Famous Building and Structure

Have you guys been to Bukit Bintang? Realize what building it is? It is a shop which locates right opposite Pavillion. Yes, it is a very creative design shop. Every time when I walk through this shop, I can't move my eyes from it. It is very unique. 

And here, I would like to share some of the other famous building and architecture.

The Colosseum (Flavian Amphitheater) of Rome, the largest and most famous of the Roman amphitheaters, was opened for use A.D. 80. Elliptical in shape, it consisted of three stories and an upper gallery, rebuilt in stone in its present form in the 3rd century A.D. It was principally used for gladiatorial combat and could seat between 40,000 and 50,000 spectators.

The Pantheon at Rome, begun by Agrippa in 27 B.C. as a temple, was rebuilt in its present circular form by Hadrian (A.D. 118–128). Literally the Pantheon was intended as a temple of “all the gods.” It is remarkable for its perfect preservation today, and has served continuously for 20 centuries as a place of worship.

The Tower of London is a group of buildings and towers covering 13 acres along the north bank of the Thames. The central White Tower, begun in 1078 during the reign of William the Conqueror, was originally a fortress and royal residence, but was later used as a prison. The Bloody Tower is associated with Anne Boleyn and other notables.

The Vatican is a group of buildings in Rome comprising the official residence of the pope. The Basilica of St. Peter, the largest church in the Christian world, was begun in 1452, and it was rebuilt between 1506 and 1626. The Sistine Chapel, begun in 1473, is noted for frescoes by Michelangelo.

The Eiffel Tower, in Paris, was built for the Exposition of 1889 by Alexandre Gustave Eiffel. It is 984 ft high (1,056 ft including the television tower).

The Taj Mahal (1632–1650), at Agra, India, built by Shah Jahan as a tomb for his wife, is considered by some as the most perfect example of the Mogul style and by others as the most beautiful building in the world. Four slim white minarets flank the building, which is topped by a white dome; the entire structure is made of marble.

Angkor Wat, outside the city of Angkor Thom, Cambodia, is one of the most beautiful examples of Cambodian, or Khmer, architecture. The sanctuary was built during the 12th century.

The Great Wall of China (begun c. 214 B.C.), designed specifically as a defense against nomadic tribes, has large watchtowers that could be called buildings. It was erected by Emperor Ch'in Shih Huang Ti and is 1,400 mi long. Built mainly of earth and stone, it varies in height between 18 and 30 ft.

Unusual and Creative Restaurants

Last weekend, I went to Mid Valley with my friends. When we were shopping, we found a very nice and creative design restaurant which name "Garden". Actually, I have heard from my friends before. But, I have never seen it. Finally I have seen it that day. It was so beautiful. It feels romantic when I first saw it. Unfortunately, I lost the chance to snap the photo of the restaurant. When I came home, I attempt to search on other creative design restaurants among the world. And these are what I have found. Enjoy.

Hospital Restaurant in Latvia

The restaurant looks like a medicine cabinet and the food is served in flasks and operating-room’s dishes. In addition, the customers can be tied up in straight jackets.

Ice Restaurant in Dubai

Chillout is the first ice lounge in the Middle East where everything from decoration, furniture and teacups is made from ice.

Toilet Restaurant in Taiwan

Creative restaurant in Taipei, Taiwan with modern decor and full-on toilet theme.

 Prison Restaurant in Tokyo

Alcatraz is a prison themed restaurant in Tokyo, Japan. The patrons are escorted to their “cells” before they are served cocktails named “Lethal Injection”.

Underwater Restaurant in Maldives 

Beautiful underwater restaurant secured 5 metres below sea level at the Hilton Maldives Resort & Spa in Rangalifinolhu, Maldives. The restaurant has a capacity of 14 people and is encased in transparent acrylic roof offering 270° panoramic view to its customers.

 

The underwater Restaurant in Maldives is the one that made me so attractive to it. Hope i can visit it one day in my entire life. Honestly, the Prison and the Hospital restaurant made me want to vomit and uncomfortable. It made me related to the food that are poison and dirty.

  

Le Modulor

This week, Mr Zul want us to do a blog post about Le Modulor. When I first listen to this topic. The first thing appear in my mind is what is this name. And what is that?! i don't even know anything about this. But, I have to do so. So, I try to make some research on it.


The Modulor is an anthropometric scale of proportions devised by the Swiss-born French architect Le Corbusier (1887–1965). It was developed as a visual bridge between two incompatible scales, the Imperial system and the Metric system. It is based on the height of an English man with his arm raised. It was used as a system to set out a number of Le Corbusier's buildings and was later codified into two books. Le Modulor contains fascinating biographical details concerning life during and after the occupation of France during WWII, it describes the birth-pains of a new artistic movement, and it provides a full description of  Corb's theory of architectural proportion: Le Modulor. 

Examples~
Examples of Le Modulor in use (mainly the RadialCity) are combined with the story of its theoretical development, and exercises for the reader intended to clarify common misconceptions. It's a striking book. After reading it one never again looks at concrete housing developments apparently based on models made out of Lego by a clumsy child in quite the same way. Not only are these monsters ugly, impractical, life destroying eyesores; they are also uninspired, cut price, shoddy approximations to their own intended idiom. Le Modulor supposes that harmonious design can, must, proceed from a scale of proportions analogous to the scale of tones used in music. But isn't the 12-tone equal-tempered scale actually an artificial construct designed to facilitate transposition? Or was he referring to the "ideal" ratios found in "just intoned” scales?

My thought~
Actually I did not know about it. However, after I have made some research on the architect Le Corbusier. He ought to introduce a scale of visual measures that would unite two virtually incompatible systems: the Anglo Saxon foot and inch and the French Metric system. Whilst he was intrigued by ancient civilizations who used measuring systems linked to the human body: elbow (cubit), finger (digit), thumb (inch) etc., he was troubled by the meter as a measure that was a forty-millionth part of the meridian of the earth. 

Sand Art by Ilana Yahav

Few days ago, I accidentally found a sand art from my Facebook's friend. It was so cool and it did make me so impressive of her work, she is Ilana Yahav. As can see, she only use her fingers to draw, a world renowned sand artist, creates a wonderful and magical story that emerges in front of the eyes of amazed viewers: be it in front of an audience, in video clips or in advertisements. 

Sand art, into which Ilana has put all her energies and talents, is a unique and minimalist art form in which she uses only that which God blessed her with: sand, hands and soul. It is this very simplicity that fascinates her and which makes it so challenging and exciting to her and to her audience. “I was always captivated by the ability of hand gestures to express emotions such as anger, compassion, and love… Just as in dance, such movements create emotions that play a major role in the creation.”

Actually, it is not just sand only, light and music also form important elements of Ilana’s creations. In her works, she uses lights that emerge from under a transparent table, sometimes even multicolored illumination. For the perfect soundtrack, Ilana carefully chooses music that matches the message and the sensations being conveyed.

An art that has become a mission in life

Videos documenting Ilana’s performances and works (such as those available on this website) are disseminated over the Internet by her fan base that is growing by the day. The videos are viewed by millions of people around the world and receive warm and heartening accolades from viewers of all religions, nationalities and fields of art. Ilana sees it as a personal mission to incorporate themes of peace in her works and to distribute these universal themes in the language of art, an inherently universal language.

You can get more videos from here.

 This is Ilana's website URL, please click here for more information.

Leonardo's Da Vinci

This post I am going to share about a famous people which name Leonardo's Da Vinci. He was an Italian Renaissance polymath: painter, sculptor, architect, musician, scientist, mathematician, engineer, inventor, anatomist, geologist, cartographer, botanist and writer whose genius, perhaps more than that of any other figure, epitomized the Renaissance humanist ideal. Leonardo has often been described as the archetype of the Renaissance man, a man of "unquenchable curiosity" and "feverishly inventive imagination".

His works are generally attributed either in whole or in large part to him, most of them paintings on panel but including a mural, a large drawing on paper and two works in the early stages of preparation. A further six paintings are disputed, there are four recently attributed works, and two are copies of lost work. None of Leonardo's paintings are signed, and this list draws on the opinions of various scholars.

The small number of surviving paintings is due to Leonardo's constant and frequently disastrous experimentation with new techniques, and his chronic procrastination. Nevertheless, these few works together with his notebooks, which contain drawings, scientific diagrams, and his thoughts on the nature of painting, comprise a contribution to later generations of artists rivaled only by that of his contemporary, Michelangelo.

Leonardo's earliest known drawing, the Arno Valley (1473), Uffizi

The Baptism of Christ, Oil on wood

Painted by Andrea Del Verrocchio, with the angel on the left-hand side by Leonardo. It is generally considered that Leonardo also painted much of the background landscape and the torso of Christ. One of Leonardo's earliest extant works. Vasari's statement that the angel on the left is by Leonardo is confirmed by studies by Bode, Seidlitz and Guthman, and accepted by McCurdy, Wasserman and others.

Madonna of the Carnation

It is generally accepted as a Leonardo, but has some over painting possibly by a Flemish artist.

Mary Magdalene

Recently attributed as a Leonardo by Carlo Pedretti. Previously regarded as the work of Giampietrino who painted a number of similar Magdalenes. Carlo Pedretti's attribution of this painting is not accepted by other scholars, eg Carlo Bertelli, (former director of the Brera Art Gallery in Milan), who said this painting is not by Leonardo and that the subject could be a Lucretia with the knife removed.

familiar with this? Yes, it is Mona Lisa.

The above are all of his work, and the most impressive work is the well-known paint which name Mona Lisa.

Engineering Drawing

Today, I found out not only a Designer work as a designer. But, an engineer, he or she also need to know how to design too, as same as an architecture.

An engineering drawing is a type of technical drawing which used to fully and clearly define requirements for engineered items.

Engineering drawing produces engineering drawings. More than just the drawing of pictures, it is also a language which is a graphical language that communicates ideas and information from one mind to another. Most especially, it communicates all needed information from the engineer who designed a part to the workers who will make it.

Here are some of the engineer’s drawings which I think they are cool. And for me, they are totally difficult and totally difference with what I have imagined. It is much more hard as compare to what I am learning now, which is a basic painting class.

This is an engineering drawing, which members of the Cryogenics Department used in 1995, are now stored electronically.

This drawing was described as exceptional by a guest who had worked with engineering drawings during his career.

This is from a famous artist, Leonardo's Da Vinci engineering drawing from 1503 on textured background.

Form follows function. Function follows form.

Form follows function

Form follows function is a principle associated with modern architecture and industrial design in the 20th century. The principle is that the shape of a building or object should be primarily based upon its intended function or purpose.  It is motivated by the modern principles of architecture guide by economy, unity and beauty, which is the resolution of the design, is a product of the function which stems directly from the requirements of the occupants within the physical environment. 

Architecture is an art of creating beautiful spaces, of designing structures where form follows function. It is an art based on the principles of Utility and Beauty.

Architecture is not merely slavery to the past art, not is it blind originality. It has to be a perfect blend usability, beauty and economy. Architecture has always been the result of the delicate balance between art and science, but it has been more of an Art than science. An Architect is an artist who sets out to remodel the world to make is more perfect for human habitation.

The personality of an architect is reflected through his creations. We can gauge his temperament by looking at the way the structure is designed, both internally as well as externally. An architect takes care of human need, interests, sentiments & values of his clients while designing the structures.

Functionality should always be giver higher priority than form. But this does not always happen. An Architect might be tempted to create snazzy designs which might be prohibitively expensive or unusable. However, it is the duty of an Architect to design a structure in a way that it is functional, durable and trendy. Compromises have to be made. But an Architect should never indulge himself in creating extravagant forms which might be aesthetically beautiful but which do not serve their functional purpose.

Function follows form

It is a reverse process design.

On a social level, buildings have the purpose of constraining behavior. In a very physical way, they direct our movement into certain trajectories or prevent us from going to certain places. They keep certain spaces dry and warm, while leaving others cold and wet. They keep certain people out, or other people in. further, buildings also have the potential to induce behavior and influence our attitude. In a church, people start to whisper, but in a bar they’ll need to shout to be heard. Taken to an extreme, bentham's Panopticon enforced the discipline of its inmates by means of the centrally located but invisible wardens. This control is accomplished by means of an architectural rhetoric with social implications. For example, the acoustics in a cathedral cause noises to echo, disturbing everyone else in the church and inviting disapproval from other patrons. As a result, visitors quickly learn that appropriate behavior in that space is to whisper.

It could be examples of appropriation, ala Gibson's "The Street Finds Its Own Uses for Things". Maybe adapt to make the forms exist, like Venice using canals instead of roads. It could be accidental discoveries like Silly Putty or Post-it Notes, or exploiting new materials, like the use of steel as a building material instead of wood, or plastic instead of glass. I'm even looking for ideas that stretch the notion of what a form is, like laws or religion or social norms, as long as they inspire new functions.


My thought~
Now I know what is form follows function and function follows form. However, there is still a little bit confuse between them. Anyway, I knew I will get the meaning clearly one day with the guide of my friends, lecturers and so from the environment.

Cool Design Umbrealla

Yesterday, it was a heavy rainy day. I went out to market to buy some stuff. After I have bought my stuff, it’s begun to rain. And the worst is I didn't bring my umbrella. Yes, I have to walk home without umbrella. While I was on my way, I saw a girl using a very cute umbrella which has two ears on the top or the umbrella in yellow color. I guess it was a Pikachu cartoon that we often saw while watching Pokémon, the cartoon show. After I have reach home, I search on some interesting design on different umbrella. And these are what I found. Have a look.

Senz Umbrella: This senz umbrella has an aerodynamic design that can withstand up to 70 mph winds. 

Double Umbrella: This cool umbrella doubles the rain coverage.

Polite Umbrella: A cool umbrella design that increases the maneuverability and enables one to change its shape in order to reduce occupied space.

Bumpbrella: This see-through can be inflated easily with the help of a hand pump and can be deflated at the pull of a handle and it has three bright lights that allows one to see and be seen clearly. 

Extra Large Umbrella: This odd shaped umbrella was spotted in Japan.

Cup Holder Umbrella: A creative umbrella that comes with coffee cup holder integrated into the handle.

Goggles Umbrella: This cool umbrella protects you from the rain and lets you watch your step.

Wheel Umbrella: A cool artistically designed umbrella features a wheel that leaves smiley face impressions using puddles left over from the rain. 

Shoulder Umbrella: Shoulderbrella is a flexible accessory that wraps around your shoulder leaving your hands to take care off of other stuff.

Umbrella Seat: Creative umbrella designed to be used as a seat (sort of) when there is no rain. 

The design was cool right? I wish to have all of them. Then, I may use them whenever condition I face. They are all so useful. However, I don't think they will as cheaper than what we bought for a usual design umbrella.

The creator of Affordances

I am here would like to share about the Creator of Affordances - James Jerome Gibson

An American psychologist, born in McConnelsville, Ohio, who received his Ph.D. from Princeton University's Department of Psychology. In his classic work, The Perception of the Visual World (1950), he rejected the fashionable behaviorism and the classical approach of Hermann von Helmholtz and others to perception for a view based on his experimental work. His theories pioneered the idea that observers sample information from the outside visual world using an active perceptual system rather than passively receiving input through their senses and then processing this input to obtain a construction of the world. For Gibson, the world contained "invariant" information that was directly accessible to the perceptual systems of humans and animals which are attuned to pick up this information through "direct perception."

His first job was at Smith College, where he taught psychology from 1928 to 1949. There he met Kurt Koffka, the Gestalt psychologist. Gibson never accepted Gestalt psychology, but he did agree with Koffka that the problems of perception were the central problems of psychology (Neisser 1981). Also at Smith, Gibson met Eleanor Jack, a brilliant psychology student. They married on September 17, 1932. They had two children, James J. and Jean Grier. Eleanor became not only his wife but also his assistant, sharing his views on how to conduct research and his interest in the psychology of perception.

Gibson's theory was that of direct perception, which means that humans directly perceive their environment through stimulation of the retina. Traditionally, and especially by Gestalt psychologists, perception was believed to be indirect. According to this theory, humans do not directly perceive their environment. It is only through sensory stimulation over time that we learn what is in our environments, and that we perceive much more than mere sensory input. Although Gibson's theory was met with much criticism, it did help advance the study of perception. Through his theory of ecological optics, the study of perception shifted from laboratory-created situations to real environmental tests. His ideas also pushed further research into the areas of vision and perception. Gibson died in 1979.

Gibson's greatest desire, according to his own writing, was "to make a contribution to knowledge" (Boring and Lindzey 1967, 141). There is no question that he did just that.

Gibson's Affordances

• Action possibilities in the environment in relation to the action capabilities of an actor
• Independent of the actor's experience, knowledge, cultre, or ability to perceieve
• Existence is binary - an affordance exists or it does not exist.