To all the resident Knotheads who’ve more or less followed this project of mine in Angola –
As far as I’m concerned, it came to an end. Without going into details, I’ve ceased to see eye-to-eye with the 2 American entrepreneurs who are behind it. The last few months have become like a “Survivor” program…every day somebody else gets thrown off the island. But actually it all seems fine with me now. We made a good sum of money for the part my shop played, and I got out before it became too ugly.
The building itself is still going on. There are right now 3 guys who I trained on the jobsite in Angola, and for as long as it lasts, they’re making good money.
For the uninitiated, this was a project to create a modular building system that would take local African timber from the forest through milling and all the way to finished housing. Here’s a photo of the first model home (8000 sq. ft) being raised.
David Ring
Replies
At least you got out without taking a loss. That's always a good thing. Would be interesting to see one of them finished.
BB
Ring,Ring,
Wich timber is being used there?
Hi Philip,All the "Lego" parts of this building were prepared in the prototype factory I set up in Israel. The parts that will remain visible in the finished building are all Sapele. The many parts that will be hidden are pine and spruce. After they have finished licking off the Tim-Bor treatment, the termites are going to have the pine for breakfast. Of course the idea was to use locally forested and dried timbers, but since it would take at least a year to get that into action, it was decided to use common softwoods for the hidden construction parts. This model house has many "compromises" in the name of getting a model up. The roof beams are supposed to be factory-built trusses, but what's going into this house is engineered I-beams from Georgia-Pacific. I had many disagreement with the bosses over these issues. But like they say in the building business, "You can't see it from my house".regards,
David Ring
http://www.touchwood.co.il/?id=1&lang=e
Well I hope you got some stocks of Chamfuta, Mukwa, PangaPanga etc for yourself.....
P.S. Wooden houses in that part of the world seem mighty alien to me...Philip Marcou
Philip I agree! Stone or nothing! Ok, so maybe wood inside as in furniture that you can watch the bugs carry off in the night as you had a few glasses of wine or bourbon!
Never been to Africa. But worked with a woman that grew up there.. Stories she would tell sure top mine! I think she hated it! Not sure...
A wonderful woman. Very intellegent and a very good friend to work with and have a few (many) drinks with at night after a hard days work.. Hell, we even slept together on a show floor at night setting up the exibits. We woke up many times with our arms around each other.. We both knew we like the BEST friend at home! A warm Woman in your arms is something to think about though! Did I mention she was pretty! But not as pretty as my mate.. Never told my mate that but sure she would understand.. OK... after we had A LONG talk!
She was something.. And then some! Sure wish I knew where she is now!
My Lady was MORE that Something.. I hope she never really trhought I cheated on her! I NEVER did!
Edited 8/11/2008 4:38 pm by WillGeorge
Edited 8/11/2008 4:41 pm by WillGeorge
David
I'm dissappointed for you that it didn't go as you had wished, but I'm very, very glad that you got away safely, and with a few extra bucks in your pocket. I'm sure that in the long run, many years from now, you'll look on most of the experience with fond remembrance.
Welcome back to the real world!!
Jeff
Jeff,I think I'm actually lucky as it turned out. We were very cautious from the start as far as extending ourselves into this project. All in all, over half a million $ went through us to buy machines, timbers, etc. But at no point were we financially overextended. I spent some 8 months of my life dedicated to this project, invested a lot of energy, but it was an adventure. Bottom line...some $80,000 stayed in our pocket for my time and effort. In the "real world"...I'm looking for the next interesting challenge.Hope you're feeling better lately. Regards,
David Ring
http://www.touchwood.co.il/?id=1&lang=e
Did you ever get to try any oil and salt on those little buggers?
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You can't wait for inspiration. You have to go after it with a club. Jack London
David,
Does this mean you are coming back to Houston?????? ;)
By the way, I finally got a look at your website. Holy Smokes!!!!! Very nice work, very out of the ordinary. Great website as well, easy to navigate.
Cheers,
Lee
Lee,You must have me confused with somebody else...Houston? I'm 40 year expat, and my roots are on the East coast. I'm coming to the Catskills for a few weeks to go fishing, and contemplate. Basically going back to business as usual in Israel.regards,David Ring
http://www.touchwood.co.il/?id=1&lang=e
Ring, it's good to hear that you came out of the project OK, and with $$ in your pocket. Personally, though, I'm sad to see the McMansion Syndrome trying to take hold there. Who in the world needs an 8,000 sq. ft. house? A rhetorical question, not trying to put anything on you! Just bemoaning the spread of such lifestyle cravings.
Yeah, it makes one wonder, especially in the context of a country where 90% of the people have absolutely nothing. But throughout history, there have always been very rich people who want to show it off. Right now it's so prevalent in the West that we tend to forget that we didn't invent the phenomenon. And like any any stick, it has two ends. It's ridiculous ostentatious projects like this that have supported artisans for as long as anyone can remember. On every 8000 sq.ft. house there are dozens of craftsmen making a living. I'd just love to find a wealthy castle owner who needs custom furniture throughout!David Ring
http://www.touchwood.co.il/?id=1&lang=e
Problem with that movement in the States, though, is that middle class people want houses 3x as big as what they need. The whole thing may mellow out with the real estate crash, who knows, but when land is so hyperinflated (I live on a chunk of rock near Seattle that has rather high property values), the owners or banks or both decide they need to put a big, expensive house on it, end up with these 5K - 8K++ sq. ft. houses for 2 parents and 1 or 2 kids. forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)
McMansion syndrome, that's funny. I agree with David on the double end stick statement. When I get slow in the shop I have a good friend who contracts interior finish work here in North Dallas, Highland Park area, He always needs good help. 8k to 50k sqft homes. At the moment we have a 28k sqft, and a 14k sqft, homes underway as well as a renovation in a 10 story highrise. The owner of the building occupies 5 floors 8k sqft each floor, we are renovating the master bedroom floor approx 8500 sqft . I often ponder the who in the world needs...... ? I then say ,Thank God for these Millionaires and billionaires, I get to do the finest work with the best materials in air conditioned spaces. They provide income for quite a few people in the trades in their quest to keep up with the Jones. [I pass Jerry Jones house almost everyday] Pun intended.
I blame the banks for the mortgage problems not the fools who live beyond their means , although I have made money off them both.
I guess the who in the world needs ? could be answered, who ever can pay for it. Tom,
Living happily in 2500 sqft on 5 acres with a nice 2800 sqft shop out back.
"...with a nice 2800 sqft shop out back." Too funny, 2.5x the size of our house! But you put it to good use, obviously, as it puts bread on the table. Not that I don't want a bigger house. This one is woefully small for 2 adults, their stuff, 2 large dogs and 2 normal cats. I've put in a request for something around 2300 sq. ft. Will have to move to the boondocks to afford it though, since a few acres is a must.forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)
"A few acres a must" , Especially for a Equestrian activities. I don't own a horse though I am surrounded by quite a few. I love seeing them everyday as well as the four monster long horns at end of the road. Good luck on your request.
Tom
Edited 8/11/2008 12:12 pm ET by gofigure57
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