Design IMPROVEMENTS

This past weekend saw significant progress on the South Gate project, with a key breakthrough in the construction of the underlying structure.

Early on, we explored alternatives to treated cardboard, seeking a more weather-resistant and long-lasting material. Sarai suggested using the excess polyethylene foam salvaged by Rassera for the exterior lava rock.

The Alchemized Art workshop is overtaken with polyethylene foam. This foam is all scrap foam from Rassera’s place of employment, and would otherwise be destined for a landfill.

Rassera then experimented with using a heat gun to firmly adhere the foam pieces together - and it worked! This not only proved highly effective for building the portal structure but also will significantly reduce the amount of adhesive required for the overall project, an environmental and cost-saving benefit.

The 'portal' shape of the South Gate began to take shape over the weekend, with the wooden platform scaffold receiving its first coat of black paint. This paint layer serves a dual purpose: protecting the wood from moisture and pests during storage, while also ensuring any exposed areas remain discreetly hidden beneath the subsequent layers of the cosmetic exterior that will be added in January.

The portal shape of the South Gate is taking shape.