Fort Mason Bench: Ornamental Terrazzo Panels – Photographs

Christopher Alexander, Rodney Moore

Design and Building Process

Structure Preserving Transformations

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

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

Christopher Alexander, Rodney Moore, 22 workshop participants

Center for Environmetal Structure

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

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

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