Waiting

Recently while waiting in a hotel lobby, I drew this mom and child waiting for dad to check out - mom was tying up the toddler's hair while the child played with an I-phone. The following sketches are collected over the years and they show us waiting (almost always with a book)

Sam falls asleep amongst the laundry while waiting for dinner to be cooked

We were on the way to KL via KTM train from JB.

Drawing Out Your Day

Breakfast at the Ibis Hotel where I stayed for 8 nights was the same everyday, which helped reinforce my daily routine of squeezing in a quick run in the early morning before going to 'work' at the third year studio. 

I ate alone - but had my novels and sketch book to keep me accompany.These are some of the people in the breakfast crowd.
 

This impatient man was waiting for his wife to check out - full of anxious energy and frowns.

The Workshop consist of 150 students from NUS whom I saw daily for a week; they helped me with my daily commute, which involved taking the SMRT Bus 806 from the Dept. of Design and Environment to Clementi MRT which takes to Bugis MRT. From there, I walk a short distance to Ibis Hotel on Bencoolen Road.

On some days, I take a detour and visit museums or shops; I saw the terracotta warriors at the Asian Civilisation Museum with Tao and friend.

 
Some days, my friends would take me to look at new buildings such as the University Town across the road from NUS. Most of the building there are bland American copies with the exception of Mok Wei Wei's building. 

Mostly, I was happy to explore and sketch, I did two quick sketches (5-10 minutes) of the old Mandarin Oriental Hotel which is now wearing a new 'skirt' of sweeping glass and steel curves that is Mandarin Square.

The Singapore Management Universtiy

Kindred Spirits

by Kok Ming

by Kok Ming

The Hunting Lodge by Jules Boag

We meet people in the course of our lives; some become friends after the third or fourth meeting while others are destined to stay at the fringe as acquaintances. Then there are the times when we meet people for the first time and the mutual feeling is one of renewed friendship. Like an old school friend whose bond was cultivated over hours of homework (or detention); or favourite cousin Freddie whom despite being a relative (and therefore not strictly a friend) always shared a laugh or a cigarette after Grandma’s obligatory Sunday lunch.

This year, I had the privilege of meeting two such people – one of them is a runner (editor) and the other is a sketcher (architect). For someone who does not make friends easily - this is indeed a bonus. The bonus of having someone share the hard miles with me in the early morning runs and tell stories (during the run - she's fit this one) about our other shared interests; dogs, traveling, art, warm people and cool films.
To have someone who share discoveries about architecture; a recent favourite speaker or building, an invite to conduct a workshop, ideas about teaching architecture and striking a balance between work and family.
Their warmth and openness makes me want to try harder to be approachable and generous when I deal with others - it's a work in progress.

Back to Uni

Last month, I was invited to lead the Tropical Architecture Workshop at NUS (National University of Singapore)

This annual event is the first project for 150 third year students. My theme is based on the idea of a tropical ‘village’ where students have to analyze the simple activities of eating/cooking, sleeping/resting and washing. The brief called for usage of passive cooling devices and consideration of interspatial relationship and the possible development of prototypes.

I prepared this pictorial documentary of the 7-day workshop, choosing to focus on the activities that took place and relationships made rather than the products of the workshop. For me, the real lessons learnt during the 7 days do not always show themselves in the final panels. These are lessons in teamwork, discourse and disagreements followed by decision and delegation of work, ending in an articulate presentation of their ideas. Much of which was done in a seriousness and skill that belie their mere two years in Architecture School; resulting in a body of work that explored social issues, urban planning, ecology, industrial design and energy renewal. The most enjoyable (and impressive) aspect of this workshop was the students’ ability to explain (and argue) their ideas at a moment’s notice, and without much sleep one might add.

For me, these are the rewards: to work with smart motivated young people that point towards the future of our profession. 

These are some samples of the students' work

The view from Traders Hotel

This is a belated continuation of the previous blog entry - a happy outing to KL; staying at the Traders, pampered at the executive lounge and receiving two gold medals at the PAM Awards. I enjoyed most the quiet morning at the breakfast lounge 35 floors up - finishing my sketches in watercolor.
These are two of them - I used watercolors from a Sakura Paintbox.

PAM Awards

Traders Hotel lobby on Level 5

For this year's PAM Awards outing, Arlene, Leong and I decided to lash out and stay at the Traders Hotel - we planned to have a extra bed in the room for me. All was well until Leong and I tried to check in at 2 p.m.- we were told by the nice and apologetic Mr Lucas Chin at front desk that our room was not ready. I frowned and looked at my watch; prompting an exchange between the two of us.

L: ah, erm..may I offer you lunch?

me: (looking uninterested) We've had lunch (quelling a little burp of sushi)

L: ooh..haha..ah how about a drink?

me: We are a little pushed for time; we are attending an event next door..

L: Oh, I see. The Industrial Robotics Convention?

me: No. (trying to look mildly offended) - the Architect's Design Awards.

L: Oh. Did you win something?

me: I believe we did, yes..

L: Mr. Wee. Let me check again..back in a moment (he dashes off and returns in two minutes). Ah...Mr.Wee, I am very sorry but I can only offer you a room on the executive floor with views of the Twin Towers, ah..would that be acceptable?

me: (Yay!..executive floor!) well, it'll have to do

L: And Mr. Wee can have cocktails at the executive on the 38th floor at 5 p.m. - they are complimentary.

me: (wooohooo!) ..yes, yes, we'll see if we have the time.

L: ah...one more thing; the room has two single beds, not a double...

me: Hmm. that's ok (turning to Leong who's sitting down amongst the cushions and gesturing with my hands that the beds are apart and not together; he nods. And as I turn back to young Lucas, I catch the eye of the Indian receptionist standing nearby; she cocks her head and smile sympathetically at me)

PAM Awards Ceremony 2011

Such a nice view that I slept on the couch by the window

In Memoriam

Kok Ming took us on an 'Architecture of Death' tour - my favourite was the Kranji War Memorial. Set on a hill with manicured lawns - the Memorial is dedicated to the Commonwealth soldiers who died defending Singapore and Malaya against the invading Japanese forces during WOrld War II.
The two sweeping wings represent the Air Force, sheltering the "Army" columns engraved with names of the fallen, while the submarine's sail stands for the Navy.

Headstones at the Kranji War Memorial

While there - I was reminded of Kemal Ataturk's tribute to the ANZACs in Gallipoli, 
  "......You the mothers who sent their sons from far away countries, wipe away your tears. Your sons are now lying in our bosom and are in peace. Having lost their lives on this land they have become our sons as well."  It moves me every time I read it.