posted
We all know how the toughest customer we can work for is often ourselves. Designing our own logo. shop, sign or whatever often goes through countless revisions in our attempt to get it right.
For the better part of twenty years Janis & I have dreamed of the house we would build 'some day'. We've bought properties, planned and revised those plans time after time. Each time things would happen. Big projects would come along, making us too busy or some other thing would interrupt those ideas, forcing us to shelve the plans, and then continue merely dreaming for a bit longer.
Almost ten years ago we bought our current property, building the new shop first with the future plans of building our dream house at last. When we prospered Janis & I would dust off the old plans and work on the dream. In tough times those plans and dreams gathered dust once more, waiting for their day to become reality. Now, at last it seems the time is right to actually act on those dreams. The old farm house we've kept together with baling wire and duct tape is at last ready to be replaced.
The new house will be in keeping with our philosophy of living our dream. As you can imagine it will be no ordinary house. It will be what we need, wrapped in a theme that suits our style. It will be a showcase of every trick and skill we can muster and a few more we will invent along the way. It is going to be the most fun ever!
Here's a rough concept drawn some three years ago... This is the (relatively) plain side that faces the road.
In the last days we have gotten serious about refining the plan to be both practical and a work of art (in our style) Here's some more recent sketches exploring details and trim. The plans are still subject to some revision and refinement but the ideas are coming together nicely. Hopefully it won't be very long until we begin actual physical work. (a month or two at most)
We are a bit excited here...
-grampa dan
[ February 21, 2012, 08:15 PM: Message edited by: Dan Sawatzky ]
-------------------- Dan Sawatzky Imagination Corporation Yarrow, British Columbia dan@imaginationcorporation.com http://www.imaginationcorporation.com
Being a grampa is one of the the most wonderful things in the world!!! Posts: 8738 | From: Yarrow, B.C. Canada | Registered: Nov 1998
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What a neat concept. I hope we get to see the floor plan (maybe you should patent it), how you will disguise the closets and other storage areas and also what details one will see while sitting on 'throne'. I am curious to know what Janis may choose for the kitchen area. This looks like a really fun project. I look forward to viewing your progress... congrats to Janis and you for moving forward with this long time dream.
-------------------- Susan Banasky Source Signs Nanaimo, British Columbia sourcesigns@shaw.ca
When in need....go directly to the "Source"!
Proud Supporter of this "Knowledge Network"! Posts: 1323 | From: Nanaimo, B.C. Canada | Registered: Oct 1999
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Dan, you deserve to see your dream come true after all the years of hard work. I am sure all of Letterville is happy for you. Bill
-------------------- Bill Riedel Riedel Sign Co., Inc. 15 Warren Street Little Ferry, N.J. 07643 billsr@riedelsignco.com Posts: 2953 | From: Little Ferry, New Jersey, USA | Registered: Feb 1999
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Gild that shovel which is to turn the earth my friend, cause it's a golden moment, I know you've been waiting a long time for this, congrats you two...Pat & Ruth.
-------------------- Pat Welter Masterhand Signs and Designs Unity, Saskatchewan.Canada Posts: 1304 | From: Unity, Saskatchewan.Canada | Registered: May 1999
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CONGRATS! Take lots of photos of the process and make an album to "live on" with the house.
-------------------- Jane Diaz Diaz Sign Art 628 W. Lincoln Ave. Pontiac, Il. 61764 815-844-7024 www.diazsignart.com Posts: 4102 | From: Pontiac, IL USA | Registered: Feb 1999
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Congratulations Dan, It such a well deserved reward.. I can't wait till you start as I will be Bugging you with 100's of questions when you start.
Already have one which may be answered from the shop build..
When you start the construction do you still start with Standard building Techniques then add all that detail with applique techniques. I see the window and door openings would have to be built custom..
posted
The house will use the ICF method of construction. Its the same method used when we built our shop.
Basically we stacked up hollow styrofoam blocks (like lego) laying in a grid of rebar as we went. Everything snaps together easily. Then 8" of concrete is poured into the middle cavity. This provides massive insulation and thermal mass, making for an airtight house. The insulation is 3.5" thick on each side of the concrete. The house will be slab on grade with radiant in-floor heat. A full air exchange/air-conditioning system is also built into the house for maximum comfort. Southern exposure with large overhangs will provide a passive sold effect. Plus we will employ the latest LED lighting systems throughout. All this will make for a super efficient and comfortable house. After nine years in our similar shop I would build no other way.
The window and door openings and all trims will be custom and with our CNC capabilities that isn't a big deal.
The outside skin of the building will be a combination of sculpted fiberglass-reinforced-concrete and routed Precision Board.
I have an eager group of building technologists and engineers who are chomping at the bit to have a go at this thing. It is going to be FUN!
-dan
[ February 22, 2012, 08:19 PM: Message edited by: Dan Sawatzky ]
-------------------- Dan Sawatzky Imagination Corporation Yarrow, British Columbia dan@imaginationcorporation.com http://www.imaginationcorporation.com
Being a grampa is one of the the most wonderful things in the world!!! Posts: 8738 | From: Yarrow, B.C. Canada | Registered: Nov 1998
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The MAGIC of our new house will be part of the Sign Magic and Sculpting Magic workshops.
-grampa dan
-------------------- Dan Sawatzky Imagination Corporation Yarrow, British Columbia dan@imaginationcorporation.com http://www.imaginationcorporation.com
Being a grampa is one of the the most wonderful things in the world!!! Posts: 8738 | From: Yarrow, B.C. Canada | Registered: Nov 1998
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Actually Diane I could have been a Disney Imagineer... I received an offer to join their ranks from a vice-president there but I said no thanks. That title is reserved for that very special crew of folks who do truly amazing things. They are the very best in the world at what they do. My job is more fun as I get to determine my projects and who I work with daily. But I was tempted and honored by the chance back when it was offered.
Walt Disney was a man like no other. There never will be another like him. I like to believe that I may have a spark of the same curiosity and eagerness to do things a little different. Thanks for the compliment.
As I stated above this whole house thing started almost twenty years ago. Through those many years we dreamed, planned and worked towards the goal.
I think so many go through life bound by convention, worrying what others may think. It is important to instead follow our dreams to do what is in our heart. We should spend some time each day developing and pursuing our passions. Life is short and it is best lived at full speed.
-grampa dan
-------------------- Dan Sawatzky Imagination Corporation Yarrow, British Columbia dan@imaginationcorporation.com http://www.imaginationcorporation.com
Being a grampa is one of the the most wonderful things in the world!!! Posts: 8738 | From: Yarrow, B.C. Canada | Registered: Nov 1998
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