Architect - not the so glamour profession

In 4 days time my building will be inspected by Madam Melati from Design 2000, a register officer / qp to inspect the incomplete Data Centre we are constructing. First time in my life Ive encoutered a building not ready for inspection to go for inspection. With the german company im working for, everyting seems possible. 

The results easily seen for many of us and engineers and site people come back over weekend to turn the impossible date into possible. Ive seen many panda eyes at my engineers, PM and my senior architects. 

Some stay late every weekdays till 9-10pm for couple of weeks checking the drawings, solving the details and joining /connection between different material etc honeycomb cladding and steel gratings, raised floor and stainless caping, aluminium louvre and drywall / brickwalls and etc. 

There is one engineer ive known reach as early as 6am in the morning to work. This is quite good practice since one may reply hundreds email of correspondence from clients, sub-contractor, supplier and bosses in the morning with no one interrupt you in between office hour.

Entering  a contractor's world  is quite different style compare to consultants firm. Our world require us to prepared ourselves to resolve the site problem if the site failed to do so. Everyday is a challenge task to us,  as such attending prompt or schedule meetings,visiting site and  conduct our internal inspection, reply to email correspondence , request for further information and more drawings from consultants, detailing  up the not so detail enuff drawings, checking for specification on building requirement , compliances according to authority regulation and code of singapore practice and preparing presentation to the japanese clients. 

I am telling you people , japanese clients are the fussiest clients I have been working for , whenever  they refuse to accept your  idea,  then adapt their requirement into yours, when they said they want something but you cant deliver, better be prepared with good script excuse if their request is beyond the budget. 

What normally I did, if I failed to say no due to commercial issue, I will drag my PM to explain or let the top manager talking and explain to clients. Few occasion , the clients had lose temper on me but I am getting used  and numb , mcm kate orang masuk telinga kanan keluar telinga kiri. Many of my architects advised me to learn to have thicker skin, otherwise difficult to sustain longer  in this industry .

If you are joining the consultatns firm, things will be quite different but I don't quite prefer to handle too many projects at one go. Contractor in the other hand , one can stay put focus on one particular project and able to see the actual flow on how the building is constructed. You might not experience the design stage as often as consultants firm can offer but your understanding on the details can be sharpen deeper, and you can project  the issue will raise up by others in  future if the drawings are inefficient to build, a good training to look up for better observant and good checker to pick up mistakes.

Here is sneak peek on our project team photo with our proud completed  JDD building as background.

i miss this team - the most cooperative team - best working life experience ever

Madam haliza

Since school I had passion in colour. Any kind of colour media to paint my canvas trigger my endranalin in complex feeling way which hard for me to describe. My childhood toys apart from teddy bears and cooks stationary are A3 paint canvas sheets ,BUNCHO water color and crayon. In primary school, at the age of nine, I had a pretty gifted, talented, musical teacher - madam Haliza whom responsible guided me to pay serious attention on my 6th sense talents - arts and painting.  Most of times, I was ready to  deliver the best for her  and at the same time I aimed high-  to see my paintings paste on the class front wall.

Back in secondary school, I took arts tuition lesson from chinese teachers. The class  was held  once a week and located only few blocks away from our house. My sister and I are the only Malay students and we hand fun crayoning and water coloring the light pencil line we had drawn copied from the art books given to us onto the canvas. I had pick up many techniques on water coloring which school did not offer. During my SPM, I had dropped  an Account subject  to replace with Arts paper for I forsee I can score better grade in arts . Though minimal  class conducted for the subject , I did coope through readings and practice to perfect the skills for the real exam.

" Arts and skills can be train if you hav passion and love it, for those who are genetically  inherit they are gift for you". I fell into semi-inherit from not so sure since my biological  parents came from science stream. Their right brains definitely operate better than mine but my left brain maybe extra expanded than theirs. I decided to take architecture as profession on the day I filled up 6 prioritize options for architecture in university application form. School of architecture is tough, expensive course, expect the unexpected from artistic lecturers and colleagues, fun & full of excitement for the part of travelling to see buildings and places, enjoying for the extra curricular the course to offer and prepare  mentally presentation in front of everyone for each semester - be ready for critics in nasty of pleasing ways, for  both each and every lines drawn with logical and self explanatory may able to speak themselves better than your own  jurisdiction.

Urban Research at Kg Bahru - year 2005

Good morning again, I am so thrill exploring this blog thing that I cant able to sleep yet tonight. I search my laptop and found these urban research at Kg Bahru , kuala lumpur about 5 years ago (seriously im getting aged!!)...hope able to settle down next year, how I wish, pray hard and pray hard to Allah. Back to the urban assignment we had, lecturer divided us in a group of  3or 4 i cant reckon but surely I remember mine consist of mesh, teck hong and his best buddy, kadok & myself. I was assigned to develop 3dimension for whole Kg Bahru. I was still new with sketch up so I didn't take risk to try. I used 3d max to develop 3dimenonsi for whole Kg Bahru, man it was tough job since the area is huge development. Mesh was assigned to sketch few design proposal and writing write up meanwhile the chinese brothers of teck hong prepared proposal for entire development.We had regular and consistent discussion on the concept and proposal. We went down to Kg Bahru for one week to find and collect informations pertaining Kg bahru, its genuine locy, the social culture, the vision city kl for Kg Bahru for its location at the heart city of kuala lumpur, the traffic flow, the history , the people , the mass and void of the buildings, the kg circulation and other so many factors to be taken care of. I strongly reckon I had everyday major leg aching due to long hours of site walking and headache associate to lack of sleep and rest. After finish, we went back to jb but on my way driving , someone had called me up requested me to help on 3dimension design of his office project  proposal. During student life, I had few connections in 3dimension rendering in order to save some penny for my university semester life. The client was willing to pay rm1000 for 1 day job but I have to quickly go back to kl to reach his office the very next day somewhere near bukit bintang area. I was fortunate that Apash, my former classmate willing to help me on the job. So once we reached jb, we quickly rushed to larkin bus station to get ticket back to kl. Damn it was exhausted but when you are a student, rm500- rm1000 is really a great amount of money , maybe enough to pay for my car petrol for 2-3 months time. We reached the office of client, he was not in yet since we reach there quite early - too early that the office is not even operate yet. I fall asleep on the floor so does Apash.!!It was memorable experience on how important money is for Architectural student!! We quickly finish up the work till the next day , with on and off quick nap in between time we managed to finish  the task and rush back to jb..pretty common during student years I had fallen asleep on the table, the floors and sofa waiting or queuing for my turn to print my presentation boards or waiting for my turn to present my proposal to lecturers, I had even sleep driving waiting for traffic light turn into green color!!.

Gold Maple Leaf

Gold crosses all boundaries and has long been seen as a treasure to be sought after. The discovery and ownership of gold has long been the goal of many people. For those who attain that goal they have been the envy of others. A possession of gold gives the impression of power and riches and has been known worldwide as a symbol of respect and esteem. Gold does not loose its value and can be considered an investment in your future. The gold maple leaf coin has long been considered a practical investment that is both rich in value yet affordable in price.

Considered one of the purest of gold coins with little content of base metal the gold from these coins comes exclusively from the gold mines in Canada. Selling or trading of these coins can be done anywhere in the world. For years these coins have been considered a precious trading commodity. The beauty and simplicity of the maple leafs, Canada’s signature is elegantly etched into the perfect gold coin. The golden maple leaf coin is one of the purest of the gold coin collection and is guaranteed in weight and purity.

Gold maple leaf coins are available in a variety of different ounce sizes to accommodate all budget ranges. You don’t have to be rich to possess gold. The advantages of owning a gold maple leaf coin are limitless. These precious gold coins can be purchased for the sheer enjoyment of treasuring them at home or as an accent piece to be displayed proudly. The gold maple leaf coins are also an investment that can be bought and then sold later for profit. There are ways to purchase cheap gold maple leaf coins that are rich in beauty and tradition.

The gold maple leaf coin is a great addition to any coin collection or portfolio or for simply an investment in your future. These beautiful coins can be purchased safety and securely online and are sure to be an asset that will provide many returns for years to come.

Gold Prices

As at 26/11/2009 12:44. The Bank reserves the absolute right and discretion to change the rates below without any notice or reason whatsoever.

Weight	Gold Type	West M'sia - Bank Selling (RM)	East M'sia - Bank Selling (RM)	Bank Buying (RM)
1 OZ	AUST NUGGETS	4202	4203	4117
1/10 OZ	AUST NUGGETS	458	459	429
1/2 OZ	AUST NUGGETS	2157	2158	2083
1/20 OZ	AUST NUGGETS	290	291	243
1/4 OZ	AUST NUGGETS	1105	1106	1055
1 OZ	GOLD MAPLE LEAF	4202	4203	4117
1/10 OZ	GOLD MAPLE LEAF	458	459	429
1/2 OZ	GOLD MAPLE LEAF	2157	2158	2083
1/20 OZ	GOLD MAPLE LEAF	290	291	243
1/4 OZ	GOLD MAPLE LEAF	1105	1106	1055

Oil Paint Collection in My Hp

I have so many things to share for I am not married. So I had free time thinking bout life planning, lazing mysen watching Astro -macam macam ada , drop off at kitchen checking food leftover, google for ideas on money investment and lalala lagi. Here are some oil paint collection I have kept many months in my Hp Pavillion which I plan one day to actually paint them on canvas. Enjoy!!

Harga Emas Naik Gila Babas!

Surely happy news for gold collectors or investors. This is the best day to sell off gold if you have bought gold 2/3/4/5/6 years ago. Even for those whoever own gold since  Sept 2009, I believe you have making an average profit at least rm900 for every 1oz purchase. From my own experience, I have bought 1/4 Oz from UOB  last October 2008 just for fun after googling on how to invest money in Malaysia for small investor. I shall wait longer till this today to sell them off  in order making bigger profit , but what done cannot be turn back. Yet I made about rm400+ profit from two maple leaf 1/4 oz.

UOB still my favour dealer to purchase gold due to low spread price compare to Maybank- kijang emas or Public Gold dealer. I still doubt about Public Gold since one shall make purchase from an agent to buy and sell off the gold. What if they are fake one or what if the agent dont posses enuff money to buy your gold. I prefer a solid instituition in trading gold since we are investing on the hard earn money into it. To be continued...

Btw, I love their website : Sharing is caring

http://pang5mato3.blogspot.com
http://goldparadise2u.blogspot.com/

tak reti blogging

Elo, actually the reason this blog is created was because I want badly to learn google adsense. I tried to open an adsense account but google require me to have my own website. So here I am already sign up for google adsense and waiting for an approval . Google said 48 hours to confirm me. lamenye!

I hv nothin much to offer but i think my working life experience is something at least I can share - the ups and down of fresh graduate settling for best office suit their need - something school had missed out to teach us =)

life experience working in singapore

Hye everyone, there is nothing much i want to share but i have new interest i would like to share with everyone. there is little info you can google about malaysian who have experience working in crossing border , singapore so here i have decided to put some info for whoever out there still looking for an alternative option of financial condition.

The idea of working abroad has never come into mind even the day after graduating. My first job was in kl. I was totally excited went to few interviews in kuala lumpur, city of hope. After several interviews i've attended, i finally decided to join VERITAS ofice which located opposite KLCC, simple reason - their reputation, strategic location and scale of ofice. To cut it short, I end up servicing them only for a month, the results of everyday late up staying to finish work, drag my ass to office over weekends, big scale of project for fresh graduate totally didnt please me. I tender for resignation and collected my first rm2300 pay check and set my goal to find other archi offices, this time smaller scale with preconsive notion in mind smaller office, less work and less pressure. My 2nd time interview went pretty successfull so I landed at smaller office at Hartamas - 20th floor if Im not wrong, I totally forgotten the name of the company but they had cute guy boss, a mixture of malay + irish which motivate me to go to work. The 2nd lady boss is indonesian mixture of malay but i totally hatred her , hahaha, reason - she always stand behind my desk and instruct me to do what she think is preffered , i felt like autocad / design operator instead being an architect. There is even when I recalled back, I myself alone stayed over the midnight and till the next day just to meet the dateline for office presentation to clients for the next day. Right after lunch hour, I almost black out due  lack of rest n sleep. Therefore I told her I hv almost finished the  design , so  balance of the them   have given to other designer to finish them up because I was feeling unwell but she in the other hand didnt give green lite , instead requested me to wait till the guy boss came back to permit me going off . I told myself on that very moment, im going to quit for all the basket bosses I am working for. I collected my rm2400 paid that end of month and vanish from hartamas.

My  next move after working with two architectural consultants company, hoping to do other different lines. I had few options as such interior designer firm or maybe joining insurance ( can you believe how tough life after school can be ?) real working life is even tougher , how desperately I wish lecturers  prepared me for all these. To make the story shorter my next office is TESCO headquarters in Damansara opposite IKEA. After quite some times, felt bored designing TESCO everyday for nearly 4 months, it was challeging  for me as fresher to be able doing commercial building but the excitement shrinking down, but at least I know there are only 4 architects including myself whom are responsible to design TESCO for whole nationwide , what a saving for TESCO in hiring architects. Being there , done that , thats it. Bye bye TESCO.

Oftenly people said, family is the best place where one should belong. After 6 months being in kuala lumpur , the so called city of hope , is not a hope for everyone , at least it didnt leave good impression on me - traffic jam , the non-efficient ltr @ mrt , the long waiting queu for movie goers before puchasing ticket, tol orang kaya yg tumbuh mcm cendawan liar and no soya sauce to dip with pisang goreng panas. There and then , I realised how I miss my hometown and mama n papa n our house. I pack my stuff from the apartment Im renting, flat DBKL which opposite RTM and drive off to jb.

After 1 month break, I tried looking for few vacancy for architect position in jb town. Thank you Allah , for making it easier to find one since there is not enuff architects in jb but sadly the pay is low compare to KL. Looking back with the pay I ll be getting, how would I survive with rm2k - my rm600 car installment , my insurance, my allowances , my petrol , few hundreds xtra to give to mama n papa, surely I ll end up kosong , or perhaps balance of rm100 to go into my saving account. Life definitely will be pretty hard and not worth for the effort of many late up staying back at office to chase datelines and weekends at office.sigh...

One day I have  suggested papa that I really want to look for job oppurtunity in Singapore. At first he was disagreed but again thank to Allah for soften his heart allowing me to go and find job in Kota Singa. It iwas at first quite dissapointed for all the and resume and portfolios I have send, turn out no reply. I went to google at SIA, singapore board of architecture to search for firm lists. Some did  reply but some did not. Here is some email verification they have reply me for your viewing:
"

Hi Ms Nurul Aini,

Thank you for your interest in Design2000.
Attached is the employment form for you to fill up and email to us once completed.

Regards,
Siti
Design2000 Pte Ltd

On Wed, Aug 27, 2008 at 9:28 PM, Peter Chew <posts@jgp-group.com> wrote:
Dear Nurul,
Could you drop by about 5pm or so next tue or wed for an interview.. Pls call our Ms Cherlin to let us know. Thanks.
Peter Chew
JGP Architecture (S) Pte Ltd 

Dear Ms Nurul Aini,

Thank you for applying for the above post.
However, we are looking for someone more senior and with many years of experience.
We wish you success in securing a job with another suitable office.

Regards,



Janice Koh
Office Administrator

We thank you for your recent email and taking interest in our humble establishment.

We have no immediate plan for expansion and enable to offer you any position sought.

We take this opportunity to wish every success in your present endeavour.

Regards

Yi Architects

Dear Nurul,

Thank you for your application. Would you be available for an interview on Tuesday 26 August at 4.30 p.m.?

Best regards,

Ee Lin
eelin@ipliarchitects.com

Hi Nurul,

Please kindly submit your application to .....

Thank you.

Regards,

ICT Department

DP Architects Pte Ltd

There is quote who said, "when there is a will , there is a way" . I am telling you that Singapore is truely city of oppurtunity, the way the responded is much faster and more pleasant for I am being Malaysian lady especially with scarf. It is true indeed one will find it difficult to see glimpse of  muslim lady in scarf walking or loitering in a street of singapore, even in professional sector it is very rare to see my own kind. I started with small scale office in Outram Park with approximately 7 workers including myself. Really small but the learning curve is higher since architect in Singapore need to do everything , at least from my point of view here. I was really fortunate and blessed surround by a positive attitude of people who sincerely teach me how to walk and act in this tough line. Mr Goh is maybe a boss but he was also a daddy to me. Very few occasion I can recalled he was angry or scolded me. most of times he let me walk and swim myself facing the up and down of my projects. I learn to take mrt to go to meetings , I learn how to prepare minutes of meeting, I learn to see construction site people doing work, I learn to dress up like one architect, I learn to speak like Singaporean did- at least pick up some of them, I learn to handle fussy clients, I learn to say no to client, i learn to scold and get mad at contractors and I learn how to coordinate with other discipline. For above  all , it did not take 2-3 months , it takes one sacrifices to learn and if others might never notice you for being other nations, that is a good accomplishment.

Now I have landed at at 2nd company in Singapore. It is big company with huge office politics. I have prayed evryday my reporting person to be Singaporean. I prefer to work with Singaporeans than other races honestly for they share similar culture as malaysia apart of abang adik relationship.hehehe.No offence but sadly true.