Wednesday, February 21, 2007

WHO'S WHO
Let's meet the architectural team...

Cath designed the school, she is an Architect, we've only just managed to get a photo of her! Her job was to listen to the 'client' that's the council department (Kathryn at the Children and Young People's Service) and Evelyn at the school. Then try and work out a building that we can afford that also fits in with everything we want it to do. The client wants the new school to be sustainable (eco/green), open and inclusive (big word that really means 'embraces or gives a big hug to everyone' ) and inspiring...you'll have to come and judge for yourself whether that's what Cath has managed to do.

Ivan another Architect also worked on the early designs, Brix worked closely with him as you can see.







This is Paul, he is an Architectural Technologist and knows a lot about how buildings are put together and is interested in sustainable building and had the idea for the biodiverse roof. Paul uses a computer to do drawings but he also likes to do them on a drawing board (that's the sloping table that he is leaning on here). Paul is also in charge of the 'specification' that's the written description of all the things that go into the building (bricks, concrete, carpet, windows and door handles etc.)


We've also got Kath in our team, she's an Architectural technologist, and not to be confused with Cath the Architect. Kath has been looking after the design of the inside, the 'fittings and finishes, that's cupboards and carpets and stuff. Next week she'll be finalising the colours with Lynne and Evelyn from the school, we'll show you what been choosen later. She's got some great ideas for making the most of the new school, hopefully we'll show you some of them later. We'll also add Kath's photo when we pin her down!

This is Steve, he's another Architectural Technologist, he's a wizard on the computer and did lots of the drawings, now he is looking after the construction on site, answering all the questions from the contractor (builder), and making sure that it all gets built like it's been designed and drawn. Steve's really busy now but we know he'll make sure everything is just as it should be.

This is Kevin, he is an Architect and worked on a lot of the detail design layout and details. He uses the computer for everything and can draw the details (the drawings that show how all the bits of the building go together) in 3 dimensions (so you can look at them from all angles).

This is Geoff, he is an Architect as well but joined the team to do the computer images of the finished school before it was built (see June BLOG). He stayed with the team to work on the detail drawings and particularly the stairs. Then there's also Ben an architectectural student who is observing the project for his studies during his 'year out in practice'. He is also designing the signage and the entrance feature wall, look out for more details of that later! It was also his birthday today and he brought cakes and fruit in to share in the architect's office at SD & PM. HAPPY BIRTHDAY BEN.


...CHRISTMAS...

Yes we know it's a bit late but we're catching up on being so busy. Please accept our apologies Ella and Molly who kindly took us to their house for Christmas.

We had great fun.
We were invited to Granny and Grandad's house for dinner and we had presents and a lovely meal..can you see the yummy sprouts behind us?
Morta got a nice little brown case to put our things in when we travel as well as some colouring pencils, I got some crayons and a bucket! Now I can help out with putting the biodiverse roof on the school! We just need a shovel now. We also got the fabulous 'alternative' Sheffield calendar 'The Animals Big Adventure in Sheffield' a group of four soft toys like us who have been sampling the attractions of Sheffield (ski village, canal basin etc.) and made a calendar of their holiday. We think it's great!

Thank you very much for inviting us to share your Christmas.
LOL Brix and Morta XXX

Perhaps we'll get an invitation for Chinese New Year?

Tuesday, February 20, 2007

NOW THE ROOF IS ON...
This is the last picture from up here, now the big crane has gone there is nowhere to get up this high.Any further lifting will be done by a mobile crane. thanks Phil for all your trip up the crane to take the pictures.

You can see the terraces, bottom right is the Mount Pleasant playground above the nursery and on the left is the first floor terrace outside the new art/technology room. The rectangular hole you can see in the roof is the rooflight that will let the daylight into the 'atrium' (according to the dictionary atrium is 'a skylit central court in a contemporary building or house', a posh word for a hole in the middle).

Work is getting very busy now with lots of the walls being built and the roof and the terraces being waterproofed and soon we hope the windows will be put in.

All the pipes for the ground source heating have been installed under the park and are waiting to be brought onto the school site and Andrew our artist is beginning to make the reception desk and atrium seat out of the 'glulam' (laminated timber) beams from the old infants school. we'll post some pictures of that soon.

Bye for now...Brix and Morta

Saturday, February 10, 2007

OUR WINDOWS ARE ON SITE...!
The windows made in Denmark have arrived on site and will start to be fitted in the next few weeks. There are some very big ones! We didn't have our camera but will take some pictures later so you can all see.

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