Sri Lanka Journal- Andew and Annette Dey: 2/9/2005
Journal Entries
Home
Photos!
Special Photos
Jan 17, 2005
Jan 18, 2005
Jan 21, 2005
Jan 23, 2005
Jan 24, 2005
Jan 25, 2005
Jan 26, 2005
Jan 27, 2005
Jan 28, 2005
Jan 31, 2005
Feb 1, 2005
Feb 2, 2005
Feb 3, 2005
Feb 4, 2005
Feb 5, 2005
Feb 6, 2005
Feb 8, 2005
Feb 9,
2005
Feb 12, 2005
Feb 14, 2005
Feb 16, 2005
Feb 18, 2005
Feb 19, 2005
Feb 20, 2005
Feb 21, 2005
Feb 23, 2005
Feb 24, 2005
Feb 28, 2005
March 1, 2005
March 2, 2005
March 3, 2005
March 4, 2005
March 5, 2005
March 6, 2005
March 7, 2005
March 8, 2005
Links from Andrew and Annette:
Pro Photographer Dixie's web site
Mondo Challenge set up Andrew and Annette's trip.
Unawatuna is the village where they're staying and working
In the north, Andrew and Annette are working with Norwegian People's Aid. NPAID is partnered with the German organization called Arbeiter Samariter Bund.
Bensonwood.com
|
|
|
Andrew
When we arrive at the site we are encouraged to see that the carpentry crews have made steady progress: they have installed rafters on a number of the frames, and erected posts for several more. As we watch the crews work, Annette notes that she does not see any levels, squares, or plumb bobs. The frames, however, seem to be reasonably plumb and square. The carpenters are apparently “eye-balling” everything except the basic footprint of the building. The tops of the posts are set at the height of a carpenter’s upward-stretched arm. The kingposts vary in height from three feet to four, although all of the kingposts in one frame are approximately the same height, as gauged by whatever string or stick is handy. Some of the timbers are remarkable for their lack of straightness. The integration of these crooks and curves into the overall structure adds individuality and beauty to each frame.
While I appreciate the organic flow of the natural pole frames, I have noticed that the masonry walls at some of the shelters built by other agencies are not at all level, and are not even particularly straight. This lack of uniformity in the masonry niggles my “straight and square” sensibility. I am reminded of a complex of buildings that Annette and I visited in Vienna, shortly before we flew here to Sri Lanka. The buildings were designed by a visionary Viennese architect named Hundertwasser. Hundertwasser based his design philosophy on nature, and “there are no straight lines or right angles in nature.” The floors of his buildings were self-consciously undulating assemblies of mosaic tiles. Hundertwasser favored curves and out-of-plumb elements over the “artificial” tyranny of level and square. I expect that he would laud the work of the carpenters and the masons in these camps. I see in the pole frames being built by the local craftsmen a simplicity and honesty that I found absent in Hundertwasser’s buildings.
We watch a young carpenter grab a corner post and shimmy swiftly up it, in the same way that we have seen others climb palm trees. He uses a long stick to the ground for balance as he walks the thin plate. A pole set loosely across the ties gives him a foothold as he nails the kingpost to the tie.
Annette discusses construction details with the lead carpenter. The masonry walls should butt the posts to brace them, as opposed to running outside the posts. A two foot roof overhang at the gable ends is preferable to the foot-and-a-half that we see on some frames. She would like to see the largest posts used in the middle of each wall, rather than at the outside corners. The carpenters seem open to our suggestions, and impressed by the discussion.