BLOG POST 3

Brainstorming Ideas:

During a group meeting, members discussed various ideas and arrived at an unanimous consensus on the ideas. These ideas are presented below with pictures.

 

1)      Elevated Vegetable Garden

Much like below, but perhaps larger and with the possibility of one or two plexiglass sides and removable plexiglass cover.

retrieved from: http://media.merchantcircle.com/22231381/Raised%20Vegetable%20Garden_full.jpeg

 

Estimated Cost Breakdown:
Wooden Frame:  ~$200 for 8ft x 8ft patch
Plexiglass: ~$200 for cover; ~$100 per side

 

2)      Living Wall

Wooden Lattice in front of current fence with vines growing in between possibility of integrated herb-boxes. Alternatively, grow herbs suspended from lattice;

Retrieved from http://camillestyles.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/herb3.jpg

and http://claytonditzler.zenfolio.com/img/s2/v60/p1236821608-3.jpg respectively

 

Estimated Cost Breakdown:

Pallets: (potentially free if used?/quite cheap)

Wooden Lattice: ~$20 per 8ft²

Flowerboxes: ~$10-$20 per piece

 

3)      Obstacle Course

Following contours of asphalt path. Wooden stumps would be secured by digging them in deep enough; potential to integrate tires into course. *Stumps no higher than 6 inches

Retrieved from: http://www.play-scapes.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/10/palo-alto-zoo-playground-3-1024×574.jpg

 

Estimated Cost: $8-10 per stump (i.e. x 25)

≈$250

4)      Covered Bench

For parents to sit in the shade and children to climb around on

Estimated Cost: $8 per slab of wood

40 slabs of wood – aprox. $320

 

 

Techniques Used to Choose Ideas and Reasons for Final Choice:

The main factors considered in choosing an idea were:

• Cost
• Materials
• Safety
• Client preference

 

Upon brainstorming ideas, the client was contacted to propose the aforementioned ideas.

Although the obstacle course with logs was the most expensive option, the client informed the team that the logs would be donated by an external source which means the “materials” would be readily available at no “cost”. Thus, the options to build an obstacle course results in the cheapest option, $0. Also, the client was particularly keen on an obstacle course as this would enhance the children’s balance and jumping skills.

The client was not as keen on the other option, thus other ideas failed the “client’s preference” criteria and were discarded.

Since the “safety” criteria was a concern considering children might fall and get hurt, the team decided to have little spacing between logs to ease movement as well as place the obstacle course at a reasonable distance from the concrete pavement to minimise risk of injuries.

Timeline and Milestones:

January 22: CBEL Introduction Seminar

January 23: Group meets Mentor, Roles Delegated to group members

February 3: Group meeting at Keiser to discuss project

February 12: Skype meeting with the client

February 28: Group members visit play grounds in respective neighbourhoods to get ideas

March 2: Group meet client and visits site, client proposes ideas

March 10: Group meeting to discuss final ideas of project. Elevated vegetable garden, living wall, obstacle course and benches proposed

March 10: Skype meeting with client, client shares opinion and suggestions

March 11: Design options with cost breakdown sent to client

March 20: Group meeting online

March 24: Site visit and client meeting

March 28: Final report submission to client