Le Porsche Garage...

[milou]

This thread is about a garage project I've been thinking about for quite some time now. As a hopeless classic Porsche fanatic, I’ve presented it on the 911S registry forum a year ago.

Encouraged by Ron and Jack Olsen, I thought it would be appropriate to share it on this forum. I hope you'll like it:

After renting space in several parking lots around Geneva, I've been looking to rent a barn in the countryside to store the cars together and have a cool space to hang out.

At one point, we were up to 6 friends, with about 20 cars, and were hoping to find an industrial warehouse to rent together, but still found nothing.

So, I finally looked elsewhere, and decided to build a garage or some sort of mancave (just sat on the machine, couldn't drive the thing):



In came the concrete:



I didn't realize that water and electricity pipes required such a LARGE trench (I hoped my wife didn't mind. She did. 0ooops....):

 

[milou]

The size of the garage was limited by strict regional building laws: it couldn't be larger than 50 square meters (580 square feet I think?) on the ground, and couldn't be taller than 4.5 meters (15 feet).

Taking those measurements into account, I chose to build a very traditional "period" garage, suited for 3 cars, and a small mezzanine (half-floor) easily accessible.

I downloaded from Google a program called "Sketchup", and attempted to design what I was looking to achieve (don't laugh, it took me hours):



It would have 3 barn-like wooden doors, a traditional roof with a visible wooden structure, but thermally isolated in order to be heated during the winter months.

After the concrete floor, up came the walls:



A concrete slab ran across all three doors to allow one single space with no internal columns.



By this stage, our garden was pretty much destroyed. I didn't mind much (I was building a garage!) but obviously my other half wasn't very pleased:

 

[milou]

Very quickly it started to look like a proper building (well almost).

By then, I couldn't help imagining where the cars would go, the couch, the fridge, the posters (call me optimist!)...



A second slab of concrete adjacent to the garage would house a garden shed, as it became evident that no lawnmore or rake could be stored in "Le garage":



Very slowly (very...) the carpenters began working on the roof structure:

 

[milou]

The roof structure took about a month and a half to build:



The mezzanine as well:



We opted for round windows on the side walls for a traditional light effect. An additional window was cut into the roof for the mezzanine and to provide additional natural light:

 

[milou]

The garden shed was put in place while the garage's roof progressed nicely:



Inside, the wooden beams were being painted white:



Roof tiles were aligned showing different combinations of shade and shape:

 

[milou]

Final preparation outside:



Final preparation inside:



Tiles being placed at last:

 

[milou]

The roof done, copper was used for the rain gutters, providing that traditional look:


After a few weeks, the doors finally arrived:



We tested an old green shade and I thought it looked good:



The mezzanine stairs (more a ladder) arrived as well:

 

[milou]

After 3 months, the building is almost done. Still waiting for the round windows and the tarmac to be poured out front:



The walls have been painted, the spotlights mounted, and a guardrail (originally made for sailboats) installed:



I also installed an electricity line and an air compressor:




Of course I wish it could have been just a bit larger, but I'm nevertheless very excited!.

 

[milou]

This is the facade painted and finished.

Doors closed:



Doors opened!:







Eventually the concrete was poured out front:



Hopefully the grass will grow quickly on the garden shed side and my wife will get some of our garden back....




On the mezzanine, I built IKEA shelves...

 

[milou]

- Honda 125 Ihatovo:

 

[milou]

- 911T Targa:



- Period Porsche decal:



- Keyrings:



- 911 ST:


- Porcelain switches:



- Heuers and Twinmaster:

 

[milou]

- Storage space by the window:



- Lackstifts shelves:



- Brochure display cabinet:



- Keychain and badge:



- Memorabilia:



- 911S & Goodyear:

 

[jwhcars]

Nice garage and P-cars , I like that you built the garage to look period correct.
I think Jack Olsen borrowed your green color.

 

[356vintage]

Excellent space, excellent cars, beautiful memorabilia!
Congratulations.

 

[TONE]

Thats is absolutely stunning in every single way.

Great build, superb cars, and a nice write-up.

Thanks for sharing and enjoy what you have!

 

[jocool1585]

It appears you have the Honda stored in the rafters.... how do you get it up and down? Beautiful project!

 

[ersatzs2]

Just spectacular. I have never been able to understand why we can't build like that in the states. Or bury our power lines like you do do in Europe... but that's another issue...

I love the collection of vintage touch up paint, and the 911s are lovely.

 

[mjozefow]

Very nice garage sir! I like seeing how buildings are built a bit different than in the states. It really has a classic look.

Nice cars too!

 

[3cyltrbo]

Great thread, great garage and contents

thanks for sharing

W

 

[brockstar]

Very well done! Great collection of period 911s too.

Thank you for posting and would love to see more pics of the cars and your shop!

 

[PhillyRow]

Gorgeous, congrats on a great build!

 

[Kevin54]

Whew!! I thought I was slipping for a while as I thought I had seen this before but saw where you just posted it today. I thought it was on this site that I saw the thread. I did, but at that time it was linked http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=50654

Anyways......Excellent workmanship. I love the rafter craftmanship along with everything else. Thanks for posting the pics on here.

 

[captainkarl]

Thanks for sharing! Looks like a great space.

 

[milou]

Thank you everyone, I love the space, I've spend some great quality time in there!

Here is a Porsche sled designed by Butzi Porsche in 1963-65 when he was also designing the 911:



Here are some vintage factory posters:



Period Cibie and Shell signs. The Shell was hanging at the St Gallen gas station until the mid Seventies:



Getting full pretty quickly:



911 2.2S ex Siffert:


911 2.2T Targa:


911 2.3 S/T ex Wicky:


Wicky Racing team in the Sixties:


PS: The Honda was such a tight squeeze that it will stay up there for a while, but I love the design, it's so narrow and simple.

 

[Steve from Socal]

I saw your build somewhere else but couldn't comment on it. You have done a wonderful job blending space, presence and, style in a boutique size garage. The loft area has a nautical feel with not only the railing but the ceiling as well. You have succeeded in filling the space with many things but it doesn't look crowded. As another fan of cars from Stuttgart I am very impressed with your garage.

Steve

 

[stricht8]

Milou, that is an absolutely stunning garage. I really like the doors and the craftsmanship on the wooden rafters. This is one of my favorite garage builds here.

 

[milou]

Thank you, I feel very lucky to have a place to myself where I can get away from everything:

Recaro Porsche seats and display cabinet full of brochures:


Period banner displayed in Porsche showrooms in the late Fifties/early Sixties:


Cool design radio, and more memorabilia on the mezzanine:


I love the rally car:


Heuer timing devices were closely link to Porsche through Siffert and McQueen:

 

[stricht8]

Can we see your tools/tool chests?

 

[stricht8]

Also, you might want to contact the publishers of the Ultimate Garage book series. They might be interested in featuring your place.

 

[milou]

Hello Stricht8,

Unfortunately no lift and no tool chest, although I have a Hazet assistant I have to bring back to the garage.

It is conceived as a showroom more than an actual working garage, which could be another future project.....

 

[JMURiz]

Love the craftsmanship of the building and the storage loft area.

I guess you need a loft and cabinets with those AMAZING collectibles!!!

Great stuff, too many cool parts/cars/accessories to wrap my brain around.

 

[stricht8]

Hello Stricht8,

Unfortunately no lift and no tool chest, although I have a Hazet assistant I have to bring back to the garage.

It is conceived as a showroom more than an actual working garage, which could be another future project.....

We have similar taste! I have two Hazet Assistents. One new and in nice shape and another first issue late forties with the integrated stool.

 

[ironheadtom]

All I can say is WOW !

 

[Mr Long Hood]

Milou --- a most impressive building & collection of Porsche memorbilia (sp). Gotta luv them longhoods.

 

[stricht8]

Milou --- a most impressive building & collection of Porsche memorbilia (sp). Gotta luv them longhoods.

Whats a longhood?

 

[Shocker]

Pre 1974 911's. With the small bumpers, they had a long hood. The 74+ had the impact bumpers with a small strip that separated the bumper from the hood, thus the hood was short.

 

[3vettesnLift]

Very nice!, looks great. You must be enjoying the "cave".

 

[motodavid2000]

Thank you for posting the great photos of your garage. I love the "character" and look of the interior with the exposed truss system and the mezzanine area. The roofing tiles are fantastic also and give the roof a super texture and look. Outstanding !!

Dave

 

[JBC]

Very nice. I really like the unique time pieces and all the 911 history.
JBC

 

[Eds_tls]

Great job on the design and attention to detail! Looks like something built brand new 75 years ago, (which is a compliment by the way)

I really like that style alot. Very nice