technē and poiēsis

I was playing around with the clay, trying to think of what to do  for the sleeping surface part of the shelter. I thought I would try a different method of forming tiles. Roman tile-makers formed roof tiles by slapping clay over their thighs- thighs had the proper length and taper, I suppose. In the past, I have used a rolling method, where a sheet of clay is rolled out between a frame that has the proper thickness. I decided to try making catenary curve tiles. If the frame was placed on some sort of fabric or mesh that could then be hung, the tile would take a catenary shape- then it would be in pure compression when flipped over.   It worked quite well. I was afraid the clay would crack, but after the first day of drying it is fine. I think if I continue testing I will use a thinner sheet of clay and try to get more control over the height of the mesh. I can also perhaps suspend from more than 4 points to make different curves.  I also like the fact that the ...

On my mini-vacation I decided to go to Brighton to see a bit of the ocean. I had one day of sunshine and one day of constant rain, so I wandered the beach and then when it was raining visited some museums. I had the chance to see the chalk and flint geology of the coast and then find out about it. I found out that flint is almost pure silica and is believed to be formed from the decomposition and recrystallization of a certain kind of sea sponge. The flint in Brighton is found in its familiar irregular nodules but also in the form of pebbles that have lost their white and translucent colours from constant washing in the sea. There is also chalk, in which large quantities of flint stones are embedded. Chalk is a very soft rock. Even just handling pieces left a milky white residue on my hands. The flints appear in the clay soil at Grymsdyke Farm because the chalk that once surrounded them was worn away by weathering, leaving the very fine particles that make clay. The harder flint rem...

It has been slow going, and I am just beginning to get good at this mortaring business, but for now, the roof is done! I am going to take a break for a couple of days before continuing to work on the intersections.

I must be able to convert sunlight into energy, because when it is sunny out I feel like I can work the whole day and still want to go for a walk in the evening. There's probably a limit, though, because it is also hard to work when the sun is hot and fierce. But here, in the 5 degree weather, it is a joy. Something similar happens when I look at the shelter. In the sunlight, when there are sharp shadows and the brick glows orange, I am proud of it. I can believe that it is expressive and possibly beautiful. When it is grey, though, especially when I am cold and tired and working close to the joints, I can't help but think it dull and awkward. A moment of sun...

I cut the formwork for the roof on the CNC (with help) last summer before I left. I used two sheets of OSB that were lying around. Since I was eager to have as little waste as possible and since there were only those two sheets, I made each "rafter" slightly shorter than necessary, counting on the ability of whatever binding agent I would be using to build up the rest. Well, as I've written previously, I couldn't find the ideal binding agent. I have realized that it is so much easier to just add extensions to the formwork rather than get frustrated trying to make the bricks stick immediately. This formwork has turned in to a bit of a bricolage but it is doing its job.

Why do I make things more complicated for myself? If I started this project again I would do a lot of things differently. I am figuring everything out as I do it.  I was having trouble getting the bricks to sit properly on the formwork when it is almost vertical. They keep sliding down or twisting. So I decided what I needed was something to start the first brick of the row, so I could build off of it. What I came up with was a kind of cradle for the brick. It can balance on the wall and I can adjust the angle as necessary. Then I realized that I didn't need any of that. Some binder clips work just as well. I can attach them to the existing formwork and support each brick that needs it, rather than just the bottom one.

Besides using clay as a plug to stop mortar dropping, I am also experimenting with molding some bricks on site. It is a way of assuring a snug fit between the roof and the wall. I can't decide if I think it is a cop-out or if I am just exploiting the versatility of the material. The clay shrinking is again an advantage- the bricks are stuck for a day or so, and then they loosen themselves. Eventually, when they are dry, I will fire them. I am wondering as well whether there are other ways of finishing their surfaces, perhaps to try to get crisper angles.