I wish someone told me..

Eye candy : Michael Singer

One of the things I want to do with this blog, is to research and write about the who's who of the landscape architecture field, whether past or present. Well, not much time for a proper post, but here's a visual introduction to Michael Singer, an American artist who does outdoor compositions that, in my view, are Carlo Scarpa-ishly beautiful and totally deserved to be called landscape architecture.

Some things to ogle at:

Wish I can be that good in detailing... but well, it all comes with practice and, as my colleague said, "I have 15 years of experience... coming soon!"

That little bit which makes all the difference

'Above all, be true to yourself. If you cannot put your heart in it, take yourself out of it.'
- Anonymous

Been almost two months now working at my new firm, and I can absolutely say that I LOVE my job. Signified, amongst other ways, by lack of complaining even after working on weekends and ot-ing almost everyday for the past two weeks. Stress? yes. Pressure? yes. Exhaustion? yes. Feeling like I have no life? yes. But even I feel there is enormous difference compared to with the previous company I worked for. I am happy. My colleagues commented on how I just seemed to take things positively and in stride. My boss told me that, 'well you seem to not be so affected by all the pressure, in a good way.' (Wanted to say, "But I am affected!!!" ) The difference is, I feel that my work counts towards something I believe in. I love the design approach. The projects feel like they are moving fruitfully. When I work over time, there's a sense of doing something important and purposeful. I have guidance and I feel my boss/mentor is in the thick of battle with me instead of leaving me to fend for myself. I am learning lots of stuff I think are both useful and interesting. Also, thanks to the work policies (transport allowance, food allowance, off-in-lieu for overtime work), I feel that it is fair work being done and not exploitation.

So, what's that bit that makes the difference? To sum it up, for me it's the sense that what I am doing counts for something. Passion, in a way, that gets ignited because of all the factors I mentioned above.

No shit, I worked harder and more intensely for the past two weeks than for many of the submissions I had in school. (Which maybe is just saying I didn't work hard enough during school >< ) I was, due to very tight, clashing deadlines for projects under my responsibilities, given the office access card key though I was still under probation. The reason for the exception, you can guess, is so I can OT all I want without being affected by other people leaving office. I view it, both in good humor and sarcastically, as a great honor =)


Not sure if posting photos of the work done here will count as indiscretion towards company? But for now, all is well and right with the world.

Yeah!