Project Management

As determined as we are to get this house done there are so many things that need to line up.

In the I.T. world completing a project is simple when you follow one of the many project management methodologies (PMBOK, Prince etc)

Building a house should be very similar to completing an I.T. project (in theory) Of course heart comes into play. When you have essentially one shot to get something "Perfect" for your dream house you focus so much more on the design phase.

This for me has been a struggle as my background in IT projects has been much stronger on the implementation side of things. While Our new house should be completed in 3 main segments:

• Requirements Gathering
• Design Phase
• Implementation

The Design phase will fall more on myself and the Requirements and Implementation on Clare. Of course this is very high level but loosely it amounts to what needs to get done.

Designing your dream house is no small feat. The first issue I'm coming up against is trying to wade through 15 years worth of house ideas, coupled with over a dozen houses I've actually lived in.

One doesn't normally take a photo of that kitchen they liked in the share house they lived in for a 6 month stint 10 years ago nor does one have house plans and dimensions from any or all the houses they liked/didn't like.

The principal of my design will be very simple with the external walls not being load bearing. I've always admired the simplistic design of a post and beam "barn" style dwellings whereby there are 3 rows of posts with beams linking them. This type of frame allows for a loft.

The trouble is the house has to have character and I dont want a simple rectangular design. Some possibilities are:

• Going with 2 post and beam dwellings joined in a L shape
• Using a lop sided roof option
• Building split level

But I really want the emphasis to be on simplicity and there in lies the problem. Simple design = $cheaper but means less aesthetically pleasing. A more complex design equals more time and more money.

This is one of my many quandries, i'm currently sussing out the option of linking 2 post and beam structures, just need to find a good way to do it simply.

Stay Tuned

Where we are at

Is me going crazy, and having dreams of the house being built EXACTLY how we want it, but in the blink of an eye and with no work or input from us.
Sweet right?!

Yeah, not going to happen.

Before Christmas I popped into the local Conveyancing/Surveying Company and while they knew their stuff, it was clear they were not into nor very knowledgeable in regards to Earth buildings and sustainability.

I was emailed a quote from them and given a few numbers for people who can do soil samples and land contours. Wow! If we went with these people we would be looking at around $5000 just for the samples, contour reporting and surveying.

So I left it at that. I figured we would let Christmas and New Year happen and get back into looking end of January.
Just by luck a woman I have chatted to a few times at our local library has just finished building a straw bale in our Shire. What luck!
She gave me the names and numbers of the people who helped make their dream come true.

So now I have some numbers, just need to find the time and quietness to call them!

We went to check the block the other day. I do love to see it, try to visualise a house there, the garage, the kids playing in the yard. Happy Sigh.

Seeing the block so bare, apart form the overgrowing grass, trees and bushland we have on it, it feels like it is a far away dream. Even something that might never happen.
I want to stop thinking this way.
I want that house dammit. I want our lives to feel like they are grounded. That we have a life to lead and most of all, I want the freedom that having our own house again gives.