fabesaa limkokwing university

December 8^th 2009

Prof Dato’ Ar W.Y. Chin

Dean of Faculty of Architecture and Build Environment

Limkokwing University of Creative Technology

Cyberjaya

To whom it may concern,

The reconsideration upon the potential discontinuation of the contract staffs, part-time staff

We as the representative of FABESAA (Faculty of Architecture and Build Environment Student Association and Alumni), would like to express our deepest concern over the potential discontinuation of contract upon the part-time lecturers who have been tutoring us since we joined this university.

It has come to our concern that, we being part of the faculty should assist in making a better change as to improve the quality and reputation of university, in terms of assessment criteria and work delegations. Given a well-experienced lecturer not just in the architectural field but with the upper hand with the mutual understandings with the Curtin standards, our lecturers, priory the contract staffs has proven worthy of the position. This is indeed beneficial for the students due to the assurance of guidance and motivations given by the lecturers. The learning experience between the lecturers and students is cultivated through various means of sharing life experiences on both parties, thus it is something that the fellow students are very grateful about.

It has come to our deepest concern that, the faculty and the respective departments will seriously reconsider the decision upon the termination of the contract staffs. As the student body representative and a student who is merging into the graduating semester, it has come to my concern that the availability of lecturers that can cater the needs of the students are of importance.  To be able to work with lecturers of our interest would help in the overall productivity of the studio works which we had been able to excel for the past few semester. Indeed the working environment that has been cultivate is not something that can be replace at a blink of an eye, as there is an old saying ‘ Rome is not build in one day’.

We, as the student body, understand that the faculty have their own policy to fulfill and it has  never came to our minds a sense of doubt on working ethic of the faculty. We are just a bunch of students who wants to highlight that discussed matter, where this group of lecturers deserves a better acknowledgement and treatment from the faculty management. In due respect, most of the contract staffs are indeed under-paid for the amount of work loads that has been delegated to their work scope as per mentioned in the assigned contract which they received from the starting of the semester. On the other hand, there are incidents where the respective employees of the faculty were under-paid as compared to the amount of work load delegated by the management.  This has intern caused drastic change in reputation to the university is appropriate action is not taken care of.

Last but not least, with this letter, we as a group of students hope that the faculty will consider our welfare of education as its ultimate priority.

Thank you for your kind consideration of this matter.

Sincerely,

President of FABESAA

Saw Kheng Wei

Finally, after 16 weeks of study, Semester 2 of all years (Foundation, Year 1, Year 2, and Year 3) ended.

Happy Holiday to all FABE students and lecturers!

It’s been surely hard and tiring days faced during the whole semester…now it’s the time to enjoy, relax, play, and get enough rest, in preparation for a new year (2010) study.

For Foundation students, it’s time for some to move on to Architecture Science programme (AS 101), the beginning of the programme, countless effort is needed! 

For AS 102 students, it’s time to move on to AS201 next year, harder days are expected, so be well-prepared with all the assignments coming up next year!

For AS 202 students, it’s time to step further to the last year of Architecture Science programme (AS 301), countless nights of no sleep is expected too, anyway, take good care!

For AS 302 students, it’s time to graduate from the programme after a tiring 4 years of study in Limkokwing University (including foundation year). Congratulations! And it’s time to move on to Master study!

Anyway, Happy Holiday and all the best to all students who are now waiting for the results to be released…When? No one knows yet.

Pictures of some of the boards presented today during the Design Review from 9am till around 12pm.

There are still time for me to take photographs of almost all of the models submitted today, excluding the late ones, since the submission is delayed from 3.00pm till 4.30pm. Today is not the actual final submission, the final submission will be on this Friday (20/11/2009), while the presentation will be on next week’s Monday (23/11/2009) and submission of portfolio will be on next week’s Wednesday (25/11/2009)

Some models are really nice..knowing students have put countless effort on it…good luck to all AS102 students!

The examination for AS 102 begins on Tuesday (10/11/2009) and will ends by this Saturday (14/11/2009)

Monday (9/11) - Architecture and Culture 102 Final submission only.

Tuesday (10/11) - Building Technology 102 Final Examination

                              (Lecture Theatre 1 & 2, 6.00 - 8.00pm)

Wednesday (11/11) - Ecologically Sustainable Design 102 Final Examination

                                  (Lecture Theatre 1 & 2, 5.00 - 7.00pm)

Thursday (12/11) - No examination on this day. Design Communications (Manual) submission.

Friday (13/11) - Communication Principles 112 Final Examination

                          (Lecture Theatre 1 & 2, 5.00 - 7.00pm)

Saturday (14/11) - Architecture and Culture 102 Final Quiz.

                                  (Lecture Theatre 1 & 2, 10.00am - 12.00pm)

—-Extra:

Tuesday (17/11) - Architecture Design 102 Final Overall Submission.

———————————————————————-

Please remember to bring your examination docket to the examination hall during examination for identification purpose. If you haven’t collect the docket, please go to bursary to collect it by showing your ID card.

Good Luck ! Wishing all AS102 students the best! After examinations, presentations, and final submissions, it’s time for semester break, and let’s enjoy after that!

UPDATES:

1. Everyone is not satisfied with the Building Technology 102 examination which is supposed to be a two-hours exam. The faculty timetable stated three hours somemore, and finally, we ended up in a one-hour exam to answer all 28 subjective questions. Ridiculous, petition will be brought up for judgement.

2. Another weird thing is that the Ecologically Sustainable Design (ESD 102) examination is a two-hours exam, to answer only 40 objective questions. I wonder how they plan the time duration of the examinations.

Architecture is a field with no boundary, designs varies from one point to another, even every person’s perception towards a design is different. This is what makes architecture, being favourited, as well as being hated. For instance, some people might love Taipei 101, but some dislike the design of the tower. You like it or not? Why? Or do you recognize this building?

Architecture makes people proud. It is a symbol of strength, an icon of a site, or even can be a landmark of a country. Architects will be recognized in completion of a structure designed by him or her. Everyone envy architects. However, do you know that behind all these, architects suffer a lot.

From the process of designing, sketches come first, based on initial ideas and appropriate concepts. Architecture has no boundary but it is limited by technology, engineering, budget, site, and climate resistance. The technology available might not be able to build such amazing structure, the engineering skill might be not enough to build such creative structure, financial problem prevents architect from designing further, site prevents architect to build beyond boundary, and climate sometimes give challenges to architects.

Finish designing, it’s time for possibility in construction. Is the structure designed so beautifully on papers, or even on computer, be possible to be built, to be turn into real? Time to consult engineers, construction workers, developers, and even the government to approve the design project.

Even when you finished compiled your designs into proper working drawings, there is a risk of not being successful to be built. There are now design competitions that will only select best design to be built. Many architects, representing their firm will submit their brilliant designs too with their own concepts too. It is intense, who wins, only will be decided by those who do not know much on architecture (the developers).

Architects usually have their hair fully white or even empty head with no hair, even at young age. They think a lot (on design, construction, etc), they worry a lot (on safety, stability, possibility, etc), eventhough they earn a lot. However, only famous architects earn a lot. Many unknown architects around the world are still struggling to find a project to do. Architects die early? I’m not sure. Maybe architecture will train architects’ brains to be more active (or maybe more tiring)

Recently, I have discovered a survey that shows architecture is the sexiest profession. Other people will see architects, as very cool, like bringing large roll of papers, or even a huge T-square, or even long piece of presentation board, and beautiful model. Do you know architects or even architecture students are like exhausted ghosts when they are doing all these works? It will frighten you, especially when you approach them by midnight, because they won’t sleep due to submission and deadlines.

The most grateful moment for an architect is not when he get paid for his design and works, is not when he has completed and submitted his or her works, the most grateful moment is when an architect is able to see his or her design being turn into real structure, being able to be entered into, being able to be explored, being able to be touched, being able to be feel for, not only by himself or herself, but as well as by all people.

Architecture is not only ‘architorture’, but also ‘archithriller’, something that delights not only architects, but all.

Notes:

1. This post is obtained directly from my own personal site: http://vincentloy.wordpress.com/2009/11/05/architecture-is-architorture-or-archithriller/

2. Any comment, feel free to reply.

Today is the day, when all students are late to class, for a reason, haven’t complete the final model that needs to be submitted today. Some have just finished their models on time, some have not completed yet, and some were missing in action.

Pictures of some of the models (almost all) submitted today :

The Malacca Site Visit for AS 102 year 2009 just ended. It was an enjoyable trip and a tiring trip. We travelled all around the large Old Town area of Malacca, covering Jonker Street, Red Stadhuys, St. Xavier Church, St. Paul Church, A Famosa, etc. Some of us have also visited Maritime Museum, Menara Taming Sari, Dataran Sungai Melaka, Dataran Quayside and Eye on Malaysia.

Malacca, together with Georgetown in Penang were listed as World Heritage Cities by UNESCO. Both cities are along the historical Strait of Malacca, once a famous maritime route for many colonial powers.

The focus of this site visit is on Design 102. We have to select a site that suits the respective client for the Project “…for the…”. Experience the different conditions on the site from day to night, and record findings. Besides that, for Design Communication 102, we have to sketch perspective sketches of 2 colonial buildings and 3 interior spaces of the hotel we stayed, Hotel Puri.

Hotel Puri, is a three-star hotel located along Jalan Tun Tan Cheng Lock, a strategic area as it is just besides the happening street of Jonker Walk.

Some of the pictures taken during the 3 days 2 nights site visit:

The very long shophouses in the Old Town area of Malacca.

Malacca River, many tourist areas along the Malacca, known as Malacca Waterfront.

Eye on Malaysia’s ferris wheel as seen from far.

The famous Red Stadhuys area, full of tourists here…on a very strategic location

The St. Paul Church on top of the hill with his tomb in there.

The main landmark of Malacca, A Famosa, which is so small and so ’sad’…

St. Xavier Church, nice-looking and great topping.

Taming Sari Tower at night…looks tall but only 80m high…

The Maritime Museum, built to resemble a Portuguese ship, looks interesting.

The lobby for Hotel Puri…

The stage at junction of Jonker Street with performances going on…

Jonker Street crowded with people and stalls…Night market will be held along Jonker Street every Friday, Saturday and Sunday night.

Notes:

1. Part of this post is obtained directly from my own site: http://vincentloy.wordpress.com/2009/10/04/malacca-site-visit/

as architecture students; we loved to show buildings in exploded view. but do you ever imagine to show architecture elements similar to exploded view in a different manner? behold, architecture reassembled.

from yangsquare.com

Everyone must have remember what happened yesterday, exactly eight years ago…the horrible 911 attack that brought the 415m and 417m World Trade Center towers to rubbles.

The project of rebuilding the World Trade Center in New York City after the disastrous 911 attacks is called as ‘ Project Rebirth’. This project is very much related to the former twin towers of World Trade Center, and it reflects on the memorial dedication to the 911 disaster.

The site plan of the project:

Currently, constructions are in progress on the large site. A memorial park is built, dedicated for the victims of 911 attack. Four buildings are under construction;

One World Trade Center (Freedom Tower)

• Height: 541m to top of spire. (417m to top of roof)
• 109 floors including rooftop.
• design: simple symmetry, more traditional design to complement with New York skyline.
• 2.6 million square feet office space, including observation deck, world-class restaurants, etc.
• designed to draw upon the themes of motion and light; a shimmering glass surface drapes the tower’s base and imparts a dynamic fluidity of form whose appearance will reflect its surroundings.
• As the tower itself rises from this cubic base, its square edges are chamfered back, transforming the square into eight tall isosceles triangles in elevation, or an elongated square antiprism.
• At its middle, the tower forms a perfect octagon in plan and then culminates in a glass parapet (elevation 1,362 feet (415 m) and 1,368 feet (417 m)) whose plan is a square, rotated 45 degrees from the base.
• A mast containing an antenna for television broadcasters—designed by a collaboration between Skidmore, Owings and Merill, artist Kenneth Snelson (who invented the tensegrity structure), lighting designers and engineers—and secured by a system of cables, rises from a circular support ring, similar to the Statue of Liberty’s torch, to a height of 1,776 feet (541 m). The spire will be an intense beam of light that will be lit at night and will likely be visible over a thousand feet (305 m) into the air above the tower.
• Estimated to be completed by year 2013.
• Architects: David Childs (SOM), Thomas Boada.

Two World Trade Center (200 Greenwich Street)

• Height: 411m to top of spire. (387m to top of roof)
• 79 floors.
• 2.53 million square feet of office space, including retail shops.
• Design: The sloping roof consisting of four diamonds inclined toward the memorial will provide a visual marker around the skyline of just where the original towers were.
• The tower is designed to resemble a diamond, with cross bracing intersects and indentations breaking up the sides.
• The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey said the following about 200 Greenwich Street’s wedged rooftop: “Designed by Lord Norman Foster, the tower incorporates WTC master planner Daniel Libeskind’s ‘wedge of light’ concept, and will cast no shadow on the memorial park on September 11.”
• Estimated to be completed by year 2012.
• Architect: Sir Norman Foster.

Three World Trade Center (175 Greenwich Street)

• Height: 383m to top of spire. (352m to top of roof)
• 71 floors.
• 2 million square feet of office space, including retail space.
• Design: The building slightly resembles the John Hancock Center in Chicago. The four spires in the design would give the building a pinnacle height of 1,255 feet (383 m).
• The design of the tower addresses on its central position on the site and accentuates the building’s verticality relative to the Memorial site.
• It is envisaged that the tower will consist of a central concrete core (steel encased in reinforced concrete) and an external structural steel frame which will be clad in stainless steel.
• Estimated to be completed by year 2014.
• Architect: Sir Richard Rogers.

Four World Trade Center (150 Greenwich Street)

• Height: 297m to top of roof.
• 64 floors.
• 1.8 million square feet of office space, including retail space.
• Design: The office tower is intended to assume a quiet but dignified presence at the site while also serving to enliven the immediate urban environment as part of the redevelopment efforts of downtown New York.
• Estimated to be completed by year 2011.
• Architect: Fumihiko Maki.

The Seven World Trade Center is built in year 2006.

• Height: 226m to top of roof.
• 52 floors.
• 1.7 million square feet of office space.
• Located just north of the WTC site, the rebuilt office tower combines a powerful infrastructure with ultra-efficient floors to offer tenants substantial operational efficiencies. With 45-foot column-free spans, high ceilings, and stunning views in all directions, the 40,000-square-foot floor plate provides unparalleled freedom to customize each space.
• From backup power systems, to abundant riser spacing, to above-standard electrical capacity and next-generation HVAC systems, the tower’s infrastructure anticipates and exceeds future demands in every way. And the sheer beauty of its shimmering external façade gracefully enhances any corporate image.
• New York’s first officially certified Green Building.
• Architect: David Childs (SOM).

 Future of the area:

From this:

To this by 2013 0r 2014:

Notes:

1. The information and pictures from this post are not of my own and obtained from the internet.

2. This post is obtained directly from my own site: http://vincentloy.wordpress.com/2009/09/11/the-under-construction-skyscrapers-on-new-yorks-ground-zero/