The new year is already a few weeks old and the preparation for the building project has just started. A checklist is prepared to tell everyone what things need to be done before the building project kicks off. On both sides, South Africa and Germany, people are motivated and already busy with the different tasks.
The first half of the week here in South Africa was mostly used for planning and organising, the second half was dominated by visits of Green Bushes (storage) to check the material and update the quantity determination, and Makerspace (workshop) where the staff room and toilets need some attention and love. We also agreed on what really needs to be done in the latter (and what is completely unnecessary).
On the German side the work on the 3D-model continued and a meeting with a structural engineer was arranged and held in the studios in Wismar. The outcome: Our structure will be standing but there is no chance we can pre-fabricate the point foundations. With 253 kilograms they are simply too heavy to carry them anywhere.
What else can we tick off the list?
- First of all: Everyone agreed on the list and everyone knows what to do and what is important at the moment.
- The accommodation is sorted. A whole house with bedrooms, kitchen and enough bathrooms to not be in each others way in the morning will be the home for the team from Wismar. A beautiful backyard including a small cottage with a bar and pool table and a braai stand (braai = barbecue) belongs to the house. It is centrally located, ways to Makerspace and the studio are short.
- The transportation issue is solved. Three rental cars are waiting to be named and loved.
- Building manuals are in the making. They will be printed and laid out at the different work spaces so that everyone knows how to laminate a column or where to drill specific holes. The aim of this task is that when we take all the material to our actual site in Walmer Township, we only need to assemble them. This will not only save us time but also space as we do not have much of either of them.
What are the next steps?
- We will reunite with our fellow South African students. They are coming back from holiday and will join us for the preparation. So at some stage we need to (and will) celebrate that. Maybe after “Feierabend“ on Friday?
- Our tools need some organisation. Taking twenty minutes to find a tape measure has definitely nothing to do with efficient use of time or efficient working.
- As said before the staffroom and toilets we are going to use at Makerspace need some love. And cleaning. And doors.
- Although we can not prepare the point foundations themselves we can already set up the formwork for them. And while we are in the mood maybe we can manage to laminate the first columns.
Summary of the past week – What have we realised and learnt?
- Sometimes you just have to take the lead to get things done and be confident about your opinion, plan and vision. A certain degree of stubbornness is also helping, not always but at certain points.
- Talking about stubbornness: A moment where it definitely helps is when you are trying to open the front gate of Makerspace. You simply have to be more stubborn than the padlock …
- Keys are definitely key, especially when they are working properly. And when you find the right one at the first attempt.
- Tomatoes do not need much to grow beautifully. A bit of a swamp and some weed around them and they serve you. Maybe we should think about a change of business? Create the “Makerspace Garden“?
- Good communication is the base for everything and WhatsApp is definitely not the means to an end.
- At some stage it is good to just end the week, take the weekend off and walk for three hours with two horses and three dogs through PE.