Kategori: blog – marriage years

Bilbao, Spain 141030

” …When the building is finished,…I worry that it is some kind of bizarre thing… I want to crawl under the blankets. When i saw Bilbao for the first time, I said,” oh my God, what have I done to these people?” I think that is a problem, but for better or worse, that is who I am.” – Frank Gehry

In one bright afternoon at the edge of nervion river. My mind is wondering, Norman Foster is truly master in neo Modernist approach, a god of life, an apollo, he has been my favorite architect who I was quite keen to learn from in his office. The label God of Life, Apollo was stated by Chris Abel. I was sure that Norman’s principle was truly a must do principle of doing architecture, Norman Foster is still one hero and master of fundamentals that i love most who like what Oscar Niemeyer said about him in his talk with Oscar Niemeyer.

Few days ago, in one rainy day i just arrived in Paris, commuting from Bastil to Rambuteau. I went to Gehry’s exhibition by serendipity in Pompidou Center Paris, a building which was designed by Renzo Piano and Richard Rogers. I saw models by gehry And partners stunned me. It was so beautiful. It was Like Van Gogh’s or Bernini’s or Affandi’s masterpiece. It opens into new possibilities, movement, New ideas, free form, unlimited line. It is almost perfect, And then i determined to see his work. A man who was stated by Chris Abel as Dionysus, god of pleasure.

in conclusion at that time I just love this man’s work, Frank Gehry, his building, persona and ideas in Louis Vuitton Foundation and Guggenheim Bilbao. I found that despite all of he pre assumption that (he was insensitive, he did not listen to his client, the building was not thinking about urban setting, he was driven by his ego trip) concluded by some of my peers, was wrong in his idea in these two magnificent work. After I finished read several of his books, publications, his catalogue, his interview with Barbara Isenberg or even his lecture’s video during our trip in this few days in Europe.
I found that He is such humble, down to earth man who is very smart, very sensitive, and ideas driven which sometimes his was failed to catch by others.

“Frank : People think that somebody who does this kind of out-there work that they haven’t seen before must be irresponsible and must no be interested in budgets or time schedules or the client, or the community is going to be in. They characterize it as an ego trip by superstar architects. Now in some cases it may be true, but it’s not in mine. It’s no accident that Disney Hall works. Enerst Fleisch man could tell you what happened. did Ernest tell you how I listened to him?

Barbara : Yes he did tell me that. in fact, several people I’ve interviewed recently said that one of your best traits is that you listen. I was just reading remarks by Matthew Teitelbaum, director of the Art Gallery of Ontario, who said that from the very beginning you “insistenly asked” about the museum’s needs and programming.

Frank : So put that in big letters : Gehry is a listener. He is not on an ego trip.” [1]

I found that in Guggenheim, the design responded beautifully by the axial opening from city axis to river. The pond designed as extension of the river creating architecture manipulation so the shape looked as dancing on the water bringing reflection of the solid. The atrium acts as breathing space creating a void before entering multi solid gallery. The sun light coming pass flower or fish or whatever people name the skylight bringing warmth which lighten space. Sometimes it might remind us who are same human under the same sun who challenge our origin. The shape perhaps was comin by free flow creativity reminded about gaudi’s, altoo’s, corbusier’s curvy line (Ronchamp) He took it into another level by introducing thereshold of such total curvy lines in creating architecture. [2]
He devised a totally new type of museum, aiming to give the visitor the choice to design his own itinerary to explore the museum, Gehry imagined an atrium that directyle connected with all exhibtion areas, in such a way that after contemplating the works in a determined wing, the visitor had to go back through the atrium to get to another area in the Museum. [3]

In Foundation of Louis Vuitton, Gehry made a clear approach for a phase of creative process in creating poetic of architecture called creative pregnancy phase stated by Antoniades in his book Poetics of Architecture. He was 84 years old when the building was opened and was praised by his patrons, collegue, and people who went for queing to enter his building. Christian Reyne, executive director, Fondation Louis Vuitton in chare of project management stated that the new approach in this project were new way of organizing the work called the “fundamentals phase.” This intermediary phase involved deciding on the main principle of the building’s conception notably the structural elements, the use of geothermal heating, and the distribution of fluids by means of radiant floors. It made it possible to fix certain parameters of construction in order to move the project forward without having to wait for the finalization of the studies. Reyner stated that the work was done in day to day basis with single 3d, and it has interactive period between architects , engineers, and general contractor which contributed to the factors in the project’s ultimate success. [4]

How can we measure this man ? When some design project he did it in effort to create inclusivist approach which dated back, some of the projects, he did it in minimum fee or even for free to enrich ‘take and give relationship between him and his patrons. Thats life when some of our life, we should dedicate it for others. I felt emphatic for this man of honour in architecture manipulation and the way of doing architecture as profession or as in his life especialy when it culminated in these two buildings that I had seen. That’s why we can call him master, or deconstructivist master or whoever you like smile emoticon who deconstructs profession, design as usual bringing future human creativity into such spiritual adventure eventhough he refused that label.

Before I could collect thoughts about what went right, I just burst into tears.

[1] Conversations with Frank Gehry, Barbara Isenberg,
[2] Trip by Realrich to Guggenheim in 2014
[3] Museum guggenheim Bilbao, Architect Frank O. Gehry’s Most Original Work
[Fondation Louis Vuitton, pp 122

“We live in a wonderful world that is full of beauty, charm and adventure. There is no end to the adventures we can have if only we seek them with our eyes open.” — Jawaharal Nehru

300814 Ubud. Terkait dengan perjalanan di pertengahan tahun 2014 ini terkait dengan beberapa hal yang tidak terduga, antara realitas dan ilusi, masa depan dan masa lalu, kesedihan dan kegembiraan, masalah dan solusi. Usaha ini terkait dalam perjalanan untuk menyibak jawaban akan pertanyaan – pertanyaan untuk hidup lebih baik terkait dengan beberapa catatan terkait dengan fenomena yang ditemui untuk menyibak tirai ilusi dan menemukan realitas.

Pathway to Village – Ubud

Pentingnya keilmuan – untuk apa ?

Di dalam buku mengenai Roosseno, Roosseno Jembatan dan Menjembatani, dibahas mengenai bagaimana dunia timur berlomba – lomba dengan dunia barat adalah meningkatkan keilmuan kita bahwa harapan Roosseno supaya dunia timur bisa bertemu dengan dunia barat dari segi keilmuan. Pak Budi, satu orang kontraktor, menjelaskan bagaimana struktur pra tekan dari Roosseno telah dipatenkan di Perancis dan dipakai dalam desain beberapa jembatan di daerah. Dari sini Ada Hasrat untuk memulai hal yang baru yang dimulai dari keheranan dan kecintaan akan profesi. Hal yang mungkin saja ada dewasa ini namun belum membudaya. Sebagai mana begitulah contohnya isu mengenai isu rumah murah dan bagaimana diskusi kita mengenai kritisi desain rumah – rumah murah, pertanyaan – pertanyaan mengenai sistem apa yang digunakan, biaya yang digunakan, material yang digunakan, sehingga hal – hal ini bisa memperkaya keilmuan. Mungkin kritisi ini bersifat falsifikasi, dimana berusaha untuk mencari tahu dimana salahnya, untuk kemudian bisa menaikan tingkatan bidang keilmuan yang lebih tinggi. Bukan berarti harus mencari tahu dimana salahnya, namun memang cara – cara ini bisa digunakan untuk selalu mendobrak batas yang ada daripada cara – cara membenarkan diri sendiri atau yang lazim disebut dengan verifikasi, cara memuji diri sendiri, membenarkan satu hipotesis dan menyibakkan tirai ilusi. Misal rumah murah yang didesain dengan material – material murah, mungkin diskusi soal sistem konstruksi yang mengefisienkan harga bangunan akan lebih memperkaya keilmuan teknologi bangunan daripada fenomena rumah yang menggunakan material murah, tidak sesuai standar keamanan dan kenyamanan. Kita kemudian belajar setiap material dengan harganya, mahal dan murah pun memiliki batas dan ketepatan guna untuk bisa dipergunakan dalam desain.

Berbicara mengenai sistem konstruksi kita berbicara mengenai model, prototipe yang mungkin secara ideal bisa dipahami bagaimana sejauh mana ini bisa tepat guna dengan kerugian dan keuntungannya. Teks book building construction illustrated yang ditulis oleh Francis D.K. Ching pun mungkin bisa diperkaya dengan khazanah realitas yang baru dimulai dari bagaimana tiap tiap elemen berkerja sesuai dengan realitas yang ada misal konstruksi kayu, besi, beton, kelebihan dan kekurangannya terkait keterbatasan bahan, jenis desain yang dimunculkan, ekspresi arsitektural yang didapat, ataupun terobosan desain yang ada, dengan beberapa penemuan misalkan sambungan konstruksi bambu yang digagas oleh Andry widyajatmiko dalam bukunya, ataupun karya sambungan yang diulas dalam setiap edisi dari buku Detail terbitan Birkhauser, ada bermacam – macam jenis sambungan dari plastik sampai kayu. Cara yang cukup mudah mungkin bisa terlihat dalam struktur pesawat terbang yang efisien, ringan, dengan luas penampang sekecil mungkin, usaha untuk meminimalkan ini pun wajib adanya dalam penerapan pengembangan prototipe ini untuk menentukan ambang batas kritis tentunya dengan perencanaan yang matang dan sistematis [sinkronik] bukan hanya pendekatan desain yang pragmatis.

Maraknya budaya berkumpul, meminta perhatian – untuk apa ?

Arsitek Muda Indonesia sudah memulai pada tahun 1990 untuk mencoba meredefinisikan kembali arsitektur yang lebih baik pada jamannya dengan pendekatan yang rasionalis. Jong Arsitek sebagai wadah arsitek muda mencoba menyambung eksistensialnya dengan media digital, mencoba mewadahi jembatan arsitek generasi selanjutnya dari AMI. Kemudian munculnya beberapa komunitas sebelum dan sesudahnya seperti belajar desain, biang desain, Indonesia Berkebun , dan sebagainya. Pertanyaan lebih dalam kemudian apa yang kita dapat dari budaya berkumpul, dan menamakan satu kumpulan dengan satu buah label. Mungkin kita bisa melihat bagaimana orang – orang yahudi maju dalam keilmuan karena kebiasaan untuk berkumpul dan belajar bersama. Belajar bersama ini menjadi penting karena disinilah menjadi ajang untuk bertukar pendapat, menyamakan visi untuk kemudian meredefinisikan visinya kembali. Memang ada saja godaan untuk membuat eksistensial tiap – tiap kelompok menjadi lebih tinggi namun budaya untuk belajar ini yang baik untuk dipertahankan. Yang patut untuk selalu menjadi perenungan adalah, apa sumbangannya terhadap bidang keilmuan yang ada. Seperti satu bangunan tingkat tinggi yang memiliki core bangunannya, semakin tinggi bangunan itu, core bangunan pun dituntut untuk bisa mewadahi jalur sirkulasi vertikal dengan segala pengetahuan didalamnya mengenai keamanan, kenyamanan dan juga keindahannya dalam segala manfaatnya. Pada akhirnya pertanyaan mengenai apa yang dihasilkan dari setiap budaya berkumpul ini yang ditunggu – tunggu sebagai tanggung jawab dari eksistensi yang lebih tinggi setiap saatnya.

Pengertian pentingnya pemahaman

Menjadi paham berarti bisa mengerti bagaimana pemecahan masalah itu dilakukan dengan cara yang diakronik ataupun sinkronik. Pemecahan masalah diakronik adalah pendekatan dengan mengerti sejarah, apa yang bisa dipelajari dari sejarah, apa yang sudah ada. Khasanah mengenai contoh – contoh yang sudah baik sehingga bisa dibakukan menjadi satu prototipe, model yang bisa dipelajari untuk diperbaiki menjadi lebih baik menjadi satu catatan yang bisa memperkaya kualitas desain arsitektur Indonesia. Oleh karena itu, budaya membaca dan menulis menjadi penting, begitupun budaya menulis dalam arsitektur untuk meningkatkan pemahaman teori dan praktik yang memperkaya keragaman dalam realitas yang ada. Pemahaman ini kemudian terekam dalam tulisan – tulisan yang lebih baik daripada masa lalu.

Bisa juga pemecahan masalah dilakukan dengan pendekatan sinkronik yaitu memecahkan masalah yang ada didepan mata dengan segala keahlian yang kita punyai secara langsung dan bersifat sistemik seperti mendesain satu buah mixed used dengan grid 8,4 m kali 8,4 m ataupun 10,5 m karena pertimbangan floor to floor yang tinggi, dengan ruang mekanikal elektrikal di bawah ceiling dan fungsi parkir mobil di daerah titik terbawah bangunan. Hal ini bisa dipelajari dengan menambah jam terbang, dan memikirkan pemecahan masalah melalui desain ruang – ruang yang ada, ataupun sebagai contoh mendesain ruang kelas dengan sistem struktur bay structure dengan titik – titik kolom sebagai pendukung strukturalnya, sebuah solusi yang efisien terkait dengan modul ruang 84 m2 yang menyusun batang tubuh bangunan dengan tipe koridor tunggal [single loaded corridor], ataupun tipe koridor ganda [double loaded corridor]. Hal – hal yang bersifat teknis ini adalah usaha untuk membuat bangunan berjalan dengan baik diselaraskan dengan pengetahuan disiplin ilmu yang lain, fisika bangunan, teknologi bangunan, pemahaman struktur. Pada akhirnya memang arsitek akan berkerjasama dengan orang – orang yang memiliki pemahaman lebih di bidangnya.

Munculnya kedewasaan

Pada akhirnya titik untuk menjadi paham adalah menjadi manusia yang dewasa, dimana manusia dituntut untuk menyebarkan kebaikan dalam etikanya. Terlebih lagi arsitek dengan segala potensinya sebagai pembawa kebaikan peradaban untuk selalu memikirkan pola hidup manusia yang tinggal di dalam bangunan yang dirancangnya. Dalam contoh kedewasaan ini terlihat jelas dalam desain tata lansekap Bali yang menghadirkan tanaman kamboja dengan berbagai jenisnya. Bahwa pada hakikatnya perencanaan ini untuk menyediakan bunga kamboja sehari – harinya yang dibutuhkan untuk berdoa den meminta rejeki ataupun untuk bersyukur akan rahmat yang diberikan. Bunga ini kemudian semerbak dengan wanginya yang harum. Dari sinilah kita mengetahui kegunaan kamboja di lain sifatnya yang mudah untuk dibiakan, dipotong pada pangkalnya ditanam di media tanah, ia pun akan hidup tanpa perlu air yang banyak.

Sistem ngaben yang ada di Bali dengan pembakaran mayat untuk ditebar ke laut menunjukkan gaya hidup yang berkelanjutan jauh sebelum brundtland commision menerapkan pentingnya isu ekologis dalam dunia di tahun 1987 ataupun buku Silent Spring yang ditulis Rachel Carson mengenai turunnya kualitas lingkungan. Di Bali orang – orang yang mampu secara finansial membiayai sendiri ngaben mereka, namun ada juga ngaben massal, bergotong royong membiayai ngaben mereka sendiri ataupun ketika biaya masih belum cukup mayat dikubur dahulu untuk kemudian ketika secara finansial cukup, peristiwa ngaben dilakukan. Hal ini didasarkan pada prinsip – prinsip untuk menghargai kehidupan, dari debu menjadi debu juga dan memberikan dirinya ke alam.

Lukisan karya Mario Blanco, anak dari pelukis Antonio Blanco yang menyiratkan arti kehidupan dengan pralambang teko, kelapa, gamelan. Teko adalah pralambang kehidupan, dengan air sebagai pusat utamanya dimana masyarakat Bali tidak mengenal cangkir pada awalnya, mereka minum dari teko. Air penting di dalam tatanan kehidupan sehingga setiap daerahnya memiliki penjaga air untuk bisa didistribusikan merata, dan sumber mata air disucikan seperti Tirta Emphul, sebagai titipan yang maha kuasa. Kelapa melambangkan setiap bagiannya dari akar buah sampai daunnya yang bisa digunakan. Gamelan melambangkan bahwa untuk bisa bernyanyi, dan menghibur orang ia perlu bersusah – susah dipukul – pukul oleh orang yang memainkannya.

Melihat kota Jakarta dengan sungainya, penjagaan airnya, apalagi kegunaan manusianya, ataupun caranya bersenang – senang, mungkin ada baiknya kita melihat lagi kebijaksanaan leluhur kita, setidaknya dari pulau Bali, untuk melihat masa lalu saja kita masih enggan bagaimana membuat sesuatu yang lebih baik. Ketiga pralambang dari lukisan Mario Blanco itu melambangkan kehidupan,untuk menjaga arti kehidupan, guna kehidupan, dan tidak lupa untuk bersenang – senang dan menghibur orang lain. Dari hal yang sederhana kita bisa menggali kebaikan dalam manusia. Begitupun juga keilmuan yang ada dalam berarsitektur untuk membuat kehidupan manusia yang lebih baik dan menebarkan kebaikan.

Mungkin memang karena hal – hal yang baik itu Bali disebut pulau para dewa.

Catatan :

1. Dalam perjalanan ke Bali kali ini saya membawa dua buah buku, yang pertama buku mengenai Roosseno Jembatan, menjembatani, didalamnya terdapat pidato roosseno dalam pengukuhannya sebagai guru besar ITB, mengenai bagaimana kita harus bersikap dalam mengejar ketertinggalan kita dengan dasar yang sederhana. Yang kedua adalah buku wewancara dengan louis Kahn, conversation with students dimana didalamnya terdapat kuliah singkatnya Architecture White light black shadow.
2. Informasi mengenai tradisi Ngaben dan Perletakkan Kamboja saya dapatkan dari bincang – bincang dengan Pak Made, sahabat yang menemani dalam perjalanan ke Denpasar dan Ubud.
3. Antonio Blanco adalah pelukis ekspresionis yang menikah dengan Nyi Rondji, seorang penari Bali. Lukisan – lukisannya banyak yang memuja kehidupan, dan wanita sebagai pusat karyanya. Mario Blanco adalah anak dari Antonio, ia terkenal dengan lukisannya yang memiliki falsafah kehidupan, lukisan yang saya temui di bali adalah satu karyanya yang dipigurai berbentuk teko menjelaskan tentang arti kehidupan.

London November 2011

We planned the trip to several cities in the United Kingdom. We traveled to Malaysia first before arrived at Stansted Airport. This airport is one of the magnificent works by Norman Foster that showed integrative architecture innovation. Foster and Partners-designed MEP structure was placed below the ground floor, so the idea opened the roof to be light and exposed. It was constructed as a modular umbrella.

This tree-like module is well integrated with the MEP system from water plumbing, HVAC, and electric piping. I saw the structure reminded me this approach of architecture over and over needs well-integrated engineering. In Indonesia, we don’t have this engineering ecosystem. Is it possible to exercise the lower technology using an empirical approach? This approach is a way to form new design thinking.

We arrived there at the nighttime, around 07.00 pm. I checked the public transport that there was no bus to the nearby hotel that We booked so we went there by black cab. We arrived at the hotel; the hotel is unique with its gable roof and modular structure. The bathroom was small but functional. We loved the linen because it’s hand-stitched. It looks like the owner put her heart into operating and designing this hotel. We were tired and slept that night. It was a good start, nice hotel, innovative airport, slept with crafty linen.

In the morning, we strolled to nearby lawns and areas and thinking of coming back for our last day in the United Kingdom. After that, we met the owner, she drove us to the nearby rail station. We commuted to London. I had booked several musical shows for Laurensia, such as Lion King, Billy Elliot, and Wicked the extraordinary green witch (the show that we always love).

We spent our day eating good food and meeting old friends. In the evening, finally I had a chance to meet with Jefferson and introduced Laurensia to him. He was my housemate in Stockwell. We were in the same group, same graduation show, same prayer group, and same house. We shared many good memories; he likes to cycle from office to studio, which I prefer walking. Sometimes he walks with me. We often had lunch together, English breakfast, chicken Tikka Masala, salad, Chinese food, junk food, or Indonesian food that I cooked for him.

Finally, he met Laurensia, and we talked about his experience in Foster and Partners. I shared some experiences in the garage studio. He was a great and passionate man in architecture. He dreamed about going back to the United States and shared his brother, who became coastal patrol. After two years, I Had not met him; he was still the same, like old Jefferson. I wish that I could visit him in his hometown, Connecticut.

Meeting Jefferson

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We spent our day eating good food and meeting old friends. In the evening, finally I had a chance to meet with Jefferson and introduced Laurensia to him. He was my housemate in Stockwell. We were in the same group, same graduation show, same prayer group, and same house. We shared many good memories; he likes to cycle from office to studio, which I prefer walking. Sometimes he walks with me. We often had lunch together, English breakfast, chicken Tikka Masala, salad, Chinese food, junk food, or Indonesian food that I cooked for him.

Finally, he met Laurensia, and we talked about his experience in Foster and Partners. I shared some experiences in the garage studio. He was a great and passionate man in architecture. He dreamed about going back to the United States and shared his brother, who became coastal patrol. After two years, I Had not met him; he was still the same, like old Jefferson. I wish that I could visit him in his hometown, Connecticut.

Vol.3

Friendships

In London, I met many Indonesian Architect friends working for outstanding architects bureaus such as Design International, Zaha Hadid Architect. They are Kuncara Wicaksana and Alvin Triestanto, their couple also coming, Sally and Evelyn. A few years back, I remember I stayed at Elia Mews at Angel, near the small river with a beautiful modern apartment. I used to come there to sketch and enjoy the chill time. We are four people who stayed at Elia Mews. Andrew Tirta, who worked for Mark Barksfield, designed London Eye; Kuncara, Charlie, who worked for Accenture; Wisnu, and Melur, who studied economics and PR. I seldom meet them because of the challenging times with Foster and Partners. I spent much of my time at the workplace, showering at the office, working till late, and organizing work. They are good now and pursuing their dream. Interestingly I met Ronald, who was our junior high school friend. I hope we can meet again sometime in the future

Before this trip, Shyuan Kuee, my fellow friend at Foster and Partners came to our wedding with her husband. She was talented architect who found her firm kuee architects in Ipoh. I also hope the best for her. We are three with William who started our work in london and meet in the first time.

We traveled to York, Durham, and Edinburgh. In York and Durham, there are many ruins, castles. I got a book by Lewis Mumford there. There are many exciting books in some old shophouses about the city and its theory and case studies. I found out that the trip was relieving and relaxing. Then we went to Edinburgh, it’s a beautiful city on hills and connected by Nelson monuments and castles on top of its hills.

There is Scottish Parliament below the hill at the corner designed by Enric Miralles. This design is entirely arbitrary; it consists of small parti like leaves flowing around the hall. It’s like forming a plan of a traditional British city. It Reminded me of vernacular shophouses in Cambridge or bath.

The massing has skylights like leaves. The space inside is bright; the design can be predicted by looking and entrances that the door connects the flow with feels like a jungle. The sequence ended in the parliament seatings. The parliament was damn beautiful with its industrial joineries; it has the craft of glue-laminated timber forming flying buttresses. The detail repeated the leaf forms. The seatings were designed with timber as based, and it’s integrated with its centrifugal setting.

There is Scottish Parliament below the hill at the corner designed by Enric Miralles. This design is entirely arbitrary; it consists of small parti like leaves flowing around the hall. It’s like forming a plan of a traditional British city. It Reminded me of vernacular shophouses in Cambridge or bath.

I can feel the rebellion of forms in justifying flying canopy, a combination of dry and wet technique, and pattern facades like collisions of patterns. It’s interesting that somehow the pattern was disconnected, not in a predictable order. It’s actually the ability to combine stereotomic and tectonic. The tectonic is driven by multiple attempts of experimentation. And the stereotomic is about making a composition of natural form superimposed by axial lines that make specific shapes.

I can feel the rebellion of forms in justifying flying canopy, a combination of dry and wet technique, and pattern facades like collisions of patterns. It’s interesting that somehow the pattern was disconnected, not in a predictable order. It’s actually the ability to combine stereotomic and tectonic. The tectonic is driven by multiple attempts of experimentation. Meanwhile, the stereotomic is about making a form composition inspired by a natural shape. In the design, both two ways are superimposed by axial lines that make specific shapes.

I can interpret architecture from a regional point of view. It’s a combination of tangible and intangible aspects. Composition of plan that for the master plan is intangible. It’s like a work of art. But when you see the tectonic detail, how Miralles put the effort to crack down the form, space, and tectonic. It showed that this project is tangible.

I came out from this building wondering how regional, cultural, vernacular can be an inspiration for producing such avant-garde work that can symbolize Scottish.

Too bad I could not take many pictures, but here is the article was written by David Langdon. here 

Then, we came back to London. Every moment that income To London, I always checked in to British Museum. It’s a courtyard with the library at the center, covered by modular triangulate biophilic form. The unique thing is how the form flows to the channel. The water and it’s still In the module. To execute this kind of project, Foster needed to calculate the construction, details, integration to other engineers.

Transit in Malaysia

We booked the not-so-expensive tickets, and we stayed in Kuala Lumpur for a day. We strolled at Petronas and ate many desserts. We love to eat small portions of food and tried many exciting foods.

Just Arrived at Stansted- be ready for the trip

This is when we arrived at the hotel in Stansted and had breakfast before enjoying the lawn. The hostel is at the center of the lawn, farm, river. It’s in the suburb. After that we went to London, luckily we met the hotel owner, and she drove us to the station which was quite far. The trip was about to start. Let’s go.

Flower to my Laurensia

London + Durham + York – with Laurensia

We spent few days in London before heading to York and went to Durham. We went to see the park, monuments, ate good food and enjoyed the Musicals.

Then we went to Edinburgh

Edinburgh – with Laurensia

Edinburg is interesting because it is adjacent to the sea and has a hill on the other side. It has a beautiful castle and plentiful parks. The climate is cold, and the scenery, city view was absolutely gorgeous.

Visiting Miralles’s work

Stansted – with Laurensia

We came back to Stansted and stayed in the same small—hotel as on day one. We felt hungry and tried to find food, and we walked for several kilometers on foot just to explore. Finally, we found this fine dining far restaurant.

Jewel at Stansted

We came back to Stansted and stayed in the same small—hotel as on day one. We felt hungry and tried to find food, and we walked for several kilometers on foot just to explore. Finally, we found this fine dining far restaurant.

The food was excellent, the best food ever that I had tried in the United Kingdom. It reminds me of my mom’s cook in English way of cooking.

This trip really made me love Laurensia, the little details that she had. She took care of me and enjoyed the travel. We bought a scarf for our parents, some souvenirs. I bought her a flower just to show my respect and give love to her for her care. She prepared many souvenirs to give to our relatives. She would put a note and did checklists for that. She kept asking me, “What are other architecture that you want to see ?” She knew that I couldn’t bear to not explore architecture in this new place. Even though I had been to London and several cities that we went to. It’s still new, and there are many things to learn.

This trip opened up my eye that there was something that drove Miralles. I believe that the design approach from his transformational. Architect Must deal with the city, he was born, which is Barcelona, so. Next time the next journey will be about retracing the Biophilic experience in Barcelona.