Book store? 此情不再

也許失去的東西總令人懷念, 貼滿招紙的大石柱, 重量十足的鉄趟閘, 用木衣夾吊起一本一本舊雜誌, 不知第幾手的舊小說,  爛竹籮內各式其式的讀物; 伯伯用來休息的舊籐椅......

曾幾何時, 每逢假日店舖休息之際, 總會在街上見到這類舊書攤, 真是環保生意的始祖. 是昔日多些人愛閱讀? 還是生活較簡單, 可以騰出多些時間去享受書中樂趣?

Facebook, Twitter, Myspace... 令我們這一代可足不出戶和朋友聯系着. 同樣e-book, online magazine 亦使我們不用手持一本實體書, 便可以從網上閱讀來自世界各地的小說雜誌. 如果你只可以有一個選擇, 你會保留實體書還是網絡世界上的電子書呢?

很難選擇罷! 一本印刷精美的書刋, 紙質的觸感, 油墨的立體感是電子書不能替代的. 但相反電子書的龐大書庫所提供的選擇性和方便程度, 卻又遠遠超越前者. 可能重點並非在硬件上, 但求有多些朋友肯花時間去享受一段文章或幾篇創作, 用那個渠道並不重要, 因為我想, 只有肯閱讀並思考的人, 才經歴得起現今時代急速的變遷.

A vanishing scenery in Hong Kong, second, may be triple hand book/ magazine sale outside shop on an old street. What we've missed are those antique stone ad post, heavy metal sliding gate, their special display method: product hung up by wooden clothes clip or just loosely drop inside a torn basket, plus the "coffee break" rattan chair aside...

This kind of mobile book store was nothing special in the old days, they were the real master of  the recycle industry. I wonder whether we, people had more leisure time to enjoy reading the day before we crash into our massive media source from the internet world?

Facebook, twitter, Myspace...bring us to our friends within seconds, same as e-books, online magazine, how long have or haven't you been visiting a real book store? or, buy a real magazine? If you can only have one choice, you will go for a book in your hand or a virtual one?

Too difficult to choose? the personal touch of paper & printing from a good quality book/ magazine are non replaceable, but on the other hand, the infinity source and convenience that we can get from electronic world are also attractive. I think may be it's not the matter of how we read, but keep Reading ! take time to read a great article, enjoy and being inspired; to conquer the rapid change of the world avoid being drown.

Best Business Hotels 2011 - Wallpaper magazine

Best Business Hotels 2011 - Wallpaper magazine

原本預備了一篇關於書的文章, 但剛剛收到Wallpaper update, 發現了這個連結, 這是其中一幅吸引着我的照片, The Waikiki Edition, Hawaii 很想即時飛去那裏, 望着如此迷人的景色, 喝柸咖啡, 滿足矣!

推薦大家抽點時間欣賞內面共160幅照片, 來自不同國家的商務酒店, 香港的Icon 及 Ritz Carlton 也入選. 雖然我覺得並非每一間的室內設計也處理得好, 但卻有不同風格及設計原素可供細味. 

其中比較得我歡心的除了上圖Waikiki Edition 之外, 還有Soho Beach House, Miami / Mondrian Soho New York 及 Le Royal Monceau - Raffles Paris. 你又喜歡那一間的設計呢?

Originally, I am preparing a post talking about "Books", but just received an update from Wallpaper Magazine which links me to this attractive photo, an hotel interior of "The Waikik Edition, Hawaii". Wow! I wish I could fly there immediately to enjoy my espresso under such amazing sunset.

If you have a minute, highly recommend you to take a visit at the above link, 160 photos of business hotel from different countries , including Icon & Ritz Carlton from Hong Kong. Well, although I have to say not each of them are stunning, they have varies design style and elements that are still worth to taste.

Besides of Waikiki Edition, Soho Beach House, Miami / Mondrian Soho New York and Le Royal Monceau- Raffles Paris are also my favorite, how about you, which one you like most? Enjoy!

地面頻道 Floor Discovery Channel

最近往澳門走了一圈, 除了五光十色的大小賭埸酒店, 更遊走了不少街頭巷尾, 也許這些往後再遂一分享. 今次倒想介紹的是一個頗有心思的設計.

每逢往外地, 我們的視線總被當地的靚人靚景或奇人奇事所吸引; 但只要多點往地面搜索, 也有不少有趣及有特色的事物, 正如以往在日本也發現一個很精緻的公園地標Vanishing Beauty 一樣, 只是今次的發現是在澳門街頭.

也許不用多解釋, 一看便知, 沒什麽特別,  四塊彫花鉄皮用來蓋着路邊樹根. 但精緻的樹葉圖形有半立體效果, 疏水丶地燈位齊全, 裝飾及實用性兼備; 相比香港用磚頭或花棚等圍着"裝垃圾"的要好.

簡潔之餘有效果, 易打理之餘又耐用......不是推薦什麽產品, 而是小小一個公共設施, 只要肯花點心思, 己經可以令生活環境變得更舒適. 成功運用 Form follow Function 這個設計理論, 也會有佳作的.

Casino hotels,  neon neon neon....these are the images of Macau, but there are local culture alley that worth to be discovered; I had a chance to take a walk in May and may be I can share my experience with you in later posts. But this time, I would like to share a delicate design with you.

Wherever we travel to another city, our eyes are busy with all the beautiful faces & scenes, or whatever fresh and extraordinary; if we take some time to look DOWN, there are even more interesting things waiting for us to discover, like what I had found before in Japan's local park - the Vanishing Beauty, this time, it's in Macau.

Well, as simple as a cover for the tree roots along the street, it can be like those found in Hong Kong - brick or plastic fence to create a "rubbish bin" as a result; or like this, a crafted metal cover with semi emboss floral pattern, with proper light fitting & drain vents - simple, decorative, easy maintenance and durable. 

If we can spend just a little more effort to enhance the design of the local facility in our city, the design theory of "Form follow Function" is still applicable to sustain a good design that brings a better life to us.

Simple Elegance

第一個印象:你認為這是什麽? 小說封面? 酒店目錄? 咭片? 請柬?.......她, 是一個小禮盒.

半光啞油黑色暗地紋, 配燙金商標及字體, 感覺很有皇室feel, 高貴又帶點神秘感. 估估內裡放了什麽東西? 又估估是那一個國家的產品? 男仕或女仕用品? 價值多少?

A novel cover? A hotel guide? A name card or an invitation card? what is your first impression to this image?....she is...a tiny gift box.

Semi matt finish surface with subtle graphic, plus gold foil stamping logo and typography, to create a royal feel, as well as a mysterious elegance. Guess what is the product inside? from which country? For ladies or men? How is the price range?

做個無奈的設計師

心中有 一堆永遠解答不到的問題, 也許各位可幫幫手.

點解咁多人鐘意入住有酒店式大堂嘅住宅? 但係其實番緊自已屋企!

點解要住有會所嘅屋? 但係自已日日番咗工, 要放工或者假期先可以同全幢大厦或屋苑嘅人爭用會所設施!

點解要將十呎樓底唔夠嘅樓變成歐洲式古典設計? 仲要大厦用緊鋁窗!

點解要買咁多唔同種類嘅名師家具系列放喺個廳, 攪到好似陳列室咁?

點解屋企嘅設計要追上潮流, 一定要用今年流行嘅物料同顏色? 咁下年點算!

點解主人房連擺張大啲嘅床都唔夠但係就一定要有主人房套厠浴室?

點解電視機後面幅牆一定要特別物料, 有"啲嘢睇"?

點解冇細路同狗仔貓仔地面都要舖瓷磚?

點解冇人煮飯但係啲廚房設備咁齊備同咁高級?

點解浴室有位都唔用浴缸要用企缸, 留番個窿做乜?.....

我想答案是, 只要我不是住客, 這一切也不是問題. 真正問題只是當我要為客人按以上要求設計時, 唯有........不要問,只要做!........

Next move...

These days, I move from one place to another, not only the place I lived, but also the place I worked. I am leaving the crowd, the groups of well known, the trend, the "network"... bird song replace traffic roar, wind breeze replace air conditioning, aroma of grass field replace ladies perfume, warmth touch of the sun replace halogen spots...just by chance, to take a break from melting into the "current flow", how lucky I am.

I bring along with my aged ishuffle and all my working document, catch the train / bus, listen to my favorite songs, hour after hours, traveling towards my working site; looking outside from window, it is so quiet & so peaceful, time freeze? - what a big contrast to my past working pace, how come?

Change - can bring you something out of your expectation, whether you want it or not, it can be a challenge, or a "dream" comes true. It seems my recent change brings me more time to think, to think deep, no hurry, no deadline. To me, I definitely need this refreshment before my next move, how about you?

上海街 Shanghai Street

一個夏午, 走進久遺了的上海街, 昔日繁榮不再, 只餘下寥寥幾間繡莊, 押店, 涼茶舖及麻雀館. 樓上茶居巳不復見, 上海食館, 百貨店皮鞋店也在逐漸消失.

曾幾何時這是一條十分有 "上海風"的街道, 不少洋貨及高品質的國貨衣飾也能在這裏找到. 每逢夕陽西下之後, 華燈初上, 踏進這條街, 總會有種走進異國夜市的感覺.紅紅黄黄的繡莊招牌, 店舖愈大招牌愈是搶眼. 洋傘也好, 綢緞也好, 甚至花式多多的暖水壺也是一些有質量而市民又能負擔的優良產品. 今天, 我們收入水平高了, 但一般人能夠負擔的貨品, 質量卻相對下降; 就連居住環境, 空氣質數, 生活節奏也隨之而改變, 或應說是犧牲.

對於從未有機會接觸過那個時代的80/90後來說, 每天只能擠進愈來愈沒有特式的鬧市街頭, 又或是千遍一律, 毫無生命的商場來說, 實在可惜; 不過, 也許至少比我們只能懷緬的人心理上活得輕鬆. 你呢? 會選擇做那一個年代的人?

Afternoon, in Summer, once I've been step into this street - Shanghai Street, in Hong Kong. Oops, what a colour tone of the past, the colour of wash out. Only a few fabric shop, ma-jong shop& Chinese herbal tea shop were found; Cantonese tea house up stairs, Shanghai restaurants, Chinese department stores, book stores were gone, ...all gone.

It was once a street full of Shanghai culture, lots of imported daily goods could be found here, well, in high quality of course, even though they were from mainland China at that time. Whenever the twilight falls, neon sign flash everywhere especially the red & yellow one for those fabric shop, which sale high quality silk, damask or tailor made wedding wear; the larger the signage, the larger the shop. I still remember, living in those years, we could buy affordable good daily stuff, like umbrella, thermal vase, black leather shoes, a "heavy" duty cotton blanket + salted Chinese ham to wait for the Winter to come. " A foreign night market" was the picture in my memory.

Today, we earn more, but our living standard drops, how come? not even we have to pay more of having an up to standard consumer product; we sacrify our living environment, air quality or even life pace.

For those who can only be part of the crowd in our liveliness district or shopping mall, the 80's & 90's, it is a regret; but compare with us who know the past and can only be a chase in memory, which era will you prefer to be?