Last 2 weekends I went to Seremban and had the opportunity to shoot around Seremban town. However I paticularly loved the old shophouses which some were more than 100 years old. Some shophouses’ facade were given a new coat of paint and refurbished but there were quite a number of them left to rot. Seremban used to be one of the important administrative towns during the British colonial days perhaps because of its close distance to Kuala Lumpur and Negeri Sembilan being one of the federated Malay states.

Unfortunately nowadays Seremban seems to develop more slowly than other towns in Peninsular Malaysia even though its tourism industry is thriving especially in Port Dickson which is considered the most popular beach in Malaysia.

I reserve my comment on its slow development and what I want to show you are the photographs of its beautiful and classic facade belonging to shophouses in Seremban. I appeal to the state government that something be done to well preserve the beautiful and intricate facade of these shophouses as they are the invaluable heritage from the yesteryears just like what the Singaporean government has done to its classic shophouses built during the British colonial era.

The facade was given a new coat of paint of vibrant orange

Side view of the striking orange facade which now houses a Bata shop

Another highly saturated orange facade

Another interestingly designed windows

The cute cartoonish white and purple facade which caught my attention

The facade whose building is now occupied by Hong Leong Bank

A row of multi-coloured shophouses

Green and brown facade

Pastel coloured facade

Reflection of another row of multi-coloured shophouses

The typical five-foot way belonging to this kind of shophouses to protect the customerrs from the scorching tropical sun light in the afternoon

The ugly side - perhaps it was left to die its natural death

I love to imagine what this shop looked like during its hey day

This one seems to be left to rot for years

Hope you enjoy the pictures. Comments and criticism are welcome in open arms

Basilica of St. Paul

The Old Basilica of St. Paul was build during the 4^th Century by Emperor Constantine the great over the tomb of the Apostle Paul.  It is called Outside-the-Walls because it is located not within the City of Rome but along the Ostian Way, a short distance from the place called Three Fountains where St. Paul was beheaded in 64 AD.

The New Basilica was built in 1854, to replace the other that was destroyed by a fire.  On the exterior, there is the statue of St. Paul, surrounded by a portico with 146 columns meant to shelter the pilgrims.  The mosaic of the façade represents Jesus blessing Peter and Paul.  The interior is decorated with the portraits of all 264 Popes, from St. Peter to John Paul II.  Beneath the altar there is the tomb of St. Paul.

The Basilica of St. Paul, along with the one of St. Peter, has been visited for over two millennia by more pilgrims than any other place on earth.  Every five years, bishops from all over the world make the Visita ad limina Apostolorum—the Visit to the Tombs of the apostles—to renew their commitment in the service of Christ and of his Church.

Visual source:  fotopedia

So the holidays are here and Christmas is around the corner. What are your plans? Well. my family this year is deciding on a stereotypical Christmas dinner with fireplace, real Christmas tree, turkey and all. Yeah. the real shabang. huh. and when i say family. i dont really mean family. I mean my mom, her boyfriend, his daughter and I. I like them, i really do. But this facade doesn’t really work for me. Well we aren’t REALLY family, This isnt some old time tradition of ours, and to top it off. they dont celebrate Christmas! they are Jewish. SO this is pretty much a great acting job on everyone’s part to have fun, laugh and pretend. Oh. i just think this will end well. They think that this is what a family is and that is what they want to give me. I should be thankful however i believe i’m thoroughly confused. So is every family supposed to do this during the holidays? or do we just want to ACT like a family so that we are one step closed to living in a giant house together with a dog and piles of dirty dishes?
Okay now im just rambling.
Wow. oh how i love to whine about life. Well yes i am a tad uncomfortable with the situation and the lack of what Christmas is all about. Cause well.
Christmas is about Jesus and his birth. Jesus was born to take away our sins and love use as we ourselves can not even begin fathom. Dying for people you don’t know, will never know, who sin against you, who are selfish, greedy, lazy, prideful. Jesus saved use from death. BELIEVE IT. oh im preaching. but im just sharing what i believe. Just remember this is what Christmas is about not the shopping, the gift giving, the family gatherings, and the decorations. It is about the birth love. ( God is love. Jesus is the Lord) GET IT? i duno if it really makes sense. sounds cool to me.

I am sure the first lady is passionate and devoted to the sustainable, local and/or organic lifestyle.  Mrs. Obama certainly seems sincere in her concerns for the enviroment and in rescuing our children from the obesity epidemic created by agribusiness juggernauts like Monsanto and their foot soldiers the fast food industry. 

I do not, however, believe her husband cares about these issues.  After all his actions suggest an ambivalence reminiscent of his predecessor.  Supposedly, pandering to big business is the realm of Republicans but President Obama has dangerously littered the government with agribusiness pawns.

 The President has made numerous suspect appointments to bureaus charged with protecting the public’s welfare.  No, suspect is not the right word, nefarious is more accurate.  The conflict of interest created by these appointments is borderline criminal, not unlike naming John Dillinger Secretary of the Treasury.

Take the President’s choice to head the Department of Agriculture (USDA), Former Iowa Governor Tom Vilsack.  Vilsack has long been a champion of genetically modified (GM) corn and other grains.  Genetically modifying corn to be more resistant to herbicides was a process developed by Monsanto in the 1970’s.  But, as science has since proven, GM corn is the root cause of every e coli outbreak on record.  Ever.

Vilsack has such a notorious reputation for being a puppet for agribusiness mega corporations that a satirical PSA was actually commissioned by environmentalists.  That’s right, environmentalists are opposed to this Democrat.  Here’s the video:

Another one of President Obama’s appointments was naming Michael Taylor as special assistant to the FDA Commissioner for food safety.  Taylor will actually be making laws that affect the profitability of Monsanto, the primary client of his employer prior to joining the Obama administration.  Before working for Monsanto, Taylor was part of the George H W Bush administration, again making policy for the FDA.  Prior to that stint with the FDA Taylor worked for Monsanto.  His resume is the very definition of “conflict of interest.”

Now President Obama is not the first President to turn the keys to the nation’s safety over to Monsanto.  As mentioned above the first President Bush also employed Michael Taylor despite an obvious conflict of interest.  President Bill Clinton had a troubling number of his advisors moving into lucrative positions with Monsanto once his term was over, like Marcia Hale an assistant to the President for intergovernmental relations.  It’s certain that the so-called “Monsanto revolving door” is not one of the President’s promised changes.

The President naming the head of New Jersey’s Department of Environmental Protection, Lisa Jackson, to lead the EPA  has raised an eyebrow or two.  Jackson does not have documented ties to big business like Taylor or Visack.  At the same time she has shown an alarming familiarity with lobbyists even going so far as to hire corporate lobbyists like Nancy Wittenberg to work on her staff.

While most feel Jackson’s tenure with the NJDEP was marred in ineffective leadership and finger-pointing, some environmentalist groups insist that her lack of production was not her fault.  Apparently the one thing that both sides agree on is that Jackson did little to improve the quality of New Jersey’s enviroment.

As his Surgeon General, President Obama has picked Alabama physician Regina Benjamin.  Dr. Benjamin was given the assignment of helping  Americans get healthier.  Her work with rural, impoverished patients in the heart of Katrina country is quite noble.  But the well documented fact that she accepted $10,000 from Burger King just before joining the Obama regime is understandably curious.

The payment was purportedly for consulting with the fast food giant as a scientific advisor.  Regardless there is something peculiar about the nation’s top doctor being on the payroll of a company that produces the Angry Whopper, a sandwich with 1120 calories (657 from fat), 175 mg of cholesterol, 73 grams of total fat, 25 of which are saturated, three are the heart disease causing trans fats.

If the White House garden inspires others to plant their own then that is outstanding.  And while it is a quaint idea, from the outside looking in it appears to be just another parlor trick.  Clearly the President’s stance on the enviroment lacks transparency.

Statement 1:

In my relationship with persons I have found that it does not help, in the long run, to act as though I were something that I am not (stressed by Rogers).  … put it another way, is that I have not found it to be helpful or effective in my relationship with other people to try to maintain a façade (stressed by Long); to act in one way on the surface when I am experiencing something quite different underneath.

Rogers further concluded that most of the times in which he failed to be helpful to others, can be accounted for that he had tried to maintain a façade.

There are two common reasons why a therapist would want to maintain a façade:

First of all, is to maintain a power relationship. Power is seen as one kind of commodity, the therapist has it, and the client has not. It is believed that a façade is necessary for a therapist to maintain this power discretion since the power discretion itself is necessary for the therapist to do the work.

Secondly, is to maintain a professional boundary. A therapist is encouraged to maintain a façade that is impersonal and distant. A façade that is impersonal would help to maintain the boundary and keep the therapist from being too involved with his clients.

Carl Rogers’s statement is inspiring. I believe that maintaining a power relationship is problematic and unethical.  And it is NOT necessary to maintain a power relationship so that I can help my clients effectively. I agree that it is important to maintain the boundary; however, it is not necessary to do so through maintaining a façade. Carl Rogers set a great example for all therapists.

I spent my last days in The Philippines exploring Manila, the most interesting of which was Intramuros. It’s the old part built in the Spanish walled-city style.

I enjoyed how faded the area looked. Somehow none of the buildings in the area looked very restored at all.

The decay reminded me of the faded decadence of Havana.

To me, the highlight of Intramuros was the San Agustin Church, supposedly the oldest church building in The Philippines. Its baroque facade was beautiful despite the decay and overcast day.

The interior was even more breathtaking with its domed ceiling and trompe l’oeil paintings. It’s amazing that this cathedral is still in daily use.

There were other nooks in the place with more beautiful decorations, like this side chapel.

What impressed me most was the area towards the back of the cathedral, where the organ was.

See the huge music books on the stands? There were four of them.

While not illuminated to the degree where it’ll be a treasure to be kept behind glass, these music books showed the art and incredible workmanship involved. Beautiful.

…temp a reader to buy the book.
What to do, what to do…

parasite-like structure on the wonderful haka building, rotterdam

Tarot readings are a great way to get some insight on things. Even if it doesn’t ‘predict the future’ it does help to get you a new perception on life by relating your life to the cards and the path that your own life has taken naturally.

I do tarot readings on my life from time to time to gain a new perspective. It’s just a fun way of learning more about the way you feel about things. I recommend doing it to your favorite song on Winamp and going to Tarot by Facade it’s a great site where you can pick which layout you want and your deck. I always have gone with Celtic Cross which is the most familiar layout. It gives a good sense of your overall aura.

I do miss blogging this has been fun today. If you want to read my own tarot reading, I’ve copied it below. Feel free to leave yours and your own comments!

The card not shown but at the center of the cross, represents the atmosphere surrounding the central issue. Six of Pentacles (Success): A time of prosperity and profit. Success and generosity in material things. Power and influence turned to noble pursuits. Philanthropy, and the balancing of physical and spiritual life. May suggest gifts or aid to one in need.

The card visible at the center of the cross represents the obstacle that stands in your way – it may even be something that sounds good but is not actually to your benefit. Seven of Pentacles (Assessment): A pause to check on the progress of your labors. Making difficult financial decisions. Exercising patience and perseverance. Evaluating the status of your work and your options for the future.

The card at the top of the cross represents your goal, or the best you can achieve without a dramatic change of priorities. The Fool: Fearlessness, imagination, open-mindedness, and an adventurous spirit. Freedom from cares and worries. Ideas, thoughts, and impulses coming from a completely unexpected place. Nonchalance at the threshold of gaining all or losing all. Extravagance and intoxication with life. The pure and undifferentiated power of creation itself, where ultimate knowledge and oblivion are unified.

The card at the bottom of the cross represents the foundation on which the situation is based. Ten of Cups (Satiety): Fulfillment and joy in life and love. Feeling peace, tranquility, and contentment in friends and family. Taking delight in one’s good fortune.

The card at the left of the cross represents a passing influence or something to be released. The Magician, when reversed: Trickery, demagoguery, and artful deceptions. The use of knowledge and skill for selfish gain or destructive purposes. The abuse of technology. Incompetence and uncertainty. A lack of will power. A fatal flaw in a great work.

The card at the right of the cross represents an approaching influence or something to be embraced. Five of Swords (Defeat), when reversed: Refusing to achieve success through personal degradation. Friendship maintained through the abandonment of a dishonorable gain. Slander and infamy avoided.

The card at the base of the staff represents your role or attitude. The Star: New hopes and splendid revelations of the future. Insight, inspiration, courage and enlightenment of the spiritual self. Body and mind and converging towards the light at the end of a dark time.

The card second from the bottom of the staff represents your environment and the people you are interacting with. Nine of Swords (Cruelty): Debilitating mental anguish or ill health. Being dragged down by the dishonor of others. Participation in a shameful or regrettable act. Inescapable guilt, mistrust, and doubt. May indicate a death or other catastrophic loss.

The card second from the top of the staff represents your hopes, fears, or an unexpected element that will come into play. The Hanged Man: Pausing to reflect. Surrendering to an experience. Adjusting to new ideas through sacrifice. Opening oneself to intuition and enhanced awareness. Letting go of past patterns and growing beyond them. Inner peace, faith, and serenity.

The card at the top of the staff represents the ultimate outcome should you continue on this course. Eight of Pentacles (Prudence): Dedicating yourself fully to a task. Learning a new craft or skill. Applying painstaking attention to detail. Industriousness and the efficient completion of tasks. Sticking with a project long enough to see it through.

I apologise for not having blogged in a little bit.  Real life has kinda taken over, and if you follow me on twitter (please do!!! – I have my latest tweets on the right —> ) then you’ll have an idea why.  Basically, although I’ve been open that I’m slightly envious of the fact that Mike likes someone other than me, and that other person seems to like him back (although there are marriages, children and mixed signals thrown into the mix), I’ve been handling it pretty well.  Yep, that’s right, you spotted the past tense.  Well, I’m handling it well again now.  But we had our Christmas meal on Friday night, and I might have got a little bit paranoid and possessive.  Allow me to elaborate.

Mike & me are HBICs on our course.  We do more or less everything together, we are friendly with everyone and everyone knows us as the smokers / naughty guys talking dirty at the back of the class / dedicated and working in the library on the sly / fun and easy to talk to / the ones who organise the social events on the course.  The third person in our equation is someone Mike noticed early on, but has only been included in our circle the last few weeks.  I knew that Mike was developing feelings before he admitted it to me, but it is still hard to accept.  I know he’s a straight married man, but what does a not-stunning 33-yo woman with 2 kids, an overly-possessive husband and an average wardrobe have on me?  Ok, she is a lovely lovely person, and admittedly has sparkling blue eyes and a shapely butt. But I’m 24, I apparently “look immaculate” (Julie), am “very pretty / beautiful” (Mike!!! and others), I can sing, dance, write and produce my own music, I smoke, play piano and guitar, I’m quite intelligent and “articulate” (Leanne) and “really good to talk to and understanding” (Penny, Emma, Mike).  What the fuck more can I do?  How many more hoops do I have to jump through?  I’m missing the point.  Sexuality is sexuality, although I firmly believe that although you can definitely be instantly attracted to physical traits, ultimately the body is the wrapping and the gift is the person inside (I mean that not in a sexual way, but in an emotional / spiritual / personal way).  Somewhere along the line, he’s my best friend but he doesn’t see all of who I am – otherwise if he has feelings for the woman, he certainly would have feelings for me as we share a good heart and a love of innuendo.  I’m going over old territory here, but although he’s my best friend at university and I utterly cherish that, sometimes it’s maddening that I can’t have more.

Anyway, I admit I’ve been a bit envious.  But I’ve also been more than there for him as much as I can, despite my own feelings for him (which he knows about).  The day of our Christmas meal, I was feeling extremely nervous and on edge, despite telling myself that they are adults, they can do whatever they like and it’s not my job nor my place to keep them apart.  I felt that I didn’t want Mike to be regretting anything the next day, that I might be a bad friend if I let him down by not keeping him rational, and that I would have my heart hurt in the process.  I played “Russian Roulette” multiple times, since that song, those lyrics and the whole Rated R album seem to be the story of my life right now, and nervously arrived at Mike’s house.  For a while I felt fine – we got to the restaurant, Mike said that after we went for late-night drinks and conversation the night before he was feeling more balanced about it all, I was confident and happy.  But then she eventually arrived, I felt the focus slipping away from me, I ended up having a lot to drink (note: 5 sambuca shots in one go is never a good idea), and then my hitherto good handle on the whole situation (which admittedly I had been managing pretty well, considering it’s a lot to bear) flew out the window.  I had to corral our whole group (who were splitting off in various directions, somewhat annoyingly – again I blame the alcohol!) into BSB on Corn Street, and then no matter how much I danced, smoke or drank, I couldn’t help but keep looking back at the two of them chatting in the corner.  In short, I was driving myself crazy, and Mike knew that I was really tense.  Apparently I said a couple of not-so-nice things about how little I trusted her (the drink talking, not that that’s an excuse), and I was dashing on and off the dancefloor and in and out of the club like a crazy person trying to keep my emotions and sanity in check, and then failing miserably.  I didn’t offend anyone, I didn’t do anything stupid or say anything revealing – I even managed to cover for the two of them when an observant Jenny remarked “how close they are… I wonder if they like each other?” (my reply – “Nah, we’re all just close friends” before linking my arm through Mike’s).  I am a good friend and my heart was and is in the right place.  But that night, my head was not.  More than my own envy or my own feelings, I wanted to be a good friend to Mike and stop him from doing anything he would regret in the long term.

At the end of the night me and Mike were walking back from dropping Jenny and her at the car park, and we had a little talk.  I was in a very bad mood, and it took me a while to work out why.  I called Mike to apologise for my mood, and he said it was ok, and I offered to explain what it was tomorrow.  First thing next morning, he texted me to ask how I was and why I had been feeling down.  I explained, he said I didn’t have anything to apologise for and not to worry or think so much. (For the record, “don’t think so much” is an astute but lousy piece of advice!!!)  I felt silly all weekend, but I thought that things were going to be ok and I was looking forward to seeing him on Monday.  Since I had his house key, I had arranged to give him that back.  Fast forward to Saturday night – Mike isn’t replying to my texts (this is unusual behaviour!), I was feeling fed up, caged at home, and decided to go out with Nick to a party and get drunk.  I had a fantastic time, and although I still had Mike at the back of my mind (or midway, maybe), it was whatever.  Life goes on.

Sunday I was in Starbucks working on my essay, when I get a call from Mike (after not replying to another text of mine telling him I had a crazy dream where we were both mercenaries undercover at an underground Nazi gathering led by Daniel Craig, except Mike was being hunted by the police for drug trafficking… yeah) to ask me if I was at home, and if I could give him his house key.  I had his key in my bag so I met him and his nephew Jack outside Harvey Nichols, handed it over (along with some tobacco, since I had run out of cigarettes on Friday night and smoked several of his rollies… it was also a little bit of an “apology offering”) and we had brief conversation.  Once again, everything seemed fine.  But then in the evening, we had texts which went unanswered, others which were answered and I just didn’t know where I stood.  Obviously I was overreacting, but nevertheless I couldn’t stop my own guilty feelings from colouring my judgement and thinking that I might have ruined our friendship.

Monday comes, I’m talking with Henna outside university when Mike rolls up.  He’s fine, but melancholy.  I apologised, we talked a lot about Friday, but things just weren’t the same.  He seemed glum, I was sad, and although we were talking and spending time together it just wasn’t the same. No innuendos, no physical contact, and at one point he thought I was in a piss with him (when I wasn’t!) and I explained what I was feeling and he said that “although I promised I’d never hit you, if you keep worrying then I will!”  Despite that, it was like our friendship was a shadow of its former self.  I texted him in the evening, but no reply once again.  I felt like I was being punished when I had apologised, been told there was nothing to apologise for and not to worry about it!  I felt like I really was a product of my mother’s emotional fuckery and my father’s control freakishness, and yet I couldn’t stop my brain from over-analysing every little thing (I apologise to Nick, Adam, Nana and everyone else I stressed out to over the past few days – y’all are so understanding and I really appreciate it.  Thankyou. ).  I felt so down, that after everything our close friendship had been somehow ruined, that despite my ability to be truly honest with Mike about my deepest darkest secrets and tell him things I can’t remember telling anyone, he couldn’t come correct to me and tell me what the matter was.

This morning I waited for him at our usual block, on edge and feeling sorta upset.  We met up and went to the library, he apologised for not replying to my text (I pretended it was nothing) and the black cloud persisted for a while.  But I soon realised that it wasn’t to do with me – in fact, I was the only person he could spend time with but still be honest about his moods.  I didn’t press him, but I realised that his home situation was really getting him down.  I offered him reassurance, friendship and a hug where appropriate, and tried to give him space.  As the day went on, we perked up (despite the fact we were writing an essay!) and I felt finally reassured that I still had his friendship, and that I can’t be responsible for him always being in a good mood, or for him being down.  His being sad makes me feel sad for him, but however much I might drink on a night out or however much guilt I feel, I can’t hold myself responsible for his moods, no matter how good friends we end up being.  I learned that I really do take things too personally, that I can’t turn my brain or heart off however much it might be convenient sometimes, and that I can be someone’s best friend but I can’t stop them from making a mistake – all I can do is be there for them, give them space to breathe and a shoulder to lean on when they need it.  This weekend was an emotional rollercoaster for me, but it wasn’t without its lessons and I try to take that away from it.  Drinking and love doesn’t mix, and you can only hide your heart under a façade for so long before it nevertheless starts to chip. Now I’m repairing myself and we’re all taking a deep breath and gradually going back to normal, and that’s a relief.  But I promise not to forget what I’ve learned this weekend, and I appreciate (once again) my friendships so much.

seventies facade in paris

I found this on the net and thought it was pretty. =D

Schiecentrale facade by Mei Architects & Studio Job

Well, if you’re back, Sean, I suppose I should post more then once every 10 days or so. So your NANO novel involved transexual dragons? Interesting. I’ll have to read it one of these days.

I’m agreed about Christmas. Everyone acts like perfect, Norman Rockwell people for a few days, then goes back to screaming at each other for the rest of the year. And of course, Christmas and birthdays are the only time people are supposed to give gifts to each other, or even be nice to each other[1].

There isn’t any real honesty in it. It’s all a facade. Which is why I thought this song from the Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde musical would be appropriate.

[1] “And then, one Thursday, nearly two thousand years after one man had been nailed to a tree for saying how great it would be to be nice to people for a change, one girl sitting on her own in a small cafe in Rickmansworth suddenly realized what it was that had been going wrong all this time, and she finally knew how the world could be made a good and happy place. This time it was right, it would work, and no one would have to get nailed to anything.” – Douglas Adams, The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy

Feeling safe is very important to me right now.

It is that warm, secure feeling. Safe can mean that one many need to control their environment. Safe can be a person or an object. Nevertheless, the definition varies individually, as it can depend on many things.

However, ones definition of safe can be just being alone and keeping everyone at an arms length. If one cannot seem to find safety anyway else except isolation it may be the only option. It can be common to also find very small spaces safe. Many individuals may sit in closets, corners, under beds and behind furniture.

Being alone to an extent may be beneficial. It may give the individual time to collect oneself and figure out ones “next move”.

Nevertheless, the true question is why might isolation feel safe?

It can be a possible feeling flashback from childhood. When a childhood is filled with abusive situations, it may be difficult to find that safe feeling.  The child’s only safe place may be just being by itself. No one will be able to hurt the child. Even the isolation of abuse may help the child to be safe.

Nevertheless, for others being alone may be a very different experience. Alone for then could mean that they actually had or have to feel feelings. Also a feeling flashback from childhood. As they put on a facade when they were around others being alone for them could mean that they feel sadness and pain. All those feelings that one may actually be trying to avoid may come out when they are alone.

It is a very interesting topic to explore for me, as I do not know which idea of safety I claim as mine. In addition, I may be able to feel both at different times and also at the same time. I think that I why I am finding it so hard to figure out what my idea of safety. To others my idea of safety seems “abnormal” but to me it is perfectly normal.

Someone told me this once and I always remember it. My “normal” may be other peoples “crazy”. I think that it is okay for that to be the case. Because my childhood was not “normal” but my reaction to trauma is said to be “normal”. My adaptation of PTSD is a normal reaction to an abnormal situation. Therefore, I possibly may not be so “crazy” after all

Streetscape in San Miguel de Allende

click on image to see a 100% crop

Here is another streets-cape quickly composed from a half dozen photographs. These facades are more co-planar and thus more easily create a street-scape that is dimensionally faithful to real world conditions. Is it a drawing that looks like a photograph or a photograph that behaves like a drawing?  The tension between these two notions remains beguiling to me.

“That hideous screen” neighbour across the road
“I love it!” couple walking past
“That’s better than some of the responses I have had” KUD
“Who cares?” couple walking past. 

The house is situated between a row of single fronted Victorian terraces and a double fronted Edwardian house. KUD’s strategy was to reveal that this demand and attraction of such a housing has a stronger link with romanticized nostalgia rather than of good design.  In an attempt to break down the ornamental façade which dictates the neighborhood character, the Perforated House aimed to redefine boundaries, particularly environmental sustainability through solar orientation. 

existing site

  

more words from KUD:

To us, this project is a platform to establish a critical dialogue within our built environment; to raise questions as much as to find solutions. The project is a critique on our cultural attitudes and how we determine them, on what we consider to be of heritage significance and how to narrate such ideas in a critical and contemporary manner.

Is the symbolism and the idea more important than the architectural consequence?

We challenge the idea that small inner city blocks cannot respond to complex contextual constraints such as orientation, sustainability, urban planning controls and heritage restrictions. Instead of negotiating with these so called ‘constraints’, we utilise them as areas of possibility and exploration in our design process and discourse.

This once vacant site is nestled between the eastern bookend of a row of single fronted Victorian terraces and a double fronted Edwardian weatherboard house. Our strategy is part of our ongoing research to critique and respond to the Terrace typology. We concluded that this demand and attraction of such a housing model has a stronger link with romanticized nostalgia rather than of good design with the emphasis residing on the symbolism of the ornamental facade which dictates “the neighbourhood character” rather than responding to it. 

perforated house, victoria

Our strategy was to break down the terrace house elements, critique, and form a response these elements. Particularly, the terrace house’s inability to address solar orientation; the poor linear program, constantly remodeled with predictable, repetitive and limited planning to achieve some sort of link between the active habitable space and the external private open space and the lack of natural light and ventilation within the house.
 

perforated house, KUD

perforated house, KUD

The main areas of investigation were Symbolism and Ornamentation, the Public and Private realm and redefining its boundaries, environmental sustainability, particularly solar orientation, and the programming of the plan.
 

perforated house, KUD

perforated house, KUD

The built form is essentially an urban infill within a very small 5.5×14.4m envelope. The perforated house is our proposal to establish an alternative language of our cultural attitudes towards critical questions of identity and heritage. We were interested in retaining the ‘idea’ and the ‘symbolism’ of the terrace but elevating the gesture to an ironic, even satirical, level to incite a public debate. The irony being that only in the absence of matter, through perforation, rather than through a physical reproduction of a terrace house, is the symbol of a terrace house apparent. 

perforated house, KUD

We wanted the house to be more than just a façade. More than just a message or a graphic stuck to a building. Our building is not an urban canvas paying tribute to Venturi’s “decorated shed”. Instead, the external facade can also be experienced internally, as it is a multi-functional device that constantly transforms the building from solid to void, from private to public and from opaque to translucent. By day, the building is heavy and reflective but by night inverts to a soft, translucent, permeable light box. The operable wall, or the absence of the façade, enabled us to critique the idea that houses are static. 

perforated house, KUD

perforated house, KUD

perforated house, KUD

The use of operable walls, doors, curtains and glass walls enables the occupants to control the experience and environment. This architectural manipulation of space allows a blurring of the boundaries between inside and outside and public and private realms. The manipulated spaces overlap and borrow the amenity and context of the surrounding environment.

The plan inverts the traditional terrace program with the active living zones on the first floor opening onto a north facing terrace, thereby generating a primarily northern orientation to a south facing block. The perforated house incorporates passive sustainable interventions such as northern oriented glass bi-fold doors and louvers for cross ventilation as the primary means of cooling. In addition, solar hot water and 5-star rated sanitary fixtures are incorporated. 

plan

Reinforced by the childlike mural reminiscent of a past era, the north facing terrace redefines the “Aussie” backyard, and forms a commentary on the changing demography of the family unit and, ultimately, the typology of the inner city house. 

interior

interior

interior

interior

www.kud.com.au