Zamia furfuracea

Scientific name : Zamia furfueacea

Common name : Zamia, Cardboard Palm

Location : Faculty of Design & Architecture, UPM

Filicium decipiens

Scientific name : Filicium decipiens

Common name : Kiara Payung, Fern-leaf Tree

Location : SP Setia.

How to do : Ball & Burlap

Tonight I'm going to post photos on how to make a ball & burlap. Why do we do this? Sometimes during construction we need to transplant a tree. This method enables us to protect the root system plus making sure the soil around the roots is intact. However, this method is suitable for plants that has grown past a seedling size (greater than 3 feet in height) to a sapling (a tree with a trunk diameter at chest level) or tree size. 

These photos are actually taken during my degree years in UPM.

First identify the plant you want to transplant. Clear the soil surface and carefully dig out the plant, making sure the roots and the soil around it is not disturbed.

This is how your root ball should look like. Place your sackcloth on the ground, put soil in the middle and cut  like shown in the photo below. This cutting divides the cloth into 4 section that will be used to wrap the soil+root ball.

Next, bring up 2 corners of the cloth, and then the other 2 and finally 'pin' the corners using nails or sticks.

 When all four corners are 'pinned', it should look like the photo below.

Then add a bit of top soil and make sure all sides are filled with soil. We don't want any unattended space in there. The ball & burlap must be compact and firm.

Then tie the ball! This task should be done at least with a friend/assistant. Unless you have super strong arms to hold everything in one time.

Last but not least, tie the end underneath it. Done!

Your ball and burlap! This photo however is from the internet. I couldn't find the image of the completed ball and burlap ;p

Good luck in doing yours!

The sexiest bus I have ever seen. So far.

Design is not just about architecture or graphics. It is also about making things more compatible with us humans. It is about making things easier and more reliable. Including a very hot, sexy bus. I have to say, this is by far the sexiest bus I have ever seen. Bright red. Very curvy. Oh please be mine!

*taken from here

Naomi Campbell's Home

From the photos, tell me what do you see?

Yes. It looks exactly like an eye. This is actually the residence to one of the most famous model - Naomi Campbell. When we are in school, we are encouraged to really explore our creativity. To really step out of the box. To think of the impossible but at the same time, come out with reasoning that make it sound NOT impossible. We are encouraged to not directly translate an object into a design. For example, turning a palm tree into a lighting (???). Until now, I just cannot accept the idea of directly projecting a palm tree into a decorative lighting.

However, in reality there are some clients who like the idea of direct interpretation of design. But as designers, it is our job to manipulate the object and make it interesting and acceptable as a work of art. 

For me, this design successfully adopt an eye into a residence. I guess only the bold will be crazy enough to insert a big 'eye' in her house :)

For more reading, please click here. 

Pyrrosia piloselloides

Scientific name : Pyrrosia piloselloides

Common name : Duit-duit

Location : Balai Seni Lukis Negara, Kuala Lumpur, MY.

Pyrrosia piloselloides is actually an epiphytic fern. It means if it grows on your tree it won't kill it. It is more like a hitchhiker. 

We are now 3!

Assalamualaikum & hello all! It has been so long since my last update. I hope I can still remember my plants well hehe. Alhamdulillah on 24th of July 2011, my son was born into this world. We named him Aidan. I have another one week before my maternity leave ends and after that, I'm back to my office & will continue snapping more plants :)

I would like to welcome new students to this blog. I understand you've started this semester almost one week now. Hope to see all you soon!

Spiral Pen

Ok, lately I haven't get to go out that much & snap new plant photos due to my growing belly. I seriously cannot stand the heat. So for updates all I can share are a good design ideas (according to me) and useful information for all to read.

This pen design is kinda cool, don't you think?

More product design, click here

VERSICELL

WHAT IS VERSICELL?

[taken from here]

VersiCell® drainage cell is a lightweight interlocking plastic structural module used for sub-surface drainage or to form tanks for underground water percolation and stormwater management systems. I've heard about this VersiCell a few times, but only after one of my students proposed the use of this VersiCell in his project, I decided I should dig more. My good friend & also ex-classmate, Azmi suggested me a group in Facebook about vertical landscapes. Owh how I love the internet :)

OK, back to VersiCell.

Typical areas of applications include:

• Landscape decks & planter boxes
• Plaza decks [photo below], balconies & poolsides

• Sports fields & golf courses
• Concealed drains
• Retaining/basement walls
• Storm drains [photo below]

• Capillary irrigation
• Pond filtration
• Percolation tanks
• Landfills

The advantages of using VersiCell in your design are:

• Design Flexibility (modules may be interlocked)
• Easy Installation (allow rapid installation and minimise on-site disruption)
• Lightweight and High Strength
• Durable (resistant to biological attack and to a wide range of soil-borne chemicals)
• Efficient (efficient water capture and chdisarge rates, enables a greater soil depth to be utilised in planter beds)
• Environmentally Friendly (manufactured from high strength recycled plastics)

Other than the benefits mentioned above, it can also be utilized in design. As for example, it has been used as a facade design for a McDonalds restaurant at Kelapa Gading. Credit to the VGM Vertical Landscape for allowing me to share a few photos of the project. They also have a group in facebook. Do search for them :)

Do try to explore the capability of all things that has been provided for us. We might stumble upon fantastic and new ideas :)

Fake flowers can be pretty too. Sometimes.

I had the honour to attend my husband's big boss birthday party at Ampang. It was a small event, attended by close friends and family. The restaurant seemed simple but the inside was beautiful. White was the main theme of this restaurant. Even though they use fake flowers, the decorator beautifully arranged it and it seem very natural indeed. 

I never fancy fake flowers but lately manufacturers manage to design them almost flawlessly that it seem almost real. I guess, to cheat once in a while is OK :)

I have also seen a few weddings using this concept and in photos it looks very beautiful.