our webpage is finally up! cheers!!

Collaboration with Big Fishes

Well, the recent debate for our group is whether to collaborate with NUS' The Architecture Society, and being the newsmonger that I am, here's the few thread of thoughts that were exchanged through emails. Collaboration with NUS will definitely give us credibility. But at the same time we lose our guerilla-like-think-tank independence that flourishes in email exchanges and the all-equalising web. In the long run, however, reACT will have to stand on its own two feet. But what about now? What about these fledgeling years when we are trying to establish ourselves? Would we need to work with every TAS president that comes along for 5 years or so? That would stymie our work if we have to account to different people every year! And what kids they are. (age wise). Tsk tsk. :)

But, as Janita says. Let's talk.

Janita:
Definitely think its a good idea to collaborate. We will run through with DMC. I'd hate it if they try to intervene with our objectives and goals though. Will we lose independence?
Ngai Keong:
I have a feeling that what we're doing is actually a conflict of interest. This may sound very cynical, but they're not really interested in education. They're more interested in running a business! They'd be more than happy that we do our things independently.
Sern Hong:
Still, another way would be to put some of the professors/school on our 'advisory board'. if they are willing, the advisory board will be an official element in our group. This will add credibility for us. We need an agenda. need to strategise b4 any meeting & action. not wise to just barge in to any meeting. to share my 2 cents worth, Jan and I prepared a powerpoint(much like a marketing sales presentation) to DMC last year. It was rather a success as they are convinced about what we want to do and how they can benefit. Basically, we tuned the presentation in such a way that it is about 'how SDE can benefit and how they are important to us'. Still, though, i am not comfortable linking with the school, there are certain 'elements' in it that will support us. we just have to seive that out.
Szue Hann:
Yeah, was worried that they'd intervene with what we're trying to do as well. We can talk about it during Fri's meeting. Might be late cause got class til evening though.

We've had lots of indications of interest for this exhibition. Was hoping for a broad spectrum of participation but looks like NUS still rules. Will probably get everyone to meet up this week to brainstorm. Still no dough. Have to work on that proper!

Our next exhibition is up and coming, scheduled for the first two weeks of June 2006 at the new National Library!
CROSSING BOUNDARIES 2006

Would like to share what SH is thinking of exhibiting. He can make even mundane things sound interesting. Of course, this is not to say his exhibition proposal is mundane. Far from it..

1) Verti-City (Singapore) --- This is a team work between Jawn (a fellow Singaporean friend in LA) and I. It is about an exploration of an experimental vertical growing city, based on the needs and nature of the particular city. In this case, Singapore. The end product is not a final design, rather a system logic by which Singapore can adopt to think of skyscrapers in a new perspective of city planning and architecture. Using Singapore(Marina area) as examples, the end product will be a presentation(animation movie; panels; possibly 3D models) of the process and proposal. This exhibition aims to bring about an appreciation from the public towards radical architecture proposals that can, in time to come, be a visionary piece that bring about new, fresh architecture explorations.



2) Moments in LA --- This is a film documentary meant to bring about architecture awareness emerging from societal phenomenon. In fast-paced Singapore, we often zip around and seldom slow down to observe the small, intricate parts of the city morphology. What is it that makes the city breathes? What makes up the city experience that we more often than not, could not describe fully? What is the ‘seen’ and ‘unseen’?

Located in Los Angeles, the 20-30min film is set in Downtown LA, depicting the lives of the homeless community in a place well-known as the centre of the movie-world --- Hollywood. The camera moves in various speeds, experimenting with the human’s visual digestion of the surroundings. The film then uses a visual method called Diptych, showing several shots simultaneously.

‘Home’ of the Homeless >>> The phenomenon of the homeless community is a sad, avoided yet true part of LA. Yet, as much as people try to ignore and avoid them, there are groups of people that work beyond their duties to provide and care for the homeless. The nomadic roaming with trolleys, smells and streetscape the homeless creates do provide an interesting architecture setting for the city.
Mobility and homelessness is their way of life. So, their lifestyle is exhibited
through the areas where they live and their 'homes'. The documentary aims to show the side of the homeless that the public do not see or avoid to see, as well as the phenomenon it affects on the city environment and culture.


Check it out, huh.

Woo hoo, we've finally had our meeting, me Hann and Keng Hua.
Now KH's decided that we have to split roles clearly: so Hann's the publicity guy, KH's the sponsor guy and I'm the recruitment gal. We talked about many things, and I guess we are always asking what really architecture means. So we've got this snazzy new abbreviation re:ACT. We've got Newton's first (or third?) law as inspiration to our logo. (which, by the way, is still evolving). And yet, we ask ourselves, are we gonna be ala flying doctors, bringing much needed real architecture to the needy?
I say why not.
KH says its a vehicle.
So it is.
So 2006 opens with a whole lot of questions, who we are and why we do what we do.
I say read the manifesto again.
Happy new year!

OBJECTIVES

ReallyArchitecture >> enlarging the architect’s tent!

We are a group of visionary architecture enthusiasts concerned with the development of architecture in the Asian region. We believe that architects have to stay relevant to the society by taking on additional roles and new approaches to make a positive impact in the communities. This can be done through promoting interdisciplinary exploration by collaborating closely with government bodies, the community and educational institutions. Issues that interest us include, but are not limited to education, culture, heritage, traditions, societal phenomena, humane architecture and civic policies.

This organization stems from our passion to push boundaries and encourage explorative thinking. We aim to achieve our objectives through activities like exhibitions, workshops, conferences, films, publications, talks, academic papers and actual built projects.


Vision
REAL Architecture for the Community


Objective
Taking on holistic approaches to make the architectural profession relevant to the society’s development


Framework – 3E

[Architect – Public]
Public Engagement: promote real understanding
(interaction between architectural profession and public, promotion of design appreciation)
- travelogue exhibition/publication ANCHOR
- newspaper column
- e-magazine
- REAL city guide

[Architect – Government]
Research & Exploration: define real issues
(insights that aim to give directions in architectural profession and aids in policy making)
- Asian Research Film ANCHOR
- design competition (Expo 2010, Singapore 2025)

[Architect – User/Architect]
Cultural Exchange: facilitate real learning
(sustainable design executions through social projects and international co-operations)
- East Timor development (?)
- Rural studio (the REAL tropical workshop)
- NGO network (local & international)

the really architecture team. now really, only joshua is the most spunky! sernhong and khenghua, please upload your photos to the yahoogroups, and put your photos here as well!

contact us at:
reallyarchitecture@yahoo.com

or

post your comments here!

hi guys! long time no hear from you all liao. keeping the [RAr] spirit strong? was chatting with Sylyng a few days ago. maybe we can contribute some of the works we do here and our thoughts. and when we come back next year or when we graduate, we can do a mini-presentation in NUS or even library to show perspectives of a differnt kind. what you guys think?

any news on the website, radio show, exhibition 2006 yet? keep the mails coming k?

Sernhong