original presentation date

Our projected completion date was suppose to be today, October 1, 2010 and we planned to hold an opening event to showcase our hard work and efforts.  However, the challenges we faced from the campus did not let this happen.

3d model [minimal wall]

 

revised section drawing [minimal wall]

original section drawing [minimal wall]

                  

final design [rammed earth]

 

This is a SketchUp model of our final design. We have gone through many designs and finally found one that fit our design intent.

design process [rammed earth]

process sketches [rammed earth]

Our own Faith Ramsey took charge of these process sketches. Our design is derived from a curvilinear form, aka. a circle creating a void within our two walls. This break in the rectilinear form create a moment  of intrigue to the bystander. The space created in between the two walls is a passageway small enough to challenge the viewer-bringing up again the question once again of whether or not they may pass through.

examples of [rammed earth]

final design approval [minimal wall]

Before we could finalize our design, we had a few more questions to ask the campus safety department.  We met with Jill Demuth of Life & Fire Safety and Shonda Drake the Safety Coordinator.  They were helpful and understood our design and at this point don't see any major safety concerns.  Part of our design incorporates fabric and the first one we chose is not fire rated.  Jill recommended a fire retardant spray that we will use unless we can find a similar fabric already treated.  After getting positive feedback from Jill and Shonda, we were able to finalize the design and make official drawings and a SketchUp model.  We will send that through the Facilities Approval Process.  Our next step is to get a final cost for the materials and find sponsors. 

mapping our space [minimal wall]

We want to install our minimal wall in the lobby of the Gatewood building.  We met to discuss the perfect placement to ensure people will be interested in experiencing our wall and not just pass by.  We spent time measuring and marking off the exact location and figuring out the entrance angle that will create the most inviting moment for everyone who enters the front doors.  We met with Anna to explain our design and showed her the location in the lobby.  As long as campus safety approves it, she will too.     

  

proposed site [rammed earth]

Behind the Weatherspoon Art Museum and next to Tate St.

hard at work [rammed earth wall]

Our group planning and collaborating ideas to get started on our project.

Leslie and Cassandra going to the construction site to ask for an earth donation.

more planning [minimal wall]

We continued to revise the design and talked about materials.  During this process, we met with Chad from campus safety to ensure our design would be approved by the school.  We have to provide drawings and any information that will be helpful to them during the approval process.  Chad explained the codes and strict requirements for wall construction.  Our next scheduled meeting is with Anna Marshall-Baker who is the Department Chair, a Professor, and Undergraduate Coordinator for IARC.

we discussed if the wall should be closed at the top

we chose to use fabric for the sides because it is lightweight and allows a lot of light to pass through it

our first meeting [minimal wall]

Today we agreed on two of the minimalist type walls that were presented in studio over the last few days and we will come back to our next meeting with some ideas of how to merged them into a new design.

2nd year studio | 3rd floor

proposal [rammed earth wall]

We intend on constructing a rammed earth wall of earth, concrete, sand, and stone.  The project is being developed by a group of young designers all dedicated to showing off our passion for design. It will be a tough endeavor with labor-intensive work. 

We are more than excited to make this a reality and leave a permanent legacy on the UNCG campus. Our project will consist of building a large frame to pour our earth mixture into. Then we will use steel plated tamping tool to pack the earth layer by layer. Although it may sound simple it requires a lot of hard work and dedication. We invite you to be apart of our process while we begin to leave a piece of ourselves behind on campus.