their stones, our stones

in the name of Allah, most Gracious, most Compassionate

For architects, stone has been one the most widely used material for construction. Its properties makes it structurally 'strong' and aesthetically appealing. Stones are being used in its natural form or cut into blocks. The term masonry is so familiar within the construction industry... and I can say that it is one of the most primitive way of constructing and establishing the use of stones.

A good selection must be made in order to gain a sound structure. Length of the stone must be 4-5 times its height, no more and no less. Stones must be laid as it were when picked from the quarry to maintain its natural appearance. So much details can be pointed out for the use of stones in masonry. If we were reading the Neufert Architect's Data, stones for masonry are divided into 5 groups for their compressive strength.

stone bridge in Norway

Everything is taken into consideration, and lastly a good masonry will rely on its bond. In masonry, bond refers to the arrangements of the stones or the overlapping. Different type of bond gives different strength quality.

stone bridge at Caragh River

"Verily, Allah loves those who fight in His cause in rows as if they were a solid structure"(61:4-Quran). As a Muslim, I have to mention about what has been revealed in the Quran about the importance of bond. In my opinion the word rows directly refers to a good bond as in masonry. Its a good reminder for me and my muslim brothers, are we the types for aesthetic use or are we for structural purpose? Allah clearly explain how the rows should be, which is "a solid structure".

Today we see our muslim brothers struggling in Palestine, and it is the best time for us to check back at the bond amongst us, and making sure it is structurally strong.

palestinians

Its time for us to really think about our bond, because our brothers are fighting with stones.

Home is where the heart is

Home is Where the Heart Is
© Lorelei Loveridge/Orderly Bazaar Records & Publishing, 2008

Yasmin, Yasmin, where"s your man
Is he locked in a jail in Jerusalem
A stone"s throw away from hope
Tell me, Yasmin, will you go

Home is where the heart is
But your mother is calling you
Home for a day of rest
What good will martyrdom do
What good will martyrdom do

Yasmin, Yasmin, what will he get
Freedom or ten years instead
And if he goes away for long
Pray, tell who will keep you both strong

Home is where the heart is
But your mother is calling you
Home for a day of rest
What good will martyrdom do
What good will martyrdom do

"You can ink your feet with blood in the street
Fall with the walls when the bombs come down
You can say you were there when the world didn"t care
But when it"s all said and done, will the war be won
Without words of reason, without someone to teach them
That home is where the heart is and we all need one

Yasmin, Yasmin, there"s your man
Locked in a jail in Jerusalem
A stone"s throw away from hope
Tell me, Yasmin, will you go now

Home is where the heart is
But your mother is calling you
Home for a day of rest
What good will martyrdom do
What good will martyrdom do
Home is where the heart is
Home is where the heart is

_____________________________

something to ponder upon... asking my heart, where is my Home? our Home?

I pray for my brothers and sisters in Palestine...'O brothers and sisters, my heart is where your heart is'

why boundaries???

the world will be in PEACE, when everyone gets a PIECE?
Sometimes a PIECE is not enough to make someone happy, but for others sharing a PIECE makes them so happy.

If we were to look at this earth as a PIECE, than we can say that everyone should be sharing it in happiness... but we cannot say this earth as a PIECE, because we have boundaries!

Why do we have boundaries?

Because everyone will only be happy if they get a PIECE each or if they get so many PIECES.

just a piece of thought..


Who is happy enough to share their PIECE or PIECES with me?

Actually I wanted to make this blog as an architectural study on housing, and I should be looking at all aspects.. holistic approach?

the human trail

I still remember those school days, where each desk in the classroom will have marks made by carvings on the inside of the desks. Some of these carvings bear past students whom used the desks or some have been carved with friends names and comic symbols. When I think about it, it is a clear sign that as human beings we have an instinct of leaving a trail somewhere along our short live.

school desks

Making such markings are not the only way of leaving behind trails by human, there are more ways like documenting ones life through diary(now its blog) and even constructing a monument. Whether its intended for those in the future to see what they have done or just for mere pleasure, this instinctive behavior is definitely building the human trail. We can say it as history but it is also a journey, because eventually what has started will end.

moving house

Actually I'm not going to go into human history in details, but what I really am interested in looking closely at is the evolution of human built spaces. Are the built spaces of human beings has evolved from a single home into a metropolitan? Because nowadays people always like to use the word 'hometown'. What is 'home' to us? Why do we need a 'home'? Does a 'home' should be in certain forms or does it have to accommodate certain functions?



Can we call everything in the built environment as a home?