Fresh...

I don't think this post counts...

But I just finished my 10 month working period at Barry M. Abrahams Architecture. It was 10 tough months but in a way helped me better myself for third year. I don't know how  ready one could be for third year, but I feel much closer to 'ready' now.

My plans until tech starts again and hopefully third year (I'm praying that I pass) is to do job shadowing at my uncles construction company hope they give me some real tough work I've been at home for two days and really am so bored. I've taught myself sketchup and starting with Revit soon.

I'm planning on keeping my blog, maybe keep uploading my work during third year.
Hope all my fellow second year students are well and passing and I hope I see everyone next year.

Block 5: M.I.P Review & Back to Work

Soooo I haven't blogged in  a while...

We just ended our two week M.I.P block, it went well I think... there were some really hard working people although I feel I did a lot I don't think my work was that hard..

My duties included setting out the hall for our use, sanding down the apple crate planks, painting them, painting the existing fencing and balustrading of the deck, as well as oiling the existing pergola rafters and purlins and helping clean up.

I met some new (already in our class) students that I haven't actually spoken to before that was cool so apart from learning, and helping out a school in need the two weeks was also a good team building experience which I think is a good step into third year for our class as we all know the only way to pass architectural technology is to work together.

My downsides to the block was solely my own fault. I forgot to hand in my hardhat, goggles and misplaced my last CTD exercise, and forgot to give in my booklet. I need to work on my absent mindedness... 

Luckily my friends handing in all my stuff for me on Tuesday.

Soo its back to work tomorrow I'm having mixed emotions about that haha!

Wish me luck guys  

20th - 24th August 2012

UN-Common Places...

This week went by okay, I'm finding myself facing really difficult challenges at work. I have been drawing up burnt down shops for refurbishing, finishing off new office drawings for council, The company is  Greystone Wendy houses this was tricky as there was a mix up with title deeds, set backs on site areas for new proposed roads and I made quite a lot of mistakes seeing that most of the time I have to puzzle out the work on my own.
Above all of this, my latest hard jobs includes drawing up a house in Tamboerskloof from almost unreadable plans which I managed to scale up using a grid. The house has split levels as it is one really sloppy site. (someone must have been trying to test my love for sloped sites because I really hated this job) to make it worse is WHAT I had to draw up, a 6-passenger funicular, which is a sort of an escalator mixed with a elevator as the entrance on site is very far away from the main house and one has to walk up a series of stairs in order to get inside, which is probably no fun in winter.
This was quite a challenge for me as not only is it situated on a sloped site but it is set at an angle in order to get from point A to B and me and the boss man had quite different views as to how it should be drawn up. Because he was not in office I already opted for my perspective on the matter. Leaving him with no room to help me. Apart from him being busy he has not done a job like this before. And obviously to him I did not accomplish his standards in this one, so I'm not sure if I look at it as an accomplishment that no one has done before or a disappointment...

On a lighter, happier note. I had a chance to draw up fire plans for a small shop in Pinelands situated within a local mall. Although the job was small I quite enjoyed it  as I got to use my bosses very interesting fire layout library and see how fire plans are worked out.. pretty cool stuff...

Whale Project

STW/CTD: Exercise 5 - Design Development

STW/CTD: Exercise 4

Progress Mark 2

BILL OF QUANTITIES

The Bill of Quantities is a document drawn up by a quantity surveyor. It comprises of a list of materials and costs of an estimated quantity of the materials needed from start to completion of the building process, these could also include labour costs and services. The costs of construction should be proportional to the clients’ budget.

An additional extra fee is always added to this document in case of future problems with the construction that may arise.

ARCHITECTS’ ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES.

An architect is someone who designs buildings and spaces. Although this seems as a simple thing to do a lot has to be taken into consideration such as orientation of building, safety of occupants, building regulations, typography, climate, energy efficiency, etc.

• Always keep up with new building trends and technologies.
• Be able to produce municipal/council drawings.
• A senior technician architect can sign off their own drawings once registered. 
• Should be able to measure up sites, measure up or scale drawings.
• Be able to visualise and design according to the client’s wants and needs as far as possible.
• Be able to create aesthetically pleasing designs which are always improving and responding.
•  To its surroundings, climate and typography.
• An architect should be able to work within a team of professionals as well as an individual.
•  And should have basic knowledge of how to run a business.

SIGNING OF CONTRACTS

I feel in response to the work I have been doing within my internship that this is a very if not the most important part of an architects’ work.

A contract must be signed before any work has been done for a client AND before any of the work produced by the architect proceeds to be built. The contract should provide clients with a list of the architects’ costs and what work will take place for the client.

The importance of signing a contract cannot be stressed enough! It is the clients legal word that they will be paying for work done that they fully understand why they are paying and that they agree to the costs involved and cannot thereafter refuse to pay. It also states clauses where the client is held responsible for aspects of the design which they should be held accountable for.

There are different contracts that need to be signed by the architect. First before any work is done with plans the architect had to have a contract signed by the client agreeing on payment to be made for the work that the architect will be doing. Thereafter forms needs to be signed before applying through council, this is to state that the client approves of all work the architect is submitting and that the plans are following all requirement by council. Also there is a new energy efficiency form stating that new building regulations are followed and applied to the design.  The client has to sign all four copies of the plan submitted to council alongside the architect and if boundary lines are crossed neighbours consents must be added and they too need to sign the plans.

Once plans are approved and building is to commence, there has to be a contract between the architect and the builder this includes all work that has to be done and fees that has to be paid, there is always a small amount of money set aside in case of problems on site. 

Tender Document

A “tender” or “tender document” is a document that outlines a customer’s project requirements. Tender documents can take many forms but generally include the project requirements, resources currently available and an overview of how the final selection will be made. The tender document will include a budget, future visions and a clear breakdown of what’s required.

An architect will have different tender documents with the different companies whose service will be needed for the construction of the building. The tender document will include a breakdown of costs and quotes to the different procedures and materials needed, through construction. The tender documents are presented to the client by the architect and the client would give approval of the go ahead if they are satisfied.