biennale of americas meeting notes

Concept and budget meeting:

Euro biennales—scaffolding more important. How the frame work is set up, how things are put together is more important that what the plants are. We need an interesting form. The green screen thing is not really that interesting.

Is there some material that comes from buildings that we could use? Check out

Habitat for Humanity, Resource 2000

Limited light and water resources.

We should choose first or 3^rd floor, which has the most light. Marks likes the 3^rd fl, where the site is close to the bathroom so we have some access to water and more natural light- better if contingencies. Bad part about 3^rd floor is access, which is limited. Small elevator. Open stairway.

First floor- access is better

But what is main objective? As Growwest is representing this, we want to not limit ourselves to one site in the building.

Possible plant material: Cacti, ferns and vines.

We can’t touch the building because of historic status. How to attach to building? What are the other questions we need to ask?

Schedule- proposal due this week- Feb 26^th. Finalize idea during march-may. Installation June. Opening July 1^st- 30^th.

Nominate Karla to be point person.

Cactus columns in 1^st floor. We need to work out program elements and then choose plants. Cacti are different from any green wall out there. Native and drought tolerant plants. Maybe a partial combination of vines and cactus. Vine are more viable for an indoor environment.

3^rd floor- something dropping from the ceiling- planters on steel grids planted with vines. Jungle feeling. We could do cactus columns also on the third. Maybe do something that folds and curves.

Alternatives not included in budget: Fog Hog- use it- Or dry ice installed on a daily basis. Or Mee system, commonly used in greenhouses, put on a timer.

Use module systems so easy to install.

This material including budget is for Growwest members only.

Ideas:

1. Vine-do-lier or Vine-do-labra. Only 3^rd floor. Enclose space so it is dark, the opposite of a light. And then you emerge into the light and see the cacti columns. From a permaculture perspective, vines are the quickest way to get shade on a building. This project is the inverse of light; it is about shade, cooling, and improved air quality.

Planter boxes that rest on dropped ceiling grid. Tied down. Long plastic, 8” deep. Or concrete trough (this could be reused or sold elsewhere). We could use black plastic pots (#1 or #5) and put them on plywood.

Structure that resembles a chandelier to spread vines out and they drape to the floor.

Lighting installed in dropped ceiling or down lighting

Vines: Andy will look into greenhouses. Ivy, Ficus repens, Hoya, Peas, Chinese lace vine, Silver lace vine. Bouganvilla, Ask for DBG horticulturalist for help.

2. Cactus columns condom (per column cost): systems (could be used on 1^st floor).

Use grow lights , each column will have the rough dimensions of 20 sf per side, 80 sf, fabric structure; 4’ x 1’ modules, 5 pieces per side of column, 80 pieces per column

Attachment system, all thread bolts welded to steel structural posts and attach to fabric with grommets and caribiners.

Plant material is cacti, native or climate appropriate, with little soil in pocket like system.

There will be a Collection/waterproofing system for the little water that will accumulate after 2 watering per month.

Budgets (based on material costs only. No mark up for installation, labor)