Curative landscape construction manual

CURATIVE LANDSCAPES

CONSTRUCTION MANUAL

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Contents Introduction

Design 1 Plan

Design 1 Section

Material Selection

Tools & Fixings

Step 1: Slats

Step 2: Posts

Step 3: Bottom Rail

Step 4: Fixing Post & Bottom Rail

Step 5: Feet

Step 6: Slat Insertion

Step 7: Planter & Seat

Step 8: Top Rail

Step 9: Pergola

Step 10: Planting

Step 11: Finishing Touches

Customize your Panels

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Introduction

The Curative Landscape Construction Manual is a detailed instruction manual which allows the user to create raised flower and vegetable beds.

The Curative Landscape project allows communities to reuse, recycle and reduce whilst providing spaces for growing produce with social and interactive aspects.

The idea driving The Curative Landscape is to utilise ‘in-between spaces’ in the London Borough of Newham. This project aims to provide the Borough with a string of pop up interventions which benefit the community.

The modular system allows for a combination of outcomes giving site specific flexibility. This adaptable system means that the project can also be tailored to different budgets and scales so that communities always have the opportunity to utilise The Curative Landscape Project.

This project was developed and realized by students of Architecture studying at the University of East London in collaboration with Newham Council.

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Plan

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Section

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Materials The following is a list of materials which are needed to construct this curative landscape.

1. Palettes x27 2. Fence Posts 1.8m(l) x28 3. Sawn Timber (75mm(w)x22mm(t)x3000mm(l)) x32 4. Landscaping Fabric 15m(l) x1 5. Top Soil x5 v 6. Gravel 20mm x5 7. Planting/Herbs/Vegetables

The materials needed for the construction of this project are readily available and easy to source. Most builders merchants will stock the sawn timber and the fence posts. Garden centres will stock top soil, gravel and planting needs.

Palettes can be acquired from various sources cheaply and in some cases can be obtained for free depending on suppliers so hunting around is advisable.

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Tools & Fixings

Below is a list of tools which will be needed at various stages of the build.

The symbols below will indicate at which stages of the build the tools will be needed.

N.B. In some circumstances electrical tools maybe used instead of the hand tool variant above but are not a necessity i.e. saw, drill, planer.

Also a spray gun for the wood stain is a time saver if can be acquired. 7

Step 1: 1.1 Palette preparation

Before starting the build it is important to clear the site and to keep the site tidy during the construction.

Gather Palettes

1.2

Dismantle

Palette

Carefully remove the lengths of timber from the frame of the palette.

Use to

the crowbar for pry up the

leverage lengths.

CAUTION! Spatial awareness Splinters Protruding Nails

Use a hammer to punch the lengths off the palette from the back.

1.3 Slat Preparation Remove any nails/screws which are still attached to these lengths.

CAUTION!

Sand rough edges and splintered sides.

Splinters Protruding Nails

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1.4 Slat Cutting Cut the removed lengths into 405mm (L) slats Keep off-cuts to one side as these will be used later.

1.5 Slat Preparation

CAUTION! Keep fingers away from saw blade when cutting

If slats are thicker than 19mm, plane the ends so they fit into the post grooves.

(Check slats fit into post groove)

1.6 Slat Treatment Once slats are smoothed, cut to size and can slot into the post grooves treat with wood stain.

Once dry stack neatly and put to one side.

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Step 2:

2.1 Post Preparation Cut the post into the length required for the design displayed in the table below

CAUTION! Keep fingers away from saw blade when cutting

2.2 Post Requirements 28 posts at 1.8m(L) are required for the total cut posts below.

N.B. When cutting 450mm posts only three can be cut from 1x1.8m(L) post to allow for the blade width.

Keep the shorter left over posts separate to the 450mm posts as these will be used later.

2.3 Post Treatment Treat the posts with wood stain before assembly.

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Step 3: 3.1 Bottom Rail Use the sawn timber to cut the bottom Rail (Br) components as follows

Br1 x3

Br2 x4

Br3 x7

Br4 x3

Br5 x1

N.B Mitred edges are 45o and are measured to longest edge

Br6 x2

CAUTION! Keep fingers away from saw blade when cutting 11

3.2 Bottom Rail Use the components to set up the bottom rail as follows No fixing required at this stage 3.2 Bottom Rail Br2

Br3

Br4

Br5 Br6

Treat the components of the bottom rail with wood stain before assembly.

Br2

Br6

Br1

Br2

Br3

Br3

Br3

Br5

Br2

Br6

Br1 Br4

Br3

Br4

Br3

Br4

Br3

Br3

Br1

Br2

Br1

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Step 4:

CAUTION! Don’t drill screws too close to the edge to avoid splitting the wood To help spacing use a 405mm slat made in step 1.4 whilst fixing posts

4.1 Fixing Posts to Bottom Rail Place the posts onto the bottom rail following the plan in 4.2 Fix the posts to the bottom rail using two screws If the post lies on a mitre joint use one screw on either side of the joint to create a strong fix and also fixes the bottom rail together.

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Step 5:

5.1 Feet Create feet using off cut pieces of palettes.

Ensure that all the feet are the same thickness Feet (w)

Dimensions

175mm(l)x175mm

5.2 Feet Place a foot underneath each post junction Ensure that the feet are centred with the posts so there is enough space either side to fix a screw.

Fix with screws through the bottom rail to the feet.

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Step 6: 6.1 Slat In fill Now that the posts are fixed to the bottom rail the slats can be slid in between the post grooves

6.2 Slat In-fill

6.3 Slat Inserted

The 405mm Slats can be inserted in between the groves Use wood glue in the post grooves before inserting the slats for extra strength Fill the gaps with slats up to the shortest adjoining post.

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Step 7:

7.1 Planter Preparation To create a shelf for the planter use timber batons 430mm (L) 30mm from the top of the planter (Timber batons can be fashioned from off cut slats) Fix the timber batons to the inside of the planters with screws through the posts.

Fix batons to two opposite sides of the planter making sure they are fixed at the same level.

7.2 Planter Preparation After the timber batons have been fixed (7.1) span slats across the batons to create a shelf inside the planters.

No fixing required as weight of the soil will keep the shelf in place

7.3 Planter Preparation After the shelf has been created use the Landscaping Fabric to line the shelf and walls of the planter.

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7.4 Seat Preparation To create a seat for the planter use timber batons 430mm (L) (Timber batons can be fashioned from off cut slats) Fix the timber batons to the inside of the seats with screws through the posts.

Fix batons to two opposite sides of the seat making sure they are fixed at the same level.

7.5 Seat Preparation After the timber batons have been fixed (7.4) span slats across the batons to create a seat flush with the top of the posts.

Fix with a screw at each end of the slat through the timber batons

N.B This design is flexible so if more planting is required convert the seating to planters 17 by following the steps on the previous page.

Step 8:

CAUTION! Keep fingers away from saw blade when cutting

8.1 Top Rail

Use the sawn timber to cut the Top Rail (Tr) components as follows

Tr1 x5

Tr2 x8

Tr3 x2

Tr4 x2

Tr5 x3

Tr6 x1

Tr7 x1

N.B Mitred edges are 45o and are measured to longest edge

Tr8 x5

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8.2 Top Rail Protect the top rail by applying a coat of wood stain.

CAUTION! Perform in a well ventilated space

Tr1

Tr4

Fix the top rail with screws as follows.

Tr4

8.3 Top Rail

Tr8

Tr7 Tr8

Tr5

Tr5

Tr8

Tr1

Tr2

Tr2

Tr3

Tr2

Tr8

Tr6

Tr2 Tr8

Tr2

Tr3

Tr1 Tr2

Tr2

Tr5

Tr2

Tr1

Tr1

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Step 9: 9.1 Pergola To create adequate head height use the off cut posts which are short of 450(l) Attach these shorter posts to each 1.8m(l) post using brackets

9.2 Pergola Use Sawn Timber lengths to span across the high posts.

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9.3 Pergola To fix the cross beams in place fix a screw into the post so that the beams can sit on top of it.

Make sure that the screw is protruding enough for the beam to sit on Make sure the screw is fixed at a level so that the beam is flush with the top of the post.

9.4 Pergola To cap the beams use sawn timber with the lengths specified below.

Place on top of the posts and beams and fix with a screw at each end.

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Step 10: 10.1 Planting Fill to planter with a layer of stone core

10.2 Planting Fill the planters with topsoil

10.3 Planting Then plant flowers, bulbs, herbs or vegetables

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Step 11: 10.1

Finishing

Touches

Now that the Curative Landscape is constructed take the time to add finishing touches.

Make sure all screws are tight and there are no loose elements.

Apply wood

a final stain if

coat of necessary.

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Customize Your Panels Tubular Material

Single Panel Tongue and Groove Stack

1) Choose material 15mm thick or less.

2) Cut to size 400mm x 450mm 3) Place into frame 4) Weatherproof

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