CHINA at the Royal Academy of Arts

Royal Academy of Arts has the exhibition of "CHINA- The Three Emperors". I went there couple of weeks ago. Basically the exhibition tells about the three emperors that are the most renowed rulers of China's last dynasty, the Qing (1644-1911). They are known by the titles of their reigns, Kangxi, Yongzheng, and Qianlong, and were descended from the Manchu rulers who invaded China and overthrew the Ming dynasty (1386-1644).
The exhibition exhibits all the art in that era, from the daily equipments, paintings, calligraphy, etc... Ou well... about the exhibition.. it was really good. To see all the Chinese cultures... Don't really like the Chinese robes though... Loves the calligraphy... even though I don't understand... not even a single characted.. Yeah I know.. what a shame for Chinese like me.
And the painting.. I think it has a very different techniques with the western painting... Chinese paintings looks more technical.. Almost all the landscape paintings I saw that day were in axonometry. And very detail aswell... until you kinda lost the focus...

First Response

View of Hadlow

La Loire project

Given the project by Roger to design the site in Meung-sur-Loire, which located in south from Paris, near Orleans, along the Loire river. This project is actually looks more like Site Design (the subject I took in last year with Jamie).

From the client's brief, they want it the site to represents the element of water, stone, and verbs, which rings the bell to Ian Hamilton Finlay's design. Water and stone actually can be describe close to oriental design aswell, we can see the Japanese and Chinese garden always use this element (Yin and Yang.. Zen.. hard and soft).

For my first response to the site, I was thinking to create the site as La Loire river side. The whole park will be represents the river, and there are stripes along the pathway, which represents the river element (such as woodland, wetland, vineyard, etc...). The idea is, to reflect back or visualize your journey through out the river Loire. So the big idea is about journey.

But after the meeting with the whole team, and brain storming again, Im not really sure with he idea. I think there's still some holes missing there. And Im very interested in Rachel's idea about literature (adapt from Jean de Meung's Roman de la Rose). This poem of Jean de Meung talks about paradise at the first part. And at the second part, it talks about more reality situation. Ermmm maybe not really realisticcondition, but definitly more earthy element.

Masterplan detail area

From the previous masterplan project, we have to choose an area of 120x100 metre to be designed in detail. It is amazing that from the masterplan, this area looks pretty small and quite detail already. But once you blow it to 1:200 scale, the plan looks very empty and spatious. Seems that there are lots of things can be done in that area.
the area that I choose will include the tower building.. some residential buildings (from the sustainable community), the woodland, and a bit of river banks.

Masterplan has over

Part of me really glad and happy that this masterplan project has over. The other part of me feel a bit dissapointed. Mostly because I didnt use the time given effectively. This masterplan project just get interesting... and sadly have to be stopped already.
I know this is all my own fault. I lost direction for designing it (maybe because of the scale.. but yeah final word... is lost). And I kept thinking that I can figure it out this problem by myself, which I completely wrong. It is my huge weakness for not being spontanious and for being scared to ask questions. So from now on, I will really try to fight my bad habit.
And yeah.. well done everyone .. for producing such a wonderful work on 23 Jan.
And here I post some of the masterplan project... which has to develop further more in this final semester.

Merger of woodland and water

Idea for my masterplan comes from hybrid form. So the main idea is to mix and merge between water, woodland, and community. These elements are my main point of my masterplan as my choosen focus is sustainable village. We'll see how am I going from here.
Okay have to go back to my work again.

About Hadlow

Haven't manage to post any blog since quite sometimes. Here I have some early sketches about existing site of Hadlow. Seems now I have to figure it out of how to finish this masterplan project in less than 2 weeks time. Currently I'm still working on the A3 analysis. Still long way to go. will update you again later on.

Liberete Me!

I found the title 'Liberete Me' is realy difficult for me. I keep thinking how to liberete myself at first. Then liberete the space.. which is Courtyard 14 in Hadlow campus. My chosen word for this project is 'Magnetism'. I guess from this word I can think of the character of magnet, and think literally of magnestism. Literally, 'magnetism' means 'drive people attention into it'. not far from the literal definition, 'magnet' has a character of forcing magnetic object to come into it, 'line of force' would be the correct word to express it.

'Magnet' reaction happen because there are nucleus (consist of proton and neutron) and electron. When you rub the magnetic material, the electron movement become random and inconsistent. This is when the magnetism reaction being created.

To start designing the project, I choose Christo's work to be the precedent study and the inspiration. Christo wraps object to drive people attention to that object. The unattractive object can become attractive when you do something to it. The idea of using fabric and bright colour to cover seems very successful.


About the courtyard, the fact that there are 4 windows looking into the courtyard is suitable and beneficial the design concept 'magnestism'. To visualize the concept of 'magnetism', and to liberete the site, there will be series of ribbons hanging from the top of the building. Series of ribbon represents lines of force, whereas the colourful idea represents random movement of the electron. To represent the still condition of nucleus, there will be order of Betula pendula trees in the courtyard.
The slunting ground represents force and attraction of the lines aka ribbons. In the middle of the ground there will be a channel dividing the ground. the channel will use reflective material for its base. The use of mirror on its base will make the vertical element become blur and dissapear. By making this, it will create the idea of random situation.

The model that shows randomness of energy. Lines of force that keep the ribbons flow in the right direction. The next picture is the presentation board that presents the whole idea of 'magnetism'.

TerraFirma Project

Here I post some of the images from Landscape Science and Technique class with David Watson. During this lesson, we have to learn how to create landform using TerraFirma (it is some kind of extension of auto cad program). And for this project, we have to learn about cut and fill technique of the landform. After that, we have to explore with any other programs (Bryce, SketchUp, Photoshop, etc). And yah.., this is the last submission before Christmas holiday. Even though, it doesn't quite feel like a holiday... you know, with all the course works.. esp. the masterplan, which I think would be very tough.
Ou well, so these are some of the sketches and visuals from the Digital Landscape.