« Construction begins ... | Front Page | Construction continues ... »
Construction progress ...
Posted by Dave Bull on September 13, 2014 [Permalink]
It's been over a week since the previous update, and I thought by this time we would have a lot more to report ... But a lot of the work we are doing isn't particularly visible - trying to figure out how to run all the new wiring through, under, and over the walls ...
We got fairly lucky at the beginning, in that all the demolition garbage fit into a single truck load. This saved us a ton of money, as removing this sort of waste here in (very strict) Tokyo is a very expensive proposition, and we needed to file quite a stack of paperwork to get this stuff removed. I have no complaint about that at all - many of the small mountain roads near my home used to be lined with construction waste dumped illegally, and the current system of trying to track it from source is something that I will happily comply with.
One part of the building does show progress clearly - the new bathroom:
Ioan is right at home on this part of the job, having done this sort of thing before ...
The previous walls were covered with horse-hair plaster; we're sticking with standard drywall. And considering that this toilet abuts the shop space, we've stuffed the inside of the walls with sound-absorbing insulation, even around the switch boxes and other gaps.
The building itself is steel-reinforced concrete, and as we have no way to run conduit inside the concrete for our new wiring, we're having to go around various pillars with visible trunking.
And given that I am labelling all the wiring carefully, whoever does the next reform job in this building will have a much easier time of it!
Here is an overview before we knocked off last night: Ioan is re-build the bathroom floor, putting in new joists on closer centers than before, and Lee-san is putting in the base section of the first shop cabinets ...
Oh, and one more thing ... on Wednesday afternoon, we were witness to the 'Great Flood of 2014' ... at least that's how our neighbours are already describing it ...
This is late summer, and sudden rainstorms are not uncommon, but this ...
... is probably not what the owners of the new hotel across the street from us bargained for when they put up their building. Their architect has a lot to answer for - just why he decided to put the first floor at a level around a meter below street level ...
Back on our side of the street, the water came up just to the edge of the sill - that's the owner of the jewelry shop downstairs standing in his entranceway:
It began to subside a few minutes later, and - with the exception of the hotel people - we all got back to our work ...
And just one more thing!
The big sign isn't ready yet, but until it arrives, this will have to do! See you here soon, I hope!
Added by: Slawik on September 13, 2014, 7:21 pm
Now we see it was a rather clever thing to rent the first floor of the building...
I'm glad to see things are well on their way! I can't wait to see the big sign!
Keep up the good work!
Added by: Franz Rogar on September 13, 2014, 7:38 pm
Glad things are working out :-)
But... just a "safety" reminder... How often do you wash the floor? I mean, I'd never (ever) put electric cable on the floor... ever.
And it's not just because you might wash the floor but also because some pipe could broke and the water would be there... with electric cables... and transform the whole site into a gigantic electric chair...
Added by: Dave on September 13, 2014, 11:21 pm
Franz, that cable run is overhead, not down on the floor … it's not clear from the photo, I'm sorry!
Added by: Franz Rogar on September 14, 2014, 1:31 am
My bad, my bad, Dave.
I'm sorry for thinking you might do that but... case is I've already been in some houses with the electrical wiring downside... (~_~) Glad you didn't (^_^')
BTW, you look fantastic side of the "coming soon" sign :-D
Added by: Jed Henry on September 14, 2014, 2:04 am
I'm so excited to visit!
Added by: Roxanne Ready on September 16, 2014, 2:01 pm
Dave, I'm so excited to see this project coming together. I contacted you a while ago about visiting your studio, but I was nervous to impose and have yet to follow up and make it happen. Being able to visit your shop in Tokyo and take part in a print party is more exciting than I can say!
Also, another thought: I hope you'll consider making some English language flyers about the print parties; I live on a US Air Force base in Fussa, Tokyo, and can say with 100% certainty that you could get a lot of print party bookings from here. The base organizes events and tours to help residents experience Japanese culture, and this is right up that alley. If you make flyers, I'll be happy to distribute them to the relevant agencies here to get your name out. Shoot me an email if you want to talk further about this.
Anyway, I'm super excited for October!!
Added by: Jakub Makalowski on September 16, 2014, 5:54 pm
Wow my memory must really be going as I don't recall any flood like storms this month. Unless it was much gentler in Chiba.
Actually, I think I recall some day had a lot of rain, but while I was safe and dry inside at work.
Its always exciting to see construction moving ahead well. I still need to see the space I last helped with in person finished up.
Add Your Input
