The Kop’s Stadium

 If you are a Liverpool FC fan you would certainly be excited these days. With almost 40 million pounds worth of new signings with the likes of Fernando Torres and Ryan Babel, and the recently unveiling of the new stadium, things are looking very bright indeed. Of course like McManaman’s recent comments that Liverpool still will struggle to win the Premiership’s cup, at least the mood is optimistic rather than not with the new changes that is being done ever since Liverpool lost in the final of the Champion’s League last May.

The new stadium was inspired by the Kop which is essentially a word meaning “the hill” which is what the kop is really when you visit Anfield. A hill of supporters behind the team, it was meant to spiritually lift the game when it matters most. Often the players would cite the Kop (the supporters) as the 12th men in the team. It is so interesting that the architect for this stadium sat at the Kop and absorbed the atmosphere to come up with the latest design.

“THE ARCHITECT behind Liverpool FC’s new stadium last night revealed how he instantly realised the “spiritual experience” of the club’s famous Kop end when he visited Anfield. Bryan Trubey, principal designer at Dallas-based architects HKS, was brought to Liverpool to watch the club’s Champion’s League match against Barcelona in March. “It’s hard to say what you are thinking (when you sit in the Kop),” he said. “I was trying to absorb as much of the passion as I could. I noticed this really incredible thing that was the songs that are sung. This is a spiritual experience for the fans.” Link

The Kop’s Stadium.jpg

View Inside

Further news on the stadium: Link 

Bits of Siem Reap

5 days and 4 nights, and then whoosh, I caught the flu bug back home.

While I was there I enjoyed Siem Reap, but I had to be hard. We went to visit the rural area and the site where the students will be designing a school at Krabairial Village. No water (just scoop the water from the padi fields nearby) and no electricity. You can see the poverty was apparent. 30-40% unemployment and scars of the civil war still in the healing process. You can feel it from the things that the tourist guide said although in disguise and how he could not look at you in the eyes when he recounted those days.

The Cambodians at these parts were perceived to be kind and friendly, trying to make the best of their lives.

Lots of fish dishes – amok, serpent & cat

Rojak buah ala Siem Reap

Artisans d’Angkor

Ruins at Angkor

Trip to Siem Reap

Hi guys,

Please be at KLIA by 9 AM on Thursday, 12th July 2007.

Departure at 11 am. Arrival at12:05 pm at Siem Reap. (Flight is 2 hours and 5 minutes long.)

Meet Bunna Phing at 1 pm . Check into hotel at 2 pm. Afternoon tour after check-in. Meeting after dinner. Next day site visit.

I am just sharing you what was written on the board just now.

BUDGET – You need to bring at least 200USD, based on the following cost breakdown:

Accommodation – 30 USD (Either the double – 14 USD or Triple – 16 USD)

Airport Tax – 25 USD

Angkor Wat Entrance – 20 USD

Travel & Tours – 25 USD (including tips. James recommend not more than 10 USD)

Food (estimation) – 50 USD

Total = 150 USD

Yee Ping suggested RM 600 needed for trip.

SITE ANALYSIS – 3 GROUPS excluding USC’s programme group

Information:

1)Building Cost – low cost building materials and construction or methods that would be feasible (source – local contractors)

2) Building Regulation – regulation on building setbacks or any other limitations / parameters

3) Climatic conditions – wet and dry seasons, monsoon rains

4) School schedule – information to functions

Site Measurements:

1) Site plan drawn by USC students to confirm the measurements

2) Existing topography (vegetation), structures (blocks), infrastructure

Socio- culture:

1) Architecture / typology

2) Community studies: Interviews with local people on their events, life (family, religion, community), work (what they do, including traders, farmers etc)

Tour Leader: Class Rep. 

Class Committee:

Class Rep.: Axxu

Assistant Class Rep.: Seah

Secretary: Shazuin

Treasurer: Aneesa

Logistics: Iskandar

Technical: Kar Wai

Curriculum Review

Phase One: Conceptual design based on analysis of data. Data taken from survey done on UM graduate’s employers (architectural firms) and graduates themselves (both Part 1 & 2)  Obtain faculty’s objectives (ie limitations imposed)

Phase Two: Proposal with a conceptual framework. Go through it with the Advisory Panel.

Phase Three: Proposal with a more concrete framework (ie structural framework). Go through it with the Advisory Panel.

Phase Four (Final Phase): Work out the details. Write up the final proposal. Send it off.

“Wow…curriculum review sounds like design!” “Yes it is…” “Like a design thesis in fact!”