29.5.2026 Friday - frustration and relief in equal measures

SY comes for a chat, I think he wants to air some grievances and also to update me on the latest news from Taoyuan. I listen as he tells me about his plans for the July trip; we will visit the job site upon landing, followed by a trip south to Taichung on Day 2 and 3, after which we will return to Taoyuan for the launching of the landart exhibition, and then maybe spend one day roaming the outskirts of Taipei instead of attending the design forum. I will frame this into an itinerary and share w the others before telling Eric. 

He also tells me that their firm has won a prize for a school project, I am happy and envious in equal measures. I am  glad it is them, but wish our school project will more forwards.

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Today we have some long chats about work matters about getting any drawings done. I am determined to draw during this long holiday break, I will go the office daily.

6.1.2026 Tuesday - a small hotel in Bali

 

The construction costs for our little hotel in Bali is about twice the allocated budget, so Ricco and I are looking at ways to reduce the floor area. 

Suen Ling and I chat about how to reduce the cost of construction (400SGD for the building and basic finishes, plus potential another 60SGD) at the moment. I mark out our thinking which:

1. omits the mezzanine within the rooms (reduce costs of slab and staircases)

2. instead the communal areas (dining, lounge, check-in) will be large and will have a mezzanine so that guests can enjoy views of the padi) - this is accessed via one staircase, close the the kitchen at the rear.

3. the number of the rooms remain at 20, their width have been reduced to 3250mm (construction grid reduced from 7m to 6.5m)

The roof form will still be quite interesting though modular in nature, I will brief the client soon, so that they don't worry and start chasing us for results. Usually when they start to do that, it takes away some of my enthusiasm for the project. 

4.4.2025 Friday - Don and Da drop by for lunch

We forget to take photos, but that is a good thing - it is simply a lunch and chat with people whom I enjoy the company of. Sam was saying how our kids do not seem to have more close friends from school. I remind her that I do not have many friends (from school or any where else) Friends whom I was close to then are now not in touch, I have not made the effort and neither have they. We have moved on, and apart. 

There is tennis in the evening, though no gym in the morning. 

Showing design intent to Laurance, who is in Xi'an

8.3.2024 Friday - sitting quietly and drawing

The highlight of my day is sitting down drawing out hotel room options, listening to Jackie Cheung while eavesdropping on Sean at the end of the room going through structural framing and levels with the engineers Wong and Edberg. 

I am not the only one solving design problems.