NAMASTE.GIRONA - NAMASTE CHILDREN'S HOUSE
DEAR Visma and NAMASTE CHILDREN'S HOUSE family,
We think that it’s time that we introduce ourselves to you!
Firstly, I would like to echo the sentiments of the entire architect group when I say that we are very excited with the idea of being part of this project! This is a hugely rewarding project, both on a personal and professional level and we are very grateful that we are part of it.
It will be a great achievement to spend the next few months designing your dream, which is now also our dream: The NAMASTE CHILDREN'S VILLAGE!
From GIRONA (our town) we have brought together a team of architects that meet on a weekly basis to design your village. This is a really special project for us, that has aroused the interest of lots professional architects, local media and other organizations.
We have created a cooperation workshop that we use as a base to work together. You can follow us through our blog (www.namastegirona.blogspot.com) , which is used to reflect our experience working for NCH, recruit new team members and generate media buzz in the area. You can also follow us on Facebook. (www.facebook.com/NAMASTE.GIRONA)
I’m attaching a few photos of some of the meetings that have been held so far.
For the last two months, we have worked tirelessly for you and your kids. During these first meetings, we have been extremely lucky to receive visits from architects that are experienced in building facilities similar to NCV in the South Asia region, including Nepal. We have also done extensive research on construction methods in Nepal and we can now say we are in a position to start designing the first buildings for Phase 1!
In order to start designing the children’s home within the village, we have, among other, one big question for you:
1. HOW IS THE CHILDREN’S HOME OF YOUR DREAMS ORGANIZED?
2. How many kids for each room?
3. sleep for ages?
4. must sleep separated by gender?
5. you think that is necessary a room for an adult to supervise the group?
6. Firstly, how many children will be transferred to the new orphanage?
7. How many children to be provided in all the new orphanage?
8. We are thinking about several buldings to accommodate small groups of kids (around 20 childrens) that it share a external area more private than the rest of the village. What do you think about it?
Your guidance in this area is extremely important because it can affect the design and layout of the home.
During our research we have come across different solutions on how to organize an orphanage. We have been studying the type followed by ALDEA SOS (www.sos-childrensvillages.org), which organises the kids in groups that live together in a house and there is a carer (taking the mother’s role) that looks after that specific group of kids. Other organizations such as NCH don't have a carer assigned to a specific group, but all carers (didis and mothers) all look after all kids in general and they all live in one same building.
Next Wednesday we will spend the entire session working on the design of the children’s home and urbanization of the site (layout of all buildings that need to be built and location within the land). It would be perfect to have your answer before then, and also we would appreciate to have the latest project plan, including every phase, from phase 1 and the rest until the whole village concept is built.
These are the two main areas that we need your guidance in before we can start working on the actual design: how do you want the orphanage to be organized and a list of all buildings included in all phases.
If you have comments or questions, do not hesitate to get in touch as often as you need. It is really important for OUR DREAM that we are in regular contact, to ensure the project is a success!
Thank you so much for giving us the opportunity to build NAMASTE CHILDREN'S VILLAGE and help you grow YOUR ORGANIZATION! It's already a very special project for us!
Look forward to your response and meeting you in person soon!
THANK YOU SO MUCH,
NAMASTE CHILDREN'S HOUSE - NAMASTE.GIRONA
Dear Architects group from Sapin
Many Namaste and greeting from Pokhara and Namaste children House to all of you.
I am so much delighted to hear from you with all information about your great initiation to help us to develop the details plan of Namaste Village. In this regards, i would like to extend our thanks and appreciation to all of you. I also would like to thanks Margarita Costa, who brought us together to work for this great mission.
Please know that survey of land is already started so the details of it might be available for you within 10 days time.
As i have much things to organize in coming days , i would appreciate your patience for another few days so i would able to contact you again with all information that you required from my side before you work again.
On your e-mail below, you mentioned that you need my answer over your concerns before next Wednesday, in this case, my assumption is that the deadline is 14th December, not 7th December. If i am not right then please write back to me ASAP or I would appreciate your response in this regards .
I look forward to working with all closely for our dream village.
Best regards-Visma and Namaste family.
NAMASTE CHILDREN'S HOUSE - NAMASTE.GIRONA
Dear Architects group of Spain
Please find my answer below of your each concerns
In order to start designing the children’s home within the village, we have, among other, one big question for you:
1. HOW IS THE CHILDREN’S HOME OF YOUR DREAMS ORGANIZED?
It should be environmentally friendly, economically to build, Nepali looks , easy to maintenance in the future with bright rooms, big corridor, space for 75 to 80 children. Later on( if fund allow) there should be possibilities to add two more small unit on the left and right side of the main building for older children( age in between 14 to 18).
2. How many kids for each room?
We would like to have either six or eight children in each room. Less would be good but it means that we have to have more rooms for more children. More rooms also bring project cost up again . If room is big enough then eight children in one room could be the case as well.
3. sleep for ages?
Children from different ages can sleep in one room. This is to create family atmosphere and older will look after younger as like now at lakeside orphanage. In the future, we want to have separate unit for older children above 14 years, but this unit will be linked with main building
4. must sleep separated by gender?
Yes, you are right. This should be the case. Male and female children should but keep into separate rooms and block . there should be way to monitor them in easy way.
5. you think that is necessary a room for an adult to supervise the group?
Yes, it is very importance to put adult( house mother and sister) in each gender block so they could help and monitor children through out the day and night .
6. Firstly, how many children will be transferred to the new orphanage?
There are currently 60 children living at our lakeside orphanage so the idea is to move them first but at same time, it would be good to have some extra bed or room for more children.Again, It would be good if we arrange building in the way so 60 children can already live with option to have another 15 to 20 new children.
7. How many children to be provided in all the new orphanage?
As i said on number seven, initially good would be to have building where around 75 to 80 children can stay, later on there should be option to extend the building so all together 125 children can live together . Let's say, if we develop two separate unit for each gender next to the main building with capacity for 25 older children then the total number of children who could stay at the village will be 125
8. We are thinking about several buldings to accommodate small groups of kids (around 20 childrens) that it share a external area more private than the rest of the village. What do you think about it?
This was also our idea before but this would bring total cost of the project up, secondly it will cost more manpower to manage different building/houses, thirdly it occupied more ground/land and lastly, it bring some conflict in-between houses . If we can meet the cost of the project now and running cost in the future with this concept then idea is definitely better but as we are not in such position, in our case, it might be good idea to have whole big building with all facilities there or there might be the way to create such environment with same building .
As you are architects and this is your professional, you have more ideas on construction filed then i do so your ideas and suggestion are much appreciated. I am open with any concept which will be worked in every aspects.
At the end please know that we are very happy to have you to help us.
Best Regards-Visma and Namaste family
