dots and spaces

Tokyo Bike Parking

What a brilliant and creative solution solve bike storage needs. When I think about the contrast between planners in the UK and those in Japan and wonder if such a creative solution to an urban issue would ever be employed here. I also admire the way these inventions are adopted and used.

Design is there to offer unity between the different stakeholders, and find common solutions. I think in the UK,  the emphasis always falls one way or the other, and users are often left bemused by schemes imposed in an often heavy-handed way. Despite its sophistication, there's a simplicity to this bike park which is worth noting.

sushi cam

*edit - a new film to replace the previous one that was removed by the user (I don't know why, it was charming).

A clever little film where a camera is placed on the conveyor belt in a sushi restaurant. Seen at Reubenmiller.

By the way, I'm thinking up ideas for an alternative Christmas tree for Aspex gallery, any ideas, feel free to let me know.

garbage island on VBS

Fascinating documentary about the huge amount of plastic floating about the oceans. There's a point in the pacific where currents bring all the pollution together and the number of parts of plastic per parts of water is dangerously high. Whilst there's no actual floating island, that you can see, its because the plastic has broken down into so many small parts and as one of the crew say, its not the coke bottle you see, but the millions of particles that make up that coke bottle that have been dispersed through the ocean. Some amazing bits, for instance, they find few orange or red plastic particles, because these are what the fish eat...and we eat the fish.

This is part 1 of 3, head to the VBS site for more - an exciting channel, with some great content.

Snow

Off to Austria snowboarding on Friday, been looking forward to it for ages and there seems to be plenty of snow - all the webcams seem lively now. Only thing I'm not looking forward to is the bus trip - it'll take ages and even though I've got a vast aray of gadgets at my disposal - I know I'll just be looking out the window bored out of my mind. Anyway, when I get there....(I'll send you a card)

California

Just put some images up on flickr for everyone to see, some of the good ones that remind me what we saw. Driving down on route 1 everything changed from day to day, from the rocky shorelines of San Francisco and Monterey to the white beaches around San Luis Obispo until we reached the fun and surf of L.A. I'm already wishing we took more pictures, there's a Lomolito that you can pick up with a different coloured flash, I think we have a blue one.

Khayelitsha

Arrived, tired and slightly jaded on Monday after a long flight. Finally posted some photos here just a selection but I have lots more, especially from Khayelitsha which is a big township that we visited with the crew. We were treated to a little tour and then played a football match, which was great fun. The kids enjoyed our company and we all had a good day. One of the teachers explained to me that a when you don't have much, good days and bads days become common currency. We brought along boxes of exercise books and lots of footballs, rugby balls and netballs. I hope that we can do a little in the long term, so I've sent out an email and will let you know what you can all do to help the kids in Khaylitsha.

Cape Town

Out in Cape Town with work and am awoken by seals that sleep on the pontoon below my hotel window. They bark like big dogs and I watch them for hours, so full of personality. Spent the last couple of days escaping the waterfront and visited Robben Island to see the small cell where Nelson Mandela spent 18 years. We were shown around by an ex-political prisoner who had been incarcerated there, it was humbling stuff and makes you feel very lucky and very priviliaged.

Table Mountain frames everything and you get your co-ordinates here by looking up. It reminds me a little of Grenoble, with the mountains rising up just beyond the spread of the city. Waves are big at the beach and crash down with dynamite boom. This must be why all the hip hop bands use huge bass sounds - there are tons of great record shops and if you ask for some recommendations then there's a real mix of stuff you can get to hear. I'll be home with some fine tunes.

photos and links when I get back - I'm in one of those backpacker internet cafes.

Last post from Hong Kong

So my last weekend in Hong Kong and I'm quite tired from work and exploring. I think I've started to miss home a little more and it feels right to come home now. Work went really well, and I've accomplished what I set out to do.

So I spent today on Hong Kong Island, because I really haven't spent that much time there - tomorrow I'm hoping to go to Aberdeen to see the little boats (if there are any left), and after an evening out with friends, I'll pack my bags for the off on Monday.

Work has been great and everyone has been so friendly. I've learnt much about the nature of business in Hong Kong and have been really impressed by the professionalism and expertise of all the people I've worked with. I been taken out for so many meals - I must have tried a bit of everything, including hot pot, japanese ice-cream (with sweet potato and iced green tea), Vietnamese, all sorts of Chinese food, including street food cooked on the corner of the road. I do crave good traditional English food, and will have a lasagne as soon as I return.

Shopping has also been great fun, especially for toys and figurines - I must have half of Mong Kok in my bag, and am really pleased with my prize possession - my own Michael Lau toy. I went with Wai, for whom it was a matter of pride that I pay the best price, moving me on from shop to shop until he was satisfied I couldn't get it cheaper. Its seems that there are two kinds of shopping here in HK, either designer expensive or fun and inexpensive - of course I've gone for the latter. There are malls everywhere, and I've got lost almost everytime I've been to Harbour City.

I've taken lots of photos and even a few little .mpg movies, which are more for the sound - you just can't show the hustle and bustle, people talking, the noise, the movement - when I've walked through markets I've just been amazed by the variety - looking at the fish market today, where most of the goods were still flapping, then the fruit and veg places overflowing with fresh produce, neatly stacked on top of each other. I've really enjoyed the experience of being here - its quite something.

So, probably post again once I've arrived back home, but for everyone reading that I've met in HK, I just want to say thank you, its been cracking.

Lights in Hong Kong

Its Monday night at the beginning of week 2 and I'd have hoped to have added a few more posts than I have. I just have not had the time - come on guys - would you waste the time in your hotel or spill out onto the streets of Hong Kong? Here's the postcard...

I've settled into routine at work and am enjoying my time with the other designers and staff, who are just the friendliest bunch I've met in a long while. I've been taken out most nights, shown some great places, from the crowds of people, all the shops of little vinyl figures in Mong Kok, to the peace and tranquility of the giant buddha at Lantau. Hong Kong has many lights. I've been taking as many photos as I can, and taking it all in. For a designer, this place is amazing, and I'm amazed by the variety of fun things in shop windows. Now that I've started to get off the main drag, there's so many markets and stores that just have so much to see. Food is great, and there's a great variety on offer, on Saturday I had Cantonese Chicken, so hot that tears ran down my cheeks, not surprising considering all the baked chillis on the plate.. On Sunday I had to rest, catch a movie and take stock, and now I'm back into another week.

The photo was taken in Harbour City - the big mall down the road, they've put a few decorations up.

Hong Kong Arrival

After a long flight, where I was bumped into First Class and my own bed - really. I had a bit of a rough time landing and was pleased to get off. The Stewardess saw I was looking a bit pale and had a kind young chap escort me all the way to into the Terminal. I caught a shuttle bus to the Hotel in Kowloon and crashed into my bed. Its funny how Saturday didn't really happen. I woke up this morning to this great view, with the spa and swimming pools directly under my window. I've already started the day with a Tai-Chi session with my instructor William, who was very impressed by my "Waves hands through clouds". I had to fess up that I was already learning, and he nodded his head wisely. I think he's got me for the next fortnight.

So, I'll be posting from Hong Kong over the next couple of weeks and hopefully putting up some photos. My room is its very own Wi-fi spot, which is pretty good. Sorry, I keep being distracted by the view up to Hong Kong Island.