" Kirstenbosch , as it stands , is perfect and we didn ' t want to make a big statement in the gardens ."
PROJECTS
" Kirstenbosch , as it stands , is perfect and we didn ' t want to make a big statement in the gardens ."
The Boomslang is not a structure to be looked at and photographed ; its magic is only revealed to those who walk on it .
Thomas explains that the decking planks are H4-treated South African pine , rough sawn and sealed with Galseal initially . “ H4 CCA treatment was seen as the most effective in terms of longevity of the timber in a damp forest environment , based on the excellent performance of the treated pine used for the forest walks around Kirstenbosch . The timber for the handrails was Padauk , a central African hardwood , often used for musical instruments . It was chosen for its beauty and performance and the fact that it could be laminated to curves in both directions . It is sealed with Envirotouch exterior .”
According to Fagan , an interesting aspect of the planking is that the team decided to use narrow planks of 76 x 22 , orientated with their long direction vertically . “ This allowed the planks to span between two support bearers only , and the narrow top width made them less slippery in wet conditions . In addition , all the planks could be the same size , for example they are not tapered as the walkway curves , with the gaps between the planks varying in width . This made their construction and installation more economical .”
Unusually for such a large structure , the walkway is unobtrusive in the gardens . “ In fact ,” Thomas explains , “ it is quite difficult to find , and this was very much part of our plan . Kirstenbosch , as it stands , is perfect and we didn ’ t want to make a big statement in the gardens . Rather , we chose to insert a fairly delicate and organic shaped structure into the forest , for people to enjoy the feeling of elevation and the incredible views .”
The Boomslang ’ s gentle but controlled swaying mimics the movement of trees in the wind and , for a brief moment in time , visitors to the gardens are at one with nature .
PROJECT INFO
LOCATION : Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens CLIENT : South African National Biodiversity Institute ( SANBI ) ARCHITECT : Mark Thomas Architects with Chris Bisset ENGINEER : Henry Fagan & Associates
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