A Teochew (architects’) love poem

I wrote this for fun, Mingi/Suchee used it as their design statement for an interior design awards entry; of their new flat at MJC in 2006.

TOGETHER-NEST
- a Teochew architects’ love poem
(inspired by actual events)

Two architects, a Mr. and Mrs.
Needed their own space(s)
With Not much cash, decided to renovate
Dad’s old flat.

In one of Kuching’s new “townships”
9 across and 9 metres deep.
Three storeys up,
And not much “meat”.

“There are no walls between us” he declared;
An open plan layout it is.
There shall be no walls between us, she agreed
A one room home is bliss.

So the living room is the bedroom
which is the study, and a place to read.
Except when time to eat,
Then the futon is rolled up before the sushi is.

One big space,
plus one more for the cook.
Materials used found, bought
Given or sought.

The ambience was of memories and dreams
Only yesterday it seemed;
on school benches they met
much like those recreated

The cement screed finish and the “curtain” wall
was a design choice,
though the banker
did make some noise….

Much like teochew porridge,
it’s not for the rich.
it’s an expanse of screed; with a touch of timber
where you sit your arse down for dinner.

Design does matter, to eradicate clutter
So the walls have pockets.
Much less of a mess; promoting
….to-get-her-ness

Architecture is serious business
if you are rich, the solutions are endless.
Much better if you are poor
because less IS more.


Min - 2006

Detail therapy

We have so many responsibilities throughout the day, the week that some times we spend too much time trying to decide what to do first and next. And that's before we decide between work and home related projects.

To be efficient, I tell my colleagues and students to do the one that takes the shortest time first - make that phone call, write that Instruction and so forth before settling in to the longer and more unpredictable (time-wise) task of developing a design scheme for example.

But human nature does not always work like that, we delay making the phone call; perhaps the person at the other is unpleasant and difficult to talk to, perhaps making the call brings on an avalanche of more unpleasant duties. Perhaps we just don't feel ready to make that call.
On some days, I simply do what I feel I'd enjoy most doing; damn the deadlines, ignore the urgent questions from site (I'll make sure to issue the details in a 'timely' manner) - I'll spend a day of self therapy and focus on the details of one thing only.

One day and one whole cutting blade later, I was tired but felt refreshed, starting to feel bored yet rewarded. Take some photos to record the day's work for this blog.

Time to make that phone call.