Green Roofs

A 37,237 sq ft (3,459 sq m) green roof covers the entirety of a new green resort under construction in Shanghai's Songjiang district, just southwest of China's most populous city. The hotel, built into a previously used 328 ft (100m) quarry, will feature approximately 400 rooms, restaurants, sports facilities and even some underwater areas for guests. Check out their website.

Couchsurfers in Sweden

Couchsurfing was the way I travelled in Stockholm, meeting total strangers who welcomed me into their home. Thank you Elizabeth, Axel and Beppe for such a great first experience.

We had a typical Swedish meal of meatballs, pig's trotter and bacon.

I also met Jennie by chance,

through Erik who taught me the traditional way to skal, or rather nod.

Stockholm Stadsbibliotek

My friend Harley Jacoubsen passed away in October 2004 after fighting for many years with a physically disabling condition called neurofibromatosis. He was an inspiration to me and many others. In his memory, The Jacoubsen, Residence for Independant Living was conceived and developed as my final thesis interior architecture project.

The Jacoubsen addresses the need for quality living amongst the physically disabled by offering accessible and secure, functional and modern apartment suites in the heart of Montreal. The residential building also responds to the alienation of city dwellers living in an urban environment by providing open gathering areas as well as quiet personal spaces. The project took many hours of hard work from conceptualization to final presentation in order to make the space work effectively, functionally and aesthetically. This is the outcome.

Plan view of main floor

View of central core Café/Lounge

The design of the internal public space on the main floor incorporates a multi-level eating/lounge area that overlooks down into the circular core of the café and universal bar. All areas are fully accessible by a ramp system spiraling up and around the central space or by stairs at one end.

Two years later, on May 25, 2007, I walked for 3 hours in Stockholm in search of the Stadsbibliotek (1928) or the "poor city library in Stockholm" designed by Gunnar Asplund. Here's an excellent analysis about the design of the building: From, Formation and Transformation . What I saw made my already rewarding project experience an even better one.

Plan View (Picture Source:palladio.arch.kth.se)

Some of the similarities are uncanny: not just the circular form of the core but also the positioning of the stairs. It's ironic since I only discovered the Stadsbibliotek after my project was already finished. This and many more concurrent coincidences started my passion and pursuit for Scandinavian architecture, culture and design.

Cyclist profiles

I'm really getting involved with cycling advocacy in Toronto these days. I think my easy commuting experience in Copenhagen openned my eyes to the number of possibilities for improvement. But to my dismay, it's a cultural struggle here rather than a political or financial one. There's got to be a way to voice my thoughts in an effective way.

On June 26, I met with Herb from iBikeT.O for an interview. My responses are posted here on their blog. Wow! Check it out especially the controversial comments.

Prelude

It is not a life to live by unless it can be recorded in every dimension and shared with friends, family, lovers and strangers. I hope the voice of kleejourneys can do so. Along the way, some moments may just pass us by, some may stay but just for a split second, and the rest for while. It all matters as you will see.