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.

Additions To The South African National Standards - Part X

The built environment is constantly changing its approach to the way it is formed over time due to many different reasons such as improved technology, nature conservation, aesthetic appeal, etc. Due to recent environmental concerns such as global warming and carbon footprints everyone is trying to help play a role in conserving our planet. The built environment plays a major part in damaging the earth. Countries all around are looking for ways to save energy and use alternate methods of producing energy such as solar power and conserving energy. Belgium has taken this a step further by changing national building regulations, our country along with many others are now following in their footsteps.

Changes to the National Building Regulations are as follows:

Amendments to section A:

A7 (layout drawings)

(M) In the event of a water heating system installation, the location and capacity of the water heating system must be provided.

(N) Where provided, details of insulation are required to satisfy the energy requirements of section XA.

A19 (1) (Competent Persons)

(C) The requirements of section XA are satisfied by a competent person in accordance with SANS 10400 XA.

A19 (12)

(C) Where regulation XA is by a competent person in accordance with the requirements of SANS 10400 Part XA, the competent person who is responsible for such determination shall on the completion of construction and commissioning  of the building submit to the local authority a fully completed form 4 as contained in SANS 10400–A.

Additional Section X:

A1 (Energy Usage in Buildings)

Buildings being occupies shall be designed and constructed so that buildings:

(A)   Are capable of using energy efficiently while still fulfilling its requirements

(B)   Have features and services which facilitate the efficient use of energy

A2

50 % of hot water heating must be provided by means other than electricity, e.g. solar power.

Although the changes will help on conserving energy there are changes that also take place that limits and architects ability to freely design. Such as windows are not allowed to exceed 15% of a rooms floor area, although there are loop holes such as using thermal glass in order to exceed the 15% it will be extremely costly to the client, and also architects are held fully responsible if the new additions and alterations are not met.

The Therme Vals by Peter Zumthor

The Therme Vals which is a hotel and spa was designed by architect  Peter Zumthor. It is built over the only thermal spring in Graubunden Canton, Switzerland.

It was built in conjunction with the already existing hotel which was located next to the spa. the hotel and spa are connected via a long narrow passage.

MAIN IDEA OF THE BUILDING:

The main idea that the architect was going for was to create a natural  cave. a spa that might appear as if it was always there and formed from the mountain itself.

 

FORMAL CLUES:

The spa is designed using mostly horizontals and verticals. (post and lintols) although it is made to look as if they are that way naturally. The building is made up of stacked stone which looks as if it has just been placed on top of one another. with slits of light here and there to keep up the appearance of the spa being a natural cave.

 FUNCTIONAL CLUES:

The idea of the spa was to create a natural space where people could come to to break away from everyday life. It is a place for relaxation. There are many different chambers or "caves" within the spa each one different and unique. They differ in temperature, colour, scents, depths of water and texture of walls. All made specifically to create different atmospheres within the space. One could look at it as a journey of sensory experience, all meant to rejuvenate the body and soul.   

CONTEXTUAL CLUES:

The Spa is located on a natural spring in a valley among the Switzerland mountains. It is a secluded location which is perfect for the effect the architect was going for, a natural spa and hotel away from everyday life. This is evident as the architect did not want time to be known while in the spa.

TECHNOLOGICAL CLUES:

The Therme Vals was made using mostly quarried Valse Quarzite stone, which is the natural stone which is found in the Swiss Mountains. This helps the architect to achieve his effect of the spa being a natural timeless cave.

I really enjoyed learning about this building because the architect Peter Zumthor has achieved with this spa what I would one day like to achieve with every building or space that I design. Which is an atmosphere that is felt only in that specific place. The building is not only a building but an experience. And that's what inspired me to study architecture in the first place. That is in my opinion the difference between a building and architecture.

Tree House - Slee & Co Architects

The Tree House which was designed by Johann Slee is situated in Westcliff, Gauteng. It was designed for the architect himself. 

The house replaces the sites original building which was believed by the architect to be badly designed. Although the old house was replaces some of it was retained and integrated into the new design which also boasts stone which originates from the site.  The Oregon Pine roof timber and timber strip flooring from the previous house was also integrated.

The house is built on a difficult slope and surrounded by trees, it has quite a significant entrance way which creates an awareness of the slope and appreciation of the nature surrounding the building as well as the design.

What I like about this design is the use of the sites own materials, giving the house a feel of integration with  its surroundings, I also like the fact that its a sloped slight, I've always liked sloped sites and the architect does not try to cover it up he embraces the site and even boasts it as a feature to the design making the slope the focal point of the entrance experience and complementing the sight with its double volume windows and view over the surrounding veritable ravine.    

9-14 July 2012: Not a Good Week

This was not a week...

Apart from me being sick, my grandfather is not doing well at all, so I've been off a lot this week being there for my family, but it did not come at a good time, we have so much work and my boss is stressed out and is not happy about me not being at work. But at times you just have to know whats more important, and my grandfather wont be here much longer.

So next week will probably be titled the catch up, And I can see myself having to be extra nice next week. But in the mean time I've done some reading, and the house I'm about to post about caught my eye...

Back Online

So I haven't blogged or uploaded any of my work in a very long time! Or given any updates as to what has been going on in and out of office. So from today I'm going to be blogging every second day until I've made up for my past weeks that I have missed.

Anyway the best thing to do is to start right now. So this blog is titled differently just so that it symbolizes a new beginning for my blog.

Because you cannot try to improve something without change I have thought of some new additions other than office work to blog about. A few changes I am planning on integrating into by block is:

• A weekly review on my architectural readings (10+ years 100 Buildings and other interesting reads)
• A weekly review on my office work as I had previously done
• A weekly review on my progressing tech work
• Random reviews on my own personal improvements
• AND I've given myself a pricing project which me and my boss is working through to help me come to terms with building materials, labour, costs and how the building process works.

So now that I've sold myself to my blog, just a few hi-lights of my last two weeks, I'm almost done with all my reworks, I'm not sure if they still acceptable I think the date was the 26th, but I haven't heard anything about it again, hope I can hand them in, my first office design has finally been completed and I have been invited to my first Roof wetting hahaha I was scared when I heard this, but apparently it's just a braai... I hope. I had a previous private job I was working on a church foyer, and the clients got back to me finally so it's a go ahead yeah! and I designed a carport for my uncle, I get paid so I'm looking forward to finishing that. Oh and I almost know how to finish a whole Energy Efficiency Calculation. And I discovered I love slopped sights!

:) and that's it for today

Summary: Chapter 10 Thinking Architecturally, Paul Righini

Where Do Ideas Come?

Ideas come from: 1. Analysis of important references, i.e. context and suitable precedent.
                           2. 'non-rational' process e.g. drawings, models, collages.

Design as a Process:
       * Design is a process, it is active and dynamic.
       * Determine what the problem is.
       * Develop a solution to satisfy the problem.

N.B. Changing your viewpoint from rational to irrational and vice versa gives you more room to design, with more ideas, with more ideas. (no architectural block).

Dominantly Rational Process

(a) Analysing the problem by breaking it down into its essential components or characteristics.
       * This is a logical and rational process that not only seeks to come to grips with the problem but also
          stimulates possible solutions.
(b) Architectural Analysis
       * The context particularly the site
       * The programme - types of activities to be accommodated, and their organisational relationship and
          characteristics.
       * Precedent which includes: contextual studies, programmatic precedent, technical precedent and formal  precedent.

Contextual Analysis

Resolution of problem = Architectural + Context in which situation.

Buildings should relate to its surroundings in the most positive possible taking into account:

      * sun position
      * views
      * Dominant rain/wind
These are all direct and indirect forces acting on your design.

Context refers not only to issues of a climatic nature; it also requires one to understand the site in other ways such as typography, spatial characteristics and the programme.

By recognising special conditions and highlighting  uniqueness, one would facilitate the development of a 'place -related' architecture.

The Spatial Characteristics of a Site

The more in-depth a site diagram is the more limitations and the and characteristics are represented. This helps to give ideas as to hows your design has to be thought of as how to use the site to your benefit.

"Analysis should not focus only on issues of a contextual nature,issues of a contextual nature; it also needs to focus on the nature of the programme"

One needs to consider the people using space, the way the space will be used, how will people access the space, what kind of  effect would the space give you, etc.

A Consideration of the Programme

Programme is considered with the nature of the building as well as the special/organisational requirements of the particular building.

The best way to go about setting out your design is to start away straight from context. Problems themselves lead to surprising and original solutions, if you are prepared to let go of any preconceptions about how design is suppose to look. Find something unique about the problem.

The Study of Precedent

Precedent is a form of history and back-ground, it could be a collection of what you know from past buildings, a developed site, buildings you grew up around and buildings that had an impact on you.

Formal Precedent:   Generally tends to emphasize spatial ideas, the way forms are massed, organised and
                               ordered.

Vernacular Precedent:  Studying vernacular traditions helps us to appreciate th relationship between building
                                    form and context, as well as the use of local resource and technology.

Functional Precedent:   Functional precedent involves the study of different designs and technology of similar buildings to the one you are designing. Your analysis of this precedent would focus on organisational issues such as:

      * What activities does the programme call for?
      * How are spaces orgnised relative to each other?
      * What key spaces are clustered together?

By looking at various examples, keeping scale in mind, you start to develop ideas in which to further solve your design.

'Functional precedent does not deal with the contextual issues you have to deal with, remember its primary use is to clarify organisational issues, and not formal or contextual issues'

The Precedent of Form

Formal precedent studies, concerns themselves with issues of form, structure, scale, spatial characteristics, etc. and investigates how forms are put together and there limitations.

Contextual Precedent

Is the study of buildings which occur in similar context to the one you are working on. This precedent study only deals with physical contextual issues.

Formal Precedent Studies

This includes the significance of the work of other architects, and the idea of typologies. One has to think of composition, as various architectural ideas. Architects design a space and this 'space' is then enclosed partially or fully and the way we enclose the space gives room for an architect's own personal designs that might only be understood by the architect themselves.

Ideas are important in the design process because they provide a frame of reference that enables on to make decisions and, at the same time, make it possible for one to understand more about the problem.

Ideas help us to articulate values, whereas concepts reflect values.

It is important to remember that one should never be too quick to let go of ideas or hold on to them too long, but to work them into the thought and design process, this is design as a process.

Feeling One's Way is a Dominantly Intuitive Process:

Not all ideas originate from an analytical or even logical or rational process.  And one cannot say that this process can be taught or effective or effective or not, it works for some people and not for others, it depends on the way you think and develop your ideas.

A good way to work through a design is to take it in steps hold on to ideas only to as how far they can be used, depending on your research and thought develop your ideas or lose ideas that does not seem to work, always remember your main ideas and work back and forth keeping in mind all the different precedents studies and what would best suit your design and context, Drawings and models are key in designing because they help you to understand the problem and help develop solutions to these problems.

House Koopman 13/03: Layout and Elevations

2012-04-22

"The Chronicles of Office War" has come to an end....

So after the big fall out on Monday, I decided that I will just have to prove to my boss that I am working hard. So Wednesday and Thursday I really pushed hard with work in order to show him that I am working. I called council to check progress on all his drawings which had not yet been approved, I checked where they are through the process of it being approved, I organised all his meetings for him, set out all his submissions did the printing, coloured council submissions set out the forms for him to fill out finished all my work and did more than required. I got all his SG diagrams in advance, and backed up all the work for the week and did not mess up one message for him And sent off emails to clients he did not have time to do. I also drew up a drawing requirements list for me and Ashley so we don't forget any fundamental parts of the drawing. Thursday I the stamp of approval and he said he was really proud that I put in such a lot of effort to catch up with the work. That was the good part of my week....

"The Downfall"

On my way to tech Friday, all ready for my crit, the car broke down, it was a big problem and I was stuck for awhile without a lift to tech. I feel really bad because of the turnout of students who came and I feel I let the lecturers down as well because I informed them that I would be there and I did not pitch. So now I have some more making up to do so I have to make sure my hand-in for Thursday is more than required,

In the mean time I updated my PSS portfolio, my dropbox account and password is in my PSS page on my blog so feel free to please check it out and leave some comments I'm still busy working on my images so that you dont have to go through to my dropbox account. will have that done soon!

2012-04-17

Today I took off sick, it has nothing to do with my horrible day yesterday, my boss was really disappointed in me because... wait for it....... while he was out he asked me to draw up an existing house and design the new extension, naturally I drew up two concepts and he did not like them because it was not what he would have done. So because of that he sees me as a failure I suppose, oh well, I cant read minds, I told him if he want me to draw up his exact work he should brief me correctly before hand so while his out of office as usual I know what to do. I'm starting to call it "The Chronicles of Office War".... part 1... although I cannot deny the fact that I am learning so much so when his in office and in a mood I whip out my earphones to keep the piece and annoy him abit.. payback! hahaha

I should comment on the work I have been doing so far, most of all I'm doing all extensions to houses, which is alot! all by myself my boss checks it, new or complicated drawings he does plans for and I do the sections and elevations, I know how to send off emails to get SG diagrams and how to calculate cape feet, degrees, minutes and seconds, inches and feet (I have to admit I did not know how to do this previously) and most drainage layouts. There was one drainage layout that I could not do which as a double storey house with a second drainage run. I think that disappointed my boss abit as well, and the fact that he says I still forget some things on my drawings, but for me I find it hard to understand for example: a factory that I have no plans for and no images, but he expects me to be rotating and mirroring machines I have no idea what they even are used for or how they look in real life. Theses things get really confusing and he doesn't understand that I need to learn still I'm nowhere near his level, obviously, anyway I guess I'm at fault. One thing he is right about is that I am still taking too slow to finish a drawing, I'll take about two days to draw up municipal and working drawings for a house extension from plan when I should be doing it in one day. I am working on it though, and to properly analyse his drawings so I don't forget anything anymore.

I'm updating my pss page today and going to try and update some more pages so please feel free to have a look and drop some comments...

I'll be at tech friday hope I see some of our class mates.

2012-04-02

Since I've last blogged work has been going okay, boss is always out of office, so I'm doing most of the work then he just checks it, people at council are asking why I'm not bringing in the plans anymore, at the moment I am covering most aspects of a project, but the work is spread out between projects, for example: I could start up one plan then I'll have to leave it and do drainage on a different drawing because there is so much different projects to get out, and we have to finish whatever is more important at the time.So I have to do a lot of jumping around between work, which is really tiring and a bit annoying because one minute I am adding a garage to one plan then i jump to an elevation on another plan and add a garage when the client really needed a bedroom hahaha! but its really forcing me to look at drawings and fully understand them which is a good thing for me, I've also started editing notes myself and have to do research on latest products which my boss finds interesting.

I've finished my first proposal for a private job, I had to design an additional front foyer/front pergola to a church in lotus river, they wanted me to design a very complicated roof structure which i drew up for them, along with my own idea for the church which would be more cost effective and required less skillful labour, and the clients choose to use my design instead, which was really cool.

I'm busy at the moment designing a shelter in retreat, it was difficult at first because I could not get the proper site area as the plot is subdivided, into three plots and not one angle is 90 degrees so I'm teaching myself minute seconds and hours on plans at the moment 

But, yes, thats whats happening in office at the moment i'll try and upload some images soon. 

2012-03-19

So it's official I am not a multi-task type of person, between being really ill lately, a huge amount of office work and training with three colleagues I've neglected my tech work which is really most important. And now I'm really trying to make up for it, so where do I begin,

Back at work my boss has taken a lot of time teaching me drainage, I just about got the hang of it now, I can lay out drainage on plan, and draw up drainage sections as well. He has also shown me how to do second runs and how to connect it to existing drainage, I've learnt about slow bends, sizes, where to put rodding eyes, manholes, municipal connections, we have been through costs of all of the above and its basically just like tech but in a practical sense.

Ashley is teaching me sketchup and rendering and another colleague of ours, Clement is busy teaching me revit. They are all helping me to deal with clients, council and quotations as well and I print and check all council submissions and filling in the forms, dealing with scrutiny fees, and amendments to drawings so I'm getting loads of experience in the admin department.

Apart from this my boss has taken quite a liking to me and is quite positive that I will be THE BEST! haha so I'm already busy with private work, he has given me a small block of apartments to design and finish to council submission (on my own time so all earnings comes to me) , and on top of that I have my own project to do, I am busy designing a shelter for a non-profitable organisation in Retreat to help homeless people so I'm really excited about that, my boss is helping me with this too as he is signing off the drawings for me.

So, this is my life at the moment, but right now my main focus is to try and balance my time and catch up with all my tech work, so watch this space guys...

2012-03-01

The structure I chose is fairly simple, with the brickwork and gumpoles acting as the primary structure, and the timber structures, the secondary structure to provide some shade and a sense of closure. I initially did the drawings on AUTOCAD and converted it to pdf files which could not be upload, so I had to convert them to jpg files which loses a lot of the quality of the drawings, so hopefully I'll find a better way to upload work next time.

26/02/2012

First trip to council (",)

So this week my boss tells me to take his car and submit some plans at council... JUST LIKE THAT! haha I had to tell him that I do not have my drivers license yet, but he was kind enough to take me there and not tell me what to do at all! I was so nervous my 1st council visit took place at the Athlone branch, and I had to submit house renovations. I didn't even work on so they were asking me questions about the design and i had no idea how to answer! It was quite embarrassing but this one guy,Phillip, helped me out, his in charge of quoting the plans and giving you the scrutiny fee, the renovations came to over 3000 i could not believe it poor clients. He also showed me all the tricks on how to lower your scrutiny costs which I found sweet.

Back at the office my boss got my sort of supervisor, Ashley Baker to teach me how to do 3D's on sketch up and one of the guys working for him Clement is helping me with Revit, so things are going well still they like teaching me things, we fight a lot though I've had a lot of death threats i'm trying to ignore those

Mishaal and I visited Greenpoint park again yesterday it was really fun, so

I'll be starting up my final drawing now for submission on Friday wish me luck!

17/02/2012

This is my first date titled blog

By now I managed to finish my first week of permanent internship (if you could consider internship permanent). This week we started an apartment building , Grotto Mews which my boss gave to me as a little challenge as I would love to design apartments one day, I have also completed two house renovations which is now ready to go in to council, who I still need to familiarize myself with...

Worst part of my week has got to be Wednesday, when it took me almost two hours trying to find out progress on a BOUNDARY WALL so annoying!

Best part of the week was my boss being really impressed with my organizing skills, his glad I could help out with the admin. as well. Another interesting thing was my first site visit, we are busy designing a school for underprivileged children I'm excited about that! My co-worker, and previous B-tech student, Ashleigh Baker is busy with the design at the moment, as well as doing his own building job, he doesn't  want to draw anymore I wonder why?    

Anyway that's basically my life at the moment hope everyone enjoys their weekend, I'm planning to!

New Beginnings...

Today  I found out that I officially got the job!

I am now working for Barry Abrahams, BMA Architects in Crawford my boss and co-workers are really so friendly and inspiring. They also encourage me to do my own private work which is great! They helping me all the way. Not to mention the fact that we are loaded with work at the moment, so things are really tough but I'm giving it my best, today I finished my first project, and it is currently with the client, so I'm kind of nervous, hope he signs it off!

About the party it was really something! hahahaha it was a lot of fun except I was sooo nervous, anyway here is a pic of my dress if anyone wants to see:) I'm really actually looking forward to some tech work though!

My First Blog Post.. Ever!

So I was thinking about things to say since this blogging thing is completely new to me...

I thought about uploading a picture of our first project which is to design and model an origami garment. I would say that my design idea is to exaggerate women's natural curves, and play around with heights and widths seeing that the aim of the project is to explore your own bodies anthropometrics and then change your body shape while still remaining comfortable. But I didn't consider the fact that the garments main function is to have some sort of movement, so I'm currently busy finalising my new design, so watch this space...

Another thing I could mention is that besides all the drama about the Saturday class, our Community Hub Project was quite fun and we received some useful insight about our group project. I hope that the individual part goes well too.

I have found a job but unfortunately my potential employer cannot tell me when I will be able to start, as he is currently moving his office so I have been advised to look elsewhere which I am currently doing, so wish me luck!

What I can say is that our first academic block was quite a success, and that I have successfully set up an online portfolio its very basic at the moment still has some of the default settings but its on its way! the site is guylainedavids.yolasite.com, I have also linked it to my blog profile if you prefer the shortcut!