I just heard a talk from a brilliant individual (and designer) who I wish to adopt (Please don’t ask me why I wish to do that, I don’t know the answer either). By the way, his name is Thomas Heatherwick. His talk was about projects that he and his team have come up with, the design process and their final outputs. Let me just say that I am simply fascinated by people who come up with structures that go beyond one’s imagination, it’s simply amazing! *boggled look*
He has done amazing projects (which I will do posts on in this journal) that exhibit this but one particular project which I am in awe with is his entry for the Shanghai 2010 Expo – The Seed Cathedral.
Sample pictures below (which I found from Time Magazine) so that you’ll get what I mean.
The Specifics
The Seed Cathedral is Heatherwick’s entry for the Shanghai World Expo. It is formed from 60, 000 transparent rods, each rod 7.5 metres in length. (With seeds embedded in them! In Heatherwick’s talk, he mentioned that they got their inspiration for this from the film, Jurassic Park . Remember the mosquito trapped inside a piece of amber and how beautiful it looked?)
The structure is 20 metres in height. The rods (each and every one of them) are simply fascinating for they were designed to draw daylight inwards during the day to provide illumination for the interior. At night time, the said rods serve as optic lighting which makes the whole structure “glow”.
This amazing work of art creates an utterly dynamic effect because when a gust of wind is present, the building itself and its “optic hairs” gently move with it.
Curious about the seeds? Heatherwick teamed up with Millenium Seedbank project (another amazing group whose mission is to collect the seeds of 25% of the world’s plant species by 2020).
Construction-wise (and as quoted), “The holes in the 1 metre thick wood diaphram structure forming the visitor space inside the Seed Cathedral were drilled with great geometric accuracy to ensure precise placement of the aluminium sleeves through which the optic fibre filaments are inserted. This was achieved using 3D computer modelling data, fed into a computer controlled milling machine.”
Do you wish to adopt him yourself now? Haha 
P.S. I’d love to visit this amazing structure myself someday!
to me ♥
P.S. Yup, I was born today and I had an especially amazing day. Three cheers for my awesome loved ones. Georgia blew her cake as well!
P.P.S. I love the prints above.
I love tea ♥
This is the last part of my “Launch and Gallery” post/series (Reader – Thank God!, Pau – *sad face* Haha). This post will feature more pictures design-wise and just show bits and pieces of the exhibit. We officially ended today in terms of egress and it was a good one(both the egress and the exhibit). Feel free to go over the pictures below. Enjoy!
Have a good week, everybody!
P.S. Yup, that about sums it up (haha) – they left me alone with my camera. If you wish to check out part 1 of the Launch and Gallery, you may do so here. Curious about how this came together and would like to view some behind the scenes snippets, do a clicky here.
P.P.S. I had to get a souvenir shot. (Come on, dude. Haha.)
I’ve been up for a few hours now (Good Morning!) and let me tell you that it’s still quite early (and I’m not even a grandparent yet! I kid. Haha.)
The little one (Georgia) is awake now as well – I just hand fed her, gave her some vitamins and some water. She just needs to do her morning poop and weewee before we are good to go (I apologize for even discussing this. I guess it’s still too early for my brain to work. Haha). Basically she’s settled and good which is great since I have an appointment in a few hours and this will be a crazy (good crazy and busy) day for me so I want her to be comfortable while I’m gone for the day.
Back to business/ serious mode on
This post will include snippets about how the design concept for the gallery exhibit took shape. Let’s get into everything. I sort of did an outline so that it’ll be more comprehensive. Enjoy!
Design Concept Options
Here are a couple of options that we initially came up with. You will get a clear picture of how the design played out and evolved.
We provided two color options for our own consideration – You can see the effect of color and how it projects a certain feel/atmosphere (For this particular example, it’s settle but it’s there.)
These are more recent revisions made by taking certain aspects into consideration (ex. availability of resources, budget, art center management requirements, what would really work for the space and it’s intended use, etc.)
Prior to Ingress
While securing everything and making sure all the necessary parts comes together (amazingly of course – we had our fingers crossed). This involved lots of long hours, meetings, sun/the elements/heat exposure, meal deprivation, coordination, etc. We also had to work with the management and the hours the mall keeps – this translates to paint works being done after mall hours (think 9 pm to beyond 2 am and a few more hours for drying) and installations done before mall hours (think 6 am to before 10 am).
When working on things like these (or being in this profession in general), you (have to) expect that a lot of things will definitely go wrong (it might even be frustrating to a certain extent) before it’ll be alright. Things will definitely go wrong – only cream benches are available at the last minute instead of the black ones you requested and one of those is at a really far away branch, wines weren’t coordinated properly with catering, lighting fixtures aren’t available, no delivery truck for the freestanding lamp, lettering in the wrong color, you have to pick up platforms and be back in time to see to another delivery (this time for the console table, the plants, etc.) – I can go on (haha) but we’ll end there for now. You just have to take things in stride, squeeze in a meal at some point and focus on what can be done – on how problems can be solved.
Exhibit Floor Plan
Painting customized wall panel installations in the shop with brushes on hand (Original Artwork by Paula and Bernie – haha.) This was definitely messy – paint in your hair, everywhere (but a fun stress reliever). I am very proud of how the wall paneling turned out, they are definitely awwesssooommee *surfer dude accent* (Haha)
After sixteen hours – you can definitely do some smiling already because things are starting to come together quite nicely. Haha.
Above all, this is an entirely amazing profession and the exhibit was great. I felt a sense of fulfillment watching the gallery (and your design concepts in general) take shape and seeing the potential of the space being brought out and executed – interior design and all it entails amazes me still and I think it always will. It is possibly the nearest thing to giving birth we suppose (for Bernie and myself that is. Haha). I am also very grateful to everyone who helped out one way or another. Thank you!
If you wish to see pictures of the launching and exhibit (part one), you can find it here. If you have time, do drop by for a visit. The exhibit runs until today. Cheers!
I am now a proper Godmother (english accent). Yup, its officially (for a few days now actually). You might all wonder why it’s such a big deal for me. I mean, why wouldn’t it be?
Before delving more into that, I want to wish everyone a happy new year (let’s pretend that it’s still the first week of january with regards to the prior statement). What better way to do that than to post a couple of pictures from new year’s eve, I say. (We have fireworks every year and it’s amazing. I advocate safety when dealing with fireworks and being responsible.)
I just took a couple of shots since I was busy watching the fireworks, making sure that Georgia was ok and basically just having fun. I love how these shots turned out.
Back to being a Godmother – I just thought that my first ever post for this year should commemorate something meaningful and I believe that welcoming and celebrating new life is the perfect way to go about it. I unfortunately do not have pictures during the baptism ceremony since I wanted to focus more on godmother duties and just take pictures during the after part (they had a photographer on hand which is a plus – I’ll get pictures from him).
I had to take pictures of little Andi’s cakes – they were really pretty!
With the little one (Yup, this is her. Meet the little darling.)
Can I keep her? Please? (Welcome to the world, little Andi! You are Mommy Pau’s little darling. Aside from Georgia of course. Teehee.) Congrats Mommy Shaki and Daddy Nico!
“A child is the greatest gift that our lives can bestow, it brings the most exquisite joy that we will ever know.”
P.S. On an interior design-related note, here are a couple of pictures from the Hafele Presentation and the Green Architecture forum with Archt. Miguel Guerrero as one of the speakers.
Häfele Presentation
This featured the debut of their state-of-the-art kitchen systems as well as a background on the company. For those who aren’t familiar with Häfele, it was established in Germany and evolved from a local hardware business into a global company. Häfele Philippines was formally founded in 1995 and Cebu got its own sales office with a smaller warehouse in Mandaue City.
Not only do they provide architectural hardware and furniture fittings but they also have home appliances (with constant innovations). I developed an affinity for their sophisticated coffee center – it produces creamy milk foam and can make coffee, espresso, latte and even cappuccino! (Unfortunately I wasn’t able to take a picture of the coffee center but I do have a couple of shots of the fittings – below.)
Green Architecture Forum
The forum started out with a talk from Dr. Glen Martin Green (he has a degree in petroleum engineering and a Ph. D. in Earth and Planetary Science from the United States). I especially found his talk to be one of the most comprehensive ones I have been to (to date) and it was certainly insightful. One aspect of his talk was about the Peak Oil Crisis which is still widely unknown to most of us. He basically defined it as “the point in time when a region’s oil production is at it’s maximum, when production reaches its all time high and then begins a relentless and irreversible decline as depletion progresses”.
Archt. Miguel C. Guerrero III, fuap, APEC architect, assocAIA, Green AP was also one of the guest speakers for the said forum. He is a member of Green Architecture Advocacy Philippines, Inc. – they promote the practice of green architecture in the built environment. He discussed his ten steps to sustainability. A quick rundown – 1. Keep the sun out, 2. Let light in, 3. Catch some breeze, 4. Insulate roofing, 5. Harvest rain, 6. Recycle wastewater, 7. Efficient lighting, 8. Thermal comfort, 9. Renewable materials, 10. Alternative energy.
P.P.S. Upcoming Post Teaser
Here is to a promising 2011, Everyone! Cheers!
How did Halloween start exactly? This once a year festivity which involves dressing up (as ghouls, witches, etc.), eating toffee apples, going trick-or-treating is definitely interesting and a bit scary if I may say so (haha).
In the Philippines, Halloween is not widely celebrated. The main focus there is to go to cemeteries and pay our departed loved ones a visit. In the recent years however, halloween costume parties there are growing in numbers.
In whatever way we celebrate it, we do have one thing in common – the scary aspect (horror documentaries and all things bloody). This year’s Halloween for me is different but fun as well
History (A quick Background Overview; an excerpt from Ken C. Erickson and Patricia Sunderland’s Article)
Halloween is a very popular annual celebration infused with it’s own set of recognizable symbols, stories and rituals. In 731 A.D., November 1 was declared All Saints’ Day (All Hallows Day). October 31 thus became All Hallows Eve, in time shortened to “Halloween.” Even with the encouragement of activities such as masquerading pageants of saints and the further, complicating step of adding Nov. 2 as All Souls Day to the church calendar after the year 1000, some “non-Christian” elements survive in Halloween.
The quintessential symbols of Halloween fall into three major categories. Symbols of death include graveyards, ghosts, skeletons, haunted houses. Symbols of evil and misfortune are witches, goblins, black cats. Symbols of harvest are pumpkins, scarecrows, corn shocks and candy corn.
The first two categories tap deep, irresolvable, pan-human dilemmas. Ways of dealing with and symbolizing death and evil are represented in some of the earliest archaeological remains of human ritual activity. One traditional means of facing the reality of death is to view it as a transition and to continue a relationship with the dead.
Scary Pictures (Please be warned that these set of pictures are bloody and might make you squeamish, they make my insides flinch too! They were pretty scary! These were taken during a recent event to gather zombies and the like for Michael Jackson’s Thriller commemoration.)
Yup, I look like a retard but it’s all good. (Haha )
Trick or treating and Cupcakes (I didn’t participate in the trick or treat part per se. Ate Tatie and I were part of the “control group” for the kiddies. Yup, we are a couple of muscular girls. Haha. The cupcake contest was super fun as well – I love cupcakes. Ate Tatie and my cupcake won as well! It was sheer genius – the cupcake! )
This is Imee’s cupcake.
The entries.
Happy Halloween Everyone!
Have fun and be safe
P.S. Here I am! By the way, I didn’t eat some of the loot (candies) since I had a sore throat. But that is definitely not a reason to not put a smile on one’s face.
P.P.S. Good luck, Mr. Wonderful! You’ll do great
(Photo Credits – Paula Cañete)
Yesterday was a good day. I even reckon it was a great day.
It didn’t particularly start off like it was gonna be something that would conjure significant memories but it slowly made its transition. I wasn’t able to wake up really early and by the time we did leave, it was raining and the day had a gloomy feel about it. When we got off the train, things were starting to turn around – we were getting excited, we were chatting up a gazillion words per millisecond (nerdy look insert here), I was snapping pictures away and the rain made way for the sun to say hello (hang around) until what was left of the day was up.
Spending time with Ate Tatie, my sister, is simply priceless. We got to catch up, discuss things and store up on memories we can reminisce later on. Our “amazing adventure” or day together was complimented with a perfect meal in my opinion. With a love affair with food, the waiter definitely asked a couple of times if we could finished all the stuff we ordered or if we were sure if it is a wise thing to do – ordering all those dishes (haha). These tiny girls who have big storage compartments for stomachs. Tsk. (haha)
Happy Little Girl
We gobbled all of it up and chatted all throughout the meal until the last piece of strawberry and pancake. It was a very good moment. Their chicken caesar is the best I’ve tried so far and the ribs were cooked just right and were quite tender (the perfect example of a good barbecue rib dish). The dessert dish was quite luscious – coined as Devil’s Delight, it consists of chocolate pancakes, strawberries, cream, chocolate ice cream with chocolate sauce drizzled all over. I know – I love food!
We looked for the waiter (he is Polish by the way) to sort of show him the empty shiny plates that once held food – we were a couple of smug girls. (Haha. I kid.)
P.S. I love you, Ate Tatie! Looking forward to more adventures in the future. On a side note, a couple of moi shots below.
“Wherever you go, no matter what the weather, always bring your own sunshine.”
~Anthony J. D’Angelo
“It takes a long time to grow young.” – Pablo Picasso
Happy Birthday, Mr. Wonderful!
I love you.
P.S. “Happy Birthday, Daddy!” – Love, Georgia
Don Sergio Osmeña Sr. Day
Today is declared as a non-working holiday in Cebu City since it commemorates the 132nd birthday anniversary of the late president Sergio Osmeña Sr.
A few tidbits as we remember him today -
1. Don Sergio Osmeña’s Sr. forty-two years in public service began in 1904. He also served as the youngest governor of Cebu at the mentioned year at the age of twenty-five.
2. He was the fourth president of the Commonwealth of the Philippines (1944-1946). He assumed presidency when President Manuel Quezon died.
P.S. The Sea Green Journal is already one month old! I can hardly believe it – it is Lé Cucumber and tres magnifique! (Haha). I am having a lot of fun and I hope you are too. Cheers! I can hardly wait until we turn another month old.
Yey! The Sea Green Journal is already one month old
One, Two, Three ♥
Definitely the best day ever! (big smile)
Thank you very much everyone for remembering and for showing all your love – all the things you did are very very heartwarming. Thank you to my family, Mr. Wonderful and the bestest friends anyone could ever ask for.
I’ll write a more detailed post about this soon. For now, I bid you goodnight. Goodnight August 20th – You were amazing and I look forward to next year. I’m pooped (but very very very happy).
The countdown has come to an end. Yup, tomorrow is the best day ever (big smile).
Hello Best Day Ever
These beautiful pictures (specially chosen) are for – 1. All of you, 2. My Birthday Acclamation. I wanted this post to be filled with festive and beautiful pictures – lots of colors and elements that reflect my personality. I would love a “Princess Party” for all my birthday parties (slash) forever. (Forgive me, I am a girly girl.)
I envisioned something like the pictures in this post but different in a sense because I’ll be conceptualizing the design and doing pieces to make it my very own.
This day is very important to me and the promise this one (the next one and the one after that) holds is amazing. They are definitely right when they say that when you turn another year older, you start reflecting on things and reflecting about life. I am doing that by certain bits, I am thinking in the sense of the present (just preliminaries, full-on mode hopefully during the day itself) and the future (being a year older).
I am a bit tired and I don’t feel as eloquent right about now but I am contemplating in a sense. I love making lists but I don’t like the limit aspect part of certain kinds. Let me expound a bit – I love making lists and writing stuff I have to do or work on but I can’t make lists that have limits. “Limits” in the context of numbers, i.e. “Your Top 5 Favorite Dishes,” “_ Things You Should Do On Your _ Birthday”, etc.
When it comes to that, I become sort of indecisive (but it is selective, don’t worry). For example – if someone asks me what my Top 5 Favorite Dishes are, I’ll certainly say “pass” because I love food, there are a lot of food dishes I love and I don’t want to hurt a certain dish’s feelings if it doesn’t get included in the list (haha). Thus, I can’t make a list of things I would do for this birthday (I do know I am simply rambling on – please let the birthday girl be).
A few things are for certain however (even though “limited lists” aren’t), I always get a birthday cake and I get to blow the candles before the night ends.
I also get presents. I love, love, love presents (falsetto voice).
Quick Trivia – 1. That is why I make it a point that Georgia gets a birthday cake during her birthday as well, (Our Mum always made sure we had cakes and presents during our birthdays, my siblings and I, while growing up. Thus, being Georgia’s Mummy – I wanted to do that for her as well.), 2. I had different cakes throughout the years, good examples include a Little Mermaid Cake and a Mulan Cake (I love them! haha), we get to choose the design we want (except when we were really young of course – really cheeky, Pau).
P.S. Making a pasta dish experiment at 11 P.M. on a whim is the best way to start out one’s birthday (in my opinion). Knocking on your sister’s door (since you made her some as well) is definitely the best, best way as well. I am proud to say that the experiment turned out good.
Hello Yummy Pasta (Unbiased)
P.P.S. Goodnight Thursday. I have to wake up really early later (eep). It is gonna be the best day ever! Yey!
What I’ll be doing in a couple of hours – with vengeance (haha).
(Photo Credits – Beautiful Party Pictures by Cary Pennington)
I just moved in. Hello world! (waves hand)
I have *finally* (falsetto voice) gone ahead and took the bull by the horns.
Reference to horns and a bull being – I got myself this nice little virtual journal (slash) online home to call my very own.
The internet has always been fascinating to me and blogs as well because I get to read stories that people want to tell. I get all these diverse thoughts laid on the table from people of various shapes, age, sizes (I can go on, I tell you). I decided to try my hand at it, be the yarn spinner and tell my own stories and share my own thoughts. This is also my way of giving back and paying my respects to the design industry and the community (For posts that are – 1. about about Interior Design and design-related, 2. sort of serious).
This being my very first post, I decided to make it a preface of sorts. I will be writing about the following (more or less):
1. Interior Design (interiors, furniture, art, design – related, inspiration, photography, etc.)
2. Georgia and being her mummy (I will write a post about her soon. Don’t worry, I foresee a future of a gazillion entries about Georgia. Yey! But to those who will be irked by this, please don’t hurt me.)
3. Food (I may write about food cravings for that day. This varies every single day and can be very detailed and specific – i.e. quantity, paired with what, from what place, to be followed by, etcetera. One particular person can attest to this. I love food pictures as well. I love to eat!)
4. My Random Thoughts (According to a favorite definition, “Thoughts are made up of ideas, facts, experience and dreams. In order to have a thought, something had to exist before the thought – in order to trigger the current thought”. Note: I’m not trying to be cheeky by including a definition, it just seems appropriate as a form of explanation.)
5. Other ( I like to make this default / category so that I am covered in a sense. This category will be for things that I might venture out in the future. I want this journal to unfold, follow its own natural course *hopefully* and see which direction it heads. Thus, in case five-years-from-now me might like to talk about gardening for example – it will fall on this category.)
I hope I didn’t freak anyone out – I like to be orderly at times (Yep, it is selective) and I like to make lists.
It did take me awhile but here I am. Show some love. Be kind.
And oh, it’s nice to meet you. Hello.
P.S. Thank you to Mr. Wonderful for being a computer genius (starry-eyed facial expression).
P.P.S. I also love traveling in the world of design and writing about lifestyle and all happy and beautiful/pretty things.
