Mrjom's Blog

Looking at the new Cowichan campus for Vancouver Island University (cont)

Joseph de Lange — Tue, 22 May 2012 18:41:38 +0000

In the last posting the front of the university building was featured. It faces south. This post checks out the rest of the building starting with the west side,

and straight around the corner to the back of the building.

In this age of extreme anti smoking legislation ( never mind choking on wood smoke, gasoline fumes, and other forms of pollution) it is refreshing to see a small smoking area, for those who enjoy that sort of thing, set up right outside this back door. It is too small to photograph and nasty in winter to be sure, but right now sitting there with a ~~martini and~~ smoke could be cool.

the concrete, cladding and wood details look good together. I have a problem with concrete showing. On too many public buildings I have seen it discolor horribly ugly within a year, and the buildings so affected right away look slum related. Keep an eye on this.

On to the east side to come full circle.

With all the glass, reflection shows everywhere.

For now it is time to leave.

Walk away and around the corner till the campus sign is left behind.

The foregoing shows a little of the building. I like the design with its clean lines and lots of light. A small criticism has to do with the planer marks in the posts and beams. In projects like these they should be sanded out. Having said that, these type of blemishes are not overly noticeable except with certain light conditions. I also noticed a small bit of unfinished business related to the plug inside the posts in front of the cafeteria.

One of the interesting parts is the roof assembly with its rooftop garden known as a ‘green roof’, which includes walking paths, study areas and natural vegetation. There is also a ‘blue roof’ which refers to a rainwater collection system to irrigate the entire campus grounds, a geo-exchange heating and cooling system, solar hot water heating panels, and recycling and composting systems for students and staff. I like to look at these roofs asap, but may wait till the official opening. Here is the link to the installer. These roof gardens are the first thing to show up on the website and well worth looking at: http://paradisecityscapes.com/residential-projects

There is also a link showing more info about this project as it developed: http://www.viu.ca/facilities/Campus_Development/Cowichanplace.asp

And in conclusion for more VIU information go to: http://www.viu.ca/about/index.asp

Looking at the new Cowichan campus for Vancouver Island University

Joseph de Lange — Mon, 21 May 2012 17:00:43 +0000

With the official opening of the Vancouver Island University (VIU) Cowichan campus set for September 22 from 11 am to 3 pm, I decided to have a closer look at the campus exterior. The project was designed by the architect Shiv Garyali http://www.garyaliarchitect.com who has experience and flair with these ultra size projects. It was awarded the Roy Willworth Precast Concrete Architectural Recognition Award as an Island Real Estate Board Commercial Building Award. Sustainability was part of the underlying philosophy and it shows on the building as well as the grounds. The building meshes very nicely with its surroundings and the surroundings are partly very nicely planted as a garden that is growing into itself, and partly shows as “undeveloped” land filled with wildflowers and other native vegetation. All this takes place on 3,500 square metre.

The building is nearly the same size as my lens and getting the whole front to show was almost challenging.

The main entrance with its welcoming totem poles.

The totem poles were carved in 1987 by master carver Harold Joe for the original Cowichan campus when it was Malaspina college. Harold Joe did a complete refurbishing to these poles and they look like new again.

The cables that make an attractive detail in the design should provide proper structural integrity during seismic upheaval.

The next posting will bring more details as we continue our stroll around this campus,

Greetings from Cowichan Bay

Joseph de Lange — Mon, 21 May 2012 02:29:52 +0000

The Old Farm Home

Joseph de Lange — Fri, 18 May 2012 14:41:55 +0000

This house even though in a derelict state since time immemorial (that is more than 15 years) is situated on a beautiful piece of land and partly because of that still has an attractive look about it.

THE NUMBERS ON MY ARM

Joseph de Lange — Tue, 15 May 2012 14:15:25 +0000

Reblogged from Desertpeace: Image ‘Copyleft’ by Carlos Latuff * * A post from yesterday…. * THE NAKBA ~~ THEN AND NOW * Today, more than ever, STAND WITH PALESTINE * On the 15th of May of every year, Palestinians and the whole world remember how it all started. How the Israelis’ ethnic cleansing of a [...]

Fisherman’s Wharf, Victoria, BC

Joseph de Lange — Sun, 13 May 2012 19:56:19 +0000

Fisherman’s Wharf is one of those places that has been photographed to the umpteenth extent. Just check out the Google images on the subject. The reason why is that once there, and you are unlucky enough to have a camera on you, the camera somehow jumps into your hand (the how of it is impossible to figure out) and your finger is nervously glued to the trigger. Here are two more photos to add to the world wide collection.

Good morning from Cowichan Bay

Joseph de Lange — Sat, 12 May 2012 15:05:33 +0000

Looking land inward shows the sun’s color palette this morning.

From the Gate Collection

Joseph de Lange — Wed, 09 May 2012 21:17:25 +0000

After seeing this gate open for many years, it was actually closed. I stopped to take a few photographs and that was another gate for my collection bagged.

This house goes with the gate.

Statue

Joseph de Lange — Tue, 08 May 2012 21:11:51 +0000

I thought I ought to show you this neat statue I saw while spending time on the Gorge waterway in Victoria BC

On 5 May: 5 hours between liberation and oppression

Joseph de Lange — Mon, 07 May 2012 09:20:52 +0000

Reblogged from A SECOND GLANCE:

Yesterday, 5 May, my country -the Netherlands- celebrated Liberation Day, the annual commemorating of the end of the Nazi occupation and second World War. Across the country cities hosted music concerts, veteran marches and literary events. For most of the Dutch however, concepts of freedom and peace are as normal as having breakfast or talking on the phone.

Within a five hour flight from Amsterdam, in Palestine, approximately 2,000 prisoners are starving themselves to death: an open-ended hunger strike being the last means of resistance against inhumane treatment, oppression and political imprisonment by an occupying power.