Stillwell Farms Dome

1
Stillwell Farms Dome

• A masterpiece in living willow architecture

2
Motivations

• Skepticism
• Does this actually work?
• Summer housing
• Cheaper than C-town sublet
• Close to work

3
Research

• Plenty of internet resources
• HDRA Organic organisation factsheet
  http//www.hdra.org.uk/factsheets/gg37.htm
• BBC Gardening http//www.bbc.co.uk/gardening/desig
  n/projects/fencing_willowstructure.shtml
• Living Willow Structure by JonWarnes

4
Design

• One simply shaped really big dome with a single
  door. Simple and large scale.

5
Construction

• Trench dug
• One foot deep by ten feet wide (2 shovel lengths)

6
Construction

• Willow cut
• All spears cut from a fallen Black Willow (Salix
  negra) trunk near a streambed with a chainsaw
• About 30 large spears (2 inch diameter) with
  many smaller shoots
• Most branches had two or three years of growth

7
Construction

• Larger Spears tied into archs
• Continuously wrapped (a method found to be
  effective in class)
• Arches leaned against each other and tied at the
  top

8
Construction

• Smaller spears added at various angles for
  support and fullness
• Shoots will develop new growth along the stem
  when branch angles approach 45 degrees
• Every connection tied firmly with twine (I found
  a useful knot by about 50 ties)
• Trench filled, soil watered

9
Finished Product
Forgot to take a picture, but these are close
10
Artistic considerations

• Made to mirror the shape of straw-bale house on
  site
• Both dome shaped, seen together