Architectural Disaster in the Making

Ever wondered what will happen to a bridge, or stairs or anything elevated for that matter, when you drive pass or walk pass it? We always assume the structure would hold our weights and have the necessary structural strenght to withstand at least the minimal load approved by law or an engineer. So, now imagine the road that you drive onto everyday, was actually made out of very minimal structural steel with foams inside. WTH, really? It would definitely scare the hell out of me. The frustration really does build up when things like this happen especially when the forwarded email claims that this photos were taken in Malaysia, seriously, it makes us look like idiots.

When this forwarded email was sent to me, it was quite disturbing and scary at the same time. I am not sure whether it is real or not, but the pictures looks pretty convincing. I think the forwarded email was describing about the bridge being expensive and get a hold of that crap. I am not sure how long this bridge has been build but the cracks are already showing. It really goes to show how things really work in my country, sadly. A developed country by 2020? Yea right, dream on. Here are some of photos and enjoy the sadistic bridge feature.

A fresh start to the year

A new year, a new start, hence the brighter and simpler set up, hoping for a great year ahead.

It has been quite a while since my last post, and many things did happen along the way. Time has been great and tough, but we all know its pretty much the norm to have it this way. My project is finally coming to an end, not exactly yet, but the transfer of responsibilities towards a project manager will be done when construction starts after Chinese New Year. I on the other hand, was also given the opportunity to do a few feasibility study which I was craving for months since I started as it involves a lot of design work, and damn, it was really time consuming and can be frustrating due to the fact that you might not get it. There were 2 feasi study which I did that had residential units on the top with commercial lots on the lower floors, while the 3rd was a hotel study. Unfortunately the clients has yet to reply on the calculations we made for them on all 3 projects. I am also currently doing a freelance design feasi for landed properties back at home, which I hope the developer will get.

Enough with the work talk, its at that time of the year where you would come up with a new year resolution. We all long to do better in life and to achieve something memorable. My new year resolution is to do something out of my comfort zone twice a month, so I wont have a boring life. To force start my resolution, I have sign up for a language class which will start soon and I have also bought two big painting canvas to draw and paint and will try to sell it LOL, truly inspired by the art gallery at the Marina Bay Sand shopping mall. I dont think I have the necessary skills yet but will definitely improve whenever I can.

Bumped into this article today and boy oh boy, it is not something we designers would like to see. Architecture graduates has the lower unemployment rate? Seriously? But obviously it is only a study that is applied to America, not sure how true the saying goes for other areas. I know UK had a pretty hard time when building development come to a temporary stall due to the cuts last year, hence moving on was my only option. Not sure about now, but projects are booming here in Asia, legally and illegally.

http://www.archdaily.com/197351/study-shows-architecture-graduates-with-highest-unemployment-rate/

The year ended quite pleasantly and here are just some photos my bro took while we where strolling around Marina Bay Sand the day before the new year celebration was held. There were a few rehearsals going on but the most interesting feature was the video show where water sprays were used as the background instead of a canvas. Please refer to the photos below for a better understanding.

 Here is a even better explanation on the water spray, a video of the 'thingy' itself.

I uploaded the wrong video, no wonder it was so quick lol. Will reuploaded the proper video tonight.

 

2012 A Year of Reckoning :)

Wishing you all a very Happy New Year. A new year, a new start, new resolutions with higher aims. I'll be back. ;p

Absurd yet funny

HAHAHAHAHAA.....it is sad to say this but its located in Malaysia's National Museum. Got this picture from a forwarded email, I would pay a few RM dollars to see this crap.

Uninspired

For some particular reason I feel uninspired right now, although I am looking at archi sites daily, and I am finishing off another competition design work for this Sunday, things still does not feel right. Maybe because I was told that architecture is just a passion, and its not a thing you can earn money from. Reality just starts kicking in, I am at the point of earning for my own living, listening to married couples talk about life's difficulties, it is something I think I am prepared for, but I wont know it until I try it. Ever feel underachieved? That is how I feel right now, just need to push forward, life is a marathon, its a cliche to say it, but its a cliche for a reason, cause its true. Maybe it is also because, I did a feasibility study for a project terrace house back home, and IF i do not get the project because there are merit reasons in comparison with other designer, it is fine with me, but if political issues are involved, it just makes me mad, it is just an insult to all. I know it happens everywhere, and they keep asking me why I do not wish to go back. I think I need a abit of change in life, to do something different that I would not normally do, and that would be.....no clue, ge a hobby, maybe. Anyways, at least this blog, http://www.ohiseered.com/ is still inspiring me to do something fun with art, I have to thank my sister for showing me this blog. I will think of something, something, something, nothing right now lol. I think I repeated this concern before, oh well, it is my space to say what I want.

Duxton, I'm slightly disappointed.

I had an hour visit to Duxton Pinnacle to get some inspiration for detail design that could be used for my current project. I had alot of high expectation on the building, knowing it won 'Building of the Year' and its in the same building category as my project, Design, Build and Sales Scheme, DBSS in short. It also happen by chance that the main contractor for this project would be our main contractor as well, so I had the chance to look at the workmanship the main cons can provide. To say the least, I was quite disappointed when I was there, and I was not even half way around the site. I didnt have the chance to walk around its roof garden as yet.

Duxton is also categorized as a special project, unlike my project, it is very restricted, as the design is govern by rules and regulations, however Duxton, the way I understood can be swayed a bit, by how much, I do not know. This bulky concrete parapets is nothing more then just money going to waste, and its not even smooth. -1 to the main con.This design for a little green roof really does not reflect on the project itself. With the disappointing handrail, it is as if it is an after thought design, or done by a junior who was rush for submission.Just beside to the walkway, all I had to do is look up and I came across another design problem. Somewhere in the upper half, middle section, you can actually see a ledge for sun shade for the window, that was build just under another protruding window. The problem is self explanatory, they could save money on it.Simple is always the best way if you cant come up with anything good.Probably the only thing that excite me was the sitting area, but it looks expensive, due to the amount of steel used in such a small area, and they have loads of this lying around. I just like the how the timber and steel are repeated vertically and horizontally.Duxton maybe a special project but it cant run away from all rules and regulations. Take a look at the picture above, right side where the AC ledge is, it would normally be a normal concrete floor slab but for this, it has gaps in it. My assumption is, the project's GFA has burst and they were required to cut down the amount that has burst. GFA means the area that is provided to build your building, and that does not mean just on ground floor [its 1st storey in Singapore], it applies to every floor you desgn and build. The site itself, you are only allowed 40% of site coverage, everything else has to be green, or something else, hence most of them goes upwards.Long ramp, disables in whellchairs BEWARE!Seriously, who uses that type of railing in a maintenance area, and because of that compromises every ugly AC railing for all units?

Suprisingly, for such a grand project, they do not have a proper drop off area. When I ask where the drop off area is, I was pointed to this place, and it is actually just beside the carpark. I know, WTH. Ill try to go to the top when I can and will post more pictures of it.

Render it My Way

I promised a friend to show how I did my perspective montage and I have provide a general step by step of my rendering methods. Obviously I do not think it is the best way, but its the only way I know. I must inform that my method, for some paritcular reason, has a certain 'quality', not sure if I am using the right word, which does not make it look 'real' compared to a proper rendering, I feel its more animated. If this 'quality' is fine, then follow every steps I make, or else better ask someone else if a 'more real' rendering is needed. Hope this step by step guide helps.

Programmes used: Autocad, Sketchup, Kerkythea, Photoshop

I start by having a JPEG with the outline of the building and some of the surrounding to define the space that needs to be rendered. Obviously you already need to know what you want to achieve in that particular view. I use Sketchup as my 3d modeler and so I export an Autocad file to CAD and then save it as a PDF before transfering into Photoshop. I do not jsut save the 2d image straight from Sketchup as the line quality is still blurry, and the space define between lines is vague as well. If its for a rough render then its okay, I always go for the engineering style, I think I got the name right.Next is to render that particular angle you want. If you are planning to use Kerkythea, which is a free plug in to Sketchup, always save all the scenes that you want and never change the viewing dimension when you are about to render in Kerkythea. If a new scene is made in Kerkyhtea, the viewing dimension changes and you will not get that wide view. Well, render and add image into Photoshop.Clean the image up however you want. I always start my montage with the background to give myself a sense of the surrounding, its just my style, but I have contradicted this step far too many times. It is up to you to decide which you want to start first.Same thing here, additonal sky is added. It feels like I have done loads lol.The previous backgrounds are added based on photos, but ground flooring is a pattern that I use in Photoshop, the icon I used is the Pattern Stamp Tool. You just need to have the right JPEG, add into the library, select your desired area and colour it in. WA LAAA. How to add to pattern library? Photoshop>Edit>Define Pattern, but you need to have that particular JPEG open.If you realise, everything is done starting with the background, so everything else can be layed on top, without the need to move your layers all the time in Photoshop.The space has been created, you have the sea, sand, walkway, pond, building and jungle. Everything can always be touch up again at the end.After you are happy with the big scale editing, its time to do the smaller scale items which would make the render prettier. This image I have added some trees on the right with very light opacity and some trees by the main entrance. To make your life easier, trees are prepared in advanced, so it can used on all other project as well.Next is to give the building more detail, the design pattern is added, and all of this are just JPEG that are put in place, nothing complicated.Add more trees!!!! It looks pretty decent now. Remember to always add SHADOW to all things, it creates depth and it wont look like it is floating.The final step is obviously to fill the space with people. I know a lot of people like to use people where you can still see their face, shirt etc. I prefer to have mine desaturated, because using the 'real' reflection is not always clear or perfect, so that makes an inconsistent image, but that is just my preference.And if you want too, you can add some touch up like the bird in the sky etc. Remember to always make sure everything is to scale or else it looks weird. I do mine by drawing a LINE in sketchup to a certain height for guidance. Most of the supporting image in this render are lower in opacity to ensure that the focus would be towards the building. Well, it looks like a very short guide lol. I hope this helps in some ways, but remember, this is just my way. :)

Will upload a similar thing for the site plan soon.