Salt boxes

Running o the sun

Wouldn't it be great if we had an outlet? Something to keep a laptop working for the two hours to watch a movie, keep a small lamp on to read a book, or keep a radio working without chewing up batteries? Maybe make some toast?

Of course, we probably don't have enough sun to be able to charge our mobile phones (which don't get a signal), but. . .

So here's a first collection of solar links.

In truth, I haven't read all of the following links, but thought this would be a good place to assemble and share them. Feel free to add, or if the links suck, delete.

Reading

This includes experiments, basic system descriptions and articles describing solar systems, or in some cases, small scale solar systems.

The Solar Dorm Room

The Solar Bedroom

The crazy $600 DIY solar power freak

A Mother Earth News Article on DIY solar (with link to Gaiam for a Buy-it-yourself Kit)

The off the hook shenanigans of a Bob with a plan and a panel

Buying

The alternative energy store

The link below will take you to a pretty good system overview page. They also sell stuff.
The affordable energy store

This link has a bunch of options, but the one I linked is for the lazy PV person.
Sundance Solar

Couldn't we use a little space?

I think I'm pining to have some kind of place up at the land. Something intimate, and small scale that could be assembled quickly and would provide some conveniences -- like a roof and a floor. I think having a focus at the land might make the size and the scope of work ahead of us a little more approachable, a little less daunting. I attached the photos above for some random reasons.

The first image is of a house tiny in scale. While it is several times larger than what immediately comes to my mind, I like how it sets up a clear, and engaging combination of spaces. There are two conjoined volumes that sit well and against one another. One space is a very regular compressed geometry for most of the more private operations of the house. The other is a more irregular and spacious volume, to eat food and talk. It's a house by a UK architect named Patrick Lynch.

The second structure is a pavilion in Venice by David Adjaye and Olafur Eliasson. While this project engages a host of other issues, I like, again, the simple counterpoint. In this case it's one less of geometry than opacity and transparency.

The last image I also like. I've forgotten the architect, but it's no doubt some Englishman. The size of the project was more what I had in mind. I like how the image seems to speak of an active engagement with the nature around it, and a refuge from it as well. I was not thinking of anything as well tailored as this.

I feel like the priorities should be something that could be assembled or constructed fairly quickly -- like three weekends. I think, obviously, that economy is important (unless someone has scored some big dough).

I think some of the things that we should make room for are storage (about 5' wide, 30" deep and 7' tall), a nice long table that could comfortably seat four, and uncomfortably more, and enough space for us all to sleep comfortably. A water cooler might also be nice. So would a light bulb. An outlet, somehow powered by photovoltaics might also be really cool.

What do you guys think?

Cladding

These are two images from the Provincetown Art Association and Museum by Machado and Silvetti. The cladding is an interesting take on the traditional New England shingle.

Site Model - First Draft

The model is roughly 2"x8" and is far too small to show any detail but it's still nice to see. I'd like to make another one of the entire site at a larger scale, maybe 2' in length. And then perhaps a much more detailed model of the area we hope to build the house.

Lawn Furniture

Continuing our conversation about what to build first, here are a couple of images of the Sergison Bates concrete table they designed for the Smithson renovation. I particularly like the fifth leg.

The Ten Cedars of Weiden

Arrived about a week ago.

In a 4" x 12" predampened plastic pouch.

Great precedent (1) Structural sieve

These are some images of a project done in (I think) the late 60's for the Venice Biennale.
It's the Norwegian pavillion by Sverre Fehn.

The images are a little confusing if you don't know the project. The viewed area is an exterior court to an enclosed pavillion.

It sets up the rub between exterior and interior that we all have learned to love.

It's relationship to nature is like a 'structural sieve' porous to a select nature, over time.

Some stolen images (4)

These are a couple of images of gardens by a Swiss landscape firm called Kienast Vogt.

I like these projects because they set up two linked and opposed senses of order that help me understand what's around me, and where I stand in it.

One is a new condition inscribed within an existing condition.
One is an existing condition circumscribed by a new condition.

One of these images is pretty clear.
The other requires a bit of effort and imagination -- its a plan of train tracks that are filled with planks to create walking paths within a park.

I think that what both of these projects achieve is a really clear relationship with time into something that is built -- and incredibly thoughtful, beautiful spaces.

I like the idea of building into a landscape with some acknowledgement of a time continuum -- something existed before this, something will exist after this.

While both of these projects works with existing objects that have strong emotional associations ( be it train tracks from an industrial past or a romance-era fountain) I think it would be great to work with the landscape as the existing condition that we work (and live) in and around. There are lot of great precedents for this.

Some Stolen Images (3)

I figure there are really three things we can do with the land.

We can add to it.
We can take stuff from it.
We can move things around.

Right now, I'd really be in to moving stuff around.

That's where all these photos come into play.
They're all works by Richard Long. He rocks (and sticks, buuns and mostly walks).

I'd be interested in doing something that had little or no real purpose. Just something for us to make, together, without any sense of utility or regular problem solving.

Also, I'd love to do something pretty immediate. Design it together in one day, and build it in the other.

Camo is beautiful. Especially if it's all in a dark, cobalt-like color.

another stolen image

I think the idea of small-scale interventions in the landscape is great. The Canadian images are nice. Maybe we could apply something like these to the stone wall already (partially) present. In the meantime, here's a stolen image from today's paper. Camo's been growing on me lots lately.

last one in the pond is a rotten egg

I'm willing to make a little wager: First one armpit deep in this water gets a prize. I'm thinking a fancy tool belt or a slick handsaw. You'll need pictures or reliable eyewitnesses.

Some Stolen Images (1)

I've dropped down some photos of some reworkings of and additions to landscape that interest me. These are all from an office in Canada called Plant. Most of the manipulations are pretty small in scale and footprint. Some of them look like they could have been done in a very full weekend.

Maybe in between (or even before) our continued marking of the land, surveying of the land, and figuring out access to the land, we could make something together.

I worked on some sketches of small programs a couple of months ago.
They're pretty abstract little sketches, but I'll try to post them in the next few days.

I hope you are all doing well.

debra was right about how much we put in the account every month. It's $250.

18th of every month

that's when we pay our mortgage.