Chapter 12. Every Part is Unique, 5 / The Surprising Character of what Unfolds

Marina District, San Francisco, CA, U.S.A.

Client:

CoEvolution Quarterly; Uncommon Courtesy, School of Compassionate Skills - Irmine Steltzner; Whole Earth Catalogue - Stewart Brand

C.E.S. staff:

Christopher Alexander, Rodney Moore, 22 workshop participants

Contractor:

Center for Environmetal Structure

Sponsor:

Fort Mason Center, Marina Green, San Francisco - Mr. Mark Kasky, Director

Design and construction process:

1) Apprentice workshop announced: The workshop was given under the auspices of "Uncommon Courtesy", a non-profit organization financed by the "Whole Earth Catalogue and Co-evolution Quarterly". Twenty "students" joined. 2) Making a mockup on site: The first design act was to place several hundered concrete blocks in a large arched shape. This mock-up was used to depict the general layout of the bench. 3) Construction commences: Having the location and the overall shape, construction proceeded with more and more refinements in the general shape and details of the bench going on during construction. 4) Refinements: Sophisticated new techniques developed by C.E.S. were used to provide green and white polished marble inserts of animals, flowers, and abstract ornaments

Project stages:

Layout on the site by workshop particants No drawings were produced Direct construction management and on-site design decisions Built by the workshop participants