A seasoned civil engineer, who had spent years working for the central government and was involved in several prestigious projects, decided to build a house for his elder son after retiring. Confident in his skills and dismissive of the abilities of local engineers, he took on the challenge of designing a 2000 sqft two-storey house located by the roadside.
Convinced that a foundation’s strength lies in its depth rather than its width, he instructed the workers to dig a narrow 45 cm trench. Despite the mason’s concerns, the father remained adamant that this approach would suffice. Construction progressed smoothly, and soon, the walls of the ground floor were completed.
However, a critical oversight became apparent when the son casually mentioned the need for a car porch, something his father had completely forgotten to include in the initial plan. The engineer, undeterred by this mistake, quickly ordered the construction of the car porch and even managed to have it plastered along with the rest of the house.
As the project neared completion, with walls, flooring, and even an iron shutter for the car porch installed, the son eagerly attempted to park his car inside. To his dismay, the car fit into the porch, but the doors couldn’t be opened, and the rear of the car extended slightly beyond the porch.
The father, trying to downplay the issue, reassured his son that parking the car outside would suffice. Reluctantly, the son agreed and began using the small space outside the compound wall for parking. The car porch was instead used to store an old bicycle, a Vespa scooter, and various car parts.
This incident serves as a reminder that designing a house requires careful planning and consultation. It’s crucial to seek advice from experts, review designs with others, and consider foundational requirements thoroughly. Observing the construction practices of neighboring houses can also provide valuable insights.
