How to Build Your Own Living Structures

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@ JÛ¯R by Ken Isaacs
Library of Congress Card Catalog Number: ¯<·ÜLLC1
A1± rights TOBOIV£Ó NO part of this book may be
reproduced or utilized in any fOrm or by any means,
electronic or mechanical, including photocopying.
recording OT by any information storage and re­
trieval systBm without pe|misçion in writing from
the Publisher.
Harmony Books
a division OÍ Crown Publishers. Inc.
A1Ü Park Avenue ÕOU1D
New York, New York
JÜÜJÜ
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GROVELAND/a long time ago joe ö mother & me put $3000
together to buy 1Ü mostly timber acres in the rolling
country near the illinois river. the timber was second
growth just coming back from being plundered for coal
mine props early in the century. the cleared meadow
land su1e looked rusty & unproductive.
BUT/joe was really henry well ie isaacs, ex-kentucky boy/
horse trader/earth-nourisher ö general survivalist. he
discovered ice cream on a stick (but lacked money for
patents! & drive-in eating systems in the twenties, did
night janitor work in kansas city plus share-cropping
during the depression. when they moved back to the land
he was coming down from a bad time selling used-cars.
that hurt him a lot. humane intelligence set him up
as an urban victim. one morDing he declared an end to
the gentle. but obsessive, drinking õ returned to the land.
he recycled an old barn, the crates from a microwave
tower & some windows from a burned vaudeville theater to
make a tight, appropriate shelter for about $185.
some went for sawmill cottonwood lumber, but most for
wi1ing , stove õ asphalt shingJes.
UÛÎ`Õ PÅHTNWMother , was marie neville, grape-arbor
girl, fancy prairie, illinois, 1Û<¯. she could make
blackberry cobbler, do noodles from scratch, quilt
& get a sheet clean with homemade soap. she was a slim.
rangy person, one of the world's great woods-walkers
õ movie-goers. her laughter was as sweet
as her technology.
THESE TWO/were Qretty I0£Þ1UaD16 õ they turned the little
patch of ground into a 1ich eden of good experiences.
most of the years i was involved in a surreaJ wheat­
stonian series of oscillations taking place in nyc
(geographically) õ faDtasyland abGut design ö the
industrial establishment. strange ö schizy because
years before when just startiTg college i experienced
the massive comprehensive rush of overview.
probably as a result of ruth benedict, durant.
huxley ö mumford i began to factor the ð1VlIODm6D1
õ see the world entire for the first time. it was
a rich period which saw the construction of the
first Living Û1IuC1uIC5 & NlC10hDu5C5.
MOST IMPORTANT/i saw ö felt the necessity for major
simplifications, ö recognition of positive earth­
relationships ö environmental change-therapy to
release us all from the high-tech maniacs. but i was
a backslider. after teaching a little architecture ö
design, my pallid attempts to do the urban shuffle
were term1nated by a neat surprise. i got a fellowship
in architecture from the Graham Poundation, so i took
the money ö stuUents who wanted to live outdoors to
Groveland. it was an early í1ÛÛÔ} microcommuni ty which
foundered on old-fashioned menu-personality conflicts.
but for the year or so it lasted we lived in old
schoolbuses, built the american outhouse equivalent
of the japanese teahouse & a couple of new Mic rehouses.
EVERYBODY/split except joe õ mother while i burrowed
deeper into the loving trees. work on the hardware
for a differeDt way of life ro1led on. one day i
wrote a true letter ö got launched into a long series
of articles on my designs for a. popular magazine.
people all over built ö used Living Structures ö
Microhouses, so i became a consulting editor õ
moved back to nyc. but it's negative to build real
things in big cities. my chance came to return to
Groveland when a guy in a middle western university
asked me to show people about Microhouses, just
before taking off with Z seabags of tools & hardÞare .
i merged at speed with a great ironhead named
Carole.
NOW/we're blowing the dust & rust out of Groveland
with some new people who also want to tread lightly
on the earth.
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HEAD-TOOLING
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more G1BBO§ TD§1DEG 1D OUTGBJVCS @BDBIB1J§ 1DlG
improves the ability to concentrate. concentration
is B great õ precious state of @IBCC i think it
valuable because it is a G1@D that i 'm really getting
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ÅÙVÅN1ÅÛËC Û¡ CJM1LÎ ¯ÛÛL1NÛ/TD1G GB&B cOnCentrB1iOD
parmi ts us to set about breaking the relentless @I1Q
ol a culture which demands that WB have the newest,
biggest õ JBG1CGT QOWBT tools OBJOIB ¥B OB@1D OHlJQlD@
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§OUI economic resources. in CCOJO@1CBJ 1BIEG 1l 1DBT
investment 1G low the result is personal 1DQBQBDQCDCB
õ the handmaidens of personal independence are
beyond price for they are gentle assurance õ
DOD~V1OJCD1 SCJ1¬CODl1QBDCC
JBÜHËÅCÎÜ111V1¯1_ODCC you simplify the tooling &
get deeper into the characteristics & capabilities of
BBCD tool, you begin to get more precision in your
results. by lOCUGlD@ OD B tool §OU l1DO ¥DBT i1 will
OO õ DO¥ 11 QOBG lT OU1 EOTB 1EQOTTBD1, DO¥ §OUI BC11OD
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you don't have to be a zen master to recognize that
this will.result in some pretty peachy changes in
your relationship with self & thus with the rest
Ol 1DC UD1VBTGC
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THE $185 HOUSEjwe took two old barns apart. they were
just small barns but there was a lot of good lumber
in them. no big romantic beams, like House & Garden
magazine. just early twentieth-century 4x4's, 2x4's ö
siding but it was just the thing for framing up a l ittle
house in the woods. joe discovered a microwave relay
tower going in over on the Peoria road ö all the parts
had been shipped in fine heavy wood crates. the crew
erecting the tower was pretty set on burning them as
the usual libation to Mammon ö all the gods of waste
ò consumption but j 9e, my father, six-packed them out of
that. he loaded the old jeep five or six times ö the media
equipment era tes became the shea thing for the house.
he found the 1it tle old crooked windows in a 1920's
movie house that was being wrecked. the $185 hard money
went mostly for shingles, tarpaper, cement ö a few
new nails.
THE FIRST MICROHOUSEithe first one ever built was a
72" (slightly more than average man height) cube in the
Groveland timber. i built it in the early 1950's out
. of tempered masonite hardboard panels screwed ö glued
to some 2x2 's salvaged from my first Livi_ ng Structure.
people had built small shelters before, mostly in
humble unrecorded places like the arid scratchlands
of asia & the favellas of the southern hemisphere.
all those efforts had the beauty ò directness of the
bravery & courage of our kind of animal up against
the wall doing his sweet best. all the little houses
of the past were the status castle, scaled down by
malnutrition & exploitation of the builders. i made
the Microhouses as one best guess to shelter post­
industrial men; compacted & liberated from the "mort­
gage," "furniture," & "what-will-the-neighbors-say?"
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1Û L¯¯1!Û U1|EBW1D@ a ]JBCC 1O DU±JQ things õ a
unit to work on. a step-by-step easy
progression that tells you how to buy wood
right & how to grade it & judge it.
measuring, marking & cutting with the hand
SBw BTC COVCTCQ 1DBX]ODS1VC DUj1D@ O1 1OOJS
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the WBJJ so ±1 moves easy. made from just
one kind of member it s easy to change or
add to. this GÛ` module can even be used
to DU±JO UI oU1dooT SDOJ1OI SDOQQ1D@ J1S1 ]. RJ
R< JOSH M¯1KÝ LIVING KÜU 1D1S 1s a ]CTSODdJ¸
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1O @IOw w11D the Chi1C. SDO[[1D§ J1S1 ] O<
bA. INFINITE C1ÜKÅÎSYSTE/using one universal
panel you can Du11Ç up, down or sideways
in B completely 3-D way ö WnocW it down to
gQ ]CI CC11 O1 11S BTOC1CO S±2C loT moving.
shopping J±S1 ] ÖÛ
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J1ÿD1 S*TOSSOQ~SW11 plywood J1WB B DT1O_O
it provides sleeping, stoTagO õ study-work
in the floor area of a single bed for
ages Ü·ZÜ oT even beyond. shopping
11S1 ] ¯J.
CONTENTS
¯R ÏU1 MÛUCL|11±S OU1UooT Living S1TUC1Vre 1OT
D1WeTs õ CdE]CTS CB1 OB BTOC1OO O1
lOBSBQ OT SDOT1¬1CTE¬USB ÿTOUDO 11`S a
OdSB CBE] 1OT H 1e« W1DQ O1 CX]JOTB11OD
SDOQQ1D@ J±S1 ] CÓ
Ü. CÜÝÎHLNÅ1Ñ1t s B si tUng-napping-reading­
listening place on d noble eighteenth-century
scale. it s even an extra bed.
SDOQQ1D@ J1S1 ] ܯ.
94. 8' MICROHOUSE/you Cd1 OU1JO 1D±S @C1BwB_
SDCJ1BT CB]SUJB ±1 §OUT B]BT*0CD1 1OI
dOOU1 $300 witD DB1C 1OOJS 1DC1 ±1 w1JJ
go to the COUD1T_ 1D a S1B1±O1 wd_OD
several will make a family village with
privacy for all. shopping list p. JÜG
legalities & zoning p. 10U.
JÜC ÚLÛ MICROHOUSE/i've been J1V11@ ±1 1D1S ODB
off õ O1 S1DCO 1ÙÜ< ö we WBC] US±1@ 1DB
]TO|BT11OS OJ flexibility ö CX]B1OdD±J11_
1DB1 BTB unique to 11 11 CB1 DC S1BT1CQ
JCT BOOU1 Ô1CÜÜ ö BUQed 1O BS §OU EBWB 11
SDOQQ1D@ J1S1 ][ ±<¬~<Ö
J<Ü IN WORK/this is some of the stuff we are
working on right now: a new Nert±caJ
M1CTODOUSO 1D B ]1]O~1TBEB MB1T1X
B* ÛTOVBJdDO 1Cw wOOQB1 J111±1ÿS
1OT _O1111_ 1UO±1_ 1DB1 _OU Cd1
1BOT1CB1C ±1 your OasemeD1 OT garage
with S10]JC 1OOJS d 1Bw ÝOTJC ]±CWU]
1TUCW made O1 ]J_wOOQ ÇBnOlS õ based
on the available VW floor pan &
running gear; the Dragon fly catamaran
houseboat using modular COnStTuction; & a
DCw 1Û M1ctoDoUSe «ì1h intc:nal Ma1rix
ö ßVltiple( overlapping J1V±1_ JCVCJS
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6 saw plywood & 2x2's on. they are
fine, stable �oo: stBnD for the
litle electric drill press.
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e×c1ud.nj faslene:s �various 1Qÿÿ3H_
C!DlC6", ue.nzbuilt of. re¡eOt¼^ universal
me0D6¹S <^´ .:n, ´ \1¹! ¸ust Û nt1es in eaoh
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¹tÐ e×çeClat1Dn is that Ca´h bone
will be an inte rchang-·aple ça.¡ with so
li ttle variation that your anxiety level
can be lowered on final assembly by
knowing that whatever· one
cgmes to hand
is the correct piece.
¯ &e±ï Üþ)ne]'s intercrlgear,;
OJl. eans. f<r perhaps thø time onH can ly'par ipate
i.n tb-' Industrial xevo:�)on& end up with a nca¡·1111¢ package
whic-h can: be knocked down 1n a few minutes & <iarr:ie�·.handHy by
pub1ic transport anywhere far or near in this worl,d; after you
begtn to shift head gears. you neei hard ¡oo±±n�.tm materials
Å an o-erational track
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MYSTIQUE OF THE LUMBERYARD/it might help right now
i1 i outline my head-tooling for going to the
lumberyard. any good person resists the easy
[16B$u16$ D1 cynicism WD6D 1ðC6U w110 D6gð11VC
U6DðV1DI. DD 1D6 D1D61 DðDU 1D6$6 are pa11DuS 11N6£
(NðgU6 Bll times were) 6 it is D61[1u1 1D ð[[1DBCD
1D6 lumberyard w11D ðD ð1611 N1DU C611ð1D1],
DD1 CD1p DD 1D6 s0Du1Uer. but alert & 1ðJ1Dý
all that happens. maybe it's ju$1 that some guys
in the bu$1ness have been spoil6d by the easy
picKing$ represented by all those do-i t-yoursel fers
who roll in every Saturday morning in the ôÒÒUU
statiDD wagons with eyes as wide as Venusian
space pilots. anyway, there is generally qu:te
an Btt\tuUB there ö it is Ü barrier to eetting
usable materials. you must work out ways of
getting around it.
¯Ht@MLAÅ TLLLÎHUNc ÛV1NOLL/106 1\T$1 1DlDg 1S¸
UDD´1 order Uy [DDD6 l1 UD6SD`1 wD1K & yDu will
g61 1D6 w1DDg 1D1Dg D1 an uDu$BU16 1D1Dg 1Dð1
Wðg DD6 of 1D6 Nð1V61S D1 NDU61D 11N6$ is 1D6
way B perfectly nice guy «1±J 611D61 CDD you
or B1 U6$1 give short shrift by phone when he
wouldn` t UD the same face-to-face. one to one.
truly the telephone is an instru¢e¬t iJð1 1C5¬
ters alienation.
UNDERSTANDING WOOD TERMINOLOGY/first off, if you
hðVe t contcted the lumber business brand of insanity
yet, accpt the fact that a Z×Z @i6Ce of wood
lSnot r@Bl1@Z 1DC!65b < lnCh6$ N6B$u16U in
C1D$@ec11DD. 11 Nð@DðV6 Æ6ð5u16U B Ju11 Z 1DCDes
square 1 $DN6 11N6 in i1s 1l16 UD1 by the time
K11D U1lD@6 sDrinKin@ &_1ðD1D1 D6 l1 lS
DD1@ • 1n fact, you might 11DU 11
U111lCu±1 to get <×<`s fDr a 16B$DDBU16 ]1lC6 lD
your Brea. if you can get 1umbUr Cu1 to these
dimensions it's usually better 1D get that which
is planed smooth on ð11 sides ( 1n
d
ustry code for
this 1$ "S4S," or "surfaced on all 4 sides").
BUYING WOOD
PRICES/several of the people i've talked with
1ately have mentloDeU that prices of up to
ÕDÇ per runniDg 1DD1 DBV6 been chðr[ed 106N
this is really 1DD NuCD & $DOu1U U6 D6B1er
1Õ$ p61 1DD1 wDB1 1D1$ prObaU1y N6BDS 1S 1DB1
1D1S KlDU D1 1uNU61 1$ B good S[D1 1D DDDK
1D6 unwary in. a comp6lJ1Dg [1DU16N lS 1Dð1
i wouldn't even 81DU pByiDg that much for good
sticks but they won't even be that much better
than pieces you can latch onto for less
if you Lnow how to a[[roÜCh it.
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DOING IT/this is where the blueprint part starts.
now it doesn't do much good to be on the spot in
the yard if you can't influence & modulate the
course of events. the only way i 've found to do this
is by the establishment of a one-to-one
relationship with a yard man. (the guys who work
lumberyards divide functionally into two
operationally based categories, the front guys in
the office who do the orÔertaKing & the salving
& the other guys out where the supplies are stored
who take your paid receipt, locate your stuff
ö throw it on the ground by your vehicle. sometimes
in small yards these two categories overlap but
these are the ground rules.) you do the best you
can with the front-office people but it is sometimes
hard because they are really just salesmen & the
manipulative objectives of th1s line of work
fairly well exclude any massive concern for the
customer's well-being. the place to get hip
is with the yard man who actually selects & touches
the material you will work with later on.
COMMUNICATINGthis may generate feelings of personal
shallowness in you because most of us have been
encul tured in the way of holding the cards so no one
can see them. this is just a contextual figure­
ground problem because the good dream is that we will
all become increasingly open with others, even those
casually encountered, ö talk ö shaTe a little bit of
what we're occupied with. at best one tries to do
this with most encounters, not just those where we
hope to elicit a certain kind of performance. so if
the intent is positive & general the aspect of
manipulation really doesn't apply. we all try to
observe this as a general way of behaving & if
other people return it you really learn & life gets
interesting.
OPENNESS/share a little of what you're building
with others. thus it's possible for them to be a
little responsive to what you are trying to get.
remember that this paltry ¢1Û worth of flower stems
may be the stuff which your life dreams are made of
but to the yard man it's just a 2}-min
'
ute gig which
is only one of thousands which stand between him &
his ambition to become a famous brain surgeon. if
you tell him what you are in1o + that is, why you
want 2x2's straight & dry, he may get interested in
a human way ö respond. how would you 1ike to work
in a lumberyard where all these madmen with more
money than knowledge come in every weekend & bu) out
the house for some purpose which is unknown &
indeterminate to you? alienation is all around us.
WHAT KIND OF' WOOD? l haven't said anything yet about
what kind of wood you get. most often we use Douglas
fir or White fir. i have also heard from people
who like spruce 2x2's. the Douglas fir is really good
because it is relatively strong (it's a prime choice
in the lig3t construction industry). it has long­
leafed overlapping hard-grain coÆponents which
make it strong. these components make the ¿1ðlD
prominent under visual observation. White fir is
not so strong because the hard-soft parts of the
grain are more evenly distributed without the over­
lapping patterning§ it is quite a bit lighter than
Douglas fir. which is great when you are lifting or
moving finished structures by air freight. the
Douglas fir is more orangey in color & oxidizes
(with clear finishes) to a richer color on exposure
to sunlight. White fir is pretty pristine
to begin with. bone white in some cases, 6 stays
lighter through its life. the hard-grain segments
make Douglas fir a little more difficult to finish
than the White fir, but also a little more resist­
ant to damage from impact or knocks.
I
HUBLE MA¯¢HJA@1u61e 1B a K1DU D1 U61161$DD1BD
UeNDC1B11C Bee×Ing 1D 1ðK1Dg 1De ND$1
BlNp1C & CDNTDB ua161lð1B & 1!IOugh CaIe101 B10Õ¸¸
I
wOIkTaBBIlQ & B!O1B O1 BO0J 1I¸1ng 1O tCa1lZe 1I6lI
Deau1¸. l1´B nO1 1!a1 l`T 1O0uB6 1O 1!C '11B61" wOOOB,
DeCa0BC 1 dO 16BpOBÕ 1D !IB1O11Cð1 0B6B O1 paB611Bÿ O1
I
@uI1B1 V6Dee1$ D1 B 111116 ]16Ce D1 1edK 1D 1h6 hðnd.
11 Nu$1 D6 1Dð1 1 _uS1 1e$6D1 1De h1B1O1ICð1
1upeta11VeB D1 1!C O1CC16 C1aBB wh1C! OV6IVð106
I
$QaIc1 1¸ OI O1h6I k1BCB O1 6ס6nB1V6 CXO11C1B0
l g06BB 1 ÕOB`1 a_166 w11! 1!C 1Ceð 1¹a1
C1ðuOnÕB a1e B g1I1`B DeB1 1I1Cnd. 1 16nÕ
1D D61I6V6 1Dð1 Ca1CIuN & ]DDBQDD1u$ ð16
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A pCB. <´Xc×ÛÜ lÛ´ 1OB_!
I W^^"
1Í4¯¬<Ûxó 1/<¨ 11B1DedU NBCD1D6 OD11S
Ç/1U` 1JB1 wðBhCIB
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<4 ]CS
<4 ¡6B
<4 p^B
A pCB.
l/4" Bp111-Bp11nÿ 1OCK waB!6:B
l/4'-<U !6X B01B
l¨-OIa0C161 10IB11u1e ÿ11ÔeB. w11! DB11
(ODN6S O1 ê116nC6(
a11 hðIdvð16 1D De O11gD1 ]1B1eU JCdUN1uN D1 21DCJ
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ÛN 1Ht LIN¢_dD ¸O0I Iap w11! 1!e ¸aIO TaB
ðB ¸Ou jO BO he kBOwB wh¸ ¨B1Ia1_h1¨ & "OI¸¨
(11 Ta¸ 1aRe ð CO0p1e O1 V1BI1B 1D 16a1J¸
eB1ðD1IBh 1ðQQO11 Þ11D 1D6 gug Ou1 11 Þ111 De
I
1eÞBTU1Dg In NdDg Þdg$ ÞD6D gDu $uCCe6U
i B!O01Õ 1611 ¸Ou 1!a1 w6 OB1¸ aCCep1 i0TDeI
wh1Ch !aB D66B B1OI6O 1B 1!C B!6C D6Ca0BC
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11 B6CuB 1he B1¤1I 1!ð1`B B1aB!eC O01B1Ô6
0nd6I 1!C ÇO1¸61!¸J6Be Bh661B 1B uB0a11¸
]1e11g w11d.(
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SORTING
ÛULL1NU_1h1e6 H´ p1eCeB wlJ1 Take 1!C <4¨ CuDe
1B 1h6OI¸ 1h1B 1B 1Iue D01 lB p1ðC11C6 0B0ð11¸
1h6 T111B Ou1 B!OI1 $D ¸O0 CaB´1 q0116 ÿC1 4
<4¨ ]16Ce$ 1TDN dD Ü´ Æ111 16Dg1D d1SD 6Ve1g 11N6
gDu Cu1 11 D11 gDu 1oBe DC1ween 1/1U`BDU 1/ܨ. g61~
1IDÿ 1!C ex1Ia Û-1OO1eI BO1VCB 1!1B pIOo1eT & 1C1B
gDU OO w!ð1 T¸ ¡6B10Ck¸ _1aBÕ1ð1h6I Ca11CC ¨CuJJlBÿ."
1!a1 _uB1 TeaBB BO11lBg & Ja¸1Bg D¸ 1!e 1eBB
CeB1:ab1e ]1CC6B ö uB1Bg On1¸ 1he C16BO.
1D1S S6eN$ K1DU D1 Þð$161uJ OuI $1DC6 Þ6 UDA`1
11VC 1D a ]6116C1 wO11d 11 ÿIVeB D61Ì61 1e$u11$
lD 1!6 B1IuC10I6 1hð1 ¸O0`I6 wOIk1Bÿ OB. ðìBO
¸O0 0a¸ Iu1B a ¡16C6 & BCCC a Bpð16 lOI wan1
1O aOO a p1eCe O1 1wO 1O TOÕ01a1e 1!6 TOI0
D1 106 uD11( BD D1U ¢u1D]6BD NðCD1D1$1 1D1U N6
DDCe 1D d1ÞBgS NdK6 1ÞD D1 1D1ee ND1e ]d11$ 1hðn 1
p1ðBn6O 1D u$6 wD11e 1 waB B61 up 1OI 11 1O ðVO1O
gO1B_ DaCR & ICB611Bg up B1a¸ B$ C1OBC aB ¸O0 CaB
1O 1!6 ¸aId uan Du1 dOn`1 uak6 h10 anX1O0B
1Í !6`B 1eð1 D0B¸ & gDu waB1 1O ¿ðTD1C. O11eI
1D ]1CK 1DeN Du1 gDu1$e11 aT1e1 ðBBu1Ing h1Æ
gDu ÞDD`1 Þ1eCK 1De $1BCK D1 S1ðg TOtCVC1
BOO61IuCB 11 wO1kB Du1 uBuaJJ¸ ð116I ¸O0 ge1
ðCquaIB1Cd 11 wOIkB De116I
ÂW
ÅM
SELECTING THE <×Z' S/as the ¿aIO Oa: ¡01JB them,
1I¸ 1O 1O0C! & !aROle each one. Bly!1 OOw: l1
1O BCC warp. roll i1 in your hanOB quickly
to ICaO ViBiOl6 signs. heft it. you ' 11 get BO
yOOO 1!ð1 ¸O0 can feel a light, OI(. straight
piece D61OIC 1OCKin_ at it. we1. Sð¡¡], C1OOY]
pieces 1CC1 like a be:1 wa1eI µiµe. small tight
k:O1B are OK if 1!e¸ don't mark an extreme
deviation in long axis. 1OOK Ou1 1OI ¡lCC6S
wl1! "C!CCkB" (short splits with the yIa1:(
these appear because drying stresses !ðVC
O66: 1OO sCvete. avoid pieces w11! s1iCk¸
honey-like sap pOcKe1s & splits.
WARPING
>HAÏL OF THE LNÛS/loDk a1 1!C C:O O1 each piece.
the cross-section should DC 1a1IJ¸ square with
eac! 8ngle ÜÜ degrees as at le!1 D61Ow
avoid pieces with iIïe_01aI shape like 1!C
one on the right._ they wO:`1 assemble w611
RIPPING FROM @¹ @/BOTC1lOCB ¸aIOB OOR´1 S1OCk
2x2' s. then buy 1he bCB1 <,A'B ¸Ou Cðn ö BCO01 a
1Ile:0 w11ü 8 18D1e Baw 1aIge cities have
:C1?!bOI0OOu 1eC Cen16IS wl1h wOOÔBhO¡B
small 1OwRB !qVe hl_! BChOO1 B!O¡B
& college towns hn.ve CIð11 wOIkBhO¡B
I1¡¡1ng (lengthwise Baw1:ÿ( B6(06D·6
is at right. better not let
10Tbe I 01 a:_1!ln_
1OI_. @ @lB
:O1 1!e be@1
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TOOLS
ÛL`ÌHÜ TOOLS/the 16VCJ C1 ð person's CIlJJ 1S Ü
16flec11Dn of many 1DlDgs UCCp lD1e1DaJ qUa111leC
O1 ØlDU & 6Xµ6116DC6 ð16 1D6 S11ODg6S1 1BC1D1S
1D6 heaviest CX1e1DaJ CCTpOD6D1C a16 p1COably
1hC 1CCJS aJJ thDSe 1 IDCW who build W÷JJ
OhCCCC 1OOJC Ca1eÎuJJ¸ COS* lC a factor but *h6
µT1CC OÍ DDS 1ter 1lkC a S1661 1Bµ6 WDD' 1
OTCBK gDu.
_AKACE@ALLG ö FARM AUCTIONS/try the ¿ð1a¿C SðJ6C
ÎO1 good buys. get into the country to the
ÛBturUðg 1B1N BuC11ODS 1D1 1D6 1OW6S1 µIlC6S
gD 6BT1g SD gOu DBV6 ð CDBDCC 1D N6BDUC1 & DBDU1C
& CXaTlDe the C1uÎÎ CC l1`S DC* a O±1DU *raC6
\hC CJÔ Îð1wC1C pðSS & *h6 younger people
ÔOD´1 uSuB11y feel that tDDSe CJÔ¬ÎðSh1CD6Ô
guDKg 1DDlS a16 Suµ]D11lV6 D1 1DC Û1BD Î1lX
111C S1g1C SuOuTOBD gBIBg6 sales BT6 gOOU O6CðusC
TðDy 1CO1S are pu1chaCed just for the *h6a111CaJ
background effect & they get dumped for Jl11J6
money after the DeW wears OÎÎ.
1'/HAT KIND OF GAY7_DðDÔCaWS OOTC 1WC WðyC rip &
crOCscu1 ¨1lp' TeðDC *C cut parallel to *h6 g1a1D.
\h1C 1¸pe !aC 16SS teeth per lDCh & OD1C 5C1
´SC1` 16161S 1D 1D6 WBg 1D6 1CC1D B16 OCD1 JB1161DB161g(
Ou1 D1 1D6 O1BUC µ1BD6. 1D1S ÞlU6DS 1D6 "K611"
¨SaWD S±D1 lD 1he WOCÔ¨ & pICVCD1C UíDÔlD¿,
"crosscuts" are ÔeSl¿D6Ô 1O Cu1 ðC1DSS 10C g1B1D
lðC :D Cu1*1D¿ 1he <X<´S 1D 16Dg1h )
1O1 gCD61B1 uSC 1 DBVC BD D1U 1<¬1661D~]C1~1DCD
c:OCSCut. *hC fine teeth cut Smoo1D6T & l* S\lJJ
WC11C ÎC1 rare rips. 11 Cu\S pJ¸WCOd W:1| w\p)waJ
bOttCN¬S1U6 sp11D1erlD¿.
+
ÜH£CKÌNÜ OUT OLD GAYSIlDDK C1OS6 ð1 lDUlV1Uuð1
1661D. B16 1D6g 1DuDU6U D11 & ÞD1D UDWD 1DO
far? DeðVy rust 1C a Degð11VC ClgD Cl¿h1
ÔCWD the ÞJaÔe 1C 0aI6 sure it hðSD`1 been ¤1D!CÔ.
even with a DeW SõW DBK6 sure the blade is Sp1lD¿_
& 11V61g 11 WOD`1 be B gODO CONQBDlDD 11 11`C
1DD S1111 & 1D1CK
JHE BAGr_CDC CÎ *h6 most 1DÔlCjeDSaOJC 1OOJC
1C a ÎOD1¬lD¬ODe 1aCp lSOwC1lwCS CaJJCÔ
a "SDD6ØBKC1`S 1BSþ¨³ 11`S B DD~DðDU16 ÞDDU 1l16
Þ11D 11D6 & CDB1S6 1CC1D Nl11CU OD OD1D S1UCS
CD6 S1dC lC flat ö the O1h6! 1C Si1¶!1Jy curved
for CU1VCÔ CU1ÎðCCC 11`JJ ÷a* up *he WCOÔ
& your haDÔ a1 Î1IC1 but once yOu ¿C1 CeDsl*lve
1O l1, ÞDð1 B g1CB1 1OD1 l1´S DB1U 1O g61
a gODU one 7D6T6 1ÞC 1661D a16 1eðJJ¸ Cha1¡ DCW
D6CaUSe *h6 1OOJwak erS seem 1C Ue CD a
NC|DDðDCCQU6 1I1p where they supply a jleO6 of
m6tB1 7110 V1SuðJ 16×1U16 D11S161~]BCKBgCU
B11lS11CB11g. OB1 gOu 11DU 1DC 1BSµ 1CC1D BT6 DO1
r6a11g sharp. the D6C1 ODC l am uS1D¿ now is
a NlCDOJCCD
WORKPLACE
10RK SPACE/it's CaCy 1D OU\ a saw UU* l1`S DC1
Qul16 SD easy 1D 11DU B gOOU µ1BC6 1D ÞD1K & CDD¬
C6D11B1C ð <]~1ODN apð1\Nen1 CÎÎe1C a CDup1e of
C¡oic6S CJCa1 the "O6U:OCw¨ ÎC1 UullÔlDg & sleep
*6wpOIð1lJ¸ in the "Jiv1D¿" room. this is Cp11TUT
because you can C1OSC up the 7O1K1DOD & 1sDJ61e 11
gOu CBD B1161DB11V61g CDNµ16SS 1D6 1u1D11u16 lD1D
CD6 end O1 the Tð1D 1DDO & WCIk 1n the C|eDeO~Dp
end. keep a vncuum cleaner !aDÔ¸ & plCK U¡ 1|C CaW¬
ÔuC* ð1 frequent lD*C1VðJC lDCx¡6DClVC plðC1lC
µð1D161`S 1ð1µS DVC1 1u1Dl1u1C O6B1 B11¬OD1DC UuS1
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ACCURAÛYl1a¸Ou1 & ua1k1:_ a16 OÎ ¡11ua1¸
1u¡O11anC6 1: _6111:_ Î1n6 I6S011S ID bu11ÔID_
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w!6: ¸Ou T6:11O: wOOÔ. SOT6 w611-T6a:1:_ C1Ow:
S!OwS u¡ w¯1! a CaI¡6:16I`S ¡6:C11 1!a1 !aS
16aÔ aS C1_ a1Ou:Ô aS a r6¡S1 CO1116 & IS
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CO1S161S C¸ Sa¸1:_ "Ca1¡6:16IS 0S6 11. ÔOn`1 1!6¸'¨
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w11I 11, SO Tak6 11_!1. aCCu1a16 11:6S
& S!aI¡6: 11 Î1OT 1IT6 1O 11T6
ACCURACY
cAY1NU ._JAHtO:6 _OOÔ a¡¡IOaCI 1O SawI:_
1!6 6:ÔS OÎ <X<`S SquaI6 (SO 1I6 6nÔ j1aD6 IS ¡6I-
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w11! 1!6 COnC¯:a1¯O: Sq0aI6 Tak6 a S!aiJOw SawC01
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1!6 u1ÔÔ16 TaIk6Ô S1Ô6 u¡ & Saw1:_ 1n 1!6
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1h6 b61161 JuuC6I T111S 0S0a11¸ S6a1
1!1S !1_!1¸ abSO1¡11V6 6:Ô _Ia1: w11! a waX
O1 COÔ1:_ ¡a1:1. 11 S66TS C61161 1O Tak6 ¸OuI
Ow: C01 & !av6 I1 CO:SIS16n1 w11!
a11 ¸Ou1 O1!6I C01S
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OU1NG ITÍÛ|, SDNð1K ð d4¯ 16Dg1D DD DDu D1 gDu1
dxd´S Cu1 W11D 1D6 DðDUSðW ðDDu1 1/b4" 1D 1Du 11gD1
D1 gDu1 11Du. 1Dð1 1S, 16ðVu 1Du 11Du SDDW1Dg ð11u1
gDu1 Cu1 1S 11D1SD6U 1D1S þ1DV1UuS ð §u1Uu 1ð1u1 1D1
1ðSJ1D@ 1De end Bÿua"6 ð1SO l1 never seemed STðI1 1D
T6 1O OD111e1a16 ]OuI §U1Uu 11Du ðB ¸Ou gD D6CauB6
1!1B p1uVuD1S 1C!C1"1n_ DaCk 1O 11 1O Su6 !Ow ¸Ou ð1C
ÔO1:g 11 8 Bu1VC¸O1 wO1kCÔ w¯1IOu1 16ðV1:y
B1ðReB D6!1:Ô !1u ð1 1!6 ¡1l:C1]ð1 1B1u1B6c1lO:S OÎ
IlB S1g!1 11R6B !6 wOuJ¹ 1OS6 his frame OI :616I6:C6
BO wl11 yOu 11 yOu ð1C -1Ojp¸ & Cu1 1hrOuy! 1DC 1ð¸Ou1
uB6 the 0aB161 1O Ta:× ¸OD1 O1!u1 þ1uCuS
(TaIk1Bg 11Or 1!6 1ln6. :O1 1!6 cut).
D611u1 SðW ð11u1 Nò1k1:_, 1!6n Æð1k
1D6D SðW 1Dð1 Wðg DD 11DuD16
W11D 1Du SðW Ku11
DETUNING/keep lD T1:Ô 1!a1 you a1u
1t¸l:g 1O Dea1 1!C C:CD1 1u1ð11O: O1
T1:Ô16BB !u11¸ & 11y 1O 6aB6 ¸Ou1`B011
Ô66p 1B1O 1!1B BawID_ 1¯k6 1h6 O1d
!1ppO 1B 1!6 TuÔ 1: 1!C '|ð12ð:
TOV16S @e1 B6nB111VC 1O w!ð1`B
gD1Dg OR. 11´S ð w!D1u :6w «DT1U
D1 þDuDDNuDð1 6V6D1S DD ð U111u1uD1
SCð1u DDUg S1ðDCu, þDS111DD D1 1Du
DuðU @DDU 111N SþD1 1D 1uS1 1Du þ1uCu DD

lð1 ðD uDS11ð1D1Dg Du1gD1 Du1WuuD 1ܯ & d4• 11Dm 1D6 11DD1(
�1u ð11 CDmþDD6D1S WD1CD DðVu 1Du SðWD 1ðC6 ðS a
·
16Su11ðD1.
DðU JuCk dO6BB`1 Î1_u16 !C1C. 11 the ÍðC6
CDÆ6S Ou1 þe1p6BU1fu1a1 1D 1"u 1DDg 8X1S OI 1!C <X<
1ðl11y OO!6B1V6 ln j1ð:6 11 lB 1!e result of DðV1:_
ð11 1!6 !O1C6B Ô1B1I1Cu16Ô 1B the 11g!1 pJaC6B.
UÛ1NÜ 1H¢ HA¯lÍDDW uSu 1Du 1Du1¬1D¬DD6 1ðSþ 1D SNDD1h
& 1Nþ1DV6 1Du 1u1ð11DDSD1þ D1 1D6 SðWD 6DU 1D 1Du
D1Du1 þ1ðDuS D1 1Du <X<. l UD 11 W11D 1Du þ1uCu 1D
1D6 SðÆ6 þDS111DD ðS SðW1D@, DD1U1Dg 11 UDWD W11D
T¸ J611 DðDU & 1611 KDuu WD1k1Dg 1!6 ¡ð5Q W11D N¶
1ly!1 !a:O 11 B66TB 1rpO11ao1 1O 1O1ð1C 1!C S1lCK
ðS ¸Ou wO1k ðB 1!1B BO)1 OÎ Ca:C61B Ou1 1!6 TaBB1V6
d1B1O111O:B 6V6I¸O:6 Suu0S 1O _C1 wDC: _DB1 wO1k1Bg
1: O:6 jOB111O: O:1¸ 1!e O11_1:ð1 j6nC1J na:kB
1CTð1: 1O wO1k 11OT & yOu Ca: !6J¸ D¸ 1ra_1:1Bg
1!C ¯ÔCð1 ¡1ÒDe yOu wð:1 to aChl6V6 ðB ¸Ou
wO1k 1!1B influences your !a:Ô. uB6 1!6
Î1a1 T1:6 S1Uu D1 1D6 :aB¡ TOB11¸ UD1l1
¸DU g61 D1þ 1D 1Du 1DD1`S wð¸ OÎ 111u
1D6 1DugD S1Uu 16ð11g g1DDV6S & uð1S
u[ 1Du WDDU SD gDu WðD1 1D gð1D
SDNu SuDS111V11g D61D16 uD1uðSD1D@
11. 1Tg 1D WD1K 11DN 1D6 6Ug6 D6ð1
gDu 1D ð 1\111u þðS1 1DC N1UU16 D1
1DC 6DU 1ðCu BOÆ611n6B 1DC 1ðBp
w111 BpJ1:1e1 1!C OppOB11C BlÔ6
1Î your B1IOk6 1B 1OO JO:y BlnC6
¸OD ð1u wO1k1By I1On ð11 B1O6S
1O1ð11Bg yOu wl11 ¡l6¡ 1!6T a11 up
1: B6qu6BC6. 1I¸ 1O 1!l:! Î1ð1
the general tendency 1B to IOu:Ô 1!6
6:Ô wl1! ð JOOpy B11Ok6 OÎ 1!C 1ðBp.
1Î ¸OD CO nCuB1IÜ1u & S1lfk w11! 11 ¸Ou`11
Du Su1þ11S6U ð1 DDW ÆuCD CDD11D1 gDu CðD
U6V61Dþ. DD6 D1 1Du D1U LDg11SDN6D WDD S1ðI1uU
HD11S HDgC6 WðSSD@DDU W11D ð N61ð1 111u 1Dð1
Du CDu1U þu1 ð þ1uCu D1 1DuDU S1DCk 1D ð V1Su &
111u Ü Î1a1B DD 11 1D NðKu ð D6xðgDD «11D1D U1NuD~
S1Ona1 Vð11ð11ODB O1 ðDDu1 ð !unÔ16Ô1h D1 a: 1DCD _uS1
w11! ð !a:Ô 1OO1 wl1hOu1 T8Ikln_ OI 1a¸1:y out DeÍD1e
1üa1`B 16a1 CORC6n11ð11OR & $k111 nO:6 lTpO110B1,
11 TuB1 ÔO BOT61!l:g 16ð11y yI6a1 IO: ¸Ou1 !6aC
3Æ
IMMOBILIZING THE 2x2/place the master <×<¸ 711u
DD1u centerlines marked. in position under the drill.
þ1uþð1u 1D1uu Smð11 111ðD¶1uS (D1 squares ) of plywood
with one perfectly straight edge & two 1" brads (small
nails) in each one. lower the Ur1ll to within ilH" of
the centerline cross marks so the relationship can be
evaluated & move the master around until the hole
nearest the end is centered under the bit. tack two
D1 1Du þ1CCuS D1 þ1gWDDU 1D the DðSuDDð1U along 1DC
back long edge D1 the dX< (about D` apart). make
sure you're holding 1!C )OB111O: & when it checks
out take the third block & nail it in ðS an
end stop for the d×d
YOUR PERSONAL INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION/you have just
built a simple jig. SDðUuS D1 HuD1g tD1U¸
Arkwright & UðmuS Vð11. ð1 1DDg 1ðS1 ð citizen is
able to take direct advantage of a simple but
outrageously helpful technique of the industrial
age. most often these techniques have been
uSuO to make a hip few rich while the salesmen
& interior decorators have exhorted us to love
irregularity of 1o1N DuCðBSu Dg doing SD wu
SDNuDDW uXþTuSS SDNu MDiÇueTeSS about ourselves.
simultaneously, those guys were proving all too
conclusively that a cornucopia of plenty can be
built by observing regularity & fidelity in
the structuring of material objects.
DOING 1TIðDgwðg¸ gD ðLuðU & drill ð11 1wuD1g¬1DU1
uDU DD1uS DðVu care t3at 1DuSu holes ð1u kept
parallel (in the same face DÍ the dX< that isj
when swi teling ends because that's sometimes
a problem. all holes are made with a 5/16''-diameter
bit. since 1/4" bolts are used to assemble. these
holes give some tolerance (leeway) when bolting.
beat the negative of splintering DD 1Du uDUu1S1Ou
D1 1Du <×< where 1Du U1111 bit comes out
Dg always holding it in contact witD 1Du DðSuDOð1O
CHECKING & DETUNING/spot-check with measuring tape
from time to time to be sure the blocks or dTill
or stand have not shifted from the kinetics of use.
as to approaching the actual pulling down of the
handle which 01.uses the bit to travel through the
wood-it's ð similar proposition 1D the Dð0CSðW.
give the tool time. let up on the DðDU1u if the
drill packs with wood f1agNentS & slows UDWD.
our general tendency despite the powerful myths of
American know-how are to hurry, hurry & end by
almost punching the bit through the wood. this causes
splintering when the drill leaves the wood & 11 is
Du§ð1lVu reset the end-stop block properly for the
second [ð11 O1 holes !1DN 1Du uDU U1111. then 1uSu1
fDr the center holes. now you have fabricated ð1
1eaSt 12 beautiful universal members with < or C
spares from the fourth H´ piece. if you • re human
there • s no sense in discussing sanding & Íinishing
at this point because the big charge now is to
assemble the structure & see what is.
Ü2
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ASSEMBLY
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PUTTING IT TOGETHER/find a fairly level
I
sur face ö assemble the two opposite
side frames of the cube. the bolt heads
go outboard of the unit, all nuts ö
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washers inside. just hand-tighten
to start. eet her all together then
wrench-tighten one corner at a time.
when you use the wrench, draw the bolt
heads slowly in to the wood until they
are flush with the surface with no
splintering. make sure faces of
adjacent members are flush before
tightening. this will help the whole
square up. when all bolts are
secured, turn the unit upside down
ö gently tap the glides into the
center of the vertical members.
remember to cut about 1ꆬ from the
nail point so it doesn't interfere
with the bolt. your analog is now
weight-supporting ö ready to go
to work for you. if your projected
use requires a top, cut a 24" square
from a scrap of 1/2' or 3/4" plywood
ö bolt it in place using the midpoint
holes in the two top horizontal members.
l\ VJ�
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INTERCHANGEABLE PARTS/industrial
production has always depended on the
many advantages comine from the idea
of duplicate parts, fabricated with
minimum variation. we can get profound
beneficial results, as individuals,
from this concept. anxiety levels
are lowered in bui1ding & standard
members can be recycled with great
ease because they haven't been so
specialized either in design or by
eyeballed inconsistencies in making.
SANDING & FINISHING/cut a sanding
block from some Z×Z scrap. make it
^` long. instead of ordinary sandpaper
we use 3/0-120 C-wt. open coat aluminum
oxide production paper. tear it as
shown & it will just wrap up the sides
of the sanding block. three coats
of rubbed linseed oil or a penetrating
resin sealer like Firzite with sandings
after each coat makes for great
smoothness & Çurabill1y.
2Q
24
. LIVlNGS· T�UCTOREthis )s
`¤ut Matrl·· 1p`Chicago
(TO U t)e·ccn· uc¬r\
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1\1 POJ·O 1ljO11+DJ 'h8D
`´T=11B!¨,´ 15 'DÐ' l 1 l8K9S

1cu1 ¡Oµ65 lO1 OUT '3TC
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I THE NEW FREE-STANDING SLEEPING LOFT/marshaling
long arguments in favor of the sleeping loft
I
right now is about as gra.tui tous
as paperbacking a.n eskimo edition of Sir Francis
Bacon's early food-refrigeration experiments.
the loft bed is so nifty & exciting to retire
I
to & makes so much sense spatially that it
is even rumored that politicians use them.
sleeping above floor level
l frees a large area of the room for other uses.
the traditional static world view plops
a monster BED down in the middle of a toom
& forever after that room is a bedroom.
I
it doesn • t even matter how big the room is.
traditional beds. space-eating monsters
hunkering on the floor. are such a presence
I
that three of them could crowd the Astrodome.
we are just getting onto the fact that what
we can really use now are multifunctional spaces
I
which can be camera workshops in the morning,
rehearsal halls in the afternoon, friendly
restaurants in the evening & sleeping areas
for only about six hours late at night.
I
space is too precious to be limited
ritualistically to single functions.
I
I
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NEW
SLEEPING
LOFT
PROBLEMS OF THE SLEEPING LOFT/despite the
recognized & obvious advantages of 1ofts.
two obstacles appear to rule out this delight
for a. lot of people: not everyone is lucky
enough to have the high ceiling usually required
for the sleeping loft, and most
loft beds involve fastening the structure in some
brutal way to the landlord's walls. floor & ceiling.
even if your' landlord is a regular St. Francis
& doesn't mind, there is still a hangup for you.
the heavy members & mean fastenings represent
a heavy investment in moving matter through
space, lag screws, star drills, molly bolts ö
falling pla, ster. you do a.ll this monster with the
salvaged railroad ties & bridge bolts then
twenty minutes after it's in place you discover
your karma demands you split for Oregon.
we all believe in the worth of the experiential
life process but the bee who never gets
any of the honey is being shorted.
2B
I
THE LIVING STRUCTURE IDEA/this mobility µ1CC1ul
& the height p1ob1em were two of the heavy ones
i thought about when first Oeveloping the
I
Living Structures back in the early 1UÜU'°.
we retripped QI that when i came out
to Chicago in 1Û¯Õ som6 guyS a1 the university
I
1¡616 thought it wO01C C6 a good idea
1l 1 came oU1 ö 1ò1R6C w1Í¡ 1¡6 81C¡l16C1U1õ1
S10CuD1S 1Pu1u õDUu1 C011C1Dÿ Microhouses
I
& 1iViDg in Í¡6l. 1 wõS ¸U¬¸U1Dÿ 81CUDå
New York ClÍj 1¡6D ÷ ¡õC j0S1 !1D1SÌuO ÍU0¹
TUD1¡S doing a 1¡111¸¬S1X¬S]1Cu µro¿ ec1or
6DV1ICuluD1õ] S11u·1016 lU1 õ CIC$Ow&§ S!Uw
1 wõS also ÿeD11j ¡61¡lDÿ a major furniture
manufac
t
urer butcher SU0u of my ]iVlDg c110C1u16S
he had the fonO hope that if they could Du Nõå6
to resemble sofas & c1eO6n2õs then the ideõ
could be exploited for money. that didn't work
so great & 1 nOt1ceO that cõsuõl hostillty
was reachinF new highs in Gotham that summer.
Q ar¶uments w11D CõCå11V61S & newsstand gUyS
w616 1DC1u&S1Dÿ 1D 16l)U & ͯeQU6Dcj
SC l t!oug¡t@ w¡¸ uU1 ÿU 1U C¡1CõgoÝ
LIVING STRUCTURE
CHICAGO LATE SUMER _i went & 11 wõS ÿUUC
the Sw661 w1DCS from 1Îu ]õKu l611 ÿUUC CD 1¡6 SKin
ö t¡6 S0u S¡õ1R16O so bright yC0 l6]1 ]1|u 11Ving
ÎO16V61· 1 R61 õ lot of really noo1e µeo¡le, ,uside
& outsiOe the university. the school µ6ople
seemed sincerely interested in the students
as persons ö it looked like a µ1õC6which might
become õ teõ1 research node for new wõys
of 11V1uÿ on Eõrt¡ outside the school 1 ß61
vickie. w¡U lõy SÍ111 SUCCuuå 1D lõì1Dÿ S6DS6
O01 Cl 1¡6 µ16S6D1 VUCCCC1$l Ul Du11111UD
ö µhyS1·a1 1!61õ¡¸ i cou1d D16ò1¡6 õ10US1
õS S1Uw1¸ aS peter, a fry-cook-saint ·1US6 1U
µuõC6 Ul l1DC lõR1Dg ÍDu ]CD§ jUu1D6¸ l1UT
be1ue a !õDõC1õD Di×e1 with a D0S16C CòCR 1U
O0l1ÿ SCl61¡1Dÿ with the la.nd. h1S ]õC¸¸ j0C¸ was
a C66¡ 6õ11D ¡u1SUD w¡o could ]1UCõC1¸ OU 0¡ õ
Pacific S0DS61 1u a mason jar ö µ1õy it back
to you n6×t winter. she came «11D õ little boy
named thys who once sanded two old µõ1u16å¬Uµ
å1&R1uÿ DCõ1åS with me. i watched & learned
much about intensity of concentration.
¯HÎ STUDENTS/carole helped me 1¡õ1 l11SÍ year
in t¡6 C6ÿ1DD1Dÿ ò.1C¡1 1uC10Iô.1 ·1õSS & w6 16õ1]§
CCDu6·16C w11D 1¡6 people on õ u6w CõS1C
¼c'¬·0C6 TUCU16 1¡õ1 w8S SUµu1!±6×1D16
D6lU16 ]6õV1Dÿ !6w York i 'd S¡6u1 1w6D1¸¬D1u6 seconds
1¡lDk1Dy õCU01 SOle1hln[ to D011C w11¡ 1¡6l )D
Ûh1cayC & a S110C101u 11Ku Í¡ò1 SU0DC6C ÿUUC
but i +aDt6C 1U work CUÍ w1ÍD 1¡u S1uC6D1S¸
DCÍ _0S1 1õ¸ 1t on t¡em ]1Ku _C¡u & 1¡6 Mõ¿Dõ
Carta. so we went thrO1gh a whole µ1CC6SS
RD1CD <õS pretty legit ö ended
with our g�Quµ µtoåucin§ fift\ un1tS
each guy in the group used one as his own to study,
sleep CV61 lu & store Îis eQuiµm6nt.
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¯\AÜY & ALTERNATIVES ·

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MATRIX
IDEA
ECOLOGICAL RESULTS/the Matrix Idea presents a very
I different reality in terms of recycling materials.
traditional design & fabrication techniques
specialize & shape materials so particularly
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that to reuse the only way is to apply power
to break it down then reconstitute it.
in using the Mntrix Idea we keep parts general,
I
uni versa! & all-purpose·. when needs change &
situations change the response is to alter the
assembly relationships U1 these parts. thus very
l li ttle power & effort are involved in adapting
to new conditions.
¯H¯ "BLUE BABY"ilast year our group at the school
combined eight of these modules to make
an 8'-cube Microhouse, elevating it
off the ground on tetrahedrons.
this was a comprehensive application of
my Matrix Idea using multiple cells.
it is 1 ike a medieval alchemist's dream. we
took simple universal components &
aggregated them. it could worK in a larger
size too. ¹¡t pallet arrangement in this one
was complex but workable & supportive of
the activities of working, coo¡ing 6 sleeping.
since the pallets can be rearrangeÜ wl1¡U11
tools . it is truly rusponsive to c¡anÿes in
the 1i fe pat tern of t!e person. some change from
the ri tua.listic design patterns of ¹¡6 past
which laCked mobility & were loCked onto a
fixed pattern like a dead bulldog's jaws.
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HÙW TÛ UcE IT/we had the system set first to provide
each C1 US with a S1\U§ COS§ õ coD1ain6d on the low
1CV61 1hCSC B1CBS CCDVC11 CBS11§ (DO 1CC1S( 1C Cx11B
SCB11D§ or S1CCjlDg SV11BCCS WC USCU 1h6S6 SjBCCS
1BC6 1C 1BCC, Wh1Ch 11BDS1B1CS & B1US CU1 BC1lVC
CO11abCTa1ion. it BlSC feels good. the underspace
of the third module was used for clothes sto. rage. if
you don't already know. get on with the fiber con­
ta.iners that bulk ice cr6am comes iD a. lCt of
places wash them out & givC them away when empty.
I
g1CBt for holding clothes (or almos1 BD§1hing) . we
UCD ' t USC much ClothiD§because it doesn't seem 1O
DBKC US PBjjlC1 O1 DC16 B1 jCBC6 1O hBV6 a 1O1 O1
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B U1§ VB11C1§. BC1UB11§ 1hC C11CC1 1S VC1§ OUCh 1PC
OjjCS11C i guess 11 1 wonted 1O SjCDU B 1C1 O1 1lDC
carlng, cleaning õ nu1Sing clothing, i 'd have become
an LD@11SP valet or a tuxedo-rental guy in Cleveland.
I carole just wants 1C simplify the supporting stuff
like clothing õ really focus on study & d6V6lopmeDt .
not B bad idea.
I
L1ÛÑAU1hC 1OU11D DCUU16 wBS our 1D1O1DB11CD Bank Wl1h
SDB11 CBSSC11C 1CCO1UC1, S11UCS, DOOKS & jBjC1S §OU
CBA DC11CC 1\C1C 1S B 1C1 C1 lDCOHHl116U SjBCC 1D 1hC
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S1C1B§6 cells. if you are media-conditioned you will
tend 1C react strong negative to this. but if you
think a minute it's possible to realize that the
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fashionable (tyrannica1) idea of "effiCi6ncy" õ
"utilizing all the space" has such built-in disappoint­
ments. say BJ1 your SjBC6 was used "pCrf6ctly . " then
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a 11l6DU glVCS you a jaCket of sewing D66U16S but
1h6TC WCD`1 DC BD§j1BC6 1O jU1 1hCH D6CBDS6 D§ B×1CH
B1hC SjBCC hBS B11CBU§ DCCB Cxj1C116U 1hC O1d
1ð1D6TS KDCW 1hB1 gOCU 11V1Dg on CB11h WBS DBSCU OD
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Car61u1 use of thCir SjBCC but also maintoinance of
a pCrt1CD of it open & fallow for expansion. changes
or unforeseen hBppenings. the current societal notion
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of 61ficiency as total consumption is unbelievable
õ uD11va. Dle because 11 lS so static.
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LIBERATED SPACE/traditional furniture was DeVer
O1gBDl26U BS a whole system. 1D6 j1CCCS were a DuDCh
O1 SCjB1B1C, UD1C1B1CU OD¿6C1S UC1C1D1DCU U§ 1D6111B
& SCD11DCD1 1CCD1C C11O11S WCTC DðUC 1O C1ÿBW12C
1DCD "V1SUB11§" UU1 1hB1 WBS ¿US1 BDO1DC1 11Bj
the old culture has always tried to make the
unworkable endurable by overlaying it with
whichever "good taste" is goinr at the moment.
unfortunately this is like tryinr to make airplanes
look like birds. that never worked either. that's
because you can't make feathers out of B1uminum.
¡1V1Dg c1TuC1U16S wC1K ?11h 1D1C1jCDC11B11CD C1
SjBC6S & S§S16Dð11CB11§¸ @6CD6111CB11§ gC1 DCT6
jC11O1DBDC6 11OO B SOB11C1 B11B§ O1 CODjCD6D1S
in B DO1C CChCS1VC B1CB. BwB§ 11OH room wÐ]1S tH6y
aid circulation. movement & c]6aning one of the
most profound results of the Living Structure
synthesis is that it frees a larger part of the
space in ÐD§ room for open & inventive uses.
you have room left over for tea1ing a motorbike down,
gallery-mounting pre-Columbia sculpture Col16c1ionS
C1 1CS1C11Dg ÿ1CB1¬g1BDUDB`S ¢1BgC1 SCW1Dg DBCh1DC.
1D B 11BU111CDB1 "11V1Dg 1CCD¨ B11 1hCSC BC11V111CS
WOU1U DC1 111 1D VC1§ ×C11
LIBERATION
35
BUILING IT/this Living Structure is real easy to fabricate.
it's just bigger than the 24"-Cube Module. the main skeleton
is made from UD1V61501 DCDD6IS AÛ¨ long. the increase 1O ¬Ü¯
members will influence your lumber-picking techniques. you
have to be a little more observant in selec1in[ the 2x2' s
at the yard because warping 6 torquing distortions increase
in seriousness with longer pieces. length is critical. check
the raw pieces for actual length. cut length at different
mills varies between right on 96" & 96 l/4''. those pieces
just over Û´ enable you to clean each end
& to do the center-cut ending with two 48'' pieces. this won't
happen if you cut an exactly 96'' piece into two parts
because about 1/16" gets converted (& lost} to sawdust &
your finals will be short. watch out for pieces which are
only 95 1/2" long. it makes waste not to check 6 IEO«.
MEASURE/because the 2x2 cross-section remains the same,
the pairs of holes at each end are located just like those
in the 24" cube. the additional holes allowing more
flexibility occur every ¢¯. the best way to tool for
these is to mark with pencil the ¢¨ intervals along each
of two adjacent faces of the 2x2. then use two locating
blocks nailed into the plywood baseboard under the
drill stand to position the piece so holes will be
for sure on the longitudinal centerline. the blocks
plus getting the mark under the dri1l every time will
result in good accuracy if you don't hurry & blow it.
you could e] iminate 1D\S üa1I1Jg & jig that part of it
but the jig would get pretty complicated & time-consuming.
STIFF UPPER LIP/try not to get funky & fade doing these
holes. there are so many that a person just naturally wants
to quit them & go hom e to mother. it isn't even that you
will use them all, all the time. it's j ust that when
you do need them they are dynamite. also if the holes
are consistent, it is truly a standard universal member
which can be placed anywhere in the structure.
UNIVERSALITY
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MAKING THE PALLETS/the pð11C1s ð1C DðUC 11DD 1Í9`
hð1UDDB1U SDK01l0CS 11´S Cð110U "Masonite" after DDC
·of the earlier producing companies. it is a hard,
I
durable õ dense reconstituted-wood product made from
fibers which are either WðS10 11DD C1h01 CU11lDg D1
trees which ð10 nDt sui table for dimension lumber or
I
plywood. avoid bargain hardboard õ the superexpensive.
medium-priced stuff is good because it is a highly
CDDpCt11iVe KB1K01 Ch0Ck DU1 1hC S1BCK §DU1B CDDCS
11DD 1o be SU10 111 S D00D kept flat. BDDC1lm0B 100
I piles are resting on 4x4' s or two rough skids 0 the
crazy warps go right up through the pile. always
seek the material that hðS been S1D10U indDD1s in
I
j1C1C10DCC 1D that which is just UDUC1 a shed 1DD1
with open sides or completely in the open with poly
taped over it. look at the edges to make sure the
I
steel strapping used to bind 1D0 packs for Sh1pping
hasn't U0D1CU or ChCw0U up the edge.
CUTTING HARDBOARD/some of the resin binders õ filler
I
materials used in this stuff are unmercifully hard on
1DD1 CU§CS DU1 11 UDCB CU1 1D B 1lDC Ç10C1SC 0Ug0
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if you are onto the handsaw use the fine fla. t section
of the four-in-one wood rasp to smooth the tooth tracks
out, then finish with block õ sandpaper.
F'INISHING/F'irzite or boiled linseed oil is a good
sealer. dilute the oil with a slight (1/2 tsp. per
cupi amount of pure turpentine for penetration. be
sure 1D W1JC D11 ð1J CxCCSS D11. DC DB1U1C & CDD! &
1lDlSh before assembly, sanding between coats. the
usual superhype script in our society is to ba.ng out
the members ó be in a hurry to assemble to see how
I
11 hangs. then it's 1DD KuCh hassle 1D Ul3ðHB0DD1C,
finish & re-erect. if you try to finish the skeleton
when it's toeether the sanding õ sealing is not com­
plete on all surfaces & you get runs & drips. it's
I 11K0 ðD BUheSlDD D1 §DU1 internal D1gBns. 11} 1D UD
11 1he adult wB¶. taking these units up õ down l6
good for your head a.nywny. it makes you believe in
� your own reality.
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PALLETS
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38
.I.
J.
DFFERENCE BETWEEN UNIVERSITY
CE & OUR MATRIXone 4-cube
module for the loft requires 12
universal members for the basic
skeleton , plus 4 or b more
depending on what you do inside
it. one addi tiona! member should
be used under the topside panel
to stiffen it. if you need a
9Ü module with the skin for a
study area. child's domain, at­
home office or privacy space.
there are some slight deviations
from the pieces used to make
the loft. the main difference
is the pair of c` members
supporting the pallets at the
table level. these are used
instead of AÛ¨ members to allow
use of the foot hatch. it's
pretty neat to retain this
feature just in case somebody
wants to fall out & lie down.
good for a kid. or an extra
visitor.
SPACER BLOCKS/note the use of
the spacer blocks to insure
against the skins warping. this
is good to do no matter what
thickness plywood you use , to
keep the skins trim. because
the side skins are initially
bolted just to the vertical
skeleton members, the top &
bottom panel edges are un­
supported & unbolted
unless the blocks are used.
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MAKING THE SKINithj s drawing incorpor­
ates all bolt-ho1e patterns ó all hatch
dimensions. select from it for the com­
bination you need. evaluate plywood as
you would hardboard. see the stack it
was in. check that it was under COV6I ó
flat. don't accept a piece with dinged
or shredded ed�es from bad handlinp.
the skins reQuire full 48 squares.
try for grade A-C but check on A-D just
for price' sake. sometimes the U sides
aren' t too bad. a few artistic knots
didn't stop the old Japanese ð added a
lot to what they did. 3/8' thick is fine
but you can use li2'' for extra muscle.
avoid the lumberyard where the people
are on some kind of laissez-faire
fantasy trip in pricing. some yards a.re
amusing themselves putting up crazy
prices just to see how far they can go.
BOLTS. HOLES 6 HATCHES/use 4"-long bolts
to secure skin panels. countersinking
heads in faces (� p. 93). we put a
generalized hole pattern in the skins
so they'll fit anywhere. mark õ lay out
these holes carefully. designing
flexibility does no good unless the making
is good. use master. clamping panels
together 6 do several at a time with the
drill stand. for layout you need a.
long straight-edge ð a good one. a
T-square or metal rule is fine.
yardsticks are no good ð neither is
the wood-butcher's dream of jauntily
picking a semistraight piece of scrap
that happens to be nearby & drawing
along it. one good bet is to have a friend
with a good table saw (fine-tooth blade)
cut a 3"x60" piece of hardboard perfectly
straight. don't sand it a lot ð HdK0
it curvy.
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CUT PARTS/
70 pes. 2"x2''x48" (univ. members)
32 pes. 2''x2"x44 3/4"
32 pes. 2"x2"xll 7/8''
4 pes. 2"x2•x9 ÕÌ9"
Bpcs. ll2"x48"x48" DFPw.
ìB ocS. l/4"xll 7/8"x44 3/4" hdbd.
Matrix, pallet
rails 6 overhead
support 6 ladder
pallet beams
pallet limit ì!ooIS
ladder (steps)
panels
pÖllet5
mÆ1ËÑÎÆLÜ LÎÜ1
HARDWARE/
120 pes. l/4"-20x3 l/2"fl tho. bl ts.
28 ]es. l/4"-20x2 ì|2' fl tno. bl ts.
64 pes. l/4"-20x3'' flthd. blts.
12 pes. l/4"-20x4" flthd. blts.
224 ¡oS 1Ì4`¬ZU hex nuts
224 pos ÜÍ1Ü fl t. wash.
224 pes. 1/4" Split-Spring Lock
Washers
12 pes. 1"-diareter furniture
glides, with nail
(Domes of Siìenoe)
basic cube joints.
cube to cube. ladder
panels to Matrix
pallets-hdbd. to
2x2's
panels to Matrix
all bolts
all bolts
all bolts
ìot!onS (we:11oaìs)
ÆÅ
Î CHANGES/every morning for the last six hundred
days CI so carole & i have awakened to a new
Î
& different kind of world. we have been joined
by another person. full-fledged; intelligent
6 active. all my life i've thought in some
Î
Calvinistic. Baptist way with a quasi-sci en ti fie
twist that ''yes. it is necessary to ex)Tote
the possibilities of genetic combinations
blah, blah. blah." supercool didn't prepare
Î
me for the wonder of the benign explosion
which was the entry of joshua henry isaacs
into our collective life. i tended to think

of abstract reasons for rearing children making
it worth the hassle. the awesome truth is that
it's some experience. like having some exotic
strangCr come for a long visit. it's the one
life experience i've found impossible to take
for granted even after all this time. no ego trip
like the old-fashioned world but more like
Ë
watching a beautiful little peach tree grow.
the only ego thing involved is watching
reinterpreted echoes of your own behavior
& attitudes appear in this midget like the
reverb from some mighty speaker in the sky
driven by the UNA spiral. sometimes this is OK
but sometimes it makes you cringe 6 hope for
the best.
Ë
Ë
Ë
Ë
Ë
CRISIS 6 THE SHOEMAKER'S CHILD/we were working
pretty steady at the university & 1D
Groveland when josh henry «uS 11 t tle so wC
couldn't seem to get Cent=rCd on designing &
fabricating a Structure for him. i think
part of my holdout was rooted in the fact that
i had never been around little kids 6 was
uncertain of the parameters. most of my knowledge
of babies was derived from watching old movies
on television. we were also moving aIound u JC1
SC he ended up in a simple. clean, white.
Shakeresque room in the Chicago apartment which
carole fixed for him. his tools (toys) were nicely
organized 6 he slept at first in a folding
cloth thing with a metal frame. in the movies
i 'd watched they never grow much but in real life
it's like God is blowing up a balloon, so he was
soon too big for that thing , C&FCJC «uS alr6ady
making drawings of a Living Structure for him
but i still couldn't get focused on starting
actual building. trouble in eden. one day
i fÕund myself in a suburban department store
!allucinating Cu1CJC asking the luÜj if shC
could buy a crib. this immediately induced
hyperventilation in my System & i got ready
to demonstrate new audio highs for the very proper
audience of clerks 6 matrons. together we managed
a fair Wagnerian racket.
RESOLUTION/carole is funny. at some human points
she becomes a rock with the power of speech.
she calmly said that the kid's head was going to be
flut on top (or if we were lucky. slig�tly geodesic)
unless he got a bigger place to sleep. she really
understands motivation technology. there was
ro other choice thoueh. so we pot the nifty
crib & 1° hung there for quite a while like the
albatross, a reminder of a monstrous negative act.
it sure got us on for his Structure though.
MÛ
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UU1L1NG THL AÛT1YËCE/these
members will IORJDO you of the 24"
cube. but they are assembled using
l/4''-20x2 1/2" hexagonal-head bolts
& have a secondary hole pat tern
on Ü´ centers. it's a good tactile
safety idea. to put a 1/4" radius
(rounded corners) on the long
edges of the members. we do this
with a DJ[D¬IÇQ shaper (see p. T1.
but you can do it with pa tie nee,
a good eye & the fine side of the
four-in-one rasp. don't hurry,
JT`1J build your character. don't
do this to the short edges.
RB
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CUT PARTS/
37 QCS 2"x2"x36" (univ. ØOmOOTS(
2 pes. 2"x2''x9"
2 pes. 2"x2"x5'
4 QCS 1l4"x36"x36" DOOO
1 pc . 3/8"x36''x36" DPFw .
1 pc . l/4"x26"x36'' DFPw.
1 pc. l/4"xl6"x33" hdbd.
J pc. l/4"x9"x36' hdbd.
HARDWARE
4J peS. l/4"-20x2 1/2" hx. hd. bl ts.
30 pes. l/4''-20x3" 1±thd. bl ts.
2 QCS 1|R´~ZÜX4´ DX RO bl IS
6 QCS. l/4"-20x2" 111RU O11S
73 pes. 1/4"-20 hex Duts
Û pes. 1/4"-20 Cap (acorn) nuts
120 Qes. 5/16" fl t. wash.
79 QCS 1l4¯ ¯Q111·¯QT1D@ 1OCK WBSD0lS
2 QCS 2" OBCK 11HQ Ì1D@OS ]1OOS0
pin) with fasteners
8 pes. 1¨~OlðD616I ÍU1Dl1UI6 ýliO6s_
with nail (Domes of Sllenc6)
M1¯LtJJÅNtQ@g
C16Hl Ïll21te
blackboard paint
BCT§17C enamel
36"x36" DHU@BD§UO & HOÌ0S1VO
3"x36"x36" 1OHm ØH1
TwO MH1l1× C011S, TH11S¸
1BO1O SUQQOT1, OOO SUQ¬
port. S6Ht & overhead
panel support.
seat limit blocks
table C±ÐD] blocks
1OQ QBD01S \BCT1VC H10H(
S1O0 QHDO1S lT0S1 HTOB(
O0U ¡ane1
access panel (rest)
table
seBt
2x2 to 2x2
panel to 2x2
2x2 tQOl 6 clamp
HCC0SS QHD01 1O 2x2
B11 OO11S l exCeQt
aC¯6ss pan0l !
access 1o panel 2x2
all bolts
H11 OO11S
Do!!c¬ (\e:!1ca1u)
111lFJ "eDD61B õ ðCC6S$
panel
panels
panels
QBB01S
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CUNTERBORING/this unit is 1nt6nd6C ]JlOHI1l}
1Ol C!lJU1eD SD V6 counterbored some O1 1D6
OO11 DO1OS. 1Ì1S ØOHDS 1BVlB@ H 7/8" SQOOO O11
ô OT1J11D§ DO mOTO 1DD 1_Z` OOC@ O61OTO OO1T@
the 5/16" Ìol0 + this prevents the 2 1/2'' JOD@ OC±1
ÍTCD proj acting pðst the 2x2 faces. !6 DðVB Bp~
plied this to some of the other Living 8!:uc!~
UT0S õ §OU ØB§ wHnt to follow suit. the Dð1D
D0@H11VO 1S 1ÌH1 11 SQ0ClH112OS §OU1 ØOØDOIS
into T1{ÌTS ô 1OJ1S SO 1DO§ a:e S1HDOHTO Øem
De1£ Ið1!C1 1!ðD UDlVB1Sð1 CD6£
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STORAGE MORALITY & LOGIC/it's a big one. i guess
the condition that drives most storage fanatics is
the fact that production & merchandising have
become our religion in the last thirty years. most of
us have a real vtarehousing problem because we are
the pampered recipients of a. flood of things
allegedly developed to
make us happier. we are nov beginning to tumble
to the queasy paradox that this proposition
sounded great in theory but worked like a lead
surfboard in practice. every new acquisition just
loads us down with more obligations & expenses in
time & productive effort. it's become evident
that this is a crusher, leaving little time for
inventive work & the individual search for peace
of mind.
LIVING STRUCTURES ó STORAGE/this conditioning
sometimes leads people to wonder why my structures
don't include superstorage. it seems marginal or
improvised to them. after all
,
the guy's wife has
twenty-three pairs of shoes & boots for several different
outdoor role-taking shots. my thoughts on the
quicksand of products õ services .hinge around
using such offerings very selectively. that's the
key word. the old-fashioned world wasn't perfect.
Ë
there were wonderful aspects of simplicity which
we can observe & apply in ways appropriate to our
context but there we<e some strong negatives. if
Ë
only we could have entered the twentieth century with
a head-set of objectivity & selectivity toward the
developments of high technology. instead we put
all the basic-information research insights ó
Î
spinoffs in the service of a manic, primitive,
ego-tripping, anxiety-ridden scarcity psychosis
that was showing massive fractures even before the
f
social critiques of the mid-1800's . if our
society had been more conscious õ hip in ways to
join & nurture evolution we might have avoided
Î
some of the pain õ hurt of that whole era .
l
STUCK WITH STUFF/it's the nightmare of the sorcerer's
apprentice with stuff flooding & distorting our lives
ó feelings. all the things that we are engagingly
assured we "need" truly answer no fundamental cry
from the soul or murmur of discomfort from the body
but are an attack of collective mania like the dancing
cults of the Middle Ages. the only resolution is to '
use less, consume less. have less in your field of
action. this will heighten the significance & the
enjoyment of what you have õ give the same sort of
peace that exercise outdoors gives the body.

•

•
Á
.
F. Scott Fitzgerald's rich boys
were bored õ sated because
they had everything. witty
& humane Lincoln was excited
by mildewed law books & fire­
light vented through a clay
chimney.
•
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EGG CARTONS/even if You try to
wear 1 i fe 1 ike a Joose garment
you build a surplus. wor. k, time
·
õ friends contribute. some of
this is rare information & some
has talismanic importance in a
human way. some obj acts lfke
,
.
tools we conserve against the
time when we can recycle them·.
so we discovered the egg carton.
supermarkets, restaurants &
hotels get eggs in these great
cartons. they measure 1< wide
x ¯¼ long x l1" deep. what dimensions! not since· .
the Periclean press conference & the announcement
·
of
the discovery of the Golden Section have such
proportions been laid on. us mortals. they hold file
folders, papers & magazines, slides, toys, folded
off-season clothing, tools & volley balls. they can
sta.ck four high with stability & have neat holes cut
in each end for handles when lifting.
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DUDLÜAHÍLHUN ÛHÍAFUЯÍII0Í
GUHHß1 CÍ :ru HÇy çbaL¿eS
1 WO1+£Õ DD /¸ÜÕ

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w0B Ia: too heavy 1o pIOduCe !Ie
ðdVan1ayoS O1 diQ¡ura_0 S1IuC1u:6.
¯DH dodecahed'ron \aS good. )ne
ß1ruc!ure waS

11¿a!, ÇU1Ck 6
d1rec! 1 RaK6 6 forgiving in
aSSemb1¿¸|paneJS WeIe eaBy to bO11
1O[e1het_ nO DaSB1eB if 1he
p1yWOOd Watped a 11111e. it a11
juB1 B1taJQh1ened Ou1 ô fell
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FURTHER PROOF/in the spring of JÛ¯J we built three
]1C1C1j]eS Dl 1!e Ü´¾JC1ohou£e using th6
S116££6U~lDðU Cð1Ij1D¿¬£×lD T61!CO & DD lIðDlD¿
UU1JD¿ 1!6 1lI£1 test ð££6DDJj l ¿C1 U] Du 1!e
sleeping surface. it was ¢IÜ´ pljVood slightly
less than AÜ` square, clipped to vertical panels
ðICuDU 1!e 6U¿6 V!ð1 ð Deô1 CDDl11Dô1JDD' 11
!ðU !DJJ S1IDC1U1ß± lu16¿1J1j VJ1D 1!6 I6£lJl6DCj
Cl 1!6 Il@¿JD¿ DD ô 1ðC1D¿ sðil¡Dð1.
IDEAS ON "SORTING"/the other component in the gen­
eIðJ ´DD1eX1 1!ð1 DUI1DIeU 1!6 U6Ve±C]D6u1 C1 1!6
lDllDJ1e Û1DIð¿6 Ûj£16T VðS lID0 1!e ]ð£1 1 Vð£
JD CllJU!CCU 1lUlD@ UDVD ô UU£1j 1±±lDCl£ CCUD11j
road with Aunt Helen. she radiated good humor.
generosity & Baptist theology in r.oughly equal
ðDCuD1£ SD6 l£ SCÞ61!lD¿ eV6D DCV VÞ V6I6 on
1!6 Vðj to ð 1l1tl e 1DVD CðlJ6U ¡ðDCj !Ið1I1e 1C
Û6D6 cðu@!6I`£ ¿eDeIðJ £1C1e 6V6D a £DI1l6 1C
the general store was exotic in those preconsump­
1 1CD UðjS ðDDU1 equal to jetting to Xanadu from
1!6 jUI1 CCuD1Ij, Du1 ð D'@ ]ð11 Dl 1)6 C!ðI@e Vð£
1!ð1 1!6 S1CI6 VðS ôJ£D 1!e ]D£1 Dl1lC6 the
DôJD event 1!6I6 was ðD UDDe±J6VðD±e VðJJ ¿IJU Dl
compartments each with its own brass door, lock
ô STðJJ @1ô££ ]ðDe 1!6 U6e] JD161eS1 Vð£ lD the
CIU6I lDVCJV6U Lere & l 1!lDK l1 I6lð16£ 1D 1U6ð£
j6ð1£ lð1eI ðDDU1 1!6 CCDCe]1 Dl "SCI11D¿" phy£1CðJ
oD¿ec1S.
MYSTERIES OF THE 1/ESTERN MlNJ_1!6£e CDD£1U61ô1JDD£
±6U 1D�!e 16ðJl?ô1lDD 1!ð1 V6 ð16 S1ðlJ6U Vl1h
1ôDð1lCôJ J1D6ðI CCD£110C1S lD DuI D1DU£ j61 1!6£6
compartmentalizations are so limiting. they kill
inventiveness ô play in thought. at the same time
it £66D6U V6 DðVeD´1 ]uI£UeU ð1 ðll the V61y I6ðJ
SCI1lD¿ D6D6ll1£ C1 highly UJ£Cl]JlD6U AIJ£1C16J1ðD
Cð16¿DIlzð1lDD lD 1!6 £1D1ð@6 Cl DU1
artifacts. what a paradox. we use restrictive
methods in thought & give our objects freedom.
i UeCiUeU 1D VDIk oD U D6V Û1DIð¿6 Mô11l×.
PROTOTYPING THE INFINITE STORAGE SYSTEM/so chuck ô
lou came to Groveland that first summer ô we put
1C¿61!eI 1!6 ÍlT£1 ]1DUUC1lDD CB ô 1º`~!ôDel Mð1IJX,
V6 UlUD`1 ´ðVe 1CD TuC! ßDD6y £C V6 ¿D1 SCD6 1/¬´ ply­
VDDU CV1 Dl ,Ce´£ DlU D1eðU 1IUCK £1CIð¿e l1
was exterior so it was generally sound except for 1he
VD1K of the field OlC6 ô th6 big black ants. on any
CCUD11j ]JðC6 jCU U1£CCVeI D6V CClJ6ð¿U6S lD 1!6 1ôC6
lDI SUI VlVðl 1!6 Tl´6 !ðV6 JðI@6 ¡IDVD eyes & t!e
U6£11UC1lV6 ðDl±l1l6£ of Ü6D¿!lS r!ðD on ôH]!61ðDlD6£
the black ants are big ô tough ô would eat a Cadillac
Eldorado if they thought j1 Vð£wood.
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THE 1±¯ GRID/anyway, we felt lucky to have some sheets
Cl this £D Y6 VC1K6U out an lU6ðl JÜÜ ]61 CeD1 CDDS1S16D1
¿IlU ]ô116ID ]ô11JðlJj Dô£6U DD 1!6 16ðJ11j 1!ð1 1!6
ðC1Uð1 ]ðD6J Sl26 Dl 1Ü ó/4¨×JÜ Ó|4' VDuJU CU1 ¿DDU
out of R×Ü´ plywood. i call the grid "consistent"
because it can be filled in any or all of the three
TðlD Ul16´1JCDS 1D £]ðCe Vl1!Cu1 ]1D¡l6OS CI CDO]1C~
ul£6 lCI £]6Clß1 UDI6£C1V6U ´DHUl1lDD£¸ ¿U£1 Dj
ðUUlD@ 1!6 DDe~Sl26 CDe~UIll±1D@~]ð116TD UDJV6ISôJ
panel.
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ÜÜMMËÜ1ÜÑÑ & ÅÑÑËmÑLY
ÙHÛ¢KJNÛ MATERIALS/it's Ç111lC1J1 1C [JV6 Çl16´¬
1jCDS 1O1 Du¸lD_ !l1! 1DlS S§S1ÐO OUC±us6 6V6I¸¬
OD6 wBD1S SOØÐ1D1D@ O1J16TÐD1 1D c126 O| SDBQÐ
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1 sUgg6s1 ¸Cu ¿61 51ôT160 b¸ ÜCJD¿ 1!ô1 1!6
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MATERIALS & HARDWARE/
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accesso,- y' ;· : 33: º6
DO¤ use
the O�PC1e !o� acceaS 11`÷ B clDC¡ ¡c
cu!? low ¡nxie1y in fabrication is truly
beautiful. ±UeeHB uO1e Ïul f.ling to
make ð B1up
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L Ob¿eC1 with [Iea1 fidelity
instead of Q gradiose one |eVeIy aSpeC1
Of which l< De1!W ODe`B expCC1a1lODU}
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MOBILITY/ this 9-cell uD11
3S µ¡proxioa!ely 4´
h1gh õ ¬´ =ldC # I1
CD0JU.D� C 1:66~B\BDdlD[ \DlÍ
ur °D= !e_inuin¡ OT BD CD11:6
wal .l. ºhCD kocked down íC:
ÆOV1Dy, 1¡C pBnB]B ð1e B p1Je
less thdn 1• high or about
Ü tenth of_ the erected VO1uuB`
this cOupaC11OD ueðDB #6 a1e
no lO¼§eJ Bhlpp)Dg @l1 a11
OVeI I!C counir@
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CHCK'S CHAIRthe Panel Matrix
$ 1he clips worked ½Ò well
1J11he ln finite Sto.rage System
that ;i:e expanded the structura,l
idea to a Z4¨ SJð<§· :¶c\d &mad. e
a Ch01T d call 1I COµC×`×
chair beqause he seemed
to høvc some special
relati?nship 1P <'·
from toe íl1S\ meroent
the raw prototyp +ð 8

assembled at Groveland
in the old shop. he
just liked it the
way you like µ
puppy C1 a young.; ¯ *•


colt. that's Ü
good kind of
feeling.
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F'REE CHAIRS/despite
my efforts to .
integrate as many,
"furniture" íunctfons
as possible to .¸
realize the Living
Structure idea, the�e
is a purpo.e íO1 a
movable chair nr¸ .two.
you might want to move one
ne�£e1 d window to watch a
squirrel or a storm. two
chairs form an alternative node
for conversation õ let you · break out of, the
struc. tured situation o! the civine ¦1\U´*U1B
we built this chair as that kind of alternative ..
we even put some of these on CuS1B1S for some
guys in New York City so you can just ·Joll around using
feet for propulsion.
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1 MATERIALS LIST
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CUT PARTS/
5 |CS. 3i8"x23 5/8'"x23 5/8" DF'Pw .
Z |CS 3/8"x8 3i8•x23 5/8" DF'Pw.
= pes. 3/4"x3"-diameter DF'Pw.
HARDWARE/
29 pes. l/2"xl"xl" Stanley corner
angles
29 |CS 10-24x3/4" rhd. D1 1S
29 pes. 10-24 hex nuts
29 pes. 1O¬<¬ "Star" lk. wash.
4 pes. ~/+-<Ðxl" 1]thd. !J1s.
24 pCS. C¦1Û¨xܨ cold rolled
steel rod
1 pc. C/1Û¨x1´x¬¨ SDÐÐ1 steel
1Û ]CS 5/16" nylon wire retniners
panels
tton1 & seÜ1 beam
1ôô1
connectors
connectors
all bolts
all OCJ1S
1ôô1 \D 1ô¶S
le§s
feet 1C 16¶S
legs 1C panels
LEGS
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½OÇþ]J/1D1$ |B kInd of a S[eOla1 BOCk6I SO i1 your
hp1dWate Æan dOeSn´1 haVe I1 11§ an e1eC111Ca1
$µµµJj hOuBe dO nO1 BubB1I101e anO1he1 SOCke1
because this one is covered in 0eav¸ rubber ö
haS proved $Ð1e in practice for use with the very
intense reflector flood bulbs. aBx for l1 aB a
";ubbe1 juBh SOCke1. NO. 1EJ. Æade by HOOa1e.¨ the j1ug
uBed IS a b1aCk 1ubbe1 1nduS11Ia1 p1ug Ca11ed
"rubber CO1O, grip cap, black, 15 amp, 1ZD VO11B.¨
made by Hubbell.
ELECTRIC CORD/the number specifications for the
OOtd ¿uS1 Æean ge1 1G-yauge, Z¬w11e cord,
beCauSe 11Ip1e WIIe 1B beCOÆln[ B1anda1d nOW.
if you are unfamiliar with wiring get a little
on-the-spot advice from the electric supply
people but don't fool around
.
do it carefully.
we uS6 10' O1 wire on eVe)¸ ALi.
APPLICATIONS/the ALB can be \BeO with any Living
Structure or piece of equipment 1n 1h¯B OOOk
eX1S1In( hO1eS may be uSed O1 a ÆOdu1at hO1e
Can be added aB ln 1he 1n1JnI1e ô1O1age ô§B1eÆ-
for children's use it may be gOOO to double the
pivot bloQk$ õ Irrobili®e the pivot so the kids
avoid accidents
.
í1VUT BL@/1hIS IS juB1 a Z 1|Z" Bqua1e SaWed 11OÆ a
2x4 with hCJeS d1lJJed 1OI 1he a1uÆlnuÆ 1Od, cord
õ the 1/4" hex-head mounting bolt. drill 3/8'' holes
for rod õ cord. note that the tOO is a force fit
with a 1 /2" length of C1ear Vlny] tubing slipped
On 10e tOO 1O SeCu1e 11 |aS 1he wood wears & the hO1e
en1a1geS}. 11nISh W11h C1ea1 F11ZI1e, Sand1ny
between coats to ra¡e a beautiful piece O1 wood
.
FRICTION PIECE/cut a 1 1/2" square from an old car
inner tube õ drill a 1/4" hole in it. make B016 I1`5
C1ean & a1WayS uSe 11 1o1 Sa1e1§ 1eaSOnS
a1SO uSe a JOCk vaShe1 undeI 1he nu1 On 1he
mounting bO11 to prevent I1B lOO$cni¯g up.
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HOW MICRODORM 2 GOT BUILT/one day in 1963
.
i went
to the Groveland post office box & found a letter
from a guy at the University of Chicago. he was
I a psychiatrist for children õ was doing some work
with handicapped children for a government agency.
he had heard of Living Structures & thought they
I
might have meaning for kids in the state-care
situations. his response was strong to my idea
that new evolutionary equipment could support õ
I
I
aid the individual in highly positive ways. it
was apparent. to him that old-fashioned furniture
just didn't do it.
SUPERFICIAL NEATNESS & HEAD BEDLAMthe doctor told
me some eighteenth-century demi-horror stories about
the way the hospitals were functioning equipped with
traditional furniture. expensive hospital-type
beds (negative & alienating to the kids) which had
to be "made" in the morning so when the afternoon
rest period came there was no place to lie down
(that didn't mess up the bed), so they ended by
lying on the floor under the beds. the large ward­
like coOJns apparently had the usual hospital kind
of small metal cabinet at the head of the beds.
these didn't offer any storage for pcojects that
kids like to do. also there was no individual or
adequate work space for building models or study.
all in all it sounded like O. great factory for
ensuring< plentiful supply of institutionalized
wards of the state.
WASTE/the situation with these children was so
poignant because they just had O. slight edge taken
off their abilities & it seemed possible that with
the right kind of nurture they could develop,
become independent õ live pretty much like anyone
I
else. it wasn't ei f ficul t to respond to this
situation because it was a classic exa.mple.of
waste of resources, human & physical. it just
didn't make sense.
+
I
DEVELOPMENT OF THE DESIGN/when i first started
working, after discovering the Matrix Idea, i used
a very general, comprehensive, statistical program
to explore many configurations & use-patterns of the
Living Structures. the ground was pretty well
covered. Microdorm 2 was a part of a process grow­
ing from some early work. the Living Structure for
the kids was a stage of that process. we worked out a unit
with work space, seating-lounging õ study, clothing,
storage & the usual high bed {which eased another
problem of conflict growing out of other kids
sitting on your bed õ wrecking it). all these were
supplied on an individual basis to cool the friction
of interpenetrating actions. if we use terri tory
intelligently, sharing can come forth as a natural
result of peace of mind. old-fashioned design
forced sharing õ that won't make it now. one of
the best possibilities of the unit was a panel
system, integral, to give some privacy to the
individual. we even developed a procedure to
supply fabricated 2x2's õ let the kids finish &
assemble them. with this kind of real accomplish-
men t the project began to sound like real life.
PROBLEM
MOMENTARY DEFEAT/we let lack of funds defeat us.
the state refused funds for such an "experimental"
project õ the foundations were unmoved by the
doctor's lyrical logic about the Matrix & terri tory.
i always felt very negative about it but we
couldn't buy materials for the fifty prototypes
they wanted to try it out.
but the configuration õ the idea survived in
this new design for Microdorm 2 õ maybe we can
do some good things with it now.
W¯
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STY ARt1e pðne1 1O1Æ1n[
the bO11Oæ O1 1hC B1udy has
a J<` round hole fOr Îee1 1O
yO through. so you can sit
ð1 1I÷ 1ðt1÷ 11 is adjust­
able for g0owth with clampins
members. 1wO people can use
the· table (one iDs1de ö one
outside seated on a 1160
cube J .
CUTTING THE PANELS/use 3/8"
Douglas fir ply¬ood |�-C faces).
the eleven panels are all
35 5/8' square õ can be gang-
cut two or three at a time with a
portable electric SÐw 6 care.
lay out master panel 6 stack
securely. clamp with at least
two C-clamps. guide saw
$g$1DS1 hardboard straightedge
1P$1 is also clamped securely
1o pile. don't h¼TTy.
DOING THE LARGE HOLES/mark
1P6D all before nipping off
45-degree corners because you
locate them in terms of the
diagonal of the whole panel×
most good saber saws now come
with a radius bar for cutting
round holes. this is a very
precise way of doing it. sharp
point at end of bar presses
iD1o ¬DDU õ you just push saw
around the circle. use the
s1raightedge on the table hole.
HOLES F'OR ANGLE CLIPS/1 ay out
supercareful master panel ö
gÜngdrill three blanks ð1 $ 11Dô
¬11P electric drill in s1$nd.
clamp pile securely. these
holes are critical for good
assembly 6 strength of the
final structure.
WÛ
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STORAGE
¯M
MATERIALS
pes.
pes.
pes.
pes.
pes.
pes.
pes.
pes.
pes.
pes.
1 pc.
4 pes.
4 pes.
16 pes.
4 )C
1 pc.
D |CB.
D pes.
3/8"x35 5/8"x35 5/8" DFPw .
l/2"xl"xl" Stanley Corner
Angles
10-24x3/4'' rnd. hd. bl ts.
fl t. wash.
hex nuts
"Star" lock washers
2"x2"x30"
2
''
x2"x
4
"
l/4"-20x3" hex. hd. bl ts.
5/16"x8'' cold rolled
stl. rod
3/16"xl"x4" sheet stl¬
l/4"-20x 1" fl t. hd. blts.
3/4"x3" dia. DFPw. discs
5/16" n}lon wire retainers
1/2" dia. x C` t¯ conduit
1/2" dia. x 10' LMT conduit
] l/2"x3 l/<"x3 1/2" wood blocks
l/4"-20xl l/2"fl thd. bl ts.
¿anels
connections
connections
connections
connections
connections
clamp beams
blocks
clamp beams
legs
feet to legs
feet to legs
feet
legs to panels
safety rail
safety rail
safety rail
safety rail
blocks to
panels
STUDY /��:.�
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73
FUN HOUSE
¯Æ
^~~¾~¬ ~g ~
=�""i designed the grandfather of this structure
a long time ago when i began to discover that there
might be some hope for an effort to put together a
bunch of whole-system shelters that would offer some
real human & ecological advantage. there were sev­
eral components & events in my experience which set
up the result.
MOBILISM/i 'd been analytically working out with an
old friend named dan a new life style we were
calling "mobilism." it involved paring your idea of
"house" down to the simple_ painful minimum & put­
ting one unit on the East Coast, one in the Midwest
I ö one in northern California. each unit was to be
simple¶ superdurable like an anvil & casual about
complicating factors like insulation & middle-class
lweatherproofing. the three locations allowed some
compensation for this simplicity by letting you
follow the benign weather as it occurred in each
area rather than overbuilding only one shelter de­
l
termined by the worst weather encountered in just
one place. our individual head-reasons for these
projections were pretty interesting. i was moved
I
by warm climate & traveling_ but the best hook for
me was that this scheme fit ted my hope & fantasy
of beating the system. it was early nomadics.
moving like a desert man over the land without
subscribing to what seemed like a.ntilife nonsense
of thirtyfive years of mortgages & time clocks. dan's
thoughts had even a more compelling base. what
could be more bravely human & appropriate than a
guy in a wheelchair working out a life of movement? he
got polio in the Havy & was left with a remnant
1Û per cent opposable thumb fortunately buttressed
with a fine far-ranging mind & a truckload of guts.
he did anthropology & hung on to bang out of the
Congo with a van full of precious woodcarvings a
few hours ahead of Belgian mercenaries in that era
when Patrice Lumumba was tossed in the ditch. i miss
t1$ CCm]bD} 1 think he • s out in Davis doing some-
1 thing academic & making citizens crazy by looking
slightly like a merry Lenin who made it.
I
OFF THE SHELFiabout this time i started to wonder if
the kind of unit i spoke about to dan might be built
of three or four simple existing components by assigning
them new uses to build a shelter system without
starting from ground zero in terms of fabrication.
it seemed this approach would make new systems really
accessible to more people at less cost with more
personal involvement, since they would do assembly.
CHOOSING COMPONENTS/! was working for a guy putting
hydraulic dump bodies on grßin 1!\C¡S ò the flat bed
we used was great; industrially produced with a
steel channel under frame & edge . supporting heavy
2" timbers for the bottom. i worked out a system of
horizontal planes on various levels supported by
vertiCal utility poles on a modular grid. the whole
structure had a barnlike roof (from hitching through
Pennsylvania) & windrain panels at strategic points.
i 'd dream of crawling out of a sleeping bag on one
of the high platforms into the sunrise & washing up
with the breeze drying Ç skin; a primate in his
Platonic tree.
FURTHER ON/i didn t get to build that one but later
i translated the idea into 2x2's because i got on to
lightness ò demountability by then. no foundations.
just tension members & canvas roofing. that was the
father in the series. the last one is here_ indelibly
labeled "the Fun House" by an ingratiating magazine
editor who persisted in sa.ying "far out" when he
meant "how odd!" this outdoor Living Structure ca¬ n
go on your own land when you are opening it up@ on
short-term-leased land or on a friend's land in a
tentative way. it's a base camp for hiking, fishing
or just witnessing the wonder of Earth. decks get
you off muddy ground & the sleeping volume gives a
place to dry out when you hit rain for a day. the
Matrix is a total reference frame which gives
shelter & handy spots to dry wet gear, air sleeping
bags or hang a string of trout » the cooking cabinet
keeps things together & the table is to hang out at.
7S
BEACH MATRIX
7G
¢UJLÛJHÜ THE MATRIX/the network is
the basis of the structure. it's
made of 27 lengths of 1" pipe (real
outside measure is about 1 5/16").
these can be connected with any of
the several temporary scaffold-type
joint fittings now on the market.
I i can't recommend the ones we used
because they were made for us by
a neat little lady near Cleveland
who has since retired. see p. 83
for alternative.
THE PADS/these are 11 1/2" waterproof
laminated plywood squares.
use a waterproof glue like Resorcinol
to sandwich the two 3/4"-plywood
pieces & drill 1 1/4"-diameter holes
in the top pieces before gluing
to accept the leveling screws.
we cut the lH threaded rod into
18" lengths & put the large
washer between a hex nut &
the pipe end.
GETTING IT UP/level the sand or
earth in Ü spots & place the pads
level to begin. assemble 3 planes
of 6 pipes ea.ch, then tilt up
& hold 2 of these in position on
pads. put in C or ¬ transverse
horizontals to make it stand@ then
just continue. two people can do it
fine because i did it alone one
time on the beach at Westport.
pads give good bearing area on the
ground & the leveling screws

equalize sl1ght variations &

changes in ground level.
¶ I¡f+
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7B
SLEEPING
VOLUME
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SLEEPING VOLUME¸cut the sides from 3/4'' exterior-type
fir plywood using either handsaw or portable electric
5õw & clamped Masonite straightedge. stack &
gang-drill the ends together. then the two sides ö
then top & bottom together. the last pair is tricky:
use clamps & move the little drill stand to the hole,
holding Óown on the base with left hand & using right
to pull dril1 through the wood (base is reversed).
all holes are 5/16" diameter & countersunk Du15lÔU 1D1
1ì9¯·<ÜX<` flathead machine bolts (connectors are
counterbored for nuts Å wbshers. ) bolt the bottom to
<X4 beams like decks. then put up sides with top &
ends last. cut hatches Å covers with saber saw,
clamped hardboard straightedge & radius bar. apply
foam gasket around opening so hatch cover compresses
it for a tight seal. we put storage shelves in the
blank end for gear. books Å folded C1D1Dl1g. 1 think
the clear plastic skylight-ventilator is a necessity
for pleasure & air¬ staple nylon screen on small hatch.
COOKING CABINET/this simple box is made of 3/4" exterior
plywood with a back of l/4" l stiffened by shelves ì
the parts are screwed & glued together in the old-
cui ture way ¹ sounds funny for me because it counter's
my directions for demountability, but it seems good now
& then to check your intense feelings by trying it out
again from the polar point of
v
iew. it works OK this
way but is bulky when moving. anyway, the three vertical
door panels are piano-hinged together & close against
foam gasket applied to the fa.ce edge of the cabinet.
place the magnetic catches strategically to hold the
door closed. the twin beams underneath hold the
cabinet in position while you run the horizontal pipe
member through it. make the 1 3/8"-diameter hole with
an expansion bit & a hand brace. don't forget the
clamp blocks under the cabinet either. you may want
to modify the shelves for your gasoline stove &
equipment. we used Coleman stuff & this worked
very nicely.
COOK
7B
EAT
�·
80
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'5fJ4 U
Tk; Gl0
DECKS
TWIN BEAMS & TABLEiselect four straight & dry
fir 2x4's. cut to 66". lay out & drill pieces
individually. do the counterboring first.
then do the 5il6" holes for the 4´ hex-head
bolts. two beams clamp on two vertical pipes
with the bolts doing the clamping. don't
pull too tight. the table is 3/4" plywood,
24"x48", with 3 countersunk holes on
the centerline (see dr·awing at left, top)
for the 5 1/2" flathead bolts to the
clamp blocks. hand-tighten all bolts, then level
& center parts before using
wrenches to snug up.
DECKS/there's no substitute for exterior
Douglas fir plywood. 4'x8' sheets of 3/4"
are carefully ripped right down the middle.
these are pallets. 4" flathead bolts fasten
panels to a. pair of 2x4's with 7/8'' countei·­
bores on the underside of all mounting holes.
detail on page 82 shows how electrical
stand-off clips are used to secure the
pallets to the Matrix.
FINISHES/blocksand all parts with the fine
aluminum oxide paper. we used acrylic out­
door paint in green. yellow & orange over
white undercoat for cooking cabinet. table
& twin beams
·
. everything else was natural
with two or three coats of boiled linseed
oil. laced with turpentine for penetration.
remember to
·
wipe off all excess oil. if
you don't it stays sticky & collects air­
borne dust & vegetable matter. it's a mess.
TAPES/the sleeping volume ca.n be sealed.
after finishing with either aluminum
wea.therproo f self-stick tape or clear
polyethylene tape. the aluminum tape is a
little more difficult to get on smooth but
it sure is durable. either should keep the
volume dry & snug.
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LADDER/we ou111 this up fairly cODVeD11ODaJ1_ using
2×4` S 11xed with Resorcinol | +a1e1pIOO1¸ gJue & screws.
Sa!e1y 1S a big thing with a Jadde1 SO 1h1S work aust
be done oa1eTu11§. J 1hJnk you ShOu1d uSe Jony pan-
head Shee1-ne1a1 Sc1eWS 1h1ouyh 1he ve11JcaJS Jn1O
11e S1epS 1heSe do no1 1ape1 J1ke wood So1ewS bu1
1ave a un11O1a 1b1ead dJane1e*. obOOSe a d11JJ bJ1
(a!1eI cOun1erborJn for sC1ew nead & Ove1size hole
through lhe vertical) a hair JargeI than the screw
diameter m1nus the thread part & 1heD it will make
its own threads in the wood as you turn it in. the
large clothesline hooks may have to be opened a
little to accept the horizontal pipe bu1 don't over-
do it. try for really square cu1S OD the pieces so
they nssemble without gaps for weather 1o get into.
AbN1NSISuppO11 1his with a 2×A :Jdge 66¨ loDg with
1" hoJeS 2 1/2" deep 1o slip on 1he 1" 1h1eaded 1od
S1uCk 1n 1he 1OpS O1 1he 1Wo ve111oa1 p1peS. he× nu1S
& waShe1S pOSJ1Jon 11e ôC¨ 1odS. 1he 48"x96• bJ1 of
canvaS haS Open SeanS oD bo11 ShO11 S1deS WJ1h CC"
pJpe 1eng1hS S1uck 11:ouyh. 11e we1gh1 of 11eSe pipes
was SuTT101e:1 to posJt1on 1le awn1Dg 1D any but the
heav1esl bJO+ & has the advanta�e OT great simp! ic i ty.
i've considered situations when it would be good to
have over-all cover & this can le worked L_ ma)iu¿
1!:ee I1dge 2×4´ s each 12´ lon� to SuppOrt
a. 12´×J6' Iec1anyJe o! polyethylene tied down on
two oppOSite sides to the middle Ou1S1de horizontal.
water dIa1DBye could be promoted by tying two nylon
lineS Q 1he poJy sheet & down 1O l+O lOp opposite
hO1ízOn1aJS 11uS c:ea1Jny 1wo Va11eyS between t1e
1idgeS.
THINall drawing & pho1oy:aphS On1y ShOw one
1eaJJ1y O1 Se1 OI 1eJa1Jo:SbJpS uS1Dg 1he components.
the Ma1ri× 1S open to many other possibilities.
:eS)Ond 1O your own dialectic.
CLIMB
81
82
eL c. �o O I
<:(f
(" ��
'(-- l Ill'
\El 1t et.'
FASTENING DECKS TO MATRIX/the neat little old lady
in Cleveland used to make us great cast fittings for
securing 2x4's to pipe, but since she went out we've
had to develop an alternative. it's based on an elec­
trical conduit stand-off clip. what you must do with
accuracy & care is cut off the ö" vertical bolt so
the bottom (threaded) end almost touches the top of
the pipe. this helps support vertical loads on the
stand-off. dinensions & contourS of these clips vary
slightly so set this one up yourself with scraps
so you are sure before cutting all the bolts.
experiment with small, easily managed scraps of
plywood, 2x4 & pipe until you can rea.ly see & measure it.
this detail may also be used to fasten wind & shade
screen planes to the vertical pipes in the Matrix.
TENSION
TENSION MEMBERS/some elements of a structure have
weight pressing down on them, tending
to crush or squash them. this is called a "compress­
ion member," as would be the waiter's arm when he
holds a heavy tray of dishes over his head. another
kind of loading is called "tension." when you carry a
bucket of water by the bail, your arm is being
stretched by the weight. it is in tension.
the lightweight aircraft-cable tension members here
make the structure more rigid & taut like a finely
rigged sailboat. this cable has loops formed in its
ends·, held by the smallest electrical split bolts.
cut the eyebolt shank short to fit in the stand-off
& open the eye to accept either the cable loop or
the end of the turnbuckle (which allows adjustment
of the cable tension-don't overdo it here or you' 11
have a mouthful of wires). these fit on the 1• pipe
sticking outside the joints. use two sets in each of
two modules.
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CUT PARTS/
2? pes. J'xJU'4´ galvanized pipe Matrix
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2 pes. J¨xCC" galvanized pipe awning
4 pes. 3!4¨x24"x96´ decks (pallets)
4 pes. 3!4'x4B¨x96¨ sleeping volume
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2 pes. 3'4´x46 J!2`x4B" sleeping volume
1 pc. 3!4¨x42¨x42¨ lg. hatch cover
1 pc. 3!4"x24¨x24¨ sm. hatch cover
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1B pes. 3/4"x 11 1|3"x ìJ 1/3¨ pade
1 pc. 3|4"x24¨x42" cookJny cab |1op}
2 pes 3|4"x24¨x41 1/4" cookJny cab |e1dee(
1 pc 3/4"x24"x40 1/2" cook1ny cab|bo1. )
1 pc 3/4"x§"x40 J|2" cookJny cab (e1eJT}
1 pc 3/4"x21¨x40 1|2¨ cookJny cab (eheJT l
3 pce 3/4"x 14"x42" cooking cõb (doo1}
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1 pc 3í4¨x24"x4B" 1abJe
1 pc. J!4"x42"x42" cookJng cab (back)
12 pes. 2"x4"x§6" beams (deck)
5 pes. 2´x4¨x66" twin beams & awning
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2 pes. 2`x4¨x72¨ ladder (sides)
C pes. 2¨x4"x1D ì!2" ladder (steps)
1 pc. 2¨x4"x1ò ì!2" ladder (top)
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2B pes. 2´x2''x6¨ connectors
6 pes. 2¨x2´x4 ¯!B'´ clamp blocks
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HARD\/ ARE/
9 pes. J"xJB¨ plated threaded rod leveling screws
2 pes. J¨x3C´ pla.ted threaded rod awning support
3C pes. ì!4¨-2Dx4¨ fl thd. bl ts. plywood to 2x4` s
24 pes. 1!¬¨-2Uxõ¨ fl thd. blts. decks to Matrix
32 pes. J!4'-2Ux1'´ hex hd. bl ts. stand-offs
B4 pes. J!4¨-2Ux2¨ flthd. blt s. connectors (sJeep. voJ )
ò2 pes. elec. conduit stand-offs decks & tension members
B pes. 1!4"-2Ux1!2¨ hex hd. bl 1S tension members
B pes. 1!4¨x2´ eyebo11s tension members
4 pes. 1!4"x6' turnbuckles tension members
30' 1/B¨ w11e caD1e tension members
B p¢S. Sna11eS1 alec. split blts. 1eneJoL cecbe1e
MATERIALS
HARDWARE CONTINUED/
11 peS. ì´ hex nu1s (washers)
3 peS. 3!4"x42" piano hinges
8 pes. magnetic catches
leveling screws
cooking cab (door)
cooking cab (door)
õ pcS. 2´ backflap hinges hatch covers (sleep. voJ )
MISCELLANEOUS/
1 1l2" l1a1head wood sc1ews
2" Shee1-ne1a1 Sc1ewS
waterproof glue
4B"x96" hemmed canvas
1/B"x1/2¨ c1oSed-ceJJ SeJT-S1Jck Toae
Ja1ge c1o1heS11ne Sc1eW Looke
NOTE/1 know it's repetitive, but remember that a1J
metal hardware has to be plated bright to stand up in
the real world of sun, rain & temperature changes.
ALTERNATIVE JOINT FITTINGS F'OR PIPE/the fitting that
is most like the ones used in our Matrix Structures
can be purchased from the McMaster-Carr Supply Co . .
P. D µOx 4òöö. Chicago, 11J 60680. it is shown on
page 41 of their catalog No. 79. it is listed under
| j)#469BY69 (Tor 1'' pipe). the price is |4C5 each.
this is a three-way symmetrical joint cast of
"high-strength, lightweight. aircraft quality
aluminum alloy which meets ASTM, SAE, Federal &
Military Specifications." because it is made of
aluminum it is relativeJy non-corrosive so it
might have some advantages over our original.
11 haS 1wo set screws per pipe & each fitting
is rated 'a1 co1e 1haD a ton of holding power."
11oc 1h1S information i eu1e WouJdn`1 hesitate 1o
¤ee 11 & We`1e going to 1eS1 eoce a1 Groveland eoon
1heSe guys are very good euppJJe*S bu1 don*1 S1nnd
back from shopping a1ou¤d 1n you1 oWn area DecnuSe
yo¤ might ge1 a better p1Jce eJnce you need
aJeoS1 thirty of 1he unJ1e.
83
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CONFLICTS/there's never been any uncertainty in my
head about the idea that all new life designs must be
based on a more real set of assumptions & objectives
than those motivating the present orgy of production.
my inner conflict has revolved around the question
of whether it's better to at tempt new actions from
the center of the system or to work more on the
outskirts. a little isolation from the old-culture
obsessions with bif-money/big-power seems to give
me very precious liberty. it becomes apparent that
concrete & inventive living responses, undistracted
by cultural fantasies, are the best approach to the
problem of survival. the big-deal attack is some­
times very seductive though. it panders to the
Western idea of self & holds out the promise of
quick. easy results. the truth is that propaganda
efforts to encourage slowdown in consumption
are a lot like trying to get a shark to eat
with a knife & fork.
WITHDRAWAL & RETURN/my resolution of the conflict
was to spend long periods at Groveland building,
thinking & scraping the mud off my boots. period­
ically i returned to the urban centers. usually
because some one individual showed a des1re to
nourish the Matrix Idea. you can't respond to a
corporation but you do to a person even if you lack
faith in some of the premises.
DAVID & LEONARD/david was a quick, generous N.Y. C. guy
interested in Living Structures & Microhouses. he
sent me to leonard. who ran a big bookstore on Fifth
Avenue . leonard was diversifying from books into
Picasso plates & Bantu necklaces so he allowed as
how he could sell a reading light of special design
if he had it. this wasn't exactly a clear mandate
for a Structure but i got down to work & built the
prototype Superchair anyway. leonard sold quite a
few 1 guess even though his fabrication was grisly
& his prices astronomic. i learned something
va.luable.
STARTING/Superchair is not a structure built of all
universal members like some of the others. but the
bones do have a high degree of correlated hole
patterning & length. s. the clearest way to begin is
to cut to length, drill & test-erect the basic
twelve-member Matrix. once you get this you can fabri­
cate the other parts in related groups, bolting
them in as you finish them. this will keep your
whole operation together & prevent mistakes. all
the bolt holes are 5/16" diameter except the four
acting as pivots between the seat & back. these are
1/4" holes for precise hinging action without play
or slop. it's slightly tricky to get the pivot bolts
in place but hang on. don't for�et the two washers
between facing 2x2' s to cut friction. counterbores
are generally 1/2" deep made with a. 7i8''-diameter
speed bit in the drill stand or a wood auger bit
in the hand brace.
CUSHION/you might want to resolve this part before
getting totally immersed in the construction.
the one in the prototype was kind of elaborate.
it had a foam rubber core. rounded with Dacron fiber
& tufted. the cover was black leather. the seat was
made separately from the back & the two segments
were hinged together by a leather strip. the cushion
was not attached to the panels . some people have
built them with squared-off foam & simple box
covers of vinyl or canvas. this seems fine & is
less expensive.
as
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CONSIDERATIONS/it's probably an OK
idea to round the long edges of the
2x2' s with 1he fine section of the
rasp. ac1uaJJ§ nJJ the Structures
benefit from this operation. it cuts
down on splinters & snags. use cap
(acorn) nuts as indicated &
wherever threaded bolt ends protrude.
we always use lock washers on the
flat washer (under nut) to keeo
them tight.
· -
TUNING/most wood structures in this
country are subject to central
heating. meaning high temperature
levels & extreme dryness. wood
shrinks a lot & assemblies get
loose. bolts should be snugged up
every coup1e of months. the best
wrenches To1 the counterbored holes
are called "Spin Tites" or "socket­
drivers." they look Jike screwdrivers
with a hollow socket instead of a
blade on the business end. get the
7/16" size for l/4"-20 hex nuts.
TENSION MEMBERS/two pairs of cables
with turnbuckles go in the lowest
rectangle of each side frame to
resist stresses resulting from
loading oD the back. replace the
2 Jowe1 2 1/2" boJts in each frame
with 4N eyeDoJ1s. just above these
{between armrest 2x2' s on each
side) drill & counterbore hoJeS !o1
2 12" eyebolts. open the eyes
to admit turnbuckles & cable loops.
make the cable loops with electric
split bolts.
..·
v
BONES
87
S£A1 & BACK_ge1 haIdbO6Id 1¡a1'B
smooth on both B1deS. cu1 1O S1ze &
nip ±/A" off the cOIneIS 61 a 4ö~de/Iee
angle. use the f1ne Slde OT 1¡e rasp
to swooth saw Oa:×S TIOT edgeB
lay out. drill & cOuL1e1Slnk +11h care.
clamp & gang-dr111 1he Bea1 pane1B
together & 1he oack pane1S 1Oge1he1
bu1 the lanp paDe1 haS 1O be dOne
Sepa1a1eJy.
BEXD1XC JTE LES/uSe 1/" 8eyDO1dB
SOT1 aJua1nun 1od (p 64}. 1he v1Be &
Sc1ap-pJ;e 1eve1 S11pped ove1 1he
free eDd 1B gOOd 1T 1h1B 1S youI TJ1S1
1Jce beDdJDg, S1a11 by ea1k1Dg a Sc1ap
vJ1h a ee1JeS oT 1eTe1eDce 11DeS 1"
apa11. 1heD beDd @eD_@ 1O ge1 1he
!eeJ of J1 cOwpa1e 1he pOS111OD of
the lines with 1¡e IadluB lBhOI1eB1
possible) you get . IeTOve ouIIS !rom
ends, polish with !1De S1eeJ wOOl &
insert legs in 112'' hO1eB ln 1!e
upper 2×2 on the Sea1 back. :e1611
it with a shaft cO11a: On eac¡ B1de
of this member.
PLATE & LOOP STRAP_p1a1e lB J/4"x
1 ì/4"×ò 1/2´ with 1+O õ/ì6' ¡O1eB
for ooJts :e1aJn1ng 1he S1Iap. cu1
with a metal oJ6de 1D 6 ¡ackSaw af1er
drilling a11 four ¡OleB wl1h 1he bought
piece intact & Becu1e1y cJaTped to the
drill-staDd baBe. IewOve buIIS w11h
Sandpape+ bJOc×. 1he S1Iap 1B Tade from
heavy (not th1n & B1Ie1chy( na1u1aJ cO+~
h1de beJ1B 1 J/2" w1de. SaDd+1ch c1aap
1hen le1weeD 1+O Sc1apB oT p1y+OOd 1O
d1JJJ 1he hOJeB. 1h1S 1B no1e accu:a1e
1haD JayOu1 OD 1he 1ea1he1 & puDch1D_
WJ1h a regu1a1 Jea1he1 puDch
88
1<
�·.�a.
�UHi>UM Pt
THE LAMP CHASSIS/use the hardboard panel as a guide
& drill the two 38 3/4"-long 2x2' s. counterbore
these holes 7/8" diameter 3/8" deep. the fluorescent
fixture is a common garden variety undershelf kind.
ours measured 1 l/2"x4 l/2"xl8". discard the
bent plastic shield that comes with the light &
through the top of the sheet-metal body drill
two 5/16'' mounting holes 10 l/2" apart. drill & counter
sink mating holes at appropriate spots in the panel.
mount the panel on the 2x2' s with the 3'' flathead
bolts. then secure the fixture between the 2x2's
with 1/4" flathead bolts. cut these off short to
eliminate interference with the bulb.
FINISH THE GRID/cut the plastic grid (Sears is the
good source to buy this stuff) to size with a 40<'
finetooth keyhole saw. make a cutout to get your
finger in to the switch. smooth all edges with a
fine flat metal file & blocksand. put a stack of
nine washers on each bolt sticking out from the bottom
of the chassis. lay the grid over these bolt ends &
washer stacks, then secure with washers under cap nuts.
the grid will now float free beneath the 2x2's & the
width of it will keep the assembly from sliding off
the top of the frame. rewire using the henvy cord &
plug because the furnished cord is junk.
MOVABLE ROUND TABLE/we used a 15" circle of white
Carrara marble with a 10" piece of 2x2 wood glued
to the underside with Elmer's glue. two 2"xl2"
OO
strips of felt are glued on both sides of the block
to decrease friction when the table slides on the
supporting members. the weight of the marble results
in stability combined with good sliding action
because of inertial effects.
LAMP
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B00QARM/bend this arm from the 1/2" aluminum
rod. if you want the rest to fold back parallel
to the bookshelves (completely out of the way), put
a 30" bend (see p. 89) in the top part. remove burrs.
polish & then insert it in any of the three 1/2''
holes in the right hand armrest 2x2. retain it
at a good level for you by using a shaft collar
above the lowest 2x2 framing member.
PLEXIGLAS PANEyou can cut this stuff with the fine­
tooth keyhole saw. a saber saw (with acrylic blade)
& clamped straightedge, or on a table saw. the 1/4•
thickness cuts nicely. run the flat metal file very
religiously on the edges to nix tooth marks of
sawing. then blocksand & close by polishing the edge
with a soft cloth & any ordinary tooth powder. it
has a fine abrasive in it that doesn't scratch the
soft acrylic. nip the c<rners at 45" like the other
panels & countersink the l/4" holes. to prevent
scratching, leave the adhesive paper masking on the
Plexiglas during all these tooling operations then
remove it as the last act. to make the stops that
prevent books slipping down, stack six or eight washers
on 1" hex-head bolts & mount in the two bottom holes
in the panel. put cap nuts on underside.
CLAMP BLOCKS/pick a 12" or 14" piece of clear, sound
2x2 scrap. lay out holes & cutting lines (allowing for
the saw kerf between pieces) in sharp No.2 pencil. drill
all holes, then rip to split leaving some of the
original piece intact so the whole thing doesn't
fall apart. cut to length very carefully the last
thing. assemble with Plexiglas panel on the arm with
four 2" flathead bolts. don't overtighten. panel
should still tilt for moment-to-moment adjustment
with just hand pressure.
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CUT PARTS/
4 pes. 2''x2"x48''
14 pes. 2"x2"x42"
4 µcs 2"x2"x40 1/2"
6 pes. 2"x2"x38 3/4"
4 pes.
2 pes.
2 pes.
2 pes.
1 pc.
HARDWARE
2"x2"x37 1/2"
2"x2"x3 1/2"
l/4"xl5 3t4•x38 11/16"
lf 4•xl5 3/4"x35 1/2"
l/"xll 3/16"x38 3/4"
32 pes. l/4"-20x2 112• hx. hd. bl ts.
6 pes. l/4"-20x4" hx. hd. bl ts.
4 pes. l/4"-20x2" hx. hd. bl ts.
20 pes. l/4"-20x1 3/4" flthd. blts.
26 pes. 1/4"-20x3" fl thd. bl ts.
4 pes. l/4"-20xl" f1 thd. bl ts.
4 pes. l/4"-20x2" fl thd. bl ts.
4 pes. l/4"x2 1/2" eyebolts
4 pes. l/4"x4" eyebolts
124 pes. 1/4"-20 steel hex nuts
300 pes. 5/l6"IDx3/4"0D med W -wt.
steel flt. wash.
100 pes. 1/4" Split-Spring
lock washers
24 pes. 1/4"-20 cap (acorn) nuts
4 pes.
1 pc.
8 pes.
5 pes.
1 pc.
2 pes.
4 pes.
4" turnbuckles
20' of 1/8'' wire cable
smallest elec. split blts.
l/2" shaft collars
l/2"x8' round a.l uminum rod
7/16" socket-drivers
1 1/2" Bassick plated
furniture glides
Matrix verticals
Matrix horizontals
& shelves
seat suµµotìs
lamp, seat & back
horizontals
back verticals
clamp blocks
seat panels ( hd bd.)
back panels ( hd bd. )
lamp panel (hd bd.)
Matrix & pivots
shelves
belt loop & plate
seat & back panels
lamp, seat & back
book stops & lamp
bookrest panel
tension members
tension members
¿eneral use
general use
¿eneral uso
where noted &
as necess;ry
tension members
tension members
tension members
leg ( bookrest)
leg (tooR rest)
MATERIALS
COUNTERSINKING/this ìool cuts
a cone section from the hole.
this allows the top (slotted)
face of flathea.d bolt to
fit down flush with the
face of a panel.
FINISHING/the 2x2 s go ¿ood with a natural finish
like F'irzi te & loving rubs. i ¡a,nìed the hardboard
a durable flat mustard color with a roller. a short
nap 7" roller is the nexì best thing to spraying.
if you get sensitive & take time it turns out ex­
tremely consistent. slightly textured sur faces. don t
try to hurry & load it all on in one coat. use white
primer first. concentrate on even coating. use
light pressure on the ro11e: oecauso all tools
seem to work best if you don't push them.
TIMINGhub. who built & designed the Unipak Vehicle.
took approximately one weekend to cut, drill & fab
ricate the parts for a similar structure. i think
he used a second weekend to sand & finish every­
thing. but he has a really high skill level so
maybe most persons should allow a little more time.
OB
O4
�¬ri.rst dlscovering & -pplying: 1DB
i /ou4ðu't HG1] WODO0I±T§why
��´ha<-t0 SnacKJ/ ¶DBNSB1VBS to sOme ¥1RÓ
� �OUB cJe)ksb+pfO1 1vº¤1y yao
´
rsto ge1
fQr B DONP±D THG country. w-hy
¾
:ash' t 11 [OSS3CJ B

1o epply your best. consciouS
�ess &,information_to deve10p`a uov sh�lter?
i: ha.d to be <;olpact- & ·mobile us.ng a ¢¡v:ov~
æa)÷r1,�i& buil¸able in your a¡ar`me:!
with silpl. e ´i00J=u¡. 1dDI,C$1B the parts in
winter, slip into a vau or wa@on =¤ sprin�
& t1ek 1O B SHO11~TG1m~1BBSBÖ spot on a
18TKG1´S QBC} 40 & set Þe1 up JH B d0y it's
¥1DO OJ13R0 ¯TIGGOOµ IOw" 1HS1B8O OJ WOJ11Q@
until you QBH ¨O11OIO" it. living put O11 is )OS1
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MAKING THE PANELS/the shell is unframed exterior plywood
only 318 thick. it's lightweight & strong put together
with corner angles just like the Panel Matrix (p. 58). use
a protractor. beam compass (p. 51) & great ca�e to lay
out one Master Panel. measure one 42 1/4" length (line AB}
then mark another 42 1/4" length (line AC) at an 89-degree.
angle to it. set the beam compass at 39" & strike two
arcs intersecting at point Q with cen1ers at point� &
point Q. use a good straightedge to connect the points.
double-dotlble check it & clamp this Master Panel on top
of two 48" blanks.
"�"¯
a"
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CAREFULLY/gang-saw, guiding portable electric saw
against a clamped Masonite straightedge. if OK, use
Master Panel to mark around remaining blanks then gang­
saw all 24 skin panels, 2 or 3 at a time. gang-drill 1/4"
holes for joining angles 6 panels at a time. distance
from edge should match your corner angles (mine were
5
/8) . add 3/16'' to this dimension along joints where
skin panels join interior panels. use electric
drill in stand. lay out openings, then cut individually
with guide & fairly high-speed saber saw.
OB
:I'' > �l''
ló`
�¬
�
��
�
WINDOWS/use lightest bronze tint 1/4" Plexiglas + it's
beautiful & cuts solar heat. saber-saw blanks then
lay out hole pattern on protective paper. buy a twist
drill sharpened for plastic (sharp angle point l ³ remove
paper & use Plexi as pattern to drill plywood panel.
be careful. holes are 11• so plastic can expand &
contract. 3/8" neoprene faucet washers go under
bolt heads for cushioning plastic. lock washer &
double nut but don't overtighten. lny silicone sealer
bead last. one window by food area to watch quail run
while cooking, one low under sleep surface to watch
ants & one ns a skylight to watch the stars while
falling asleep is not bad.
OG
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HATCH DETAILS/using clamped straightedge & radius bar
with saber saw, cut precise 1/8'' strip from entire
perimeter of cover. staple & cement plastic welting
to new edge. using a pile of six or eight washers on
each hinge bolt, raise hinge off surface so welt is
not crushed. do the same with bolts holding
trunk latches. put lock washers & doub le nuts inside
to prevent casual unscrewing from outside. use 1/4''-20
flathead bolts & 3" stop discs. 1/4" holes
for hinge bolts allow movement for careful centering
but drill latch-bolt holes for close fit on 10-24's.
locate chopped. !urnable 3" latch discs
to serve as locking device from inside.
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panels guarantee safety & strength like the taut
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bulkheads in an ocean-racing hull. they also
function as the "furniture" for sleeping, sit­
ting, shelving & space division. nine
have openings for movement & flow. lay
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out, drill & saw using the same techniques &
manic concentration as on the skin.
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LUURlNÜ WE8T
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LOOKING xok10
TABLE/cut top from piece sawed from one of the
openings. support it with two 33" lengths of 2x2.
these clamp on the sides of hole in the low interior
panel next to the food area. drill & counterbore
holes for clamp bolts 4" from each end. locate the
exact center of the 24"-square table top {by drawing
the two intersecting diagonals) & drill a 1/4" hole
there. round the corners for anti snag. put a 4"
flathead bolt through this hole, between clamp
members into the 2"x2"x4" block. this block locks
the table top in place. adjust to a comfortable
level for you & sit one person on each side on a
floor cushion. glue naugahyde scrap on top for
easy cleaning.
nuc× )~aoa
.n ¡nc ~nt.y hatch
of his Miorohouse
& you can see h-w
im�ide panels work.
,
out-out horizontal pana)s be­
come shelves & sleelinglevel.
we used .t·last winte< in
1°below zero w" th tbt. $25
electric heater & ::´«asn·t
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ÀMM
FLOORfour separate floor panels are used. cut them as
drawn. using beam compass to complete the two short
sides. nip
c
orners on a line perpendicular (90 degrees}
to the diagonal. the four pieces that make U] each of
the four support grids are slotted together e§§-C1ð10
fashion. get an accurate sliding-not binding-fit.
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§IJEASSEMBLY/after you pick a place that's profound
& beautiful to you. with a little tree shelter from
winds & some good sun exposure, minimally cleared of weeds
& brush, prepare spots for each leg pad to hit. they
are all level, so block up those needing it on cut
wood, gravel or flat rocks. rake organic debris &
loose topsoil away from the area of the structure
& about 4' on each side. use rake & muscle to make
the ground flow evenly & smoothly from one part to
another. this helps drainage. then spread 2''
of pea gravel on cleaned space. assemble the four lower
corners separately & upside down. do Tedlar tape on
outside shell corners. bolt on legs using large
"fender" washers inside under nuts to prevent them
pulling through. short edges of skin panels join with
98-degree corner angles. the 89-degree corner angles link
the skin panels to the insiders where they come together.
inside panels fasten to each other with unaltered 90-
degree corner angles & 10-24 roundhead bolts. altered
angles are bent in a vise with a hammer & heavy pliers.
do one of each type perfectly. then use it as a
pattern to bend the rest. use socket-drivers to
slowlv draw the 10-24x3/4" flathead bolts up.
the heads will sink into the plywood until they are
flush with the outside surface.
ADDING/place two diagonally opposite bottom quarters
on the site. blocking them with scrap wood at the
center. additional blocking may be necessary nt
other points to line up the sections so you can join
them along the vertical (mating) edge of the inside
panels. don't hurry the subassembles into "nearly"
correct position & try to force them while bolting.
you can't force ]eople & you can't force Structures.
listen & feel it 6 place blocking so parts really do
line up. this will save time ð a burned brain. bring
some l2H squares of old rug or carpet to put between
blocking ð shell bot tom to save cinging it all up
under there. it's not a bad idea. to have a 20'x20'
polyethylene tarp handy in case of rain. then if you get
caught. you can cover parts & coffee-talk it out.
3M3
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ÀMÜ
COMPLETING LOWER HALF OF SHELL/set the two remain­
ing lower corners in place, line up õ block
securely. this shell is so crazy that it won't
achieve the phenomenal end strength until fully
assembled. so avoid overstressing or standing in it
because of this vulnerability. if you find some
bolts impossible to reach from outside, it's best
to put a floor grid ò floor panel in one (or both)
of the first two corners assembled. this will
distribute your body weight over a wider area . .
be Calvinistic about checking each line of nuts
for tightness as you go. it's negative to leave
loose bolts behind you. this weakens the Structure.
DROP/in all floor grids. lay floor panels on top
of them. neither of these componenets is fastened
in. it's simple to rest them on the shell bot tom
ò works just fine. add the four horizontal panels
at the shell midpoint. now the shell begins to
get pretty rigid so you can lift it from one side
at a time to get crav:l room underneath to tape
the bot tom joints. exercise real care when
blocking in this position. despite the fact that
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t' s just temporary. the safety issue is big even
though the Microhouse is only raised 10" or 12".
if it's insecure 6 gets bumped
off, you can get hurt. be sure to have a partner
around when you do this one because the idea of
Microhouses is to help people, not hurt them.
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DOING THE UPPER HALF/the next operation is to get
the four top inside panels bolted in place. the one
between the sleeping lUvel & the food area is a
blank with no openings. but the other three have
cutouts. if you have a little wind. bolt two panels
that go at right angles together at their vertical
joint. this will form a more stable Í shape that
will stand up without blowing over while yo0 bolt
it.
HA\Û} WATER SHIELD/the ±í9'Xb´x¬<' clear Plexiglas
is bolted into the joint above the hatch panel. it
runs water off the shell which would tend to run in­
side at the top of the hatch. replace the 3/4" flat­
head bolts in the lowe1· edge of the upper panel
with 1'' roundheads. trick is to tape it first.
punch holes in tape for DC±1S, then run a bead of
silicone sealer between top edge of Plexiglas &
0QQC1 panel for final seal.
FINAL TOUCHE/preassemble (on groundj the 100F upper
shell corners. place them one at a time. being
careful not to skin everything up if a corner slips.
the last corner may turn out to be a real night­
mare. especially if you haven't been O. good
careful person in all the previous steps. if you
have a little scare on the fit , just be calm &
breathe deeply. backtraQK & 1 oosen some nuts on
joints near the problem area & try to massage it
all together. a lot of people have done it & so
can you. when it's all satisfactorily together.
tape joints from bottom up, "shingling" (over­
lapping) tape segments for watertightness.
center tape on the joint it seals.
1O3
?000]
21 pes. 3/8"x48"x96" Ext. A-C DFPw.
1 pc. 3/4"x36"x36" Ext. A÷C DFPw.
1 pc. 2"x2"x72" Douglas fir
W
240 pes. l"xl" corner angles
altered to 98�
120 pes. l"xl" corner angles
altered to 98°
150 pes . l"xl" corner angles
90° as bought
650 pes. 10-24x3/4" fl thd. bl ts.
60 pes. 10-24xl" rndhd. bl ts.
700 pes. 10-24 hex nuts
50 pes. 3/8"0Dx3/16"ID neoprene
faucet washers (flat}
8 pes. l/4"-20xl" fl thd. bl ts.
& nuts & washers
2 pcs.medium-size trunk latches
& fasteners (blts.)
2 pes. 2" back flap hinges
& fasteners (blts . )
12 pos. l/4"-20xl 1/2" hx. hd. bl ts.
& Duts & washers
4 p¯s. l/4"-20x2" fl thd. bl ts.
& Duts & washers
12 pes. l/4"-20x2 1/2" hx. hd. bl ts.
& nuts & fender washers
8 pes. 1 l/2"xl20" thin-wall electrical
conduit (plated tubing}
MATERIALS
ÀMM
skin. inside panels,
floor & grid
leg pads
table supports &
clamp blocks
skin-to-inside
panels
skin-to-skin
corner joints
inside-to-inside
panels
panel joints
windows
joints & windows
windows
hatch stops
hatch
hatch
1egs
pads to legs
legs to shell
legs
MISCBLLANE0US/
) pc. 17'-roll soft vinyl-over­
foam welting
1 pc. roll 3M Tedlar 1ape 2''-wide
#Y9057
seal hatch
seal joints
windows
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3 pes. l/4.x24"x24" Plexiglas
1 pc. l/4"x6"x42" Plexiglas
tube of clear silicone sealer
clear resin wood sealer
water shield (hatch}
seal windows

inside finish
flat white exterior primer
acrylic exterior enamel
3/4 cubic yards pea gravel
4 pes. 6"x30'' screw-in
earth anchors
outside undercoat
outside finish
site
II
ALTERNATIVE
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0PTT0NAJ VE HATCHES/an aluminum, screened roof vent
from Sears (over food area) is a good investment. in
some climates you may need to add vent hatches or
change some windows to vents. use saÆe O]eD1D§ & cut
Õ` -plywood scraps to Plexi siZe, hinge like
entry hatch. then put self-stick, closed cell foam
stFip (see above) as shown on outside of shell panel.
spaýe hinges & trunk latches off surface of shell
with stacked washers (like en try hatch). get dark­
green superfine nylon mesh screen (for tents) & stðple
it on inside surface of shell panel. i use little
tree branches to prop covers open & bolt them shut.
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!EGS]see if your local electrical supply house will
CU1 CCDU\1t to length for you. they may not charge
much but watch 1DCR like a hawk on holding dim÷n-
gBlC1S. this will speed up a long process. squeeze
ends flat 11 a heavy vise to form tabs. try always
for consistency. drill joining holes with 5/16" D1',
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then bend tabs to proper angles relative to 1he
long axis of conduit. pads are )ܨ circles of ó4¨
exterior plywood. put a JÍ4• hole in center for
mounting bolt. it also joins conduit at that end.
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LEGS&FEET
LEGS TÜ SHELUdo a trial assembly with 3 skin panels
& 3 inside panels. set assembled leg tetrahedron on
this
corner. use 3 mounting holes in bot tom skin
as guide to mark location & direction of bolt holes
in bottom leg member. drill Ó of these, one for
each tetrahedron.
1OÞ
LEGALITIES. ZONING & THE KAFKA TRIP/anytime you put
up a shelter to live in be prepared to deal with the
aroused maniacs who believe that only an oversized.
status-dream stage-set house with a thirty-year mortgage
can be the real home of contemporary man. behind all
the savings-&-loan-type solicitude for hygiene &
"standards" lurks the old money-profit game of real
estate. speculation & the collection of interest
on long-term loans.
BE FRIstow your paranoia (&mine), smile õ stare
ahead like with the lumberyard guy. most zoning codes
have an open-ended category for homes not occupied
year-round. this can free you from most illogical
1imi ta.tions. the Microhouses have another advantage
in not being on permanent foundations. this temporary
quality lowers the anxiety of some zoning people.
1ASTEibe a straight arrow with all waste products to
prevent hassles. i think the small Thetford self­
contained toilets are best. if each person (or eOch
2 persons) uses one, emptying the 5-gallon holding
tank every two to four weeks in a jubl1c facility, it works
OK. we've reduced waste-water amounts drastically by
bathing with an ordinary orchard pump-up spray can
delivering an invigorating & effective mist. using
the spray or sponge bath you can have Ü fine time
with ).Ç gallons of water. we limit cooking pans
& dishes & wipe all food out with absorbent paper
before washing. these methods limit food waste in
water & also cut the amount so much that in a low-
density population area a shallow, gravel-filled
dry "well" works fine. ordinary trash & paper waste can
almost be eliminated by reusing packaging materials
& alteriHg consumption patterns.
CAUTION/the use of screw-in earth anchors is a good
idea, especially if you are in a storm or wind track
.
use one at each corner. make four slack 1/4" cable
lengths with loops (held by cable clamps). one goes
around bottom leg strut & one loop in eye of the
earth anchor.
ÀMW
HOW TO USE THE 8' MICROHOUSEthis home was designed
for one person. long-term, & for two good friends,
short-term. that's its reality on an atomistic
level. what use is it if you're a community of eight
or nine? how do you apply it to a man and woman with two
kids? our old-culture conditioning provided no
good answers. the best it could supply was "can
four or five be hooked together?" trailing off in a murmur
about "prefabricatioH is the thing now." insatiable
simple-minded gluttony for space õ materials con-
tinues after Earth gives endless messages that it
is not inexhaustible.
OTHER VOICES/fortunately, another component in my
information bank wa.s anthropology. not the cold.
cousin-naming academic litany but the people-loving
cultural kind. in this mind-dynamiting. informational
Klondike i found an answer & realized why the serene
& earthy settlements of true Africa had always
interested me so much.
RENAISSANCE/we discovered the "village" again. for
several persons you use several Microhouses, loosely
grouped in a natural setting taking full advantage
of the land & climate. sun, shade, breezes,
north wind & outlook determine individual positions
& orientations wi ttl the whole combine surrounding a
central community a rea. the community part can be
a sheet of
.
clear polyethylene ridged by a rope
between two trees or a pipe Matrix with a table. open
fire. canvas roof & deep, wooden. heated Japanese
tub· for bathing.
PRIVACY, COMMUNITY & ECOLOGY/multiple Microhouses
nest in the landscape & become a new living exper­
ience. this is a miniature settlement of light.
colorful, mobile "huts" loosely ringing a village
square. one person. one shelter. with free choice to
be alone or social. not forced to be either by the
architecture. the Microhouses are as lightfooted
as Indians on the land.
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SWEET PRISE/early one spring morning in 1963 a guy
brought me a telegram. at the time i was visiting the
Illinois Institute of Technology to work with some
students on Q Information Structures. i 'd desiged
early total environments using only information in the
form of projections. film & audio. one of the unique
things about them was their comprehensive quality.
the persons in them were no longer conscious of
anything but total immersion in the information; none
of the usual distractions of how projection screens
are supported õ how the exits are handled. even the
floors of the chambers & the persons in them were
covered & lost in the images flowing from the pro-
j actors. continuous & simultaneous (like life analogs),
these structures got a fair amount of space in the
national & international media. some guys who follow
that stuff even suggested it was powerful seeding
for what happened in images at the Montreal World's
Fair in 1967. Life magazine. still a strong media
force at that time. did a heavy promo-literary
effort in late 'sixty-two about the "new breed of
people taking over." & they included one of my
Information Structures. the joke was that the only
thing i wanted or needed to "take over" was my own
soul & life direction. some reconstruction was really
called for after those 1950's years of fruitlessly
at tempting to convert the corporate barracudas of
N.X,|, to Platonic philosopher-kings. i was desperate
to get out of the urban repression of numbers & go
to the country where there was real liberty to build.
i 'd stashed a little piece of money ð began to gen­
erate fantasies about holing up at Groveland & getting
some work done on new prototypes. joe & mother had
tipped me to the used-schoolbus market after they
bought one for $100 to store wild-cherry lumber from
the sawmill on the Pekin road. they had it right
behind their house & it was in real good shape,
fireproof & not much rust. i figured to use one for
a workshop & one for some students who wan' ted
to come down.
THE TELEGRAwas from the Graham Foundation for
Advanced Study õ announced my appointment as an
architectural Fellow plus an award of $8000 to
follow the Microhouse work. for a while there it was
really like a 'thirties movie where you come out of your
amnesia. to find you are Teally the nUtural son of
Q kindly Colorado silver-mine owner. that Life
publication had really done the job. we
managed to come down off the ceiling õ get our
outfit together õ headed for the timber in a
secondhand van full of good feelings.
TREES/joe & mother had never done much with the
timber beyond smiling encouragingly on it. she
walked with long. careful steps looking among
the leaves for four-leaf CJDVÐ1$ õ mushrooms
while joe got out there once in Û while with jim
the pup to dig a possum out of a brush pile.
so when jim & tom came down with me, we had to
start clearing. we made ten brush piles. each
about the size of a 2 1´2-ton truck. to get it
so you could walk throu¡. we trimmed out a
track to the west side. it was opened up.
AT LAST/we had reached the point where we could
try the Matrix network, full-scale outside in
the wind & rain. actually all the previous
Living Structures & the 2x2 antecedent of the
F'un House had been rehearsals for this Roment.
1OB
LOOKING 1hÙN THE EAthe Microhouse
that carole, josh henry & me use is a
big space frame (eight cells, continuous
members) with two plywood volumes in
it, one over the other at right angles.
the Matrix is made of 1"-pipe members
20' long & each cell is a 1Û<´ cube.
this measure is from centerline of pipe
to centerline of pipe. this is a very
spidery network (pipe about same size as
a 50¢ piece) but has proved quite
stable in 70-mph winds we get now &
then due to our place on the edge of
the SW-to-NE storm track that slants up
through Illinois. tension members are
responsible for this structural integrity.
these could have been cable but i used
same pipe as Matrix because this is
less vulnerable to kids or vandals
when there's nobody there for a long
time. but each site Ôiffers in exposure
to natural forces, so use intelligence
& talk to local people before building
this thing romantically on a headland
in Tierra del Fuego. i always try to
build in timber, where it exists, to
have advantage of its protection.
THE SITE/this Structure is the first
to do without conventional foundations.
instead it sets on nine concrete pads
(or feet) just like an animal. between
these & the Matrix are lN threaded
rods to allow adjustment & trimming
of the Structure if ground changes.
the free length of leg below the
last horizontal set of members is
critical to structural rigidity ó muôt
be held to minimum. as here. add more
bracing & network for safety so free
leg is not too long.
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FROM THE SOUTHthis Microhouse was
designed for individual privacy ó
extendibility opportunity for calm,
undistracted examination of the
world & the self is scarce. recent
traditional architectural norms.
"rooms" connected by "rooms," with
forced sharing of cooking, hygiene
& most other spaces. force us to be
social whether we feel it or not.
this produces much hostility. each
volume of the Microhouse is made
for one person. each volume with
cooking unit, washing ð waste of
its own. because each has his own
equipment, with no designed-in im­
perative to share, the person is
freed to get straight with himself.
then. self-reliance & independence
having unkinked the ego, you are Ùr
to come together with others. because
you are ready ð want to. not because
the building forces you to.
MANY CHOICES/this Structure is so
extensible that it can be responsive
to almost any human or physical
situation. it can house a large
fami ly with decks & arcades con­
necting generations ó it can waltz
over uneven ground 1ike an Indian
leaving no scars just by adding to
the Matrix ð multiplying volumes.
SUPERCAUTION/don't let flexibility
blind you to the fact that this is
high performance structu & like a
Gran trix car requires iudgment ó
discipline in use. don't overbuild
vertically & don't overload the
yolumes or the decks.
111
PADthe concrete pads are cast upside-down in a level
form. fasten the 3/4''-plywood pieces together with large
finishing nails. don't drive them all the way in. the
form will come apart easily when the pad cures. wrap &
staple 6-mil polyethylene around each board in the form.
this makes a. smooth surface on the final faces of the con­
crete & LloYs drying, which makes stronger pads. cut a 1"­
pipe scrap 4 1/2" long for the cast-in bushing. slant
sides of block so it can be broken out later with a chisel.
the 1 l/2''x3 l/2"x3 1/2" b1ock produces the void for the
hex DU1 & washers holding the final assembly together.
assemble temporarily in form with short scraps of 1"
threaded rod (see drawing below I you '11 have to
experiment with proportions of the mix
to get it just right. having an old concrete
man like joe around won't hurt anything .
PRODUCTION/if you need 12 pads, make 4 forms ó pour Ç
cycles. multiple forms let you finish before you ¿et too
old to use the structure. pour form about half full.
agitate with a 1/2'' dowel & a controlled plunging motion.
this works the mix against form walls. then drop in the
6"x6• reinforcing mesh. talk a contractor out of some
18•-square scraps. then finish pouring to top of form, use
a straight l"x4" board to rake across top of form to make
level sur face. don't remove from form too soon.
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Ç WAY FITTING/the original Old Microhouse uses the
same fittings as the Fun House but you probably re-
member that the lady is no longer operational. so i
recommend you use the McMaster-Carr Supply Co. fittings
mentioned on p. UÇ (see drawing at left). the 3-way joint
works on all 27 of the 90 degree joints in the Old Microhouse &
i use it where two tension pipes cross on the outboard
end of horizontal members. bear in mind my previous
superca.ution & don't even build more than one level
if you can't handle it. our disease as North Americans
is we believe that when we think it, we can do it.
2 WAY FITTING/you can get U 2-pipe fitting from the
McMaster-Carr Supply Co. that will work when you have
one tension pipe joining to a horizontal pipe. it is
ð closed fitting (see drawing at lefti, which means it's
position must be predicted beforehand (or, alternatively,
it will only work later by slipping over horizontal
pipe ends outboard for external tension members i.
ALTERNATIVE 2-WAY FITTING/there is a solution if you
forget a 2-way joint, assemble beyond it, & don't
want to tear everything down & put it in. on p. 40 of
McMaster-Carr catalog there is a "cross-grip pipe
rack clamp," $2.24 each. these are "open" fittings
& can be integrated into the Matrix without taking
it apart. very useful if horizontal tension members
are needed under ! deck due to steeply sloping ground.
PUT PADS DOWN/remove all loose dirt & topsoil where
the pads go & scrape a really flat, level place in
firm earth for them to sit on. bore a l l/4" hole in
a D length of old timber ( 4x4 is OK i & slip it on top of
the pad leveling screw with a washer & hex nut over
that. borrow a light open boat trailer to use as a
priÛitive forklift. put 4x4 across
rear frame of trailer with pad swinging loose when
you press down on hitch end. with this rolling lever one
person can place the pads gently on the prepared sur face
& get proper alignment & levelness despite their 250-
pound weight. high-performance stuff won't perform
unless fabrication & assembly are carefully done.
ÅÂW
LhËÛ1JUÜ NATÏI7the standard-weight
galvanized iron pipe generally comes
in "rÜndom" lengths from ZÛ`Û¯ to
ZJ' so we made the normal length
of a member 20'6". check position
of the pads by the old Babylonian
method of comparing the diagonal
measures; if equal. the square is
square. you need two persons. a
ladder, cat feet ó ð fine sense of
ba lance to build the Matrix. stack
three 3way fittings on each vertical
pipe. then put three of these over the
threaded leveling screws (put the
three lower fittings at the right
level & run a horizontal pipe
through them). do two verticals at
rieht angles to the fitst ones,
set-screw the lowest j oints ö run
horizontal pipe at right angles
to the first one. you're on the
way. add temporary tension diag­
onals to steady it as you go.
this makes l! safer & more secure
to work on.
NOTES ON LEVELING SCRËWÜ/we tried
to keep the legs as short as
possible to ensure ð more solid
Matrix. for the same reason try
to limit the exposed threaded rod
ð make sure there is plenty of
threaded rod up inside t!e ver­
tical pipe. if in doubt use 6'
lengths of threaded rod instead
of the 3' ones.
MÛhË CAUTION/as you've noticed, i hope.
\0U just build a one level Matrix
to begin with. then when you get
on & sensitive to its character
it's easily extendible.
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THE LONG BEAMS/when an original pipe l ength is not
sufficient, the McMaster-Carr source has a splicer
so you can add a 10' piece to a 20' one ö get 30'.
take plenty of time to measure the Matrix cells &
trim & level it. the geometry should be UÛ degrees fine all
the way & measures should be within 1í1Õ´ of right on.
then you are ready for the long 2x4 beams that support
both the volumes & the decks. these beams are secured
to each horizontal pipe they cross with U-bolts ( �
drawing at left j counte rbored for the nuts ö 7ðShBDS.
the main thing to remember when adding components
to this Matrix is that all horizontal measurements
are taken from the vertical pipes because the joints
are not symmetrical. so in spacing a volume, beams
or deck boards, center them between the verticals on
each side. if you have trouble buying good. straight
2x4' s in this length, use 1Û-footers & sp1ice them
in the middle with two 3/4"x3"x48" plywood pieces
through-bolted on either side of the joint. whichever you
do, be sure to get dry, dead-straight no-warp 2x4's for
this place. warp won't work.
DECKS/our original has 3/4"-exterior-plywood decks
screwed to the tops of the long beams. i don't think
screws are good fasteners in the same league as
bolts but winter was closing in so we had to move.
i hope you use bolts (�drawing left). these decks
worked fine ö lasted well but had a slight tendency
to bow down in the middle of the crosswise span.
this spoils the geometry & collects water, so you
might want to follow the altered deLks on chuck &
lou's new Microhouse (see photo p. 126 i. there we
are trying lighter plywood ( 112" thick) with 2x2 • s
screwed to it. then this 4'x8' pallet is bolted
to the long beams wherever a 2x2 bears on it.
i think this will make a lighter, stronger deck with
less deflection. the 1/2" plywood is much cheaper too.
33W
MING FHML ÎÛH A VOLUin one sense our volumes
in this Microhouse are relatively conservative in
construction. but it was twelve years ago. bad weather &
no cover for setting up a panel fabrication
area. so i decided to do traditional 2x41S
but with a twist that applied some aircraft construc­
tion principles. we made the volumes like old airplane
fuselages. with frames (formers) at right angles to the
long axis of the volume & closely spaced along the
length of it. then comes the best part-when the inner
ó outer skins are applied they become stressed.
strengthening major parts of the structure, knitting
the frames together ð guaranteeing the whole thing.
this was a satisfying deviation from the usual norms.
it proved an exceptionally simple & direct way of
framing & exhibits great strength just where conven­
tional framing is most weak. where two planes meet.
FABRICATION/cut the 2x4 's precisely to length ó get
them as square as you can. don't shrug off cutting
the gussets (3/8" plywood from scraps of outer skin)
accurately on the mistaken assumption that they don't
show when the thing is completed. your 1i ver doesn't
show either but if it isn't operational you won't be
young & beautiful for long. pick the flattest floor
surface you can & assemble the first frame. set it
together first with some little tacked-in blocks to
restrain the parts while you check it. glue & nail it.
check by Hammurabi' s method of comparing diagonal
measurements. when you have it within l/32�, mix the Re­
sorcinol glue (smear some on end of short 2x4's where
they meet the long ones for insurance) ð gently tack the
gussets in place. after all percussion is over, check
the diagonals again & nudge them if necessary. then let
this master frame set until the Resorcinol really
cures. be an adult ó don 1 t rush it.
FRAME PRODUCTION/when the glue has cured on the master
& its integrity is intact, elevate it on three edgewise
2x4 1 s & ܬClamp members for next frame to it using
master as a guide.
116
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ÎÑRNË
ÎÛÜI¯¯HUUJ1!Û A VOLUMEifirst step
is to put bottom outer skin down
Î
on the long beams. it's made of
five pieces of plywood 3/B'' x
48"x92 1/4' '. lay these down on
Î
the 1 ong beams, massage them
carefully into correct position
ö tack each one
with finishing nail partway into
Î
the beam. next put the frames
on the plywood in the finished
location. they will tend to fall
Î
over so have your friend hold two
up at a time (in nearly the right
place) while you tack slanting
braces inside them. use scrap
Î
plywood cut from the skin for
this. after you get out of danger
of immediate collapse, locate the
Î
bottom of each frame precisely ö
tack a finishing nail partway up
through the bottom skin into the
frame to make it definite . then
Î
adjust each frame to perfect
vertical, adjusting the bracing
scraps as you go. ta.ck up side
Î
panels next, observing the spec­
ially cut widths designed so
seams of outside skin ö inside
Î
don't have joints a.t same point.
use No. 8, 1'' flathead wood screws
to secure to frames. place 2x2
blocks behind unsupported area
Î
(long-edge skin joints) fastening
with wood screws. now guarantee
security of volume to Matrix by
Î
Î
l/4"x4 1/2" lag screws through
each frame base member into the
long beam underneath.
INSULATION/we used 3" Fiberglas
with aluminum foil (toward inside)
to control condensation in wall.
staple it up. taking time. be sure
to wear goggles. you may laugh but
i wore rubber gloves & on windy
days a filtering respirator. the
Fiberglas is good inert insulation
but very negative in skin & lungs.
we've been trying to develop a
less lethal way of insulation
that isn't plastic foam either.
INSIDE SKIWJay the 3/4" !looI in
place starting with the center
panel. tack temporarily with finishing
nails. the pieces are cut 1/4"
narrower than space inside frames
so set with equal space on each
side. screw to frames with No. 8, 1 1/2"
flathead wood screws every Û`
use same system for 1/4"-plywood
ceiling skin & secure with No. 8, 1"
flathead screws. do wall skin
last. always start with panel near
center of volume & work toward
each end.
OPENINGS/the frame-stressed-skin
method produces a rugged & simple
structure but openings for light,
air & passage must be carefully
located ð executed to preserve
the integrity of the volume. we
worked on many methods of putting
ends on the plywood "tube" but in
the end elected to do it very
simply with 2x4 framing (�
drawing at right).
hatches were kept relatively small
& isola ted from the edges of the
plane where they occur. this keeps
skin strength intact.
ÂÆW
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or Fiberglas. i1 SJ lSt Kraft paper
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Production Director: Murray Schwartz
P1oofr0ðU01. Ar nold Leo
ÙBS1gn. h0H Isaacs & Frank Colosa
MAI1 ¡tKS|NS|RaVB HUI1U10U 1RC Matrix Idea but
this book is particUlð1ly dedicated to Susan
Petersen, who really DðU0 it possible with DC1
good NCD1ðSKð Sþl111. ÍC J1D Hð11. DCCðuSC DC
DC1þ6O 5C DuCD 1D D[6D U1CVC1ðDO u] 1D1 SC1¬
11CDCD1 5 «D1K, ðDU 1D ÛHUÛK X1llÆ & LOU CAIRO «DC
CCu1U 1CDul1U ð «ð1CD 1D ð Dðl1S1D1D 5 DCVC1
gC1 fu111CO
dÛd/Wltanowski made 1D0 coV6r photograph & ð11
but five of the in10 rio1 p1Ctures i wish ¡C COUJU
have done every one of 1H0ß Dut it just wasn't
phySiCa lly possible. the good part was that he
didn't ¿UB1 µD1n1 1IC Cxy8n81vC Tay¯C OCVl1 DDX
in the general direction of Groveland but
focused all his CDDS1U01&D1Ð humðn power &
UDlqUC CODCCD11ð1lDD CD becoming one with thos0
ðC1lOD5 l1`S Dð1U to D0ð1 that when l1`5 ð11
ðS UCCþ1§ lD1Cg1ð16O «11D C1ð11SDðDSDlþ ðS l1
lS «11D UDD
THÜ ADDRESS/for U1DVe1ðD0 1S ¡DS1 Office Box
7, ÛroV6JðDU¶ 1l11DDlS U1OÖO WC just rCD1Cd
ð chCa] old storefront at ¯Ô±Y Nor1h Glenwood
in ChiCagD ¦2l¡ lS bÛb<bj because it's ~ LuðU11~
1UJ space & should be enjoyed by someone. we
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