A building that reminds me of the beauty of Jannah

One of the buildings that I looked at for my final history essay was the Fallingwater (1935-39), designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. It is one of the key modern architectural projects in our time.

Just a little bit description of the house, for those who would like to read more. Just ignore this paragraph if you don't feel like reading + imagining in 3-Dimensional at the same time.

Wright has designed a series of cantilevers that was anchored to the masonry walls made from sandstone. They hover more than 30 feet over the running stream and waterfalls, creating a very utopian image. Despite the height, the sheltering image of Fallingwater that Wright sought was still there, due to the strong horizontality of the planes and also the relatively low ceilings. There is also a lot of terraces area that allows visitors to be engulfed in the wilderness of the surrounding nature. It gives people the chance to appreciate the natural beauty of the site. Having said that, however, the most significant and magical element that makes the Fallingwater one of a kind is probably, as the name of it suggest, the stream that runs through, underneath the house. Just the sound of the running water brings a sense of serenity to the house.

Here is an 3D animation of the house done by Cristóbal Vila.

Fallingwater from Cristóbal Vila on Vimeo.

Beautiful? Yes? No? I think it is. One of favourite projects actually. After looking at this project, I remembered reading about streams that run underneath the gardens of paradise. So, after a quick browse, I stumbled upon a very interesting and enlightening verse in the Quran.

لَـٰكِنِ ٱلَّذِينَ ٱتَّقَوۡاْ رَبَّہُمۡ لَهُمۡ غُرَفٌ۬ مِّن فَوۡقِهَا غُرَفٌ۬ مَّبۡنِيَّةٌ۬ تَجۡرِى مِن تَحۡتِہَا ٱلۡأَنۡہَـٰرُ‌ۖ وَعۡدَ ٱللَّهِ‌ۖ لَا يُخۡلِفُ ٱللَّهُ ٱلۡمِيعَادَ

But it is for those who fear the Lord, that lofty mansions, one above another, have been built; beneath them flow rivers; (such is) the Promise of Allah; never does Allah fail in (His) promise. Surah 39 Az Zumar verse 20

In the Modern English Translation of the Holy Quran: Meanings & Commentary, from the original work of A. Yusuf Ali, he said:

The idea of heaven discussed here is “that of a Home of sublimity and beauty, with a picturesque outlook, such as we would describe in this life by the type of a palace by gently-flowing streams. The mansions will also suggest generous space and architectural beauty, tiers upon tiers piled one upon another.

Subhanallah. I want to be there.

Now of course, Fallingwater would not be able to represent the true beauty of the 'lofty mansions' described in the verse, but obviously, we can get a rough idea of the sublimity one could expect. The spatial quality described in the verse is just amazing. It makes us feel more determined to do be a good Muslim, a good servant, so that we can live in the promised mansions. Don't you think?

ps: One of the things that I like for being studying architecture is the ability to appreciate spaces. Imagine: Lofty mansions. Picturesque. Gently flowing streams underneath. Aaah. Heaven....

Ashamed

Our local mosque in Michael St.

This is a story about a revert.

It was approximately 10 minutes before Zuhr. I decided to go the mosque a little bit early to read some of the books there. As I entered the prayer hall, I gave salam to the brothers there, as usual.

As I was reading a book (syarah on the 40 Hadeeth), I overheard a brother telling to another brother about the beauty of Quran.

"... this is it. We can see it, read it, touch it, feel it, live it. Its beautiful. ..."

And he went on talking in a soft tone, explaining what he felt in a very sincere manner.

But those few words that I overheard struck me the most. He is a new-born Muslim, with very little knowledge on Islam, and yet, he is preaching to another brother with beard, talking about the beauty of practicing Islam. He is giving dakwah to people.

And what have we (Muslims who have been Muslim all our life) been doing? We've been kept busy with petty business. Neverending arguments. Facebooking. Backbiting among ourselves. Laughing out loud because our friend gave some cynical comments. Having empty conversations.

At some point, I felt, our new brother just now is way better than most of us.

A note of reminder to myself, always make muhasabah.

ps: I've heard stories that the sahabah used to smell the scent of paradise, before they throw themselves into the battlefield, performing their jihad. One day, while praying, I sensed something that smells very nice. It turned out to be scent of the minyak attar, used by Brother Abdul Karim, our local imam. Bummer. Just when I thought I can smell paradise.

Urbanism: Charged Void theory

The Economist building 1959-64 by Alison and Peter Smithson

If architecture is to make a genuine contribution to the modern city it must acknowledge, and work in conjuction with, the forces that contribute to its making.

If a route ran along a certain way, it was to give importance to that route by the position of buildings in realtionship to it. Similarly, if there was such an activity as going shopping or going to the market, the organisation of the buildings was such that it gave an importance to that activity which, without the building, it would not otherwise have had. That is, it gives a sort of value to an activity which would be otherwise banal or at the worst would, it it were not given value, mean the well-springs of your existence dried up, because there was no system of relationship, no reason for going on doing that thing.

"The Smithsons and the Economist Building Plaza" in Architecture is Not Made with the Brain: The labour of Alison and Peter Smithson, 2003, Architectural Association, AA Publications, London.

Concluding 3rd Year Design

1 week left till the final Design presentation.

It is fun and tiring (mentally) at the same time.

So go away laziness so that I can proceed with my model ASAP.

And thank you Lan for helping me to upgrade my computer's spec. It really helps to increase the productivity. Hopefully.

May Allah make it easy for all of us.

Final Design Crit : Wednesday, 30 Oct.
Studio : Transitory Architecture
Tutor: Richard Black

Seimbangkan Diri, Jangan Jatuh

Never quit learning how to walk, until we find the right balance, because once we quit, we will never know how to actually walk, let alone run.

Hidup seorang pelajar yang berdakwah sentiasa menghadapi dilema. Dilema antara akademik dan dakwahnya. Menatang yang satu, yang satu lagi tumpah. Kesukaran mencari keseimbangan antara studi dan dakwah ini juga yang seringkali menguji neraca mana yang kita guna untuk membuat sesuatu perkara. Neraca Allah atau neraca duniawi.


Ya, diakui. Memang sukar untuk mencari titik keseimbangan tersebut. Dah nama pun kehidupan. Kehidupan manusia dipenuhi dgn susah payah. Di sini lah tandanya Allah mengasihi kita. Dia ingin menguji setakat mana kesanggupan kita menghadapi jalan "berduri" ini. Padahal ramai lagi yang terbiar hanyut di luar sana. Tetapi manusia ada batasnya. Kadang-kadang dilema ini memakan dirinya sehingga usaha untuk menyeimbangkan studi dan dakwah terancam.

Lalu bagaimana?

Terpulang kepada kekuatan masing-masing. Dalam hidup ini, kita bebas memilih. Pilihlah jalan mana yang kita rasakan sesuai. Asalkan ianya tidak mematikan usaha kita untuk berintima' dengan Islam.

Buatlah apa sahaja, tetapi jangan sampai keputusan kita mematikan kita atas jalan dakwah.

Jangan sampai ianya menghilangkan Islam dalam ibadah kita, akhlaq, pergaulan, dan seluruh aspek kehidupan. Mengapa? Kerana di situlah titik kekuatan kita. Hilang Islam, hina kita.

Dunia dan akhirat bergerak seiring. Tidak sepatutnya berlaku pertembungan antara keduanya. Seorang pelajar senibina boleh berjaya di dunia dan akhirat. Dia mempelajari betapa indahnya alam ini, maka rumah yang dibinanya perlu harmoni dengan alam persekitaran. Dia mengkaji amalan dan budaya kaumnya, maka bangunannya mengambil kira faktor tersebut; orientasi, arah kiblat, privasi tempat tidur, privasi untuk kaum hawa, dan sbgnya. Dia menyedari menanam pokok merupakan suatu bentuk sedekah. Maka di dalam usul bangunannya disertakan pohon buah-buahan untuk manusia dan binatang, teduhan kepada sesiapa sahaja yang mencari tempat redup, dan sbgnya. Dia tahu tidak sepatutnya bermegah-megah, maka senibinanya tidak menggunakan perhiasan yang melampau, bahan-bahan yang murah dan mudah didapati, dan sebagainya. Bagaimana dia hendak memastikan dirinya sentiasa mempunyai sensitiviti sebegini?

Semuanya bermula dari tarbiyyah. Dia mendalami ilmu-ilmu Islam. Hidupnya dihiasi ayat Quran. Dia menyedari betapa pentingnya masyarakat tahu akan situasi umat yang sedang tidur lena. Dia sedar kepentingan mengislah masyarakat. Pada ketika masyarakat muda sekarang sibuk ber-couple dan mencari cinta abadi (mengalahkan pasangan suami isteri yang sah), dia berasa sedih kerana menyedari umat Islam sekarang hilang jatidiri.

Dia mengkaji sirah umat. Masyarakat muda Islam terdahulu tidak mengenal erti berfoya-foya. Sultan Kilij Arslan mengetuai tentera menentang tentera Salib di Anatolia ketika umurnya 16 tahun. Usamah bin Zaid mengetuai bala tentera Islam menentang Emapayar Rom semasa umurnya bawah 20 tahun. Remaja zaman dahulu sudah habis menghafal Quran apabila mencecah 13 tahun.

Dunia dan akhirat bergerak seiring. Kita tidak dikira sebagai orang berjaya sekiranya mengabaikan salah satu. Seeloknya kita melihat ianya sebegitu.

رَبَّنَا آتِنَا فِي الدُّنْيَا حَسَنَةً وَفِي الآخِرَةِ حَسَنَةً وَقِنَا عَذَابَ النَّارِ

"Ya Tuhan kami, berikanlah kami kebaikan di dunia dan kebaikan di akhirat, dan lindungilah kami dari azab neraka"
Al Baqarah : 201

ps:
Moga tsabat.

Takut juga menulis sebegini.

Takut cakap tak serupa bikin.

Habis kena laknat.

Ok. Perlu fokus kepada design sekarang.

Portfolio (sneek peek)

An introduction to my portfolio; a reflection upon 3 years of architectural studies.

It is a bit philosophical, or even theoretical. But that's the idea behind the subject; so that student would be able to contextualize their body of work to find out where their interest lies in architecture.

At least, that is my opinion of the subject.

Anyways, the following is a preview of my portfolio.

____________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

Portfolio Final Submission and Presentation
October, 14th

Best of wishes to all peers. It has been 3 years now. For some, almost 5 years.
Looking forward to see your portfolios.

:D

ps:
- not being vain
- include trees in your projects. Because, with every tree, there are rewards from Him.
- i'm not into politics. I just like the idea.
- feel free to visit the whole new ISMA Australia website!

Jiwa kacau

Ke mana sebenarnya kita beramal? Mungkin saya bukanlah orang yang paling layak uttk berbicara tentang hal ini. Tetapi masa berlalu, proses tarbiyah berlaku berterusan tanpa henti. Byk perkara yang telah dipelajari. Kadang-kadang ianya berupaya melemahkan jiwa dan semangat perjuangan.

Ke mana kita beramal? Adakah atas nama perjuangan itu, atau kerana telah faham tuntutan syariat? Adakah kita
melihat kepada bilangan berbanding dengan kualiti? Adakah kita faham kenapa kita beramal?

Entri ini agak bercelaru sedikit. Sama seperti keadaan minda saya saat ini. Moga jiwa-jiwa ini terus terikat erat.
Dan pesanan buat diri: jangan mudah melabel orang lain. Buat sahaja kerja amal.