What's up down south?

I’ll make it short and sweet this time...

Its a long story really, the whole going down to Cape Town thing, but I’m basically staying put in ‘ol Durbs for the time being until I’ve sold my one apartment in Umhlanga...plus being delayed a bit by some romance on the side maybe.. But moving swiftly on..

I moved into my apartment over the weekend to basically give it a lick of paint and sell it on. Seems like the property market in the Umhlanga Gateway area has been flatter than anticipated, especially with the amount of stock in one bedders going up in the area, and its not like the international credit crunch and South African interest rate hikes have been much help either. Sure I’m in the same boat as many. But on the other hand, the location, right on the footstep of Gateway Shopping Centre, the beach, Virgin Active, and all my general amenities, it is perfect and will do well for the time being.

The Hawaan Estate has been fun. See some pics below to get an idea of what I’ve been up to workwise. www.hawaan.com

I can’t even begin to tell you how much of a pleasure it is driving around these days in an Audi A3 in the sunsine, compared to sitting and waiting for the tube underground. It has been like making a re-acquaintance with an old friend.

There’s another thing I’ve re-acquainted with as well. Back into spinning at gym. A world struggle to say the least in the beginning. Slowly chipping away at that Keg I still have wrapped around my waist that I brought over from London ;) Its great to be back into a gym routine again I must say. Making social plans at gym just like old days.

Anyway, just a quick update. Hope you're all very well and will be back again soon with some more news. Nick.

Stefan Antoni - Cape Town

Just a short bit of news...

After quite some consideration with 2 other Architect firms in Durban I have decided to go with Stefan Antoni Architects in Cape Town. Very excited to say the least and very much looking forward to setting up camp in the beautiful city in 9 months time. With such a lot to organize beforehand in making the leap down to Cape Town we have agreed to work temporarily from Umhlanga, Durban until Dec/Jan 2009. So all in all particularly pleased. DDStudio will also run alongside my permanent position with SAA.

Those of you in England have no excuses now with someone to stay with on a holiday down to Cape Town ;) Hope you all had a fantastic Easter weekend. Nick.

http://www.stefanantoni.co.za/

2 day trip to Cape Town

I had recently been offered a flight down to Cape Town by a firm of Architects for a potential position in Cape Town. Fantastic 2 days really as I didn’t just get to see one of the most well run and prestigious practices in South Africa, but also got to do a bit of sight seeing in the beautiful city.

Took a walk round the waterfront which is simply amazing. Great vibe with buzzing social noises of people scattered all over the waterfront. The city itself feels very calm for some reason aswell. Interview was towards the back of the city bowl in an area called The Gardens. The mountain backdrop to the city really is awe inspiring and always manages to take my breathe away. I certainly chose a good day to go down on the Wednesday as it was windless (unusual for CT) with deep blue skies and a bright white-like sun.

Stayed with my brother Chris and finished off my trip down there with an english breakfast in the morning at Café Rouge in Noordhoek before I flew back. Mountains everywhere with beautiful white beaches and small quaint thatch houses just off the beaches. People in Cape Town certainly do seem rather well connected with the rest of the world which is why I particularly enjoy the city. It has good international ties with so many foreigners in the area to rub shoulders with and it does sound as if it is on the world map. Besides the general friendliness of the people, the weather and the company I visited I couldnt help but think it really did feel like ‘the place to be’ in South Africa at the moment.

Inspiration

Starfish - Greathearts Foundation - Turning the Tide on AIDS

Positivity in South Africa

The Headmaster's Speech - South Africa - The Good News

An ambitious South Africa

I have many visions. Some of them have been to become an Architect one day and own a portfolio of properties to develop. I have always enjoyed a challenge – and recently one of my biggest has been to accept the challenge of returning to South Africa with its problems and learning to be positive in our country.

I think it is important to have faith in its potential and to adopt an attitude that is progressive and optimistic. To identify the positive out of something negative. There are so many people around my circles that are now leaving South Africa at the moment that it almost leaves one thing left for certain. There is more opportunity for those staying. And with vision and initiative there is more opportunity to capitalize on it.

Its not one of the ways, it’s the only way.

"DDStudio"

http://www.darbydesign.co.za/

Architect service which I have initiated sole proprietorship. Most architects only build their first buildings in their late thirties but as far as Im concerned, the earlier the better with the amount of work available in South Africa at the moment. Please forward across any queries you might have in your own building designs or new ideas you have on a recently purchased piece of land? We also offer a 'side-arm' of design services such as property development as well as graphic design, websites, business cards & stationary headers.

My new Niece

Just a bit of news my side. Especially to those of you predominantly in the UK. I have been meaning to create myself an updated ‘web-blog’ site to send news to everyone overseas as I have incessantly promised. So today is a celebration day as I complete the first (or rather second actually) post to my new ‘web-blog’ to stay in touch with you all, and create some promotional material of mine as well. All makes sense really doesn’t it. ‘Specially the way the web’s going these days with Facebook, Myspace 'nd 'ol. And tis great to stay in contact with so many fantastic friends I made over there (and hopefully receive news from your side) that I wont see for a while in the UK.

So anyway, big news my side is that Ive just received a brand new gift recently aka ‘A Niece’. My sister Helen gave birth to a perfect little girl on the 18th Feb 2008 and her and her fantastic husband David Heenan naming their first little girl Katie Alexandra. We (the whole family, M&D, Chris and I) went up to Joburg last weekend to see her for the first time and quite obviously we’re all over the moon. They doing well living in Joburg and quite frankly I was pleasantly surprised how enjoyable it was to go up to Joburg to experience another w/e over there. We were in Parkhurst and the area seemed like a particularly fashionable place to be now. Weather was perfect and trendy people sat outside at tables and chairs along the pavements outside new restaurants, cafes and shops all the way along 4th Avenue in Parkhurst.

It was good to see that Katie is keeping up the 'good-looks genes' in the family and of course she seems like the most well behaved baby Ive ever experienced. Course, there haven’t been many I’ll admit. But anyway, I'd envisioned them being a complete nightmare in the first few months but I hardly heard a crying complaint the whole weekend. (Though she was sound asleep most of the time.) She did however mention in a little whisper in my ear that Im her favourite uncle so far… sorry Chris ;) Finally back in Hillcrest now which is where Im based. To those who don’t know its about 25km’s (16 or so miles) inland of Durban. Honestly, I have never been more certain in my decision to come back and have been thoroughly enjoying every minute being back in South Africa, treating myself with a deserved sabbatical for coming up to 3 months now. In fact, I would recommend it to those who can afford to take one. Really does bring everything back into perspective and helps to put all your ducks in a row again with things, if you know what I mean. A bit of time off has been great and a bit of sun has proved rather therapeutic since not seeing much for so long in the uk (6 years).

It has been quite a challenge being back too I must say. After Christmas we started experiencing power cuts as a result of Eskom, the leading power supplier in South Africa, announcing its incompetence to provide consistant power to the country. It has sent a lot of negativity around the country but I think it has just been another hurdle for the country in getting itself back onto its feet. A month or so ago a French company have actually announced investing in building a whole new power station. So like I say, it has been rather enlightening returning here but having said that, there are so many positive things happening around the country in contrast. The infrastructure for the Soccer World Cup is apparently well underway and looking ‘completable’ according to the FIFA General thingy ma-bob. Which is very positive. A large Property Company known as The Elan Group are promoting new developments left right and centre in Kwa-Zulu Natal and are proving to be extremely successful in developing a valued and improved built environment. I think once the elections have taken place and we’re more in the know about what direction we’re heading people are going to be more confident in their decisions as to where to go from here aswell. But I must mention though, I am continually surprised by South Africans who so proudly announce their support when the Springboks or the Proteas are playing but come their future in the country they’re the first to mention its going down the tubes. Its all about what you can do for your country not what you country can do for you blah blah… you know what I mean. But its so important and considering what people have been given whilst lived here and to announce their departure because of some speed wobbles the country is experiencing I don’t find is particularly patriotic?

But anyway, enough jibber jabber. No, Im not running for President either. But I’ll say that even with its problems, it’s a fantastic country to live in and Im proud to finally be back in South Africa. Moving on… snigger.. I have attempted to put myself out there and start working for myself creating some work here, some more of my own work too. So far I am on some accredited Architect panels on some of the Estates. Namely The Cotswold Downs which is confirmed and I hope to be on 101 Acutts Drive and someothers within the Hillcrest area.

All very exciting really and am looking forward to designing some interesting projects in Natal. I am also looking into working full time aswell. I have been offered two job positions at the moment. They are with Stefan Antoni Architects and GAPP Architects.

Looking forward to working for either of them. I have one more interview to attend with both next week before I make a final decision.

http://www.stefanantoni.co.za/

http://www.gapp.co.za/

I must say I am looking forward to getting back into a working routine and pushing the boundaries building-design-wise over here. There does seem to be far more opportunity over here when it comes down to planning approvals and building design, (within the scope of whats buildable with our contractors here at least) and its all very exciting really.

I cant wait to get stuck in. Will keep in touch as to which one I end up working with aswell. On an even more positive note as well The Natal Sharks are second on the log at the moment and am seriously looking forward to the Sharks vs Reds game in a couple of weeks where I can finally shout for poles with them hearing me this time! ;) I also have my fingers crossed that Ernie manages to win a major this year. We know he can do it. Its just that he’s talking his time ;) More news as it happens… Nick.

"TheDevelopersWeb"

Two of my most recent personal projects have been to create an e-commerce business website that simply amalgamates everyone in the building profession and my own building design service. Its in its beginning stages at the moment but feel free to add any comments you’d like or suggest some more ideas and routes you could recommend to follow. For more info visit the site below. I am very opportunistic when it comes to new ideas in the Web 2.0 concept and intend on grasping such an idea to benefit my profession. Any comments and suggestions are very welcome.

http://www.thedevelopersweb.com/