Sunday, January 30, 2011

Clay Culture: Plasters, Paints and Preservation


     Since we have been in Alamos, Sonora we were very surprised to run into Carole Crews. At the 2009 Adobe USA Conference put on by the Adobe Association of the Southwest, we took an adobe plastering workshop from Carole and she is truly a master at adobe plastering.

     So I was very excited to learn that she now has a book out: Clay Culture: Plasters, Paints and Preservation. I have not yet seen the book but as soon as we get back to the states I intend to pick up a copy.

     Even though we learned a lot about clay plasters in the workshop, the book will be a huge help in remembering the formulas and recipes that she has developed over a life time of working with adobe.

     Thanks Carol, for all you have done to advance the art and craft of building with adobe.
     

Bicycle Truck



Yesterday was the last day of the
and as I was sitting waiting for a midday act to start
 I spied this incredible bicycle truck.

Thursday, January 27, 2011

Wednesday, January 26, 2011

An Adobe Fixer Upper in Alamos



Way back on February 15th, I did a post on a Fixer Upper In Alamos
and recently I met the artist Katherine Callingham and her brother Bob Rink
who is a photographer, who jointly own and are six years into fixing up
 another house in Alamos, Sonora.

Monday, January 24, 2011

Two Hornos In Alamos



Some friends in Alamos, Sonora told me the other day
 about the Panaderia Moderna
and the wood fired horno that they used for their bread.

I had to go check it out.

Saturday, January 22, 2011

Thursday, January 20, 2011

The Masonry Kitchen



My last 2 posts have been on the house that Ernesto and Elena
 are remodeling in Alamos, Sonora:

Please take a look as all 3 go together.

Above is the outside view of their home and the printshop.

Wednesday, January 19, 2011

Monday, January 17, 2011

Formed Cement And Plaster



Over the past few years we have been visiting Alamos, Sonora, Mexico,
 as readers of this blog may have noticed.

 Alamos has beautifully restored homes dating back over 300 years 
and I am constantly looking at the building techniques that are used here.

One that I have been wondering about is how to make the above scallop design. 

Sunday, January 16, 2011

Saturday, January 15, 2011

Update On A Large Concrete Bridge



When we were in San Carlos last winter there was a big project
 to replace a bridge that was washed out by a hurricane the previous fall.

I did 2 posts on the project:

Friday, January 14, 2011

Decorative Brickwork In Mexico



When it comes to building there are so many things that Mexicans are good at 
and brickwork is one them.

Thanks Lloyd

     Please click here to check out this short video about Lloyd Kahn. This sums up much of what I hope to say with this blog. His blog, Lloyd's Blog, is listed under my blog list on the right side bar. Enjoy.

Thursday, January 13, 2011

The Finished Concrete Pedestrian Bridge



Just over a week ago we were sitting at the Epic Cafe in Tucson
when I posted Building A Concrete Pedestrian Bridge using photos
I took last year showing the form work for the above bridge
 in Alamos, Sonora, Mexico.

House Of Rain

     Over the holidays, as we were visiting a friend, I picked up the book House Of Rain by Craig Childs and proceeded to read the whole book. An avid reader I don't normally read books but this one grabbed me. Craig tracks the path of the Anasazi across what we now call the American  Southwest and into modern Mexico.

     The reason I bring this up in this blog is that he talks a lot about the physical structures that the Anasazi built, the materials they used, the differences by location and time, and how they changed over the course of their existence. These are, of course, a large part of the record that is left from this extensive culture.

     Craig has many interesting ideas about these people, their history, and what may have happened to them that were new to me. I was not particularly knowledgeable about this field of study but I have much more to think about now as we tour this fascinating part of the world. Check it out.

Tuesday, January 11, 2011

Sunday, January 9, 2011

How To Design An Entry Way



We were walking down a side street in Guanajuato, Guanajuato, Mexico
 a couple of years ago when we passed by this long set of stairs (above)
 leading into a home.

 It really made me want to enter
and climb down the stairs to see what was there.
It got me to thinking about what it was that made an entry way so inviting.

Friday, January 7, 2011

Stone Ruins At San Juan de Rayas Mine



I am continually intrigued by ruins, there is so much to learn.

What worked, what failed.

And it bares the bones of buildings where we can see the details.

Wednesday, January 5, 2011

Building A Concrete Pedestrian Bridge



When we were in Alamos, Sonora, Mexico last winter,
 we came across this pedestrian bridge under construction.

Sunday, January 2, 2011

Faces And Masks



It is interesting how we present ourselves to the world.