#larchnotes

I started collage works for my other blog. Exactly what made me think of revamping my photo blogging by doing more of it here as well. I left my pen though, so pardon the ugly handwriting on my design collages. 

The site visit yesterday rendered good concepts for two of my classes. We were able to hear the very inspiring stories from our host institution, plus we were all given innovative ideas on how to start our own aquaponics garden! It was a very exciting field work. They even gave us free snacks with fresh harvest from their urban farm! Amazing!

(Because I think I promised to post one of the things I look forward to every year...)

I forgot to post one of the few events (of the organization and the college) that made me smile last December. Saw a very spectacular installation at the atrium. It was charming, very enthralling, and definitely a change of the academe environment. 

       The installation was part of a bigger event entitled, "Unite et Diversite". It was a collaborative project / exposition by several organizations of the design profession. The following posters above were the list of the very supportive sponsors and participants of the event.

       "A Tran-Zen-Dental State Of Mind" was the garden exhibit during the expo.

The expo was the brainchild of my colleague and was spearheaded by our organization, PALA (Philippine Association of Landscape Architects). It started with the collaborative efforts of the student organization, UPCLAS (UP Circle of Landscape Architecture Students) and PALA.  It was first called the PALA Expo, eventually it grew to involve architects and interior designers, ergo a more politically correct name, the UP DESIGN EXPO.

       For the garden exhibit, the sponsors were able to provide the stones and boulders, paving materials, seats, pots, water feature, sculptures, and the softscape materials. It was unfortunate that a certain incident broke one of the most coveted pieces of Dedon. I would like to own one Dedon piece in a heartbeat. Ofcourse, if it was only for free. Otherwise, my savings account would hated me.

                                Unite et Diversite

"A Tran-Zen-dental State of Mind Garden Exhibit"

7-8 December 2012

       The only LArch related "instagram special" update.

Decided to try design criticism activities. This time, I let the class design their own civic space and choose the most apt / most feasible / most "nakakatawag pansin" design from the 29 design outputs (Big Happy Class!). I love this photo because I felt how they somehow hone the "design critics" in them--no biases, no "group-ko-'to-so-ito-na-lang", no "friendship-over-sige-ka" thing going on, and purely participatory planning and analysis of the design outputs and the category or design rubrics to comply with (hoping it was really that during that day).

My other class just produced their first ever staking plans, the other class just had a drawing session (with only a few recognizing the Oliva / Sago Palm / Pitogo /Cycas), and the other class just moved the nursery near the atrium.

I haven't really posted a lot of updates as of late due to the hectic class schedule. Two of my classes are also participating at two Christmas activities/project, I have to hopefully face the laptop to produce an abstract in a week, lecture sets are yet to be checked/edited, and I haven't organized softcopy files/documents of my 2 classes pa (clean freak na 'di halata). 

That and one projects reappeared after 4 months? Here we go suppliers!

This is me being dreamy.  Nestrest  is my to-die-for-and-droolworthy want. Something I hope to buy given ample money to spend on a very random functional material for my garden.

And who wouldn't enjoy this Obelisk? A complete set for four fashioned to look like the classic Obelisk.

Then I see a dog seated at the Orbit aka the loveseat. Which is more familiar in this revamped photo of the Manila Hotel.

(Photo Source: http://www.truevali.com/2010/02/stay-at-newly-renovated-manila-hotel.html)

And I end my dream with the classic Leaf, which reminds me of the beach and how much I love having a relaxing day with the sand, sea, and the warm breeze.

How I wish i'd earn enough to own one, or at least have a client willing enough to splurge on a Dedon.

Or be given a chance to partially collab or visit the Dedon Island at Surigao!

Now for the daydream to stop. Goodnight!:)

All images from :

The Dedon Website--http://www.dedon.de/en/

Can't simply end the Hunger Games week without connecting the thematic Hunger Games weekend with something I just found out (thanks to Google).

So do you know that Katniss (that Hunger Games character) is named after the Sagittaria species also known as the Arrowhead?

                          (photo taken from http://www.swsbm.com/NGSImages/Index4.html)

       (WARNING: EXCESSIVE USE OF "GENIUS". )

THIS IS THE HARVESTER.

This is a genius! Filipinos are the most innovative people in the universe (own opinion). Instead of distraught and sadness of how the metro waterways are becoming infested with the most prolific, notorious, we-hate-you-even-if-you-are-green fauna out there, they instead created a machine (thank you genius engineers!) that take them out of the murky waters and into the more genius drawing boards of sustainable "minds" to be used as raw material for local handicraft and whatnots. Now we can even provide a venue for creativity and a source of more money (skilled workers ba kamo, we have loads!!!:D) especially for those who need it most (let's tap some less fortunate there). Genius, eh? 

(Full article and photo at dost.gov.ph)