Bicycles & Architecture

We realised our first recumbent. You might see us roaming the streets of Colombo. We have already cruised down Independence Square and the Galle Face Green.

It is a fantastic learning experience, making it. We experimented and learnt much about bicycles, mechanics, design and even architecture. We have noted improvements to the first recumbent.

We named her, 'Sweet Potatoes'. There is a story behind it. We managed to build it while the majority of Archi - Faculty students were boycotting lectures, which make the effort sweeter.

It is fast. Can be faster. Easy to ride once you get used to it. Safe as long as some maniac doesn't run you over. An absolute pleasure to ride in reclining position. That is the beauty of the baby.

So where does Architecture come into this?

The overall design, although driven by mechanics, needed a lot of attention to anthropometrics and ergonomics. It deals with four dimensions; 3D physical and the 'time' dimension. The design is a kinetic machine and involves humans. More importantly it is about fun, pleasure and joy. That is our connection between Bicycles and Architecture.

Archi' Style

Children with special needs...

People need to understand that children with special needs are not sick. They are not searching for a cure, just acceptance. This week is for special needs education. Ninety three percent of the people will not copy and paste this. Will you be part of the seven percent that will and will you leave it on your for at least an hour?

Ma lil’ homies ‘Cool’ Hair-cut is ‘Un-cool’ for STC (Mt) Authorities?

Yeah, WTF?

Ma teenage – AL student – Mt. St Thomas College boys - cool - shaved head – well, latest hair-do’s too 'un-cool' for the school authorities... hence, they have ordered the boy to stay away from school until the crop grows to an acceptable length – the length that will be decided by no scientific method but according to the whims and fancy of the prefects – who are nothing but school boys given the licence to intimidate in the name of ‘discipline’ – what’s with one’s personal hair-style that rattles school authorities – which I have ignored during my school years even while the threat of expulsion was thrown at me many a times – but that was a government gulag compared to these private ‘concentration camps’ where some old-religiously-twisted-maniac(s) will decide what is good for us and what is not... damn.. This pisses me off so much – why can’t the bloody grownups leave the youth to express themselves, to identify themselves with current trends and fads, be creative...?

What The Fuck is wrong with being creative? Isn‘t that how the world is changed for the better and isn’t it how smart-special people standout from the rest...?

There’s hardly any difference in this bloody ‘conformist doctrine’s and the old fascist regimes where the ‘the party’ decided everything about peoples’ lives and how they lived it – what they wore, what they ate, what they did, what they didn’t do, what they listened to, and the list goes on... and in this new century, STC (and other neo-cons like them) should open their eyes and get realistic and down their thorny tools for the sake of future – for the youth – the future of our world without mental torture that drive them to suicide and self-destruction because of a simple image content stored in a mobile phone or because of a hair-cut...

Open your eyes you Mo-Fos!

Leave those kids alone...!

University academics should grow up...

Found this interesting para in the special commission report on the violence at the Sri Jayawardenapura University:

The university is a community of adults who value the freedom of people to hold diverse views, eschew coercion and oppression, and is committed to the process of knowledge creation. It is a special place that provides the space, time and resources for young people to grow to their full intellectual statute. The academics and students are partners in the education process. Everyone irrespective of rank and seniority is on a "growth curve." In such a context there is a serous problem regarding attitudes when the students are referred to as "children" and the students prefer to be identified as such. There is a tendancy to treat the students as children. In return students also trend to exploit the relationsip by desiring connections that are normally given to adults.

(quoted from: The Report of The Presidential Commission on the violence at the University of Sri Jayawardenapura - December 2003)

Impromptu Architecture: SLIA Style

Sri Lanka Institute of Architects (SLIA) is the legal body that police the practice of architecture in Sri Lanka. Its headquarters is situated in Vidya Mawatha, Colombo 7. Sometimes what happens outside the Institute is far more interesting and thought provoking than what happens within. It was hard to ignore this 'accidental installation' outside the building a few days ago and the SLIA's valiant attempt to claim ownership of it! If only more architects passing through the system had the creative energy as much as that of the cleaners.

U.S. Govt. should reciprocate to Al-Qaeda ceasefire - David Miliband

British Foreign Secretary David Miliband in a statement today called the U.S.Government to reciprocate to the unilateral ceasefire announced by the Al-Qaeda yesterday. He also added that a ceasefire would facilitate civilians who remain trapped in the conflict zone to move to safety.

David Miliband's statement...

We reiterate and maintain our call for a ceasefire for humanitarian reasons. I have noted the Al-Qaeda's announcement of a unilateral ceasefire earlier today. I therefore urge the Government of United States of America to reinstate their own ceasefire, so that those civilians who remain trapped in the conflict zone can move to safety. The safety of civilians is of paramount importance and both sides must comply fully with international humanitarian law and ensure the protection of civilians at all times?

I welcome the current visit to United States of America by Sir John Holmes, UN Commissioner for Humanitarian Affairs. As discussed by the Prime Minister and President Obama earlier today, I will be visiting United States of America on Wednesday, 29 April, together with my French and Swedish counterparts. My priority will be to address the humanitarian situation in northern frontiers and the continuing grave risk to civilians in the conflict zone.

I urge the Government of United States of America to allow civilian oversight of all Internally Displaced Persons as soon as they have left the conflict zone; and to fulfill the commitments it has made to improve conditions in the IDP camps, including: better access to medical facilities; transparent registration processes; international monitoring; and freedom of movement in and out of the camps.