate our origin and make us proud of what we are now.

After visiting the Goprng Museum, we have a small break to hunt for lunch at Tanjung Tualang before travel to a Labu Koperasi at Kampung Gajah. Tanjung Tualang a small town on the way to Ipoh. I had bought a Apong Balik as my lunch, so delicious! All the food at Tanjung Tualang here is very cheap! @@ The whole piece of the Apong kuih only cost rm2!! It is very cheap compare to Kl which the whole piece of Apong will cost about rm5 to rm8! The admission to the public toilet is free! (Even most of the public toilet at my hometown, Batu Pahat need to pay at least 20 sen :( )

 Sometimes I don't need a luxury but something traditional can became my moving force! :)

Here come the most interesting part on our first day of Ipoh trip which is experience the workshop of learning and making the Labu Buluh Tiga at the Koperasi Industri Kampung, Tanjung Bidara, Kampung Gajah!! xDD This is the first time all of us get to produce our own Labu @@!! So excited!! The Koperasi had prepared the unfinished labu for us to shape and to decorate with our own image and style like the flora image etc. First thing we were doing is to trim off the extra side of the labu to form a smooth and perfect surface then we can use the clay provided to further decorate the labu. Then the labu will be taken out to be exposed and dry under the sunlight. (The labu will not be as strong as the product sold in the Koperasi as the labu havent go through a lot of baking and finishing process to make it waterproof and hard in strength, and the labu is not stained with colours) I decided to create what I prefered which is something like animal but not instead of creating flora image as ordered, we must do something we loved and excited of instead of doing what people ordered us to do @@ The tauke of the Koperasi also allowed us to experience creating the labu using the traitional machine. He kindly guide and teach us on how to create the labu shape and how to cut off the labu from the clay, everything happen in few seconds! (But to be honest to say i dont think i have done anything while making the labu xD hahahahahahahahaha!!!)

We have spent more than one hour at the Koperasi before heading to Ipoh. Most of us were very tired and hungry, everyone have felt asleep in the bus...zzz..... Around 7.30pm, we have reached and check-in the Ipoh Boutique Hotel. I had researched on the Ipoh Boutique Hotel, and to be honest I didnt expect this hotel to have a strong and unique theme @@ and the most interesting part I remember for this Ipoh Boutique Hotel is they have a big column in the middle of each of the biggest room rented x'DD Both lift and staircase had been provided, but for safety purpose, only guest with the room card can access the lift to 2nd floor and above @@ (and there is a guard in front of the lift at the ground floor so he can control the flow of the guest and stranger into the hotel) Private parkings specially for the Hotel guests, wifi signal for each floor and private toilet for each room. This night we had our dinner at the local medan selera just locate beside the Gerdang Malam (the pasar malam).

The food that I ate at the medan selera, the red daging fried rice and the Ipoh famous Kangkung Sotong (this sotong is not taste like what i imagine @@ I thought it would be more spicy, heavy taste, perhaps this is not the standard taste of this meal cause it is not that special and delicious.... but the red daging is seriously nice! I will recommended it!)

Another thing that I found it amazing is that most of the Ipoh Malay family actually dining at the medan selera than masak(cook) at home @@ The medan selera is 80% full with people form youngster & children until senior citizens! Amazing! And the price is so reasonable and affordable to all people xD (And one thing, the medan selera have a good hygiene)

8th FEB 2015 * Sunday * Old Town

(Let's conclude today as experiencing culture, adventures and assignment day! xDD hahahaha!!)

Early morning at 8am, everyone had woke up and shopping around at the memory lane -  the Ipoh flea market! Local peoples will sell second hand products and antiques such as the dulang used in tin mining, the black disc player, the charcoal iron, and etc at the moderate price compare to the general market in KL. We had interview an local stall owner, who actually told us that this Memory Lane already existed since several years back at different places and he is very appreciated that this Memory Lane is created so the youngsters, locals, and the foreigners get the chance to learn Ipoh heritage and history. 

The market is so crowded, and this memory lane only happen during weekend! Nice culture which should be applied in every city or small town to appreciate the heritage culture value.

At this flea market, I had saw that most of the stall owner is senior citizen compare to youngsters, this situation/phenomenon is also seen when we walking around at the Ipoh old town and when we interviewing with the locals. Ipoh is a very happening city as we can see that Ipoh still had a lot of opportunities, but youngster refuse to return to their hometown and worked at Ipoh (only after their retirement, then they will choose to stay in the slower pace, peaceful yet happening hometown, Ipoh) This situation is same to people who get the chance to working at a modern, developed, and sophisticated foreign country or KL, most of us will choose to work at foreign country. Its good the youngster take the challenge to work and pushed themselves to the limit in fighting for their goal in the busy city like KL!

10.30am, this is the official time when we start our assignment adventure!

Mission : To study the different foot trail in Ipoh Old Town and survive under the hot sun
Time given : gather by 5pm
Map : not given
Survival Materials : self supply
Survivors name lists : Me, Nana, Tahsin, Kah Wen, Naqiyah

The interesting thing we found out in the survival mission is that all the Ipoh people are very friendly, they are very willing to help us in completing our assignments, guiding us directions. (Sunday, most of the heritage building is closed...) This is actually a culture we can feel in all the parts in Malaysia, the only difference is at Ipoh, 'everyone' is practicing this culture. 

Do we survived through this assignment? @@ Of course! and we gain even more than just survived but strengthen our teamwork, friendship and knowledge!

My dinner, famous Tauge Chicken! Unfortunately, I always and still dislike tauge after tasting this dish....:(

-This is two dashes to indicate the starting of my crazy night-

Its been years since I last cycling experience during my primary school @@ There is this bicycle renting serice at the Kinta River, which everyone is allowed to rent the bicycle which varies from single to four cyclists. This is the most fatigue cycling experience i ever had = = I had rented three people bicycle difficulty rated 4 stars out of 5, and how to make the bicycle work? First rule, the front people must be strong or very skilled in cycling, middle people is someone who know how to balance, the last person is someone who responsible to give to force for the bicycle to move (which you are doing the main cycling past), and please cycling in slow pace, if failing achieve any one of these criteria, the difficulty will increase! Haha! Amazing bicycle! (Well I actually saw someone cycling the three people bicycle along.........) After 45 minutes, I cant felt my legs... Then go back hotel and rest? Nah! Nana who have borrowed her brother's car offer us a ride around Ipoh! (Thank you Nana for giving us another experience like travelling in Ipoh not following the school trip but travel by ourselves! <3) We had went to a taman which there's a lot of food trucks located at the roadside. At here, I have been introduced another Ipoh's famous food, the Roti Goyang! (Hald boiled egg is put on top of the roasted bread!) It is a very nice combination than eating them seperately :P

The crazy gang! Thank you Nana for making this crazy midnight happened!

Then the crazy us went to have a case study at the luxury old town Cafe in the M Boutique Hotel!

We tried our best to stay classy in this extra luxury Old Town Cafe (seriously 'extra' already) I still remember that Illin asked the staff whether we can take photo and video of the Cafe designs and our answer is 'Sure! They have spent so much money in the interior design sure they wan us to help promote their interior environment!' In order to create the extra luxury feeling in the Cafe, the main colour theme is Gold, brown and white. Even the toilet is like staying in 5 stars hotel = = but the interesting typo and diagram in the toilet will relieved people who will feel stress doing big business inside the luxury toilet xDD hahaha!! They are so smart to find something in between to balance up the feeling of luxury with the friendly environment (so the target users can be extend to moderate class people :))

9th FEB 2015 * Monday * Old Town

LOST of TAMBUN!!! A water theme park!!! (I named today as 'BBQ day', reason? I will reveal it later!) Water theme park a very distant vocab to me, it seems like this word only related to me decades ago.....I am very excited when I heard we are going to a water theme park as last year I just experience my first Disney Theme Park during Paris - London experiencing culture trip xDD Both the theme parks shared similarities as the most wonderful part of theme park (except the theme) is how they played along all the design and facilities to make people feel 'lost' in their theme park and didn't realise how time pass in the theme park!! I always get the feeling the theme park is not fully discovered yet even we have went through one round of the whole park, but I just got the feeling there is something more to be discovered! @@ One of the uniqueness is a row of fake old Ipoh heritage shop lots is constructed as the food stalls and a small tin mining site special created to do performance and photo shooting! (which it give us a sense that we are in the 'Ipoh' theme park! Insert the local identity to make it one of a kind!)

Trying to act Tambun style!

(Look at the signage! The Theme park is updated with every events and festivals happen in Malaysia!)

Sometimes a Mascot (are you sure?= =) is all you need to cheer the guest and visitors!

-A little story when I having dinners with friends, a male appear with a board writing with chinese saying he is an Australian guy who lost  his wallet and passport so he need few thousands ringgit in order to purchase the flight ticket back to his homeland, turn out no one treat or help him. Then we were discussing how to settle this kind of problem, maybe the best solution is to send him to the nearest embassy or get help form the respective ambassador instead for giving private help as we cannot tell his tragedy is true story or not, and indirectly we may put ourselves into danger! This society is not cruel, it just people already lost the courage to give their sympathy and care to people who looked untrustable!-

10th FEB 2015 * Tuesday * Old 

This is the last day of Ipoh trip, we start our day with a deeper case study at the Kong Heng Boutique Hotel!

The boutique hotel was renovated from a few blocks of old buildings. Kong Heng Hotel provided open space swimming pool. The interesting fact is this hotel is just by the roadside but we did'nt feel the traffic when staying around the swimming pool area! @@ maybe its the green elements which create the peaceful and nature feeling. But one thing we notice that the side wall surrounding the swimming pool is lower than our knee! I don't think this design has taken the consideration of the users' safety! Mr David (I have forgot to introduce our friendly tour guide who offer and bring us visiting around the Kong Heng building, he is the honor Manager of the hotel) brief us on the new project they are working on which is the new hostel concept boutique hotel beside the swimming pool. The material they used to build the wall/floor is consist of a sound proof material which look like cotton combining the foam (the grey colour material in the photo) Smart way to minimize the sound travelling through wall and floor as people living in this block maybe alone traveller and are strangers! (Then the swimming pool will be the best social place to have their ice breaking and get to know each other) The main colour theme is grey which the Architect Designer Mr Ng Sek San smartly used the warm lighting to create a very sexy ambiance in every corner of the closed rooms. (Ng Sek San smartly blend the new with the old which to me the glass bathroom is very modern design in the heritage building and yet the furnitures rebuilt are using old materials! But it didnt feel awkward at all!)

A must in every single trip! A mainstream class photo!!! (This photo is shot in the resting area at the top floor of Kong Heng hotel which they provided feel hang mobs, Deck chairs, some steel sofa and a TV sets! Entertainment and recreational cannot be neglected in every design related to hospitality!)

Well, we also prepared this gangsta and stylish class photo as formal group photo sometimes is too mainstream :P (Think out of box when doing something!)

Its around 1.30pm, it's still quite early but we have already said bye bye to Ipoh :'( because....we are heading to the HAUNTED Kellie's Castle! Kellie's Castle is one of the destination I have been to during my foundation trip. It's very interesting when you visit the same place but with different group of people, somehow I have this feeling that something is changed (even some part of the Kellie's Castle is furnished as a showroom, and more spaces is opened up for visit), but I also have that feeling like 'Hi Kellie's Castle I am here again!' and the Kellie's Castle said to me 'Welcome again to a place where full of your sweet memories!' (I knew its very funny and idiots to say a haunted welcome me to the place, but memories will change one person impression on one scary thing to the opposite positive feeling!)

-Generally all of us having photo session than study session at the Kellie's Castle.....Well one important knowledge to share is the mortar used to build this Castle is mixing up egg yolk, honey and etc ingredient/materials to act as a concrete! xD -

If you look properly at the photo the second photo with a foot (my foot), u will know how high I am standing and that is not the highest floor of Kellie's Castle yet......I even have my Acrophobia (a little bit) break out...... (But the strong wind we feel up at the roof is cooling us down and when i sat down, I kind of feel peace)

This Tin Mining Museum was actually the last minute decided destination as the tin mining dredge we were planned to visit is under maintenance (According to Chinese, there's a quote saying that if there is no fish, prawn is a good choice too! Meaning we don't have to always stick to one plan only, sometimes a alternative way is maybe better!) In this museum the only two things I remember is that the model making in the museum is so detail and awesome @@ (lighting switch button is installed for the visitors to interact with the model when the certain button is press the area on the model will be light up so we know where exactly is the location of the certain working site stated) and the old weighing method and antique weighing machine exhibited! (It's always astonishing looking at the prototype or the older version of the modern technology in this case the electronic weighing machine work without electric and with only mechanical system!)

-After having our dinner break at R&R on the highway, it officially end our Ipoh trip and its time to count down to say 'Hello' to my lovely home in Cheras!xD-

After The Trip

I linked what I experienced in this Ipoh trip with the feeling at my hometown, Batu Pahat. Ipoh is like a compact and well planning example of my hometown which her heritage cultures and buildings are still well kept and maintained! (On the last day of the trip, I actually skipped my breakfast and having a walk around the whole Ipoh old town and I found out that after Kong Heng Hotel was actually a row of kopitiams, follow up by stores selling vegetables etc and then theres another row of shop lots which only selling botique! This is very systematic compare to most town and city which sometimes we have to find certain shops by going to several different areas which have a certain distance from each other. Ipoh can be like a one-stop town! xD)

And this trip also remind me to rethink about the opportunity in my hometown, or more to say my willingness to stay and work at my hometown as I knew Batu Pahat have so much potential as 'she' have a lot a new developed high class residential which mean maybe in future, Batu Pahat can develop into a Green heritage city! (If and only if more and more youngster willing to spend their effort and potential in making our hometown more happening!!)

Now its time to reveal why I said the day we went to Tambun Lost World is 'BBQ day', as we can see from the photo that both me and my friend, Nana get sun burn!! (and my neck skin turn dark black then even peel off, just a very thin layer, and too the whole week applying lotion and whitening moisturizer to cure it QQ)

Thank you Ipoh for giving me so much new experiences! I am so sure one day I will be visiting you again bringing along my family and friends! >w< See you again Ipoh!

THEORY-2015

Art VS Design : The Beauty of Art and Design

People always try to define what is art and design. How to define them? Randomly define by yourself or define by Google search? But the point is, it is not that important to define the difference between art and design when there is much more important things out in the world for us to concern about.

Everyone is an individual who each have their own thinking which is unique and very much appreciated. Whenever speaking about the beauty of art and design it is very subjective as it varies through different people perception. I have prepared a random ‘art piece’ by cropping and merging a pencil rendering female portrait, then I asked what my friends think about the famous ‘Pablo Picasso’ masterpiece, the interesting part is 10% of my friend will give a comment saying it is cubism art and a beautiful portrait drawing, 80% have some doubt that is a Pablo’s artwork but as someone has clarified it so they just kept silence (remember one thing, Picasso never did pencil rendering for his masterpiece) and 10% didn’t pay any attention to this question while this artwork was totally nothing just a simple test to prove that people think differently when factors such as location, speaker, recognition, and yourself will affect your thinking and action.

  Everything has its positive and negative sides which always known as the good and the bad part. For a better understanding to this line, I will link the examples to our life and experience. (Rumours or facts will be both provided as the support elements) Example number one, Mona Lisa is a ‘good’ art as it inspired the people to explore deeper into art as Leonardo Da Vinci has applied layers of oil painting colours to achieve the effect we see today, and according to rumours saying the Mona Lisa was the female version portrait of himself which also make people feel that Mona Lisa is looking at the viewer from every angle which inspired human in both art (I am a student in art and design field  which is why I am kind of understand what it mean, maybe some of you who didn’t love art will say ‘oh ya whatever! It is just a normal portrait’) and ‘mind’. Example number two is Lady Gaga, Lady Gaga deliver bad art, why? To be honest to say, I love her songs such as ‘I Was born This Way’ which encouraged people to accept their true self which encourage all of us just to admit our weaknesses, ‘extra ordinary’ and ‘uniqueness’ (I have a true self secret which only being mentioned to certain close friends) but throughout most of her songs and video were just promoting something erotic, sex desire and somehow creating sensitive issues in between religions.

But either the anonymous fake cubism art piece designed by me or ‘Mona Lisa’ drawing or Lady Gaga music, all of them share one thing in common is their ‘beauty’. How dare I said my fake cubism portrait is an art piece? Well, does it important? When I said Lady Gaga creating bad art, how it will still be beautiful? Well maybe defining ‘beauty’ will be something more interesting and meaningful then defining art and design. What is the beauty of art and design? Beauty is a characteristic of a person, animal, place, object, or idea that provide a perceptual experience of pleasure or satisfaction, too formal definition by Wikipedia? How about this, 'Beauty is the intention of your design and art'. The 'modern cubism art piece' by me was created to remind people don't giving comments blindly, dare to speak out your mind, observe and more; Lady Gaga encourage people to accept true self like her, the fashion art in the video (literally) is beautiful, both the 'arts' intention is actually bringing something positive into the world, so aren't both of them are very beautiful?

There’s another interesting part when I asked my friend again that anyone of them know TOMS Shoes, turned out to be no one know about this shoes brand. TOMS Shoes is a very inspired shoes company which most of their shoes selling also encourage both the customers and the company in doing charity! One for One charity programme is to donate a pair of new shoes to people and countries who in need! (TOMS shoes’ design to be honest to say is not that trendy, stylish and high in usability compare to certain branded shoes, but their intention to share the happiness and the beauty of man heart to the worlds, make TOMS shoes’ design BEAUTIFUL.

Now, have you found the BEAUTY in your art and design…? J

PROJECT 01 INFO GRAPHIC OF LOCAL IDENTITY - DESIGN STUDIO 04

DESIGN STUDIO 04

________________________________________________________________________

PROJECT.01.INFOGRAPHIC OF LOCAL IDENTITY

REMISNISCE (REMEMBRANCE) OF KUALA LUMPUR

To compose the info graphic board of the local identity chosen and develop the design ideas of boutique hotel

(How MUD is so important to remember Kuala LUMPUR & how to relate MUD to the PROGRAM of the boutique hotel)

________________________________________________________________________

INFO GRAPHIC BOARD 

(without 3D elements)

FINAL PRESENTATION BOARD - DESIGN STUDIO 03

DESIGN STUDIO 03 

________________________________________________________________________

PROJECT.01.PAVILLION

CONCEALED DANGER ART PIECE

(Art Piece about the CONCEALED DANGER of Panda :DD)

(The art piece inspired by the five finger and the concealed danger of the panda who look so kind and friendly and cute but actually can cause 100+ tons of biting force when attacking people, but no worry panda only attack those who is naughty enough to disturb and danger them >w^)

The green = forest (large portion) with black & white = panda (small amount) surrounded by brown = earth (larger portion)
The sharp = concealed danger (red indicate danger) covered by the brown box = fingers

________________________________________________________________________

PROJECT.02.PAVILLION

PAMPHLET

(Pamphlet about Panda :DD)

PRESENTATION BOARD

CONCEALED DANGER ANIMATION

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=avdDgXfqzvk&feature=youtu.be

(For high resolution video please click here to view on youtube xD)

Well first time creating a video using 3D max and windows movie maker @@ in order to create nice music backgroung i have to save the video several time to create music in layers >< Besides, I learnt how to put in the background and adjust the lighting in 3d max in order to create a nice environment :DD

________________________________________________________________________

FINAL PROJECT.VISITOR CENTER ZOO NEGARA
FINAL PRESENTATION BOARD

Final Presentation produced for Design Studio 03 Year 02 Sem 03

To compose the design final presentation board and relief model for Final Presentation design studio 03

________________________________________________________________________

(The overall look of my presentation board together with the model, pamphlet, and materials board xD)

FINAL PRESENTATION BOARD

(The programs in the visitor center :) )

RELIEF MODEL

(A smart idea advised by our lecturer to do the relief model on a transparent sheet so we can submit the relief model separately with the presentation board xP)

________________________________________________________________________

This presentation board marking the end of my year 2 semester 3 life in UCSI University. I can say that my mind have grew more mature in what is the information that needed to be put and shown in the presentation board (eg : Orthographic drawings, programs, design development, ideation, sketches in aid of the presentation) and how to deliver a smooth and clear presentation on what is our design all about. Most of my class manage to deliver a complete presentation on our design and the feedback from the panel is very much appreciated and useful :DD I have put my project title & brief, objectives, case studies and precedent studies on the left hand side so i can start with what is the project all about and the research i have done based on the project given, and then directly lead into the progress and idea on how I get the final design. On the left bottom is the facade view of the Visitor Center of Zoo Negara that we have designed. (A relief model is produced based on the facade under the requirement for communication and visualization :D ) I have put the program together with the facade and the plan and section drawings so I can guide the panel walkthrough my design space with the aid of both the sketches and model. The panels have advised me to render the plan and section with the materials of the floor and the wall (lighting can be enhance in the drawings too & bright colour is acceptable for the plan and section rendering) Besides panels have given some very useful ideas on how to enhance the technology part of the mezzanine floor and giving me some idea on how to further strengthen my design :DD In this semester 03, I have gain a lot of knowledge and experience which will be very contributed to my future study & career and throughout my whole life. Thank you my dear classmates and lecturers who always support each other leading in completing this semester. I will work harder for my future!