bamboo projects/towers/the machine/interior
- Based on the Peninsula de Osa / Costa Rica and Germany
Design and construction of Artistic Living Spaces with emphasis on natural building procedures. Bamboo and other mainly natural materials shaped into spaces that blend in
with their natural surroundings.
Experience in homes, Lodges, Art Projects, specialized in Tower Structures.
When Mark started to use local Bamboo, it was pioneer work, while not yet accepted and rather declared as a poor mens building material.
The sophisticated use of this resource, the style and also the light–on–the-earth aspect
elevated Bamboo and other more rustic materials to an in-style material, reflecting taste and a forward thinking attitude.
Tower structures have become the main focus within the building projects.
These examples show two different towers, which are accessible either by stairs or an elevator, generated by solar power.
They provide not only a different climate but a stunning view over
the canopy.
Usually the prefabricated columns are lifted up via the first pegs at the base to establish the base structure, from where all the other parts continue to reach the final hight with all the additional components.
Because of the ‘peg and whole method’ all parts are drilled and prepared on the ground to minimise the rather dangerous work at those altitudes. Basically there are no scaffoldings necessary and also we avoid
mostly the use of machines up in the air.
Nevertheless the crew has to be very focused and concentrated, while little mistakes at certain heights have a much greater risk.
For me a tower structure is the most challenging and most beautiful form of building, which is always rewarded with amazing views and a feeling of freedom.
→Procedures and Method
The question was how to use and connect the bamboo canes and other round natural materials to obtain structural strength.
The traditional lashing wasn’t an option due to flaws in stability, climate and habitat for mold and insects here in the tropics.
Common nails wouldn’t work either, since bamboo is hollow.
But how about a large nail, made from hard wood, a peg or dowel that would go all the way through, to joint several canes.
Although Mark separates the Art work and the construction work mostly because of its metaphysical content it is interesting to see how both nevertheless work hand in hand.
When Mark hammered a metal spike through a heavy steel plate during one of his key live performances in 1995, the analogy to the now used wooden ‘spikes’ hammered into the holes in order to hold the material together is seemingly obvious, a pattern recognition.
The Machine , as I call the unit which allows us to precisely drill the holes into the mostly round material, is usually about twelve meters long and adjustable in order to fit materials of different length and diameters.
menu