Arki to Architect
A Spanish painter, Pablo Picasso once said “Every child is an artist, the problem is how to remain an artist once we grow up". We could all relate that when we were young, we used to scribble on paper using the pencil that our parents gave us. Those simple strokes of lines that we have no idea about of what it is going to be are where it all started. It opened up a path for imaginations to grow. With those simple lines, I made my mom smile. And at an early age, I found a way to make my parents smile, creating lines. As I grow older, so did the lines, the scribbles are starting to have a form. My fondness for art grew into a passion. Creating art makes me happy, it completes me. It made me feel like I am the master of my imagination, I can create whatever I want. But continuing to create art was never easy. I was criticized, mocked, and laughed about because of my art. The hurtful words people say about my art lowered my self-esteem. They would always say things like “ you won’t get far with that”, “You won’t make a living with that”. But guess what, I am now studying architecture, an art-related course.
Architecture has always been mocked as a course where we only do drawings. Little do they know that this course is hard just like the other degree programs. We also deal with sciences and math, and a
bunch of plates that require days and even weeks to finish. We oftentimes sacrifice our sleep just to finish our plates and submit them before the deadline. Despite these challenges and hardships I face, I have never felt more self-fulfilled. Because of architecture, I was able to showcase my talent while pursuing my passion.
Art is not just about putting a pencil to a paper or brush into a canvas. Art is a whole lot more than you can think of. It is a way of seeing the world differently. A way for self-reflection and self-expression.
Architects turn imaginations into reality. They add art and creativity with good building flow to structures. Architects go beyond aesthetic designs, they design with the intent to improve the quality of living, preserve nature, help in economic growth, and many more.
One of the defining characteristics of Architecture is it's an artful solution to a specific set of problems, we're not just assembling building materials, we're inventing solutions, we're crafting them for a very specific place and client.
As an aspiring future architect, I will always strive for excellence, creating quality designs that will satisfy my clients. Designs that make people’s lives more efficient, designs that preserve culture, a design that promotes productivity. As a future architect, I want to be innovative, to think outside the box of new possibilities to improve people’s quality of living.
I know that my journey in this course will not be easy. I will face a lot of hardships and may even come to the point where I would want to quit. But, I will always bear in mind that nothing worth having comes easy. They say that "Everyone we admire was once a beginner" Every well-known architect that I admire also endured a lot of hardship and struggles, sleepless nights, rejection, and those things helped them to become what they are now. Through the years of my experience and study, I will be equipped with the skills and knowledge to face a bigger world. The key is to continue striving and never give up.
Tropical House Review (part 1)
Hi everyone how's your day?
I'm currently reading an e-book that our professor provided to us. It's a collection of 25 Indonesian tropical houses, and I decided to write a house review. I haven't finished it yet, but I was able to write a review based on the three houses that I enjoyed. I'm thinking of producing a part 2 after I finish the book.
**BUDI HOUSE**
*WUNGKAL, SEMARANG*
*ARCHITECT SARDJONO SANI*
*BIAS TEKNO-ART KREASINDO*
I loved how the architect incorporated natural elements in his design. Reflecting water, wood, and stones contributed to a refreshing feel besides the ambiance that the chosen colors for the interiors and exteriors give. The glass windows also allowed for natural lights to enter the room which is amplified by the light color finishes. The size of the windows and spacious rooms also allowed passive air ventilation combined with the elements like water that contributes to the cooling effect. The orientation of the structure is also excellent which has a great view.
The sudden presence of a stunning composition of pristine forms on the Wungkal Hill surprises passers-by as well as the residents of Semarang, Central Java, which lies to the east, much like the revelations of the latest make of car at an automobile show. The three-story residence of automobile dealer Budi Taruno and his wife Lilly has been deliberately designed to reflect the owners’ obsession with the automobile: the sophistication of its engine and the elegance and aesthetics of its streamlined aerodynamic forms. The main components of the house, built of concrete, corrugated metal, and glass, are detached architectural elements that have seemingly been derived from the automobile engine.
Architect Sardjono Sani believes that every architectural creation is a unique response to a number of factors. Every site, client, program, and social and cultural context differs and, hence, the architectural outcome is truly unique. Above all, Sardjono avoids developing a particular “style” in his works, and this house, one of his most recent creations, is evidence of this philosophy.
**STEEL HOUSE**
*BEKASI, JAKARTA*
*ARCHITECT AHMAD DJUHARA*
*DJUHARA+DJUHARA*
What I like about this house is how the architect ingeniously used the materials in the construction of the house. Ahmad Djuhara’s Steel House, located in the midst of a modest housing estate in Bekasi, just east of Jakarta, offers a stark yet handsome middle-class housing alternative in present-day Indonesia. Through a compact and efficient design program constructed with recycled building materials, the architect managed to resolve the spatial and budgetary limitations which were major issues in the project.
On each of the floors of the three-story building, the right (west) side, which retains more heat during the day, is reserved for services. This arrangement also allows for the creation of spacious open living rooms on the left side, which is more exposed to the morning sun, and commands views of the open garden at the back. The use of recycled steel as the main building material, in combination with precast bricks, contributed to efficiency in construction time, labor, and materials, compared with the use of concrete, the most common building material used in the area, which would have required larger structural dimensions, longer setting and construction time, higher labor costs, and would have also produced more construction waste. Conscious that the heat-retaining metals might not be deemed suitable for use in the tropics, the architect used corrugated zinc sheets on a steel frame to create a plenum placed over the structure of the building to shield it from heat.
**K RESIDENCE**
*PONDOK INDAH, JAKARTA*
*ARCHITECT PATRICK RENDRADJAJA*
The dominant feature, indeed the central element, of the house is a double-height inner courtyard placed almost in the exact center of the house. All areas of the house, including the movement of the occupants, revolve around this inner courtyard which is enclosed by full height, wood-framed windows and doors. The courtyard allows light to reach every corner of the house, at the same time functioning as a kind of airshaft that provides cross-ventilation and animates air movement throughout all its rooms on both stories.
The elements such as the finishes and material were carefully used at specific rooms. The private spaces of the house are all located on the second floor. The stairs and corridors that lead up to them are highlighted with warm-colored materials and covered with wooden flooring, providing warmth to the areas of house that are meant to be more intimate, in contrast to the use of the rather hard materials and cold colors in the public areas of the house.
The sun shades let natural shards of light enter but also providing privacy. Three rooms on the second story project out beyond the steel frame. To ensure their privacy, the rooms do not have openings facing the street. Instead, small vertical windows at the corners of the projections allow some light to enter the rooms as well as limited views to the outside. Maybe the resident of the house does not stay much in their bedrooms that’s why the rooms did not have much fenestration for windows.
I wasn't able to attach pictures so if you are curious about what the houses look like here is the link to the book
https://books.google.com.ph/books?id=k6cYsrCz9JwC&dq=25+tropical+houses+in+indonesia&hl=en&sa=X&redir_esc=y
Here are my previous articles:
**Who Am I?** https://read.cash/@Arkifreak/who-am-i-053d4292
**Choosing Architectural Materials** https://read.cash/@Arkifreak/choosing-architectural-materials-a01a9848
**Trying something new : The day I started learning watercolor** https://read.cash/@Arkifreak/trying-something-new-the-day-i-started-learning-watercolor-2b8e2b2c
**My father is a Policeman: A Moral Dilemma?** https://read.cash/@Arkifreak/my-father-is-a-policeman-a-moral-dilemma-22b3a99b
**Give Yourself a Break** https://read.cash/@Arkifreak/give-yourself-a-break-ead55397
**Climate-Adaptive Architecture** https://read.cash/@Arkifreak/climate-adaptive-architecture-f2e2c09f
Climate-Adaptive Architecture
I have been watching a lot of videos on YouTube about architecture and I came across this video while I was scrolling through suggestions. It seemed interesting because it tackles tropical design and Philippines is one of the countries that has been featured.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3th_SIeQZxY
Here is the video if you'd like to spare some time to watch it. You can also continue reading as I will be talking about the video.
Carol Marra from Marra + Yeh Architects shared her insights into how architecture can adapt to climate extremes. Carol earned her degree at the University of Texas and worked in Seattle before moving to Australia. In 2005, she and her husband founded an architectural firm in Sydney, as well as a presence in Malaysia. Carol is a design advisor to the Government Architect NSW and teaches sustainable design at Sydney University. Her work is to create structures and environments that are both ecologically conscious and acceptable. The work of her practice has been recognized through international publications and awards. She was awarded a Winston Churchill Fellowship in 2009, which sent her to Japan, China, and the Philippines to study vernacular traditions that can adapt to extreme weather patterns.
The Churchill Fellowship offers fellowship to Australians in any subject matter and you get to travel somewhere of your choice to research and study a particular subject. The reason she went to Japan, China, and the Philippines is that they share similar climatic conditions. She went specifically to places that had a very long history of human settlements, some areas of cities that have been around for 10,000 years. She looked for a long history of buildings that copes with climate in particular things like monsoons, typhoons, earthquakes, and variations between summer and winter.
She talked about four design principles which are the urban form, building form, the wet-edge, and fenestrations. She first tackled the urban form, the similarities of the layouts of the cities even though they had been planned around different principles. The cities that she visited are Fuijien in China, Vigan in the Philippines, and Kyoto in Japan which I think are good places to visit and study since the cities are rich in culture and history. She noticed that the streets in the city were quite narrow. She thinks that it was because people in ancient cities walked a lot more and a lot of public life took in the streets of the city and a lot of that has to do with basically how you create an entire urban form that protects people as they move around.
Observing the building forms especially in China, houses are designed for people to feel comfortable through cross ventilation. By rearranging the private spaces and the way that private space relates to the interior spaces of the house, there is a way to actually create a variety of conditions that can deal with a variety of conditions.
Carol also pointed out series of elements that allowed modifications to how a building responds to the outside conditions. An example of these are the rain shutters in Japan, these shutters create an interstitial space that they use for different activities when lifted up and protect the house from rains, winds, and typhoons when lifted down.
Another passive cooling element is the roofs of the houses in the Philippines which are decoratively punctured to promote air movement through the cavity of the roof. Houses were also designed to withstand earthquakes and typhoons. The window screens made of shells were also commended by carol because of how it modulates light, wind, and rain.
I love how they incorporated the elements observed in the houses in their designs and how it promotes passive cooling. By means of observation and research on how buildings from tropical countries stood the test of time and calamities, one can use those elements to create a design, a good architecture that provides degrees of comfort in ways that the climate is shifting and changing. Carol said that if the building itself has the ability to shift and change then it can accommodate changes in the climate much quicker and easier.
Check out my previous articles
**Give Yourself a Break** https://read.cash/@Arkifreak/give-yourself-a-break-ead55397
**My father is a Policeman: A Moral Dilemma?** https://read.cash/@Arkifreak/my-father-is-a-policeman-a-moral-dilemma-22b3a99b
**Trying something new : The day I started learning watercolor** https://read.cash/@Arkifreak/trying-something-new-the-day-i-started-learning-watercolor-2b8e2b2c
**Choosing Architectural Materials** https://read.cash/@Arkifreak/choosing-architectural-materials-a01a9848
**Who Am I?** https://read.cash/@Arkifreak/who-am-i-053d4292
Give Yourself a Break
Life is exhausting, as most people I know would agree, especially as we get older and are bombarded with more and more responsibilities. We can't help but wish we could go back to being kids when we wouldn't have to worry about anything but play, eat, and sleep. Life has never been and will never be easy. It doesn't always turn out the way we planned.
Workplace and school-related stress can have a negative impact on our mental and physical health. It is not a terrible idea to take a vacation from all of these hectic chores in order to re-energize and rejuvenate ourselves. Although self-indulgence is frequently associated with selfishness, prioritizing one's own needs is never a bad thing.
I never fully understood the importance of taking a break from stressful school works not until I entered architecture school. It was really culture shocking, especially the workloads on our major subjects. I remembered when I was interviewed by a professor, she asked " Will you be able to cope up with all the workloads?" of course I immediately answered yes, she then quickly replied "It's different here, will you be able to manage your time? all the subjects here are time demanding, not including the time that you have to allot for the minor subjects, Architecture is a time demanding profession". I was quiet for a time after she said that, then I replied that I can because this is what I want.
During that time when I was being interviewed, I was determined to answer all the questions with enthusiasm but when I started going to school, I would always complain, why is this so hard?, Is this necessary?, will I be able to make it on time for the submission? I sometimes would say that how can our professor be so inconsiderate knowing that we have so much to do and still not extend the deadline. But after all that, I am still determined of pursuing this course, and shifting to a different one never crossed my mind, I signed up for this, I'm destined to be here, there's no turning back.
I drowned in myself in acads, I became so busy and preoccupied with all the school works I have to submit on time, all the exams I have to review and pass. I was so afraid of failing because I don't want to disappoint my family, I was so afraid of thinking about what my life would be like in the future. I cannot afford to waste all the efforts I did to be where I am now.
I rarely see my friends, I almost forgot that I still have a life outside school. Whenever I have a vacant period for an hour or two before my next subject, I will go back to my boarding house and use that time for sleep. I was sleep-deprived during my freshmen years (and up until now hehe) maybe because I haven't coped up yet with how things go in architecture. Trust me if I say that you can't find any Architecture student that hasn't pulled off an all-nighter, especially the 4th and 5th years who are busy with their theses.
I got sick after the first semester, good thing I have submitted all the requirements and have nothing to worry about. I almost got confined in the hospital at that time, my blood pressure was so low that I'm experiencing vertigo and it was because of over fatigue and lack of sleep. After what happened I promised myself that I will always prioritize my health above anything else.
Now, I always treat myself after accomplishing a task may it be small. I will buy myself sweets like chocolates and ice cream or go to my favorite fast-food chains like McDonald's and Jollibee. I also take some time to watch movies or series for a breather from my furious tasks.
After giving myself some time to chill, relax, have a break from all the stress and draining school works, I noticed that I was not as worn out compared to the days when I was so focused on school. I realized that having some time for yourself is good for your well-being. I was also able to find time in meeting my friends to hang out and have some quality time with them.
**Give yourself a break!**
**It's not selfish to prioritize yourself before others. Have time to pamper yourself, eat your favorite foods, go for a ride or walk and blow off some steam, hang out with friends and have someone to talk to. Do the things that you love to do even little things, and maybe we'll realize that life isn't as hard as we think.**
Thank you for taking some time to read my article!
You might also want to read my previous articles
**Who Am I?** https://read.cash/@Arkifreak/who-am-i-053d4292
**Choosing Architectural Materials** https://read.cash/@Arkifreak/choosing-architectural-materials-e9dae4f0
**Trying something new : The day I started learning watercolor** https://read.cash/@Arkifreak/trying-something-new-the-day-i-started-learning-watercolor-2b8e2b2c
**My father is a Policeman: A Moral Dilemma?** https://read.cash/@Arkifreak/my-father-is-a-policeman-a-moral-dilemma-6523bafc
My father is a Policeman: A Moral Dilemma?
A dilemma is a scenario in which you must choose between two equally undesirable or unsatisfactory solutions. A moral dilemma, on the other hand, is a scenario in which the decision-maker must prioritize one moral value above another. While an individual is confronted with a difficult situation, such as two or more conflicting ideals, or when evaluating another's moral choice, such dilemmas develop.
Let us talk about the video that has gone viral on Facebook where a policeman shoots a mother and son dead in their own house. Will the case be considered as moral dilemma?
The case is about Senior Master Sergeant Jonel Nuezca, who fled in the wake of shooting a 52-year-old Sonya Gregorio and her 25-year-old son Frank Anthony Gregorio at Purok 2, Barangay Cabayaoasan, Paniqui, Tarlac on Sunday evening last December 20, 2020. About an ampere-hour after the occurrence, he led himself at the Rosales Pangasinan Municipal Police Station. The presume likewise turned over his PNP-game 9mm self-loader gun that was utilized in the wrongdoing. The shooting was caught on camera that has gone viral on social media just a few hours after being uploaded. The cop can be seen with his young daughter in a hassle with Anthony and his motherwho is holding him back. Nuezca’s daughter pointed out that her father is a policeman to whom Sonya answered that she does not care singing a part of the lyrics of the song I don’t care by 2NE1 which is “ I don’t care eh eh eh”. A rankled Nuezca then pulled the trigger of the gun and shot Sonya point-blank on the head and continued to shoot straight to Anthony twice, terminating at Sonya once more who is already lying on the ground.
Due to the facts of the case, Nuezca did not face a moral dilemma. Nuezca had numerous choices on how to resolve the situation, but he chose to proceed with an inappropriate act; murdering two people. Nuezca handled the situation in an unethical way. He heats his head instead of resolving the issue in a calm manner.
Analyzing the situation, it is clearly seen that Nuezca’s actions where truly injust. He broke several laws including trespassing and arresting without a legal warrant on hand. His actions in front of Sonya’s grandchildren could also cause trauma as well as to his child. A a police officer it is your job to enforce the law and maintain public order and safety which in the case Nuezca failed to do.
Here is the link on the video of the shooting
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cEdVBScewnw
Studying morality helps us think through ethically complex situations before taking into action. If we make actions based on what we want or what we think is right, we might hurt others. It is important to assess the situation first going through possible courses of action and avoid negative consequences.
I have faced a lot of moral dilemma especially in school. Let me go through one, I have this classmate who is an easy go lucky person. Our teacher gave us an ample amount of time to finish our project in her subject. But, at the day of the submission he still haven’t done the project and asked me if I could do his project because he still has other requirements to do. If I will not help him do his project he might fail the subject but, if I do I would condone his laziness and procrastination and he will take credit for something he did not do. I was afraid for him to fail so I did the project but told him to stop procrastinating and being lazy afterwards.
We make decisions in our day to day life and these decisions come along with consequences that affects us and those around us. Understanding morality helps us in making the right choices with regards to what out culture and society have set. Also, we have to realize that moral vary from person to person, what we believe to be right or wrong might not be the same for others.
link to lead image: https://www.amnesty.org/en/what-we-do/arms-control/gun-violence/
Check out my previous articles:
https://read.cash/@Arkifreak/trying-something-new-the-day-i-started-learning-watercolor-a6f3aa46
https://read.cash/@Arkifreak/choosing-architectural-materials-e9dae4f0
https://read.cash/@Arkifreak/who-am-i-331861c4
Trying something new : The day I started learning watercolor
Eversince I was a child, I already have this eagerness to hold a pencil and just scribble some lines. I remembered I have a bunch of notebooks where pages are just full of lines and scribbles. It was where it all started, from scribbles to shapes to characters. From those scribbles I found out an artist in me, I became fond of drawing especially cartoon characters that I love watching from cartoon network, disney channel, nickleodeon, and animax. Those were the days I started to develop my skills in drawing.
As I grow up I have tried many approach and mediums in making my artworks and when I entered college I decided to to learn and enhance my skills in watercoloring. I have watched so many video tutorials on youtube, different techniques and tips.
These are some of the watercolor techniques that I have used in my artworks
· Washes – there are two types of washes, dry and wet. Washes is basically painting the canvas with a wet or dry brush with any color you prefer. It is usually done for backgroud and gradient effects.
· Wet-on-wet painting – I like to use this technique for abstract effect, you can mix and and add color while the first layer of watercolor is still wet. It gives the artist an unexpected results leaving the water do the work.
· Splattering – I always use this techniques when I do galaxies or night skies. You just dip the brush in color and splatter it in the paper to mimic the stars.
· Lifting – I use this technique mostly on clouds to create that effect of light and dark. You use a tissue paper to lift the colors on some portions.
I also started to try doing portraits using watercolor. Self learning was never easy and after watching so many youtube tutorial I found Artists that become my favorite when it comes to sketching and watercoloring. There’s **humid_peach**, her real name is Ksenia Kondyleva, a Russian artist who shares her drawing process on YouTube. **Kelogsloops** he specializes in watercolor paintings with abstract and surreal styles. You can feel the emotions in every action shown of the characters he draw. Efrain Malo, a Mexican artist who sketches with impressive visuals using pencil. I love the way he uses hatching to add details and emphasis to his drawing. These are some of the artist that I’m really a fan of and has a big influence in my artstyle.
Here are some of the watercolor portraits that I made
This is Legolas from the film series Lord of the Rings. I did not put much effort on the hair details because I was so impatient and I wanted to finish it badly. But after that I realized that good art takes time. You can’t rush something and expect it to turn out good. Every effort and time you put on your artwork pays off.
Daenerys Targaryen from the game of thrones. I struggled here sketching the lips, I can’t remember how many times I had to redraw her lips because I was not satisfied with how it looked. You should also watch Game of Thrones it’s a worth watching series.
I tried to find a reference in Malo’s sketches and render it with watercolor and this is the outcome. I also used unipin fineliners to add more details and emphasis on the facial structure. I also tried adding geometric background and used the wet-on-wet technique to add some effect.
Trying new things and being good at it is never easy, it is a long process that needs determination and perseverance and have to dedicate time for practice. I’m glad and proud that I tried to teach myself a new skill that is also beneficial for as it boosts my confidence as an artist. For those who also want to try new things and explore, please don’t hesitate you know what they always say “there’s no harm in trying”.
https://medium.com/the-tripple-effect/fortuitous-ec3ae608b86a
Choosing Architectural Materials
https://youtu.be/dcbgDFpfScY
Eric Reinholdt is an award-winning architect, mountain climber, designer, guitar player,paper cutter, blogger and author. He is the founder of 30X40 Design Workshop. He has a YouTube channel named “30X40 Design Workshop” where he discusses architectural related topics that can help architecture students prepare themselves in the field.
After watching four of his videos namely, Choosing Architectural Materials, Using Materials to tell a Story (An Architectural Essay), Humble (building) materials, and Material Marriages (An Architect's Favorite Pairings) I learned a lot and became more enthusiastic about architecture. Architect Eric said that architecture can’t exist on a page, it must be built, and transform our drawings and models into physical reality where choosing materials to represent abstract ideas are vital.
I have learned that architectural materials have a lot of impact in a structure. The importance of consideration in choosing materials like physical properties, context, experiential qualities, cost, and manufacturing affects the overall appearance and value of a structure. With variety of textured finishes, colors and installation techniques, simple materials like concrete block can be used to create a great variety of surface appearance. The character of a raw material like concrete is accentuated when used near more tailored material such as wood, and because grey is a neutral tone it complements the tones found in natural woods. Exposing structure to view is also an authentic way to express the structural and thermal concept.
Materials can elevate and support each other in both simple and complex ways. When used in ways that highlight their natural properties each enriches the other. An example is a marriage in wood tones and white, wood tones highlight important elements while the white ensures that the overall space remains bright and airy. Glass also allows deeply saturated paint colors to advance and is a classically modern complement to any color palette. Neutral color palettes accentuate form, above all else, subtle variations in texture and luster from dull. I am also a particular person when it comes to details, even the smallest ones. I want to be organized following a step by step process, just like how architect Eric Reinholdt is very particular and specific when it comes to choosing the right materials to use, his ways of taking into considerations the things that can affect the construction process and also the long term effects of the materials.
Choosing the appropriate and best materials requires a lot of consideration and brainstorming. It is not an easy job since you have to study every material’s properties, how it affects the building, the aesthetic properties, and how it helps a person perceive the building and also taking into consideration the environmental effects of these materials.
Who Am I?
A boy whose passion is into art, a boy who likes music and knows a bit of how to play a guitar, a boy who has a soft heart for animals, a boy who likes watching movies and playing computer games, and most importantly a boy who is constantly learning from his mistakes.
I was not really sure on what course I want to take in college but, here I am taking the path of being an architect, and I am sure that God has a plan for me in this field. 5 years of studying architecture and 2 years of working as an apprentice before taking the licensure examination will not be easy especially with our current situation. This pandemic will really hinder the students in getting a quality education. Online class is not a good platform to teach architecture since architecture is a skill based courses and requires a lot of consultation with our plate from our professors. So I really hope that this pandemic will end soon. I want to go back to the old normal where we would not worry about not wearing masks and avoid physical contacts.
My times in senior high are one of the best, it is where I met people worth cherishing. During my years in elementary and junior high, I would always join academic competitions and campus journalism. Somehow a way to make my parents proud and compensate for their hardships for me and my siblings. But I decided to refrain from joining extra curricular activities so I could focus more on my studies in my senior years. Architecture was my second course choice when I took my college entrance exam, Civil Engineering was my first choice. I honestly don't know which course I want to pursue. When I would ask my family which course to take, they would always say to pursue what I want. They are happy to support me in any course that I want to take. My friends kept telling me that being an architect suits me better than being an engineer. Maybe because they know me as an artistic person besides having interests in math and science. Eventually, I’ve come to realize that I do have skills and interests fit to be an architect. Pursuing Architecture is a decision I will not regret. I hope my self introduction gave you an idea of who I am as person, have a nice day.
@Arkifreak
