House & Housing 101

Our project, M House was published in House & Housing 101 by Designzens of Pace Publishing (China)

 

 

Cover of "House & Housing 101"

To see more photos of M House HERE

Inspiring Connect Sydney

Our project Connect Sydney has been published by Beijing's CIP Publisher.

 

 

Cover of "Inspiring Office"

Mystery after mystery....

Since this post back in October 2012  I did not have time to reveal what was actually in the box from Japan.... oops.

So here it is!

...mysterious box from Japan....mystery about to be unravelled....

wrestling...

it is..?

HUGE umbrella!!...for ....?

the prototype next to its scaled model (right)

calling in our friendly alliance - electrician (with his van full of goodies!)

together we concocted a special device....

finally the night has fallen, the time for mischievous experiments

dropping in the "concoction" to bring the umbrella to life....
(to put it lightly, man I was sweating big time after this "dropping in"!)

So what is going to happen after this umbrella comes to life? How does it come to life?! 

........ the mystery continues ....... (ho ho ho!)

Calculated accidents

I thought it is about time to share some "behind the scene" of Blu Creativity.

 

It is a kind of project which comes across as "effortless", because that is what we try to achieve, a relaxed sense of resort escape - of course everything needs to look effortless!
....but is it really.... nah....never....

With Blu Creativity our aim is to create a "resort escape in the middle of the city", and we are approaching it in 2 ways:
1. by visualising natural phenomenon - wind;
2. by blurring the sense of boundary with layers of porous and translucent space divisions.

.... and whatever seems accidental.... was not.......

large model to study the spatial quality in detail...even the "jungle gym" and curtains were built 

testing relationship between overhead fan and curtain height: (from left to right) same height / curtain higher than fan / curtain lower than fan... truth be told, the way air moves is very different from what we expected... 

installing the fan

very organised and methodological welding process.... as welding was taking place on site to encase the existing heritage structure without touching it, a lot of care and precision was required

slowly....one by one..... lots of patience

setting out of joinery units by electrician and joiner...
all electrical work was concealed in joinery units so they had to work very closely
as with all old buildings, what looks square is never square., what looks straight is never straight
... it took a long time to determine what is "centre" in this context..

a sea of joinery....

huge waiting table was brought in in 2 pieces and joint on site.
all joinery were also designed with "holes" in them, so to not disturb the air movement

Remotely Doshisha

After my last trip to Osaka for Doshisha, Yoshi has been spending a lot of time in Japan to run the project, whilst us in Sydney provide the support in resources.
Brings back memory of M House, when we remote controlled the construction site...

We now also attend meetings remotely utilising Internet.. wonders of technology.

Doshisha is marching ahead.... We will soon lodge Services Planning Package to client and submission to Kyoto Government is underway.

Yoshi making a presentation at Doshisha University to user group

User group from Doshisha University comprises of teachers from all departments

..... We from Sydney were attending as well .....

Another mission impossible...

Construction from tomorrow, today the site is still at the limbo state between an old restaurant and complete non-restaurant...

We have exactly 14 calendar days from today.

Yet another year - IDEA 2013 is approaching

Seems like yesterday that me and Yoshi flew over to Melbourne for IDEA Awards 2012 Jury days, suddenly we are already presenting for IDEA Awards 2013.

This year the Jury presentation took place in Sydney, and the award ceremony will take place in Melbourne later this year.

I presented Blu Creativity, shortlisted under Retail category.

Blu Creativity - a resort escape in the middle of the city

at the presentation venue... this is Room 1 where I presented, with more public viewing

This is Room 2, where other categories are presenting at the same time.  I am not sure which room I would prefer ... to have more people looking or to be up close with the jury panel...

Are you watching Facet Studio?

Facet Studio is "One to Watch" in this issue of Architectural Review Asia Pacific - AR130 Winter 2013.

Check it out at all good newsagents!

  

cover of AR130

Teatime at Facet Studio - Toraya とらや

Downside of having international projects... is the traveling between seasons... good that most of the time it is Yoshi doing the flying around, and we benefit from the result - yummy desserts for tea in the office!

Having mentioned Kyoto's Toraya in the last blog entry, I felt it is suitable to start this new series of blog entries on "Teatime at Facet Studio" with the confectionery artists serving the Japan Royal Family since the 16th Century.

Toraya 虎屋 strictly follows the tradition of wagashi (Japanese dessert), in the "Art of the Five Senses" - Appearance, Taste, Texture, Scent, Sound. Every piece of wagashi is a piece of artwork.

What is important to us is, enjoy all aspects of life.... when we enjoy our teatime, we enjoy all aspects of the dessert too.

traditional Toraya packaging

Season Special "Kaze no Kaori"
季節の羊羹　”風の薫”
it was inspired by the summer wind which brings the smell of grass in the sun and the glittering crops in the wind 

Season Special "Hina Goromo"
季節の羊羹　”雛衣”

It was inspired by the beautiful dresses of the ladies in the royal family, each layer is a different flavour

This is a young me looking at a young Yoshi muscling with the jumbo youkan
The Toraya staple: Yoru no Ume 夜の梅

One day at Osaka

Starting from end of May, series of meetings has commenced with Doshisha University at Kyoto to work through the competition scheme.

Our aim is for Doshisha University to host their Christmas Party for 2014 at their new chapel..... argh don't we all love challenges!
Anyhow, Yoshi has been flying between Sydney and Osaka frequently, and I flew over to Osaka for 2 days to work on the scheme and to join the first official meeting with the user committee at beginning of June.

This is how my day went....

Good Morning Osaka!

caught train to go to work at our office at Mukonoso....

Had to get a freshly grilled Taiyaki at Mukonoso station to munch on..
the filling was red bean, it was very nice

This is our office

Time flies when you are having fun!
Soon it was lunch time, and we had super yummy hamburger

Worked some more, and it was time to go to Kyoto

We wanted to have tea at Kyoto's famous Toraya before meeting with Doshisha, but didn't make it in time for last order.
But we managed to spend time in the space designed by Hiroshi Naito (that was the main point anyway) ... very calming and delicate

But of course I need to bring back some Toraya Youkan (sweets for tea) for the Sydney office

Upon arrival at Doshisha, immediately we were served dinner (!)....
Having dinner at a formal meeting (not casual meeting at dinner..), well that was a first!
In case anyone is curious, it tasted as good as it looked but unfortunately we were more focused on the meeting!

Meeting.
I was the only "non-Japanese", one of the only 2 females present at meeting and the youngest attending.... ok it could have been a little strange but I don't think it mattered.

To find out more about the Doshisha Chapel Complex project.... click HERE

(ps. do not doubt yourself..... this is not a food blog..... )