Every now and then my mind returns to the mothership and find tidbits of architecture in theory.

Overheard:

"Architecture of any kind depends on context and detail. A building can be hugely impressive on paper (or on one of those rotating computerised simulations) but if it's plonked in the wrong place it will immediately make enemies and thereafter contribute to the ruin of the local built environment.

A building is not an isolated entity. It should not be slavish to its surroundings - that invariably looks stupid - but it should be designed to contribute to its eventual home rather than to steamroller it.

One of our many problems with city planning comes from architects' and their clients' desire to make buildings 'imposing'. This in and of itself is no bad thing, but if the 'imposing' quality of a building extends right down to street level, then the local street environment becomes intimidating and dehumanising.

The City of London has suffered this (partly deliberate) phenomenon for centuries. Street-level architecture has different rules from the rest of the building: it has to make us feel comfortable and safe. There's plenty of room for exciting, visually-stimulating surroundings, but comfort and safety are the bare essentials.

Detail in architecture matters. Someone has to live or work inside a building. We all understand that. It is a separate issue from the aesthetics of the exterior, and it is a potential opportunity for an architect to befriend the users of his building. But if insufficient attention is given to the function and form of the interior, perhaps as a forgotten poor relation to the epoch-making exterior, the users will immediately become sworn enemies of architecture. Similarly, if construction methods are untried, and fail, quality of life goes down the plughole. More enemies of architecture." - Simon Harvey

Mr. Harvey, I couldn't agree more with your statement. There are numerous structures in Metro Manila that fit into this "imposing" category, with nary a concern in relation to its built environment.

I have encountered arguments placing the blame to such problems on lax building codes, erroneous zoning policies or absence therof, and the usual Philippine excuses for not doing the job right (i.e. corruption, nepotism, continuity issues, blah and blah).

In the absence of astute policies, laws, and mandates should designers:
A. Turn a blind eye, and do whatever they want with blatant disregard for the built environment and surrounding communities?

B. Do whatever they want and hide under the excuse that the structure is supposed to be a catalyst for change in the neighborhood?

C. Consider the whole picture, and involve the built environment?

D. Do what everyone else does and blame the lack of policies later?

I believe that as graduates of architecture or design schools (and licensed at that), the designer should take on the role of educator. The absurd or non-existent building mandates should be seen as an opportunity to improve the project site and its neighborhood; it should not be considered as a gaping loop hole to go and do as the owner or designer pleases.

I'm quite sure that all development projects have the following statements in their proposal: "uplift the community of so and so bgy.", "provide employment to residents". In order to achieve these statements, the social aspects must be addressed. Alienating your neighbors is not a good start for any architectural masterpiece. A structure should be embraced by the community it belongs to, and not something that people are forced to live with in contempt.

Perhaps it all boils down to the designer's architectural philospohy, prevailing design concepts and considerations. Alienating a portion (or entirety) of the existing environment is a valid design consideration (defensive design and all that), it even calls for reverence of the structure. After all, architecture is art.

However, much has to be said about experiential architecture. Art that alienates only achieves half its purpose and imparts a prevailing sense of disconnect. Experience adds another dimension to the interaction between the population and the structure. Designers should ask themselves how they would like people to go through their development...do they want people to rush by, quickly running from point a to point b? Or do they want people to take in the essence of the structure as they go about their business? A building that does not establish a connection and experiential relevance to the population is a failure.

Perhaps in the 21st century, form follows function is not enough anymore, there is so much more human factor and dynamics to be integrated for a structure to be considered relevant. It probably isn't enough just to be beautiful, and it isn't enough that it serves its function, it must be socially responsible (or conform to societal ergonomics, if there is such a term).

As my wonderful professor repeatedly reminded our class: "Would a fishball vendor stop by and spend time in your structure and say: 'Wow!' ?". Well, sir most of the developments I see today don't have fishball vendors...they're a good 15 meters away because they feel out of place around the new structures.

In hindsight, the 5 year barrage of demanding conceptual development and design philosophy for every little line drafted has had a tremendous effect on the way I perceive and tackle everyday things.

I received this email from a classmate from AdMU, about this undergraduate maligning IPs (Indigenous Peoples) on Facebook. I was too lazy to actually download the document (and scared as hell after that freaking virus outbreak on almost all of the computers in the office...huhuhuhu hope my computer didn't catch it and become a carrier)

Where was I?

Ah, yes.

I was too lazy to download the document so I clicked on "view as Google document", and for the first time, accessed Google docs. I read the kid's rants and whatnots. Got annoyed at some parts and *gasp* was able to relate to some of her rants. When I finished browsing through the kid's whining blog, I closed the Google docs window and received an email from Google.

The email said:

You used Gmail's "Open as a Google document" link to view the attachment called "Tracy Isabel Borres[1]".

By doing this you saved an editable copy online at Google Docs: https://docs.google.com/Doc?id=dhhhm5gw_0d2w8b2cj&btr=EmailImport

My immediate reaction? Poor poor little girl (the Aeta-bashing-girl), I didn't mean for her very politically incorrect tirade to be automatically saved in the "cloud". Now and forevermore, her racist words are saved in cyberspace. I'm terribly sorry Google stole the document automatically, without my permission. This experience is making me highly suspicious of Chrome.

On another note, if you're interested about what this little girl had to say about Aetas, just google her name. I'm sure she'll be a celebrity overnight. If she's a real person. The entry could have been bogus.

To anyone who's read it and went to St.Scho and was in an REC section or an outreach volunteer...go ahead. I know you've got something to say :) Bring it on. But that discussion I believe deserves another entry.

December 2 Chapter VII

That's where it all started. One lazy night many months ago, while channel surfing, I chanced upon their music video and I've been a huge fan ever since. A few days after seeing the December 2 video, I decided to drop by the nearest music store to grab their CD, but the store just ran out of "Endings of A New Kind". December 2 Chapter VII was such a great song that I was willing to buy the CD without knowing how the rest of the songs would sound like. I was that confident with Taken by Cars. However, being the big procrastinator that I am, I held off buying their CD and (*gasp*) grabbed their song from a P2P client.

Fast Forward to November, I saw the music video for Taken by Cars' new song "Shapeshifter". It was shot at Bonifacio High Street (including Blow Up Babies, let me guess...Quark H. directed this one) and various locations in the Fort Bonifacio area . So I see Sarah Marco, not a new face since you see her perfectly well on the other videos. I said I am a huge fan. Not huge enough apparently, because the next few faces I see were strikingly familiar.

My exact thoughts were: Isn't that half of the Zialcita brothers? What is Benson doing there? Forgive my ignorance, they are Taken by Cars' lead guitarist and bassist respectively. I play football with these two (used to, I haven't been on the SAFC turf for ages). Bryce is a mean left defense along with his brother, SAFC's last man Benjie. Benny on the other hand is a swift striker.


Shoot. Now I really have to buy their CD, and probably get a few extra ones to give out as gifts. Just to atone for my downloading of their December 2 Chapter VII song. Guys, don't worry I'll go grab them CDs now, for the meantime allow me to promote your album on my blog:

Everyone! Go grab Taken by Cars' album "Endings of A New Kind" from your friendly neighborhood record store and help me balance out my cyberspace karmic debt!

I was feeling mighty down the entire day as depression reared its familiar yet unwelcome head once again. Tried every trick from Bart's Book of Alternate Realities with very little success, so I ended up waxing and polishing our entire first floor at midnight (I haven't polished yet, I'm still waiting for the wax to dry).

Yes, most people eat doughnuts or watch movies when depressed, but I ... clean.

Mr. Miyagi sure knows his karate, there is something utterly zen and relaxing about waxing on and waxing off (with a floor polisher). It most likely stems from the repetitive motion, which disentangles all my emotion from my energy, leaving me with nothing but polishing action and a clear state of mind. No wonder most of my eureka! moments are conjured during these cleaning spurts.

I swear by the polisher's therapeutic effects, I am seriously considering giving it as gifts to friends who are getting married (therefore: getting a place of their own and having their own floors to clean). Then again a polisher might be too expensive, so soon-to-be-married-friends expect a can of floor wax or pledge as gifts.

Cleaning is therapeutic in all levels, all metaphors included. But I am obsessive-compulsive so, do whatever floats your boat when emotional tidal waves come your way.

On that note, what do you do when depressed?

BFF asked if I wanted to join the bonfire tomorrow...blue to chase away the blues. Might just work. Oh, the wax is dry. Let the polishing begin!

Why?! Why am I only hearing about this now?! Is it because none of my friends are heavy drinkers? Why?!

Third Eye Blind is set to kick off San Miguel's Oktoberfest celebration TOMORROW, Sept 5! Tickets are at 1,500 PhP (consumable with whatever drink/s or food is there).

I can't believe 3EB is here and I didn't even know! Of course I won't be able to watch it, I already have prior engagements! I seriously doubt the people I'm going out with tomorrow night are willing to change their plans ... why, oh why?

*insert tantrum here*

Oh Apple! Please stop teasing me! Stop conjuring images of my dream gadget and depositing it all in the patent office. We know well that not all filed patents live to see the light of day. Please do not kid around with such promising technology. September 9 could not come any faster ... *sigh*.

( Click to tease )

I am a very hands-on person and still work best with a pen (or pencil) in hand. All my reports, drafts, concepts and ideas stem from various scribblings on paper. Now material-wise, I'm not very picky with paper, I can draw on most surfaces even used restaurant tissue. However, I tend to be very anal when it comes to writing equipment.

In university, we were taught to use lead holders also lovingly called clutch pencils. They're a pain to sharpen and dulls unevenly easily. Clutch pencils worked for me though because they never break and always produce the line thickness intended. The pencil is normally loaded with B grade lead because I already find HBs too hard (Hs and Fs are definite no-nos for me).

This penchant for soft lead meant that my drawing arsenal was filled with B grade pencils and my all time favorites: the EBs and EEs. I eat through these EB and EE grades like cookies, until there was only one left in my pencil case. Seeking to refill my diminishing lead supply, I headed to the bookstore but couldn't find my beloved grade anywhere, I saw a bunch of 7Bs and 8Bs instead. To my dismay, Staedtler apparently eased out the EB and EE grades and replaced it with the now visible 7 and 8Bs. The new soft grade pencils, don't have the same "softness" and darkness present in the old EE grade. :(

If anyone sees a bunch of EE pencils anywhere please do contact me. My drafts and sketches wouldn't be the same without it.

A couple of months ago, I traded my PSP for Joms' iPod Touch. I lured him into the trade by dangling various Greenhills-sourced games and lots of memory stick mileage. Since that fateful trading day, I've gone all over the house with the Touch in tow, accessing the web from everywhere and have gone to sleep with the Touch occupying the space beside me.

Now, I've never had a portable laptop and I have been holding off purchasing one due to various reasons. So one night, while lounging on my bed and surfing with the Touch, I kind of thought how neat it would be if there was a 10 - 12 inch version of the Touch, where there will be more screen real estate for me to read stuff and a large enough space to fit a comfy virtual keyboard. I immediately thought of this device made by Axiotron:
Axiotron's Modbook, I haven't seen any lying around in shops here so I don't have a real world account of its size and performance. It almost made it to my Christmas wish list. Almost. Not too long ago, upon releasing the monster of iPhone3G into the world, Mr. Jobs let it slip that there will be new and exciting products before the end of this year. The rumor mill has come up with the most mouth watering, dreamtastic device ever: (image courtesy of Gizmodo)

I just had to share my hope and joy :D

Rod, Lian and Joms were adamant about catching the Dark Knight on opening day, and since  majority wins, I had no choice but to watch the movie.

No spoilers in this post, but I can definitely say that this movie is better than Batman Begins. The supporting cast is fantastic, and I think that the supporting ensemble even stole the scenes from Batman. What else?

I love you Aaron Eckhart!

Now that this whole brouhaha over the Dark Knight is over, I can focus on the movie that really matters (for me at least): X-Files 2! I'm rather miffed that the poster looming over the Rockwell cinemas state an August 13 opening rather than the official website date of July 23.

10 years! X-Philes have been waiting for this movie for 10 years! Long live MSR! Worthless ranting over.