Habaritag:dayonedesign.org,2021-11-26:sculpture/799b70a211f76760e01c6f94898d4949967f977dbioconstruction and beyond2010-11-10T23:40:32-08:00erica anntag:dayonedesign.net,2011:cob-loop-de-loop/13142631022010-11-10T23:40:32-08:002011-08-25T02:05:02-07:002010-06-01T17:40:00-07:00 <img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__8dbxhS6eos/TAWsXXCD8tI/AAAAAAAABr8/qWO6z92ixXY/s320/loop_4375.jpg"> Welcome to the BRING Planet Improvement Center! I'm building a piece for their sculpture park called the Garden of Earthly Delights. It's a totally ground-breaking, never been done before that I know of, cob-adobe hybrid spiraling loop-de-loop... yes, all that and some. <img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__8dbxhS6eos/TAWsXNA2C2I/AAAAAAAABr0/jxwBremlW8o/s320/loop_4005.jpg"> the 'before' shot <img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__8dbxhS6eos/TAWsFWYdYzI/AAAAAAAABrs/bWl6zHFk0bk/s320/loop_4022.jpg"> Laying the urbanite foundation <img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__8dbxhS6eos/TAWsE9r2zFI/AAAAAAAABrk/kj2oEUzwzhU/s320/loop_4028.jpg"> with a gravel bed below and reclaimed chimney bricks every 8 feet. Something had to break up the 50' long curved bench. The gently curving part is intended for classroom style seating when BRING wants to host groups to learn about sustainability, salvage and using reclaimed materials. <img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__8dbxhS6eos/TAWsErr9zlI/AAAAAAAABrc/xYMLV-bl800/s320/loop_4041.jpg"><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__8dbxhS6eos/TAWsEWWwq0I/AAAAAAAABrU/XEEcOW6LRZg/s320/loop_4046.jpg"> A group of high school students spends their spring break getting muddy and learning about how to build with cob. <img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__8dbxhS6eos/TAWsD9zvFXI/AAAAAAAABrM/FqbowLLEKvg/s320/loop_4055.jpg"><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__8dbxhS6eos/TAWr2odY8wI/AAAAAAAABrE/6BmQ64ll024/s320/loop_4056.jpg"> We finish most of the length of the bench that week. <img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__8dbxhS6eos/TAWr2ZKzymI/AAAAAAAABq8/c0ZQPE2LadI/s320/loop_4183.jpg"> Then, I begin the loop <img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__8dbxhS6eos/TAWr2Ppsq3I/AAAAAAAABq0/dgzKpXGiPNI/s320/loop_4193.jpg"> Building up the plynths <img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__8dbxhS6eos/TAWr10tdNFI/AAAAAAAABqs/VjJgeK2uht0/s320/loop_4196.jpg"> more cob, even solo <img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__8dbxhS6eos/TAWr1UIi_8I/AAAAAAAABqk/coQTiJLZUNo/s320/loop_4201.jpg"> finally the bases are ready <img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__8dbxhS6eos/TAWron05xjI/AAAAAAAABqc/6PXxXWwwp0M/s320/loop_4206.jpg"> and I start the adobe arch, using a 5 foot diameter plywood form <img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__8dbxhS6eos/TAWroK6XesI/AAAAAAAABqU/PRNXO6UsEco/s320/loop_4209.jpg"> a new friend, Jessica Gray, helps out <img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__8dbxhS6eos/TAWroBVLXLI/AAAAAAAABqM/_vwSdGTKwKY/s320/loop_4212.jpg"> making arches is a total blast! <img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__8dbxhS6eos/TAWrnu2Q_DI/AAAAAAAABqE/WOATkFzvzqw/s320/loop_4217.jpg"> More cob, fleshing out the structural adobe arch <img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__8dbxhS6eos/TAWrnRsnR5I/AAAAAAAABp8/Zxjbmz1TUu0/s320/loop_4239.jpg"> More builder friends join in to help with the integral roof/bench surface. We're using toilet tank covers to protect the cob. <img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__8dbxhS6eos/TAWrXMzKa8I/AAAAAAAABp0/5OqS6BgDfTQ/s320/loop_4241.jpg"> We debate it for a long while and decide to go with a salvaged steel armature to support the overhang of the toilet tank covers. It's totally great working at a salvage warehouse, all materials right on hand! <img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__8dbxhS6eos/TAWrWqrlE8I/AAAAAAAABps/wwWnUO_f4fo/s320/loop_4244.jpg"><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__8dbxhS6eos/TAWrWXYZsiI/AAAAAAAABpk/EwvJg3PjtVg/s320/loop_4248.jpg"> Eva Miller and I trim the form of the loop <img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__8dbxhS6eos/TAWrWKl2kaI/AAAAAAAABpc/RqentYb2emc/s320/loop_4250.jpg"> Max and Fezzo work on the toilet tank extravaganza <img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__8dbxhS6eos/TAWrV-9ZJDI/AAAAAAAABpU/i5p8blJop-4/s320/loop_4254.jpg"> Each piece is slightly sloped to the rear to drain. <img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__8dbxhS6eos/TAWq6qyhspI/AAAAAAAABpM/D_ArV25ft6g/s320/loop_4259.jpg"> We use cementitious mortar to set the porcelin <img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__8dbxhS6eos/TAWq6Ym_JdI/AAAAAAAABpE/SNlHs7T2AC0/s320/loop_4255.jpg"><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__8dbxhS6eos/TAWq6HKKAyI/AAAAAAAABo8/vL50NvAAxQs/s320/loop_4266.jpg"><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__8dbxhS6eos/TAWq5AjOUnI/AAAAAAAABos/bFPvX-vrxmw/s320/loop_4288.jpg"> The toilet tank covers follow the form of the bench and spiral upwards <img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__8dbxhS6eos/TAWq5lp0XoI/AAAAAAAABo0/XZrTrY2YkWo/s320/loop_4273.jpg"> we have to get clever about how we will secure them up-side-down <img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__8dbxhS6eos/TAWqOgfdPuI/AAAAAAAABoc/jqLVm7sehgU/s320/loop_4311.jpg"> It takes all four of us to get them to behave <img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__8dbxhS6eos/TAWqOJpVKuI/AAAAAAAABoU/9iKnYzDkdq0/s320/loop_4314.jpg"> Wired in and temporary strings help out too. Defying gravity is one of my favorite things... <img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__8dbxhS6eos/TAWpnkz4kQI/AAAAAAAABn8/hvj5Cn6JOj4/s320/loop_4330.jpg"><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__8dbxhS6eos/TAWpnOMLebI/AAAAAAAABn0/Wv-gww4l4Js/s320/loop_4352.jpg"><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__8dbxhS6eos/TAWpm9Nv04I/AAAAAAAABns/EmGsR6TFi1s/s320/loop_4360.jpg"><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__8dbxhS6eos/TAWqOwL25xI/AAAAAAAABok/0seRauE7hPk/s320/loop_4297.jpg"> Super hero pvc'ers to the rescue for the rafters, another great find at the warehouse <img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__8dbxhS6eos/TAWpmqjw2mI/AAAAAAAABnk/bErOuTowOpY/s320/loop_4361.jpg"> the roof for the loop gets framed with these, Max Edelson takes on that project <img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__8dbxhS6eos/TAWpDkrQrNI/AAAAAAAABnU/cJ7KPyazziY/s320/loop_4378.jpg"> I teach a workshop on earthen plasters and have several wonderful folks join in on the finishing touches<img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__8dbxhS6eos/TAWpC4Qg6RI/AAAAAAAABnM/7SWWZL2Vvug/s320/loop_4436.jpg"><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__8dbxhS6eos/TAWpCp-tBXI/AAAAAAAABnE/ixJ9AwA1g9k/s320/loop_4471.jpg"><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__8dbxhS6eos/TAWpCafP70I/AAAAAAAABm8/lmZzI_oz9_E/s320/loop_4506.jpg"> Hooray! Ethan Rainwater, the Garden Designer is happy with what we've created. <img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__8dbxhS6eos/TAWpCAHhLVI/AAAAAAAABm0/HeH2MREu3XA/s320/loop_4495.jpg"><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__8dbxhS6eos/TNuaGa0QsQI/AAAAAAAABs0/_1as0FZsKPA/s320/loop%2Bfinal2_4849.jpg"> some finished shots, with two coats of linseed oil, this thing looks an awful lot like a chocolate frosted donut... complete with sprinkles! <img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__8dbxhS6eos/TNuaGDaP8BI/AAAAAAAABss/Kbjxv9DwcRQ/s320/loop%2Bfinal3_4854.jpg"><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__8dbxhS6eos/TNuaFiGsyFI/AAAAAAAABsc/AdeRYCFuR-c/s320/loop%2Bfinal5.jpg"> my original sketch/rendering that I presented to get the gig <img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__8dbxhS6eos/TNuaFoc5m0I/AAAAAAAABsU/lxNFQtmCv_w/s320/loop%2Bfinal6_4890.jpg"> quite like I thought it would be!