Contact signed for the Tyler Residence, aka Porchdog, today!!
Mr. Tyler's smile on his face couldn't have been larger! :)

Hitting the ground running, I've come to Capetown at a pivotal moment; the opening of the first center in Khayelitsha, the setting up and opening of the new joint office between streetfootballworld and AFH, the FIFA draw and the subsequent arrival of the centre hosts , all happening at once. Incidentally France drew South Africa so don't forget the plight of the Irish....GO SOUTH AFRICA!

This converging of key events has allowed me the opportunity to sit down in person with Esperances' Centre Hosts Dominique Uwimana and Donatien Nsengimana (accompanied by Maren Kroeger). Warmly welcomed we discussed preliminary designs and established the site strategy, which now been sent to the Kigali local authorities for discussions. As well as having an enlightening discussion about local policy and what to expect in Rwanda we discussed the main purpose of my pending visit; I can't wait to meet them on home turf!

The next steps will see the local architects be selected and appointed, a site visit to Rwanda , also meeting and familiarising myself with the local figureheads and consulting parties, and then returning to Capetown to progress the design in our new offices.

Is there time for Christmas?

Happy Birthday Mike Grote!!!!!!!

A lot has happened with the Biloxi Model Home Program since our last update. To make a long story short the Parker House is complete with Karen's Christmas decorations! The Nguyen Residence is very near completion with only finish work left. The Tran Residence is still under construction and the Desporte House was started last month. The Odom and Tyler Residences will start construction soon and the Robinson Residence is close behind.



Check the OAN updates for weekly updates on each house.

Press
Interview with Katherine Williams (Rose Fellow, Vistacon CDC): Mike and Chung (MC2), Saturday, July 21st
Texas Architect wants to do article on BZD and MC2
NY Times photographer visited Parkers, Richard Tyler, Nguyens on Thursday
KAS – Ask other interviewers when they're publishing; NYTimes has exclusive
Construction Updates
Parker:
Waiting for: Interior Doors, Lightolier Fixtures, Plumbing & Electric Trim out, Tile & Trim
Cabinet replacement, Refrigerator Exchange
$4500 refund from Mobile Lumber in the system (confirmed last Friday with Corp office)
MG will create sign-off paperwork
Nguyen:
Inspections: passed Plumbing & Electrical rough-in, Mechanical rough-in today; Final Framing next week
Interiors (drywall) to begin next week
Tran:
Framing continues: decking beginning today, wall framing next week
Bids & Permits
Tyler (Porchdog):
Appointment July 25th with planning dept to consolidate two parcels
Finishing up and coordinating engineering with Roger (structural engineer) and Nucon
Reviewing contract from Rich Watkins (GC)
Pricing Options: Cheaper of Cost plus 20% or $85/SF and/or make house smaller
Site cleared
Odom (Pinecone):
Meeting with Kara Boyd of Studio Gang next week (she is here from 22nd to 27th to volunteer)
Robinson:
Still waiting for Ray’s Reciprocity: As of July 18th, not granted, but expected next week
Approx $80/SF (over target of $110,000)-making house smaller (1 bedroom & 1 bathroom less can help bring it down) 3 bed 2 bath now
Desporte (last week):
Architectural complete and out for bid; Structural on the way
Spoke with Maurice
Initial bidding numbers: approx $80/SF (close to target of $110,000) lots of extra site work and ramping will drive cost up
Helped Desportes complete phase II gov grant application
Sponsorships & Grants:
Applying for Red Cross Grants for all homeowners: up to $20K
Sherry-Lea Update
MEMA – Center is working on
SIPS: offered 20% discount; KAS to call
Steel: Steve from nuCon has resurfaced
Governor’s office: Three-year budget is in correct hands
Mike to send electrical needs before Wednesday, the 25th for Platt meeting
Other Business
Biloxi Oprah Report - SM to send report materials from us
Funders trip
Guillen Residence – went up $100,000; Mike met with contractor; supposed to email today; is getting other competitive bids

1.0 GENERAL
1 Ray Huff of Huff + Gooden will have AIA reciprocity paperwork submitted before the AIA State Board meeting on April 18th.
2.0 CONSTRUCTION UPDATE
1 Parker:
a. HardiPlank siding installation progressing and should be completed next week.
b. Metal roofing almost complete, but remaining material was stolen Thursday night. Roofing sub is getting new material and will complete roof early next week.
c. Budget: Still need to submit current figures.

3 Nguyen:
a. Finally out of the mud (trenches were stabilized with gravel/slurry mix) and the footings are being poured today. Columns and framing will follow quickly thereafter.

3.0 CONTRACTS/CLOSINGS
3 Ready to schedule closing meeting for Tyler, Robinson, and Odom. MG will contact lawyer and get paperwork ready.
4.0 BIDS & PERMITS
1 Tran: Permit approved, and foundation work will begin early next week.
2 Tyler, Robinson, Odom still out for bid.
3 MG still waiting to hear from Sterling Properties about purchase of property adjacent to Tyler’s. MG will follow-up with BS.
5.0 DESIGN ISSUES
1 Desporte: Need to get it rolling again. KS: Follow up with Giovanna to have her look it over.
6.0 SPONSORSHIPS & GRANTS
1 BMH2: MG and JG compiling generic house cost breakdown and are about halfway through. MS will follow up with DP for his portion.
2 Home Depot Grant: Did not receive grant because housing was assessed to be moderate to affordable income level.
4 Cabinets: Probably will happen. SLB will follow up.
5 Furniture: Probably have furniture donations.
6 Elevators: Still waiting to hear from Michelle Sakayan.
7 Appliances: Whirlpool did not come through, but Bosch might.
8 Windows: SLB is expanding her search to include more manufacturers.
9 FEMA HMGP Reconstruction Grant: Supposed to hear back from MEMA on Monday, April 15th with a BCA report.
10 Lighting: still need to pick fixture types and quantities for donation from Progress Lighting. MG and JG will pick fixtures and get info to SLB early next week.
11 Salvation Army grants: still need to get applications in; waiting for confirmation of cabinet donations.
12 AIA Convention: hoping to get sponsors for the OAN.
13 Got trees donated from Greg.
7.0 NEW BUSINESS
3 Summer Americorps positions: Probably have (3) three-month slots to fill. MG will check with current students from Minnesota and Miss. State for availability/interest.

Weekly Conference Call
Friday, April 20, 2007, 1:30 p.m.

Attendees
Kate Stohr
Cameron Sinclair
Stacy Sabraw
Beth Orser
Bill Stallworth
Sherry-Lea Bloodworth
Mike Grote
David Perkes
Jenny Gurney
Benjamin Warnke

Topics
General :
AIA licensure & reciprocity update: MC2 registered, Studio Gang approved, Huff + Gooden
to follow
Office relocation: moving into new space starting today
Construction Update:
Parker: Roof & siding installation @ 80%, drywall to begin soon
Nguyen: Out of the ground! – columns up and framing about to begin
Tran: ready to start
Bids & Permits:
Remaining 4 designs: architects wrapping up
Finances:
Tyler, Robinson: checks mailed?
Sponsorships & Grants:
Sherry-Lea Update
• BMH2
• Cabinets
• Light fixtures
• Elevators
• Windows
• Appliances
FEMA HMGP – still waiting to hear from MEMA
New Business:
House closings
Press Campaign
Materials lists for each house on the OAN

1. Cape Town

Community workshop :

- Sunday, the 15th of February at Kwamfundo Senior Secondary School - Khayelitsha Township – Cape Town, South Africa

- Participants:

KDF: Zamayedwa Sogayise (Chairman), Bongi - Communication Portfolio for KDF, KDF Board Members

SFW: Katrin Elsemann

arG: Verena Grips

GRS: James Donald, Xolani (Center manager)

Architecture for Humanity: Oana Stanescu

VPUU: Michael Krause, Machiel Erasmus

VPUU projects: Jackie James (Jonker & Barnes), Tarna Klitzner (Landscape Architect)

- Brief Outline: Prayer; VPUU -organization and project presentation; FFH and GRS presentation (James and Xolani); FFH Center Design presentation (Verena Grips); Audience questioning by Mr. Sogayise; questions from audience; prayer; viewing of design panels; site visit with community members;

- For a better feeling of the workshop, please check the pdf in the '15/02/09 Community Workshop Khayelitsha' tab on the GRS Project Site (http://openarchitecturenetwork.org/node/3028/oanattachments)

Drawings for Council:

- approved by Cedric Daniels from Urban Planning Department CoCT on Friday, the 13th of February

- signed by Gert Bam (Landowner),Director of Sport and Recreation, along with application form on Tuesday 17th of February

- submitted by A. Graham to Gerhard Hanekom Senior Professional Officer (Khayelitsha/Mitchells Plain) Land Use Management / Directorate: Strategy and Planning / Department: Planning and Building Development Management on Friday, 20th of February (delayed since Wednesday, 18th of February due to the fact that G. Hanekom was out of office)

- expected approval 24 days - 25th of March

- application fee was not necessary since submission is made by the Directorate of Sport and Recreation

- identified neighboring registered owners who we need consent from

- 17th of February - received new boarding detail from Greenfields which will enable the construction company to finish almost completely before we install the complete field; drawing and additional information communicated to VPUU

Next steps:

- Monday, 23rd of February, 13 o'clock meeting with A.Graham and VPUU to discuss procedure for obtaining consent from neighbors

- schedule field trip to Khayelitsha to approach neighboring registered landowners for consent

- participants: James Donald (GRS), A. Graham (VPUU), Bongi (VPUU - Xhosa translator), Oana Stanescu (AfH)

2. Mali

- FFH, SFW & Architecture for Humanity trip to Bamako February 22nd - 27th

- Rob Venneker and Erwin Nijsingh from Greenfields to join the team in Mali

- Alioune Ba - AfH Design Fellow (from Senegal) and Hugo Helene (French architect living in Cape Town) to join Eugene, Paola and Katrin in Mali

Main Objectives: site visit & collection of site information; meet local architects and engineers; meet with Local Council and review procedures for submission; Develop Design Brief with AMPJF

- confirmed architects:

--- Diaby Abdoulaye - CAD Architecture

--- Babacar Soumare

--- Hamidou Coulibaly- Concept au Architecture

--- Igo Diarra -BALANI'S

--- Amadou Alpha Diaw - AAD

--- Cheick Sadibou Cisse

--- Souleumane Boubacar Dia

--- Paul Dapoba Diarra CAURA

--- Amadou Issa Bore - Le Modulor; Head or Ordre des Architectes du Mali

- additional 20 architects to be confirmed (for a preliminary meeting) on site

- alternative option of local civil engineer - remote designer combo: 9 engineering / consultancy offices confirmed for meeting, including

--- Pr. Dr. Ingenieur Moussa Kante - Director, Prof. Abdoulaye Traore - Vice Director and Dr. Moussa Doumbia, Professor at the Ecole Nationale d'Ingenieurs Abderhamane Baba Toure

- pictures coming soon!

3. Kenya

- FFH, SFW & Architecture for Humanity trip to Nairobi in February 28th - March 6th

- pre-selection of architects based on OAN submission by the 3rd of March, in order to meet with Eugene in Nairobi

Main Objectives: site visit & collection of site information; meet with Local Council and review procedures for submission; introduction of pre-selected architects to MYSA

- FFH Request for Proposal on the OAN opened February 12th - 26th

- Invited architects:

--- Dr. Alfred Omenya - Green Arch/Eco-Build Africa

--- Andrew Gremley - Pharos Architects

--- Joseph Mukeko - Tecta Consultants

--- Abdulmalik Gikuchi

--- Tom Anyamba - Mazingara Systems Architects

--- Peter Makachia

--- Edward D.G. Mugo - EDG Atelier

- even better: concept designs coming soon!

4. Namibia

- Received brief from FFH

- Architecture for Humanity to finalize package for request for proposal

- Request for Proposal to be sent out within next week

- Invited architects:

--- Frenus Rörich - Architecture & Design for People

--- Nina Maritz - Nina Maritz Architect

--- Dirk Theunissen - BartschArchitecton Architects

--- Christelle Smit - Christelle Smit Architect

--- Deidré de Waal - Deidré de Waal Architect

--- Hugo Scheepers - Hugo Scheepers Architects

--- Paul Munting - Jaco Wasserfall Architects

--- Eva Fritz - Marley Tjitjo Architects

So far:

- after a preliminary approval on the 23rd of January we have obtained the official Site Development Plan approval from the City of Cape Town "Department of Spatial Planning and Urban Design" and "Sport and Recreation Directorate" on the 30th of January

- the final SDP package contained the following drawings which you can view in the slideshow and on the workspace:

001 - Urban context plan

002 - Locality plan / Site Analysis

003 - Site development plan

004 - Ground floor plan

005 - First floor plan

006 - Sections

007 - Elevations

008 - Perspectives

009 - Greenfields Pitch

010 - Greenfields technical specifications

011 - Motivation that sets out the intended use of rooms and spaces and that clarifies how it is intended that the building will be operated and managed

- in the midst of all the official procedures we had a site visit on the 3rd of February. Please check the pictures on the slideshow. It is getting exciting as VPUU is moving fast. They will start paving first week in February.

Next steps:

- meeting with the CoCT Department: Planning and Building Development Management in Khayelitsha on the 3rd of February we will define the next steps for the building plan submission

- after 2 successful meetings with the landscape department of VPUU we are currently jointly developing a landscape design which will both integrate the FFH Center in the bigger precinct and underline it's independent character

- in parallel a tender committee has been established in order to organize the tendering process which will start once we submit the construction drawings