Tuesday, April 12, 2005
My Job, My Occupation…
I have wanted to explain what I’m doing but over the phone to someone or in a sentence in an email is a difficult thing. I’ve included some pictures and a conceptual watercolor that I’ve done…okay, I’d like to paint like that…Anyway, all of this may help explain the ‘PROJECT’.
I’m involved in a development called Thesen Islands. The development in its entirety contains a neighborhood, a small urban space, and a commercial/retail center with a mix of lofts and apartments. Currently, I actually have the privilege of living in the neighborhood—which is an incredible sight to see—all homes have a view of the lagoon and access to their individual jetties along the canal that runs throughout the entire neighborhood.
My work has been related to the ‘urban district’ of Thesens Islands which has been named ‘Harbour Town’. In the last three months I’ve been here I’ve seen some incredible changes take place. The island was used as a wood mill—processing timber they harvested from the surrounding forests. After it was bought, they have retained the old ‘sawtooth’ factory, the boatshed (which I work in), an old dry mill, and the electric power plant that used to supply the region.
The Sawtooth is now under complete renovation and will be used as a commercial retail area, the Boatshed, which was used to build ships during WW2 contains a design center along with my office. The old Electric Plant is undergoing renovation too and will be a community center/ museum and the Dry Mill is being retrofitted with luxury apartments that have incredible views. All of this is (not the Dry Mill) surrounded by pavement, decking, and lighting that I have detailed—I’ll never look at vandalism, graffiti, or litter the same again…
Now, some may say, this is boring work. It can be, except that in South Africa you get great drama as plans change, time runs out, meetings take place, and stuff happens. I’m sure its like that in any development but all that happens in one day.
So, there it is. My job. I’ve included some current pictures and in November, this year they will be finished. I’m not a betting man, but if I was…
I’m involved in a development called Thesen Islands. The development in its entirety contains a neighborhood, a small urban space, and a commercial/retail center with a mix of lofts and apartments. Currently, I actually have the privilege of living in the neighborhood—which is an incredible sight to see—all homes have a view of the lagoon and access to their individual jetties along the canal that runs throughout the entire neighborhood.
My work has been related to the ‘urban district’ of Thesens Islands which has been named ‘Harbour Town’. In the last three months I’ve been here I’ve seen some incredible changes take place. The island was used as a wood mill—processing timber they harvested from the surrounding forests. After it was bought, they have retained the old ‘sawtooth’ factory, the boatshed (which I work in), an old dry mill, and the electric power plant that used to supply the region.
The Sawtooth is now under complete renovation and will be used as a commercial retail area, the Boatshed, which was used to build ships during WW2 contains a design center along with my office. The old Electric Plant is undergoing renovation too and will be a community center/ museum and the Dry Mill is being retrofitted with luxury apartments that have incredible views. All of this is (not the Dry Mill) surrounded by pavement, decking, and lighting that I have detailed—I’ll never look at vandalism, graffiti, or litter the same again…
Now, some may say, this is boring work. It can be, except that in South Africa you get great drama as plans change, time runs out, meetings take place, and stuff happens. I’m sure its like that in any development but all that happens in one day.
So, there it is. My job. I’ve included some current pictures and in November, this year they will be finished. I’m not a betting man, but if I was…
