India Again

Few weeks ago, I received another e-mail from IIT( Institute Tecnology of Rookees). I, with my group member, Ang Chiou Yann, had been short-listed in research station design challenge. This is another achievement besides Holcim Award. Sometimes, I just too ambitious without bother others feeling. I hope it doesn’t hurt anyone because I am still who am I.

There are two stages from this competition. We had been short-listed for the first stage. We are supposed to present our works in India this Friday. But due to the costly flight ticket, we decided to send the artwork to IIT. Still waiting for result……..

Stage 1





I have to reserve the copyright

Stage 2
- Where we suppose to go to IIT this friday. Anyway, I still satisfied with this group work with Chiou Yann. ( Nothing.....just co-operative...tat's all)

Someone will ask me..Why India again? I just don’t know…haha
Someone asked me....Where is your studio work? I just haven't start...
Give me energy...

Video-By The Star Newspaper

Day1- Dreaming journey

Holcim, one of the biggest cement companies in the world. The Holcim Awards is an international competition that recognizes innovative projects and future-oriented concepts. It is designed to encourage architects, planner, engineers and project owners to go beyond conventional notions of sustainable construction in their work and to harmonize ecological, social and economic concerns. Projects and concepts in the fields of architecture, landscape architecture, urban design, civil engineering and relate fields are eligible for entry in the competition.

Due to our winning project-tree protection facility for green urban transformation, we have the opportunities to go to India for award ceremony and traveling. Anyway, India is one of the planet’s multidimensional countries, presenting a wildly diverse spectrum of travel encounters. Some of these can be challenging, particularly for the first time visitor: the poverty is confronting, Indian bureaucracy can be exasperating and the crush of humanity sometimes turns the simple task into an energy-zapping battle.

Within the one week trip, we travelled around the India where we started from New Delhi (Delhi), Agra (Uttar Pradesh) and lastly Jaipur (Rajasthan). This classic circuit is a well-known golden triangle. The weather in India during the winter season in November is hazily and dusty. Surprisingly, this is the most comfortable period to visit India. Even through one week is a tight schedule of this vast and vibrant country, but this is my tremendous and memorable tour. Excited, frustrating, anxious, frightening and different kind of feeling will be imprinted in my mind. I will never forget about the graceful of Taj Mahal, the attractive Hawa Mahal (Wind palace) and the majestic of the Amber fort.

Day 1 (26^th November 2008)

After two months preparation, finally we came to the KLIA and ready to start the journey. We spent around two hours in the airport and then get into the plane around 8.05am. Inside the plane, I started to imagine the Taj Mahal, can’t wait for the ceremony and felt worried about the itinerary. Five hours of suffering in the plane, we reached in the Indira Ghandi International airport at 11.45am (2.15pm in Malaysia).

Seriously, the first step just came out from the airport, everyone can feel the unpleasant smell in the air immediately, horrible surroundings and the most annoying is the noise from the traffic. This is INDIA! I was looking at my friends eyes and it seems like agree what I was thinking now. I told myself, I have to be strong and optimistic.

Some of the representatives from the Holcim are waiting for us, and they are ready to send us to the Taj palace hotel for registration. One the way to the Taj palace, I was totally blank about what is going on about this city. I can’t believe there was group of peoples sleeping at the roadside, cycling in the polluted air, begging from the tourists and some unbelievable scenes.

In the Taj palace hotel, it just likes a different world with a luxury interior and large swimming pool. After registration, we still not allow to stay in the hotel because Holcim only sponsor the accommodation during the ceremony. Hence, the staff from the Holcim sent us to the Raunak Inc. for our very first night.

Day2- The most extravagant day ever

Taj Palace- Accommodation
The Taj Palace hotel mixes Indian Islamic architecture in the lobby and meeting rooms, taking a leaf from the glorious pages of Delhi’s Mughal history.
Its facilities in its distinguished patronage, this hotel has played host to Heads of state, corporate moguls and high profile businessmen from across the world. Nestled in six acres of lush greens in the exclusive Diplomatic Enclave of the city, Taj Palace Hotel is a mere 15 minutes drive from the airport.

The hotel is only 15-20 minutes from the Event location, India Habitat Centre by bus. During the event, there was a Holcim Hospitality desk at the main lobby and a meeting point where the organized transfers was departed.

Ceremony

India Habitat Centre

The moment- waiting for result

Designed by Joseph Allen Stein, the India Habitat Centre is conceived to provide a physical environment which would serve as a catalyst for a synergetic relationship between individuals and institutions working in diverse habitat related areas and therefore, maximize their total effectiveness.

The exhibition during the former dinner

Day3- The second day for holistic India

In day 3, we choose the tour 4 which is Temples of Modern Architecture- Quite Literally! The tour basically is organized by Holcim. Due to the terrorist attacked Mumbai last night, some of the trip had been cancelled for safely purpose. Anyway, I still able to visit Vishwa Shanti Stupa, Lotus temple and Hindi temple.

Vishwa Shanti Stupa

Delhi’s latest landmark, called the Vishwa Shanti Stupaor peace pagoda, is located at the Millennium Park. It was unveiled by His Holiness the Dalai Lama. The landmark also houses some of Budha’s relics. The stupa stands against the backdrop of some magnificent historical buildings like the Old Fort and Humayan tomb. The “Vishwa Shanti Stupa” is 28 meters high and its construction was inspired by the world famous Sanchi Stupa at Sanchi in Madhya Pradesh

Lotus temple

The Bahai temple world over are known for their architecture splendor, and the Temple constructed in Delhi is a continuation of this rich tradition. Before undertaking the design of the temple, the architect, Fariborz Sahba, had traveled extensively in India to study the architecture of this land and was impressed by the design of the beautiful temples, as well as by the art and religious symbols wherein the lotus invariably played an important role.

The interior of Lotus temple is an open space where everyone can have a meditation inside the hall even though you are from different religion. The day lighting from the ceiling creates a nice shadow on the floor.

Sanskriti

Sanskriti literally means ‘the process of cultivating’. The Foundation has been working towards cultivating an environment for the preservation and development of the artistic and cultural resources not only of India but of the world as a whole.

The venue for the second day dinner is as unique as the dinner itself.

Tonight, we have to get a taste of local traditions and customs with an ‘all vegetarian dinner’ tonight. Seriously, I felt hungry after the dinner. I cannot accept the vegetable with so many spices until I can feel my tongue is in numb condition.

An oasis of tranquility in the mayhem of the bustling metropolis lies Sanskriti featuring two unique museums. A museum of Terracota art that showcases the art that symbolizes civilization and a museum of Everyday art, depicting articles of use in everyday life of ordinary Indian homes from the last two centuries.