Stillwell Farms Dome

A “masterpiece” in living willow architecture

Motivations

• Skepticism– Does this actually work?

• Summer housing– Cheaper than C-town sublet– Close to work

Research

• Plenty of internet resources– HDRA Organic organisation factsheet

http://www.hdra.org.uk/factsheets/gg37.htm

– BBC Gardening http://www.bbc.co.uk/gardening/design/projects/fencing_willowstructure.shtml

• Living Willow Structure by JonWarnes

Design

One simply shaped really big dome with a single door. Simple and large scale.

Construction

• Trench dug– One foot deep by ten feet wide (2 shovel

lengths)

Construction

• Willow cut– All spears cut from a fallen Black Willow

(Salix negra) trunk near a streambed with a chainsaw

– About 30 large spears (2 inch + diameter) with many smaller shoots

– Most branches had two or three years of growth

Construction

• Larger Spears tied into archs– Continuously

wrapped (a method found to be effective in class)

– Arches leaned against each other and tied at the top

Construction

• Smaller spears added at various angles for support and fullness– Shoots will develop new growth along the stem

when branch angles approach 45 degrees– Every connection tied firmly with twine (I

found a useful knot by about 50 ties)

• Trench filled, soil watered

Finished ProductForgot to take a picture, but these are close:

Artistic considerations

• Made to mirror the shape of straw-bale house on site– Both dome shaped, seen together