Wednesday, August 6, 2014

Wall of rust

The retaining wall at the front of our house was installed about 7 years ago. It was made from thick treated pine sleepers which are meant to last about 15-20 years. This is not the case in Maleny. Because of a number of seasons of very heavy rain some of posts were showing signs of wood rot. Fiona and I decided to rectify the situation by building another wall in front of the old one. The new galvo coated steel posts would provide addition support for the old wall; and the support for the new one. We also needed a return on the new wall to protect the old one from the elements.

Inspired by rusted walls we saw at MONA in Tasmania we decided to design and build a Corten steel wall that would rust. When I say build I mean: we design; the steel fabricator does the cutting and bending; and some ace carpenters and steel erectors erected the wall.

So the series of photos that follow show the newly erected wall.

©2014 Barry Smith - Corten steel wall - all the bolts line up

©2014 Barry Smith - Fiona walks the wall
©2014 Barry Smith - The wall and some rocks removed from post holes
©2014 Barry Smith - One beautiful corner
And some that show rusting process that has already started.

©2014 Barry Smith - Corner begins to rust 
©2014 Barry Smith - Rust on the edge
©2014 Barry Smith - A little negative space
©2014 Barry Smith - Rust on a bend
©2014 Barry Smith - Rusting end
We love this wall already - one very long (27-28m) sculpture on our block. It was really worth the effort.

8 comments:

  1. WOW!!! That's gorgeous Barry. Of course, the ruster in me is wondering what kind of rust prints one could get from the wall... Enjoy!

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  2. Hi J - imagine a 27m length of rusted fabric - must talk to Fiona about that; or you need to get yourself over here. B

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  3. That's superb!....and will get better.

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  4. Magnificent, B! I love the way you and Fiona think. Letting it rust will be so beautiful! I hope to see it on my next trip past Maleny.

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  5. The Great Wall of Maleny. Love the wall, love more the fact that you and Fiona would do this!

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  6. Beautiful, and wonderful thing to witness its changes.

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  7. JM, C, SB, VA & V - hi gang - thanks for checking out the wall. F & I have been away for a week in Jakarta and Singapore and have come home to a beautifully curing (rusting) wall. It has started raining today - so more beautiful rust on the way - and of course more rust photos to come. Go well. B

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Comments are welcomed - it is good to connect with fellow travellers.