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  1. #2876
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    Quote Originally Posted by Klondyke View Post
    Just watching on French TV5;

    THE LOUVRE ABU DHABI
    The first universal museum in the Arab world, the Louvre Abu Dhabi is home to a museum city of more than 64,000 square meters. Its construction represented an extraordinary architectural challenge, between tradition and modernity. Behind the scenes of a construction site that will last ten years, from the first idea to its completion.

    Directed by: Patrick Ladoucette (France, 2017)
    Le Louvre Abu Dhabi

    Very impressive, TD perhaps something you are nearby?
    I know it, and was going to work there until the job I was on over ran by a year.

    It's an amazing structure, would have been v good on my resume.

    its not as near as you think as it is tucked away in the Saddyaat / Reem area of Abu Dhabi and I am now living in Dubai

    I may visit there again before I leave the Middle East

  2. #2877
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    The Opening of the Louvre Abu Dhabi

    Topped by an enormous signature dome of overlapping geometric lattices that weighs more than 7,500 tons, the Louvre Abu Dhabi Museum, designed by French architect Jean Nouvel, will open to the public this weekend, on November 11, 2017. The new museum will showcase hundreds of works of art from around the world. Back in 2007, the Louvre Museum in Paris signed a $525 million agreement to allow the government of Abu Dhabi to use the “Louvre” name for its new museum for 30 years, and $750 million more for ongoing management advice and assistance. The project, more than a decade in development, drew criticism for the use of migrant workers in its construction, with the history of abuse and exploitation of such workers in that region. Although the architect recently defended the treatment of the workers, and UAE authorities say they have made progress on labor rights, critics maintain that conditions remain appalling.



    https://www.theatlantic.com/photo/20...-dhabi/545333/

    (sorry TD, off your topic - but no so much off...)

  3. #2878
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    Quote Originally Posted by Thai Dhupp View Post
    Pedestrian Gates We got the same company that made the main gate to also make the pedestrian gates, for continuity.
    Anyone got a PM from TD asking for scaling ladders, i fear the new doors have been fitted to Thai standards.

  4. #2879
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    Quote Originally Posted by NamPikToot View Post
    Anyone got a PM from TD asking for scaling ladders, i fear the new doors have been fitted to Thai standards.
    Lol actually I am stuck in that fast-growing thorny bush growing outside the boundary and the crocodile is asleep at the bottom!

    Actually, not a lot to tell at the moment..... the 6-week snagging list time is all but up, and we are now on with setting the rottweiler (sorry, I mean K.Ek) from the OrBorTor Engineers office to go give it the once over with his trained eye.

    He found a few things, and K.Pot is in process of closing them out. Then they do a final check together and ...that's that, and he will want the final payment

    I am next there in August, when my son is also arriving from UK to become the first 'guest' to stay over. I have told him that it will be more akin to camping with a 'concrete tent' but he is not dissuaded!

    Note to self - need bed. and fridge. and sofa. and internet. and TV package

  5. #2880
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    best get those garden plans firmed up for when the muscle turns up, oh and practice doing the Thai finger pointing thing to indicate where to dig holes.

  6. #2881
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    So.... now the dust has settled on the build ( both figuratively and actually), it's time to look back to post 199 where I laid out the design considerations, to see what has been achieved and missed
    What i posted in post 199...

    1. As you know from my earlier posts, we wanted a traditional-looking construction, but with modern building practises employed. Therefore, the construction will be block and cement, with plank and slab flooring, rendered and painted walls on the ground floor, clad on the upper floor
    Check! I think we can agree that PJ and I have a traditional-looking structure following some of the designs of Lanna and Ayutthaya buildings of long ago.

    Heat Reduction

    2. To help in heat reduction we will use Q-Con (or similar) block wall construction
    Check! We used Q-Con throughout, both on external 150 mm and internal 100 mm thick walls.

    3. similarly, heat reflection under the roof tiles
    Check! We put insulation under all the roofs, and a second insulation layer above the ceilings.

    4. air flow-through in the roof void to remove the hot air
    Check! there are screened louvred openings at each end of each gable, to allow natural air flow which will remove any hot air build up. We still have the powered fan option if needed but so far all is good.

    5. large roof overhangs to keep the sunlight out of the windows
    Partial!We have it on the upper floors and of course, windows and doors under Zone 2 ground floor, but not over the downstairs windows. We will assess the need once in permanent residence.

    6. not excessively large windows - in keeping with tradition and higher up on the wall.
    Check! Windows are in proportion, in keeping with the old construction style. Maximum 1m wide only.

    7. some cathedral-style roofs on the upper floor. All ceiling height is already 3m but I hope to add 1-1.5m of additional clearance upstairs by raising those upper floor ceilings, thus lifting any warm air even higher from the living space
    Partial! not full cathedral ceiling but an extra ceiling recess of 0.8-1.0M in some rooms to maximise the heat uplift effect. Rooms are are already minimum 3m tall.

    8. Matched A/C throughout based on room volumes and hopefully cooler starting point.
    Check! Liaised with the Daikin Rep to specify the units based on room volumes, glass area, over-hangs, Q-con blocks etc. Units are linked on the internet and controllable remotely eg when travelling home, we can turn them on in readiness for our arrival.

    9. investigating options with heat-reflective glass for the windows and folding patio doors
    No...not this one!! We looked but in the end did not follow it through. Pilkington K-glass, et all was bypassed. Green tint only!

    Water Conservation

    10. use of rainwater harvesting to reduce reliance on other sources, and cut some long term running costs
    No...not this one!! ...but in the future we still can. No guttering is fixed at present but it will come. At that time we will re-visit this one.

    11. use of grey water for irrigation. along with any rain harvesting excess
    Partial! The system is not complete but the separate lines have been fitted to channel the grey water away from the septic tank. It currently passes through the grease trap them joins the black water line further along but... there is provision for the tank and distribution later on.


  7. #2882
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    Great update ... thanks

    Batting about 90% for the goals stated and achieved.

    Unusual for a Thai build !

  8. #2883
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    Quote Originally Posted by David48atTD View Post
    Great update ... thanks

    Batting about 90% for the goals stated and achieved.

    Unusual for a Thai build !
    Yeah, David- its surprising when one reviews the actual.

    I was not really thinking too much abut ceiling insulation but...there it is, and yet I was strong for the grey water system and its not fully in place.

    2 more review pages to follow

  9. #2884
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    Review pt 2, initial design considerations as detailed in post #199


    General Layout considerations

    12. master bedroom suite 'wing' with dressing room and full sized en-suite. apparently we spend a third of our lives in bed so...might as well have all the comforts to hand
    Check! Bedroom with balcony, good sized separate dressing room, and em-suite bathroom with 3-person shower (never mind what we want that for...) and full-sized jaccuzzi style bathtub..

    13. large indoor kitchen with breakfast bar, island - kitchen the heart of the house, right? separate dining room for more formal dinners, etc
    Partial! the kitchen room is finished,m with all sockets, connections etc in place - it's just that the kitchen is not yet built. I made a start with 2 base units, more to come when i am next there. island with breakfast bar is in the design. Separate dining room is completed

    14. external kitchen BBQ area for the obligatory incinerations
    No...not this one!! It is coming but not yet constructed. External wall built in readiness.

    15. large lower level shaded external sitting area - my design plans one 10m x 8m
    Check! shaded area, 8m x x10m has been created and now has some chairs, table etc. so is functioning as planned

    16. Minimum 4 bedrooms - family plus visitors needs it
    Partial! 2 bedrooms functioning, plus the office which doubles as bedroom 5, all 3 with en-suite. Zone 3 to be built in early 2020 at which point, this design consideration including bedrooms 3 and 4 will be achieved.

    17. indoors living area, but by having a folding door arrangement, this 'extends' out to outdoor living space on the 1st floor verandah
    Check! Folding doors to both living room and dining room to open the rooms to the outdoors for al fresco living and dining.

    18. Separate office. I am planning ahead that this could become a downstairs bedroom if the stairs become too difficult. well...it's that or install a lift
    Check! Separate office created with full en-suite facilities, doubling as overflow bedroom 5 when needed.. Lift consideration is for the future - not needed yet!

    19. Area to add gym and TV room in the future (under building 3)
    Partial! It is in the design, and will 100% be constructed but ...we have not built zone 3 yet. However, that zone will be starting probably in January 2020 so not so far off. it will come!

    20. by having the large external area at ground level, and with access from the kitchen, and with a WC provision under building 3, visitors never need to go 'upstairs' keeping that as our private living area.(so I can slob around in peace, with no witnesses)
    Check! This arrangement is fully in place, including if we opened the dining room folding doors and people entered - they could not go through into the rest of the house. construction of zone 3 will enhance the arrangement but it is fully working NOW, if needed.

    Electrics

    21. once completed, I see three buildings x 2 floors so... 6 electrical zones x lighting and power-point circuits, plus cooker circuit and external lighting circuit, so 14 breakers (the electricians out there can correct me if this is overkill)
    Partial! zone 1 and 2 are divided upstairs and downstairs, with a consumer unit feeding each level (2 units), covering sockets and lighting. each room circuit labeled and one offs like the oven, hob, fridge included. Zone 3 will follow the same arrangement once it is built.

    22. sufficient power points in each room!
    Check! planned numbers as per plan were fully installed, so 8 (doubles) in the kitchen, 5 doubles in the living room, etc etc.. I am not a big fan of multi-gang sockets.

    23. low-energy lighting where possible
    Partial! some, but its not the dimmable type so will need to change it in the future. it is there though. in the first month, when we were using some security lights on timers, the months electric bill was ...9 baht.

    24. a properly (to western standards) earthed system
    Check! electrical system is fully earthed.

    25. external security system, CCTV, etc
    Check! electrical system is fully earthed - will need to be extended once we complete zone 3.
    26. house intruder alarm system

    Check! we are not talking about the crocodile - that's extra! suffice to say alarm system is operation

    ....so ends part 2 of the
    design review. Part 3 tomorrow!


  10. #2885
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    Review pt 2, initial design considerations as detailed in post #199

    Oops! just noticed an error!

    25. should read...

    25. external security system, CCTV, etc
    Check! 9 CCTV cameras in operation, and, 30-day recording, UPS support and accessible anywhere in the World via internet (so at least I can watch the crooks helping them selves, from the comfort of my armchair in Dubai). Wall is 2.5M tall, spiky bushes planted outside (but taking a long time to get going). All fixed, lockable gates, security lighting in place.

    I am not particularly a gardener, more plant n hope so any advice on getting stuff to grow faster would be welcome (apart from cooch grass and bind weed, that is)

  11. #2886
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    TD a lot of boxes ticked so you've done well. You mentioned your son was coming over, how did he like TD towers? did you get him sorting the garden.

  12. #2887
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    Quote Originally Posted by Thai Dhupp View Post
    22. sufficient power points in each room!
    Dream on. There is always a need for one more.

    Looks like very good progress TD. Bet you are looking forward to move in and enjoying the new home.

  13. #2888
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    Quote Originally Posted by NamPikToot View Post
    TD a lot of boxes ticked so you've done well. You mentioned your son was coming over, how did he like TD towers? did you get him sorting the garden.
    yes, NPT... he and his GF came to Thailand for the first time and part of the trip was a stop over with dinner, in the new house.

    I had to race to get a new mattress delivered, and a garden table and 6 chairs (the kitchen units / island / breakfast bar not yet constructed) in readiness.

    I knocked up 2 kitchen base units (with my new 18v cordless tools - thanks DeWalt!) for the induction hob and microwave, and we were all set.

    PJ was going to cook a load of different Thai dishes but I suggested instead we go to the fish-market at Ang Sila and get crab, shrimp, squid, shellfish instead.

    We blew 16k in IKEA of cooking utensils, plates, glasses, mugs, knives forks n spoons etc and a very nice evening was had by all.

    At about 3.30am, when we had all turned in, I woke and noted the AC was off and it was warm. a quick check found nothing working. damn!

    i went to the upstairs Consumer unit and it was all off, so I put all the breakers back in and power was restored.

    Next morning PJ told me ''powers off' - OMG a power problem!

    I re-did the breakers but this time, no power.

    Walked up to the next plot where the lady who tried to sell the land to us for 1M was now building a small bungalow, ''have you got power?'' 'yes' came the reply... 'from the generator!!'

    Turns out the PEA were doing main cable repairs about 1km away and had been round the previous week to advise of the power cut - we of course were not there!

    ahh well... thew planned breakfast was ditched and we went out for food. Lucky it did not happen the night before. He loved the place though and is planning a return asap.

    In terms of garden, he helped mark out the pool and we sprayed the grass and bind weed to make a start on clearing the ground.

    I will be back on it in December when i am there next.

  14. #2889
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    The joys of Thailand, glad you son loved the place. Wait til moo bahn grows and the pu yai still the village jungle telephone outside your place.

  15. #2890
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    Quote Originally Posted by NamPikToot View Post
    The joys of Thailand, glad you son loved the place. Wait til moo bahn grows and the pu yai still the village jungle telephone outside your place.
    lol, her liol bungalow looks like it might be the servants quarters for us. i suggested we offer her a job doing laundry and swwping but PJ said that was 'unacceptable' lol ahh well.

    Now we are trying to suss out a proper net / TV connection.

    Seems like it's TOT for us as the others have weak or no service in our rural idyll.

  16. #2891
    Days Work Done! Norton's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Thai Dhupp View Post
    Seems like it's TOT for us as the others have weak or no service in our rural idyll.
    No fiber available? Really in the sticks here and have fiber package from True. TV and wifi.

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    Quote Originally Posted by Norton View Post
    No fiber available? Really in the sticks here and have fiber package from True. TV and wifi.
    Not from true, AIS, dtac, etc

    but TOT can provide a service if 5 people are interested, apparently. So Me, Miss 1m-for-the-land, Me for land no.1. ...they can find the other 2

    Not sure how they will provide the service but the connection speeds seem good - 200 / 200 Mbits (and more) in and out (i think), on a par with the other players

    I told PJ to chase them up and she's off there on Friday with her Brother.

    You know how 'in the sticks' we are - I had to blow that big chunk of cash on the transformer, remember!?

  18. #2893
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    Quote Originally Posted by Norton View Post
    Dream on. There is always a need for one more.

    Looks like very good progress TD. Bet you are looking forward to move in and enjoying the new home.
    Yep Norton...really cannot wait to finish here and move in there.

    Just got to pay for the finishing / furnishing on those Philippine apartments (so that the income starts coming), and I can knock off here!

  19. #2894
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    Quote Originally Posted by Thai Dhupp View Post
    I will be back on it in December when i am there next.
    I knew it..
    You said you'll finish working August Keep on going, your castle is hungry and it has to cost if you want it good!

  20. #2895
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    Quote Originally Posted by lom View Post
    I knew it..
    You said you'll finish working August Keep on going, your castle is hungry and it has to cost if you want it good!
    yeah, Iom... I meant august 2020

    Chances are, this will be my last ever project so I might well see it out (Feb'ish next year)

    Yeah, yeah I know I said August, then October, then December, then 27th Jan... but now....

    and not 'chances are'... it is my last project.

    mind you, ''never say never again'' .....

    yes...i have always been decisive!

  21. #2896
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    Good to see you made it back to LOS and had a good time TD, luck has it you had to come when they cut power, otherwise is your power

    fairly consistent in your area?

  22. #2897
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    Quote Originally Posted by dennis4558 View Post
    Good to see you made it back to LOS and had a good time TD, luck has it you had to come when they cut power, otherwise is your power

    fairly consistent in your area?
    Hi Dennis...yes.. its a steady supply...usually. sods law that cut on that day ahh well.

    December is racing towards us and i will be there again. hopefully by then we will have made the move.

    Got to sort out a vehicle next - i was thinking Ford Ranger Wildtrak - anyone got any experience of sed vehicle?

    we need to carry stuff still. Car will come later.

  23. #2898
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    Quote Originally Posted by Thai Dhupp View Post
    anyone got any experience of sed vehicle?
    Son in law has one and swears by it. He has the basic model as like you he has a car as well. Recommend you purchase same. No need to have all the bells and whistles for a work truck.

  24. #2899
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    I like bells n whistles...

  25. #2900
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    Quote Originally Posted by Norton View Post
    Son in law has one and swears by it. He has the basic model as like you he has a car as well. Recommend you purchase same. No need to have all the bells and whistles for a work truck.
    Actually we do not yet have any vehicle.

    I usually rent a Vios or Fortuner depending on what we are doing and who is with us.

    we will probably keep the truck a good white until everything is completed (the resort, remember...)

    so i want a bit of comfort until we sell it and get the Ferrar....Vio....Discovery

    lol I wish... probably a Camry or the like, not decided yet.

    good to know someone swearing by and not swearing at the Wildtrak

    I drove one here - it was as I expected, and right now Ford Thailand have a good deal - 25% down, then 4 years at 0% AND they give 4 years of 'first class' insurance, whatever that it..?

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