a do tank, not a think tank

cityLAB is a do tank, not a think tank.

6% Place

Footers

1280px-Lotyšské_etnografické_muzeum_v_přírodě_(91)

What’s it going to take to ground Minim?  Typically a structural engineer would design the size of footings, and test borings would be drilled to ensure that the footings are on solid ground. But because Minim is so small, and doesn’t weigh very much, we are going to take a simpler approach. We’ll assume a 2000 lb bearing capacity (which is very low), and set the house on poured spread footings that are three feet wide and one foot deep. Chad will draw a foundation plan and check it quickly with a structural engineer. Once the contractor has started digging, if we find unexpected conditions on site,  we can always pour a little more concrete.  We think this will prove to be more cost effective.  Test borings could cost around $1000.  Better to save that money for extra concrete if should we need it!

Some changes are afoot

Now that we have our survey, we’re going to finalize adjustments to the floor plan. The original Minim is twenty-two and a half feet long by eleven feet wide. We’re going to stretch ours a little bit (to maximize the space we have on our site) to a HUMONGOUS twenty-eight foot long by twelve feet wide.  Our total square footage will be 336 square feet versus the 247.5  square feet of the original.

You might remember that we chose Scheme A -1 for our site plan.  Here it is again …

Scheme-A-11-1024x661

And here is the original Minim plan.

Minim Floor Plan

We’re going to be making some changes to the original plan for a number of reasons.  First, the increased size and the orientation of the house on the site will require some changes. And second, we heard some requests at our brainstorming sessions which we are going to heed. Changes will include:

•  a deck
•  french doors leading out onto the deck
•  a window on the office platform, facing the street
•  a pantry next to the kitchen, for added storage
•  a washer/dryer
•  a full range instead of a recreational vehicle model
•  a separate shower in the bathroom
•  a through the wall mini-split heating and cooling system

shown and told: catapult show-n-tell, garfield edition!

A good crowd turned out last Friday to listen to stories from Garfield residents at Catapult’s Show-n-Tell #13: Garfield Edition, co-organized with cityLAB.

The presenters, which included Mark Fairclaugh of the 6% Place advisory committee, Jesse Rommelt of the BUNKERproject, Michael Stanton of Open Hand Ministries, and Jason Sauer of Most Wanted Fine Art, had their presentations and stories recorded by visual note-taker Stephanie Bercht.

And the Garfield Show-n-Tell also got a nice write-up in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette!

Our thanks to all of the presenters and to Lara Schenck at Catapult for letting cityLAB collaborate with her on Show-n-Tell #13. Find out about Catapult’s upcoming Show-n-Tell here.

garfield show-n-tell june 7th!

Catapult Show-n-Tell #13: Garfield Showcase
Friday, June 7th 2013 at 6 PM
Catapult PGH, 5139 Penn Avenue, Pittsburgh PA 15224

RSVP for a very special edition of Catapult’s monthly Show-n-Tell, featuring projects and stories from Garfield residents—and how they are helping the neighborhood grow.

The event, co-organized by Catapult and cityLAB, will feature Jason Sauer of Most Wanted Fine Art, Jessie Rommelt of the BUNKERprojects, Mark Fairclaugh of cityLAB’s very own 6% Place committee, and Michael Stanton of Open Hand Ministries.

Show-n-Tell is free and open to the public, and there will be snacks!

See you there tomorrow!