PROJECTS
The decking planks are H4-treated South African pine .
Any site that man acts upon or intervenes in should be treated with caution and sensitivity , even more so within an arboretum in the ‘ Eden ’ of one of the world ’ s most well-known and famous botanical gardens . The site was therefore thoroughly surveyed where every feature and every tree was mapped in the finest detail . Not surprisingly this meticulous process gave rise to the eventual form and structure of the Boomslang .
Even before the survey , the concept of a curving structure took form . There are no straight lines in the forest , after all .
It is this kind of observation that underpins the idea of the sinuous , lightweight , non-intrusive steel structure of the Boomslang – a structural skeleton , with ribs and a spine . The architects and engineers designed a structure that could be manufactured to relatively small tolerances off-site for on-site assembly , so that the construction did not disrupt the forest and its inhabitants too much . The eventual construction on site was largely accomplished with man-power and a small crane that lifted some elements into position . All of this construction work was achieved without cutting down any trees . All the structural members were finished with hot-dipped galvanising and thereafter painted to attract plant growth and moss . It was also covered with metal frames that would support plant growth . In time , it will ‘ disappear ’ into the forest and in so doing , it would increase its quality of intrigue and wonder . The walkway was designed to be unobtrusive in the gardens .
22 FEB / MARCH 2017 //