Shoe Box of Photographs-2

The Frog- TU Delft's Central Library by Mecanoo Architecten. It is the landmark of the area and the building turn itself to be the logo of the library. When the weather is nice, lots of students to take thier lunch on the roof (nearby is Aula by Bakema, the university central canteen) . I had beer with friends many time there. With the code name "going to library", many times it ended with beer and going to centrum for a bar.... It's an exchanged ideas activity, like the roman forum;) Here's Aula, in front of library, where is the auditoriums, student canteen and ,in the afternoon onward, bar. I called it the "Darth Vader's Space Ship" building (for those Starwars fans agrreed so:D ) before I found out its name later.

Shoe Box of Photographs-1

After hours of arranging my photo files, these old pictures remind me of some nice experiences there. As a tourist on the first week living in Amsterdam, it was quite a nice experience just to walk along the canal to see life styles and unique houses of the Dutch(even a lot of peole in Amsterdam is not dutch)

Before Gigantic Siam Paragon....

We used to have this beautiful one. I should had known how to take picture long time ago before the radical change of city scence. I cannot remeber what Siam Square looked like without Siam Discovery, sky train, Siam Paragon... It used to be more friendly to animal than today. Today even my favourite reccord shop,Do Re Mi, is missing. Do anyone has any idea where the shop is? Let me know, for Buddha's sake.

It's getting harder to go out for a movie...for me

I am not really like driving, especially when I have to drive and finding parking lot but Ireally going out for movie in the theatre. So what's the story? The closest theatre takes normally 30 minutes from my house on Sunday by taxi which is very fine for me since I don't like driving. But sometimes, like today, there seem to be better to go straight to the theatre from somewhere else than going back home, leave the car ther and take taxi.....too complicated and too many processes........at the moment. But I found out later that doing so was the smartest idea!!!!! Since I had been asked by the traffic controller twice to use the next door due to the jam in parking lot, I did, but it turned out that I have to spend 30 mintues more to make a U-turn and to look for the opposite side parking lot where I have no idea that it exists! And later have to walk back to the cinema....Comaparing 2 choices, I made the wrong decision at the first place. I think it's possible that the problem is not the parking space or the traffic jam (anyone drives to cinema have the same trouble, so why the heck should I complain?), but the problem is me (of course!!!). I shouldn't drive to cinema..... Next time I won't. Just a grumpy middle aged man's opinion.

Last Life in the Universe: in Global Market

Another Thai film which had been globally distributed. I'd just watched it second time around by DVD. It's a strange feeling watching this, looks desparate in the beginning but gradually filled with hopes along the way to the end. In Rotterntomatoes website quotes "Lost in Translation for grown-ups" and with other comments the film go well in international level, not in Thai. For your information: Pen-Ek's, the director, film most of the time welcomed by the internatonal but not with the local market as the story was not planned for "block buster" at the first place, also he strongly keeps his own style of directing (as he interviewed). But once he turn to do a very local localstory adapted from a paperback love story called "Mon Rak Transistor", the film went very well in the box office both in Bangkok and other provinces (comparing to his other works, of course!). Anyway, both are good.

Kyoto Jazz Massive-BED-26May06

I nearly missed this good dj party, too tired from work and getting too sleepy, but a friend of mine (Ob the boss!) insisted to go. I went there and it was the right decision of the day! The music and the people were great. Sadly I did bring my camera, the picture taken from behind the dj set with my poor mobile phone camera.

What is respect?

these pictures took during the construction of Central World Plaza. Even I am not the conservative guy, this is way too much. In the furture, will the temple have to move out? since there is no profit at all. Don't talk about beautiful city. Is this a reason why some people wants to move temple to a shopping mall? Is this a kind of conspiracy theory? What is respect?

Living with Water-Ampawa, Sumutsongkram

Few years ago around Songran festival, A freind of mine did a project here and invited us to join him to the annual fair including exhibition of what he'd been working. We spent the day time walking along the canal, taking picture and eating (a lot, on that time it's the season for river shrimps and Lychee ...yummy!) Some houses were left since lots of owners move to live the "modern life" in land, only few left. In the past, here used to be a very lively floating market but since the condition of living was changed with the new development that put priority on road systems than canal, life's gone. So it need to re-position itself to the modern life to live its unique identity which is better than moaning for the good old day that never come back.

Ginius Loci of Myanmar

The smart idea of Myanmar the picture was taken during the trip 2 years ago. I couldn't believe that the weather is hotter than Bangkok...So hot that around noon we couldn't walk! So normally we have breakfast, go to a few places after that, Lunch, and go for a nap, woke up around 3-4 in the afternoon to traveling more places..... The city was like traveling back to the past ..which is good is a sense but comparing with Luang Prabang, I prefer Luang Prabang to Myanmar. But anyway since majority of people are poor the best material for construction is bamboo which can be easily found anywhere for houses, medium rise building or even for reparing pagoda. Bamboo also used for construction propose. The modern look building with the use of local bamboo structure for safety protection. This picture took from a bus during trip in Rangoon. It remind me of the new architecture that springs up around the world these days applying the local idea to the global level. The golden tip of pagoda was stolen days before we were there. The bamboo structure was constructed for renovation and protection aspects. Looking at this situation from different angle, if the golden tip were not be stolen I wouldn't had chance to see this genius bamboo structure. Anyway stealing is not good This natural shading is so cool. Love at first sight!

Thai Film You Shouldn't Miss

I had watched it years ago in the theatre. I like it very much as I remember but later I lost my interest in movie and forgot this film to put in my list since there were things to do at the moment. But recently, a month ago, my Colombian friends came to Bangkok and asked me about this movie which they had watched this film in Rotterdam Film Festival and they really like this film. The film sparked their interest in living condition of people from upcountry who move to Bangkok to find the "better" life but later found out that they were caught in the middle to live in the city, the city life is not fit with them neither their home town. They also like the very bautiful cinematography and creative fantasy in the movie. So that became my task to answer them questions (which surprisely made me concious that some questions have a "stanard" answers await, even it means life to them. (I sometimes have to think about this seriously.)) and find this DVD for them and it's good reminding me of the good of this film ( I got my own copy later) . I fell in love with this film again at the 2nd time I watched it and found out why my friends really like this movie. (Anyway, the copy I bought for them is in Thai with no subtitle, too bad, but I bet they'd like it though.)

A Silly Joke From a DJ Name Bob Dylan

read from a newspaper that he's a radio DJ playing songs for diferent themes relating to the news or event. This one from the mother's day. M-for Many things she gave me. O-for Other thing she gave me. T-for Things she gave me H-for Her things she gave me. E-for Everything she gave me R-for the Rest of things she gave me. Let's play songs for mother. I like it :)

Dam Square, Amsterdam

Dam Square is at the heart of the old section of Amstredam, there are the royal church (This one for ceremony, the one in Delft is for royal funeral.) old palace and the shopping street lead to the square. Annually there will be a fun park as we used to have in Bangkok feew years ago ( from Matching Entereainment and How Come enterainmen). Normally they set up the fun park as if they had arealdy done weather forcast in advance as, in Holland, it's usually cloudy and rainy but when the fun park is on, there was no sign of bad weather. That what I noticed many times going out for big outdoor activities such music festival and that amazed me. These are some pictures I took around year 2001

What am I doing for living?

Dilbert shows you.This sad-but-true joke has been sent to me many times from differnt sources (friends, cousins and also clients (and boss!)) Do they try to underline some tragic truth of being an architect? Thought that only happens in Thailand. This must be the global truth

Tee's back

A friend of mine took this picture. Look like a promotion for the bag, I am just a darn background. Potsdamer Platz, Berlin 2001.

My Top 5 at the moment

Jamiroquai-Travellin without Moving: good while exercise or in the mood of moving Recommend Track: Except in the list, the secret track on CD is great High Fidelity OST: I love both the book and the movie. It's the first time I knew Jack Black can really sing, he has the voice. If I am not wrong, John Cusack picked the music for his movie him self. He's the music lover, I can say. Reccomend track: dry the rain-the betaband, Let's Get It On-Jack Black (Marvin Gaye's Cover) The White Stripes-Get Behind Me Satan: One word. "cool!" Recommend Track: Blue Orchid, My door Bell, Forever for Her(is Over for Me) Jack Johnson-Inbetween Dreams: Beautiful music and lyics. He did it as if it is so easy to make songs like these. Every track is Recommended. Pat Metheny-Bright Size Life: Its first release was in 1976, when I was born. 26 years later when I was in Holland, his music blew me away. There is magic in this album I don't know why but I love this album since then. Recommend Track: Bright Size Life and also all the tracks What are yours?

Architectural Design Competition - Original Ideas

This is the origin of all "breaking the ice" we spent days for discussing but less than an hour in a car condensed all the idea we had discussed. It's kind of fun for me to look back what I thought at that moment.

Architectural Design Competition-Breaking the Ice-2

From 3 key words, we decided to change the whole requirements that we thought it was absurd into our own way. I bet, according to the requirements, most of the other competetors would strictly follow that line. If we do the same, we would not be noticed. At least I had a reason to tell my freind to do the whole thing totally different from the original requirement (of course, for better output). I raised the question " why don't we apply less glass blocks but with the new techniques?" To me, it would be more intersting because my perception of glass block is using for wall building. If I can proove that it can be more than just a wall, it would make people more interested. After housrs of discussion we all agree to "twisted" the use of glass blocks. There are 2 words to go, "Ice & flexibility". The proverb "breaking the ice" and "ice breaking" came to my notion accidentally with the sense of make freind and getting to know new friend, we thought it would be nice to have a building that make freind with people and with "flexible" space. We did 3 strtegies to achieve "breaking the ice" Interior Scale: the removable wall units gives different feeling following the needs of individuals. Architecture Scale: the set back of building, bluring the edge of pubilc and private area makes the building more welcome. Urban Scale: the orientation of the new buidling would follow the existing allignment. For the facade of the officebuilding instead of proposing ordinary the glass block wall, we did it with "removable" glass block panels which gives the interior flxibility to adjust their views, light or for good ventilation. It would be kind of fun to anyone who pass by that the "image" of the building can be changed during the day as the time pass.

The building image as a whole can be chaged following the individual needs......this is a kind of pleasure and like a game to us, I hope the judge would feel the same

Architectural Design Competition-Breaking the Ice-1

We (my freind and I) did this competetion last year. We decide to do the competetion just about a week before the deadline even we heard of this programme for quite some time. The reason is that the owner which is the glass block company required in the programme that "there would be the use of glass block as many as possible" which at the first moment I think it was absurd (I can imagine what it's gonna be like if I do follow the line..... the ugly big ice cube!) , so I didn't have any interest at all to this programme. Until my friend insisted to do this a week before the dead line. Before pushing myself to complete this project, we wanted to be sure that we had strong idea enough to follow so we start with brainstorming. At that moment I found some books and pictures that inspired me (enough) to move on. These are 3 pictures... Art work of a Russian artist: The ice and wires gave me the strong idea how the glass block would be used. The removable landscape: trees in the picture were put in removable units so they can transform the park in to a plaza be moving them to the side. I Last but not least, the Dutch architect Erick van Egeraat proposed a new housing building by apply the art of avant-garde artistto each building and it changed my perception of how the building would look like. Just a twist of small idea, it can be completely different camparing with the others. I have 3 key words now: Ice-Flexible-Twisted To be continued

the day at the funeral 2

From the last post that I noticed that the people were not so sad with his death, for these boys the funeral was a kind of "real life exhibition". They were enjoying to push each of them higher to see what was going on in front of the old church ( which suppose to have guests European dynasty to join this funeral). Finally they had a smarter solution by looking through my friend's small lcd of his digital camera( he didn't notice, anyway) Kids can be so emerging smart. A funeral turned to be a place for fun and knowledge depending on where we stand and what angle we look at it . (re-posted & re-edited: Dutch Boy Diary)

the day at the funeral 1

It's one of the saddest day of the royal Dutch dynasty, Prince Claus von Amsberg who died on October 6th 2002. For information he's the queen Beatrix's husband. I wonder why they call him prince becuause to my notion it's for the son of the king. Later I found out that King or Queen would be use only with one who is natural born King(or Queen). So when he or she get married, his or her sprout would be called "prince" or "princess". For those who've already known. so what? I just learned :D

These are pictures taken during funeral, most of people in the city, Delft, are kind of excited because this event would not oftenly happen in Delft that thousands of people internationally came to the city to join this royal funeral. As I guess, people want to be a part of history but not being so sad with his death.

Spectacle from the house that near the old church where the funeral took place. Doen't look like they were sad, do they? Dress doesn't matter

The back side of Wozoco, AMS. NL

You can see how funky this building can be comparing to the regulated stunning front facade the back side of the mega cantilever building which actually impressed me with the diveristy of use. I like the way people use this building in their real life, which would thank to designers' idea (intentionally or not) that leave some space for tenants customizing to fit their needs. Only the front that is more controled to keep the image of the building clean.

This is what I called "the practical architecture". This is how people use architecture which sometimes is neglected by architect since this is nice enough to be in his perspective drawing, even it is so important and so fuindamental to take user behaviour to be concerned. This is more lively than the "hip" building which shows no "life" interacting with.

I have to admit that I like this project in many ways but it their (MVRDV) later work, it's kind of too much repetetion of their success.

(re-post & re-edit: dutch boy diary)

At a jazz bar on Gravenstraat, Amsterdam.

Tuning

and the show goes...

Make sure to go there in the Winter time since they would have live bands playing at 5-7 pm on Satuday and Sunday. This band, Prince Kim, is one of my favourite band played here. This pictures were taken since they had been tuning their intruments until the play time. The music was so nice and the whiskey is great!

This was the first time I realized how can "voice" be beautiful.

(re-post & re-edit: dutchboy diary)

Refer to Chacherngsao, shophouses

This is another modernized version. The area used to be the port in the heart of Amsterdam, which had been relocated to get closer to the sea leaving the area as it was for shipping. Amsterdam municipality agree with the urban design firm, west 8, to re-use the land on different purpose as the modern day condition had already changed, the logistics business area was replace by the need of new housing area. West 8 decides to keep the land shape as it is, but instead of apply the whole new design the firm giving new building regulation so that any owner can have individual customized design to fit their need while keeping the unique image of the area. Another project is on the other side of Amsterdam Centraal Station by MVRDV which have the same idea on designing the new housing at the old silo area. (will show later) This project was praised by many organization in many aspects. It's worth for any Government or authority to study how the private and the public sector cooperated. (by the way, this is just a part of the whole area, if I have some more resource I would post it later.) www.west8.nl for more information

The project "Wozoco" by MVRDV, AMS,NL

The project "Wozoco" by MVRDV which is one of the works made most architects recognized this office for years. I guess by the time I upload this picture some people would say that it was already outdated but I found Wozoco is the good example in defferent topics. Anyone can easily remember this building by the mega cantilever at the front facade which is actually the size of a room. Some might say that it is the architect's ego to have his signature but the fact is they solved prombem to fit the building requirements following municipality's regulation. The office got the requirements for a certain number of rooms , but checking with the height regulation they cannot put anymore storeys on the building. So the solution cleverly ( and funny in a sense) came .........by extruding the facade to the front! with no columns!! Many may wonder why there is not column supoorted...O.K.according to the regulation of Amsterdam municipality you can only build on your plot and you had to pay tax for that certain area ( as the rest of the World do) but you can have building extended to gain more space by paying the same amount of tax only if there is no structure on the ground( I think it's only here in Amsterdam does this way) So the mega-cantiliver is not only the architect's lust for his stunning architecture ( I think in a sense he would sometimes expected that) but also solving the problem. The output turned MVRDV to be one of the wel know new Dutch young architectural firms. By the way, the porject is elderly housing. Who will live in those cantilever units? Please stand up.