Open Architecture Network

outch! I have a feeling I should have started updates quite a while ago. I have now been 1 month 1/2 in South Africa. The start is always abrupt, but thanks to an amazing team, we were able to move forward quite fast. For a quick overview I will introduce the team.

In South Africa we have:

- Paola Peacock Friedrich (originally from Mexico) representing Football for Hope

- James Donald ( from Jo'burg, just recently moved to the Western Cape) - he is the 'client' by representing Grassrootsoccer, along with Kim Kennedy a GRS intern from the US who already decided to extend her stay

- Verena Grips (German since 3 years living in CPT) from arG design is in charge of the design

- Eugene da Silva ( South African) is the main Architecture for Humanity contact. He is a local architect, splitting time between family, Footballl for Hope and his own office.

- I am the lucky design fellow (Romanian) to be part of the team

In Europe:

- Madleen Noreisch from FIFA (based in Switzerland)

- Jan Lubbering from streetfootballworld (based in Berlin)

- Katrin Elsemann, also streetfootballworld, she will be joining us soon in Cape Town

Of course, none of this would even be happening without our San Francisco based Architecture for Humanity team leaders: Kate Stohr - AfH Co-Founder - and Kimberley O'Dowd AfH - Program Manager.

In case you were wondering, through bi-weekly conference calls at unusual hours we do all get together.

Let me walk you through a few of the major steps that happened so far. I'll promise more up to date updates from now on.

- 27-10-08 we had a Khayelitsha FFH Partner's Workshop

- 11-11-08 we were very excited to meet the kids from Khayelitsha at a workshop at Kwamfundo Senior Secondary School, which is right across our site

- 08-11-08 Verena uploaded on the OAN a site analysis as well as 3 conceptual layout options

- 12-11-08 we met with the representatives of VPUU to discuss certain aspects regarding the site and infrastructure as well as general guidelines. VPUU is a Violence Prevention through Urban Upgrading programme initiated by the City of Cape Town

- 15-11-08 Verena has further developed 3 different design approaches. This was the departure point for the current plan

- 09-12-08 design walk through held by Verena with the rest of the team. You ca find in both slide show and on the workspace the latest plan and 3D images

- 10-12-08 - submission of Site Development Plan - waiting for the City Council's comments and we hope to get final approval before summer Holidays.

- the MOU has been signed this week

- business plan is also almost done and ready to be signed

We focus now mainly on the Site Development Plan and all the paperwork surrounding the building plan application.

Will update soon.

Happy Holidays from a very summer-y South Africa!