Financial Planner

I thought about how I'd like to invest my money that I have saved up, previously I wanted to invest it soley in residential property, but now it seems like a good idea to invest it in managed funds, and international shares. What caused this turn about action was after I realised how much more elements are involved in buying property and selling, Its not the typical buy & sell you'd expect, things such as maintanence, stamp duty, rise and fall of interest rates are all factors that have to be taken into consideration.

But with shares, I figured that it would be better if I'd invest in shares whilst im still young and able, then later on shift into more stable and long term investment properties.

expense tracker

Good news, my perserverance in this expense tracker has finally paid off, Not only am I more conscious about my money, also more honest and humble in how I spend it, attempting to only spend it on where its necessary, last night I went to a pub, and I didn't spend a single cent.

Managed funds

I find that managed funds, being really appealing, and also a very good way to invest your money. Especially a diversified managed fund, effectively we are taking the advantage of investment opportunities across the whole board (shares, fixed interest bonds, bonds, international shares), but again before investing in a managed fund, we require quality research. As Andrew has stated a few properties funds went bankrupt in the 1980's when they couldn't sell their commercial properties, and the investers wanted their money back

On a side note, I realised my amount of spending decreased when I was really busy at work, There was a period of time where I didn't leave work for 5 days (which is why I didn't blog for quite a while)

, because we had to chase this architectural competition deadline.  During this time, I didn't spend THAT much, only on the bare necessities - food.

investing

I think that the tips that are given are very personal based, it might be applicable to soley them or people that have similar situations to them.Whether the financial tip might be useful to you, depends on the situation you are in.

I've been told to invest in certain shares, most of my advice has been pretty mainstream and typical answers that I've been expecting.

Property tips

I found these tips only applicable only to only australia,  and only slightly applicable to property in other countries, since I am currently residing in Hong Kong,  I took the opportunity to ask some friends at work and relatives,  on advice about buying property in Hong Kong. Here the higher up the apartment is,  the more expensive it is,  and also it isn't always the apartments closest to train stations which are most expensive,  rather the further away or the quieter the place is,  the more valuable the place is. 

Echoing what Andrew said,  it is about the demand, it has always been about the demand.

Financial Independance

In my opinion, I think that financial independance is whereby we are able to support ourselves in every day life, whilst maintaining the same/and or better lifestyle that we currently have.

To achieve that, I believe it requires hard work and persistance

Expense tracker

I find it hard to keep track of what I spend, because I never really use to keep track of things I spend, I usually have a set amount of money that I set for myself to be the cap for each week, and living here in Hong Kong has been especially hard for me to keep track of how much I spend, because everything seems so cheap and affordable here, If it wasn't for work, I would be buying things everyday, a little bit here, and a little bit there.

I think i have to write everything i spend down.

Unit 2b savings -

Things I can cut back expenses on mostly would be food, I could always bring my own food, but I'm too lazy, thats basically it, I don't go to they gym anymore so I don't have to spend money over there, and I'm only at uni 2-3 days a week, and it's usually a 1/2 day, so my uni expenses are actually quite small.

I think with alot of people, the more money they have, the more expensive things they buy, or the more money they will spend, in a proportional ratio to how much they earn. Which is why I think budgeting is difficult, because no matter how much we earn, we will eventually spend it. Things such as bargains, cheap deals here and there, buying dinner for other people add to the difficulty to budget

Ten steps to financial security

GENC3003 - Personal blog entry

I think the things that would yield the most happiness to me in the next 40 years would be the quality of life, and a sense of contentment.
Things I think i'd spend too much money as a student would be things such as, petrol money, going out for lunch and dinner, presents, phone bill. To me this seems like the typical student type of spending.

After i looked at the 10 steps to financial security, and listened over the presentation, it seems to me like basic commonsense, but those steps might seem easy on first thought but difficult in process. I currently have a superannuation, but I don't think I am taking advantage of it, by investing my money into it, I am just letting it build up through working.

GRAPHICS - TEXTURE

Coogee Site Analysis

With the site analysis, These are my findings:

- There was a considerable in-consistency with the landscape and building relationship where the community centre was.
-The focus of the site, was not at the community centre, rather at the beach.
- The site of the community centre has great potential, as most main facades of the surrounding site, face the community centre
- The community centre is considered as a local and a "safer" area, judged from the threshold
- From the look of surrounding infrastructure of paths and systems of pedestrian travel we can incorporate it into the design.
- There are some buildings with local stone blocks used in their construction. One might use the same blocks in their design.

The Ascent: Model Pictures

Plan of the building











Section and Front elevation











Interior Vingette











Rendering of a room plan and section











Site plan

The Ascent

Important points on the building:

• Celebration of the site, as well as an interior celebration

• Reflection upon the art, as well as an artwork itself structurally and geometrically

• The exterior echoes the interior, with different rhythms of the facade representing different rhythms within the building to create a provocative and interesting facade.

• Usage of the interior walls and grooves within the walls to direct the people towards the artwork, as well as to contain the artwork, creating a point of reference where the artwork should be situated.

• Building constructed in volumes to create spaces suited for certain activities, large room could indicate space for thinking and viewing larger works, whilst smaller, more intimate rooms are to inspect and scrutinize smaller paintings.

• Decisive conclusion that the building is to be constructed by modular concrete slabs, not only is that to sympathize with the materiality of the surrounding concrete plastered buildings, but to re-enforce the strength and the power of the structure.

• Taking into consideration, that people need the natural light. Achieved by not flooding the light in, but controlling and directing it to places that would enhance and benefit the paintings. This was achieved by the sizes of the overhangs, and the ammalgamation of the facade and windows.

• In maintaining the harmony of the horizontal aspect, instead of treating it as a problem, I utilized it to create hidden balconies, and "points of escape" by setting the facade back.
• The use of interior balconies was to connect the interior spaces, to create the sense of community and generous aspect of the building.

• There is a distinct separation between the private and public spaces, the only connection is the balconies and the stairs. Yet it would be wrong to say that I did not consider the design of the living space, it is very much central to the design.
• The volumes are connected by a set of public stairs, as is the private areas, they are connected by a set of hidden and secluded stairs.

Function:

• There is a loading dock.

• The storage is separated by a removable wall, so that the paintings could be accessed easily.

• The stairs are wider than usual, and set apart wider, so that the people can carry the paintings up the building.

• The bigger paintings are set with deflected natural light, whilst the smaller sketches and graphite drawings are more freely organised around the art gallery.

Extra notes:

• I explored how a person would feel when they first saw the building from across the street. I concluded that they would look up, as intended, due to the height and the setback.

• There was a creating of "glowing spaces" where there would be an inner illumination when viewed from the exterior. This was when I was considering how the building would look at night. I wanted the building to be just as effective at night as well as the day.

Submission 3 - The Ascent

The Site of the Ascent

Reasons why I chose this site:

• The absolute statement that the building is wedged between the two overtowering structures which reside a finalist restaurant, and a fancy hairdressers.

• The fact that the site is un-noticed.

• I felt that the site needed to be established and iconic, and recognized amongst people passing by, much like the Remembrance park.

Important Notes to establish:

For the Art gallery I am proposing to model a building that would ultimately tower of these two buildings, and set it back, taking the idea of the usage of the site of the church, a creation of a frontal void space could be effective in making the site noticable. Hence "The Ascent".

The site, I realized the nearby buildings had ornate and decorative features, but this is only hiding the fact that behind it is a deteriorating and crumbling view of the buildings. I felt it was lacking in drama and grandeur, it was unpleasing to the high paying residents. I felt that they should deserve better.

This building should be iconic and central to Newtown.

This radical and outstanding structure will therefore stand out from the neighboring shops, striking and bold. Through enhancing the area, it will be able to attract customers.




The Rear view of the building

Housing units behind the building.

Insight into the culture of the place
Observation of the adjacent buildings.

The Hairdresser and the Restaurant next door