CONTACTE 2_conference call

Hi Visma,

Good talking to you earlier. Just to recap on the call from today and actions agreed:

1.- Concept based on a modular system. Each unit has 2 rooms and each room accommodates 6 children (in bunk beds). Concept based on 120/125 children. Assumptions:

- For each 24 kids, we are planning 1 toilet room and 1 wash room. Action: Visma to confirm Western/Asian toilet and how many toilets and to confirm if shower and washbin are both required. Suggestion from architects, if bio-gas is required, is that all toilets are dry (Asian) and no flush is required.

- Visma to confirm if bio-gas system is required from the outset and if this would use both human and animal waste from the Namaste village. Is there a budget/sponsorship for this? Do you know of any organization in Nepal that has used bio-gas system using human waste? Will it generate enough power (if we use human waste) to run the whole village?

- Positioning: communal areas (staff house, WEC) to be located towards the entrance of the NCV, followed by the dining hall (which will include a kitchen, a storage room, a small space for kids to wash hands, and a small wash room towards the outside) behind it and the sleeping area towards the cliff to give privacy and quietness. All areas will be close to each other.

- Toilet rooms to be located facing outwards (to avoid odours, etc.).

- The system is easily adaptable and flexible and each unit can be placed wherever is convenient. Playgrounds can be placed in the middle. All is covered in porch systems to prevent water floods from the monsoons. This system will encourage interaction with other rooms and enjoyment of oudoors.

- 1 room for didis (same system as now). However, if we're planning on 120 kids, we will most likely need to double up the number of didis to 12 (roughly) therefore we suggest to have 2 rooms for didis. Action: Visma please confirm.

- Attached is a rough idea for you to look at, this is not final as we said. If you can show it to the staff, Sushil and didis and give us feedback that'd be great for us to move towards the next step. This just represents a small unit for 24 kids but in the real life this would be replicated as many times as necessary to accommodate 120 kids. We're just sending a quick sketch of 24 kids because this drawing takes time to develop but hope that it will give you an idea of the concept. This includes 4 rooms (6 kids each), 1 toilet and washroom. There is playground space in the middle and with porch systems. Don't pay too much attention to the details (i.e. toilets) this is just for effect.

- Sleeping area, communal areas, dining hall, WEC and staff house, will be located on the main land (the one next to the school).

2.- Engineering questions 4 and 6. Action: Visma to respond.

3.- Role of Baburam/local engineer. Action: MC to write job descriptions to limit the scope of each party. This will be done w/c 2nd January. It is agreed that purchase of materials and hiring staff for the construction phase will be arranged by NCH and avoiding a construction company because of the fees. NCH will have a local engineer that will supervise the construction of the village when there is no architect from the Spanish group onsite. Choice of materials is open (wood, bricks and stone) but architects will need to take the lead from Visma in terms of availability.

4.- Phase 1 will include: children's home, dining hall, WEC, fence, staff house.

5.- Staff house will be for the guard and will include:

- 2 bedrooms (1 bed each). This will be the accommodation for guard and male teacher.

- Small dining area.

- Toilet room (toilet and wash area) which can also be used for visitors as it's located at the entrace of NCV.

- Small kitchen.

- Small office/reception area.

Small office in the staff house will be enough for now, no more office space required.

6.- Budget: once the concept has been finalized and agreed, architect group to send the proposal to Visma so he can get it quoted in local currency and materials to confirm concept is viable and on budget.

7.- Forest area will be used for the botanical garden, fun park for children.

8.- Animals will be at the other side of the forest (near the local clinic).

9.- Architect group to decide whether there is a benefit in getting in touch with the UK architect that has visited the village to provide architect technical insight.

10.- Once the construction has started, Visma to get in touch with local government to get funding to improve the roads that lead to Ghatchok.

11.- Timescales: what is the deadline for presentation of the first draft concept? We need a better understanding of the timescales in terms of what are the requirements from grant givers (i.e. WEC to start in April). Our suggestion is this:

- Mid February (date TBC) architects present the village concept in Spain. Maybe we can make it official and invite Namaste Foundation, other charities, etc.?

- We get feedback from you and other sponsors and you get the concept quoted in Nepal to confirm we're on budget. End of February.

- 1 month of technical work from approval of concept to completion for pushing the button for construction. End of March.

- Village starts construction in early April. Please confirm this is viable and makes sense.

12.- Land layout: Attached is a pdf (site plan) that shows the limits of the land as we understand them. We need you to confirm that:

- Please check that the land limits are correctly located. There is a piece of land that looks a bit peculiar, look at the edge of the school that connects with the land. Is that correct? Is there a purpose for that? On the photos it looks like a little alley that goes to the right?

- Confirm that the rice fields are located and orientated correctly in the pdf, this detail is not shown on the land survey and the photos we've got don't show the orientation very well either.

13.- Medical room. Current home has a small medical room and we haven't included this into the new model. Do we need one? If yes, where does it need to be? In the dining hall/kitchen area?

14.- Water supply. Is it supplied from the river with water pumps or is there already water supply?

15.- Stone supply. Is it easy to get, I'm thinking does it come from the river?

I think this is it for now. If you could get back to us on feedback on the modular system ASAP we'd be really appreciate it. Please know that this is by no means anything final, it is just a rough idea that shows the concept so that we can convey what we're thinking of. Because it's a modular system that can be adapted and tweaked as we want there is total flexibility.

Good talking to you and speak soon.

Best wishes, many Namaste and have a good start of 2012!

CONTACTE 1_primeres respostes

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