Taiwan 2011 / Part 3 / IDA Day Three

 

why do good things end so quickly?

isnt this a valid question? 

and as i got up on the eve of the third day of the IDA, that was the first question that crossed my mind. my last day here in taipei.

the party last night was quite something, and getting caught in rain and everything else that took place only served to make the experience only more memorable that it already was and today i realise that pretty soon, this was all going to come and end. damn. which brings me back to my first question.

why?

but i move on, and pretty soon, quickly dismissing any sense of wallowing in self pity, i get ready and attend one of the last few lectures of the IDA. and it began with a pretty interesting topic.

we started off with one of my favorite topics in the whole wide world...urbanism and the kinda stuff that relevant to its development .. you know, web-like links and pathways of access points forming immediate connecting infrastructural points, structural division of public and private spaces and its implications, allowance for the kind of development suited within a specific context and the likes.

you know, cool architectural stuff. cool to me, specfically. 

the next presentation was quite a captivating topic. 

it was about creating a vibrant, captivating visual identity for the Olympic Games to be held in Brazil in 2016, and that's the man in charge of the whole super creative venture. it was presented like a full marketing and promotions campaign, the kinda thing you would see when a million dollar advertising agency pitches a major campaign concept to an even bigger million dollar client with deep deep pockets to propagate their commercial agenda.

everything was so well thought of, so well conceptualized and so comprehensive, covering every possible aspect when it came to getting the word out for the Games in 2016, all with a tinge of radiant Latin energy emanating from the presentation visuals. 

the logo created for the games in particular was a clever concoction of ideas relating to cooperation and connectivity, and even had an intriguing well conceptualized 3D feel to its design, and was truly something that i had never seen before in graphic design.

essentially, an exciting 2D  dimensionally  flat - based curvaceous logo, becomes an even more uniquely fluidic 3D sculptural insignia.

and of course, once the presentations ended, a quick follow up session, with the usual banter of questions and answers were in the air. the panelists were well prepared to handle the situation.

those previous sessions were the last to be presented, and not just for the day, but for the entire IDA 2011 as well. the last hours in the afternoon was scheduled to be symbolic and forward looking at this part of the conference.

at this juncture, as the IDA was coming to an end here in Taipei, a ritual of sorts was underway where the passing of responsibilities of the organizing committee here in Taiwan would soon be transferred to the next committee in line  in charge of making the next conference happen.

and i was absoluetly thrilled to find out that the next city shosen to host the IDA in 2013 would be Instanbul. 

exotic and thrilling, in a james-bond-ish-kinda-way, Istanbul.

"whoa," i thought and immeidately i told myself that ive got to be there when it happens. 

i just gotta. 

one of the members of the Turkish delegation then took the stage to explain all the exciting things planned in November 2013 for the IDA, but truthfully, the very notion of visiting one of the most glamorous super cities in the world was thrilling enough, and the idea of having the next IDA in the heart of this magnificent ancient metropolis was a mindblowing thought. 

oh yes, i gotta be there. 

ill worry about language and logistics later.

after the presentation, and the handing over of the proverbial torch from taiwan to turkey, the ceremony continued events leading to the close of the conference.

esteemed speakers and guests on stage, discussing the various issues that were spoken of during the past 3 days. a summary if you may. 

 a little bit of the past to remind us of our journey.

 

and a little bit of the future showing us where to look.

specifially, where the next World Design Capital will be held. now, this is an event that i am kinda familiar with. the World Design Capital ( WDC ) was actually held in Seoul last year, and in 2012, the proud hosts of this event would be Helsinki, in Finland.

The WDC, by the way, is an amazing collection and display of design - centric events where various field of art and design converge in one urban centralized vicinity and locale to showcase the best the country has to offer to everyone on the planet. exhibitions can range as wide as something as diverse and as fluidic as fashion, to something as dynamic and as arresting as graphics and multimedia. 

it was then made clear, that the next WDC host would be announced here at this very moment. undoubtedly, delegates from the 3 major candidate cities were biting their nails anxioulsy waiting to celebrate a possible victory in hosting the event, but of course there would only be one winner and out of the three, which were Dublin, Bilbao and Cape Town, inevitably only one emerged victorious. 

and the prize goes to South Africa! 

whoa!  

of course the delegates go wild with unbridled,unresticted enthusiasm and understandably so, for this was the first time an African nation would get the chance to host a design event of this significance and magnitude, and shouts of joy burst through the air as loud as those annoying vuvuzelas that were heard during the last world cup. 

but of course, the joy was expected.
so good luck south africa. good luck. 

 

and after the spontaneous bursts of euphoria had died down, we started proceeding to the final part of the conference, which of course was the all important closing ceremony. 

it was a clean and simple dignified affair.

all the important and prominent members of the conference were invited on stage, they gathered in a straight line to collectively say goodbye and signal the end of the events of the past 3 days, that were enlightening and wonderful through and through. 

my thoughts were now centered on how electrifying the next IDA was going to be, and how possibly wonderful the experiences that that particular conference will be able to offer in about 2 years. it was absolutely thrilling to just whimsically imagine, in the nearby not to distant future, i would once again be able to experience this astounding collection of design affairs all over again in a completely new perspective in a completely new landscape, but this time, right in the heart of the crossroads of east and west, sauntering by the Bosporus river in downtown Istanbul. 

thats' a spectacular proposition.

spectacular!

and just before i left the convention centre once and for all that night, silently i bade farewell to the venue of the conference. we were leaving quickly for the final party of the night, that would be the creme de la creme of all the 3 parties that were part of each evening's festivities. 

this was going to be one hell of an ending, and wasnt going to miss for the world. 

on to the night! 

Taiwan 2011 / Part 3 / IDA Night Two

and now we party, the second night in a row.

wow.




and what immediately blew me away as soon as the bus reached our destination for the night was the venue...oh the venue.

the national palace museum of taipei. 

appearing as an imposing and colossal ancient architectural masterpiece lifted, in its image, straight out of a page of china's glorious 5,000 year history of art, warfare and culture, this was a grand eastern fort - like complex on the back of a majestic range of night cloaked hills, seemingly still and floating on vertical planes of a dazzling shade of deep yellow lights, and this was where we would spend the rest of this drizzling evening. 

 













 it was to be a pilgrimage of sorts to simply walk up its long decorated pathways of white marble steps, winding and stretching rom one corner to another, flanked on each side with a million oriental style motifs and patterns carved on its solid stone based handrails and balustrades.

and it was a pilgrimage i did not hesitate to take.

  

and so here i was, after a walk that spanned infinity at a glance, standing in its grand reception hall. this was actually a waiting area for us delegates of the IDA to gather before they took us in for the next part of the evening, which of all things, would be a fashion show.

yes, a runway platform, complete with explosions of a sonic "house music" type electronic drums and beats  featuring porcelain-skin leggy models, dressed to the nines in both contemporary and traditional outfits, would grace us soon, displaying the finest that fashion had to offer from the island would be on show, once the evening was underway.

lets see how things go.

before that, however, the doors were open for something else.  

something exquisite to the eye. 

and soon an epiphany emerged in my mind and my heart, as to how strikingly glorious small things can be.

this being a museum, i soon wander around and realised it housed one of the most beautiful and refined collections of eastern art and sculptures that i had ever seen in my life.

rows and rows of serene lotus-positioned Buddhas and towering celestial deities clad in skins of antique brass and dull gold, magnificently decorated right down to the last inch in amazing minute detail were displayed everywhere in pristine glass boxes, in deep dark halls and enclosures.

it truly captured my attention for quite sometime, as i simply could not pull myself away from how mysteriously arresting this works of divine art were. truly breathtaking. 

as much as i wanted to stay on, soon however, i realised that i did have to leave, and i wanted to catch that fashion show that would begin soon, but before i do, i saunter around as much as i can in the seemingly endless maze of corridors and passageways within the interiors of the museum before i head out to the designated locale.

before i head down once i exited, i turned around and saw a distinctly modern looking glass building next to the main complex i was in. curious, i approached the annexe, wondering what could it be, thinking perhaps it was another art gallery or supplemental exhibtion space to the main complex.

i walk in and realize something unexpected.

as nice as the building was, it was a high class restaurant and nothing more. in fact, it was just about to be closed for the day and i had but a quick glance to appreciate its modern appeal. and in a moment, i was out again.

and as i saunter after leaving the restaurant, of course, i took as many shots as i could of the museum, looking resplendent in deep yellow in the dark of the cold, rainy night.

and each shot i took seem lovelier than the last.

  
as i walk down to the locale for the show, i pass by this huge artifact on display. i didn't really know what this was, but someone mentioned that it was a war drum ( though i honestly don't know ) and i was visually struck by its thorny metal exterior, with intricate carvings to boot,  and the light tinge of cyan that seems to have oxidized on its surface, reminding me of something called patina. whatever it was, it was an imposing piece of work, for sure. 

i soon try to make my way to the fashion show, but i soon i had to (gladly) admit to myself, that i wasnt really interested in that part of the evening anyway, and so i chose instead to do what interests me immensely more. 

appreciating architectural detail. 

and that's exactly what i did. and so i kept on walking.

 and soon, i walk down.

 

 where dinner would soon be served.

as dinner was being served, it was getting kinda late,  and i could see the drizzle had still not let up. episodes of intermittent rain came and went, but it was clear that these incessant  drops weren't going to stop anytime soon. after spending about an hour having light bites and light drinks, i head down with the rest of the crowd, who were protected by dozens of transparent plastic umbrellas and raincoats, gleaming in the intense spotlights above.

before i left, once again, i see this huge gateway that ceremoniously marked the entrance of the complex and although its not as grand as the one i saw the night before, it was beautiful to look at nonetheless, and a nice way to end the evening with.

and i was pleasantly surprised when this group of young lovelies had approached me and asked me to take a picture with them, first with their camera, then of course with mine.  

i was kinda flattered at the moment, i gotta admit.

 

and a second shot for luck. and for fun too, of course. soon however, we needed to leave and said goodbye to each other. thanks, babes.

and so just before i left, i take one last shot of the night, and somehow it seemed approriate that the last shot i took was almost identical to the first one i had taken as i got here, reminding me of how absolutely captivating this mega complex was. 

i leave with the same sense of awe i arrived with, and for this, the night was perfect.back to the hostel now, and on to day three. 

Taiwan 2011 / Part 3 / IDA Day Two

after an undoubtedly exciting first day and night here at the IDA, i was so looking forward to what the second day would bring. yesterday we were presented with a myriad of speeches and presentations, discussions and dialogues that truly were engaging and i was looking forward to the same level of excitement that might pop up today.

at least i hope it does. 

 

and the first thing that greeted me as i woke up this morning, after dragging myself out of bed, was an unmistakable sense of something chilly in the air, and soon i find out, it was raining. now, usually i love rain, in fact i absolutely adore it, but the monsoon clouds that hovered over the island this morning was not a good omen. 

not a good omen at all. an explanation is necessary to explain the concern at hand. 

you see, part of today's agenda were planned excursions to some of the lovelier spots here in the island, which would include a boat trip to a scenic lake, a hike through a mountainous pathway, and a cycle thorough a delightful riverside promenade. 


that doesn't look too promising right now. oh well, ces la vie. 


irregardless though, i persevere, both in prayer and promise, and soon i get ready to walk in the light and lovely drizzle of the morbid morning to the venue. skies were dark and grey, and the tower too was obscure and dim. on to the conference, nonetheless. 

\

and people start walking in, but to my surprise, i only see about half the crowd that came in yesterday. i was disturbed by the turnout this morning, but i assumed there must be a reason for the lack of interest. more space for the rest of us, i guess.

the first presenter of the morning had an impressive resume detailing a fantastic collection of credentials and achievements to say the least. a prominent quantum physicist from india, this sari clad woman with a huge red circle on her forehead, presented herself as a formidable intellectual behemoth on stage, speaking flawlessly in perfect The Queen's English about the dangers and misappropriate uses of biotechnology in the developing world. 

her speech went on and on about how this industry was robbing the meek and the feeble of their livelihoods, and how humanity had yet to reap in the rewards that this scientific field of study would have yielded after decades of research. even the other panelists didn't really have anything positive or encouraging to add to their own presentations during the session, and it got me kinda wondering why no one was focusing on the good.

i couldn't help but ask eventually after all that negative feedback on the matter, which of course are serious issues that need consideration and rectification, on why nothing postive and benefiecial was being presented. i deduced that surely after years and years of experimentation both in theory and practice, some good must have been birthed by the industry in question and i asked, nay insisted, on their personal opinions each for an answer.

again, to my surprise, after i ended my query with a distinctively vehement tone, the crowd immediately applauded my curiosity and some of them even came to congratulate me on my observation after the session was over. needless to say, i didnt really get a satisfactory answer from any of the panelists after the question was posed, and everyone simply moved on to other things.

 

its ok though, i felt good. and i made some new friends on the way.
once the session was over, we were told that due to unavoidable circumstances , ( read : rain )  some of the afternoon's more interactive activities had been regrettably cancelled, but one thing remained, and it was good enough to compensate for the loss for the rest of the day.  

now, before i arrived in taiwan, as i was planning on which activities i wanted to participate in at the IDA, one particular event caught my eye. one of the country s famous international technology brands, known worldwide as ASUS, had allowed the organizers to conduct a field trip of sorts for the participants of the conference to come visit the heart of thier operations, on the outskirts of the city, and i knew this was not something i wanted to miss. 

and so now, here i am. waiting to board the bus with a group of other like minded individuals to visit one of the world's most famous powerhouses of the IT universe right in their own backyard. lets go.

and after about half an hour or so, driving through a soft drizzle, soon we were there. a throughly modern complex, for a thorughly modern corporation. 

 shining walls of marble, with even shinier walls of glass.

and soon, the tour begins.

this kind gentleman takes us around the complex, showcasing the company's achievements, decked out for the world to see and expectedly, appreciate. the gleam in his eye and the smile on his face speaks volumes on how happy he is to be here, partaking in the company's success across the planet.

and what's being showcased? why stuff like this, of course ... laptops, netbooks and ultrabooks galore!

we were then taken in for a presentation and a sneak peak at future technologies being developed for the masses. nice. the zenbook in particular was certainly eye - catching, and i was tempted to flick one out as least suspiciously as possible. unfortunately, my attempts at being a skilful gadget smuggler didnt really pan out the way i had hoped it would.

after the presentation, we were taken upstairs for a tea break. 

next to a swimming pool!

yup, upstairs on the rooftop for tea, pizza and other munchies and such, next to a pool, a jacuzzi and a shower. life is good, no doubt, for the fortunate who work here. imagine taking a dip in the middle of the day to destress before getting back to work with a rejuvenated sense of self. yes, life is good.

and as i venture out in the balcony of the rooftop space with a cup of coffee in my hand and sushi on my tounge, i see before me skies and skies of dark rolling mushroom clouds of grey, disappearing into a misty unrecognizable haze beyond the mountains.

at vantage points like these, staring intently into infinity, everything we do as human beings, seems so insignificant, miniscule and pointless, and really evokes the grandness and magnificence of creation itself in such a way that we cant help but be humbled by the captivating beauty of it all. 

it puts things into perspective. at least, it does for me.



and  i stay out a little longer. but soon it was time to leave.

and spend some time on the bus with some friendly australians i met earlier on in the day. fun people, simply said. next on the agenda, we were headed to a japanese style retreat that was built decades ago during the second world for a taste of taiwans colonial past. it seems that the place was perfectly preserved from the past till the present and has been turned into a tourist attraction of sorts, while still offering services of a relaxing nature.

and yes, it truly was japanese. much to my delight.

i just loved the main hall, traditional and authentic. 

the tatami mats and the sliding doors were perfect. 

and soon, i sat in the senza postition, out of respect for the sacred identity of the building.

and even the boundaries of the tatami mates were delicate to the touch.

the whimsical fan motif was especially alluring to gaze at. 

the translucent beauty of shoji paper in the sliding wooden doors soon reveal themselves, by softly filtering light through its presence.

the corridors seamlessly integrate through the interior halls, on wooden floors and tatami mats, all bathed in hues of light earthy shades and tones, bringing about a sense of peace through a visual connection with natural elements found in the surrounding landscapes of the country.

but again, we needed to leave soon, but not before another shot with these two lovely angels just outside the retreat. we had one more place to go. just around the corner.

and as soon as i approach the venue, strangely i felt a sense of something familiar. deja vu, even.

i looked around and somehow, inexplicably, felt that i had seen this place before, and i was cracking my head as to where and when.obviously i had never been here before, but somehow this place seemed so familiar. 

did i dream it? imagine it? did it remind me of something else?

and then it hit me, like a bolt out of the blue, it hit me.

i realised, with a sense of relief that a mental burden weighing heavily on my brain had been lifted off, and this place was a project that i had read about in a design magazine years ago. slowly i realised that i had seen this place before, but only on the pages of a periodical back home a long time ago, and in it, it was a described as a modern library built with eco - friendly strategies in mind, hence its exposure on the international stage.

this was the public library here in Taipei, and it was a beautiful testament of green design that skillfully combined modern requirements and necessities with traditional building principles and aesthetics, neatly packaged in a contemporary identity to indulge both mind and spirit, hunger for knowledge.

a predominantly timber building with clearly expressed through a vernacular of wooden ceilings and columns, posts and beams, cladded with both walls of glass and veneers of stone and timber, this was an amazing building both respectful of the earth below and delightful to the eyes of the passerby.

inevitably we walk in for a closer at the interiors. and how wonderful the interiors were.

the all encompassing presence of  timber at almost every corner of the inside of the building coolly exuded a warm, homely ambiance, making the interior spaces perfectly conducive in creating an atmosphere that deeply encourages thoughtful contemplation while exploring the endless selection of materials abundantly provided everywhere.

even the ceilings were cladded with strips of luscious red and orange planks of polished hardwood, all delicately held in balance through a system of slender pillars and brackets and of softly tightened nuts and bolts.  

amazing detailing right down to the last connections.

and the lighting system employed here was well designed as well. clean simple orbs floating above us, whose sole purpose was simply to illuminate in all directions, unrestricted and unhindered in its task, and devoid of any distracting annoyances that cling to its form. pure and perfect.

soon, we were called up, and it was for a surprise. as mentioned earlier, this was a green building, and very quickly, we would find out just how green it really was.

yes, here we were, on a green roof. a literally green roof. the top portion of the buidling was converted into a sloping garden that was designed to collect rainwater and harvest solar energy, while its green carpet was designed to cool the exteriors of the top so that heat would be mitigated inside.

 and it was lovely to look at.
 

here was a living, breathing green organism that was flourishing above the library, providing relief during summer from the madness that the heat can induce, through passive cooling strategies that keep the rest of the interiors of the building relatively comfortable.

but now, it was getting dark and the rain seemed to be getting worse, and soon it became evident, that we needed to leave, not only cause our time here was up, but also because there was another night of festivities that we needed to get to, and some of us needed to prepare ourselves for the evening.

so once we took the long walk down, we were ready to depart.

this was my last shot of the evening of this spectacular building. 

simultaneously humble in form yet powerful in design, this truly was an amazing piece of public architecture. a repository of knowledge, cocooned and enveloped in an environmentally conscious skin of timber and stone, this building truly was a testament to the idea that both man and nature can find a compromise in existence with each other, and where we can immnesely benefit from the forces of creation in sustaining us and our aspirations. truly wonderful. 

but now as we leave, its time to party. 

oh yes, a party!