Concrete Wall

The concrete retaining wall is in. Man, that thing is huge. Handball, anyone? Check the photos:

Retaining Wall and Floor Joists

House Plans and Week 3 Photos

Almost finalized floor plans above. Sill working on the layout of the second floor of the main building. Other details are being resolved, but thought we should share these now that construction is underway.

Well drilling started today and should finish by early next week. We met Jeremy at a house project he is currently finishing to make a decision about concrete floor finishing. During our conversation there, he mentioned that framing would start within the next 3 weeks. Moving along pretty well, because the weather has been uncharacteristically nice for Vermont.

Also posted more photos from week 3 : click here

Concrete Days

Anchor Foundations arrived on Wednesday and concrete is happening. I stopped by after work today and they were placing the forms for the basement. I’m amazed by how different things look as the footprint for each of the structures becomes defined in 3 dimensions. When we met with Rolf and Jeremy on Monday they told us that throughout the process we’ll have different perceptions of the space—and that this happens in all projects. There’s a shift between things looking too big to seeming too small and back again. And we eventually end up (hopefully) with the space feeling just right. Kind of like Goldilocks and the 3 bears.

Well, this process started for me today. The foundation hole was seeming HUGE to me on Tuesday — and now that the forms are going in, it’s looking much smaller. . . glad I was forewarned of this process. More photos are here http://picasaweb.google.com/tinacvt/VillaVerdeConstructionWeek2#

Another Planet

Stevie (in the photo) and I went out to the land this morning — the dirt piles keep growing! The basement hole looks complete — and massive to me right now. The landscape is so altered, that it felt almost as though we were on another planet. With great weather forecast for the entire week the concrete work will commence! I’m hoping to swing by during the day to get photos of work in progress.

I’m also in the process of creating spreadsheets for our bathroom and kitchen fixtures and lighting. Hoping to have most of that complete by June 1st, so that things can keep moving, especially since I’m entering my busy season at work.

More later.

Let the Games Begin

I can’t seem to stay away from the land now that things are happening. Ran out there after work again tonight to see what progress had been made. I’m finding lots of things to photograph out at the building site. Take a look at them here:

http://picasaweb.google.com/tinacvt/VillaVerdeConstructionWeek1#

The first few photos are of a model that Rolf had one of his interns build. We hope to post floorplans sometime soon.

Dig This! Excavation has begun.

First tilling, note driveway. Then excavating according to site plans. Pictured below is Steve from Island Excavating.

Furniture Finds

The house excavation hasn’t started yet and we’re already buying stuff to put in the house. Tina made a great find at Barge Canal Market on Pine Street. Two Cantilever Cane Chairs designed by Mies Van Der Rohe in 1927. We’ll need to have some caning repairs done but they are in great condition — the chrome near perfect.

When I went with Tina to check out the chairs we saw a great sofa that seems like a good fit for our main room. It was made by the Troy Sunshade Company probably back in the 50’s or 60’s. Troy Sunshade featured some interesting mid-century designers including Gilbert Rohde and Donald Deskey. We’re uncertain who designed this particular sofa, however, it will also need a little work — the gold, vinyl upholstery is in good shape but not exactly what we’d like.