Design Concepts + Continued Tile Program Guide
Nils Gore’s ARCH 509 Design/Build Studio Fall 2023 Graphics and Guide by Jeremy Forman
The Goal of This Guide
This guide is intended to help the Grandview Park Presbyterian Church in Kansas City maintain and expand the fence completed by Nils Gore’s ARCH 509 design build studio in Fall 2023. Initial concepts are outlined to preserve the fence’s intital design intentions. Processes relating to the tiles are also listed. This ensures that the kids’ program tile glazing activity can carry forward, even after the initial batch of bisque fired tiles dropped off to the church has been used. Of course, while this guide is meant to be a reference. Part of the tile concept is that the church can use the tiles to express themselves and engage their community. So while this document is reference for continuing the tile program as it was created. Change is built in.
Initial Mosaic Fence Concept This concept sees culturally inspired mosaic tiles applied to a a utilitarian fence. This provides a meaningful aesthetic to a functional and cost effective element. The tiles provide community involvement and ownership through their ability to be created and changed by the community. Various tile fill patterns were started before ending up deciding on a gradient starting on the Northwest corner of the fence. The tiling would be started by our studio and could be added to by the summer program kids or other groups of the churches choosing.
Tile Dimensions
Comp
3/8”
Wet Clay Tile
pleted Tile
Tiles are dimensioned with construction, clay shrinkage, mounting and longevity in mind. Steps: - Roll clay clab to 3/8” thick with proprietary rolling pin and guide system - Cut Slab into 5” by 5” squares - Leave to dry slowly. (we sandwiched tiles between drywall) - When partially dired, drill mounting holes on center at ~3/4” from the corners of the square when complete, Tiles will be slightly thinner, a little over 1/4” and have sides that measure about 4 3/4”. Hole placement will ensure adequate stability for mounting wire to hold tiles to the fence.
Tile Fabrication
Roll out slab of 3/8” thick clay (clay specifications in invoice)
Cut out
t 5” by 5” squares Drill holes in corners at 3/4” on center from edges Dry and Bisque Fire
Apply wax to sides and back. Glaze and Fire
Leave a set of bisque fired tiles and glaze to be used for the summer program
Clay Specifications
Clay info • Birch Box bisque used because it is a low fire for sculpture and reinforced with grog. • Needs to be at least 1/4” thick after firing • 5 boxes used for ~300 tiles • Glaze preferred to paint as it provides structure • Account for shrinkage based on specific clay • Tiles would be attached to the fence with wire twist.
invoice for Birch Bark Clay from Bracker’s in Lawrence, Kansas
Glaze Specifications
Glaze/Wax info • Mayco Stroke & Coat used because it contains gloss and doesn’t radically change colors after firing, which is easier for kids to work with. • These glazes are also mixable like paint, unlike many other glazes. • Wax coat included to be used on sides and back of tile to prevent glaze issues. • The wax we purchased burns off in the kiln, meaning you dont have to remove it after firing. • Clear gloss coat added on top of glazed tiles to Color Palette • The choices of glaze colors were determined to give kids a vibrant range of colors that still maintain a nice depth. (We wanted to avoid the colors feelings too “playground-ish”) • All glazes came from the same product line at Bracker’s. • This color palette is not the only colors you can use, however continuing with it with create a cohesive fence List of Colors (By Mayco Names) Red - Ruby slippers Orange - Orange-Ya-Happy Yellow- Dandelion Green - Sour Apple Blue - The Blues Purple - Grapel Pink - Pinky Swear White - Cotton Tail Black - Tuxedo
Ruby Slippers
Orange Ya Happy
Dandelion
Sour Apple
The Blues
Grapel
Pinky Swear
Cotton Tail
Tuxedo
Tile Mounting
Materials • 1 mm marine grade lock wire. Found at Harbor Freight as “0.041 in. Stainless Steel Lock Wire, 1.00 lb Coil” for $8.99 at time of construction • Lock wire specialized pliers. One set given to the church. Normal pliers can be used as well. Instructions • Cut 4” segments of wire • Situate tiles in front of fence panel • Put wire through tile holes, wrap around fence panel wire • Twist wire, leaving a slight amount of play so that tiles don’t break from being tightened and take impact better. • cut down any long/sharp ends. Bend the ends downward behind the tiles. Pattern • Fence was started with 100 tiles in a gradient with tiles more concentrated at the Northwest corner of the fence. • The gradient pattern was chosen because it concentrates tiles at the most notable part of the fence and softens the point were tiles end. This keeps from drawing attention to empty parts of the fence. • Additional tiles can be filled following this gradient. • The gradient pattern can be ignored once the fence is full enough. • Once again, even though this is how we built the fence initially, The tiles are meant to allow for some flexibility with decorating the fence. Feel free to move them or go with themed panels etc. in the future.
To Grandview Park Presbyterian Church, Thanks for the opportunity. Enjoy the fence! - Nils Gore’s Fall 2023 ARCH 509 Class