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Today is May 15, 2008 
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Today is May 15, 2008
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| Didona Associates - the Landscape Architects | |||||||||
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The Brown Family from Bridgeport Connecticut had suffered many setbacks
including a flood, looting and finally fire at their home located on
Hollister Avenue in Bridgeport Connecticut. Jane Didona heard of their
plight from the architect, Leigh Overland, and quickly agreed to be a part
of the design team for this extreme make over project. Jane and her staff at
Didona Associates developed a site plan and a garden that complemented the
Victorian architecture of the new home design. What was challenging was that
they did not get to visit the site or talk to the Brown’s because until
“door knock” day this project was secret. Key elements of the Landscape Plan
are beautifully designed plant beds, a concrete paver driveway turnaround
and gazebo. The Didona design team embraced the challenges presented them
with the space considerations of an urban residence as well as the time
restraints necessary for production of the “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition”
show. The design was submitted to the “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” design team and accepted. The plans were then submitted to the City for review and approved. At this point, Didona Associates thought their work was over. But, then the fun began. This house was to be built in just one week. Door knock was on Wednesday, July 25 and the reveal was on set for Wednesday, August 1. On a rainy cool night the Monday before, Jane and Keith went to a warehouse on Seaview Avenue in Bridgeport. This is where all the materials were staged. They met with the construction team for the project including landscapers, masons, irrigation, and suppliers. The magnitude of what needed to be done and in what time frame began to sink in. All of the construction had to be carefully orchestrated to meet the deadline. Hundreds of volunteers gave their time, energy and skills to the project from demolishing the damaged house to landscaping the new home. Everything necessary for this monumental task was donated from cement and lumber to furniture and appliances to food and water for the volunteers. The Braveheart Walk was held on Friday, July 27th. Didona’s Keith Beaver and Dan Clark attended the kickoff parade with dozens of other volunteers to signal the official start of construction. Just five days later and with the reveal just 24 hours away, Jane, Keith and Dan made their way to the site to help coordinate the landscaping part of the project. With construction of the house still in progress, Jane and company set off to the warehouse to sort and organize plant material. Finally, with construction materials, ladders and most of the construction crews out of the way the Didona representatives, with the help of landscapers and other volunteers, were able to complete the landscaping project by midnight. Weary but proud to have been a part of such a monumental undertaking, they made there way back to Danbury. Tomorrow other projects would need their attention. The very next day the house was revealed to the deserving family and, of course, they were blown away. Where a broken down house once stood was a beautiful Victorian home complete with white picket fence and rose bushes out front. That evening (Wednesday, August 1st) Jane, Keith and Dan were invited to a cast party, hosted by the “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” show, to thank all the firms responsible for the home's construction. To all of the volunteers on the project, a sincere job well done". The episode featuring the Brown's home is scheduled to air in October. To learn more about Extreme Makeover: Home Edition in Connecticut, click here. |
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ABC's Extreme Makeover
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