and the votes are in...

After unprecedented response to a wide spread opinion gathering mission, the overwhelming response was, Snore......

However The exciting news today is that the artichoke has requested a meeting with us. That's right folks He rang me and asked to meet. I think this means he has something exciting to show us. It is also a land mark step in his ability to instigate some communication. I'm so excited. Its gets a bit dull when you are the one trying to initiate all the time and you get knock back after knock back.... Sorry where was I ?

Ok So I am having to come to terms with the idea That I may be the only one who thinks used gal and rusty steel make good exterior cladding.. c'mon theres gota be someone out there that thinks its nice.... So that means we are going to be restricted to colourbond colours I am guessing. But do we go for the two tone effect ie. different colour on the walls to the roof? or will that just not look right? and can i remind every one that this house is suposed to be looking murcuttesk in its styling.

Time for some hard decisions

So If this thing is ever going to get out of the ground someone is going to have to make some decisions. For example, what is the house going to be clad in? Let me say right off the bat, re used gal corrugated iron. What more could any want in a house cladding. It has character, it has class it has environmental cred. ( to re-use is better than to recycle). It has ready to wear patina. its perfect. Sure it may have a few holes in it Sure it may cost the same as buying it new sure I may be the only person who thinks its a good idea but apart from that its perfect. Of course it would be a liitle to much if the whole house was clad in gal, I accept that. It needs a little something to contrast. Keeping in mind that the council likes organic earthy tones, I propose the feature cladding should be 6mm rusty steel plate. Now don't just reject it out right, think about it for a moment. yeah thats right you can see it and you love it! I knew you would.

So now that we have the exterior sorted, time to consider the interior. It goes with out saying that walls can be a little tricky to move after the fact. So you wanna get it right the first time. particularly in the important rooms like the upstairs bedroom / ensuite. Now due to the fact that I am just a humble small town boy. I have never had the benifit of having a bedroom with an ensuite. Truth be told I am a litlle frightened of the idea. But due to the fact that The bedroom is upstairs and the main bathroom is not, it kinda makes a bit of sence. However the idea of having a bathroom in a bedroom just doesn't sit right with me. So here is the proposal (see pics) What do you think? will it be practacal?

All or Nothing ?!?

We met with the architect last night. He had responded to my email by submitting a slightly updated version of the floor plan sketch. hooray for progress! ( apparently he has spent a fair bit of time in the Land & Environment court lately ) So he had a few questions about stair orientation and exterior cladding styles. Then said he will be ready to submit to council Monday week. WOW what a turn around. Of course this doesn't necessarily mean we will submit to council in 1 weeks time. I may want to show drawings to the bank, get building estimates etc first. Call me cautious but I think before I go to council I may want to see if we can in fact afford to build the flammin' thing first. Whatever! Its only money. So I may actually have something excitting to post very soon. Fingers crossed.

still nothing. :(

Nothing to report Sir!

After contacting the Architect about a month ago to see where things are at (and being told ah yes I can probably get a start on that) I have heard nothing since. I tried to call him again today didn't get anywhere. A tad frustrating.
So these images are the second round of initial sketches. We are both fairly happy with the floor plan. We suggested a few changes. such as moving the extra parking space to the eastern side of the garage. to allow for a door from the laundry to access the hills hoist. ( yes I know that I have mentioned this before but there is pictures to look at now)
I think he external still needs a bit of work.

Initial Sketches

The concept.

What exactly are we trying to build? and what is your underlying ethos on modern architecture? I hear you ask.
Well in answer to that, I offer this readers digest version of the brief given to the architect.

Anita's perspective.

Needs to have 3 - 4 bedrooms that aren't too large.
Needs to have a number of well set out living areas that allow for people living in the same house to be completely separate from each other with out having to resort to hiding in bedrooms.
Laundry needs to be near the cloths line.
Needs to cost the same as a project home.
Who cares what it looks like?

Timothy's perspective.

All of the above with the exception of the project home budget and appearance. and with the addition of;

Needs to be solar passive
Needs to look like it was designed by Glenn Murcutt
Needs at least 3 garages
Needs to look like its design has followed its function rather than its function dictated by its design.
Needs to be in harmony with its surroundings or something like that?
Needs to be affordable in some way.
I have two children to sell ohh and at least 1 kidney.

However with every episode of grand designs i watch the above seems to become a lot less fixed