December 25th, 2008
To design a straight pergola up to 4m long and up to 1.8m wide, the following material will be needed : ten treated round posts (0.1m x 2.4m ), about 40m of untreated wood 25mm – 50mm diameter,75mm & 50mm galvanised nails, some small tacks, offcuts of acrylic sheet eg Perspex; and strong fishing line. A design should be selected for the ten main poles. The bottom 450mm of each one can remain undecorated.
For the upper part, try wrapping some of the poles with strings and materials of different textures and colours,glued or tacked on, or mask off shapes using paper, and spray paint over the whole pole. Once it is decided how far apart the poles should be put, (eg.1m), the hanging panels can be made that will fit in between. Allow for these to be up to 200mm narrower (ie 800mm – 850mm wide). Make between eight and sixteen panels, using untreated coppice poles for the frames or, if this is hard to locate, cut up round untreated poles 25mm – 50mm diameter.
Join the pieces together by drilling holes near the ends and bolting them together. The panels can be decorated by hanging any number of interesting objects from them, either fixed at both ends or swiveling free like a mobile. Beads, buttons, shells, stones, plastic bottles cut into different shapes (some can be used as hanging plant pots) strings, ribbons, cans and shapes cut from cans and decorated with different patterns, spoons, forks, and anything else that makes a sound like bits of wood, feathers, corks, woven elements.
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December 24th, 2008
Pergolas are a traditional garden feature that can have a new and practical purpose for school grounds, giving structure, and focus to pathways and areas of paving.Although normally a support for plants, an interactive pergola is different, displaying colourful fixed and mobile decorations which last all year round, stimulating the senses of sight, sound and touch, complementing the plants growing below and helping shade children from too much sunshine.
Interactive Pergolas can be of any length or shape. Created by and for students studying in the school, the pergola incorporates many found and recycled materials and can have different themes. Once the pergola is created, setting it up involves the following steps:
To construct the pergola, dig the decorated poles into the ground to form two straight lines. Check the vertical with a spirit level.
Take lengths of decorated poles of a smaller diameter, or natural coppice poles,and nail these horizontally at three different heights (about 25cm and 100cm from theground, and at the top of the main poles)
Hang the decorated panels between these horizontal poles.The roof can also be decorated in a variety of ways. Transparent shapes can be cut out from acrylic sheet offcut, painted, and suspended from the pergola.
Another technique is to tie in some reinforced wire mesh to form a frame from which to hang objects. Alternatively, leaf shapes can be cut out of plywood and fastened with clear fishing line to create a novel roof casting shadows. Other options include:
1 Hang plant pots made from plastic bottle sections
2 Tie ribbons on curtain rings
3 Thread shells and beads on fishing lines
4 Decorated panels, poles and roof section
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April 22nd, 2008
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