Back to basics

April 26, 2020

在這個時代，我們作為建築師的使命是什麼？

What is our job as architect in this era?

基於當下的隔離要求，很直接的可以想像到：設計宜人的居家環境以讓人們更可以忍受長期的居家隔離。

With the current isolation requirements, it is straight forward that our job is to make isolating at home more tolerable by creating pleasant home environments.

從這裡分岔出去思考，現在其實是一個絕好的自我反思時機。過去的10年充斥著明星建築師，時尚趨勢，上鏡的設計等等間的辯論⋯建築師們被標誌性設計，個人風格設定，可銷售性的需求撕裂⋯ 建築師的角色甚至經常性的被人們與室內設計師，空間造型師，裝修師傅，繪圖員及3D模型製作者混淆。

現在正是可以退去這些雜音，專注於老實說真正重要的事 - 空間與人類的相互作用。

Branching off this, now is a good time for self reflection. Past decade has been debates circling between starchitects, fashionable trends, photogenic design etc... architects are torn between requirements of statement-making, signature-establishment, marketability... an architect’s role is often confused with that of interior designer, space stylist, builder, drafter and 3D modeler.

Now is the time to shed the noise, and concentrate on what honestly really matters - space and human interaction.

無論如何，我們已經裝修了好一段時間了，而因為COVID19的關係工程進度延遲下來完成日未知。但是，我們（慢慢的）在後院裡做了一些進展,還把客廳變成了一個室內叢林。

Anyway, so we have been renovating for a while now, and with the slowing down due to COVID19 the construction work is dragging on. However, we managed to make some progress (slowly) in the garden, and have turned the living room into a indoor jungle.

我很高興我所在的空間是一個有能力在這個瘋狂的時候仍然帶給我愉悅的空間，就算它仍然在施工中。

I am glad that the space I am in is one that is capable of giving me joy amongst the chaos，even in construction.

Precious

April 21, 2020

大流行疾病是最能讓人類謙恭的警鐘之一。不管我們是否存在- 太陽依然升起，季節依然交替，地球依然旋轉。我們不過是許許多多的存在中的一種，並不比其他存在更好或更差。我們極有可能會消失，就像其他已經滅絕的存在一樣。

所以好好的生活吧，當我們還活著的時候。

Pandemic is one of the most humbling wake up call to mankind. With or without us- sun comes up, seasons change, planet Earth revolves. We are simply one of the many many existences, no more and no less than the others. We may well extinct like one of the many that already has.

So live, when we are alive.

4 years ago at Phnom Penh I caught a glimpse of the post-mankind Planet Earth; unexpectedly tranquil

Culture and existence

October 11, 2019

文化是人類存在的唯一意義。

人類是這麼的不適於生存在這個星球上。我們不能夠太冷，太熱，太寂寞，有太多或太少他人的注意/ 自己的野心/ 目標/ 壓力⋯ 我們需要衣物，鞋子，房子，教育，社會結構，娛樂，還有更多更多，才能夠生存。

基本上，我們人類比地球上任何的生物都不如，如果沒有文化。

Culture is the sole reason for mankind’s existence.

Mankind is so inadequate to survive on this planet. We can’t be too cold, too hot, too lonely, have too little or too much attention/ ambition/ purpose/ stress … in order to survive we need clothes, shoes, houses, education, social structure, entertainment, and more.

All in all, mankind is much less than any other living creatures on earth, IF without culture.

Beginner’s surfology 2

July 28, 2019

所以在我終於可以穩定的乘到白浪（浪打下來後白色的泡沫）後，我現在嘗試著乘上綠浪（還沒打下來的玻璃色的海浪）。這個嘗試帶給我3個寶貴的課程：

So after I am able to steadily ride the whitewash (foamy water after waves have broken), now I try to catch the green waves (clean unbroken waves). This brings me 3 valuable lessons:

1. 選擇我要試著乘上的海浪

1.Choose the wave to go for

逆著海浪划水到浪後排隊（衝浪人會在大約浪要形成的位置一字排開等浪，叫做line-up）是一件非常累人的事情。如果我為了乘上浪往岸邊划去，我就會失去我排隊的位置。如果我沒有乘上浪，我就會需要重新划水回到line-up⋯如此這般週而復始。我基本上還沒乘上綠浪就被這個過程耗盡了體力。這時我必須審視我應該選擇嘗試乘什麼樣的浪。與其嘗試乘上每一個浪，我需要學習「讀」浪的狀態才能夠選出適合我的浪，然後全心全力的嘗試乘上它。

Paddling up to the line-up at the back against the wave is a very exhausting exercise. If I paddle for a wave back towards the shore, I lose my position in the line-up. If I didn’t catch the wave I would need to paddle out to the line-up again… so on, so forth. I simply was worn out by the process before I caught any green wave. It comes down to what wave I choose to go for. Rather than going for every wave, I need to become better at “reading” the waves in order to identify the wave that’s suitable for me, then full-heartedly go for it.

正如我們日常生活中的各個無法避免的挑戰-小如某人的一句無心的話，大如照顧生病的家人。我們是要無關大小的與每一個挑戰硬碰硬呢，還是放下一些瑣碎的事而專心面對一些重要的，能夠左右我們或某人的人生的挑戰呢？

我決定要挑選我會出場的戰役。

Like every challenge in our lives.. there are always something challenging us on daily basis- little ones like someone said something wrong without the intention, big ones like taking care of lllness in family. Are we going to take every challenge head-on, or do we let go of some of them to focus on the challenge that matters, that would result in fundamental changes in some aspect of our or someone’s lives?

I choose to be selective with my battles.

2. 當決定了時，用盡全力划水

2. When decided, paddle as hard as you can

我曾經數次不能決定是否該乘這個浪而猶豫不決的划水嘗試。這保證了這個浪會從我的衝浪板下滑過，而非將我推進讓我成功乘上。

如果我沒有全力投入，或沒有準備充足，去捉住機會，機會是不會拉著我的手帶我前進的；機會只會從我身邊滑過。機會只有對準備好了全力以赴的人才是機會，對其他人都只是日常的事件罷了。

There have been times when I was undecided about the wave and paddled half- heartedly. It is guaranteed that the wave would pass me by.

If I was not committed, or ready, to catching the opportunity, it wouldn’t pick me up and take me with it; opportunity would only pass me by. Opportunity is only opportunity to the ones ready to commit, otherwise it is just another happening.

3. 會有下一個浪的

3. There will always be a next wave

但是如果我奮力嘗試卻仍然沒有成功乘上浪，只要靜心等待，下一個浪就會來了⋯ 只要我做好要全力以赴的準備。

But if I have tried and failed to catch the wave, just wait for the next swell, the next wave…. as long as I’m ready to commit the effort of catching it.

Beginner’s surfology

June 15, 2019

大概3個月前我開始（嘗試著去）衝浪。衝浪真的非常困難，但是幾乎每週末去練習加上每晚在家練習在衝浪板上站起的動作，我終於可以站起來並留在衝浪板上（而不是站起來就跌進浪裡）。衝浪真是一條漫長的路啊⋯但是這條路去向何方呢？在一路上我大致上給自己了一些嬰兒學步般的小小目標：

I started (to attempt) surfing from 3 months ago. It is so difficult, but by going almost every weekend and dry land pop up everyday, I was finally able to pop up and stay on the board. It is a long road... to what though? I have been loosely setting baby step goals along the way:

- 在被浪衝倒時可以保持冷靜

- 在推動起身時可以保持衝浪板的平衡

- 在衝浪板上站起時可以往前看而不是看著自己的腳

- 在划水時可以更有效率並選擇適合自己程度的浪

- 在快要俯衝時可以記得推動起身

- 可以將站起動作練到成肌肉反射

- 可以在衝浪板上站起後繼續留在板上

⋯ 這個清單無止境的延伸，甚至有些瑣碎，但是我一直可以找到更多我「接近但是還做不到」的項目。

- can stay calm when dumped by wave

- can keep board balance when push up

- can look ahead rather than at my feet when pop up

- can paddle efficiently and identify wave right for me

- can initiate push up when about to nose dive

- can build muscle reflex of pop up sequence

- can stay on the board after pop up

... the list goes on, it’s almost tedious, and there’s always something more I find, that is close enough but I’m just not quite there.

這個週末當我終於可以自己乘到浪，在衝浪板上站起滑（以我的超級初學者標準來說）較長的時間，我實在太興奮了！在那幾次較長的滑行後我望向四周期盼有旁觀者給予鼓勵，才發現大家都專注於自己的浪而沒有餘力看其他人。

This weekend when I was able to catch my own wave, pop up and stay on the board for a few long (in my standard) rides, I was ecstatic! I looked around at the end of those longish rides for some encouragement, only to realize that everyone was concentrating on their own surf and no one was looking.

下面是我覺得為什麼衝浪這麼引人入勝，並充滿哲理的原因：

1. 我們都在同一個海洋，但是我們都各自在自己的衝浪板上衝自己的浪

2. 衝浪是終極孤獨的運動- 它沒有可能組隊參加。你自己的努力直接轉換為你自己的成果，所以沒有任何的藉口

3. 每個人都忙著衝自己的浪，所以沒有人有空看你。不要害怕一直失敗，沒有人在看；同樣的，虛榮或自尊也沒有出場的機會

4. 海洋有時候會給你超出能力範圍的大浪- 學習如何翻過或潛過這些大浪，因為能將人拋到空中的大浪是無法避免的，而你必須保護自己

5. 每個人衝同一個浪的方式都不一樣。這關於時機的掌控，能力程度，及控制

6. 沒有什麼是馬上就做得到的，而且追求進步的路途沒有終點

現在假設我們把「海洋」換成「宏觀的人生」，「衝浪」換成「微觀的人生」，而「海浪」換成「人生中發生的事件」，你覺得上面那些像是在描述什麼呢？

最重要的是，絕不放棄繼續嘗試。

Here are what I found fascinating about surfing that makes it so philosophical:

1. We are all in the same ocean, but we are all on our own boards catching our own waves.

2. Surfing is the ultimate loner’s sport - there is no way to team up. your effort directly translates to the outcome and there is no excuse

3. Everyone is busy with their own surf that no one is looking at you. Don’t be afraid to keep failing, no one is looking; vanity or pride has no place either for the same reason.

4. Ocean will give you waves sometimes bigger than your skill level- learn how to go over or under the wave, because dumpy waves are inevitable and you must stay safe.

5. With the same wave, everyone surfs differently. It’s about timing, skill and control.

6. Nothing happens overnight and there is no end to the pursuit of becoming better

Now, how does it sound when you think about “ocean” as “life in the macro”, and “surf” as “life in the micro”, “wave” as “happenings in life”?

Most importantly- never stop trying.

Bigger plan

May 19, 2019

為了準備11月去Patagonia之旅，我們決定回去New Zealand嘗試多日登山。本來是訂了去Routeburn Track（32公里長登高1635米）4天3夜，結果到了用去當天早上因為大雨淹水，那個區域 (Milford Sounds)的登山步道全部關閉，除了一條Kepler Track（61公里長登高2216米）3天2夜，所以臨時改去Kepler Track。

In order to prepare for our November trip to Patagonia, we decided to go back to New Zealand to try out multiday tramping. We originally booked Routeburn Track (32km elevation gain 1635m) for 4 day 3 nights, however on the morning to start trekking, all tracks in the Milford Sounds area including Routeburn Track were closed due to flooding, with the exception of Kepler Track (61km elevation gain 2216m) for 3 days 2 nights, so we decided to change over to trek Kepler Track last minute.

意思就是，本來一天走10公里變成一天走16公里，可留宿的營地也少一天所以按原計畫裝備反而多帶了食物加重了背囊。

What that means is, originally we planned to trek 10km per day, now it becomes 16km. With 1 night reduction in campsite availability, we have also brought too much food as packed according to original plan which in turn added to the weight of our backpacks.

第一天走5小時登高到1200米，風大雨大，留宿一宿。第二天應該沿著山峰過兩個嶺，結果因為連夜的大雨步道淹水甚至開始下雪，風速估計為120公里，步道關閉。只好按原路下山，另覓營地過夜。

Day 1, we trekked for 5 hours in the wind and rain, reaching elevation of 1200m, and stayed overnight in the cabin. Plan for Day 2 was to walk along the ridge to cross 2 summits, but because of the rain overnight which started to turn into snow, wind speed reaching 120km/ hour, remaining Kepler Track was closed for safety reason. We could only descend back down the same way we came from, and camped elsewhere.

難道這一切都是徒勞嗎？我可不這麼認為。我學到的教訓有：

自然的力量遠比人類大太多太多了
人不應該將計畫安排得滴水不漏並預期事情會按計劃發生
當事情不按計劃發生時，計劃其他的，然後好好享受吧。這所有的一切都是在一個超越了你我的宏大計劃之中

Was it all for nothing? I think not. I learnt that:

Nature is a much greater force than human
one should never plan too tightly and expect things to go according to plan
When plans don’t work out, just plan something else and enjoy. It’s all part of a plan bigger than you and me.

於是我們唱著Queen樂團的 “We Will Rock You” 和 “We Are the Champion” 上了又下了Kepler Track，後來又轉移地點去Wanaka爬山露營，好好的享受了我們的假期。

So we sang Queen’s “We Will Rock You” and “We Are the Champion” up and down Kepler Track, ended up camping and trekking in Wanaka, and definitely enjoyed our holiday.

amazing sunset at Milford Sounds campsite

camping by Lake Wanaka has always been the most peaceful

Vintage 2019 Shiraz 2

March 19, 2019

在第二次發酵後，TA（總酸度）值為5.325，PH值為3.9 - 理想的數值應該是TA值大約6及PH值大約3.4。於是我們取出約200ml的樣本來做一些實驗。

一開始由於TA值較為接近理想的關係，我們嘗試用單寧來降低PH值，但可惜這並不是很有效（而且味道差極了）。所以我們重新來過，這次用酒石酸來降PH值，效果好多了。然後我們必須決定要降到什麼程度⋯考慮TA值，PH值，及口感之間的平衡，我們最後決定調整TA值到6，但將PH值停止於3.6左右。

酒精濃度度量為16度，有些偏高。但它已經從初步發酵後的17度酒精降下來了，我猜想在陳釀期間應該會持續下降吧。

上次我提到酒汁味道「少了些深度」。所以我們打算試試看酒泥陳釀四個月，然後再看看情況。

After secondary fermentation the TA (titratible acidity) level was measured at 5.325 and PH level at 3.9 - ideally we would like TA to be around 6 and PH around 3.4. So we took out around 200ml of sample to trial.

At first we tried to lower the PH with tannin rather than acid as TA level was quite close, but it was ineffective (and tasted horrid). So we started over and tried with tartaric acid, which worked very well. Then we had to decide how far we want to take it.. considering balance between TA, PH and taste, we decided on TA at 6 and leaving the PH at 3.6.

Alcohol measured at 16%, slightly on the high side. But it has lowered from the 17% after primary fermentation, I suppose it would lower during aging.

Last post I mentioned about the wine somehow “lacking depth”. So we decided to try sur lie aging for 4 months and see how it goes.

從第二次發酵桶把酒汁轉移到demijohn裡陳釀 transferring wine from secondary fermentation tubs to demijohns for aging

Vintage 2019 Shiraz

March 1, 2019

這是一年一度特別忙碌的時期，而且也是特別緊張的時期.. 釀酒葡萄可以採收了！由於今年夏天又乾又熱，獵人谷的Shiraz 比往年更早收成。二月9日我們手摘了約50公斤，手榨成約42L（後來初級發酵期間一度上升到50L），在籃式壓榨及第一次換桶後現在剩下27L。在它的第二次發酵階段，目前對酒汁的印象是⋯ 由於天候因素，葡萄比往年糖度更高，產生了較高的17度酒精（通常可以予想約13度）。可惜的是，它似乎少了一些深度 - 幾乎感覺不到單寧及酸度。有可能是因為高糖度造成過度活躍的初步發酵，導致我們提早結束了初步發酵（4天）造成酒汁與葡萄皮接觸時間不夠，所以我們未能將今年葡萄果實的全部風味提取出來⋯接下來就要看我們怎麼挽回了！

It is a busy time of the year, and particularly nervous time too.. the wine grapes are ready! With a dry and hot summer, Shiraz at Hunter Valley were ripe earlier than usual. On FEB 09 we hand picked around 50kgs, hand crushed into 42L (which later went up to 50L during primary fermentation) and now down to 27L after pressing and first racking. In it’s secondary fermentation phase, impression of the juice so far... with the weather, grapes are sweeter than usual yielding higher alcohol at around 17% (it is usually expected around 13%). However it is somehow lacking depth - tanin and acidity could barely be detected. This could be because of the extremely active primary fermentation due to high sugar content of the grapes, that we shortened the primary fermentation (4 days) resulting in reduced skin contact thus we failed to extract the full flavor of this year’s fruit...now we need to see how we can save the wine!