Mobile Architecture Workshop Day Three!

Today was day three of the Mobile Architecture Project with Mary Mattingly. After a rainy cold morning we met at Diyode this afternoon for three hours. With four participants, plus Mary and two staff from Musagetes,  we made very good progress. 

Today we talked more about the pattern and how it would all fit together. After seeing some of the conceptual digital collages Mary presented at her talk, I wondered if it would be possible for us to take a photograph of a Guelph location and digitally add images of 6 of the units. Not enough  time this week, but quite possible with Photoshop.

After some more calculations we taped together sheets of newsprint and started to draft the pattern.

For each individual unit we are going to need an 8' x 14'  piece of fabric cut into a particular curved shape. We unrolled the bolt of silicone treated sailcloth and started to cut and sew. By 4:45 we had the shell piece  of the mobile architecture piece constructed and took it outside to admire.

With the sun breaking through the clouds, and a good breeze blowing, we had to hang on tight as we stretched it out.  A warm gold colour, it glowed in the sun. We experimented wrapping it around volunteers

We talked about a name for the individual units. We were lucky to  have our poet back today as she took on the task of  looking at possible words and definitions for us to consider.  We had a pattern maker and landscape architect calculating angles, curves and shapes, I helped out with taping, cutting, and photographing. There was a lot of interesting conversation about; problem solving, mobility, what people might want to have with them if mobile, technology, raising chickens and how yesterday Mary brokered the rescue of 12 chickens who needed a home to someone that was looking for chickens!

At one point we had one person using Google Sketch Up trying to figure out how to make a 3D visualization of some of our design; others were talking about a video game (Little Big Planet 2) where players collaborate online to build things; and we all moved back and forth between the two rooms at Diyode helping out where needed.

The architecture of the piece reminds us  variously of pods, canoes, tents and boulders. A few people are putting in some extra time tomorrow to continue sewing and to invent some pockets, holders,  arms and such for the shell. When we gather again on Tuesday night for 3 hours we should be able to start looking at the fit of the poles  and the backpack attachment.

A few other sites to take a look at are the Everyone Deserves a Roof as an example of a mobile home, and
Room Room  

Rebecca Erickson