The Pyramid Project

Overview

 

“Divide to Conquer"
01 January 2008 to 01 July 2009

 

The construction is divided into twelve phases. Each phase has a general objective.  Phases are further separated into tasks that serve to divide the project into even smaller manageable chunks

 

The business will operate differently from phase to phase because it will utilise the construction assets available whilst generating necessary funds to finance it’s next phase.  This strategy allows the business to evolve in a controlled and well managed fashion towards the final vision

 

Each phase includes a timeline objective along with the cost of materials.  The additional weight each phase adds to the structure is also included as this is a critical factor in the project. The project’s budget spreadsheet ties to this document providing much more detail of every material item; i.e. the dimensions, weight, cost and exact usage

 

The overall designs are completed.  The 7 storey pyramid will float on the river using plastic bottles.  The designs allow the pyramid to have a maximum weight of 975 tons. (This is about the same as two 16th Century Galleon ships parked side by side).  More working designs are required of the detailed tasks within each phase.  These details will be provided just ahead of the start of each phase.  This approach is more agile and dynamic allowing for greater flexibility to last minute changes and unforeseen challenges

 

 

 

“Phase Summary"
(Costs excluded this version)

“Project Plan"
1½ years

“Business Model"
Exponentiating!

The first 2 phases are designed to get the project to a point where it has an income that will be enough to pay for phase 3

Generally speaking the pyramid levels are added from the top down. The nature of a pyramid means that the floor area gets bigger and bigger as we get lower in the pyramid. So the top floors are cheaper to build but can house less visitors

In fact the income will “exponentiate” from phase 8 onwards. That means that money comes in from the smaller, higher floors, which then pays for a lower floor. This new floor now brings even more income in and this goes on to pay for an even bigger lower floor… this means the new income is even greater and so it goes on until all the 7 floors are completed. The “Pyramid Project” is not only a pyramid shaped building, it is also a pyramid shaped business model

Before completion in July 2009 it is expected that nearly one million dollars will have been spent on this project’s development bringing much work to the region

“Floating"
On 836,000 plastic bottles!

During the first 3 phases before a permanent platform is built the pyramid will float on 40m² of Balsa wood (Topa). This gives 193 tons of lift.  In Phase 4 the pyramid is refloated on plastic bottles and the Balsa is reused out of the water to keep the bottles down

“Location"
What a Picture!

The construction of the first few phases will occur in the bay situated at the end of Pevas Street in Iquitos, Peru.  After phase 5 (which requires electricity from the mains for welding) the pyramid will be moved across to the other side of the river where the Navy have agreed it can reside permanently.  This is marked by the green arrow in the photo.  The photo is taken from the main Boulevard of Iquitos where, at 24.44m high and 2km away, the pyramid will be visible

Google Earth Image of the Pyramid Site

The Amazon is up there on the right.  The pyramid is on the river Itaya where the waters are calmer.  The construction site is right next to where I live marked on the map as "Casa de Julio".  The area below my home which has lots of blue dots on is where the photo above was taken from