Wednesday, March 20, 2013

Documents and Dough!

The construction drawings are, at last, nearing completion. Big thanks to Kurt and Jeff at Sedgewick & Ferweda Architects for their counsel. Permit fees are steep though (as is construction). Conveniently timed, I received a phone call from the Community Foundation of Greater Flint that they have awarded the project a grant. It won't finish the project, but will at least enable me to get past the unavoidable expenses of permits and the upcoming foundation repair.





 
 


Saturday, March 9, 2013

Subtraction

Two "windows" sit mysteriously closed, dividing two of the first floor spaces. It's hard to tell if these were ever open, or were originally built as shelves, but I take the cue to use them in connecting the spaces and let some let into the to-be kitchen.



Continuous studs behind the wall and the lack of a visible header suggest they were never open, but newer fireproofing and other oddities show that the wall had been altered; it's hard to tell for sure. If these are load-bearing, each stud will have to be wrapped in drywall.


A collage of frosted windows or other translucent material will cover these to mediate the connection of the spaces.


The central stair, which mirrors itself on the other side of this wall, will be partly opened to enable better circulation and play with lines of sight.



The tools I have won't let me slice any deeper to finish the puncture, so I'll have to finish this from the other side of the wall. Lining up the cuts won't be easy.