More Vaults in Philly

Now that we have come home from Kenya and settled back into the rhythm of school, we are already back in our yard working on vaults to continue the research. Last Saturday, in preparation for a workshop, we trained more than 12 PennDesign Grad students and had them build catenary arches out of tile. The plan is to build a whole suite of vaults this coming weekend. 

drawing catenaries on the wall

setting up guidework

slowly by slowly

Erik giving great advice

getting nervous

great to see how many people are trying this

success!

success no. 2!

Also in anticipation of the workshop, I decided to try a new geometry and build a small prototype. I've been in contact with Fernando Vegas, and he suggested to try a hyperboloid. So here it is!

Radio Studio Update

Our vault and walls are quickly coming together and starting to look like a complete building. On the interior, the Guild has been working on installing the ferro-cement desk and the door frame. Meanwhile, on the exterior, they've been working on the gutters, ferro benches and finishing plaster.

built-in desk for the office

installing the desk in the broadcast room

& door frame between rooms

plastering on the buttresses

buttress detail

exterior plaster is mostly done

steel work for the gutter in place

benches modified for more seating

down spout

Dividing Walls_Plastering

As the crew makes good progress on the exterior, work is still moving on the interior. The main focus has been on the middle dividing wall and interior plastering on the surface of the vault.

framing the middle wall on top of  the block wall

welders mesh around the doorway

chicken mesh added - ferro is a go!

mike towels on the first hull to the wall

plastering the interior of the vault

Ferro Vault_Exterior Finishes

The crew is still making great progress on the exterior of the building. At this point all of the major work is complete. The work left to do is primarily adding plaster layers to the front and rear exterior (including the block walls) and other finishes - notably the ferro-cement benches.

plastering on facade

Gabs finishing the triangle windows

plastering on rear wall

smoothing out the vault

finishing the exterior surface of the vault

Mike and Sam taking a break

adding the vault extension to the front facade

start of ferro benches with welders mesh

adding chicken mesh

bench (almost) ready to plaster

plastering block wall

plastering buttresses

more plastering