2013

The start of another academic year! 3rd year Architectural Tech. student at CPUT :)
This year will bring challenges in the shape of projects that have been done for the past few years but every year the students are different and new concepts are developed and some old re-invented. I hope to tackle all the challenges by the horn! haha
I need someone to remind me of this constantly!
Registration took place in the past week and past 3rd year students gave me some good advice.
DON'T PROCRASTINATE!!!
I was told to start a new project the moment I received it and if you feel like doing nothing, DON'T, you absolutely have to do something. Anything. You HAVE to do something. Thanks guys, I'll try not to forget that.

*sara.s

The last block period for 2012!

All went well. We finished what the design team designed and the rest of the class built. A simple screen edition to a container. (I'll upload a photo or 2 soon) Simple is always complicated because simple varies lol
Anyway I'm back at work...running around most of the first day, then day 2...got some drawing work done.

And trips to Media city building, HWC and site. Busy busy busy!!!

*saraS

week before block period 5!

It is always busiest in the office before Block period.
I measured up at a medium sized residence on Friday morning, went to South Peninsula Municipality - got plans through the first two counters...
1 - where they check the overall dimensions and other things...
2 - Zoning - Mr van Wyk, always so helpful got the departure forms for neighbours to sign.
then took them back to the office for the client to collect and tied loose ends.

The firm I work for is still quite small, but word of mouth and referrals have shown us that we will soon be needing a bigger office and more hands.
Most of our projects have been in Rondebosch and Claremont, and now we are moving into Newlands, Constantia and Llandudno :-)
So the company's definitely growing fast.
Julie Chase Architectural Design - JCAD
Look out guys, she's coming!

Can not wait to get my hands dirty in Grabouw!

*saraS

at work this week...? maybe other things

So I haven't written anything for two weeks. Work has been good, I'm doing some small council submissions and Julie (my employer) has been giving me small Design exercises...because she usually handles the design and I'll work on the council submissions, then working drawings and some detailing, window/door/shopfront schedules, admin (emails,prints, issuing to site, issue slips), layouts (bathroom, electrical, lighting, etc.), liasing with clients/contractors and consultants (lighting companies, home automation companies, electricians, joinery companies, sound exciting...? I email them dwg and pdf files of our plans hahaha!) Anyway work has been good. If you're looking for a job...hopefully I'll be in third year and you can get mine! She's looking for a female with her drivers license and preferably lives in Claremont and the surrounding areas. Email your CV...Admin@jcad.co.za :-)

The small design exercises: a covered entrance, flatlet (she changed the design lol architecture's all about learning!), and boundary walls (excellent!!!) but that's about all I can handle at the moment, so SMALL suits me just fine.
I was really shocked to be hearing about the bigger firms who let students design, present and submit plans to council...thrown in the deep end - no better way to learn, but we've been busy with projects where we've been a secondary architectural firm (meaning: clients had approved plans but now were unsure what to do with them and faced challenges with missed view possibilities etc...and from my point of view it wa like the architects weren't on site at all. Falls weren't indicated, mountain views blocked out with monstrous pillars and unnecessary brickwork...because they needed to achieve the look? And then we (Julie) makes the changes and the spaces work so much better. A house in Constantia with a bathroom window opening into a passage which takes you to the bedrooms...? What were they thinking? That's because the passage was added onto the existing house which turned out wonderfully in the end with Julie's help.

*saraS

What are Architects favourite plan notes?

-...blah blah or similar approved.
-...to Engineers details and specifications.

 and the site favourites...
First award goes to "move window/door/wall" ? hahaha

Builders pick up the wall and move it? Copy and paste on AutoCAD but on site its demolition!

*sara.s

Working while fasting...

Ramadaan's a busy month for all Muslims. You have to be on your best behaviour and try to keep it that way when the month is over. Concentrating on work is easier some times more than other...you don't need to take as much breaks...the only thing that could irritate you a little is if you had unhealthy foods at breakfast time and you regret it later...because you get hungrier sooner...

Otherwise work has been good...alot of running around and sitting on your behind, hunched in front of our pcs :)

Dropping plans, walking them through council, admin in the office (does not matter how small it is...it's admin) etc. 

day one of block 4

Architecture needs to be considerate, sensitive and should have moral values.
Eg. If your hotel (or other) gets a 6star green rating, make sure you make the small things green as well, not only the building. Sunlight dish washing liquid is green in colour but not g(ood)reen for the environment lol