No, Christo is not returning from the grave to wrap Metropolis. Our apartment building is called Manhattan on the Park and it has been found that it, along with several (at least) other buildings in Canberra have been clad with material that is somewhat like that on Grenfell Towers.
As a consequence it has become very difficult to get insurance for the building and it has been found necessary to get the old cladding removed and for replacement material to be installed. The process for arranging this has been somewhat fraught as some of the owners of apartments don't want to spend any money (or else have difficulty with logic). However after some 18 months of bickering a contract has been let and work has commenced. This is post is likely to be the first of several following the prcoess through its life.
The highest priority area to be fixed is the entrance as:
- there is a lot of cladding there (eg all the white stuff in the image above);
- it is a high-risk area due to public access; and
- Some of the fire escapes from the residential area come out through an area surrounded by flammable cladding (see image below - the cladding used to cover all the exposed metal).
The guys were at work today getting more cladding off the lofts also at ground level. (Those familiar with English architecture - or indeed the English language - might
expect a loft to be high in the building. But marketing marches to a different drum.)
The big action today was installing some sheds in the forecourt to serve as the site offices. Here is one arriving on a truck. Apparently there wasn't much clearance to get it in!
When the second shed arrived I took some photos from our balcony. Crane hooks on to the shed.
Truck drives away...
.. leaving the shed swinging ...
.. until it is slotted into ...
.. its position.
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