Contextural Design
Had a crit with a designer to just share ideas before getting more crit from Boss.
Suddenly I realised that I have not really started to design. I haven’t visualised hard enough.
Probably due to my inexperience. But I am always up for the challenge to make it as exploratory as possible.
The contrator will sort out the details later, but in terms of place and space, I have to push it to the limit.
Have not managed much work due to running around in the morning.
However this is the rationalizing phase, fixing stairs, lift, strategies, designing with the boundaries spaces that work and not leftover
Browsing books now but when you do that you need to have your own vision first.
To do original work you need to have your own vision and then look for examples of details, scale, materiality, texture and so on.
You must not look at books and magazine searching for vision
Left the sketch plans at home today. Not a good day… too many mishaps. Tried to sketch and start 3D / axono just to study spatial composition and get the voids right. Structure and services come later until the spatial and formal design get sorted.
What are our preoccupations as designers?
Writing the design thesis manual in tandem with designing a bungalow in Kuching and Doha for a middle- eastern client and most of all reporting my progress in a form of a diary gives much for reflection and purpose.
I quoted this in my Facebook status:
Having to crit different design thesis projects about 60 plus of them in the last three years day in day out actually sharpened my design skills cause I was suppose to visualize every single one of them every crit time … that was really a training for me…
If I had been just a studio master in any other year, I wouldn’t have had that training. The rigorousness of thinking and facilitating other people’s opinions to the students kept me at a high level of analyzing and critical thinking. These two skills we need to have our students get the basics done and it’s like the ‘lifeblood’ for their future. The foundation and useful tool to get to another level. I was just doing it faster as for business time is an essence and when I came to Juteras Design Workshop, I had the skills. I have to pick up other skills like construction and contractual skills though if I am serious about doing my professional practice.
Based on recent comments by the Boss, I need to straddle the pool across to enjoy the East & West axis that the pool should afford. Placed the masterbed room connected to the pool with its own deck opened from the bedroom. I think I will have a transitional space rather than direct.
There was an urgent need for me to help sort out the Doha villa, especially the basement. That’s the place where its a hideout from the summer’s heat and several pools and a hammam was designed. Since the Client showed a traditional design, we tried our best to do classical modern ie axis and vistas. Basically I sorted the basement with the Boss and had one of the architects draw up the new design.
This is a rush for submission and the whole package should be ready in a week’s time.
Working on developing the scheme.
Series of voids in the middle
The Boss asked to put carpark on grade
Try to maintain that entrance of steps to majlis
Half a day’s work. Got the draftsman to help. Just sketch to show boss tomorrow.
Maybe I am not so efficient.
Met two potential post grads for dinner. Great chat about possible topics.
Exploring the proportion iehow the arch could be a nice classical modern one rather than traditional vernacular.
Its easier to do boxes mind you
Doing the sections and axono sketches now. Trying to firm up the plans.
Could not put into CAD yet. Will do so later.
