Save your Project

Successful execution of any project requires at least the following 4 agencies to work efficiently at an independent level as well as in co-ordination with each other -

• Architect
• Contractor
• Quality Assurance Authority
• Project Manager

No matter how small the project, allow sufficient time for development of theme, working drawings, budget management and project management schedules. An unplanned or hasty venture will end up consuming more time for execution and will cause wastage of money. Yet if you are looking out for a fast make-over of the space, remember to alert the design agency about the same in advance.

When the designer proposes an idea, do feel free to ask for options if you feel apprehensive at any stage of the design. You need to evaluate your choices before finalizing on a particular item for your space. Remember that it is you, and not the architect, who is slated to occupy the premises after it is ready. Any design has its foremost priority to make the space most comfortable for its proposed occupants. Find it your duty to convey your honest and frank feedback on the proposed design to the architect from time to time during the design phase itself. Amendments made later... during project execution, may lead to delay in completion.

Insist on having a demonstration of the finished product ....your designed space... in the form of handsketches or digital visualizations. Find time to check on at least the major design accessories, color, texture and lighting of surfaces. In another forthcoming post, we'll discover how these aspects end up affecting the occupants' psychology as prolonged environmental surroundings.

An architect is the captain of the project. It is imperative to find one who matches your sensibilities and sensitivities the best. Also, it may help your interests to have your designer assume responsibility for various faculties of project execution - design, contract, quality assurance of materials and project management. This will help you considerably in optimizing project execution values.

Designing your space for the first time?

Most people seeking professional consultation to get their spaces designed for the first time, have a few common anxieties - like whether the architect would respect their allocaton of budget.... whether their vision of the ready product would be taken into consideration by the architect while designing the space.... is their current availability of funds enough for their vision of home..... whether a residential space would end up looking like a hotel room....how much soul would the designed space have....

Let us attempt to sort out some of these....

DREAMS Vs. BUDGET : HOW TO BEGIN

It is very important to employ an architect only after you have evaluated their past work and their style of budgeting. Every architect has his/her own method to the process, and no particular process can be classified as the 'Best'. You need to find one that suits your requirements the best. One good way to approach a design professional, is by mentioning 5 things clearly and honestly over email first -

• site plan of your space
• your budget
• your vision of the end-product
• your deadline for project completion

The agency may reply to you about their availability for project evaluation. Make sure to ask about the agency's fees for first consultation and site-visit.

Every space is unique and so is the client. Employ an architect who insists on visiting the site (and you - the proposed user of the space) personally at least once, to have a feel of your specific and unique requirements. Before the project goes on floors, it is always better to have a written agreement with detailed specifications on the allocation of budget, list of items and quality of work agreed upon within that budget.

From the next post, we'll discuss pointers on how you can keep yourself involved in the creation of your property.

PERILS OF ‘Wall Tiling’

It’s monsoon time yet again……and as usual, I have a lot of friends calling me up to ask for handy monsoon tips to keep home interiors seepage free. Most of them, victims of poor-quality construction work, find ’wall-tiling’ an amazing option to conceal the moss and gross of rainwater seepage. Exterior walls of buildings are the worst hit, especially in a country like India, where monsoon equates to not just farming and agriculture, but often floods and deluges too.


The Question is…………….. Is wall tiling really as useful as it seems to be? Not Really.


Here’s WHY -
Just give a thought to why seepage occurs. Obviously, there is a crack somewhere that is allowing the entry of rain-water from the exteriors right into your home. The root causes of crack formation may be various. Beginning from poor quality plasterwork, joint-filling…..right up to improper RCC built-up. Very often, the original cause of a crack cannot be detected until it grows large enough to trace its origin on its own.

Tiling up interiors prevents the sight of seepage. When you conceal the surface displaying seepage, you hide from your view, not just the wetness but also the gradual deterioration of your wall. The impervious material of cladding stops water from seeping in only at the innermost surface of the wall. But unless the the opening of the crack is suitably filled and treated at the exterior, the inflow of water continues to de-strengthen brickwork beneath the seemingly neat tiling surface.

If the crack lies through the cover of some structural member, there is a serious possibility of a hazard if tiling is conducted for decorative purposes. The water continues to penetrate to the reinforcement with widening of the crack. Consulting a qualified Structural Consultant is advisable, always.

INFERENCE - Treat seepage at its source of water-entry not its outlet.

LOCAL WARS : Kadia Vs. 'The' Professional

I met our friendly neighbourhood 'Kadia', Ramlu the other day. He was in deep concern over being fast replaced by professionals who claim to have 'studied' how to build the wall. Why, even his uneducated masons could do it till recent past, exclaimed Ramlu, who now works as a 'Contractor' under a local architect. The architect too, only instructs him about the shape, dimensions and location at which to build the wall anyways. HOW to build it is left to Ramlu, The King's discretion.

And guess what, Ramlu couldn't be more correct. If the entry of qualified professionals is restricted to sophistication in elevations and plans alone, who takes care of the quality? Quality that cannot be superficially seen. Quality that is instrinsic and does not get appreciated at face value. Like the proportions of cement, sand and water in basic mortar.... like techniques of inter-locking of wood used beneath all the decorative lamination..... like the adhesion of putty hidden beneath the paint. These are the technical details that mark 'studied' professional excellence.

Else, even Ramlu has enough creativity to build up breath-takingly beautiful bungalows, those too.... sans any working drawings. After all, he's been doing it for 20-odd years before the advent of guys who have 'studied' to build the wall.