Kindy visit Friday 1 Sept

It's confirmed. We're not doing the DU one.

We shall visit Rainbow Montessori Kindergarten at 143 Jalan SS18/1C Subang Jaya.

Be there by 1030. We'll look around the premises for 1/2 hour before the principal Ms Ellen Koh talks to us. She will entertain us till 1200 latest. See you there.

LECTURE

Messange from Ms. Kwok, Pls pass around :
Studio 2 Project 2 briefing, a lecture by Ms Shereen Lee,
Followed by a short docu film. 2pm on Wed. 30th Aug @ LT2.

studio2006

Site and other stuff

Sorry guys, I meant to post this earlier. We will meet in the Yellow Building which is part of Petaling Jaya Gospel Hall, 1A Jalan Gasing. This would be almost at the end of Jalan Gasing, on the right, as you come from Federal Highway. Come right in. I'll be waiting in the glass wing at the end that faces Jalan Gasing.
Next to the Yellow Building is the new church building which is yet to be used. We'll pop in for a look if we have the time. You can park along Jalan Gasing or in the cul-de-sac between the 2 buildings if you know how to navigate down there. Culdesac is shown in the third pic. below, kinda hidden by the Manila Palm.
If anyone anticipates problems getting there by 1300hr because of morning class, just let us know here by tomorrow 1200hr and we'll shift the block to start at 1330hr. Otherwise--no change to our schedule. I assume you will all arrange your own transport, carpooling etc.

Min Kang, Hong Yee, Khai Ling and Kah Hoe will be giving their 10-15 minute talks and would appreciate lots of questions from everybody. Look forward to seeing you. Cheers!

site

where exactly is the site? im pretty sure jln gasing is not a small place

First week's programme

The outline plan for our first 2 weeks back at college is as follows:

Monday 28/8 1300-1700
On site at Jalan Gasing. Bridging program, analysis of brief of new project, site walkabout and analysis.

Wednesday 30/8 1300-1700
Mainly making and completing model of site.

Friday 1/9 1130-1245
Visit Tadika Montessori in Damansara Utama

Monday 4/9 1300-1700
Discussion on Montessori philosophy and case study.

Wednesday 6/9 1300
SUBMISSION & PRESENTATION OF CASE STUDY AND SITE ANALYSIS

Project 2 Outline

New outline for project 2 is out.

Kindly get the outline from Ms Kwok.

The outline is in the box hanging on her door.

montessori

Hey guys.. I found a montessori kindergarten website..

http://www.buttercupsmontessori.com/main.htm

I think can found what montessori kindergarten is all about in this webpage.. By observing the photos on this website..
i personally think montessori is better than the traditional 1..
in fact, it become a international montessori school.

hope this website give u all an idea about montessori.

studio2006

site visit & case studies

I am in the process of organising the site visit and a visit to a Montessori kindy. If all goes well this should happen, as scheduled in your Master Schedule, between Wed and Fri (23-25 Aug.) So pls be prepared to attend. Any serious problems about those dates please post now.

Site is on Jalan Gasing. Kindy may also be nearby depending on which one gives us permission. It may be a one full day thingy, or 2 half days. Will keep you posted so please watch this space.

I will include a bridging programme to connect Project 1 & 2. This will include
Tour of church in the making
Group Game
Talk by Min Kang
Talk by Khai Ling
Talk by Hong Yee
Talk by Kah Hoe
Discussion on Project 2 Brief
Discussion on your research on the Montessori Philosophy
My usual lecture
Banana leaf lunch (depending on whether you're treating me or not)

Above 4 talk presenters please email me immediately for briefing.

Somebody pls post here as soon as you have received your brief for Project 2 from Ms Kwok.

Enjoy your Activity Week. Next session will be harder than the first!

Submission and Presentation of Play Structure

We have very limited time tomorrow afternoon, so please follow the following instructions closely.

• ALL TO SIGN ATTENDANCE SHEET AT 1230hr
• FINISH PINNING UP BY 1245hr
• Please remove the mobile (tall) pinup board. Put it in the corridor or in the other studio. Everybody pins up on walls in our studio.
• Take down the white writing board if possible, use the whole wall for pinup. Otherwise pin on the whiteboard as well.
• Please restrict yourselves to ONE A1 landscape wall space. (Start from one end?)
• Do not pin up your 3 sheets of A3, just put them on the table under your model.

You may inspect the exhibition until 1255. Then please wait outside. Each student has to present individually to me according to the following time table.

PLEASE KEEP TO TIME. BE READY OUTSIDE THE STUDIO ONE-PERSON BEFORE YOUR TURN.

You will have 5 mins to talk through your scheme, I will question you for another 5 mins, and then I'll spend the next 3 mins grading you.

TIME TABLE

1245hr Finish pinning up

1300 ADAM

1313 AHMAD JUFRI

1326 AUDY

1339 AZNADIA

1352 BERNARD NGO

1405 CHAI WEY CHII

1418 CHAN KHAI LING

1431 CHAN MIN KANG

1444 CHEE KAH HOE

1457 IAN'S BREAK (somebody please get me a coffee, white, no sugar, no poison)

1510 CHEN SISI

1523 CHEW HONG YEE

1536 CHIN SHIAO YIN

1549 ESTHER LAU

1602 GERALD KOH

1615 GOH KAI KHENG

1628 KENNETH LIM

1641 LIZBETH-ANN

1700 HANDOUT OF BRIEF FOR NEXT PROJECT & SHORT DISCUSSION ABOUT NEXT TERM'S WORK

the ropey web paly structure

Ian, this is the change of design that i have done. the structure is 8 metres wide and 3 metres high. its all about palying with ropes, webs and slides. its challege for kids to climb higher. and the lower parts of the nets can be used as a stage for them to paly around because the net are more laid horizontaly. is it a better play structure? n wat u guys and girls think?

Wondering...

hi guys, im wondering, will it be a good idea to upload the 5 pics (fantastic, unusual, happy, imaginative & exciting) so tat we can select our 8 favourite pics and print it for the submission? If it's a good idea then lets start uploading!!

time

Ian, just confirming the time for our class this monday...is it 12pm?

i've done my model...

so, this is my model...and ian, is it acceptable?..as this is the shape which i personally think will be very great for kids to play...will explain to u on monday later...and should i start doing my presentation board from now??

Writing Test Mon 7 Aug 06

There will be a WRITING TEST on Monday at 1530hr in the studio.

Marks will be given and added towards your assessment for your current project. This forms a small but important component of your overall assessment.

No "study" preparations are required. Have a ball pen and a few sheets of A4 writing paper ready.

Submission Requirements

Esther asked about what exactly need go on the presentation boards. My answer is the same as the one I told you in studio. Look at the Brief and what it asks for on your A1 sheets. Together, the presentation model and drawings should bring out the best qualities of your play structure and show how well you have tackled the design considerations that go into the making of an interesting and innovative play structure.

The only variations I have made so far are

• Presentation model can be in the 1:25 to 1:40 range. There is no merit in big models if a smaller one can show the same details just as effectively
• Study models can be photo records of one model transforming in stages (if that suits your scheme)
• Show the 3 sheets of A3 output from your Case Study

Ian,
I've done an example of my model, just the maze tho. You can roughly tell how big it is, in comparison to the blade in the picture.
What do you think?


Btw, you might wanna let us know, what you want in our presentation boards more specifically. Are we required to include plans of the structure or anyting like that? A montage of where the structure should be placed?

Play Structure - this week's crits

Some common problems, and their possible solutions, did arise from our crits and are worth noting here.

1. A play structure, not disneyland, right?
2. 3-6 year olds, not teenagers
3. A play structure, not a structure that contains playthings, geddit?
4. Duplicating forms doesn't mean doubling design merit
5. The abstract is usually less restrictive than the literal, unless you distort it
6. Better to bend the rules than let the rules bend you
7. Play means enjoy, are you having fun yet?

Most of you are already into you study models. I'd suggest that you treat that like a Transformer playtool. Photo recording each transformation is a good idea to record the alternatives you have explored.

Those who need to discuss ideas can post here.

Ian

Play Structure - breather

Those of you who didn't get to visit MegaKids and other "playzones" in shopping complexes like Mid Valley Megamall, I Utama, Sri Hartamas, etc may want to take a breather at this midpoint in your design development to check one out.

You may want to spend some time looking at how these structures address design considerations such as

• anthropometry
• scale and size
• materials
• safety and security
• user dispersion
• visuals

Your observations should help your thinking process along.

Ian