ATR

 

Week 44 – 12/12

Week 43 – 05/12

Week 42 – 28/11

Week 41 – 21/11

Week 40 – 14/11

Week 39 – 07/11

First day back at work was hard.  Mostly because the block weeks put me in holiday mode.  I couldn’t stop yawning!  I got to do some graphic design work.  He decided to change his trade name and logo from Rise architects to DP architect.  H also asked me to create a template document with drawing standards, title blocks, layouts, symbols and shcedules.

Week 37/38 – 24/10 and 31/10

Last block time!  The first day we just got together, organized some things and had a lecture.  The second day we wrote two exams – a studio work exam and a CTD exam.  I’m a little nervous for the CTD results.  From the 6th we were on site to build the alterations to St Michaels Primary School.  Very exciting and experiential.

Week 35/36 – 10/10 and 17/10

Hermie asked me to help her with the organizational aspects of the St. Michaels MIP project.  This was really great experience as I got to speak to many different people regarding sponsorships and any help we could find to make this community project a reality.

Week 34 – 03/10

This week, back at the office, my boss gave me a Kliphuis to draw up.  The owner, Gerrit Van Niekerk, is a property developer in the area who uses our services on a regular basis.  This is his own private home he would like to live in when its done – this means not so much budget cuts everywhere.

Week 33 – 26/09

Hermie asked me to help her with the organizational aspects of the St. Michaels MIP project.  This was really great experience as I got to speak to many different people regarding sponsorships and any help we could find to make this community project a reality.

Week 32 – 19/09

This week has me reserved for admin.  All the slippies were done, sent to the accountant, all filing was done, some office organization and printing.  Regarding the printing, a client approached us to only plot some documents.  Some extra cash for the use of our plot machine.  Greenways wanted a more elaborate plan for the whole hotel, not just individual units.  So my task was to patch together a good looking plan for presentation purposes (not architectural)

Week 31 – 12/09

Liezl and Shaun approached our firm to design a double garage at the back of their house, and convert the existing double garage into a bedroom.  We went to site to measure up, and found that the space they want the new garage to be is too small to fit in all the complications like turning space, and then also not to upset the existing laundry area and maids quarters.  So bearing the bad news, we consulted with Shaun and Liezl and it was decided to put all the dreams aside until they could agree on a more realistic plan.

Week 30 – 05/09

Still working on Gabon changes here and there, completing Nitti gritty details of the Castle, and drawing a sketchup model of a hand railing for House Meyer was what this week consisted of.

Week 29 – 29/08

Mr Groepe needed to complete the walls of his driveway entrance, so I had to draw up the working drawings and detail of the walls.  Gabon once again needed some small detail altered.  When will the ever be satisfied?

Week 28 – 22/08

No office work this week... it might sound good to some people, but to me it really wasn’t.  its so depressing to sit with no work.  I did get to work on my tech work though.

Week 27 – 15/08

In this week I completed the required changes to the Mtombo Disco council drawing and to the two spec houses of developer  Van Niekerk.  Plus some extra Gabon changes

Week 26 – 08/08

Block Week.  Was great to see all the friends and how far they have come this year.  We had some really great lectures, especially from André Horn.

Week 25 – 01/08

This week I completed the proposed alterations to the Gabon development project.  Also, council drawings were returned with some redlining.  I had to make some changes to Mtombo Disco council drawing and Mr Van Niekerks Spec houses council drawing.

Week 23/24 – 18/07 and 25/07

In these two weeks I only worked on alteration to the Gabon Project.  A change in wall thickness; change a hipped roof to a gable wall; change door opening types, adjust schedules, cost considerations.  Since its low-cost housing, all possible costs are being thinned out to the maximum.

Week 22 – 11/07

The Greenways Hotel accepted my prototype for their brochure – so now I have to make 14 of them.  A new little project arrived on a farm in Gordons Bay.  A castle.  I have to measure up and draw up a medieval castle, with spindling towers and archer barricades… I think I saw a croc in the mote!  They need as built plans for the new 3td floor to get it approved

Week 21 – 04/07

I had to make some final presentation changes on the Gabon project, and make them look prettyJ Why they need working drawing to look pretty – who knows?

We went to measure up Greenways Hotel in Clairemont.  They want as-built plans – one unit per brochure.  I had to create an attractive brochure with the plan of one unit and all its specs as a prototype for the hotel.

Week 19/20 – 20/06 and 27/06

The boss is back, and so I am back and working hard!  There were many late night in the office in the last two weeks – at least overtime pays well. I had to generate all the possible working drawings for 3 units abiding to strange building regulations and under a team of indecisive Gabonians.

Week 18 – 13/06

This is my last week working at the high school as a technical drawing teacher.  But has proven to be the busiest week too!  I had to mark all the june exams and do all the outdated admin needed to transfer all I have of the school to the new teacher.

Week 17 – 06/06

This week I spent catching up with tech work.  I stayed in Cape Town and was at campus every day. I got most everything done, and all posted on time.  Why do I procrastinate so?

Week 16 – 30/05

For 3 weeks I will be jobless! My boss is going to Gabon to be the architect for a housing development scheme for the government. Last week I helped draught some prototype he wanted to take with and I helped him pack

Week 15 – 23/05

This was quite a mixed week.  I made some finesse changes on the SAB disco council drawings; Drew up an elevation for the renovation for Langeman; worked a little on Frans Meyers kitchen, and even started some rough draughting on the Gabon housing development.

Week 14 – 16/05

Finished off finesse details on the Van Niekerk project – like print and see where there are double lines and any errors. 

Some changes are to be made on the Frans Meyer project. He wants to change the interior of his kitchen. So… all the elevations, sections and plans had to be altered. Not once, not twice, but THREE times in one week!

Week 13 – 09/05

Commencing with the Gordons bay project for Mr Van Niekerk.  I had to search through the local building regulations and the NBR to determine how to build the boundary wall. 

·         Street boundary max 1.8m high

·         Lateral boundary max 2.1m high

·         40% of street boundary must be visually permeable

·         On corner of street, boundary wall max 1m high

·         Electric fence max 450mm ontop of wall

·         Electric fence min 1.8m above ground level

I also had to adhere to the NBR rules on chimneys

·         Distance between highest point of roof intersection & lowest point of vent in chimney – min 1m

Week 12 – 02/05

A brand new project! 2 spec houses to be built on the gordonsbay mountain slope.  I was given a few sketches and plan, and drew up all the elevations needed for the council drawings.  I had to work out the area of the building, the bulk (shown as a relationship) and the coverage (shown as a percentage).  I also added notes and specifications to the drawings.

Week 11 – 25/04

I decided to take this week as a holiday – unpaid leave.  I spent the time to work on my hub design and came up with some good ideas (according to me). On Friday I went for a crit with Jolanda, Mr. Hopley, Mr. Van Graan, one of the B-Tech students and even Maansi.  The crit, unfortunately didn’t go as well as I wanted (too static) – so now I will have to change the whole design to make it more dynamic

Week 10 – 18/04

For the first time, I get to go measure up a site.  SAB wants to open a disco at their strand depot, but first they need to get it all approved. All is built, we were asked to draw up plans and send it to the council.  I cut my finger with the measuring tape by accident.  The place was very dirty and It smelt like drain and rotten apples.  But it was all fun anyhow.  When we got back to the office, I had the pleasure of drawing up the site.  Needless to say, we missed a few dims and had to return to the site more than once.

Week 9 – 11/04

I was sent to the city council.  I had to give in an application for a permanent departure of the building line for Plusko storage.  The person who helped me studies town and regional planning at CPUT – also in his in-service training year. 

Mr. Groepe wants to liven up the first floor balcony of his house.  At the moment the balcony is plainly screed with nothing to show.  I am now drawing up the plans for a pergola and the deck.  Really intricate details.  We also needed to design a gutter to channel the water away from the leaking balcony.  The tricky part of that was that no visible gutters are allowed on the façade according to the architect guidelines of the estate.

Week 8 – 04/04

Moving Office!  The office is moving closer to me. A lot closer. On the same block as me… so now I can sleep a little later and leave for work 2min before 8, and still be early.  Not much work was done this week except moving boxes and unpacking books and magazines and sorting out papers that can be thrown away. My boss sold me an A3 printer for R1000! Bargain!

Week 7 – 28/03

House Frans Meyer is being built.  Now it’s time for kitchen and closet elevations.  Not as quick and simple as I thought it would be when I got the project! A very large kitchen and walk in closet – all with solid oak!  Not to mention the client changing his mind about some detail every day.

Plusko Storage Centre in Strand is 2 neighboring Erven on which garages will be built.  The council sent back the drawing because there needs to be toilets and parking.  The parking had to be changed again, they are just never satisfied!

Week 6 – 21/03

I get to go on a Site visit to House Frans Meyer! My first time on site, and its very busy.  I got the opportunity to be present at an Architect-Builder argument

Starting to prepare a SAB ottery sketchup model for a concept… it will be good if they accept this, the place is really huge!

Week 5 – 14/03

House Frans Meyer is being built.  Now it’s time for Bathroom elevations.  Not as quick and simple as I thought it would be when I got the project! Three different bathrooms and none of them are at all similar!  We also had some issues with the tap and fittings shop with regards to the basins and mixers and shower roses and traps and all that jazz.  Not to mention the client changing his mind about some detail every day.

Week 4 – 7/03

Mr. Groepe wants to renovate his Wine Cellar.  He wants it airtight and wants to install an aircon – so almost like a mild walk-in fridge.  He wants glass panel with a victorian style solid oak frame.  My job was to draw the elevations of the cellar and draw up the joinery details. Very interesting

Paul Frost wants to change the house he bought in Stellenbosch into a student house, but he needs to indicate parking bays for the students.

Plusko Storage Centre in Strand is 2 neighboring Erven on which garages will be built.  The council sent back the drawing because there needs to be toilets and parking.  According to the NBR, we have to have 2 female WC’s, 1 male WC, 2 Urinals and 2 WHB’s.

Week 3 – 28/02

Worked on Paul Frost project

Mr. Groepe wants to renovate his Wine Cellar.  He wants it airtight and wants to install an aircon – so almost like a mild walk-in fridge.  He wants glass panel with a victorian style solid oak frame.  My job was to draw the elevations of the cellar and draw up the joinery details. Very interesting

Week 2 – 21/02

I have to work on a window and door schedule House Frans Meyer.  Did you know that Swartland doesn’t use Meranti?

Paul Frost wants to change the house he bought in Stellenbosch into a student house.  Just a few renovations and extensions have been made to the existing house.  The working drawings I worked on showed the new brickwork, new sewerage lines, and indicated all the new spaces.  All notes, annotations and dimensions were added.

Plusko Storage Centre in Strand is 2 neighboring Erven on which garages will be built.  The council sent back the drawing because there needs to be toilets and parking.  According to the NBR, we have to have 2 female WC’s, 1 male WC, 2 Urinals and 2 WHB’s.

Week1 – 14/02

The first Day at Work!  I got a quick training in Caddy, and some window schedules to play with. He also gave me plot papers to fold – A1 papers folded into A4, with the company name and drawing references in front.