Design/Build Process (green wall for composting site @ UO's Urban Farm) - Part 1

The design problem I have been attempting to solve can be seen below.

This is the current state of the composting facilities at the University's beloved Urban Farm. While it is highly functional it is not exactly a bright, shining light in terms of aesthetics. In short, it is a bit chaotic in appearance; particularly when considering its adjacency to the spectacular wood kiln shed (calling it a shed is doing it a disservice). So I thought I'd make an effort to bring a little style, as well as some order, to the site. In thinking about what might be appropriate in terms of the materials & processes we are learning about in this class I recalled Ron Arad's Concrete Stereo (1983) and thought it would serve both the site and the mission of the class well as inspiration for the project. The aesthetics of Arad's stereo (the speakers in particular) seem to my mind to share a language with the composting process. Namely, a language of decay.

After some discussion with Rich and Harper it was decided that the site should be divided into roughly 1 cubic meter stalls (though dividing walls will have to wait for another time as presently I am only concerning myself with 'end caps' for the row of composting stalls) and that single large, gabion-style units (as opposed to modular units) would probably be the best way to move forward. Below are some quick renderings of the final design. It is essentially a 39" x 8" x 42" (lwh) mesh reinforced concrete gabion wall. The 5" wide x 36" long cavity will be filled with a growing medium. The top will serve as an ordinary planter box while the fully exposed mesh side will serve as a barrier for one end of "compost row" (the idea being that the compost will feed the growing medium). The other side of the wall will be "aged" with a pneumatic hammer (purchased from Harbor Freight for $12.99...only the best!) exposing the re-mesh in a manner reminiscent of Arad's speakers. The openings created with the pneumatic hammer will provide access to the growing medium from which more plants may be grown.

The next step was to design a mold from which the final form could be cast. This task was accomplished in RhinoV5.

Based on the dimensions created in Rhino I then cut the needed pieces out of three 4' x 8' sheets of OSB (waferboard), painted/sealed them with an oil-based primer, and assembled the final mold with 1 1/4" screws.

Pouring will commence next week...