JESUS as the FOUNDATION of Our Life, Home, and Work

 

Psalm 18:2

King James Version

2 The Lord is my rock, 

and my fortress, and my deliverer; 

my God, my strength, 

in whom I will trust; 

my buckler, 

and the horn of my salvation, 

and my high tower.

Fifteen months ago, I surrendered my whole life and work to the MASTER Builder -- JESUS.

Material things of the world, and its constant bickering, don't appeal to me at all,.

Only God has control over how anything would turn out.

I prefer building my "house" (my soul, my whole life, my whole work), upon the STRONGEST foundation of all -- JESUS.

He is the Builder, the Rock, and the Foundation.

JESUS is ALL.

These verses testify to the infinite strength, glory, and wisdom of the LORD, upon whom we must all build our lives, homes, and work.

Find permanent STRENGTH in these powerful verses:

Genesis 49:24

King James Version

24 But his bow abode in strength, 

and the arms of his hands were made strong 

by the hands of the mighty God of Jacob; 

(from thence is the shepherd, 

the stone of Israel:)

Deuteronomy 32:4

King James Version

4 He is the Rock, 

his work is perfect: 

for all his ways are judgment: 

a God of truth and without iniquity, 

just and right is he.

Psalm 62:5-8

King James Version

5 My soul, 

wait thou only upon God; 

for my expectation is from him.

6 He only is my rock and my salvation: 

he is my defence; 

I shall not be moved.

7 In God is my salvation and my glory: 

the rock of my strength, 

and my refuge, 

is in God.

8 Trust in him at all times; 

ye people, 

pour out your heart before him: 

God is a refuge for us. 

Selah.

Psalm 89:26

King James Version

26 He shall cry unto me, 

Thou art my father, 

my God, 

and the rock of my salvation.

Psalm 118:22

King James Version

22 The stone which the builders refused 

is become the head stone of the corner.

Matthew 7:24-25

King James Version

24 Therefore whosoever heareth 

these sayings of mine, and doeth them, 

I will liken him unto a wise man, 

which built his house upon a rock:

25 And the rain descended, and the floods came, 

and the winds blew, and beat upon that house;

and it fell not: 

for it was founded upon a rock.

Matthew 21:42

King James Version

42 Jesus saith unto them, 

Did ye never read in the scriptures, 

The stone which the builders rejected, 

the same is become the head of the corner: 

this is the Lord's doing, 

and it is marvellous in our eyes?

1 Corinthians 3:11

King James Version

11 For other foundation can no man lay 

than that is laid, 

which is Jesus Christ.

1 Corinthians 10:4

King James Version

4 And did all drink the same spiritual drink: 

for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: 

and that Rock was Christ.

Ephesians 2:20-22

King James Version

20 And are built upon the foundation 

of the apostles and prophets, 

Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;

21 In whom all the building fitly framed together 

groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord:

22 In whom ye also are builded together 

for an habitation of God through the Spirit.

1 Peter 2:6

King James Version

6 Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, 

Behold, 

I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, 

elect, precious: 

and he that believeth on him 

shall not be confounded.

Other references:

The CHIEF Corner Stone

ROCK steady

PEACE through JESUS

The IDEAL home

34 Bible Verses about Jesus Is The Rock

17 Bible Verses about Christ The Rock

Bible Verses about Jesus Christ as Rock

Updated 29 October 2023

No Quackery Here

 

Here are real DUCK stories.

Even a karaoke song.

I kid you not.

The objective being, to have a bit of play.

The world's too crazy.

We must be like a bunch of happy ducks, catching some sun.

Mask, and all, we take that dip.

So, will entertain you a bit with educational duck lingo, a FREE advertising site, and finally, the cute karaoke song.

They all came together on their own today, so I'm merely sharing with you -- to bring a smile to your face.

1. WORDS.

What do you mean by "ducks in a row"?

Dictionary dot com says it's to "complete one's preparations, become efficient and well organized".

Wow, are you organized?

What do you mean by "sitting duck"?

Merriam-Webster says it's an "easy and defenseless target".

Oh, boy, we better be not be.

What do you mean by "duck"?

Wikipedia gives a good description and definition of the noun.

Used as a verb, "duck" means to "take cover". 

I suppose super heroes can "dodge" bullets, and mere mortals have to "duck" from attacks hurled at our person.

What do you mean by "quack"?

Cambridge Dictionary says it's "to make the usual sound of a duck" or a "person who dishonestly pretends to have medical skills or knowledge". Verb or noun, I chose the noun.

I'm a quack architect, thus, the blog.

2. FREE advertising.

I was waiting for someone to purchase Traffic Ducks*, and today, someone finally did!

Thus, I signed up right away, confirmed my email address, logged in, and put in my ads, thinking to myself I'll promote it on this blog.

Ducks have to stick together, ya see.

For no trouble at all, you receive the following:

-- 1,000 credits

-- 2 solo ads

-- 2 long banners

-- 2 square banners

-- 2 text link ads

-- FREE graphic and online marketing tools

If you don't know what I'm talking about, it's online marketing lingo. And if you're curious, you'll sign up under me here.

*I shared this blog post with Traffic Ducks and got a response today, "Your site quacked us up."

No need to apologize admin George, it did me, too.

3. KARAOKE song.

Want to polish up your "counting"?

Or have a kid who needs to?

Or plain just want to have a fun time?

I found myself singing along, mind you.

Methinks I'll keep hearing it in my sleep.

Click the video below.

Updated 25 January 2022

Why Designing Homes Never Really Interested Me

 

2 Timothy 2:20-21 

King James Version

20 But in a great house 

there are not only vessels of gold 

and of silver, 

but also of wood and of earth; 

and some to honour, 

and some to dishonour.

21 If a man therefore purge himself 

from these, 

he shall be a vessel unto honour, 

sanctified, 

and meet for the master's use, 

and prepared unto every good work.

I really stood out like a sore thumb among my peers.

Apart from myself, there was another older architecture student, who didn't follow the popular route of becoming a full-fledged architect.

Perhaps, we are both failures in their eyes.

I can almost feel them cringe when my friend and I are around.

And I smile at the pedestal they've built for themselves.

I used to read a lot of design and architecture magazines.

Such choices for floorings, counters, roofs, walls, carpets, tables, chairs, beds, upholstery, entertainment areas, kitchens, and everything else the vain and moneyed heart wished.

All slick, expensive, and made my heart feel empty.

And I'm so glad I was that sore thumb that didn't quite fit in any tongue-and-groove layout, for I was cut differently -- from day one.

If anything, I was more like an old, irregular wooden plank that fit among other wider, older planks.

I had a humble father on earth to teach me.

He was into real service, as opposed to wealth accumulation.

And surely, God -- my REAL FATHER -- created me differently, too!

Where people built monuments to money, fame, power, prestige, beauty, intelligence, I can only laugh in delight at that image above, of a child's play house.

Nothing slick, and shiny, about it.

But definitely fun!

Oh, if only people built more child-like homes!

There's be more imagination, and creativity.

No desire to impress, nor oppress.

Has to be indestructible, and low-maintenance.

Children don't have time to clean up.

They have more important things on their mind.

They play.

They eat.

They run.

They sleep.

They create.

And yes, they fight, too.

So, that house has to stand all that.

Large houses feel like mausoleums.

Actually, if GOD is in every house, it will come alive.

I honestly believe God lives in kid's play houses.

I think He finds it more fun there.

JESUS did say:

Matthew 18:2-5 

King James Version

2 And Jesus called a little child unto him, 

and set him in the midst of them,

3 And said, 

Verily I say unto you, 

Except ye be converted, 

and become as little children, 

ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.

4 Whosoever therefore shall humble himself 

as this little child, 

the same is greatest 

in the kingdom of heaven.

5 And whoso shall receive 

one such little child in my name 

receiveth me.

Now you know why slick houses, or designing for rich people, don't interest me at all.

It's all vanity.

Anyway, God gave me a different work to do.

It's more precise than architecture.

Oh, and one last thing:

Jesus was born in a manger.

Luke 2:7 

King James Version

7 And she brought forth her firstborn son, 

and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, 

and laid him in a manger; 

because there was no room for them in the inn.

You know what a "manger" is?

Merriam-Webster says it's:

: a trough (see TROUGH sense 1a) or open box in a stable designed to hold feed or fodder for livestock

The LORD Jesus, the SAVIOR of the world, the MESSIAH, had the humblest "bed" no rich folk would ever want to put their kids in.

A house was out of the question.

And yet He was KING, and LORD, of all.

Revelation 19:16 

King James Version

16 And he hath on his vesture 

and on his thigh a name written, 

King Of Kings, 

And Lord Of Lords.

And you know what else I know?

If those kids, in that tiny play house, saw baby JESUS, they'd make sure He had a cool place in there.

Maybe the LORD will be inside that tiny play house, with the kids standing outside, sticking their necks through the windows, making sure He's okay.

There might even be a fight of sorts.

Of who gets to carry Him first!

And yes, JESUS will get ALL the teddy bears.

Updated 30 July 2022

The CHIEF Corner Stone

 

Psalm 118:22

King James Version

22 The stone which the builders refused 

is become the head stone of the corner.

The only REAL architect is GOD.

God planned everything.

God made everything.

God is perfection.

God is precision.

And JESUS is the "corner stone".

But what is a corner stone?

Why is Jesus the "corner stone"?

What does Jesus -- the WORD of GOD -- have to do with Architecture?

What do all these have to do with the world?

I assure you, it's all so relevant, and important, for all things were built by God.

Hebrews 3:4

King James Version

4 For every house is builded by some man; 

but he that built all things is God.

Wikipedia defines "cornerstone" as:

"The cornerstone (or foundation stone or setting stone) is the first stone set in the construction of a masonry foundation. All other stones will be set in reference to this stone, thus determining the position of the entire structure." 

Here's what Scripture has to say about the "corner stone":

Job 38:4-6

King James Version

4 Where wast thou 

when I laid the foundations of the earth? 

declare, if thou hast understanding.

5 Who hath laid the measures thereof, 

if thou knowest? 

or who hath stretched the line upon it?

6 Whereupon are the foundations thereof fastened? 

or who laid the corner stone thereof;

Isaiah 28:16

King James Version

16 Therefore thus saith the Lord God, 

Behold, 

I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, 

a tried stone, 

a precious corner stone, 

a sure foundation: 

he that believeth shall not make haste.

Ephesians 2:19-22

King James Version

19 Now therefore 

ye are no more strangers and foreigners, 

but fellowcitizens with the saints, 

and of the household of God;

20 And are built upon the foundation 

of the apostles and prophets, 

Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;

21 In whom all the building fitly framed together 

groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord:

22 In whom ye also are builded together 

for an habitation of God through the Spirit.

Acts 4:10-12

King James Version

10 Be it known unto you all, 

and to all the people of Israel, 

that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, 

whom ye crucified, 

whom God raised from the dead, 

even by him doth this man stand here 

before you whole.

11 This is the stone 

which was set at nought of you builders, 

which is become the head of the corner.

12 Neither is there salvation in any other: 

for there is none other name under heaven 

given among men, 

whereby we must be saved.

1 Peter 2:4-8

King James Version

4 To whom coming, 

as unto a living stone, 

disallowed indeed of men, 

but chosen of God, and precious,

5 Ye also, as lively stones, 

are built up a spiritual house, 

an holy priesthood, 

to offer up spiritual sacrifices, 

acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.

6 Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, 

Behold, 

I lay in Sion a chief corner stone,

 elect, precious: 

and he that believeth on him 

shall not be confounded.

7 Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: 

but unto them which be disobedient, 

the stone which the builders disallowed, 

the same is made the head of the corner,

8 And a stone of stumbling, 

and a rock of offence, 

even to them which stumble at the word, 

being disobedient: 

whereunto also they were appointed.

Now, you understand why we are as nothing to the might, power, and glory of the LORD.

God is the CHIEF Architect of CREATION, and JESUS is the CHIEF Corner Stone -- without which, we'd all fall apart -- lives, homes, self, families, buildings, societies, governments, businesses, institutions.

Take heed then, we give honor and obedience where we must.

Related material:

JESUS as the FOUNDATION of Our Life, Home, and Work

The IDEAL home

ROCK steady

All verses from biblegateway.com

Designing For People

The LORD JESUS said:

John 15:12

King James Version

12 This is my commandment, 

That ye love one another, 

as I have loved you.

If there's one steady thing about my unsteady, varied career in design, communications, and entrepreneurship was this:

I always designed for people.

Everything, whether it's a tiny house, a room, a jacket, a bag, books, a workshop, a letter, a blog, a post -- everything had to be designed to serve people well.

I was designing for living, breathing humans, imagining them happy, and content, without the fuss of having to care over possessions or getting confused about ideas.

I wanted everyone to have freedom of movement, of thought, of enjoyment, of ease.

As a designer, I cringed at the idea the people I serve would have to buy expensive stuff, and left to care for the item, when the item should serve them first.

My heart has always been for the people, and since I was trained in Architecture and Anthropometrics, and did research in Ergonomics, every detail was taken into consideration.

Of course, I could hardly go by the books, as not everyone is of a standard height, or width.

There are nearly eight billion people in the world right now.

It would drive a designer nuts, to chart all the varied sizes of people, in order to design perfectly well for them.

But we, designers, could sure use the rarest sense of all -- COMMON sense.

I also took note of the "flow", wherein I put myself in the shoes of the client, or customer, and took my brain on a spin, visualizing how objects, structures, and policies must serve man.

When I use, or touch certain objects, ride certain vehicles, sit on certain furniture, or go on slick buildings and establishments, I can literally feel the "pinch" on my spirit, when something feels laborious, or uncomfortable.

Such as a delicate cup that will shatter easily.

Or sharp edges of a table, where I imagine a child bumping his tiny head on.

Or shiny, slick, but slippery floors.

I literally shiver at the thought objects and structures would "hurt" people. 

Designers must have heart, that's what.

We must not design for our own ego.

That has always been a principle for me, in most everything I do.

After becoming a born-again Christian for nearly a year now, the learning has been exquisite, and ego must not be found, if I serve the LORD of all.

The learning has been taken to the HIGHEST level -- the only level I care to serve my fellow human beings.

All the more design must "serve the needs of man".

I have this common-sense theory, wherein I feel the best designer of homes for families, would be wives who truly love their families.

They'd know the flow, the furniture, the colors, the furnishings necessary for their families.

They also won't ask the husband to spend for what they may not have.

She won't ask kids to have rooms that are more her look and color.

She will make sure everyone's happy and comfortable, and not there to please her.

There is no diva in this humble lady.

We designers must assist this lady every way we can.

Of course, I look at many structures and establishments around me, or the policies that govern us, and again, I cringe, as more often than not, it is to serve the ego of owners, designers, and officials, not really the end consumers.

Where before, condominiums in the big cities where I live are low structures, now they're all towering Babylons.

Where before, the units and rooms are large and spacious, they have become expensive, tiny boxes that cramp their poor occupants -- physically, and financially.

Where before, these units and rooms are sold, or rented, at a fair market price, now, they have soared as high as their Babylonian aspirations, which, to my Christ-centered heart, signify tenant "expiration".

People can't breathe with the high cost of living, as if all you're here on earth for, is to pay rent, or mortgage.

I imagine a lot of heads nodding.  

Because I love details that people don't normally pay attention to, I suppose I became a more aware writer, designer, and entrepreneur.

Trained to imagine structures and potential design, I can literally visualize everything, to the last detail.

I owe all that to God, of course, thus, the heavy, initial training, before I could even write this post you're reading now.

I also thank God, that He gave me the heart to really care for people.

Perhaps, that's all I really have.

Not so much the technical knowledge, for I shunned too much high tech.

I left all the structural computations, plumbing details, electrical specifications, to the proper "authorities".

I prefer low tech/high heart, my ears closely attuned to God's heart, not addicted to trends, but focused on how to make people genuinely happy, comfortable, safe, and secure.

Is that at all possible?

For sure!

Be a follower of CHRIST, and He will show you the WAY.

Betcha didn't expect that, huh?

I don't blame you, they didn't teach me that either at Architecture school.

It was all nuts, bolts, until I turned into a nut, and bolted.

Kidding.

Well, kinda.

But I always speak from experience, so you can't really say I'm a pretender.

When you follow Jesus, whether you're a designer, or in any other profession, your heart and thinking will be opened up wide, and you will begin to really, really "see".

You will see what the unawakened human heart can't see.

You will think what the jaded human mind can't think.

You will see through the LENS of the Holy Spirit, the TEACHER of All Things, the One who helps us remember to focus on what matters most -- GOD, and others.

When you reach that point, all your "designs" (whether structures, education, policies, finance, law, clothes, furniture, transportation, reading material, media) will be kind to humans.

That is the ultimate.

To design as GOD would.

Updated 24 January 2022

A Simple Home Rocks!

Hebrews 3:4

King James Version

4 For every house is builded by some man; 

but he that built all things is God.

What a beautiful find yesterday!

Reading some marketers' mails online, and clicking on the appropriate links, I came across the very awesome Low Cost Log Homes of KY website.

The image you see above was its frontispiece, and it depicted EXACTLY my idea of a simple, sturdy, and straightforward home.

Just a simple, rectangular design, with a deck out in front.

A perfect, low-maintenance way to live and entertain simply.

I could stare at this beauty all day long, and imagine how lovely it would be to live in one.

I live in the Philippines, but somehow this American design is the one I wish to share with you, for it has captured my heart with its simple, unadorned beauty.

We know how people are, where many wish their homes to be as huge, complicated, or expensive as their neighbor's.

Well, I'm not one of those people.

I've designed and researched tiny, affordable rooms, and homes.  

I've even visited building trade fairs where I could find alternative home designs -- and I've found many.

In college, I've even applied to study low-cost housing in Asian Institute of Technology* in Thailand, in my desire to really get to the bottom of it.

Despite the Deans of Architecture and Engineering giving letters of recommendation on my behalf for the scholarship, AIT thought my grades too low.

Oh well, no one had high grades in Architecture anyway har har. 

My heart has always been closest to those who cannot afford expensive homes.

There is a way to live simply, and happily, and I can assure you, if your heart is right with the LORD, having a roof over your head, whether just a tiny, rented room, or a simple, basic home suffices.

In these days of covid, I can barely imagine how many families in the less fortunate neighborhoods, manage to fit in.

So, when I see a simple, sturdy, and straightforward home like the one above, and priced low, my heart soars, wanting to share it with your right away!

Even the website is tiny, and simple.

And yet, the links and tabs are all you need.

Nothing flashy or complicated, so refreshingly wonderful!

Exactly what my designer's heart loves, and respects!

If your heart is like mine, grounded, and yet looking up at God for all my simple needs, then please click this Low Cost Log Homes link once more.

*Just a little funny thought: Nearly 20 years after having applied to that AIT scholarship in Thailand, and being turned down, God comes in and makes me marketing communications consultant for a local university. And guess who was the dean there, this time? The VERY same head of that AIT university. Funny how things come around, eh? Anyway, the Dean and I had a good laugh about that one. Actually, he was speechless, but I found him to be a kind person, too! 

Of course, my revolutionary heart wished people would look upon the DESIRE, and INTENT of the student, and not on the foolish grades, or capability to pay tuition. Those don't really mean anything in my books, except it did in theirs. But I guess I can put up my own school one day, where grades are the last to be considered. I'd rather look upon the heart, the mind, and spirit of each student, praying that God show me how to serve each student, and family, and to help them reach their fullest God-given potential. Oh, that would be a dream!

Image: Low Cost Log Homes

Related material:

The IDEAL home

The Unpolished Part of Life

Philippians 4:12

King James Version

12 I know both how to be abased, 

and I know how to abound: 

every where and in all things 

I am instructed both to be full 

and to be hungry, 

both to abound and to suffer need.

The place was cramped.

The models were in a frenzy, rushing, changing clothes, fixing their looks, bickering, fussing, tense.

But onstage, they were polished.

You would not have detected all the mild chaos in the back room, where I had been in the thick of it.

When I saw them featured on tv, the more I was amused, for these models were true professionals, modeling our stuff with ease, and aplomb.

The reluctant designer -- moi -- not hot about fashion shows and diva models, was dragged into joining the fashion show at a Hard Rock Cafe in the big city.

This was the period I was done with my shops, and was thinking of quitting.

But, as is my quirky career, fate took hold of the reins, for I was often reluctant this, reluctant that, but when faced with having to do the work people thought I could do, well, I found myself succeeding, and that's really very strange.

Backstage is where all the real stuff happens -- the unvarnished, raw truth.

And I don't mean only fashion shows, but the work all of us do.

In shops and malls, on tv and magazines, it's all glitzy.

The products are polished, perfect, and packaged.

We don't really see the labor put out by people each day, so we may consume what we wish to consume, or afford to consume. 

We assistants, factory workers, designers, owners, and entrepreneurs, would also be working till late at night or up to early morning, making sure everything's in place.

The world also doesn't see the life each one of us lead, but only the work we put out.

That's the backstage I speak of.

And that's where most of my true writing comes from -- observing all the details that don't interest others.

There's no drama, just real, hard work behind the scenes of most anything we create.

You'd know, for you, too, put out the work you do.

As you can imagine, I have no interest in designer divas, or temperamental models, or slick ads, or expensive shops.

I prefer being with everyday workers like myself, and really feel the pulse of the people.

That's where the real stuff is.

It is rich with people's lives, strength, wisdom, and character.

Not to mention the everyday sacrifices few people see, or care about.

The kind the rich and famous don't wish to be bothered with.

Because if they cared, we'd all be up there on stage with them, too.

Thing is, I never liked the stage.

I could never "act".

Plus, I've got stage fright.

Updated 24 January 2022

Revolutionary Design Book

Perhaps, I was destined for design, after all, for when I was in High School, a classmate, Miriam, gave me a bunch of books.

She said her brother -- a student of Architecture -- wanted to give it to me.

There was a thick, black book on design, and classic books on oil painting, anatomy sketching, and sculpture.

I immediately latched on to the design book, and read it with great interest.

I also followed the oil painting book, and after I graduated from Architecture in the mid-80s, I had taught myself how to paint in oil, using my mom's flat knife, as a spatula, and making do with the brushes I could find.

I even created my own canvases, just with the imaginative, raw knowledge I had, even painting scrap plywood white paint, as if mimicking a canvas.

As is always the case in my art, great urgency dictated whatever materials were immediately available will have to do, lest the Muse depart from me.

With art, everything becomes possible, and that black design book really stretched my natural bent and love for simple, comfortable, compassionate design.

George C. Chilton's "Design: Serving the Needs of Man", became my main reference when I got to Architecture school.

From this, all other studies for me were judged, and often found wanting.

The amazing Chilton book showed how the helicopter was fashioned after dragonflies, how submarines were fashioned from squid, and of course, it all made sense to me.

It showed how man's design was fashioned after God's design -- nature.

The original blueprints were God's, all this time!

How very beautiful, and intelligent!

Architecture didn't teach me that.

Chilton's book did.

Originally, I wanted to become an archaeologist, an anthropologist, a sociologist, or even a psychologist, so this new knowledge was riveting.

I know, I know, I wanted to become a journalist, too.

I wanted to be so many things, because many things interested me.

But since I was brought into Architecture, I merely shifted to truly designing for man, and not necessarily, architecturally.

There were so many more aspects of design that begged to be studied, and I was an eager, and voracious student.

Of course, design was but one aspect of life, and life was my best teacher.

When I seemed to pass many tests and hardships from life, my design got better.

And when I found God, and started following Jesus, my thinking radically shifted.

I was no longer obsessed knowing self.

I had become fully-attuned to God alone, and I also found my raw desire and knowledge for design and comfort, perfection and precision, had sound basis, after all.

More than ever, design was meant to serve the God in man.

Updated 24 January 2022

Comfort Nut

I may not have been crazy about Architecture, but I sure got crazy about wooden furniture when I first opened my world arts and crafts shop in the big city in mid-1995.

Trained in Anthropometrics, from studying "Architectural Graphic Sandards", I became particular about comfort and measurement.

Of how we had to design everything, using human averages like height of counters, shelves, stair risers, landings, size of rooms, bathrooms, height and width of doorways -- everything that needed to serve man.

Of course, our thick textbook was published in the U.S., and here we are, designing for our tinier race, so we made the necessary adjustments, or at least, I did.

After Architecture, I got really precise with most everything I did, for it made sense.

But, unlike many other designers, I was particular about comfort.

If it wasn't comfortable, it had no place in my heart.

I only design for comfort.

You'll be stylish if you're comfortable.

So, I wasn't crazy about style.

Comfort always came first for me, for I'd always put myself in the shoes of my "client", in whatever I was tasked to do.

I was intrigued by one of the more humble elite from the big city in the late 90s.

This lovely lady married a Frenchman, who designed chairs.

I could see they liked alternative living, and was not taken up with all the wealth her father and family had.

It was also at this point that I was selling world arts and crafts, and had become familiar with such.

Then I began liking turn-of-the-century wooden furniture when I did have that shop in 1995.

I loved sitting on wooden chairs, without cushions, for the wood loves use.

Eventually, the wood takes on natural patina, which makes me like the furniture even better.

I bought wooden dressers, tables, huge cabinets, bowls -- but lightweight ones -- to re-sell at my shop.

I would wipe the furniture with mildly damp cloth, and finally a dry cloth, and the sheen would be marvelous.

I liked well-designed, comfortable chairs and tables.

The simpler, the better.

I was a practical designer and user.

My life must not be possessed by possessions.

If anything, things had to be utilitarian.

I'd review famous architects we were taught, look at their designs, and find them a bit stiff, and uncomfortable, even impractical.

But my classmates ooh'd and aah'd.

I always reminded myself that we design for people.

People come first.

Whether it's a car or a home, even a toy, people came first.

I was trained differently, from a book I learned to love.

And that will be for the next post.

(Image source from this blog.)

Updated 24 January 2022

Lessons From Architecture

Ever seen one of those T-squares?

They're a cool invention for precision, but a pain to carry, what with 36 inches of it.

I called it my "palakol", my axe.

Quack architect had to carry that every day for five years --  together with triangles, scales, pens, pencils, tracing paper, books, notebooks.

I trudged the library with that, too, for we didn't have lockers.

Strange that I think about that now.

We sure didn't have lockers.

My school was run by German and Belgian priests, and we didn't have lockers??!!

Oh, and yes, there were no working elevators either.

Too bad if you had to come from the ground floor, and up to the seventh floor, where our classrooms were.

My father bought me a nice, yellow lamp that can be angled.

He also had a carpenter fashion a drawing table just for me.

Again, this quack architect cringed as every nail was driven to that table, which was actually the halved ping-pong table of my brothers when they were kids.

Now, my fate was sealed.

A table, and a lamp.

I had to get to work.

Dad kept a close eye on me at school, and would pick me up after school, parking his van right outside my building.

My teachers and classmates behaved, for obvious reasons.

So, what did I learn from all these?

Patience.

Precision.

And "perspective".

Architecture taught us to see, and draw, things from a worm's eye view, normal street view, and bird's eye view.

We were taught to see from three dimensions. 

That really helped in my thinking and writing.

And yes, I excelled in English, Religion, and Theory of Architecture, and was intrigued by Sir Bannister Fletcher's "A History of Architecture".

The rest of my classmates excelled in everything but those.

Their interests were in Architecture and construction itself.

Which made me feel even more of a quack.