Out and About Part One — The joys of dealing with Committees
“Your Plans are crap,” a jowly, florid man glared at me. His glasses twinkled in the light and I (no doubt sitting in his chair at the top of the table) smiled sweetly at him.
Somehow or another I took a deep breath, smiled again and said, “you are being very rude, in fact downright offensive, in front of my client.”
I glared at him “I don’t see why it’s necessary for me to be treated this way.”
My adversary sat back in shock, “I am an architect you know,” he said weakly.
I decided to take the wind out of his sails.
“An Architect, that’s great, perhaps you could critique my plans both technically and aesthetically.”
I must say this chap was brave, stupid but brave.
“Where’s the roof plan?” he demanded, stabbing a stubby, nicotine stained finger at my plan.
“Right here.” I said, and waving over his clammy looking hands I pointed.
I saw the quickly hidden semi shock and embarrassment on his face. I shouldn’t gloat, but this was in fact my first house and it was at the Featherbrooke Estate, I was still working on the building site at the time too.
The Aesthetics Committee man had to concede defeat and leaned back in his chair. His beige clothing caused him to fade into the background once again.
“He has the meanness of a whiskey alcoholic and clearly hasn’t bothered to look at my plans,” I thought to myself. I smiled sweetly at him again. I had him by the balls.
Oh yes the joys of dealing with Aesthetics Committees and Home Owner’s Associations! It has on two occasions taken considerably longer to get them to approve a plan than it did for me to draw it in the first place…
The Featherbrooke House was not my own design, the architect — Billy had just died of a brain tumour whilst he was busy designing the house. It was beautifully drawn, but had some mistakes like the mysteriously morphing chimney, flue and fireplace. I do wish I still had a set of Billy’s hand drawn plans — they were stunning.
This was the plan :-
This is how it turned out…
Yes another joy — the Client had taken it upon himself to do his own thing and enclosed all the balconies. The Aesthetics Committee was up in arms.
Raphael however did not give a damn. You see he had already managed to swing his Occupation Certificate from the Council and there was nothing Featherbrooke HOA (Home Owner’s Association) or the Aesthetics Committee could do.
He then got me to do more plans — this time for a swimming pool inside it’s own special pool house — made entirely of glass, covered walkways, an entertainment area. Raphael’s expansion plans knew no limits.
He was incredibly proud of a shower he had imported from Brazil. It was enormous, had about 15 different settings for the shower with euphemistic names like rain forest, sea breeze etc.etc. It also doubled as a sauna or steam room. You could program any music or lighting you wanted. It was outrageous and had an eye watering price.
The Aesthetics Committee wanted Raphael to put on a new roof. They said the house looked too ‘Portuguese’, Raphael was from the Canary Islands and didn’t give a shit.
Generally my plans just get signed off by Aesthetics Committees or Home Owner’s Associations. They do like to flex their muscles a wee bit and often get you to add more detail or notes onto the plans.
Some Committees are a nightmare to behold and make your life a living hell — just because they can. I think one of their issues is that I did not formally study Architecture (just as I never went to art school or took the extra diploma course in Journalism). I know for a fact that a lot of Architects hate the I can do it too attitude of a lot of draughtsman/designers.
Still you’ve got to keep smiling!
The lady from the Estate near Midrand — the big Ernie Els designed Golf Estate gave me grey hairs and sent my client over the edge more than once. In fact I haven’t actually seen the house now it’s completely finished. It took an epic 9 months to get this lady to approve the plans. At the end she was my friend and used to show me pictures of her cats and her friends cats etc. etc.
However this lady’s insistence on a virtual complete re-design and the time she took — meant that the cost of the build was around R700K more than it should have been. Eish… In addition I don’t think I’ve gone into so much detail before on a set of plans. The plans were so detailed — it took 3 months to get them through Council — I do detailed plans — construction plans in fact — but this was crazy.
One time she opened the drawer where the files for the stand were kept. I noticed two sets of earlier drawings from different owners. So this lady had already squashed 2 sets of dreams?
Anyway here is the house :-
and here is how it turned out -
However the fun and games are still on! In yet another Golf Estate in Midrand — this one near Noordwyk I have been battling for nearly a year to get these plans approved.
In fact they WERE approved by the controlling architects. Then the HOA got involved and tossed them out. I have had meetings with both the architects and the HOA (separately). They are busy pointing the finger at each other in terms of who won’t allow this house to be built.
Here are the plans :-
And here is my sketch of Plan B (not to scale). It looks as though I might be doing a re-design over Christmas…
I do believe that it’s the HOA lady that is causing all the crap. I have worked with the controlling architect before and she wants me to go into a small joint venture with her firm…
Well it’s more driving up and down for me! (and my car’s air con does not work…).
Call Claire — 011 025 4458
bluedesigns5@gmail.com
I love Architecture. I think it’s vital to talk about all aspects of Architecture — whether it be planning, construction, design or green building. I have written 3 E-Books & over 110 articles. Please feel free to let me know if you have any queries regarding architecture, planning & construction & I will assist you.
I am originally from the UK and moved to South Africa in 1999. I started Blue Designs in 2004 after working as a driver for Avalon Construction on a luxury home in the Featherbrook Estate. In my spare time I am an artist and writer.
Other Articles I have written include :-
Could this be the Answer to Rising Waters — Amphibious Foundations?
Building Green? Here are some tips.
Common Mistakes People make when Designing a House
The Advantages of Sustainable Building
Considering Buying or Renovating a Heritage Home? Pros and Cons
Renovation vs New Construction — which is Greener and Better for the Environment?
Bizarre Buildings Part Two — Space Age Fantasy
Weird and Wonderful Buildings Part Three — Three Buildings that make Music
Please follow me on :-
https://www.bebee.com/bee/claire-cardwell
https://twitter.com/ClaireCardwell
https://twitter.com/BlueDesignsArch
https://www.linkedin.com/in/claire-cardwell-ab438a17
https://www.linkedin.com/in/blue-designs-architectural-designers-557a2318
