The Wall Also Rises

This week, we made it up to the top floor (Fourth if you count American style, Third if you count European style) and saw the view from that level for the first time, and let me tell you, even with a slight summer fog enveloping the City, it was pretty spectacular. Here's a composite panoramic shot that does not really do the view justice, but you get the general idea:



Here is a more clear shot of the downtown view:



and the view of the bay:



Other than taking in the view from the top floor, this week was all about The Wall. The retaining walls, or "The Wall" as we affectionately call it, has come a long way since the start of construction. Here's a quick review of where we started and where we are today. Maestro, cue the nostalgic music, please ...

Here's how we found the steep back yard with some simple brick retaining walls:



Make that steep and verdant:



Then construction began. First we gave the hill a military-style haircut:



Then we took out all the brick and the staircase:



Then we dug a couple of really really deep trenches up on the hill:



Next came lots of rebar and the wooden forms:







Add lots and lots and lots of concrete, and viola, two gigantic retaining walls:



Not bad for four months worth of actual work. Easy for me to say, I am not the one actually doing the work.

In addition to pouring the retaining walls, the fourth wall of "The Grotto" was also poured this week, turning it into an actual enclosure. I think they missed a spot, or that may just be the doorway. This view is from the back side of the wall:



This is the same wall seen from inside the garage:



Another step forward was the installation of the template for the steel beams that will keep the house from flopping around like a piece of boneless chicken (note the fire extinguisher.  Required by OSHA and very important in case all of this highly flammable concrete suddenly combusts):

With all the concrete action going on this week, there was no new framing, but I am told that with most of the concrete work done, the framing is set to accelerate. I am very excited about the steel work and look forward to seeing the giant beams going in, which should happen fairly soon now.

In the meantime, I am thinking about how many bottles of wine I can store in my brand new Grotto ... It will probably look something like this:

Then again, maybe not.