Mounting the arches

Curving the arches.

Once the columns are ready it is time to mount the arches by the interlocking of the column elements. Once this process is done it is time to install the arches in place, and lock them through the installation of some nerves.

This week started with the quick mounting of all the arches which were all up by the end of Tuesday. This was an extremely exciting experience for the whole group since it had been such a battle to finish the arches with the extreme weather, and finally the arches were up and the sun was starting to come out.

The rest of the week was spent mounting the primary nerves and producing the secondary nerves. By the end of the third week the secondary nerves were all up and the tertiary nerves were being produced.

The tertiary nerves took a lot longer to produce as well as mount, and in the meantime the students divided themselves into nerve production, nerve mounting and tying permanent knots on the primary and secondary nerves.

The structure began to not only take shape but gain a lot of stability and strength allowing people to climb the structure in order to mount the tertiary nerves. This was another motivating moment for the team that was otherwise starting to tire slightly.

Structure is rising up!

The arches mounted with the nerves are ready to receive the thatch roof!