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The Oval Office - page three Cultural & Ecological designing			Back to Normal
	The fully plastered composting chambers with the floor in place, seen from the path approaching the site. The completed stone and gravel steps that lead up to the floor platform can also be seen. The silver tarp roof was a temporary setup to enable work to continue even during sometimes frequent tropical rain showers. The steps were dry-laid, also using locally gathered rock, with small amounts of locally produced gravel used for fill as necessary. These steps, though partly exposed to rain, will not rot and become slippery in the region's wet tropical climate as wooden steps quickly would. They are massive and stable, fit well with their surroundings, and the rough lava surfaces will provide good traction even when wet. The upper structure and roof of the Oval Office is seen here under construction. Malu 'Aina director Jim Albertini, center, was in charge of this phase of the construction. Here he is assisted by secretary-treasurer Wally, left, and intern Eric, right. Jim describes framing the structure: "I used four off-set 4x4 notched posts to attach 12 ft. 2x6 plates...We used about 8 guava posts cleared from the site for other vertical posts connecting with the rafters for added structural stability." This close-up shows the finished door and some structural details. Jim says: "4x4s made it easy for the sliding door to shut by butting up against one of the 4x4 posts...We used two layers of cedar lath to curve connect the top screen/lower vinyl between guava posts. We also angle braced the 4X4 posts top and bottom. Guava posts were also used for building the hand rail. We used left over vinyl fabric used for siding on the bamboo cabin to make the siding on the oval office. The upper portion is screened. The lettering on the door was done by two women volunteers from Japan." The upper framing is completed, the roofing is on, the fabric lower wall covering and bug screen upper wall covering is in place, the door and hand rail details are done and there's even a doormat on the top step. The diagonal bracing of the roof beams can also be more clearly seen in this picture.
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