Dorindarations

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Contestants for Dorinda's Favourite Tulip L to R: #toopure #toodemonic #tooflimsy #niceanglebutthatsallme #likethemingling #verygoodbut #interestingbut #yeskingsbloodyes (at Tulip Top Gardens)

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006 The Box:  The utopian dystopic paradox. (An ode to the human condition. )

Wouldn't it be nice to be completely self-aware?

To truly know the sum of your parts and all the curves and crevices of your being.

To know how you are and why. To have felt your natural dispositions being slowly stretched and squeezed into the mould of your life experiences.

To comprehend how every conversation you have ever had and overheard has formed your opinions, behaviour and colloquialisms.

Wouldn't it be great to truly shape who you are?

To have known what external factors are powerful enough to set the course of your life and create the resolve to weather the storms that may come.

What if everyone could be this most perfect version of themselves?

To have this global enlightenment banish the power of propaganda and peer pressure.

To break free of the boxes society haphazardly puts us in.

We could parade proudly through the streets whilst cardboard confetti rains down on us in celebration of our emancipation...

...but where would we go?

Once the music fades and we get cold and hungry.

What do we do?

Would it be nice to be completely self-aware?

To know the limits of your personality and and see all that you are etched into your being.

Would it be great to truly shape who you are?

To know the end before you have even began and see your potential erode away with the perpetual winds of time.

What if everyone could be this most perfect version of themselves?

To have a global flattening of diversity.

No more questioning and enlightenment. Adolescent angst would be a non-event.

We would be the makers of our own prison, locking down our essence into full body titanium suits.

We would march through the streets in monotonous harmony with just enough oxygen in the tank to get us to our pre-ordered and perfectly dug out graves...

...I don't know about you, but maybe I like my box.

I can think outside of it from time to time. Also if you check inside it, you'll often find I'm not there.

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They don't make stairs like they use to. #stairobession #stone #nofilter

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005 What is it ‘to design’?

When you find yourself in the office at 1am on a weeknight generating a PDF set of architectural drawings for the third time because you notice a text misalignment, you start to doubt the significance of your job.

As an architect, design is at the core of what I do...but what is this? Where does design begin and end? 

What is it ‘to design’? 

To design is not about making a bold statement. It is not something sent from the heavens through the vessel of individual genius on a whim.

Nor is it an achievement. It is not an award received when an ugly problem is conquered with elegance and ease.

To design is not about power and control. It is not about you creating instead of someone else.

To me, it is something more primal. Design is at the root of everything. It breathes glorious subjectivity into lifeless objects. It is a mixture of instinct, creativity and forward thinking.

To design is to care beyond what is rational and despite expectations. It is not safe, it is not simple, and it is what I love to do.

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Touched by signage #felt #hotelhotel

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Always up for a good render #nishigallery #canberra

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Mythical Places 01

A photo posted by ArchDaily 🏠 (@archdaily) on Mar 28, 2015 at 4:22pm PDT

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Never gets old #sydneyharbourbridge #manlyferry

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Everything's bigger in the west #theriff

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Conferences are always better in a warehouse #melbourne #RTCAUS2014

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The creepy glow of nostalgia #melbourne #acca #douglasgordan

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004 Objectivity: The slow burn of violation and the new puppy blues

I had the misfortune of having my home broken into during the January 2014 New Year holiday season. As a result my car was stolen and destroyed.

You can deduce a few things about a person by their attitude towards objects.

My perpetrators seemed to be of the Gen Y ‘snatch tech grab’ persuasion. They made a grand entrance through a window downstairs and headed upstairs on a whirlwind tour. Grabbing the noughties model car key, they blew through cupboards and drawers foregoing baby boomer jewellery and bulky gen x electrical items on the hunt for smart devices as evidenced by my missing tablet, the disappearance of an old smartphone, and the optimistically dissembled iPhone 5 and HTC babushkas.

The car was used not only for a speedy getaway but also a late night joy ride as a toll notice from a location one hour away later revealed. Once the whim and thrill had past, my car was set a lit. It might have been a magnificent blaze but there was no glory amongst the flames. No Phoenix rose from the ashes. It was just the slow burn of violation, fleeting want and laconic self-preservation.

My friends, family, and colleagues are sympathisers with a healthy dose of economical tourettes:

“That’s terrible… I’m so sorry… DO YOU HAVE INSURANCE?”

”Oh No… You had that car for awhile, you must have been attached… DID YOU LEAVE ANYTHING VALUABLE IN THE CAR?”

As for me, I am a terrible sentimentalist with the tendency to hoard as a result of subjecting the weight of personification onto almost every object my own. So please allow me to say my farewells:

To iPad 32GB,  I did not know you very well and for that I am sorry. My reluctance to add you to my family of valuables meant that you were left behind as easy prey.

To Bobby - iPhone 3gs, You were my first smartphone. I wanted you for so long and was so happy and surprised when you showed up on my birthday all those years ago. We hit it off immediately and were inseparably. After a few years and iOS upgrades, we started to drift apart - we wanted different things…and then your accident happened… I know you blamed me…I knew the pockets of that blazer were not deep enough to hold you properly…I should not have run across the street… You were not the same after that and we both knew it was time for me to move on. I am almost glad you were taken from me because I don’t know if I could have ever thrown you away. I hope that you got that operation that you needed and that you are truly valued again.

My dearest Slinky Milanki 2001 Holden Barina,

You were taken from me too soon. Although we had spent 3 years together there were still many more adventures to come. Your 100 thousand kilometre birthday was coming up. Yes, my mechanic resented you for being cumbersome and German but I did not care. I will never forget that moment before I left for my trip and I was holding your key in my hand… and I decided naively to leave it on my desk in plain sight where I would not forget.

Repairs have been made, claims have been sought, new puppies have been bought and the melancholy lingers.

I am not sure that I have learnt all the lessons one is obliged to when such events transpire. With the luxury of subjectivity, I chose not to be so petty as to let objectivity corrupt my optimism and my faith in human decency.

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0003 Beating for freedom

In the frenzied weekend before Christmas 2013, I took a moment away from the commercial saturation to attend the Free the Beats Xmas party at Venue 505 in Surry hills.

One enters Venue 505 almost on stage with the door stage right of the performance area causing tardy entrants and early escapees to become part of the show.

A mötely crew of worn furniture form a nice family in the sunken seating area. The statesmen sofas respectfully line the perimeter while kindergarten stools play in the centre with the ottomans and coffee tables.

The appropriately kitsch bar is tucked into the left rear corner - away from any judging eyes - where one is able to procure a tang, crisp cocktail and tasty share plate.

Four electro-based acts performed with varying styles, quirks, and degrees of success. Sound samples were mixed with found objects, acoustic and cyborg instruments, human sounds, and spontaneity. The relaxed atmosphere set by the freeing of the beats allowed for casual chatter and couch napping which - I think we can all agree - is the true meaning of Christmas.

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0002 Crafty observations

I attended the Dedon launch event at Sydney's Observatory Hill on a glowing Tuesday evening in mid November 2013.

Dedon's latest range of hand-crafted outdoor furniture decorated the landscape to form the scene for a casually elegant evening.

While the furniture and the catering put in a magnificent performance, the panoramic view of the sunset over the Sydney harbour stole the show and left us wanting an encore.

Part-way through the evening we were called to assemble. Having gained the required nutrients from sparkling wine, oysters and sashimi - I was ready for the products spiel...that never arrived.

Instead, underneath the large white gazebo we were greeted by a speech akin to that of a best man at a wedding. We were gathered to celebrate relationships. The long-standing relationship between Corporate Culture (Australian furniture supplier) and Dedon (International outdoor furniture brand) as well as – more interestingly – the relationship Dedon has with its employees and their communities.

One of Dedon's main factories is located in the Phillipines, which was recently devastated by the tropical cyclone Typhoon Haiyan. While I believe the manufacturing plant did not directly suffer, Dedon has not shied away from it's social responsibility to adjacent communities. Dedon have provided monetary aid as well as teams to assist with medical aid and clearing the debris.

When one is enjoying the comforts of a happy situation it is too easy to forget those that do not. It was apt to be reminded of the perspective of others atop Observatory Hill. 

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0001a How the water falls images

Clockwise: In the valley, On the peak, At the falls.

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0001 How the water falls

In celebration of the last day of Spring 2013, I did the Grand Canyon walk from Evan's Lookout to Govett's Leap in the NSW Blue Mountains National Park.

It is a medium grade walk if you are partial to bush walking. The route is all on track and very picturesque with substantial ups and downs (particularly if you happen to slide down a wooden run of stairs like I did).

Govett's Leap Falls (sensibly renamed from Bridal Veil Falls) was my pick for Dish of the Day. 

The loud tranquillity of the waterfall as one approaches, cleanses the palette for the visual treat.

While the impressive scale of the Falls can superficially be labelled it's best feature, I was taken with the different variations of how the water fell.

If I was a drop of water headed down the waterfall that day would I prefer to be taken by the wind and be gently hoisted down?

Maybe I would want to relish the journey and quietly roll over every crevice of the cliff face...but where would be the glory?

No, I would want to be one of the brave few - those crazy, thrill-seeking traditionalists who dive straight off the edge and experience sublime gravity wholeheartedly.

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0000 The ambition of beginning

Hi there, it's Dorinda Appiah typing and this is my blog. 

In case you didn't notice, Dorindarations is an egotistical play on the word deliberations.

I am a Sydney-based NSW registered Architect with ties to New Zealand and Ghana - as well as often being mistaken for a Brit or an American.

My interests range from prose to parameters.

My aversions include impalement, poor ventilation and porridge. 

A few things to expect:

1. Tangents

2. Unfounded speculation

3. Nostalgia

4. Paradigm shifts

5. Dry wit

6. Lists