Digging details
It’s been a big encouragement to see some actual, physical progress being made outside. The new area feels so different and much bigger. Great to have some usable off-road space, even if only for parking right now.
Other than the obvious parking benefits, it got me thinking how else I could use it temporarily moving forward. Having a usable outside space like this could open up some new options.
I often take a lunch break in my camper, mainly because it’s normally a bit warmer inside there than it is in the building. Crazy, but true. Nice to get a bit of warmth during the day.
Outside Office
My camper has a table in it, so all I needed was an electric supply, rather than just relying on my leisure battery all the time. Fortunately, a friend had donated a couple of waterproof sockets. Ideal opportunity to put them to good use.
Safely connected up, they can be powered from inside the building, allowing me to run an extension lead or hook-up cable to the van for power.
Remote working at its best, that’s what you call a cool office with a view!
Hobo Hotel
Unfortunately, before I get too carried away, there are a few other important design issues that need sorting. I need to focus my attention back on the real ongoing issue – getting planning permission.
My current reality is more about surviving, rather than living. I’m still sleeping in an old tent on the floor, no heating, running water or drainage.
Don’t get me wrong, fortunately, I do have a warm sleeping bag, plus I have electricity and broadband, what more do you need?
Cost-effective heating, running water or drainage, they are all still a long, long way off right now.
Heating the Hebrides
This year, I’ve kind of given up on the idea of having any heating in the building. It’s all about layered clothing to help try and keep warm.
That might seem a bit odd, especially as I’ve already bought a pair of Rointe electric radiators for heating.
I’ve tried them out, and yes, all seems good. Unfortunately, as the building isn’t wind or airtight at the moment, they’re not much use right now. Too much outside cold air is freely getting in all the time.
I’d end up effectively trying to heat the Outer Hebrides! They do take the chill off a bit, but it’s not exactly a cost-effective idea for my situation right now.
Hopefully, moving forward, these, combined with the high level of required insulation, a wood/multi-fuel heater and triple glazing, will be my combined heating solution for the building.
Sink or struggle
The project can get a bit daunting at times. Some days I’m sinking, others, just struggling to barely float.
One thing this project is teaching me is that comfort can be your enemy. Having a massive lack of everyday ‘normal’ does have an upside. It helps me see and appreciate things very differently.
Things I ordinarily took for granted, now I don’t. I genuinely appreciate and value the simple things of everyday life. That’s a good thing.
I still have my self-imposed design problems to try and resolve before I can get my planning application into the local council. I need things resolved if this is ever going to change.
Slow design
For such a small building/space, things should have progressed quicker. Some issues have been out of my hands, unfortunately. Mind you, it’s not always about speed – you can do things fast, or you can do them right
Having delays and challenges to deal with can push you to try and be or do better. This is all a massive learning curve for me right now.
The challenges thrown up by regulations, issues around accessibility, materials, etc., have caused me to rethink several aspects of the design. It’s slowed things up, but ultimately that’s proving to be a good thing.
Rapid rethink
Having to revisit initial design ideas is a good thing. It makes you question your original thought processes from a different, more informed perspective.
It’s an opportunity to interrogate solutions to see if they are still valid. This invariably generates refinement and improvements.
Hopefully, this will translate into a better end result. Although the process has been drawn out, there are upsides to the delays.
Easy Escape
It would be relatively straightforward to squeeze a one-bedroom layout into the building. I didn’t want this. I wanted to try and push things a little bit further.
In my mind, although very tight, I reckoned you could get a half mezzanine level into the building to create a separate bedroom area. This could turn ordinary into awesome in my way of thinking.
This was my initial ambition from when I very first saw the low-res estate agent photos and guesstimated some dimensions.
Regulation remedies
I had fastidiously measured everywhere in the building, scribbling dimensions all over the walls as reminders of what there was to work with space-wise.
Then my fanciful ideas had to confront the reality of Building regulations and their various statutory requirements.
Although the building was constructed back in 1911, I was now proposing a change in its use. This, in planning terms, turned it into a new build project. One where I had to adhere to all current building regulation requirements, including those in relation to accessibility.
mm matter
Without restrictions, there are no challenges to overcome. This was adding to the overall mix of things to try and get my head around.
All dimensions become critical. Just the sheer amount of insulation thickness required for walls, roof and floor was going to turn the Small Mission Hall into a very Small Mission Hall!
Cool creativity
Having a mezzanine floor means you will need some form of staircase to access it, more space and headroom requirements issues above and below.
Making the simple complicated is commonplace;
making the complicated simple, awesomely simple,
that’s creativity – Charles Mingus
Simple ideas can get complicated real quick. Times like these that my dreamer’s head becomes a little unstuck.
Dangerous dreams
The idea of an angled mezzanine is a bit of a non-negotiable for me. However, how it can be accessed, well, that is backup for a bit of reimagining…
I sometimes think I need to give up on my dreaming – it’s way too dangerous and just gets me into all sorts of trouble.
