TIME OUT - GOD?

God?

I certainly don't think most adults could explain this more beautifully!

THIS IS FABULOUS!!!

It was written by an 8-year-old named Danny Dutton, who lives in Chula Vista , CA . He wrote it for his third grade homework assignment, to ' explain God. ' I wonder if any of us could have done as well ?
[ ... And he had such an assignment, in California , and someone published it, I guess miracles do happen ! ... ]


EXPLANATION OF GOD:

' One of God's main jobs is making people. He makes them to replace the ones that die, so there will be enough people to take care of things on earth. He doesn ' t make grownups, just babies. I think because they are smaller and easier to make. That way he doesn ' t have to take up his valuable time teaching them to talk and walk. He can just leave that to mothers and fathers. '


' God's second most important job is listening to prayers. An awful lot of this goes on, since some people, like preachers and things, pray at times beside bedtime. God doesn't have time to listen to the radio or TV because of this. Because he hears everything, there must be a terrible lot of noise in his ears, unless he has thought of a way to turn it off. '


' God sees everything and hears everything and is everywhere which keeps Him pretty busy. So you shouldn ' t go wasting his time by going over your mom and dad ' s head asking for something they said you couldn't have. '


' Atheists are people who don't believe in God. I don't think there are any in Chula Vista . At least there aren't any who come to our church. '

' Jesus is God's Son. He used to do all the hard work, like walking on water and performing miracles and trying to teach the people who didn't want to learn about God. They finally got tired of him preaching to them and they crucified him But he was good and kind, like his father, and he told his father that they didn't know what they were doing and to forgive them and God said O.K. '


' His dad (God) appreciated everything that he had done and all his hard work on earth so he told him he didn't have to go out on the road anymore. He could stay in heaven. So he did. And now he helps his dad out by listening to prayers and seeing things which are important for God to take care of and which ones he can take care of himself without having to bother God. Like a secretary, only more important. '


' You can pray anytime you want and they are sure to help you because they got it worked out so one of them is on duty all the time. '

' You should always go to church on Sunday because it makes God happy, and if there's anybody you want to make happy, it's God!


Don ' t skip church to do something you think will be more fun like going to the beach. This is wrong. And besides the sun doesn ' t come out at the beach until noon anyway. '


' If you don't believe in God, besides being an atheist, you will be very lonely, because your parents can't go everywhere with you, like to camp, but God can. It is good to know He's around you when you're scared, in the dark or when you can't swim and you get thrown into real deep water by big kids. '


' But...you shouldn't just always think of what God can do for you. I figure God put me here and he can take me back anytime he pleases...


And...that's why I believe in God. '

(Received today from my good friend, BHY, with thanks)

EDWARD CHEW'S WEBSITE

Ed Chew has a cool site ! Check this out!

Architectural Studio 3: Designing a Shrine

The objective of this task if for students to investigate the origins of belief systems and to analyse their impact and validity as a means of generating architectural concepts.

Buddhism & Hinduism Shrine

Design concept: -A believers belief on the journey of life. Ultimately, it is the journey to enlightenment

The slanted exterior wall would raise the awareness of how small we are in the presence of God. This feeling can be related to how someone would feel when visiting a Hindu temple and a Buddhist temple where there would be various Gods sitting on the façade of the structure looking down upon the worshippers. This is an interpretation for it to be more accepted to the public who may not be Buddhists or Hindus to actually approach the shrine to better understand it.

The interior being partly visible from certain angles due to the slits aims to raise the curiousity of the public to approach it. When walking around it, the overpowering shadows being casted upon those who walk around it would also be a call to both the Buddhist and Hindu worshipper to leave the worldly belongings to seek the truth to the enlightenment.

The journey towards the centre of the shrine may not be as pleasant due to these feelings, this build up on such emotions will only help to enhance the feeling of satisfaction once passed this claustrophobic alley and into the structure where one can finally see the full picture inside.

The repetition of square symbolizes the rhythm which represents the cycle of life- Reincarnation. Square becomes bigger and bigger- represent the level of awakening/ self realization.

Four sides represent

• Buddhism- four Noble Truths- Suffering, Karma, Rebirth, Nirvana
• Hinduism- "Brahmacharya", "Grihastha", "Vanaprastha", "Sannyasa"

Plan view: rippling effect symbolizes the development a compassionate heart to help all beings (a Mahayana belief which has been practiced mostly by Malaysian, NOT Theravada)

Vary in riser- becomes easier and easier to step up to the nirvana- such act of walking up steps with higher riser would require one to slightly tilt one's head down (bowing) – be humble before one sees the enlightenment

The stained glass at the middle of the inverted pyramid enables the public to experience being floating in the middle of structure where there the ground level represents the earthly life- what they do at this stage decides their afterlife (nirvana & hell)- KARMA

Harry Purwanto Tjoe

Saw Jia Jian

The V

The project brief was to design a museum of early education in Penang. The museum will house physical & gallery, mini café, library, and exhibition space. Penang’s early education history is a long process of growth and evolution. It has been through war, fire, and colonization. This long & exciting journey inspired my design to be evoluting, dramatic, and organic.

There are already museums around the area, and usually museum contents are deemed to be boring. Thus, the need of designing something fresh and attractive is crucial. The challenge was to create a uniquely attractive museum that provokes visitors to explore the space, enjoy the content of the museum, and discuss exciting issues.

The design approach is to confront the site, issue, and topic through antagonisms. The overall shape is going against Palladian & 1970s modern style buildings at the sides and confronting the usual formal take on the topic of 'Early Education'.


The facade is designed to be attractive and sustainable at the same time,
evoking visitors’ curiosity upon entering the building. The curvy horizontal emphasis along the facade serves as a dynamic yet elegant visual to the visitors. Inside, visitors will be greeted with exciting & organic spaces made of steps and angled columns, elegantly designed to be thoroughly explored.

Facade, floor plates, and support structure are designed with innovation and efficiency in mind by embedding a system in a system. By using this method, the design responds to the issue of building sustainability through the use of building technology advancement.


In this case, the museum design is being sensitive towards the site, issue, and topic when it's pushing boundaries through questions, discussions, and innovations.

Brian Novanto
Diploma - Design Studio 3

BRITISH PAVILION, SHANGHAI EXPO

The Seed Cathedral

Er... following extract sounds a bit like an agenda for the place of worship we're designing for Studio 3 Dip.

"Heatherwick Studio’s initial design strategy for the UK Pavilion established three aims to meet the FCO’s key expectation that the pavilion should become one of the five most popular attractions at the Expo.

The first aim was to design a pavilion whose architecture was a direct manifestation of what it was exhibiting.

The second idea was to ensure a significant area of open public space around it so visitors could relax and choose either to enter the pavilion building, or see it clearly from a calm, non-queuing vantage point.

And thirdly, it would be unique among the hundreds of other competing pavilions, events and programmes."

http://www.dezeen.com/2010/03/31/uk-pavilion-at-shanghai-expo-2010-by-thomas-heatherwick-2/ (accessed 6 Apr 2010, 1018pm)

YEAR OUT STINT

I have 6-month vacancies for ex-3rd Year and ex-2nd Year Architectural students from June 2010. Please email thegalitarianbody@live.com to express your interest. (Last chance, now: Everything changes next year.)

(Note: 2nd and 3rd Years = Dip and Degree levels.)

Ian Ng
Arkitek Inasreka
www.inasreka.com

TUTORIAL NOTES

My suggested 10 factors of Site Response were

Aspect

Orientation

Topography

Approach

Civic Space

Circulation Patterns

Degrees of Privacy

Morphology

Demeanor

Significance


Don't hesitate with your schemes--Just do it! They're all good--except for "ahem" who hasn't shown me anything to date.....


You'll be very short of time by Tuesday, so book your tutorial slots here, 20 mins each starting earlier, at 1300h. Block the list, insert your name and post here. Keep it running. (Insert ur email and name in chat box if you want to be added for posting.)

TUE 6 APRIL TUTORIALS
1300-1320 :
1320-1340 :
etc....

Pics: Ian Ng 2010, Wilson 2009
Rose Window, Our Lady of Lourdes, Klang
Top Light, One of 14 Stations, Our Lady of Lourdes, Klang
View from Gallery, Our Lady of Lourdes, Klang
Appreciating Study Models, Studio 3 Degree, July 2009 (Tutors: Ian Ng, Anand)