The Thailand expat forum for Travel, Lifestyle and Fun.

Nawty

Don't need renderings to build.

Why would you sound so shocked and amazed.

Fabian

But there should at least be some kind of building plan? Though I know they build without any upcountry but this is not the typical house.

cimboc

Exciting stuff mate, cheers for taking the effort to share your adventure! Really looking forward to some regular updates

DrAndy

so, the second floor columns have been poured and the shuttering taken away



they have then prepared the floor for pouring




I am not sure why they use bamboo in some places and preformed slabs in others...must ask




up on the second floor; the views are getting interestin



they then start putting the supports for the next floor

some building firms use real scaffolding, but many don't







The top story floor is getting ready so I climbed the home-made rickety ladders and had a look. The views are good in a couple of directions, and just rooftops in other. Nice though, I can see DrBOb from here




Looking at the construction from the Soi


so, the flat roof is ready for pouring and the roof support columns are up




more to come....

__________________
keep 'em coming

Nawty

Not sure what you mean by bamboo in some areas....but if they are using it for formwork in certain areas and not others like you said, it is probably the wet or bathroom areas as they are poured of solid concrete for waterproofing and leakage problems.

Check your plans and see if they coincide with the bathroom areas.

Are you sure it is only 130sqm all up ?? Looks somewhat more than that, especially with 3 levels.

__________________
'Owner of 'Arse of the year 2008'......

First after the winner... 'International Architect of the year 09'

DrAndy

Yes, you got it Nawty, those are the bathroom floors, thanks

when I said 130sqm in plan, I meant the ground it covers

so yes, the floor above is also approx 130 sqm, as is the flat roof

Fabian

So 260 m², that's a lot of space.

Seems like it was a misunderstanding on my side about what rendering means. So what about the floor plans, do you mind to share them with us?

DrAndy

They have removed the supports from the ground floor now the cement has set

it gives you a much better idea of the size of things

you are looking through the kitchen to the main room, the stairs are on the right




the specialists came in and laid the anti-termite pipes for injecting the yearly death potion



another view of the staircase location



this will be our little paddling pool on the roof, approx 6 x 2.5 m, it still weighs 24 tons plus the concrete and iron




here are a few views from the roof

to the south




to the east



to the west and DrBOb



and the north


the wheel of fortune

aging one

Damn that is gonna be nice. Well done.

DrAndy

thought I would share my storage area with you, as well as the workers. The 4 married couples live here, in makeshift rooms

here are my bricks, plus a few reclaimed doors and windows at the back; those are all labelled for locating later




These are some of the old windows from the wooden house; I will reuse some of them. You can see the workers respect my nice old windows and banisters



We have had to make a few new windows and ventilators, using old wood, of course





and this is what a wooden house looks like, in flatpack

DrAndy

Back to the building

this is one of the 2nd floor balconies. Essentially, we will have double wood doors opening onto these; they are not big enough to use, except the one at the front of the house for the guest bedroom there

note the finely crafted ladder. Quite exciting to use. I have never found out why ladders have such wide steps for what are, essentially, fairly short people.



they have poured the ground floors now, and remembered to put in a plastic dampstop

this is the part of the house at the front which will be open




This is the main room and stairs, housekeepers bedroom etc



they have started welding the roof into place




A view of the roof from the road



so now the building pics are just about up to date. Things will be a little slower from now on!

I am really looking forward to them starting on the wooden house wing

Rural Surin

Again...I like what you're doing. Cheers.

DrAndy

well fabian, they are on bits of paper and I don't have a scanner available

so you will have to wait for those, sorry

oh yes, they are typical Architects plans too, they show nothing of the true character we want to achieve. They have little people standing around, and cute trees.

anyway, the real building is going up before your eyes

if you need to know any specific point, maybe I can help though

Marmite the Dog

Not always.

I believe CMN's gaff's plans were scribbled on the back of a cigarette packet.

DrAndy

I heard that they were neatly drawn; has he given up smoking?

anyway, the architect has the plans on a CD, I don't

I don't know if it is true elsewhere, but here the architect seems to retain the right to the CD of the plans, rather than the client

when I changed architect, he had to buy the CD from the previous guy!

Nawty

Geeez....that sucks....you are paying for it and more so your design.

No way would I agree to that.

You will find he likes your ideas and will use it with a future client.

No way the architect retains the rights/ownership of it....you are paying for it, it is yours.....tell him to fuck off, or is it to late.

What % did he charge for the right to keep your ideas ?

DrAndy

It seems to be the common practice here, and elsewhere. My architect in the Uk never gave me any CD, just paper plans and planning consent!

no problem really, I don't normally need the plans later

I also have no problem with him using any ideas I have. I too am a professional and any experience I gain with one client gets used with the next etc; that is normal

benlovesnuk

Dr. A looks like its coming along swimmingly!

Im interested to know which came first, the plans for the house, or finding the land?

To go further, did you have plans in mind (as you say you done with an architect) and just so happened to find a suitable plot?

Or rather did you find the land first with the house on it, with then the need to design a house?

If so where did you get your idea and inspirations from as you mentioned such a varied selection of styles?

thanks once again!

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im hot its so hot today.......milk was a bad choice!

DrAndy

Ben, of course the land came first, then the house designed to fit it

so no plans in mind; they were all dreamed up to suit the location

for instance, if the land had been long and narrow, I would have designed a house more like the Chinese shophouses in Malacca, with a courtyard in the very centre of a long house

but it isn't

as for ideas and inspirations, the varied influences obviously gave me some thought

when I have seen some feature of a building I liked, I tend to remember that, then maybe use it when I design a room, a garden, a building whatever

DrAndy

so, the roof is coming on; I have been away three days and see good progress



I have never had a metal framed roof before, so it looks interesting, quite strong too



There are geckos there too, the noise does not bother them



The walls are going up; QCON blocks have been specified for their insulation properties, both heat and noise. They are very easy to work with and cut, but they cost a bit more [at] B30 each




we have an equal opportunity workforce too. The women are good blockies

The site office has moved inside as the welding guys were raining them with sparks





This area will be open and connected to the courtyard i.e. part of it



6 mouths are better than one, so I am told





anyway...

here they are making the former for the arch into the kitchen. Rather than a normal arch we decided to put in a "moongate" for fun




I am not sure if this is a Moonmoth?

do they bite?