We've been busy in the shop fabricating the upper framework for Hazelnut Inn's ship. The Imagination Corporation has built many tall ships in the past but this one is significantly different. This one has to be watertight and finished on the interior as people will be staying in the room. This means that how things fit together is critical. Tolerances are tight. The challenge is to adhere to the engineer's specifications while still staying true to the artistic design. A ship is different than many structures as there are very few straight or level lines and yet it must be totally symmetrical, which is the real challenge. Each piece of steel is unique and needs to be carefully fit with complex angles on both ends. One by one the pieces are measured, cut and fit and then fully welded into place. As a full assembly it is much too large to go out of our shop doors in one piece and so it is built in sections which will unbolt and then easily bolt together once more when it is reassembled on site. This also means we have to build flashings into the frame sections to ensure it is all watertight when we are done. There is a lot of consultation between Peter and I as we go forward and we are both enjoying the experience!
It's been an exciting and busy week as the onsite construction of Hazelnut Inn has begun at last! The carpentry crew arrived Tuesday morning to begin building the forms for the footings of the buildings. The footings are much wider than normal because of the amount of concrete to be used in the walls and suspended slabs of the rooms. This will ensure the rooms are soundproof and fireproof for the comfort and safety of our guests. The footings for the green walls are lower than the building footings to allow for sloping ground and the three garden pools. It's a little confusing for the casual observer at this point but will become clearer as the vertical construction begins and the final ground levels are formed after the concrete is complete. While the construction crews are busy on the site our crew is working full blast in the shop on the prefabricated components.
Our roof has arrived - some assembly required!
We visited quite a few roofing suppliers before we settled on Cedar Grove in Abbotsford. From the moment we stepped in the door Graham, the manager, was very helpful. Our roof isn't very big but he happily took the time to work with us as we made our choice.
Now, if only we had something to put the roof on!
When people see the scale model of the inn for the first time they often exclaim, "I want to be the first person to stay!" If it is a group of people, there is also a conversation about which suite they like the best. (The Under Hill and the North Star are running neck and neck in this debate.)
Last weekend we displayed the model as part of the Yarrow Days celebration. We suspected that many people would want to know when we would be open! We aren't taking reservations yet but we wanted a little something for people to take with them to remind them of us when the time comes.
With that in mind, we asked Lisa at Engravex to print us up some business cards. The cards look great and we handed out quite a few at Yarrow Days. All we have to do now is build the inn!
The inn is all laid out and we are just about ready to get started! If you look carefully at the picture below you can see the three suites laid out in pink with their private gardens painted orange. It is getting exciting!
Peter and I spent the afternoon laying out the Hazelnut Inn on the freshly packed gravel of the worksite. This morning our surveyors from Tunbridge and Tunbridge had pegged the corners of the buildings accurately, making the job much easier. We laid out each room and the walls surrounding the gardens. Sidewalks and pools were planned out as well. After supper Peter escorted Hailey and Juniper on the first official tour of the little inn. While the worksite is still very flat and level That is not what Peter and Hailey imagined. As they walked each path Peter described when they were climbing stairs or going up sloping walkways. They, like me, can vividly see every feature and detail clearly, as if it was all in place. They can smell the flowers and hear the tumbling water of the brooks and waterfalls. This is going to be an incredibly magic place when we are done. Tomorrow, the carpenters arrive to start banging together forms. This is going to be very exciting!
