Introducing Indonesia

Finally I'm able to blogging again. Been very busy for the past few days. With masterplan class... to design the courtyard 14 in Hadlow. Struggling during the thinking period. Seems that I'm not able to get the idea.. It's over for now. And another thing is about doing my dissertation. Yeah.. I feel like dying.

Ouya.. I haven't introduce my country to you. I'm from Indonesia, tropical country in South East Asia. A nice country with amazing view. Well, off course not my hometown. My hometown is Jakarta, it looks just like any other capital in the world. So, this time around I'm going to introduce the interesting part of Indonesia.

The famous interesting place in Indonesia is Bali.. But I guess you all heard about it already. So, I won't show it here. Have you ever heard about Borobudur? It was one of the seven wonders in the world. But, after the restoration (because of the limited knowledge for restore it), its not one of the seven wonders anymore. It still looks good and stunning though. Definately it's one of the place you should experience it before you die.. hehehhe

The Borobudur Temple complex is one of the greatest Buddhist monuments in the world. It is for uncertain age, but thought to have been built between the end of the seventh and the beginning of the eighth century AD. For about a century and a half it was the spiritual centre for Buddhism in Java, then it was lost until its rediscovery in the eighteenth century

The structure, composed of 55,000 square metres of lava- rock is erected on a hill in form of a stepped- pyramid of six rectangular storeys, three circular terraces and a central stupa forming the summit. The whole structure is in the form of a lotus, the sacred flower of Buddha.

Besides being the highes symbol of Buddhism, the Bororbudur stupa is also a replica of the universe. It symbolises the micro- cosmos, which is divided into three levels, in which man's world of desire is influenced by negative impulses; the middle level, the world in which man has control of his negative impulses and use his positive impulses; the highest level, in which the world of man is no longer bounded by physical and worldly ancient desire.

In total, Borobudur represents the ten levels of Boddhisattva's life in which he or she must develop to become a Buddha or an awakened one.

Duality 'bubbly space' sketch again...

Plan showing layers of boundary.
The centre of the space will left empty (contemplation purpose),
then the layer will start from the canal representative,
bubbly orange space, canal, vegetation, and housing.
The first drawing showing the scale of the space
compare to the human size. The 3 qualities
'indecisive', 'menacing', 'intriguing' are showed
from the drawing below it. On the bottom,
the drawing shows the aerial view of the duality space.
Feel the space. Get in touch with the space.
Play with the bubbly thing.
The second drawing shows the centre of the duality space.
From there we can see all the boundaries surrounding the space.

Some photos from 'duality' presentation

This is the 'too much of everything' presentation boart. Now you do understand why I said my work is too confusing earlier on.
Seduction? ..positive..
Unconsciously? ..positive..
Orange? ..positive..
But at least I derived some message here. I know... way too much, Christine!!!

The sequential sketches of the conceptual idea

'Melted cherry on the stick' ...hooray...

A Long Walk...

Last Thursday I had a tutorial with Roger Seijo for my dissertation. He help me a lot. Gives me a lot of new ideas, which means I have to do lots of research. Now I have to make a comparison of how the sustainability works in London waterfront area with sustainable mixed use waterfronts in other part of the world. The most obvious result of mixed use waterfronts are normally located in Netherlands. So now I have to research the Borneo Village, Amsterdam canal, Arnherm and so on. So anyone.. please... if you have some informations about these places.. do let me know.

In the evening, I attended the open lecture in Norbert Singer Hall. The title is 'Myth of the Street'. The speaker comes from University of Ghent. The lecture was mostly talking about public and private space. And the street as a meeting point, but the character of the street is consumption. And in the consumption space, you can't do an argument. Then he suggesting to merge the street with the private building (library, institution, museum, etc...), so that people can walk through all those private building and gain knowledge. And later on, the building will become a semi public space. Aaaaa.. more or less he was talking about something like that.

Today I visited the Millennium Village up to the Thames Barrier then to North Greenwich station in the name of research for the dissertation. It was a pretty long walk. The Millennium Village, which developed by the English Partnership, has claimed itself as the sustainable and ecological area. And my argument is.. how sustainable it is in a long run. In terms of appearance, it looks pretty sustainable with the man made wetland and the smart houses. But yeah.. I have to do more research to make judgement on this project. The Thames Barrier is quite cool though. It looks so Hi-Tech to me. Even though the walk from Millennium Village to Thames Barrier was a bit scary. It's bacause you have to walk pass the industrial area. And there was nobody there. Took some pictures of them.

Balcony in Millenium Village


Colour Pattern


Thames Barrier

Thames Barrier view from the green chain

At night, I had a friend's birthday. We went to this Indian restaurant called 'Kahn' in Bayswater. And yep, this is my first time eat in Indian restaurant in London. Normally I don't really like Indian food. But, in Kahn is different. It was soooo good. 'Should go there if you're in the neighbourhood.
Ou.. almost forgot, I visited RIBA office in Portland Place to search for books which i can't find in Amazon. But, too bad, RIBA run out of that book as well. The RIBA visit reminds me of my visit here few weeks ago. They had the exhibition for Sterling Prize and 'Subconscious of a Monument' by Cornelia Parker. Basically she attach dried cement on a string and hang it.

'Duality' Model Photograph

I have design crit with Jamie and Andrew today. It was a very long day. There are more than 30 works pinned on the wall. They were all very beautiful, stunning, and my confidence drown. It's the crit for sketch design 3. And as I have mention before, it is a conceptual development from the first model we made last week. And we have to choose our site, which in my case I have to choose the site from Royal Tunbridge Wells. From all the interesting site in T.Wells, I have to choose 'the Grove', because it has the closest character that I want to achieve with my design.

'The Grove' is located in the centre of the private housing area. It has the quality of an enclosed space. The trees in 'the Grove' are mostly matured, with the shrubs bedding all surronds the park. In the middle of the park, it has a playground space for kids. These will be suitable with my theme which is playful space.... Remember, one of the key qualities in my concept is 'menacing'. So.. yeah.. I want to create a playground, to play hide and seek. And yeah.. I have to go back to the 'duality' theme, so I was thinking to create an active (playground area) and passive (thinking, wondering, contemplation space) activity to 'the Grove'.

Finally I decided to create a spongy space (made by orange rubber... yeahh I love orange) as a playground space. You can seat on it, you can touch it, hug it, play with it, anything... The repetition of the spongy space will indicate the word 'indecisive', because you can go anywhere, there are no direction to enter the space. 'Intriguing'... the orange colour!!!! It gives the seduction for people to go near by and get in touch with it. Well, I read from somewhere that orange gives the longest wave the eye can catch. In the centre of 'the Grove' I left it empty with hilly pebbles base. So that people can stand (sit, lay, sleep, whatever..) there to think and wondering (contemplation purpose, right!?). Ouya.. this concept is also about enclosed space, intriguing moment, and boundaries. The private housing will be the first boundary, Existing trees come second, and the spongy space come last. Layers of boundary create curiousity... curiousity can be indicate as intriguing.

Okay, about the crit. I was really nervous as always (I'm not good with words and public speaking). Even though I always keep telling myself to be brave... never works. As I said earlier, there are so many good works. Very good improvement from everybody. And about my work, as usual, it is too much of everything. I just don't know how to limit myself. I guess I keep falling to the 'seduction' method unconsciously. Not that I have try... this time I tried to use just one colour, which is orange. But it still turns up too much (I really have to work harder on this). The crit turns up to be okay. Get few suggestions and comments, which are true.

Thumbnails of T.Wells

I took some pictures of the shrubs and trees in T.Well. Here are some the pictures. They look pretty with the autumn colour, don't they.
Currently I'm still doing the site analysis of the T. Wells. I'd be glad when it's over... Urgghh have to crack my brain and keep my hands moving. I feel so tired seating in front of the computer.

Firework Night

Tonight is the firework night. So I decide to get my brain relax and enjoy the outdoor for a while. So I went to Tate Gallery, because I was told by my friends, that they will have firework show over there... by the Tames river. Before the firework started (it start at 8 pm) I went in to Tate, curious about the project by Rachel Whiteread. And I do agree with Rachel who said that it would be better if it's three times bigger. I, myself look it as a sugar cubes... and the people walking surround it, would be the rat or mouse...

By 7.45 I was outside the Tate already. Gathering with my friends facing the St. Paul Cathedral, waiting for the firework to start. Luckily that day wasn't that cold. 8 pm sharp, the firework starts. It was fun.. just to stand there looking up to the sky.. Some of the firework they play it from the Millennium Bridge. I hope somehow it will blow the Norman Foster's bridge... Hahhaha just kidding... Well yeah.. personally speaking I don't really like Foster's work. The bridge is okay I guess.. compare to all other project he has done. Off course I know it's environmental friendly and very high sustainability.. but still.. I don't really like it. Maybe it has some robotic shape.

Best of Brodway Perfomance

Went to Royal Albert Hall yesterday to watch the 'Best of Brodway' perfomance by Royal Philharmonic Orchestra... It was really stunning and awesom. They played the song from the famous musical in London and Brodway, including the song from Mammamia, Phantom of the Opera, Les Miserables, and many more. Inspite all those, I like the song from Les Miserables the most... it's just remind me of the stoty and the real musical... It almost make me cry... ahhaha I'm being too melancholy perhaps. But the last song from Mammamia saves the tears... It makes everybody happy.. and move their body.. It was really fun.. You should watch it if they do another perfomance again... Really worthed.

Royal Albert Hall and the red interior.....

T.Wells... T.Wells... T.Wells....

Some panorama pictures from Tunbridge Wells. The picture above shows the town centre of T. Wells. I like the town very much. It gives a warm feeling... even though when I went there, it was raining.. light rain (happen twice to me... what a bad luck). The town centre just like any other high st., is full of shopping place. But, I like Pantiles the most... why?.. It's the arrangements of the alley and the shop and the architectural feature I suppose.

The Pantiles gives an old time ambience for me... Maybe because all the Doric order columns. Hey, if you really look at it, it's a bit similar with the feature in Regent St., London. Again.. I think because of the columns.

Okay besides the shopping place, the shop houses are pretty cool as well... Looks humble and nice. And the balcony... Yess... the balcony absolutely looks appealing... hehhee... I would love to live in the place with balcony like that... I can display some plants maybe.



The green space, such as Calverley Park is hard to be missed if you are in T. Wells. The park is formed by sloping ground and it is very low in the middle. Beautiful shrubs can be seen on the park edge. The other day I saw two children were rolling down the sloping ground. It looks like fun... Okay, now I have to stop thinking of children rolling down the ground... I should do more analysis on panorama view. From the top of the park, you can see the aerial view of the town. Almost all the buildings in T. Wells has a pitch roof, ocre to red brick stone, and attach penthouse.

Here are some other picture about the overview of the town.

Sketch Design part 3

Yesterday I had a model making class. I learn how to make a very rough and quick model. Well actually I already had it last year with the sertificate class, but it's not bad at all... in fact it was really fun. I remember I was struggling last year, not much different this year (hey,.. this doesn't mean that i dont make any improvement). I mean, to be quick, bold, and spontanious is sometimes really hard. First, you have to fight with the time... 15 minutes is not bad actually.. or maybe it's just myself being slow.
I took some photographs and sketches of my model. From that model I have to extract 3 key qualities and bring forward to the next level of conceptual approach. The 3 key qualities that I found for my model are "indecisive", "intriguing", and "menacing". I get these words by analysing my model.. By physical aspect, my model looks complicated, too much going on, which I don't like.. but I have to try to like it if I want other people to like it as well. It gives scary feeling when I sketch it. I imagined that the model is around 8 metres high, so that people can go inside and explore at the same time. By the time they were exploring the space, I suddenly imagined that the space can move and start to capture the poeple inside. Ha ha bet you don't want to come visit my space if it's really built.

Okey... now I have to think how to connect it with the word "duality" and the site, yes.. the site. I'm thinking to use a green space. So my choices will be the Grove Park, Calverley Park, or the woodland at London Road. Well, maybe I should narrow it down to either Grove Park or the woodland. Calverley Park wont create a scary feeling for the space. don't you think so..?