The Renovation project - How does it work ?

The Renovation Project - How does it all work?

The above graphic shows the typical process for a homeowner doing a major renovation. Although many of the professionals and subtrades may not be required for your particular project it is important to get a sense of the complexity of the project. Both the architect/designer and the general contractor are keys to the process for they have the resources and contacts required to provide all the professionals and the subtrades to make your project a success. For further information please see our website at www.penumbradesign.ca

Vancouver is getting ready for the big earthquake - are you?

Recent events in San Francisco and Seattle reinforce the need for awareness around earthquakes and being prepared is key. Efforts have been made in the community to provide a system of emergency services and preparing an adequate response in the case of emergency. However, these measures can only go so far to protecting you and your family. It is incumbent on all households to get a plan together because in the event of "the big one" , time will be up and where will that leave your family.

Earthquakes are happening all around us. Natural Resources Canada publishes a list of recent earthquake events and we can see that via their website (http://earthquakescanada.nrcan.gc.ca/recent/2010/index-eng.php.) how often they occur. Vancouver, with its position on the Pacific Ring of Fire, is prone to earthquakes. Although it has been almost 300 years since the last cataclysmic earthquake in the area, Vancouver is now overdue.

Given its topography, the Lower Mainland's emergency response could be very limited. Although the provincial governments emergency response system has prepared and implemented a full strategy, it is possible that the results of a major earthquake would leave the infrastructure in Vancouver devastated. The main issue would revolve around the collapse of bridges and the inability of first responders to get to required locations. Many of the bridges that criss-cross our waterways would be devastated.

Consequently, it is even more important that households have a plan for themselves. As most of our homes are woodframe, this does help. Wood frame structures are much more effective in an earthquake than a concrete one. Concrete and masonry work great in compression (ie. when it is holding steady against gravity), however in tension and under lateral loads it is poor unless it is adequately reinforced with steel. Wood structures on the other hand have a certain flexibility that renders them safer in an earthquake.

When planning always remember that the majority of problems are caused by falling objects. This is why you should always try to get under a table to shield yourself from falling debris. Quite often the shaking will displace the furniture, so try and hold on to it and remain under it. Other things you should consider when coming up with a family plan.

1. Ensure that you have a family emergency plan with meeting points and out of town contact numbers.
2. Do you have an adequate emergency kit. 
3. Ensure your house is properly anchored to the foundation.
4. Ensure any utilities especially water heaters are anchored to the building.
5. Ensure that any tall furniture (bookcases, dinettes etc.) are anchored to the wall.
6. Know the evacuation routes out of your community and understand the community emergency plan.
7. Determine whether you are in a high risk area? Silt beds and river deltas pose particular risk due to silt liquefaction.
8. Do you have any first aid training in the house? If not get some.

The Zoning Ritual

Whenever designing a contemporary house, before fashioning any ideas, thoughts, or goals, there is the need to complete the inevitable zoning site checklist. Zoning acts as both a physical and political construct to any project. It strives to create a democratic playing field for the architect to generate designs but within the larger city context.

Often these goals seem arbitrary at best. They represent the need to create a political order to the city landscape at macro scale while creating a framework at the micro scale. The two, in their own realms seem unrelated. However as a whole they can be seen as the fabric of our urban reality.

Rather than decrying the system, it is really up to the architect to question the rules themselves. Zoning guidelines are created to be generic so that they can apply to the majority of situations. The extent of grey area within them is quite large. I have found that if you review the rules carefully, they will often contradict each other despite the legal writing. When you present this to the building official they usually have three responses:

1. No (in which you are out of luck unless you push it to another level)
2. I will take that under consideration (which is then referred to some committee for review)
3. You are correct

I have found this to be the case throughout the jurisdictions I deal with in the Greater Vancouver region. By questioning the system and its nuance, it is possible to let the system capitulate to the specific situation. After all, the general principles of the bylaws are upheld while the idiosyncracy of the bureaucrats come into question. Most building officials realize that this is the case and they recognize that bylaws contain a certain organic quality that breathe and grow over time with the changing swell of public sentiment.