J E S S M I N E B AT H W1482663
The instrument aims to amplify the physical perception of the teak tree growth, with focus on exaggerating the minute movements of trunk, and translated into an architectural piece. The piece will be attached to a multitude of trees, therefore it will make visible the differences in growth rates within the forest. Through visible amplification of the tree growing, people can become more aware of the teak being alive. Materiality is important, to augment the process of time copper will be used, as the material will rust and transform over time with the mechanised structure. The instrument will therefore be analogue, with movement instigated by teak tree growth.
U BEIN BRIDGE, MANDALAY OLDEST TEAK BRIDGE IN THE WORLD
TEXTURES OF TEAK ANALYSIS OF THE GROWTH PATTERNS IN TEAK
TEXTURES OF TEAK ANALYSIS OF THE GROWTH PATTERNS IN TEAK
Myanmar deciduous forest cover
Forest cover
Total Teak export from Myanmar
EXPORT & FELLING FOREST COVER OF ASIA
Export to India
Tectona Grandis (Teak) is a deciduous tree, native to India, Thailand, Laos, Indonesia & Myanmar. Myanmar, being the largest area of natural teak forest, with approximately 50% of the 29 million ha on earth, is the number one producer of teak logs in the world. Although, natural forests provide only 25% of the globally reported teak supply (Rome, 2015). In addition, Myanmar has the third largest area of planted teak, with 390,000 ha. India has the most planted teak, and Indonesia second. From 2005 - 2014, $487 million of teak was traded on average per year, with this accounting for 3% of the global timber trade, which in total trades $15.5 billion per year. Since 2000, the volume of teak exported globally has more than doubled from 557,000 m3 to 1.2 million m3, and the value has more than quadrupled from $166 million to $696 million. April 1st 2014, there was a log export ban due to the irreversible effects of unsustainable logging, this ban was lifted March 2017, but there are now more regulations to prevent illegible felling. The legalities are implemented by the Myanmar Forestry Department, whom regulate the felling and then sell the logs on through tender to local businesses.
Export to Thailand
Export to China
Teak
export
is provided by
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APR
OCT
25% of total Teak export from India is provided by Myanmar
The earth is cracked, and the forest wilts, the streams dwindle, this is the season when timber men comb the forest for teak. The trees, once picked, are killed and left to dry.
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81% of total from China Myanmar
Cool & Dry Season
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Process of felling teak
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Hot & Dry Season
The density of teak is such that it will not remain afloat whilst its heartwood is moist. Therefore the hot, dry season acts to dry out the wood. Some trees may be left from 3 years or more, only once judged dry enough to float will they be marked for felling.
SEP
Monsoon
Felling season, at the start of the monsoon the axeman will arrive to judge the victims angle of descent. As the trees fall the impact would be felt by the forest, flattening any shrub or tree in its path. Once felled, the teak begins its journey. First elephants are harnessed with the fall logs, and travel through the forest to the river. Then at the banks the logs are piled into stacks, travelling along the river to the timber depot, powered by the force of the monsoon rains. Once at the depot the teak can be exported, or sent for tender.
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99% of total Teak export from Thailand is provided by Myanmar
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Extraction Department, Yangon
Apart of the Myanmar Forestry Department. This is currently the authority overseeing all timber export & felling. Image 01, entrance to the department, with beautifully carved teak elephants carrying logs, a symbol of felling. Image 02, the road leading to the extraction department, also location of the export department.
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Teak logs, felled, fastened and awaiting transport, provided by the monsoon rains.
FOREST DEGRADATION MYANMAR
Teak is a desirable hard wood, as it is naturally resistant to decay and ship-worm, therefore is ideal for coastal environments or ships. However, the overall demand for teak has exceeded the natural supply, leading to the production of teak via plantations. The largest felling of teak began in 1824, initiated by British colonialism. The western government cut down vast portions of teak from the forests to be used as timber for British naval ships. The operation was frantic and irrational, leaving the landscape irreversibly damaged. This took place in the area of Tenasserim, towards the north of Myanmar. The map demonstrates the vast areas of forest constantly degrading, due to a constant internal and external need for timber. An unrelenting force implemented through the actions of humans.
Degraded forest (2008-2012)
Moist deciduous forest growth
Forest cover (2000)
Degrading forests of Myanmar (2015)
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SOIL / MOIST DECIDUOUS FOREST / TOPOGRAPHY MAPPING TEAK: MYANMAR
FOREST GROWTH AXONOMETRIC ANALYSIS
Teak is naturally suited to the environmental conditions of Myanmar. Although it is not able to grow in all parts of the country, as the maps below illustrate. Soil, teak searches for well-drained deep soil, with high mineral content of calcium, magnesium and phosphorus. It prefers a pH between 6 - 7, so slightly acidic to neutral. The most suited soils are alluvial or sandy loam. These factors mean that teak is unable to survive in the dry region of Myanmar. The teak prefers to grow with contrasting wet and dry seasons, making Myanmar, Asia the perfect climate for tectona grandis, due to the cycle of the monsoon, with the annual rainfall being 600 - 4000mm. Another factor effecting the growth of teak is the altitude. Tectona Grandis is able to survive from sea level to an altitude of 1200m. Therefore the mountainous regions of Myanmar are inhabitable by teak.
SOIL
Acrisol
Luvisol
Cambisol
Lixisol
Fluvisol
Solonchak
Gleysol
Vertisol
Leptosol
GROWTH
Moist deciduous forest
TOPOGRAPHY
>5000m
500-1000m
3000-5000m
0-500m
1000-3000m
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TEAK THROUGH TIME SECTIONAL ANALYSIS
Teak is a hardwood, with large spanning leaves, and a long slim trunk. It produces reddish-green ovate or elliptical leaves with smooth edges. Leaves have rough texture and they are covered with hairs on the bottom side. Teak discards its leaves at the beginning of dry season. Teak produces small, white flowers arranged in dense clusters (panicles) at the end of the branches. Teak blooms from June to August. Flowers emit pleasant smell which attracts bees, main pollinators of this plant. Wind also plays role in the pollination of flowers.
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42 40 38 36 34 32 30 28 26 24 22 20 18 16 14 12 10 8 6 4 2 0
TEAK THROUGH TIME SECTIONAL TIME-LINE
Teak is perennial plant that can survive more than 100 years in the wild. Teak located in Kerala, India is the oldest teak in the world, with estimated age of 163 years, and height of 46.5 meters. Teak has a relatively fast growth rate reaching heights over 30m by the age of 20-25. For plantations this is the age in which the teak would be cultivated as the tree’s growth rate begins to decline after this point, but steadily growing to unbelievable heights.
Height of teak tree
Age of teak tree
Cross section through teak tree trunk
BREATH OF TEAK : CO2 SIMULATIONS 01 REAL FLOW
The realflow simulation takes inspiration from NASAs data of the earth’s atmosphere, and its fluctuating level of CO2 (2006 study). The data demonstrates the drastic rise and fall of carbon dioxide, initiated by the deciduous forests of the world. As seen from the images below, in July there is little red in the atmosphere, representing the rapid decrease in CO2 caused by the forests breathing once again, with the blooming of leaves. The next noticeable change occurs in November at the beginning of winter, marking the fall of the leaves.
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385 384 383 382 381 380 379
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Global CO2 Data
units = parts per million (ppm)
REALFLOW SIMULATIONS To translate the data from NASA to realflow, three emitters are used to represent nitrogen, oxygen & carbon dioxide. The simulation begins by allowing the particles to interact, merging together in an unpredictable manner, due to a noise demon. Then the CO2 particles, connected to an attractor demon, are pulled downward, a metaphor for the breathing of the deciduous forests. At the point of winter the attractor is then switched off, allowing the CO2 particles to once again merge with the atmosphere. The composition of the box; the floor represents the earth / forest cover & the central interior space is a representation of the air.
Test 01.a
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Test 01.b
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Key K-Volume Square Particle Emitter Linear Particle Emitter Direction of Particle Emitter
Attractor Daemon Noise Daemon Wind Daemon
O2
O2
N
N
CO2
CO2
BREATH OF TEAK : CO2 SIMULATIONS 02 REAL FLOW
Test 02
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Test 03.a
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Test 03.b
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Key
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Test 04
Test 03.a
K-Volume
O2 Square Particle Emitter Linear Particle Emitter
N
Test 03.b O2
O2
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N
CO2
CO2
Direction of Particle Emitter Attractor Daemon Noise Daemon Wind Daemon
CO2
A
ENLARGING MOVEMENT PROTOTYPE MODEL
Representing Trunk Growth
The prototype model acts to simulate the growth of the teak trunk. The aim, to convert the expanding motion of the trunk to an enlarged turning motion, to be connected to the visual piece representing growth rate. In the model, the expanding motion from element A initially effects the rope fastened around the ‘trunk’, the rope is pulled as more is needed to for-fill the entire circumference of the tree. Then the movement of the rope instigates the turning of element C. Due to elements B’s connection to C, the small movement felt by C is translated to B. The two cogs of different sizes forming element B act to enlarge the minute expansion of the trunk, to create movement which is perceptible to humans. The movement of the larger cog in element B will then be attached to the visual element.
C Spindle
B Enlarging Movement
VISUALISATION INSTRUMENT EXPLODED AXONOMETRIC
01
The initial turning movement, instigated by the enlarged movement cogs, is translated into cog 01, connected to element B.
02
Cog 01 is attached to mechanism 02, a spiral instrument which is the intermediate element in converting the circular movement to an upward movement.
03
Encircling the spiral is a ring like entity with an element precluding from its side. The element secures the ring to the spiral, ensuring the spiral movement can then be translated to the ring, which moves upward, as the spiral turns. Also, to anchor the ring 3 poles (minimum) are necessary to prohibit the ring from turning, and making to so the force from the spiral can only be translated upward.
04
As the ring moves upward the chain mechanism turns in the z-axis. The ring locks into the chain, enabling the upward force to be experienced by the chain.
05
Connected to the chain is a wire, which is then joined to the upper point of the petals. As the chain moves the wire is give slack, allowing the petals to ‘bloom’.
PROTOTYPE MODEL
To understand the movement of the petals the above paper model was constructed. It demonstrates the mechanics of the movement, showing how the taught string pulls the petals inward, and as the string is released the flower ‘blooms’.
PLAN 1 : 50
SECTION 1 : 100