arch-emist

shanghai noon

2007-05-16T03:02:00.001-07:00

Business trip in Shanghai,on a regular weekday noon, surprisingly I found right by our local office, there is such a place hidden in this urban park, People's Park. It's a beautiful place for lunch and taking a break from such a density city.

how people get around in India?

2007-04-14T02:14:00.000-07:00

India is a country known for its diversity, these are what you can see on the street everyday...

These pictures were taken during my business trips in Delhi, Chennai, Goa, and Bombay (Mumbai).

can I ride a donkey?

2007-04-11T21:11:00.000-07:00

2 pics of hong kong

2006-06-04T06:21:00.000-07:00

First one is a snapshot of the game I am playing: GT4. The other one is simply the view from my living room windows at night. Both were taken recently.

no.2

2006-05-26T00:42:00.000-07:00

Mianyong
Second large city in Sichuan Province.
Second China city I have been visiting.

how to decorate for christmas?

2005-12-16T15:32:00.000-08:00

An architect's way...

street performance in santa monica

2005-12-06T23:36:00.000-08:00

It’s a Saturday night on Thanksgiving weekend. The second time I went down to Santa Monica, Los Angeles in two months. Last time, I was there with a little tense because of the business schedule on the next day. This time, on the contrary, with ease and some pleasant companions, I could completely immerse myself in those street performances on 3rd Street Promenade.

Among all, I was most in favor of Seis Cuerdas, the flamenco duo. “How good they are?” Well, I always have troubles describing an inner feeling regarding music clearly. I only can say, "You have to hear them to understand." "…the brothers show an incredible technique, knowing how to mix different sounds, going from flamenco to rock, turning the classic and most pure Spanish music into a new and fresh sound,” ~ from their website.

Vivencias by Seis Cuerdas

I have to add this by the way: this time, I was intended to find them and buy a copy of their CD. We got to 3rd Street a couple hours before the brothers started, and ended up standing in a chill wind and waiting. It was, however, totally worthy!

But, I should have brought a very thick jacket with…

gophers in a vineyard

2005-11-01T09:36:00.000-08:00

a small GSAPP CU graduate reunion in Napa Valley
participants come together from: New York City, NY / Sausalito, CA / Sacramento, CA / San Francisco, CA

corpse bride

2005-10-04T12:47:00.000-07:00

Honestly, the movie was not as good as what I expected. As for an animation, this one is a bit lack of surprising elements. Perhaps the kind of stop-frame animation does have its limit, if producer doesn’t intent to spice it up much during the post-production phase. Besides that, the story line itself is a bit plain. Audience today is too sophisticated to appreciate such a simple scenario in a sense.
However, I do appreciate the way this movie represent the contrary between the worlds of living and dead. I also like the idea “when your pets die, they go to the same place you go.” But please God; I hope they still are furry instead of all bones.

http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050922/REVIEWS/50921002/1023

server failure

2005-09-29T08:35:00.000-07:00

The server failure started from yesterday seems to send most of architects in my office back to the Stone Age. With the current technology, relying on computer graphic software has grown on architects and designers. The advantage of CG: efficiency and preciseness are the two major factors, which hand-drawn will never beat.

Most cases, except the very early stages, hand-drawn presentations often look like: architects run out of time, and didn’t get a chance to put them accurately in computer. Clients today are not so easy to satisfy. They demand more and more. Three dimensional simulation static images, moreover, short animation clips. Only in some circumstance, sketches are allowed to be in the presentation packages—the office server failure for example.

What can I do during this period of time without an office network? Postponing deadlines, drawing by hand, chatting with colleagues, cleaning the piles of drawings under my desk, scheduling the next business trip, day dreaming my next vacation... By the way, It might be a good opportunity to keep my friends posted about the projects I have been working on recently. Enjoy.

how google defines failure?

2005-09-23T11:00:00.000-07:00

I know this is nothing to do with architecture at all. Ok, if I have to give at least one connection about it: Another architect told me this.

Have you typed the word "FAILURE" in Google lately? Try it and see for yourself what comes up first! It's hilarious. These results may seem politically slanted. You can also see the explanation on the right side of the page "Why these results?". See it yourself. God bless America.

projects in caribbean

2005-09-21T16:25:00.000-07:00

SB's caribbean projects
The presentation features the impressive body of work my firm is currently designing throughout the Caribbean.

You might as well recognize that none of those projects are mine. Just not my style at all. But, still, some of them are prominent as for hospitality design.
I just hope soon I can earn enough to go visiting all them.

geisha: behind the painted face

2005-09-20T13:19:00.000-07:00

Memoirs of a Geisha

About Geisha:
There is going to have a movie depicts an intimate look at the vague world of geisha—a corps of highly trained women dedicated to the performance of traditional Japanese dance, singing and instrumental music. Ironically, two main actresses from the movie are neither Japanese, but Chinese. I can't imagine how the people in Japan will respond when this movie is on by the end of 2005.

It also reminds me another almost ended exhibition here in San Francisco at Asian Art Museum: Geisha: Beyond the Painted Smile Exhibition. You can see some kimonos, paintings, furniture, instruments there. Quite interesting actually, especially went with a Japanese friend. It did help a lot. More information, check on their website.

tnt

2005-08-18T11:23:00.000-07:00

A friend of mine is participating in a charity program—Team in Training—in the race to find a cure for leukemia and other blood cancers. I really admire that she could physically devote herself so much to such a meaningful event. This is a very good cause. Really touching!
I attach the link and the original e-mail from her below, and sincerely appeal to your sense of kindness: Please Support Her and The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society!

http://www.active.com/donate/tntgsf/tntgsfMTam

Hello, fellow SB'ers. I wanted to share with you some exciting news! I've joined Team In Training (TNT) in the race to find a cure for leukemia and other blood cancers. TNT is the world's largest endurance sports training program, and it will train me to run the California International Marathon in Sacramento, CA on 4 December 2005. In exchange, I will raise funds for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. The Society is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to find a cure for leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin's disease and myeloma, and to improve the quality of life of patients and their families. Funds raised will be used for leukemia research, community education, and patient services.
These diseases are types of cancer. They are known as blood cancers because they are malignancies of blood-forming tissues - bone marrow, lymph nodes, and the spleen. Marrow is the spongy center of bones that makes blood cells. When leukemia strikes, millions of abnormal white blood cells accumulate in tissues, preventing the production of normal red and white blood cells and platelets. Leukemia causes infections because leukemic cells lack the infection-fighting ability of normal white cells, anemia because production of red cells drops as leukemic cells increase in number in the marrow, and excessive bleeding because clotting ability decreases if the number of platelets is very low. Often, leukemia leads to death.
Leukemia is the leading disease killer of children in the United States. Every nine minutes, someone dies from blood cancers; every five minutes, someone in the U.S. is diagnosed. Currently, there is no known way to prevent blood cancers. It strikes children and adults of all ages, all races, and both sexes. However, it can be treated effectively. With research and treatment, leukemia patients now have a longer life expectancy than ever. The five-year survival rate for leukemia has more than tripled in the past 40 years from 14% in 1960 to 46% today.
The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society is dedicated to finding the cause, treatments, and cures of leukemia, Hodgkin's disease, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, and myeloma. Since 1954, the Society has awarded more than $360 million in research grants in the fields of hematology and oncology. Finding a cure for blood cancers seems like an insurmountable goal, but TNT's approach is to, "chang(e) lives, one mile at a time." I've logged over 20 miles in the first ten days and I plan to run hundreds more in the next 16 weeks - think of how many lives can be changed.
So, I'm asking for your support in the fight against blood cancers. Please sponsor me in the 23rd running of the California International Marathon by donating to Team In Training and to The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. The most convenient method is to donate online at
www.active.com/donate/tntgsf/tntgsfMTam
Every donation is greatly appreciated! Thank you for your attention and support!
Regards,
Makie
P.S. I will periodically update my website with photos and progress reports in case you're interested.

unprecedented shuttle repair a success

2005-08-03T12:55:00.000-07:00

It used to be one of my childhood dreams-to be an astronaut! Even now, I still dream of one day, before I die, human beings could travel between stars and planets. Watching Space Shuttle's news, I felt the dream is a step closer.

::space shuttle slideshow

johnny & burton

2005-07-23T00:40:00.000-07:00

I am not sure since when did I start to grow on Johnny Depp's nutty movies. But, if you like him and chocolates as I do, I recommend you go seeing "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory." It is a movie full of imagination.

Some architectural enthusiasts might find the form and style of that enormous chocolate factory familiar from some other movies. Well, give you a hint. The director is Tim Burton. Got it? He had also directed the Batman and the Batman Return.

Additionally, you probably don't want to miss another movie, well, animation precisely, collaborated by Johnny and Tim, Corpse Bride, coming soon in this year.

first lunar landing, july 20th, 1969

2005-07-21T16:14:00.000-07:00

Did you try that Google Earth? (A new search engine recently unveiled by Google for geographic locations, anywhere on the entire planet.) If not, you ought to try it! Especially the "Directions" function—you will be blown away!

Yesterday, July 20th, Google launched another website “Google Moon.” It is a Google way to commemorate the first lunar landing 36 years ago. This website allows you to surf the Moon’s surface and check out the exact spots that the Apollo astronauts made their landings.

By the way, remember to zoom in all the way. It is so hilarious!

aerial from google

2005-06-30T11:59:00.000-07:00

Great News! For those, who need aerial photos in their projects, Google is now offering a free 3-D satellite imagery service--Google Earth. It's another big improvement after their search engine and 2GB Gmail.

Google's free 3-D service brings views of Earth down to the PC
-SFGate.com

Have you ever tried their new mobile service? Try Google SMS on your cell phone.

evoluation of the skyscraper

2005-06-23T14:32:00.000-07:00

Evolution of the Skyscraper, 1890-2004
from: SkyscraperPage

visitors

2005-06-15T13:43:00.000-07:00

A few friends came to visit my office last week.

But for Yvonne, she was there mainly to see Diana, who she met on my office's holiday party in last December. Diana is such a warm and caring person-talkative and always full of infinite energy. Everybody loves her in my office.
Unfortunately, like all good stories, this one also comes to an end. Diana was leaving from us for her next big career step.
I need no saying good-bye to her, because I know I will still see her at the softball game nights, and keep the friendship with her as longer as we both can.

lunch time show

2005-06-01T13:15:00.000-07:00

I was intended to go out with two co-workers for lunch at In & Out. Due to having heartburn, however, I changed mind. Instead, eating some soup in front of my station and surfing the net. And found some interesting web sites I recommended. Very good graphic! (and sound, too.) Enjoy.

modern living / neurotica series (this one from my cousin)
tokyoplastic v.2
papper.eleven
nowhere girl (online comic)

ana mandara

2005-05-28T11:36:00.001-07:00

9:30pm May 25th, 2005

The place: Ana Mandara @ Ghirardelli Square
Not far from where I work at Pier 39

The happy couple
Currently on the way to MEET THE PARENTS! Good Luck!

The food & the people
Their faces are amusing contrasts to the happy couple in the photo above.

daniel, you are fire!

2005-05-25T00:03:00.000-07:00

I know a lot of people are fond of watching the NBC's reality show, The Apprentice. I am one of them. Most of architects, however, as well as the architecture students are not going to like to see this news.

Indeed, "It's not personal, it's just business!" as the slogan of The Apprentice. But, does Daniel Libeskind, who won this project through the fierce competition, deserve this kind of criticism? The plan (Libeskind's design for old WTC site, Freedom Tower) "looks like a junkyard, a series of broken-down angles that don't match each other. And we have to live with this for hundreds of years?" Trump said. "It is the worst pile of crap architecture I've ever seen in my life."

innocence

2005-05-23T12:07:00.000-07:00

Ghost in The Shell 2: INNOCENCE
Director: Mamoru Oshii

If our gods and our hopes are nothing but scientific phenomena, then it must be said that our love is scientific as well -"L'Eve Future"

I like the sentence above; very inspiring, just as the directors of Matrix Trilogy said, "Oshii's animation: Ghost in The Shell is considered Inspiring Predecessor of Matrix." If you like Matrix Trilogy, go seeing Ghost in The Shell 1&2.

central place

2005-05-22T22:33:00.000-07:00

Accidentally I found this project posted on the office website. I am more than happy to see that, although it has not been built yet. Not even close!

Why am I getting so excited? For it could be considered my first project in my current office. I started to work with SB since September 2003, and was engaged in Central Place (used to be called Block Three) in December, right before Christmas. And it is still proceeding.

It is difficult to explain why this project still is in its SD phase after 16 months. To make the long story short, it is all about the marketing. We still have to refine the design, so that the cost of the construction could meet the real estate value in down town San Jose better.

Be patient. I believe someday you will see this first highest residential project standing in downtown San Jose in the future.

About The Central Place

Located in the heart of downtown San Jose, this high-density, urban mixed-use project is entitled for 335 for-sale condominiums and townhouses, and 69,000 square feet of retail, restaurants and entertainment venues.

The design juxtaposes two signature high-rise residential towers with mid-rise mixed-use structures. The towers will rise from the mid-rise structures below, overlooking the residential amenities -- pool, recreation center and fitness facility -- located on the podium.

A vehicular street and auto court will bisect the site, allowing more street frontage for retail establishments. The project will provide structured parking for both the residents and the general public.

gravity-defying icons

2005-05-11T00:17:00.000-07:00

Frank Gehry in The Simpsons

Full story: Culture of celebrity embraces pop-star architects

Simpson's perspective to FG's work
Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles :: Right-Angles-Be-Damned Concert Hall in Springfield
(Frank Gehry: "Dough!")

The moral of the story is "no matter how profound the concept you think behind the design, NO ONE CARES!"

landscape

2005-05-07T18:02:00.000-07:00

cornerstone festival of gardens
sonoma, california
March 3rd, 2005 ::rain

farewell, martina & frank

2005-05-06T11:18:00.000-07:00

They were both from Switzerland. Martina was my teammate since the first semester in GSAPP Columbia University. Actually we did be in the same groups for many classes we took. It is obviously the main reason why we also have close friendship out of the school. I guess why I taking salad more than before is also because of her. She is a vegetarian. Going out for meals with her doesn't allow me to have a lot of choices apparently.

After graduated, I only saw Martina once. She came in the Bay Area with Frank for their vacation last summer. I, as a local, had the responsibility to take them around. During their visit I learned that they had almost made a plan to go back to Switzerland for goods soon. I promised that will go back to New York to visit them at least once, before they leave. However I didn't keep my promise. Till early last month, she still asked me the possibility of throwing them a visit.

Now, they are gone on their back-home trip somewhere in Asia. (Instead of flying east directly from New York to Switzerland, they decided taking west and dropping by some Asian cities on the way.) Farewell, Martina and Frank. I am sure I will see you again. This time I will try my best to keep my words very serious.

just engaged! clare & paul

2005-05-03T20:23:00.000-07:00

Both are my good friends, Clare & Paul. I am so honor to share their happiest moment in their lives. "This is definitely the happiest time in my life," Paul said that to me in the email; "I'm glad you can be a part of it all."
Paul, my gratification for both you is more than words can say. Congratulations, my dear friends!

crossing bridge: day 638

2005-04-10T23:35:00.000-07:00

I can't remember how many times did I cross the Bay Bridge. But I do remember the first time.
It was two years ago, on July 11th 2003, I flew all the way from NY to SF for a job interview and scouting the bay area to get an idea before actually relocated myself. It has been more than 600 days ever since then. Time is flying!

adapt

2005-04-08T13:39:00.000-07:00

Through my cousin, I heard this guitar player, Trace Bundy. After saw some of his concert clips on his website, I have to admit that he is such a talented and powerful guitar player. I have never seen anyone plays guitar like him before—all the ten fingers running on the fret! There is only one word I can say, "Amazing."

balance point

2005-04-07T21:55:00.000-07:00

Sometimes it is so hard to consider all others' feelings and opinions. As a founder of a family's website, I set the direction at the first beginning and try my best to keep it grows and prospers. With the time goes by, more and more potential family members and close buddies get into the loop. On one hand it is good when the circle gradually extents; while the circle, however, getting bigger, intervals between each member also become wider on the other. Finding a balance point is more than difficult in a sense.

game without action

2005-04-01T12:12:00.000-08:00

Oakland A's @ San Francisco Giants
Thurs., March 31, 2005, 7:15 PM
SBC PARK

They both are considered local teams of bay area; plus it was a pre-season game. Most people made it to the game that night were not too worry about the scores, but flocked in the SBC PARK for beers, hanging out with friends, or just a kicked-back moment after work. After all, who won the game? What's the final score? Frankly, I have no idea. I didn't even stay till the last inning. So what? I still think it was a good start for both teams, and I can tell it will be a good season.

omen

2005-03-10T23:21:00.000-08:00

Omen: an occurrence or phenomenon believed to portend a future event (Merriam-Webster)

Do those small slips inside fortunate cookies count? Can they be considered as omens? I usually have never paid much attention on what those slips say. But before I learned the result of my architect registration exam, as the crunch time getting closer, I became abnormally sensitive to any tiny Signs occurred around me. "Does it mean the result could be not favorable?" "Am I not going to pass this final one?" Those kinds of questions kept haunting me continuously. Honestly, even if I couldn't pass, I admit I would be disappointed in a sense, but I don't think I would be totally overwhelmed. For I believe it doesn't mean I am not qualified to be a good architect. However, the anxiety for the result of exam still couldn't be extinguish. Therefore, while I saw those two slips inside the fortunate cookies I got with my lunch boxes from a Chinese restaurant consecutively, the first thought arose immediately was: Could it be an omen? Is that the message from you, God?

labyrinth

2005-02-10T17:39:00.000-08:00

It was a Saturday afternoon, a week before I moved to my new place in Inner Richmond. I got a phone call from Brent, a dentist/youngest professor in Pediatric Dentistry Program UCSF. He impulsively came to visit my old apartment in Noe Valley. I took him walking around the vicinity, and have a cup of coffee in a cozy sunny café at the corner on 24th Street. He suggested we should really take the advantage of the good weather to do something. Then we drove to the very end of Geary Blvd., and from there followed the dirt path down to the hill by foot. It was such a perfect day for hiking! The combination of sunshine and breeze was just fine. While I was sort of disappointed by the untimely end of the path, (comparing with the ordinary hiking I do, this one was way too short!) something astonishing caught my eyes-a labyrinth form by rocks. I don't know who designed it; don't even have a clue how long will it last there. But it did make a perfect ending of that day.

prelude

2004-11-23T10:59:00.000-08:00

A picture paints a thousand words, so as a good architecture.
A well designed building, even though it just sits there silently, sometimes the astonishment it gave us could be even more drastic than a ride of roller coaster did. But, to me, in most cases, musicians did even better jobs. For example, Jan Garbarek, a Jazz saxophone player, could use his music to build up an invisible space in my brain. Put on the headphone and dim the lamp, the hallucination starts to grow with the high pitch of sax.