Photos

Visit : Wirtschaftsuniversität Wien (WU) by Zaha Hadid Architects

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It may seem the past holidays had been determined by which cities had ZHA projects but I promise you, it's coincidental - though it has made my family into big fans of ZHA. I, however, have mix feelings about WU.

The cantilevered end of MAXXI felt like the end destination of the journey in the museum which frames a view of the city. This has a far larger cantilevered structure that towers over the entrance below, that just seems excessive - being monolithic for monolithic sake. Perhaps the view from it makes it all entirely worth it for the lucky occupants.

The interior, however, is nothing short of spectacular.

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As you enter the building, you're transported into this grandiose white concourse which looks more like a space port than a university/learning centre.

It is because it feels alien that makes it unique and surreal - with the similar Zaha skylight spine (akin to MAXXI) inviting you to go up the sweeping path. The walls seemingly lean away as the floor rises revealing the atriums between.

However, I do agree with the criticism that this lack of varied materiality and colour that devoids the building of its context or program - perhaps that is just simply the globalisation dreams and the identity that is : ZHA.

Photos: Old town Ipoh + Sekeping Kong Heng visit

Earlier this year, I paid a visit to Ipoh, specifically the old town district. On my arrival, most of the surrounding streets were still alive as crowds were queuing in front of some of the best authentic local Chinese restaurants in Malaysia. However, the liveliness seemed short-lived; by 4pm [when I started taking photographs], it seems the majority of the life in the district had left.

The empty streets did give me an opportunity to find what I was looking for; to capture the aging and decaying surroundings - the rustic charm that the old town has now been known for - and how Sekeping Kong Heng fits to it.

With the old timbers windows, darken brick, and exposed concrete walls, Seksan Design's intention to preserve as much of the original essence of the existing building as possible are clearly visible where every additional architectural intervention are kept minimal as to not overpower its former identity.

If you're looking for something different or hoping to get a taste of Ipoh's history, I recommend a short stay at the heart of it all - Sekeping Kong Heng.

Photos : Christchurch visit post-earthquake.

On September 2011, as part of the CHCH studio at RMIT University, we were given access into the city of Christchurch several months after the earthquakes.

While most of the buildings had been already cleared out, remnants of the earthquake were still visible - buildings marked to be demolished and even some had already began reconstruction.

The project from the studio is the Re : High Street proposal (the site is the first photo in the gallery).

Here are some of the photos taken during the visit: