Blog Posts By Author: Grant Jack

So we're in St. Petersburg, Russia, working on the Chernomoritz Spa Hotel Resort in Sochi, Russia for the next winter Olympics in 2014. It's February. Let me fill you in on what that means exactly:
  •  Average temperatures of between -5° C and -10° C…  
  •  Ice and snow—everywhere...
  •  The main front door and windows at the local architects offices freeze shut from time to time...
  •  The Neva River (which is about 3 times the width of the Thames in London) resembles a large ice rink…
  •  Frostbitten fingers (OK, turns out they were just really cold). South Africa definitely wasn't the best breeding ground for these temperatures.

Seriously, this place does not take prisoners-the average London winter wardrobe doesn't quite cut it outside of the office or hotel.

Week 1 was all about acclimatisation...
Every morning started with a full spread for breakfast-excellent.  This was followed by a quick walk to the office; luckily, the hotel was right around the corner from the offices we were stationed at (thank you, admin staff). The hours were quite long but nothing outside the realm of normality for an architect. We got some quality work done and the project seemed to be under control (well, as much as a bull rider believes he is controlling the bull). We flew into the first weekend and, armed with my European Cities Guide Book (thank you, Angela Wareham, London Interiors), I headed off to the main site in St. Petersburg, the State Hermitage or Winter Palace. It is absolutely beautiful, and if you get a chance one day, you really should try to see it. The urban planning of St. Petersburg ties in so closely with the palace's planning, so it really is a pleasure to experience. The interiors are also quite a sight.

Week 2 flew by in a matter of heart beats. Two of my bosses flew down for meetings, and it was great to spend some time conversing solely in English. Before I knew it, it was the weekend again and, after finally realising that all the other people wearing jeans actually had thermals on underneath, we were off to the market. One of the local architects (Kirill Spirin, who is working hard on his English) took my colleague Diana Osman and me to see a few hidden gems. The first stop was the Russian military surplus store. What a perfect guy shop! Not sure if Diana will agree, but this was a highlight (I am still regretting not investing in a pair of night vision goggles). After that, we went to a lovely little cafe for lunch and then to the local market to buy the necessary winter wears. Towards evening it was definitely close to -20° C.

Week 3: Armed with my new and improved wardrobe, the temperatures this week aren't so bad. The first deadline is this Friday, so work is cranking up a notch, which is still enjoyable. It feels good to be performing such an integral role in such a high profile project. The queries are flying and I must thank the entire Sochi team back in London for their sterling work. The feedback has been fast and furious—you can really feel the presence of the large team back home as they exercise their full intellectual muscle.

So our return flights are booked and we have just a few days left here in St. Petersburg. It's been a steep learning curve and an amazing experience, so thank you WATG for this wonderful opportunity.