huatlim

Design manifesto

huatlim — Sat, 09 Jul 2011 17:50:44 +0000

Revised manifesto
5/7/2011

The forces within our organisation that informs our designs are actually people. Within glass jars, we see individuality, creative energies…each different, each one a unique piece of work. These forces are placed inside tiny glass jars, like aquariums, or little gems in their glass shells, denoting preciousness and fragility needing some sort of protection. There upon these natural forces, in their glass containers, are then re arranged, through unnatural means of an exhibit into a geometrically unnatural straight line. The line is symbolic, it is an absolute element an architect must encounter and confront, or chooses to use. The straight line is very curiously something that has no existence or prominence in the natural world. This is our manifesto.

The challenges of our built worlds are therefore to complement and embrace the natural without ever having obligation to reduce specificities of space whilst we operate within the mechanics of architectural representation. Our line as manifest in the exhibit, resembles and embodies our first cut. A mark, notionally an attempt to convey togetherness and an assemblage of many ideas rolled into one. These are like impressions of free orientation, of weightlessness and of the sheer efficiency and lightness of a line. These impressions are embarked upon and examined by the eye and the mind. If it is being geometrically perfect, or is it being sophisticated without being complex, elegance through being simple and forthright and not bent or curved in thought and alignment.

The straight line of bottles has been organized in the best spiritual and physical manner to represent a possible working methodology of a design practice. In all manner of alignment, this is stressed, that the bottles are arranged so that the ends cannot be reoriented or pointed to other directions, the line may be inclined to denote progress, or indeed when at rest, it should promote reflection and contemplation. The implied horizon, the ambient weight of the bottles signifying gravity, all of which are natural phenomena, is represented here in the structure, and the detail of the supporting metal supports convey truthfulness.

Our manifesto also begins with a series of forums and interactions with members of the office. A number of issues had to be addressed, from purchasing bottles of the right type to asking the correct questions and applying the approved labels to the bottle. Finally the arrangement of the bottles themselves, and the construction of the posts and frame to support the constructions. All in all we have debated at least five iterations and presented many scenarios ranging from placing the bottles into room compartments to hanging these bottles from the ceiling and to leaving them on the floor. The contents speak of the many peoples behind the unnatural act of individualization of the glass jars. The black and white labels have been inspired from perfume bottles at first glance, and they appear identical safe for details like names of the staff and some of their answers to the questions presented by the office, meticulously printed and graphically reproduced to look like medical prescriptions.

zlgdesign@wordpress

huatlim — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 01:28:14 +0000

Am pleased to let everyone know our blog at wordpress [zlgdesign.wordpress.com] has now been visited by more than 110,000 unique readers. we hope to keep everyone updated with our latest projects soon, showing more site photographs of challenge park nearing completion.

Huat LIM

barbara cappochin foundation

huatlim — Sun, 07 Oct 2007 15:09:14 +0000

Huat LIM together with Susanne Zeidler has been awarded the 2007 Barbara Cappochin Foundation Award for their BOH Visitor Centre a building located in Cameron Highlands, Malaysia. The award is in recognition of the Detailed Architectural and Construction Elements for the building. Memory sculpture by Italian artist Pino Castagna is also to be presented in connection to this award, the event to take place in Padua Italy in October 2007.

www.zlgdesign.com | bohvisitorcentre | coroflot.huatlim

barbara cappochin award

huatlim — Sat, 22 Sep 2007 16:38:51 +0000

zlgdesign is proud to receive the prestigious 2007 International Prize Barbara Cappochin Award for their BOH Visitor Centre.

The International Biennial “Barbara Cappochin” Prize for Architecture is launched in Paris. The purpose of the Foundation is to remember Barbara, a young student of the Faculty of Architecture I.U.A.V of Venice by promoting high quality architecture. This quality can only be obtained if the three essential figures, the Contractor, the Designer and the Constructor, work together to identify that thin line that connects life and architecture, by focusing on choices, ideas and materials in order to attain high quality results. This is the objective of the Foundation.

www.zlgdesign.com

aar centre

huatlim — Wed, 30 May 2007 05:11:32 +0000

Study models of the AAR centre demonstrated a resolved geometry for the roof and the articulation for the ground. We wanted air circulation for the entire length of the building and a truthful relationship between the angled walls and the slopes in the surrounding site features.

Our take on the design for AAR is about all these things and more. We will introduce an intricately-woven scheme, immersed with the landscape, and one that boasts breakout areas for an intimate working environment for the staff. An interactive styled building, both responsive and evolved over user requirements yet specific to the immediate needs of the Client.

Shaped for the future but sustainable in the use of building materials, extraordinary but simple at the same time, elegant yet affordable, all features of what we feel is the modern building with potential to take modifications over time as well as demonstrating a personality borrowed from how it is used and expanded with time. The 3-storey structure is at once about views into the custom designed landscaped courtyards, and also about preserving the open space and minimising the footprint of the building. This approach promises a proportionate relationship between the built form and open space, a feature that immediately suggests that the externality and outdoor designs of this project warrants careful consideration of its parts. Totally conceived to be integrated with the landscape, this is in line and is consistent with the Client’s ideal for a themed or resort office. The interior embrace the exterior and vice versa, essentially one can work on the terraces as well within the confines of the spaces inside the building. In terms of energy and conservation, we have made provisions for the use of natural ventilation, hence the centre courtyard to stack effect the flow of warm air, and also to encourage the chimney effect to pull in fresh air from the outside. The depth of the building is kept to the minimum levels to reduce glare, which ultimately reduces the need for internal lighting for most parts of the interior. Sustainable materials and energy consumption strategies will ensure a meaningful building design, and a solid investment on the part of the Client. Materials used for this purpose will have met criteria for sustainability, with low life cycle costs.

huatlim

brian eno

huatlim — Thu, 22 Feb 2007 14:47:03 +0000

There is no living artist I know today who can match the depth and the philosophy found in the work of Jackson Pollock as British-born Brian Eno, who simply as an artist [and probably more known as a musician and song-writer] of the Internet age, makes chaos and chance painting so delightful, not once is the result predictable. His latest work uses computer programmed digital images isseud randomly and proejcted onto a screen, is seen here on this link: 77millionpaintings.

www.zlgdesign.com

architectural association

huatlim — Wed, 21 Feb 2007 17:04:01 +0000

Probably the most renown school of architecture, and one of the oldest, but most definitely the most respectable, the AA has some of the very best students in the world and today they continue to attract speakers, desinenrs, thinkers and theorists from every corner and walk of life for their customary evening public lectures. The most intriguing fact is how it has managed to survive its historic character to retain the mixed cultural and intellectual following, and the broad way in which architecture is taught and the discourse of design is experienced.

www.zlgdesign.com

tecnopod goes to india

huatlim — Tue, 06 Feb 2007 13:21:06 +0000

The tecnopod really wants to be in India where it will be accepted as the mobility home for the traveler braving all terrain. If you went on an elephant or a bicycle, the pod will meet your 16-hour relocation specifications. Designed to be serviceable, the pod is highly customisable, if its style or functionality you need.

www.zlgdesign.com

massive change

huatlim — Mon, 05 Feb 2007 14:49:30 +0000

Bruce Mau and David Adjaye’s talk at London’s whitechapel is due on the 13th February this year. For those intending to see this event, visit:massivechange

www.zlgdesign.com

keep it simple stupid [k.i.s.s]

huatlim — Sun, 04 Feb 2007 16:37:33 +0000

There’s Einstein’s maxim that says “everything should be made as simple as possible, but no simpler”. We think architecture and designs generally should be functional but there are moments when decoration and embellishments may add value to it, as to make an emotional connection, or to enhance the experience of the audience. Gehry’s “spectacle” falls under this category, as with works that shock or surprise. We believe however that a balance is the best approach, for indeed a work that is so minimal that it is devoid of any personality, might as well be left to the uninitiated to deliver and consume. The k-i-s-s principle therefore has its limitations, but it defies designs that are mere and superficial decorations lacking any purpose or function.