Architecture???

Well, I drew up the plans for the two additions on our house. And I wish I had drawn up the plans for the addition on our neighbor's house. Does that count?

 

I have a first stage diploma under RIBA, and I am currently working on 4 buildings: 3 private homes and a senior's retirement apartment complex. Does that count?

I used draughting as a means to supplement my income when the church was too small to fully support a pastor.

Now in retirement, I dabble at it, using autoCad. I wish I had been computer tuned in the days when I did all the dwgs by hand and instrument.

Are you still doing dwgs, Tom? I did read somewhere that you were/are an architectural draughtsman.

Cheers,

Jim

PS. I am not a licensed architect. I never completed my studies and didn't serve the required internship in Canada. I am licensed in Canada to design certain buildings and within a certain capacity.

 

I was really just joking . I know it doesn't really count!

The neighbor whose addition I wish I had designed IS an architect, but I really don't know what he was thinking....

 

Tom, If you like, when we get wife's computer fixed, I can send you a small course on architectural draughting. Her machine wouldn't load yesterday and she has to phone the company to-day.......hmmmm the xl disk was also corrupted. Her machine has the copier.

Do you have a cad program to work on?

Cheers,

Jim

 

Tom, you could complete those beachhouse drawings and advertise them on Ebay for a decent sum. Make your hobby pay. Some places get as much as $1200.00 for a set of plans.

Cheers,

Jim

 

I've watched every episode of This Old House since it first aired in 1980, does that count??

 

John, you always count,,,,Now This Old House,,,,I believe they have been the victim of a few lawsuits. They also seem to work on very elitist houses, rather than the common fare most of us deal with. That is Bob Villa (sp?) isn't it....Might have to check with Tim the Toolman Taylor.

Cheers,

Jim

 

For anyone interested, and especially Tom, go to your library or bookshop, and enquire about a book, Architecture, residential drawing and design by Clois E. Kicklighter. Published by Goodheart-Willcox Company of South Holland, Illinois. (1990)

Dr, Clicklighter was Dean, School of Technology and professor of Construction Technology, Indiana State University.

This book will take you through the fundamentals of architecture and is as good as any course offered for private interest.

Cheers,

Jim

 

Bob Vila was with "This Old House" for the first ten years of its run, but was replaced with Steve Thomas after violating a non-compete agreement. He started his own program called "Home Again", which as been on the air for 12 years.

"Home Again" was the respondent in a civil suit concerning a home they did in Malibu, CA. There were several problames with the house, most notably a high tech computerized lighting system that was inoperable. The suit was resolved amicably, from what I understand.

TOH was sued by neighbors for attempting to violate CC&R's of a historic home in Boston by adding a "garage". In actuality, it wasn't a garage, but a pass thru carriageway that was consistent with other carriageways in homes inthe neighborhood. Plans for a carriageway were dropped in favor of an additional room to the house.

I agree that the homes seen on these programs are often a little more elegant that the average home you and I might be living in, but to their defense, they look for homes that have enough required work that can be done ever several episodes, but not so much work that it can't be completed in 26 episodes (one season). On top of that, the homeowner must have the financial means to pay for the repairs (the show assists by providing some of the labor, as well as donated materials). Additionally, both HA and TOH originate from Boston, which has a high number of historic homes in need to renovation and restoration.

Now, if you're like me, and you want to see "normal" homes undergoing renovations, check out "Home Savvy" or "the How2 Crew". Many of the projects on these shows are tackled on single programs. If youwant something a little more "Bob Vila"-ish, check out "Hometime", which follows the TOH format, but typically works on more ordinary homes, plus a few Habitat for Humanity projects.

 

Tom, any plans must be approved by local authorities, no matter who designs them. They have the final say. All people are buying is a service...a set of plans. There is nothing illegal about it.

There are some areas which require a stamp,,generally from an engineer. Trusses is one area, and concrete floors is another. Most trusses are eventually supplied by a truss company and they provide their own engineers approval.........they stamp my drawings...The same is true for concrete surfaces requiring engineering services..I have an engineer who stamps my drawing where required,,,,for a fee, of course.

Some Canadians buy house plans over the inter-net, but they still need local approval and often changes to meet Canadian codes. This makes it impossible for us because those plans are protected by copyright....Some must learn the hard way.

Cheers, glad to help where I can. I understand the passion for drawing.

By the way, the first lesson I had was to draw a straight line by freehand......simple.

place two dots on a blank sheet of paper . .
Now draw the line from one to the other,,,,only look at the distant dot and NEVER look back...in a jiffy.....a straight line.

Jim