Doshisha obtained Occupational Certificate!

During the past week there have been several authority inspections and defect inspection from us happening at Doshisha.
We have successfully obtained Occupational Certificate from Kyoto Council on MAR 19 - this formally marks the completion milestone of the project.

What is now left are documentation of as-built building for record purpose, and finalising paperwork with Doshisha University.... a little bit of breather after the climax va-va-voom.

A glimpse of the past few days:

Fire department briefing in the morning before inspection

Rooftop equipment safety inspection

Lift inspection...

Weights used to test lift loading

Our Kyoto office....  All these mockups, of ceiling (right top), of wall tiles (back)...and perspectives on the wall...even original competition entry plan is on the wall.
I was asked the question at an interview: "How do you feel when the finished project looks different from your design?"
My answer was: "But it always looks just like how we designed! That is the reason we are involved, to build what we designed, what we promised; we don't design something that can not be built.  And that feels great to see it coming to life."

Spring coming

春風に吹き出し笑う花もがな - 松尾芭蕉

Spring winds  

Hoping the flowers burst out in laughter

- Basho Matsuo

I can not wait for Spring to arrive at Doshisha.

愛着 - Attachment to construction site

I like the moment towards end of construction, when everyone has spent a good portion of their lives on site that there is a certain fondness and closeness to what they do and where they are.

Little gestures like taking shoes off rather than stumping around in construction boots, paying attention to small areas without being told to.. I found those very touching, and it is not cultural but rather universal. Of course there is the less romantic take of "dun wanna scratch da paint off" but that is no fun is it.

Doshisha is in the 13th month from its construction commencement.  Unbelievable.

largely finished student lounge, such beautiful light...
...someone in there fixing up the ceiling...

....with little "socks" on the bottom of the ladder 

tiling for water feature finished....

.... with neat stone "collars" to protect the bottom of steel columns, their grouts aligned whether or not anyone would see that after the water is in

entry canopies to buildings are installed, contrasting to the weight of the building volumes these are of sleek steel members....

... to look "light" the fixing needs to be neatly concealed....

...beneath precisely cut stone tiles

lighting up student lounge (lucky future students!)...

...but remember to take your shoes off!

Finishing Touches

I am always fascinated by the sudden transformation finishes can make to a construction site.

Doshisha is currently in that process of "getting finished"; covering up services, structure, like how our skin covers up our organs and bones.

Here are some photos from site as per yesterday FEB 23:

flooring to Student Lounge side, setting out from facade fins

ceiling to Chapel side (getting speakers and lighting installed too)

junction of inside and outside - water feature to outside getting tiled at the same time

tiling inside wetareas; setting out the 50mm x 50mm mosaic was not fun....

beautiful stones for the water feature

wall panelling to rear of Chapel hall

Chapel Side is catching up!

Whilst the Student Lounge Side at Doshisha Chapel Complex is frantically getting ready for the academic staff to move in prior to the official opening to public, the Chapel Side is also steaming to catch up.

This is where we are as per yesterday 2015 FEB 10:

Student Lounge Side - ceiling all installed, marble rear feature wall completed.
Love the delicacy of the ceiling (if I may say so myself...).

Student Lounge Side - academic office starting to take shape

Chapel Side - ceiling half way through installation
Love how the natural light is interacting with the building volumes (IF I may say so myself!!)

Chapel Side - mezzanine to rear of Chapel Hall where the organ will be installed

Chapel Side - inside one of the meeting rooms across from the Chapel Hall mezzanine
Across the roof of entry one can gain visual connection to inside of the Chapel Hall

Chapel Side - entry
Wall tiling completed now moving onto floor tiling; the skylight brings natural light into the darkest spot of the entire complex and highlights the intersection of circulation

Joint effort

It has been quite emotional to browse through the hundreds of Doshisha site photos coming through the past few weeks.

Now the project is coming closer to wrap up, a lot of the hardwork in the process is evident. It is so nice to see things coming together.

Take this little toilet window as one example.

close up of window.
top and bottom of the window fall in line with the tiles, and there is no tiny off-cut tiles to left and right of the window; it is of course designed to happen this way, not accidental.

The process has roughly been:

1. internal planning to determine window location - Architect 

2. determine exhaust location and dimension - Architect + Mechanical 

3. determine window sizing - Architect + Structural

4. determine surrounding finishing detail - Architect + Supplier

5. custom tile design and tile setout - Architect + Supplier

6. fine-tuning of window location to better suit tile setout - Architect + Structural

7. concrete structure with adequate spacing for necessary window framing parts - Architect + Supplier + Contractor

8. steel reinforcement and concrete pouring - Architect + Contractor

9. opening framing - Architect + Contractor

10. window installation - Architect + Supplier + Contractor

11. exhaust system installation - Architect + Supplier + Contractor

12. tiling - Architect + Contractor

Architect's involvement is not about physically holding the power tool and building something (a common public misconception resulted from reality TV shows..) but to maintain a perspective of the whole project and to ensure each step along the way is carried out to enable the next step to occur according to plan.

Especially when multiple parties (various engineers and trades) are involved, coordination becomes vital as miscommunication is source of disaster.

... And of course there are many more windows and doors and you-name-it to make sure the building functions... 

It is not about the window itself, but about incorporating functional elements in design without distracting the design intension.

It is always about the big picture.

Doshisha working through Christmas break

Over the quiet period of Christmas / New Year, Doshisha Chapel Complex at Kyoto continued to push on and is developing at a steady pace.

Here are some updates.

from the main campus boulevard, external tiling almost finished.. such beautiful lighting effect on the facade.

...same view of the design rendering - taking shape!!

marble on back wall of the Student Lounge installed, skylight above is visible, ceiling battens are also in place. Services underfloor (mainly air conditioning) can be seen through the floor framing.  With big volume like this, it is more energy efficient to control temperature from floor where it is closer to the people occupying the space (rather than projecting air from above).

standing on the water feature between Student Lounge (L) and Chapel (R).  Custom-made hollow concrete blocks are almost completed.

...this is similar view in render, except here we stand inside the Student Lounge not on the water....

reverse view from the above,  looking back into Student Lounge, exhibition display cases are in place.  

slender steel columns continues across the central walkway into the Chapel on the other side.

Chapel side is catching up....

entry hall to the Chapel with wall tiles almost finished.

waterproofing the roof!

Internalising Doshisha

Structure for the Doshisha Chapel Complex project has now largely finished.

Majority of the construction team has moved inside to work on the interior fitout - great timing as true winter weather kicks in!

I have been more than excited about seeing the photos, here they are for your viewing pleasure!

looking towards Chapel side from Student Lounge side.  This is view in the perspective we submitted to the original competition, so happy to see it coming to reality!!

 

windows are up!

installation of the ceiling feature has started

above the scaffolding..

custom made hollow blocks to the sides of the Chapel

 

 

 

 

 ...as if it extends indefinitely....

 

 the calculated randomness of the tiles.....

articulation of the different volumes are clear now...how exciting!