Designing Dream Garage

In the summer yes. In the winter in cold climates you need heat and a dehumidifier. Basically whatever you need to maintain proper humidity and temp.

 

I wired the lights so that nothing is over a car.. so I have 2 2bulb fixtures between each car. Kicker lights for pulling in and getting caught at sundown working in the driveway, 2 over the bench, 2 upstairs (parts department.. LOL) and one over the motorcycle.

using floresants, get those clear plastic tubes for if heaven forbit a fixture decides to drop one.... POOF! and I add a small piece of packing tape at the ends so that vibrations dont rotate them out.

 

HKSB was designed by Norman Foster. It is still 20 years later the most expensive structure ever built. The then Chairman of HSBC knew no bounds. IFC is a better example of local capabilities. When completed it was the third tallest building in the world. Cesar Pelli designed the building with a lot of local input. I agree with you that the engineering capability in Hong Kong is fantastic

 

I have Many fond memories of HK!

Cheers!

 

Great place HK. Stayed at the Mandarin Oriental a few years back. It was one of my best trips apart from the humidity.

 

Come back in the fall. fantastic weather. Mandarin has been very tastefully renovated. Lots of nice hotels. We can do some driving together!

 

Thanks....I was in HK in June. I definitely plan to return to HK in the near future....I was fascinated by the city. I will ofcourse send you a note prior to my trip. It will be a pleasure driving with you .

 

Meeting with architect went well. We have agreed on key components. Construction to start next Tuesday. M&E first. Lifts require special wiring etc under Hong Kong laws.

Hong Kong property is in a funny position now. Our economy is strong as a result of China. Our currency is pegged to USD. 50bp cut in interest rates is precisely what we do not need to fan an already hot fire. Feeling very happy that I got my offer accepted in late July when sentiment took a hit. Makes me feel better about spending more for a great fit out

 

This garage project sounds like it's gonna be AWESOME - You should make a Garage building diary thread, so we can follow the stages all the way incl. Photos

 

That's what's business is about.....the proper opportunity at the proper timing.....enjoy your project and looking forward to seeing it's various stages till completion .

Best regards,

TK

 

Closed today, keys are with the contractor, demolition starts tomorrow

 

Good Luck! Take Photos.

Best

 

We'll be following it's progress .

 

Demolition is truly underway I am told. Unfortunately I was in Vienna last night, Geneva tonight and Paris tomorrow so I haven't seen much with my own eyes. One development - I am not so great at parking and it was stressing me a bit the thought of manouvering cars around. Solution - a car turntable! I will take photos when I am back in HK and as construction progresses. Hoping to have it finished by end of November (wishful thinking maybe).

 

That's a great idea! I can't wait to see pics.

 

Did someone mention a kitchen area already?

 

I have seen them in Japan and they are very cool, allow very easy parking and better utilization of space.

 

On vacation I met a guy with one in the San Juan Islands (WA state); his home was on a steep ridge on the edge of Puget Sound, and the curved driveway too narrow to safely 3-point turn. So he had the turntable and could drive his 993 cab down to the house, put it on the turntable and it would spin the car back around pointing out.

 

In Japan space is so tight that it enabled you to get into a garage that was to the side of a very narrow driveway. Without the turntable it wouldn't have been possible. In NYC there is now a fully automatic parking garage that you pull onto a pallet and it parks and retrieves the car automatically.

 

I have been in Europe for the past 2 weeks and have just returned to HK. Will visit the site and see how things are progressing. If anything interesting I will take photos and post. Still busy with "infrastructure" works like waterproofing, drainage, demolition etc.

 

Someone had one in his garage.....there was a picture here on F-Chat in the garage thread of a fantastic garage with some American cars I believe, which had this turntable.

 

Great to see the space gutted out. It was previously a car repair facility and had a paint shed. What a difference to take it back to the shell and start again. Lots of details as to size and placement of car turntable as there is a beam under the floor. It is all getting sorted. I am very careful in the planning stage.

Anyone use the Deltran Battery Tender International? I am about to order a whack of them and install the harness in my cars and bikes. Looks like a great product

 

A lot of details. The excavation work for the turntable turned out to be tough going - there was a huge boulder that had a voracious appetite for jack hammers. We needed to excavate through the slab to build footings for the car lift. All of that is progressing well. I also attacked water proofing with a vengance. We get some torrential rains in HK and I want to keep humidity low. There were some structural repairs to a wall a few years back and the membrane was not restored to my satisfaction. All of this has put us back a bit but is important work. The extra time has allowed the design to get better and better. Sorry still no photos because it is mostly rubble coming out right now. I am on my way to Bucharest for a week and will report when I get back

 

If you have a problem sorting the dehumidification issue PM me as we are well versed in installing various system types in house's,basement and garages. What is the avarage 80% plus in HK and what are you trying to get it to (60% or less)

 

Will follow up with my contractor to double check our plan. Thanks for letting me know that there is an expert in Fchat