Before the First Class+ 3 Clients and Their Words

Best Creative Work: Drawing of the Lands Department, Sydney.

For the course, Architecture History and Theory 1, I was required to sketch the Lands Department in Sydney. I decided to draw the main facade as it possesses a lot of detail which provided me with a challenging task. A lot of time was dedicated to thinking about the most efficient means of completing this drawing (for example, by noticing the obvious patterns and orientations of the columns).

This drawing netted me a high distinction for the assessment, which was the highest I have achieved in any architecture assessment task and I am proud of the outcome.




Wat Rong Kun in Chiang Rai (Thailand)

Wat Rong Kun is a contemporary, unconventional Buddhist Temple in Thailand. When glimpsing its exterior, Wat Rong Kun embodies very traditional religious principles. For example, the structure is coated in white paint which symbolises Buddha's purity. Surrounding the main building are sophisticated sculptures of demons, skulls and severed heads, attempting to blemish the purity of the main temple.
What makes Wat Rong Kun interesting is its interior, which does not contain the conventional temple features. Instead, contemporary icons of popular culture (such as murals of Batman and Superman) are aplenty within the temple walls and these scenes are slightly adjusted to fit a Buddhist context.

Wat Rong Kun is an extraordinary structure which displays different symbols and meanings on either side of the temple walls. The exterior follows a conventional, very religious motif whereas the interior hints to contemporary culture, which is more light-hearted.

My Original Photograph: Borobudur Temple in Jogjakarta, Indonesia

In January 2014, I travelled to Jogjakarta and as one of the Seven Wonders of the World, I toured the Borobudur Temple. Within each layer and successive floor, a tale is being told. The images on the bas-reliefs portrayed many scenes of everyday eighth century life in Ancient Java in a number of roles (commoners, royalty etc.)
I noticed that a vast majority of the Buddha statues had been vandalized as the heads, noses and arms have been detached from these sculptures, which is sickening to see as they hold such paramount significance to the Borobudur Temple and the city of Jogjakarta.




REVIVAL CYCLES: POWER, ACCELERATE, ROBUST




STEINWAY & SONS: PASSION, CONTEMPLATE, INTELLIGENT




HESTON BLUMENTHAL: NATURE, FORMULATE, GRIMY