Up! Up! And away…

March 9th at 9pm I will fly out and the mission will begin. As a case study for finishing my diploma at FAUP (Porto Architectural School), I've decided to volunteer and join A4A (Architects for Aid) in one of their humanitarian architecture projects. The projected on which I've been assigned is the construction of the LCCU (Lesotho Children Counseling Unit) centre in Lesotho. The building has been halted and an assessment, survey and new proposal and program will be drawn up in order that the building might finish to be built. Once this is completed a second trip will be organized and I'll be overseeing the building on site. The objective of this blog is to keep record of the work that is being done, both for the benefit of the members of A4A in London, FAUP to whom I'll also be reporting, my own record as well as friends and family that might want to know what I'm up to. Please comment on any post that you have an opinion, as this will undoubtedly help me in the completion of my thesis. Disclaimer: The information displayed on this site has not been previously edited or checked by any A4A staff and I'm the sole responsible for it's contents. A4A or any of the other involved organizations are not to be hold responsible on any account for what is published on this blog.

Tuesday 15 May 2007

And today’s findings are…

When you think that you have seen it all, think again and you’ll realize that there is much more there than meets the eye.

If I have learnt one thing from this building so far is that you always have to dig a little deeper… Because when you do you’ll discover a wall without foundations, or a 260mm gap between the slab and the compacted fill.

Sad but true. The slab issue is already being dealt with and the foundations problem will be easily fixed by underpinning it, so no major setback or disappointment there, but it’s always a little demotivating to always find new problems that have to be dealt with.

I also found time to go and visit Lydia to discuss what she wants for her new house. I feel it’s a little too much, but if it’s what she wants and she can afford it then it’s none of my business. I’ve done my best at advising on cheaper and better solutions. They were not sufficient so now we just need to wait for the students to finish their exams and we’ll start sorting out her new dream home. I hope she’ll like what we’ll build for her in the end…

I need to start thinking about making some mock up panels of the finishes so that when the time comes at least those will go on smoothly!

(Good luck Sebatha and all the best for the future, once more thank you for letting me speak on your radio show.)
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