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News from the building site
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DECEMBER 2006 - APRIL 2007
The mild winter in the last weeks of 2006 enabled the construction work to continue. Before the weather changed for worse our team of professional contractors completed a damp-proof course of foundations and erected all weight-bearing walls on the ground floor. They also put lintels in place and we could see windows and doors taking shape.
We had to wait for better weather conditions before ferroconcrete wreaths could be poured over the wall tops. The winter wasn't too severe and the construction work resumed in March. In March, the residents of our Centre usually take time off, however, Chopin volunteered at the construction site since early morning. It is quite spectacular to watch the walls being erected as they go up so quickly. Mounting wreaths is just the opposite. The progress here seems slow. However, it isn't less important work. It simply takes a long time to do it well.
Before Easter the contractors raised wreaths in front of the building, then poured concrete over them and finally put up a ceiling there. In this area on a higher floor, there will be living quarters. One part will be occupied by Drubpyn - Lama who looks after the retreats. Other rooms will be home to the cook and the site administrator. The kitchen will also be on the same floor. In addition, the contractors managed to erect ten pillars indoors in a dedicated dining area. Another short break in construction works will be allowed to let the concrete ceiling set and get firm. Next, we are getting ready to put up walls on the first floor. We are hoping to put the roof over the whole building before summer comes.
By then our funds will be drying up. Wiring and any interior works will all depend on your future donations.
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More pictures:
Winter 2007
- click here
May 2007 - here
July 2007 - here
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OCTOBER - NOVEMBER 2006
Further to our update of September 2006 since planning permission was granted, the top layer of soil, called humus was excavated within the designated area. Subsequently, necessary changes to the project transpired that caused us a minor delay in the start of construction works. Finally, on October 20th the surveyor marked out the building boundaries and construction work began the very next day.
We would like to mention our architect, Rafal Boruszak, donated us the complete set of building blueprints and additional design plans. This saved us a significant amount of money. In addition, due to Rafal's professional experience and active involvement in the sourcing process we managed to negotiate a good deal for labour and materials.
At present our project manager is Grazyna Gintowt-Dziewa³towska with much additional support from Chopin and Janek.
Due to the scale and complexity of the works it was necessary to engage a professional contractor for the initial phase and a local construction firm has been appointed. However, we do hope to carry out much of the subsequent work ourselves as this will save us a lot of money.
Many of our professional friends have already tendered their support, and there will be plenty to do for the non-professionals too. We count on active involvement of all those who plan to come to the retreat - it will be a great opportunity to generate merit and socialize with the rest of the team.
The works are progressing fast. First, ditches were dug for the foundations. A layer of lean concrete was poured into them constituting a so-called foundation base. Before the concrete set, steel-bar reinforcements were prepared and set in the concrete.
It took the whole day to lay the foundation base and we didn't finish until late in the evening. The cement mixers drove in one by one. When finally the last meter of concrete was laid everybody relaxed.
It was necessary to wait several days for the concrete to set firm. Subsequently, the foundation base was then insulated and the concrete block foundations were laid. Finally, we placed vertical insulation made of polystyrene and special foil.
The next stage was to lay the flooring, cover the foundations with soil, and thicken it.
One month after construction started, on November 20th, the concrete flooring layer was already in place. This will form the base for the real floor in the future.
In the coming days, we will continue covering the foundations from outside with soil. This will complete the first stage of construction - laying foundations.
If the weather remains favourable the walls will start rising before winter begins. Otherwise, we will have to wait until spring to start.
As many of you have been so generous, we have enough money now to finish off the walls. However, we still need around 25 thousand Euro to put the roof over the building. |
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SPRING / SUMMER 2006
We begin the building
In spring 2006 we continued our works on archaeological excavations. Because there was nothing to suggest the unfavourable results, we started taking next preparatory steps. Rafal was about to finish the project of the building, and Grazyna kept gaining various necessary documents.
On Sunday, June 11 th, 2006, Venerable Sangye Nyenpa Rinpoche performed earth breaking ceremony, so-called sa chok. The puja was intended to win favour of local deities and to gain their acceptance of building the centre in the place belonging to them. You can see the pictures form the ritual in Gallery.
Finally on June 19 th, 2006 we received the decision of the Voivodship Office of Historical Monuments Protection, stating that "no archaeological objects and cultural stratifications have been found in the examined area". That meant there are no contraindications to build something in the area.
Soon, after collecting all necessary documents, we officially applied for the permission to build the centre. We received it on Friday, August 18 th, 2006. First works started. In the pictures you can see machines taking off the surface layer of soil, so-called humus, within the marked area.
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AUTUMN 2005
Future vs. past - archaeological excavations
During the preparation of building the three-year retreat centre we met some unexpected circumstances. It occurred that an archaeological site is located in the place where the drubkhang is supposed to be built. It means that permission for the building must be preceded by appropriate research. Discovering valuable cultural heritage would postpone the building for a long time, until the moment of completing more detailed excavation works.
Remembering that two Rinpoches (Tenga Rinpoche and Sangye Nyenpa Rinpoche) and monks from two monasteries (Benchen in Tibet, and Benchen in Nepal) are praying in intention for our two building ventures (the social building and the drubkhang), we decided to solve the archaeological problem as soon as possible.
Hoping that no valuable cultural heritage would be found, under watchful eye of the archaeologists, and supported by physical strength of the male part of our Sangha, we began preliminary researches. Fifteen people for three days enthusiastically gathered merit, digging several acres of our land seeking pre-historical relics. We want to thank all our helpers for their participation in establishment of the retreat centre.
Most of the work was completed before winter. Only a fragment of the excavating work has to wait for more favourable weather. Work upon the architectural design is progressing and after acceptance of the final version by the Rinpoches, we proceed in detail the work.
During his visit in June 2006 His Eminence Sangye Nyenpa Rinpoche is going to consecrate the site of building and the work will be launched straightaway. We hope that the drubkhang in Grabnik will soon bring us new Western lamas of the Kagyu school, trained in the Benchen monastery tradition. |
If you want to see more pictures
- click here
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