This post is to do with a mutual pathway, which is a bit like a boardwalk actually. Its primarily been done by Simone Lisboa and I, with help from Jeffrey Chow, Tao Shen and Tim Stevenson. This is an integral element for our events as our groups aim is to divert people off the main that runs through Myers Park. We initially looked at hiring a plastic or rubber floor made of interlocking floor tiles but we came to the conclusion that it was too expensive and under-designed. So instead we've been looking at ways of making our own floor using timber battens.
Our first attempt at a floor was just a small section. We drilled holes the the battens and threaded rope through to hold the system together. It lacked a bit of stability so we went back to the drawing board with it.
These images are off that first small sampler on site. Tim took it down and his sister Sam Stevenson is the one testing it out for us.
As this photo shows this version of the floor really was not stable enough, especially on the slopping ground that we are dealing with. The centre joins also meant tha the pieces moved around too much and were not secure enough.
Last weekend we made our next attempt at flooring. It has been much more successful and is the basis for our final flooring design. All the materials we are going to need for making it are being delivered from Cypress Sawmill on Friday which means we can get started fabricating large sections of path. The choice of materials stems from the New Zealand DIY/Farming culture where wire and timber are frequently used as fencing. We have taken that verticle language of a barrier and made it a horizontal welcoming element.
Anyway here is the design. Its held together underneath using 20-25mm wire with upins.
These photos were taken on site on the 29th of August (the monday just past). Some event crews in our group took down their event pieces to test them out on site. Some of the dancers we are collaborating with were there as well. Photos which look at the event structures will be posted some time soon.
Anyway onto the floor.
We are going to add some battens half the length of those shown inbetween the big gaps (so on the outer curve or the more splayed edge) so that it makes for a safer and more consistant flooring. Other than that and the battens being slightly lower in height - 40x50 as opposed to the 50x50 sh
We also have been considering how to deal with the concrete border around our site.
We think we may have to put people on either end of the path saying "mind your step" and checking people are wearing appropriate footwear.
This is our most current layout of the board walk with events occuring around it. The aim is for it to roughly follow the original watercourse as it deviates from current path and passes right under the middle of our site.
We are thinking that we are going to make it more of a sweeping curve rather than a wiggley line and also thinking about starting it further up our site. Roughly where it is in the pictures below.
Note the container for the folly is also in the background. It is not exactly where we wanted it or on the angle we wanted it but its something we have to deal with and demonstrates the flexibility needed when doing a project like this where you are frequently out of control and in the public domain.
I'll be updating more images soon but this is enough for tonight.
Once again thanks to Tim Stevenson for the photos and thanks to Sam Stevenson for trying out our boardwalk.
-Tegan
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