BEFORE DESIGNING; Possible Checklists

Months ago I was contacted to do a design proposal for a friend, and by chance I had requested to visit the site before embarking on the job after the survey was provided. This is against the new norm which is just requesting for the survey and proceeding from there.

Fortunately for me it was discovered that I will rather need a topographical survey which would have provided me with an accurate depiction of this property and a site section to fully utilize this landscape. With an elevation of about gradient of about a metre from the main access point in the front to the back, one will appreciate the importance of conducting site inventory.

Site inventory and analysis are considered to be not only valuable but also the first step in the design process, and by now is not a necessary consideration or requirements by most practicing architects on this side of the world. Most of construction requirements that ought to have been well thought of at the design phase are now decided on sites which do not always fully address or really solve an impeding situation.

Back in the days in school, you hardly can make a presentation during jury without your site inventory and analysis even though majority of such are repetitive or “copy and paste” like I used to call it. Can you blame the students for producing a repetitive site inventory and analysis for different abstract sites when their lecturers are also too lazy to outsource and provide real challenging sites to aid their teaching? In fact, to some of us, we considered those first two sheets (inventory and analysis) as add-ons to enable us have more sheets pasted on walls for presentations not because we actually believed that our designs are supposed to evolve from data collected from conducting a proper site inventory.

Information gathered from this particular site fueled the site analysis of the existing conditions and features that were later used in integrating both the natural and manmade systems on the design process. 

A split level design solution was considered to help capitalize on the site strengths while minimizing negative effects from site weaknesses and constraints.

It is good to note that the adjourning property already considered using a bulldozer to excavate his own plot there by making the property sit uncomfortably and unprofessionally below the natural ground level. In fact, he will need a retaining wall again round the fence to prevent it from falling over. We approached our design from a technical point of view with a site section across the 1200 meters gradient, which revealed a 6level split levels will best address the constraints. Another restriction is the fact that the client had initially stood against having just too many steps, so we had to design the steps across the horizontal split levels making the slope not ambiguously noticeable on the interior except for the changes in the headroom which can also be kept at a constant level if we both insisted.

In the end, we were able to win our argument of not having to use bulldozer to excavate the whole top soil, saves additional costs that would arise at every stage of a bad and not carefully thought process. With this we feel it is important to share and encourage prospective clients and colleagues in the industry to ensure site inventories and analysis are embedded in our requirements before a design is done.

Also maybe our schools have different definitions but visiting a site is a site investigation, the result (on paper/representation) is a site inventory/analysis. They need to do more by enforcing a site visit before any design proposal is developed.

My Father

My father

A very hard-working man, he travelled far and wide doing what he is passionate about. The bills were crushing so much that he hardly have time for himself not to talk of his kids. My father will spend his only days (weekends) at home coordinating Landlord meetings, family meetings, village meetings with little time for us. Such was his dedication to the life of people around him.

He'll come back from most of his trips exhausted, tired and weak with swollen knees. He prolly have managed to squeeze his long limbs from Iwo Road to Okene(Kogi State) where he was constructing a road inside Federal College of Education, or manage to get back from his Faculty of Arts project at the Olabisi Onabanjo University Ijebu-Ode. He's such a workaholic, astute Engineer of repute with zeal for professionalism and perfection.

At an encounter with a family member, she suggested that some of the material left overs should be brought home for him to complete his personal house but my OG said nope. He had claimed that it is against professional etiquettes and mode of operation. He's someone with that strictly abide by rules set for himself and try as much to make us follow the same path.

At some point we had thought Daddy assumed that we spent all those times at home while he's away for work that we were busy watching movies, so we are most times denied watching those movies while he's around. No one dares to stay in front of the TV beyond 9am even though mumsy later ended up sneaking a small TV int our room without his consent. At some point we'll pray he never gets to come back home some times coz of his strictness, little did we know those were part of the trainings that has helped to shape our lives till date.

As he grew older the jobs started to grow dry and we began to share times with him some more, but am sure this is not with the way he would have loved it. It was those hard times when we will barely have dinner to eat most nights. Some of which will be made worse on nights when there is champions league action involving his darling team (Manchester United) are on the receiving end of a loss in a knock out game encounter. Memories of those nights with victories are often times longer though, we will argue endless till we all get tired of how many more goals we could have scored, the next opponent, our chances against them amidst other issues.

"Baba Mon U" as he's fondly called will have his wife wait for all her boys to return from those crowded viewing centres before the main door into our three bedroom apartments gets locked after every champions league games that involved Manchester United.

Also a die hard lover and supporter of Shooting Stars Sports Club of Ibadan, I can remember growing up to see memorabilia of the defunct IICC hung across walls of his bedroom and was eagerly anticipating for the day we all will go to the stadium to share some moments till death took him. Watching the Africa Cup of Champions Cup game finals that involved his darling Oluyole Warriors against Zamalek of Egypt that sunny afternoon in December 1996 on TV was the closest to the moments I had dreamt off.

The game ended 2-1 against shooting stars and 3-3 aggregate after the the away side ran 2-1 winners in the reverse tie. 3sc coming back from being the league Champions the previous year paraded the likes of Abiodun Baruwa, Duke Udi, Ajibade Babalade, Patrick Pascal and a whole lot of others as the game went into penalties after the regulation. How we were both hailing at every spot kick of shooting stars player going in and wailing in agony while that of the Egyptian side was being conceded simultaneously in most cases until the last set of penalties were taken is still fondly remembered. It ended a sad evening as the last kick played by Ademola of Shuaibu Amodu tutored side was saved Nadel El Sayed and the heavily crowded 70,000plus fans in attendance at the Cairo International Airport went into roars with what we later got to know as fireworks(I call it red lights and smoke back then). shooting stars vs zamalek

Their own generation left the raising of kids for our mothers. Mummy will pay the bills, attend PTA meeting, buy this, buy that and you'll think your father isn't doing anything just because he was never around to do the little things that appears don't count. But then, he is the one working so hard to ensure those bill were sorted. I guess the growth in my life is revealing some more details and I am understanding my father more in death than when he was alive. Our mothers were everywhere with their whatever you call it. (sakamanje)

If he had stayed a lil while longer, may be their is a chance to change the narrative, he would have wanted things done differently. Approach matters differently, his commitment those that now appears not worthy of his attention and all. But then today I look at this picture I took with him at my convocation 8years ago and discovered that I was just the only one who has got such opportunity to have a picture with our father. Oh sorry, I challenge any of my siblings to prove me wrong, no one else can boast of such picture.

For so long it was looking like he hated me, I was not allowed to watch TV late at night, not allowed to attend classes without chores(except mumsy decides to let me study and do the chores on my behalf hence my laziness with chores till date), I made my papers at two different sittings but he decided not to let me process admission until I make all of my papers at a sitting. Yes I made it and am using that certificate for the first time today with so much joy and happiness(I got admission with all those his rejected certificate). 

All I wanted in my life while growing up was to inherit his book shelf and I looked at my sitting room wall awhile ago with lots of fulfilments and joy. On this date last year after receiving the saddest call of my life so far, my first thought was my father's bookshelf. It's all I ever wanted, and in his memory I promised to raise another engineer in the family in less than 10years from now.

Day in day out I have never at any time stopped imagining how life would be having you on the same project, how much I'll have fire you on some projects because I'm the prime consultant and watch you beg or take a walk while I beg you back to stay on the same job. You nurtured and watched me become whatever it is I am today and at no time did I ever forget how many of your sacrifices I took for granted until now. 

I have since followed the path you created and my dream was to show you how happy and thankful I am only because you prepared me for virtually everything.

I will forever miss you for what could have been Eng. Yekeen Adesola Animasaun👷🏽‍♂️👷🏽‍♂️👷🏽‍♂️

The new generation of fathers are not those who pay bills, but those who are there to be called Daddy..... Miss you OG

Constructing your drawings(the role of the section)

Building components used in modern construction are not uniform i.e. uniformly filled(designed). There are objects that may have 'detailed' features(holes, grooves, recesses, protrusion, etc.). These details can (only, can't be only) best be shown shown with a sectional view (especially when the drawings are in 2 dimensions) and makes it an essential or rather important detail in construction drawing.

A 'section drawing', 'section' or 'sectional drawing' shows a view of a structure as though it had been cut along an imaginary plane which is referred to as “cutting plane”. Plan drawings are in fact a type of section, but they cut through the building on a horizontal rather than vertical plane.

Cross section drawings show views of the home as though you had sliced  through the house from the top with a saw and looked in from the resulting opening. This view will help the builder better understand your interior and exterior construction details.

When designing or representing structures (buildings) it gives a view that passes through spaces such as rooms and also through the building fabric, and this can reveal relationships between the parts of the building that might not be apparent on plans or elevations.

Majority of private clients on this side of world can actually afford but are not always willing to pay the professional charges to produce a detailed working/construction drawings as the case may be. This has in time over the years makes majority of buildings to lose forms and shapes or clearly deviating from the initial preconceived performance briefs provided.

If drawings will lack a back up specification writing and finishing schedule, then the least that is expected is to have our building sections comes with more (appropriate) details that will aid construction. The more complex the home design, the more cross sections you should provide. I have said it so many times, that the basic requirements of minimum of two sections as a basis for all buildings more than one floor going for construction approval at the local planning authorities has made so many Architects more lazy. (maybe you should consider the fact that planning drawings are not necessarily construction drawing, the constructor/builder is therefore at liberty to require as many sections as he requires to construct). As shown below, the proposal require not less than the amount of sections(6nos) made available if not more.

Because of some of the duties sections are meant to perform which are not limited to what is being highlighted in the next paragraph, an average 5bedroom duplex design will need not less than four sections to make such documents useful for construction to be done the way you had conceived without you being charged to supervise such construction. An average builder should be able to understand the basic things and ideas you intend to implement from your sections.

These drawings are used to show such things as wall and roof framing details, exterior wall layers, stair construction and even interior details such as variances in floor and ceiling heights, soffits, moldings and cabinetry. Cross sections also show window details such as dimensions, exact locations with respect to interior walls and their heights relative to the ceiling or floor. Cross sections in general do not show finished wall or flooring materials aside from sections that specifically detail wall or floor layers.

Thanks to Arc. Moyosade Adesibikan for the wonderful review and editing of this blogpost.

THE SELF ENFORCED ISOLATION (Part 1)

My Love,

So you made it. Woow the last two weeks was hectic for you right ? Pelle baby mi. There were times it feels like this is the end but you said nope. This isn't over, you've got more to live for.

There were times you shed tears without showing it in other not to scare people around you that you were more dead than alive, that's strength over there.

Now you fully understand that your body will continually reacts to ailments and sickness differently as you grow. Your health is very key and should be treated with utmost concern. As you grow older, your immune system does not work as well. The following immune system changes may occur:

• The immune system becomes slower to respond. This increases your risk of getting sick. Flu shots or other vaccines may not work as well or protect you for as long as expected.
• Despite some antibiotics and malaria medications you took, your body heal more slowly and you were scared. This is because there are fewer immune cells in the body to bring about healing. The immune system's ability to detect and correct cell defects also declines as you grow.

In your self enforced over 14days in isolation, you've discovered that there is a need to constantly observe the following once you get out of bed safely:

• The more exercise you get the more you help boost your immune system.
• Most times you wake up you are already late for work and do not have enough time to wait for breakfast. From one call to another, one site to another and by 4pm you are probably not yet eaten anything which is bad for your health. You'll start to eat healthy foods, even if you have to start managing the ones they bring to site for your workers to buy time till you have where you can have a good meal. Good nutrition keeps your immune system strong.
• Thank God that you do not smoke as it is observed that smoking weakens your immune system. Otherwise imagine how it would have been having a lung disorder amidst this your sickness.
• For 30days in the month of Ramadan you stayed off alcohol only to quickly return back to it as soon as the only month was done with. This alone affected your system as your system already adjusted to it's lack of alcohol intake. If you can survive 20days without your favorite Budweiser then you should not only limit your intake of alcohol if it's not possible to drop it completely.

For the very first time in your life, you wished to go to work but your body system can't afford it, you were walking pass your fridge filled with Budweiser and can't take a second look, you could not eat anything aside akamu and agidi. What this tells you is that things can happen and change so fast and you'll need to be more careful. You need to focus more on your health as the earth will pause for a second to mourn your demise.

It was difficult to convince anyone about how sick you were because of your constant activity on social media, but then shout out to those who stood by when needed. Demola and Seun were shuttling back and forth to provide medications and meals some times, but then these two finished all the drinks you had bought days before you got sick during these times. We are brothers for life guys.

Wifey and the kids were amazing not to disturb your peace, they stood by you all along and it's amazing they gave you that comfort you seek. Even though at times you will still have to scream, shout and try scolding these little ones but their stubbornness made you just slide back to your bed.

To be continued.....